Rebirth in the 80s: The Scholar Wife is Cute-Chapter 34 - Assiduous Attention
Chapter 34: Chapter 34 Assiduous Attention
Chapter 34 -34 Assiduous Attention
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The morning air was chilly, and the well water especially cold. Shen Mianmian carried a basin to the kitchen to fetch hot water. Zhou Siyu was chatting with Zhou Lanfang and, upon seeing her, immediately clammed up.
Just then, Shen Jianhua happened to be coming in from outside, carrying water.
She pretended not to see Shen Jianhua and began to play the role of a caring little cotton-padded jacket, “Auntie, one yuan and fifty cents is enough for me. I don’t have a big appetite and can’t eat much. Uncle works hard to earn money. I’ll save a bit, and with a little extra from you, we can buy a pair of shoe soles and make Uncle a new pair of cotton shoes for the New Year. The soles of the shoes Uncle is wearing are nearly worn through.”
Zhou Lanfang felt a twinge of jealousy, “You only care about your Uncle. Haven’t you noticed that my shoe soles are nearly worn through too?”
Zhou Siyu cooed, “Uncle works so hard outside! It’s okay for us to endure hardship, but we can’t let him suffer!”
“Listen to that, listen to that,” Zhou Lanfang turned to Shen Jianhua, who was walking in, “In her heart, I’m not as good as her Uncle. All these years, you’ve treated her so well, and it’s paid off.”
Zhou Siyu was deemed a child with a conscience, not raised in vain, unlike that little bastard who might very well bring her birth mother back someday.
The reason she hoarded secret savings was for fear that Shen Jianhua might kick her out one day. Regardless of how well the two seemed to get along, it was all a facade.
Shen Jianhua worked away from home all day, often returning only once every ten days or half a month. What he did outside during that time, who knew?
As long as she had money in her hands and raised Zhou Siyu well, even if Shen Jianhua truly abandoned her one day, she would still be able to live comfortably.
Fortunately, Zhou Siyu was promising, excelled in her studies, and was sweet-tongued. Shen Jianhua was willing to support her education, or else, relying only on herself, she really didn’t have the capability.
At that moment, Shen Jianhua’s heart couldn’t have been more joyful. After toiling half a lifetime, raising two kids that weren’t his own, what man wouldn’t feel bitter inside?
When he was young, his family was poor. It was with great difficulty that he married a wife. They couldn’t get enough to eat or wear warmly. That winter, a heavy snowfall cut them off from provisions, and he brought the six months pregnant Zhou Lanfang to her mother’s house to borrow grain.
Unexpectedly, she had a fall, not only resulting in a miscarriage but also in a condition that left her infertile.
It was his fault Zhou Lanfang suffered; coupled with her family’s pressure, given their poverty, he had no choice but to stay married to her.
Zhou Siyu’s words just now had shown concern for him as if he were her biological father, a hundred times stronger than those ungrateful natural-born children, softening the thorn in his heart.
“I am the pillar of the household, the only man in the family. I can handle some hardship. You’re growing, you need to eat more, don’t hold back.”
“Uncle, because you’re the pillar of the house, you should eat and wear better. We can only be well if you’re well,” Siyu retorted.
“You’re still young. Having this sentiment is enough. When you grow up, you can truly take good care of your Aunt and me,” Shen Jianhua said, his smile creasing the corners of his eyes.
“Of course, in my eyes, you and Aunt are even closer to me than my parents,” Siyu affirmed.
These words were familiar to Shen Mianmian; she had heard them countless times, in her past life and in this one. She didn’t care for the familial affection displayed by the trio, so after pouring the hot water, she left.
“Why the long face so early in the morning? Who are you showing it to?” Zhou Lanfang glanced disdainfully at her retreating figure, “Some children are born to repay kindness, while others seem to come for revenge.”
“She’s grown so much; why squabble with a child?” Shen Jianhua, in a good mood, didn’t really get angry with Zhou Lanfang, “Let’s quickly get ready for breakfast so as not to delay the child’s school.”
