Both of them usually got up at around five in the morning to cook, but having gone to bed so early last night, they hadn’t expected to sleep so soundly.
After calling out for a while, Zhou Lanfang simply turned over and continued sleeping, showing no intention of getting up.
When Shen Jianhua heard noise from the next room, he frankly gave up on waking Zhou Lanfang. Upon opening the door, he saw Zhou Siyu with an anxious expression.
"Uncle, why are you still sleeping?" she was just about to knock.
"Your aunt must be worn out from these past days," Shen Jianhua said, lacking the heart to explain too much at the moment, "Where’s your sister?"
"My sister is combing her hair in the room."
Zhou Siyu felt very panicked inside. She was starting to lose grasp of Shen Jianhua’s intentions; could it be that his previous decision to stop Shen Mianmian from attending school was just to please her aunt?
Otherwise, with the exams approaching, why hadn’t he taken any action?
He glanced back at Zhou Lanfang, who lay in bed, sleeping like a pig, and his expression darkened as he called Zhou Siyu into the room.
"Siyu, come here. I have something to discuss with you," he said.
"Uncle, please tell me." ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ 𝗻𝗼𝘷𝗲𝗹•𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮•𝕟𝕖𝕥
"Siyu, what I want to talk to you about is the matter of schooling." These words were difficult for him to say, but with things having reached this stage, he had to speak up, "Our family can only afford to support one university student. Only one of you two can go to college, and your aunt and I have decided it should be you."
To say such words as leaving Shen Mianmian behind to care for the elderly was too selfish, and Shen Jianhua couldn’t bring himself to say that directly, so he had to find a somewhat better reason.
"What about my sister?" Zhou Siyu feigned a look of surprise, although she had already eavesdropped on this conversation. Yet, when Shen Jianhua finally told her in person, she couldn’t help but feel thrilled.
"Sigh..." Shen Jianhua looked down and let out a sigh, "Your sister’s academic performance is unstable, and your aunt and I plan to have her learn tailoring, which is more suitable for her."
Before Zhou Siyu could respond, he continued, "Siyu, I don’t expect anything in return for letting you attend university. I just hope that once you are capable, you will help her out with anything she needs."
Shen Jianhua appeared to be the picture of selflessness as if what he was doing was for the good of both children.
Zhou Siyu’s eyes turned red, seemingly moved, "Uncle, rest assured, I will never forget this kindness. My sister and I grew up together from a young age, and our relationship is even closer than if we were biological sisters."
"With your assurance, I feel relieved," Shen Jianhua nodded repeatedly, then hesitated before thickening his skin and revealing his earlier plan, "Your aunt originally planned to lock up your sister this morning to make her miss the exam, but she’s slept too deeply to be woken..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Zhou Siyu understood his intention, "Uncle, do you want me to lock my sister in the room?"
Shen Jianhua looked ashamed, "Doing this is very unfair to your sister, but we have no other choice. If she were to score first in three subjects again, not allowing her to study would be unjustifiable in the village."
When that time comes, it wouldn’t just be the village chief who would get involved; even the school principal might come to our house.
First in three subjects, such an excellent student was not found every year, Shen Jianhua, despite never having attended school, knew this well.
Having heard this, she finally understood. Shen Jianhua was playing a double game, letting others play the villain while he played the hero.
Originally, her aunt was to play the villain, but since her aunt couldn’t be woken up, the role was passed to her.