Shen Mianmian had finished washing the pots and pans by the time she returned home.
Now that Zhou Lanfang understood Shen Jianhua’s thoughts, she didn’t find Shen Mianmian as annoying anymore, but scolding her had become a habit, and her words were always coated with criticism.
"Hurry up and get to work! Do it well. If you slack off and get fired, I’ll break your legs."
Four yuan a month wasn’t a lot, but it wasn’t too little either; it was enough to buy a few pounds of meat to nourish her dear Siyu.
Shen Mianmian answered and, after washing her hands, went to find Xiaocui at Madam Liu’s house.
Zhou Lanfang snorted coldly at her retreating figure, mumbling, "Walking around with a long face all the time, as if someone in the family has died, really brings bad luck."
Once the coast was clear, she hurriedly took out the mixed grain cakes she had hidden in the cupboard and brought them to Zhou Siyu’s room.
"Auntie, how come you didn’t knock before entering?" Zhou Siyu was startled by her sudden arrival, instinctively hiding the book in her hands behind her back, her expression slightly panicked and her cheeks faintly flushed.
"Why should I knock before entering your room?" People at that time had no habit of knocking before entering a room. She held out the mixed grain cakes to Zhou Siyu, "These are for you. Eat up, then you can read your book."
Seeing that she didn’t seem to notice anything amiss, Zhou Siyu exhaled in relief, tucked the book into her bag, and started eating the mixed grain cake, "Auntie, didn’t you take all the pastries to give to Uncle?"
"I kept this one especially for you." Zhou Lanfang asked with pride, "Is it delicious? I added a bit of sugar just for you."
The cake was sweet and really tasty.
Zhou Lanfang was happy to see her enjoy it, "If you like it, I’ll make more for you next time. Take your time eating; don’t choke. I’m going to watch TV now."
Once she was gone, Zhou Siyu quickly closed the door, took the book she had stuffed into her bag earlier, and began to read while eating her cake.
The book had been stolen by Zhao Xinlan from a relative’s house. Content orıginally comes from 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵※𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮※𝓷𝓮𝓽
She and Zhou Siyu often chatted together and would talk about the book’s content during their spare time. Curious, Zhou Siyu borrowed it to read.
Usually, because Shen Mianmian was also in the room, she dared not read it and could only do so on Saturdays and Sundays. Once she started, she was captivated by the content.
She also gained some understanding of matters between men and women.
No wonder that time Shen Mianmian mentioned Auntie talking in her sleep, both Auntie and Uncle had looked so strange. It turns out...
At this thought, her face burned red with embarrassment, and something inside her felt stirred. She began to harbor some yearning for matters between men and women.
But when she thought of the boys in her class, she made a face full of disdain.
She’d better read her book!
If she didn’t hurry, once that tiresome girl returned, she’d have no chance again.
Sitting on the ox cart, Shen Mianmian sneezed heavily twice, sniffled, and muttered to herself, "Who’s talking behind my back?"
"You’ve caught a cold, haven’t you?" Lu Siyuan glanced at her, "After we’re done selling vegetables today, I’ll take you to buy some clothes. Look at what you’re wearing; if people didn’t know better, they’d think you were a little beggar."
Previously, when the weather was cold, Shen Mianmian had an army coat and cotton clothes, but now, as they were nearing April and the weather warmed, Shen Mianmian only had two old pieces of clothing to wear.
The sleeves were so short they couldn’t even cover her wrists.
He had long been unable to stand it.
Shen Mianmian rolled her eyes, "Even if I were a beggar, I would be the cleanest and prettiest one."