Chapter 40: The Official Daughter-in-Law of the Zhan Family

“Why?” Yi An’an blinked, looking up at Zhan Nanhui.

“You have to catch the bus early and late. Wearing a watch makes it more convenient,” Zhan Nanhui said softly. “This watch—I’m just lending it to you for now. Take good care of it.”

Yi An’an subtly felt the watch on her wrist and was just about to refuse when Chen Sisi’s voice came from outside.

Zhan Nanhui frowned slightly.

Yi An’an was also a bit annoyed. Why is Chen Sisi here again?

Just then, Chen Sisi had already entered through the gate. Seeing the watch on the table, she immediately stepped forward, picked it up, and said, “Zhan gege, how did you know I came to borrow your watch?”

Zhan Nanhui’s gaze turned cold as he took the watch from Chen Sisi’s hand and said grimly, “I didn’t know. But this watch is not for you to borrow.”

Chen Sisi frowned. “Zhan gege, this watch was given by Auntie to her future daughter-in-law. When we left the capital, she told you to pass it on to me!”

So this is the Zhan family heirloom!

Yi An’an immediately took the watch from Zhan Nanhui and put it on her other wrist. She waved it in front of Chen Sisi and said sweetly to Zhan Nanhui, “No wonder you gave it to me. So it’s to be passed on to the official daughter-in-law of the Zhan family. In that case, I’ll gladly accept it!”

Zhan Nanhui froze for a second. He hadn’t said he was giving it to Yi An’an—just lending it to her for a while.

But now that Chen Sisi was here, he didn’t want to say more.

Seeing the beloved watch on Yi An’an’s wrist, Chen Sisi tried to snatch it back, but Yi An’an swiftly dodged.

“What, you’re going to try to steal it now?” Yi An’an asked coldly.

Chen Sisi stomped her foot in frustration. “Yi An’an, that watch was supposed to be mine! Auntie meant to give it to me!”

“But I’m the Zhan family’s daughter-in-law now. We’re legally married. Who are you exactly?” Yi An’an retorted sharply.

Chen Sisi’s face turned red. She had no comeback. Needing to use the watch urgently, she lowered her tone. “Fine, I won’t argue with you. I just need it for something urgent. Let me borrow it. I’ll return it right after.”

“What’s so urgent?” Yi An’an asked.

Zhan Nanhui frowned slightly and looked at Yi An’an.

In truth, it didn’t matter to Zhan Nanhui what the emergency was. He wouldn’t lend the watch out.

It was the last keepsake his mother left him before she passed away. He only thought to lend it to Yi An’an temporarily because she was always rushing around, and it might help her stay on time.

“I…” Chen Sisi glanced at Zhan Nanhui. She couldn’t say the real reason. “Anyway, I’m doing this for our future. I promise I’ll take good care of it and won’t damage it.”

Our future?

Seeing Zhan Nanhui unmoved, Chen Sisi added, “I went to the township government today and met a teacher who will be assigned as a proctor for the college entrance exam. He’s known for being strict and incorruptible, but he has a thing for watches. This watch from Auntie was brought back specially from overseas. There are very few of them in the world. I want to show it to him, maybe build a connection.”

She turned to Yi An’an again. “Don’t you want your man to succeed in the college entrance exam and get into university?”

She had deliberately passed the problem to Yi An’an. If Yi An’an refused, and Zhan Nanhui later failed the exam, he might blame her for not lending the watch.

From Chen Sisi’s perspective, she was wholeheartedly doing this for Zhan Nanhui’s sake.

Yi An’an glanced at Zhan Nanhui.

The watch belonged to him, and the exam was his to take. She didn’t support bribing exam officials but didn’t want to make decisions for him either.

She also wanted to see what kind of person Zhan Nanhui really was.

He had always wanted to leave this place. The college entrance exam was the quickest way out.

If he was willing to resort to this kind of trick to get out faster, then he and she were definitely not the same kind of people.

“I’ll definitely pass. I don’t need tricks like this,” Zhan Nanhui said in a low voice. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

Chen Sisi looked hurt. “Zhan gege, I really am doing this for your sake. Why can’t you appreciate it?”

Zhan Nanhui turned to Yi An’an. “From now on, keep the gate locked.”

Yi An’an quickly responded and turned to Chen Sisi. “Comrade Chen, you’re not welcome here. Please leave.”

Chen Sisi began to sob. She looked up at Zhan Nanhui and said quietly, “I know you’re angry at me, but when we came from the capital together, I was just a girl. What else could I do?”

She went on, “Do you remember Wang Xiaohuan, the educated youth who came with us? She jumped into the river recently, and no one’s found her body yet. She was pregnant, and no one knows who the father was. She was beautiful and was bullied many times at the commune.”

Zhan Nanhui’s brow twitched.

Of course, he remembered Wang Xiaohuan. The three of them had arrived at the township together. Her father had been a subordinate of his own father, and before leaving, his father had asked him to take care of her.

Last time he saw her, she was fine. So how could this have happened…?

Seeing Zhan Nanhui’s expression change, Chen Sisi knew her words had struck a nerve. “With my looks, if I hadn’t found a way to get into the performing troupe back then, I’d have ended up worse than Wang Xiaohuan. Zhan gege, women are more vulnerable than men. I had to protect myself. Is it really so wrong that I temporarily relied on that impotent troupe leader?”

Zhan Nanhui’s subtle reactions did not escape Yi An’an’s eyes.

So, Zhan Nanhui still cared about Chen Sisi.

Yi An’an sighed silently, then stood up and carried the bowls and chopsticks outside.
She didn’t want to see the scene of the two of them pouring out their hearts.

“That was your choice. It has nothing to do with me,” Zhan Nanhui said, glancing at Yi An’an’s retreating back. Then he said coldly, “The watch won’t be lent to you. Leave.”

“Zhan Nanhui, how can you be so heartless? I was the daughter-in-law your mother picked—”

Before Chen Sisi could finish, Zhan Nanhui cut her off.

“That was in the past. Now, my wife is Yi An’an.” His voice was firm.

He stood up, walked to the yard, and opened the gate. “Go.”

Chen Sisi wept bitterly, her shoulders shaking, looking utterly pitiful.

Zhan Nanhui stood by the gate with a stony expression, lost in thought.

After Chen Sisi walked away, crying as she went, Zhan Nanhui remained by the gate for a long time, clearly troubled by what had happened to Wang Xiaohuan.

All of this was seen through the small window by Yi An’an, who was hiding in the shed.