Chapter 55 : A Big Face Gets You Everywhere

Fang Xiaoluo watched the little girl rolling around in her arms and suddenly felt a soft warmth in her heart.  

She picked up Shen Jinxia, kissed her on the forehead, and said, “Good girl.”  

Shen Jinxia’s eyes curved into happy crescents, brimming with joy.  

Meanwhile, Shen Haifeng finished helping Zheng Lanhua pick up the scattered beans and stood at the door with a workbook in his hand, watching Shen Jinxia snuggle up to Fang Xiaoluo.  

For a moment, he froze. It was as if he was seeing the past.  

He remembered his biological mother, holding his infant sister and showering her with kisses on her forehead and cheeks.  

But the mother who had loved them was gone, replaced by someone who was more like a demon.  

He couldn’t understand it. Even if their mother was no longer there, they were still their father’s biological children. Why, then?  

Why did everyone change for Wei Hongxia, that woman?  

Those days of darkness were ones he dared not recall.  

If not for their uncle, now their father, stepping in, they might still be living in that hell.  

His younger brother would likely have been frightened or abused to death.  

His baby sister, so tiny back then, was forced to work every day while enduring hunger and beatings.  

Now, everything was different. He hoped with all his heart that this wasn’t just a dream.  

Feeling something wet on his cheek, Shen Haifeng quickly turned away and wiped it off with his hand.  

Taking a deep breath, he turned back, walked in, and picked up Shen Jinxia. “Go play. I have something to ask Mom.”  

Shen Jinxia hopped to the floor. “Okay!”  

With that, she skipped out of the room.  

Fang Xiaoluo looked Shen Haifeng up and down. He scratched his head awkwardly and said, “I… there are a few words I don’t know.”  

Fang Xiaoluo glanced at the characters he pointed to, told him how to read them, and even wrote the pinyin next to them.  

“Do you have a dictionary?”  

Shen Haifeng shook his head. “No.”  

Fang Xiaoluo thought about it. She decided she could take a trip over the weekend to Honghe Village to deliver a diluted bottle of spirit spring water to her father, then visit the bookstore in Jiangcheng to buy Shen Haifeng a dictionary.  

Once she re-taught him pinyin and showed him how to look up words in the dictionary, he’d be able to learn independently.  

Back in his room, Shen Haifeng sat down and noticed how beautiful Fang Xiaoluo’s handwriting was.  

—

The next morning, at dawn, Fang Xiaoluo got up early.  

The early June air was crisp and fresh.  

Thinking she was up quite early, she was surprised to see Zheng Lanhua already tending to the vegetables in the yard.  

Seeing her, Zheng Lanhua casually remarked, “Ever since you watered these vegetables the other day, they’ve looked a lot livelier.”  

Fang Xiaoluo looked over and saw that under the morning sunlight, the yard was a lush green. The leaves were vibrant and dotted with dewdrops, full of vitality.  

She felt a surge of joy. The spirit spring water was indeed effective.  

Squatting down, she said playfully, “Maybe the vegetables think I’m so beautiful they don’t want to be outdone, so they’re growing their best to compete with me.”  

Zheng Lanhua held back a comment for a long moment before finally saying, “You’ve got a big face, that’s for sure.”  

Fang Xiaoluo chuckled, patting her cheek. “A big face gets you everywhere, means I’m lucky. I’ll take it as a compliment!”  

With that, Fang Xiaoluo grabbed some firewood to start the stove.  

Zheng Lanhua watched as Fang Xiaoluo lit the courtyard stove, filled a kettle with water, and set it on to boil.  

She couldn’t figure out why Fang Xiaoluo was up so early but didn’t ask, continuing with her own tasks.  

Fang Xiaoluo finished boiling the water, poured some into a thermos, and left the rest for washing her face and brushing her teeth.  

After tidying herself up, she prepared three bowls of milk powder.  

Seeing the timing was just right, she went to wake up Shen Haifeng.  

Shen Haifeng was sound asleep when he suddenly felt someone pushing him, startling him awake.  

When he realized it was Fang Xiaoluo, he was momentarily confused.  

Fang Xiaoluo, mindful of not waking Shen Haiping, crouched down and whispered, “Time to study. Bring those two test papers you worked on yesterday.”  

Shen Haifeng suddenly remembered his promise to her the day before.  

After leaving his room, Fang Xiaoluo carried one bowl of milk powder to Zheng Lanhua. She handed it over and said, “I accidentally made too much.”  

Zheng Lanhua looked at the bowl in her hand, the rich aroma of milk wafting up to her nose.  

Though she and her son could afford milk powder, her frugal habits meant she rarely touched such a precious item, always saving it for the children.  

She didn’t believe for a second that it was “accidentally” too much. Fang Xiaoluo had clearly made it just for her.  

“Little sister, what’s that you’re holding? Smells like milk powder,” asked Yao Chunlan, a neighbor leaning on the fence with a broom in hand, grinning.  

Zheng Lanhua smiled. “Yes, it’s milk powder. My daughter-in-law bought it for us.”  

Yao Chunlan praised her, “That’s quite the luxury! You’ve got yourself a great daughter-in-law.”  

Zheng Lanhua responded, “Ah, our Xiaoluo always gives me the good stuff. Honestly, at our age, what’s the point of drinking this? But she insists, says it’s nutritious.”  

As she spoke, Zheng Lanhua took a sip. It was slightly warm, incredibly fragrant, and silky smooth with a hint of sweetness. She couldn’t deny, it was delicious.  

Yao Chunlan couldn’t help swallowing her saliva. They wouldn’t dare to splurge on milk powder like that. Even if they bought some, it was always reserved for the grandchildren. Drinking it themselves? Never.  

“I’ve always said, if you’ve got a phoenix tree, the golden phoenix will come. Your Shen is truly blessed, and so are you,” Yao Chunlan said with a chuckle.  

Fang Xiaoluo sat at her desk by the window, which was open. She could hear every word of Zheng Lanhua and Yao Chunlan’s conversation.  

She couldn’t help but shake her head with a smile. That Zheng Lanhua always said one thing but meant another.  

When she turned back, Shen Haifeng had already walked in.  

Fang Xiaoluo patted the chair next to her. “Sit.”  

The moment Shen Haifeng stepped in, he caught a whiff of the fragrant aroma. Sitting down, he noticed the bowl of milk powder on the desk.  

Ever since Fang Xiaoluo had bought the milk powder and malted milk, his younger siblings drank a bowl almost daily.  

While Fang Xiaoluo never said he couldn’t have any, Shen Haifeng’s pride wouldn’t let him lower his head to ask for it. So he avoided it altogether.  

Still, every time his siblings drank it, he couldn’t help but feel how fragrant it smelled. Saying he wasn’t tempted would be a lie.  

In his past life with that family, Wei Hongxia had milk powder, and its taste was seared into his memory.  

He glanced at the bowl briefly before shifting his gaze away.  

“Mom, what are we studying today? Starting with these two test papers?”  

Fang Xiaoluo pushed the bowl of milk powder in front of him. “Drink this first.”  

Shen Haifeng looked up, incredulous. “This is for me?”  

Fang Xiaoluo nodded. “Of course. What, you think I’m joking?”  

Shen Haifeng carefully picked up the bowl, brought it to his lips, and took a small sip. The rich, sweet flavor filled his mouth it was truly delicious.