Chapter 27: We Still Need to Sleep Together

Wang Jianwei furrowed his brows; his eyes were not blind.

“They are all children of the Wang family. Why are you so biased towards those two boys?”

Grandma Wang was not afraid of her son at all. She put her hands on her hips and argued persistently, “I’m biased towards my own grandsons. What’s wrong with that? What’s wrong with that!”

“Mom!” Wang Jianwei was truly frustrated by his mother’s persistent attitude. Every time he had to deal with family matters, he got a headache.

He was also annoyed by the family disturbances caused by trivial matters.

Grandma Wang continued, “I’ve told you many times to send this child away, but you wouldn’t listen. Everything costs money—food, clothing, housing, and transportation. Your money doesn’t come from the wind, so how can you spend it on outsiders?”

In the past, she would only say such things to him privately, but this time she said it directly in front of the child.

Wang Jianwei’s expression became somewhat unpleasant as he glanced at Zhiqi, who had his head lowered.

The fact that the old lady said it in front of the child indicated that this was not the first time the child had heard such words.

Wang Jianwei was angry at his own negligence, but when it came to family matters, he could only sigh. Since Shen Mo had taken the initiative to adopt Zhiqi, it was also an opportunity. He said indifferently, “Since that’s the case, Zhiqi, you will move to Uncle Shen’s house tomorrow.”

Grandma Wang didn’t expect to hear her son say that the troublesome child would be moving out, and her face immediately brightened with joy.

Having one less burden at home made her happy.

She then asked, “Shen? Is it the young Shen who lives next to Li’s house?”

Wang Jianwei didn’t feel like talking to her right now and left the kitchen without saying another word.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” the old lady clucked her tongue a few times, “The wife of young Shen is not easy to get along with, and young Shen listens to his wife a lot. This child is likely to have a hard time there.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhiqi, who was still tending the fire, suddenly stood up, grabbed the old lady’s hand, and bit it, causing her to scream in pain. She angrily pushed Zhiqi away.

Zhiqi stumbled and fell to the ground.

But he didn’t cry; instead, he said stubbornly, “Sister Jiang is a good person.”

After her son left, the old lady’s ugly side showed again, “Just because she helped you once, you think she’s good. You’re a white-eyed wolf that can’t be tamed. Wait until you go to her house and see if she’ll still be nice to you.”

The old lady spat, “Who would genuinely care for a child who has nothing to do with them? I’ll be waiting to see if you don’t come back crying, begging to return. My house doesn’t take in burdens.”

Zhiqi’s hands, hanging by his sides, clenched into fists, and his eyes turned red.

Just now, when Uncle Wang said that Uncle Shen wanted to adopt him, he was really happy, so happy that he forgot to tend to the fire and got scolded by Grandma Wang.

Uncle Shen was good to him, and Sister Jiang was also very kind to him. Grandma Wang’s words were harsh, but she had a point.

He didn’t know if Sister Jiang would always be so kind to him once he went to her house.

After his mother passed away, he lived with his uncle for a year.

When his mother was still alive, his uncle’s family was very good to them, often helping out and sending food.

But after his mother died, his father didn’t have time to come home and take him away. When he started living with his uncle, things were fine at first, but soon the attitude of his uncle’s family changed.

They would secretly hide things for their younger children and never gave anything to him. They rarely gave him meat to eat.

The only time he got to eat meat was when his father sent money to his uncle’s family every month, and only then would they give him a little bit of meat.

Later, his father came to pick him up, and he was very happy. He spent a joyful time with his father in the military.

His father was good to him, and the uncles were also very kind to him.

Later, his father passed away for his country, and he read many books to understand what it meant to pass away and what it meant to die for one’s country. His father made him very proud.

After his father’s death, his sense of belonging became an issue again. After several twists and turns, he was temporarily taken in by Uncle Wang’s family.

At first, Uncle Wang’s family was also very good to him. Uncle Wang was very caring, often asking if he was living well and giving him meat to eat. Later, when Uncle Wang became busy, Aunt Wang started to be perfunctory, and Grandma Wang, who never liked him, always prioritized her own grandchildren with the best food.

He had been waiting, thinking that when he grew up, such days would be over.

If… if Sister Jiang also changed later… he… he might really cry…

*

Shen Mo was a man of action. The next day, when Jiang Ning woke up, she heard Shen Mo say that after training, they would go to pick up Zhiqi and bring him home.

Jiang Ning was startled and said in surprise, “So soon?”

The sudden arrival of a child in the house caught Jiang Ning off guard.

“Should we wait for a couple of days?”

Seeing Jiang Ning’s surprise, Shen Mo wondered if he had been too hasty.

Jiang Ning nodded, “It is a bit rushed.”

Shen Mo lowered his head, standing there like a tall bear.

Jiang Ning continued, “We haven’t even prepared a room for the child yet. Where will he stay when he comes home? Quickly go and clean up the room you’re staying in for Zhiqi. Get him a clean set of bedding, and set up a small wardrobe for him. A child needs some privacy, after all. Oh, and see if you can get a small desk for his room.”

After giving a long list of instructions, Jiang Ning noticed Shen Mo wasn’t moving. She walked over and nudged him from behind, “Go and clean up.”

Shen Mo was pushed into the room by Jiang Ning and obediently started tidying up.

Shen Mo’s room only had a bed, a quilt, and a few clothes.

Holding the quilt, he stood in the yard, feeling a bit lost after stepping out.

Wait, if he took out his quilt, where would he sleep?

Jiang Ning carried a clean set of bedding out and saw him standing in the yard. She walked over and said, “Why are you standing here? Put the things in the room.”

“Where… where should I put them?”

“In the room,” Jiang Ning pointed to the room and then noticed the clothes on his quilt, “Put the clothes in the wardrobe. I’ve made some space for you. Don’t forget to remove the quilt cover; it needs to be washed.”

Shen Mo’s body stiffened completely.

Just now, his wife told him to go to… her, her room…

Jiang Ning went into the small room, made the bed, and came out. She saw Shen Mo standing rigidly in place, his hands holding the quilt so tightly that the veins were bulging.

Jiang Ning watched him for a moment and suddenly felt like teasing him a bit. She walked closer step by step and then poked his exposed bicep with a slender, jade-like finger.

Sure enough, just like the person.

Rock hard.

She raised an eyebrow and said, “Afraid to go in?”

Shen Mo didn’t say anything.

Jiang Ning, finding it amusing, poked him again, “When Zhiqi moves in, we’ll still need to sleep together. How can you be like this?”

Sleep… together?