Zhou Lanfang grew more and more angry, and prodded Shen Jianhua again, "Aren’t you going to say something?"
With He Nan refusing to give money, shouldn’t Shen Jianhua, as a man, step in at times ?
"What am I supposed to say?" Shen Jianhua glanced at He Nan, then sternly told Zhou Lanfang not to make unreasonable demands. "The money is with him because Mianmian entrusted it to him, he really shouldn’t give it to us without Mianmian’s permission. Don’t harass He Nan for the money; you’re making it awkward for him."
Shen Jianhua felt that by saying this, he appeared more enlightened instead of being afraid of He Nan.
"I appreciate your understanding, Uncle Shen." He Nan glanced at his watch, "I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll be leaving now."
After speaking, he turned and left without the slightest hesitation.
Zhou Lanfang wanted to stop him but didn’t dare to, stamping her feet in frustration. "Shen Jianhua, you act all tough in front of me, threatening and yelling, but why do you have no guts in front of He Nan? Just watching him take the money away like that? That’s a lot of money, aren’t you planning to claim it back?"
Over a thousand dollars! Just the thought of possibly not getting it back made her chest feel oppressively tight, and breathing became difficult.
"Who do you think he is? You think he’ll get scared and hand over the money if you make a scene?" Shen Jianhua glared at Zhou Lanfang, scolding her for being brainless. "The money is with him because Mianmian asked him to keep it. We’ll just wait here. When she’s done with her exams, she can ask for it back."
"Didn’t you hear her? That damned girl is already talking about breaking ties with us," Zhou Lanfang said, breathless with anger. "If I had known she was such a curse, I would have never agreed to take care of her in the first place. If we don’t discipline her properly, she’ll be the death of us eventually."
At such a young age, she already has so many tricks up her sleeve; what will she become in a few more years?
Thinking about what Shen Mianmian had said earlier, Shen Jianhua also sighed in frustration, "I’ve spoiled her too much before. I thought by treating her a bit better, she would at least remember some of our kindness."
"I told you not to spoil her, but you wouldn’t listen. Regretting it now, aren’t you?" Zhou Lanfang ground her teeth. "I’m telling you, when we take her back this time, no matter who comes begging, we cannot let her continue schooling. She’s already so wild; if she continues her education, she’ll end up walking all over us. Other people read the classics and become scholars, but all she reads is excrement from a latrine."
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got and, with hands on her hips, she continued, "She’s sixteen this year; she’s old enough to talk about marriage. With her personality, forget about attracting a son-in-law to live with us – I’m afraid she’ll poison us with rat poison. Whichever place is farthest, just marry her off there and have done with it."
Once that damned girl was married off far away, they could transfer Zhou Siyu’s residence over, and the three of them could live a comfortable, simple life. How pleasant that would be.
Shen Jianhua’s chest heaved violently a few times, but he didn’t pick up on Zhou Lanfang’s words, choosing to regard his wife’s speech as mere venting.
He did indeed feel that his daughter was unruly and it made him angry, but even so, he would need someone to take care of him when he got older; he’d still need a child around.
Zhou Siyu was going to university; the one who would stay with them would have to be Shen Mianmian.
It was June, and the weather was particularly scorching. Shen Jianhua and Zhou Lanfang had been waiting under the big tree at the school gate for several hours, their clothes soaked with sweat. Zhou Lanfang, dizzy and blurry-eyed from the heat, had nearly given up and wanted to go back several times, but the thought of the money made her clench her teeth and endure.
On the other hand, Shen Jianhua, who often worked at the kiln factory, didn’t feel it was as tough. Google seaʀᴄh 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭·𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢·𝗇𝗲𝘵
When he worked at the kiln factory, he’d sweat profusely even during winter, let alone in summer.