"Alright, alright, off you go! Don’t worry about me. Just focus on studying hard, and if you don’t understand something, make sure to ask her uncle. Don’t be embarrassed to ask questions."
Zhou Lanfang was afraid that Zhou Siyu was too shy, so she made a point to remind her.
Today was the last day of tutoring, and they had to make every second count. The more they learned, the better. Every extra point they could get in the exam was crucial.
The goal was to get into high school, which would then open the door to college.
"Uncle, Auntie, goodbye."
After exchanging pleasantries with Zhao Xinlan, Shen Jianhua, and Zhou Lanfang, the two left together.
Shen Jianhua gave a forced smile, mimicking Zhao Xinlan with an awkward goodbye gesture.
Before leaving, Zhou Siyu took a special look at Shen Mianmian. Seeing that she had remained silent as if uninterested in her affairs, she felt relieved. The source of thɪs content is 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝✶𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮✶𝓷𝓮𝓽
No sooner had she left than Lu Siyuan emerged from the school, pushing his bicycle. Seeing Shen Jianhua and Zhou Lanfang, he called out politely.
He completely ignored Zhou Lanfang as if she didn’t exist.
Although Shen Jianhua didn’t particularly adore Shen Mianmian, he was still somewhat humane, unlike Zhou Lanfang, who was a downright malicious old woman. His opinion of her had been very low since their encounter in Zhao Family’s village, and he despised Zhou Lanfang from the bottom of his heart.
Shen Jianhua gave Lu Siyuan a displeased nod and then turned to Shen Mianmian, "Mianmian, let’s go back and start cooking. Let your mother wait here for Siyu."
"Okay," Mianmian nodded in agreement, then said to Lu Siyuan, "I’m heading back now. You should go home quickly too!"
After speaking, she gave Lu Siyuan a meaningful look that only the two of them could understand, signaling him not to forget to walk Xiaocui home.
There were too many bad people outside, and she was worried about Xiaocui being alone.
After all, a girl who walked the same route at the same time every day could easily become a target for some unsavory characters.
Lu Siyuan, grasping the handle of the bicycle, subtly made an ’ok’ gesture.
Having caught sight of their exchange, Zhou Lanfang glared at Lu Siyuan fiercely. That little rascal had embarrassed her last time, and she hadn’t forgotten it.
If he wasn’t planning on marrying the wild child, that was for the best; she certainly wouldn’t support it.
By next year, she would find a man for the wild child and marry her off far away.
Lu Siyuan noticed Zhou Lanfang’s stare and, passing by her, defiantly glared back, nearly driving Zhou Lanfang to fury.
That little rascal would regret this one day.
"Mianmian, wash the meat and cut it into small pieces. I’m going to the field to pick some vegetables. We’ll make braised pork tonight. You two have your middle school exams tomorrow, so eat well today."
Shen Jianhua took the pork belly he had bought at noon out of the kitchen and placed it in the basin at the well, then headed to the field to pick vegetables.
Shen Mianmian put her school bag in the house and started to get busy. Shen Jianhua returned from the field after about fifteen minutes with a basin full of vegetables.
Shen Mianmian was getting ready to start the fire when he stopped her, "It’s too hot in the kitchen. Go wash the vegetables by the well. I’ll use a couple of big logs for the fire."
Each winter, Shen Jianhua would chop some wood in the mountains and stack it under the eaves, but usually, he rarely used logs for the fire, preferring to burn smaller pieces of kindling instead.
Because the firewood from the mountain wasn’t for anyone to chop whenever they wanted, the village had a rule that each family could only go up to chop wood twice a