Chapter 73

On the second day of the lunar new year, Shen Cui took Mu Er Pang back to her mother’s home, while Mrs. Zhou naturally went back to her brother’s home in the city.

After entering the city, the three separated, agreeing on a rough time to meet at the city gate and return to the village together.

This time, when they went to Teapot house again, Shen Cui couldn’t avoid it. Zheng Shi pulled her into the inner room and directly pinched her ear.

Like occasionally pinching Mu Er Pang, she didn’t use much force. Zheng Shi was not as tall as Shen Cui, so Shen Cui had to bend down a bit and let her pinch her ear and lead her into the room.

Zheng Shi dragged her onto the kang, scolding her without anger, “You dare to run yesterday? If you have the guts, don’t come back today!”

Hearing Shen Cui’s exaggerated gasp, Zheng Shi snorted again heavily before letting go of her hand.

The original body had delicate skin and tender flesh, but since Shen Cui came over, she had been purchasing daily necessities in the system from time to time, including expensive skincare products from her previous life, which cost only 10 points per bottle, enough for a month’s use. She didn’t even eat a single stick of spicy strips, but she couldn’t resist this kind of temptation. So, like sanitary products, she also used skincare products in her daily life, except for the month when she was supplying Wei Xi with medicine.

So Zheng Shi felt that she hadn’t used much force, but Shen Cui’s ear, along with the area around it, turned red.

Zheng Shi’s face softened slightly.

Seeing that she wasn’t so angry anymore, Shen Cui stopped rubbing her ear, which wasn’t really painful anyway, and smiled apologetically, “I know I was wrong, I won’t run away next time. But yesterday, wasn’t Mrs. Zhou there? After all, I am her mother-in-law, being scolded in front of her by her own mother, it’s a bit embarrassing.”

“Why did you bring her then?”

“She is my daughter-in-law, and there were no relatives visiting the Mu family. We are living together now. It wouldn’t be right to leave her behind. So, I just brought her along.”

That was the reasoning, but Zheng Shi obviously knew she wasn’t telling the truth and said unkindly, “She said you’ve already taught her to read, write, and do business. Yesterday, you even belittled yourself and praised her, clearly taking her out to experience and broaden her horizons, not just ‘bringing her along’.”

“You can see through it. I do intend to take her out. And she can handle it. Yesterday, didn’t she know how to defend me?”

After yesterday’s incident, Zheng Shi naturally knew that Mrs. Zhou was indeed good. Compared to Mrs. Li, she was still much better, not to mention she was much better than Mrs. Chen.

If she were her own granddaughter-in-law, Zheng Shi would have liked her even more. Without Shen Cui’s intervention, she would have taken care of how to make Mrs. Zhou stand up and support the family.

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Zheng Shi looked at Shen Cui with disappointment. “What benefit do you get from bringing her out? Yes, as Mu Er Pang said, now that she is living with you, she won’t forget you when she earns money. But what about the future…”

“In the future, Mu Er Pang will have to take the imperial examination. When he passes, there will be no need for Mrs. Zhou to support him.”

“Don’t play dumb with me. They are a couple! In the future, will she stand by her husband or by you, her mother-in-law?”

Seeing that she couldn’t avoid this topic, Shen Cui said seriously, “I have been with her for a long time. She is kind and simple, but lacks initiative. I want to cultivate her to be more independent. So, when the situation arises in the future, she will know to base her decisions not on favoritism, but on what is right.”

“You have become more articulate and independent since you started studying with Mu Er Pang. I can’t argue with you anymore.” Zheng Shi sighed. “My child, I really want the best for you. I told you earlier, you should have been more determined. I told you, with Mu Yunchuan, either you should be ruthless and cut off his path to success, or you should treat him well, at least to win his heart… But you insisted on letting him study while treating him poorly. What can I say? It’s also because your elder and second brother’s business in the city was just starting to flourish back then, and I was focused on settling the family in the city. I didn’t pay much attention to you.”

Zheng Shi agreed with Shen Cui’s remarks. The actions of the original body were indeed frustrating, but Shen Cui couldn’t control what had happened before. She had to admit, “I was confused before.”

Later, Zheng Shi sighed again and said, “I hope what you said is true. Zhou Shi is someone who knows how to repay kindness… Don’t just sit there, go eat!”

After speaking, the mother and daughter returned to the main room.

Although Mu Er Pang was playing with his younger cousin, he kept an eye on the direction of the inner room.

When he saw his mother come out, Mu Er Pang immediately looked at her with an inquiring gaze.

Shen Cui nodded slightly at him and gave him a look.

Mu Er Pang put down his toy and approached Zheng Shi, gently holding her hand, and said, “Grandma, I have learned several books this year. Let me recite a passage for you.”

In the past year, to avoid disturbing Mu Er Pang’s studies, Zheng Shi had been sneaking glances at him, wanting to hear him recite for a long time.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Shi immediately smiled happily and exclaimed three times, “Good!”

After a meal, Mu Er Pang made Zheng Shi so happy that any previous grievances were completely eliminated.

In the afternoon, both Chen Shi and Li Shi returned from their parents’ homes.

Shen Cui saw Chen Shi coming towards her and thought she must have been influenced by her mother and come up with some new ideas.

Since it was almost time for her and Zhou Shi to return to the village, she got up to say goodbye, not giving Chen Shi a chance to speak.

Zheng Shi came out of the kitchen with a food box and said, “Teacher Lao Buyu is alone at the academy. He’s a grown man who won’t cook. Since we’re staying out late today, I brought some food from home to save you the trouble when you get back… The bottom layer is tofu I made myself. I noticed that child ate a few more bites yesterday, so I packed some extra for you. Just fry it in a pan when you get home.”

She had said in the morning that it wasn’t wise to bring Zhou Shi out, but she still remembered what she liked to eat.

Shen Cui felt touched and called her “mother.”

“Let’s go, don’t be a bother in front of me.” Zheng Shi pushed her out of the house.

Because they thought there was still plenty of time, Shen Cui and Mu Er Pang walked slowly to the city gate.

However, they didn’t expect Zhou Shi to already be standing there when they arrived.

Today the street was bustling with excitement. Families with a bit of extra money would bring their families out to stroll around and buy some small items.

Zhou Shi was holding a candied hawthorn stick, but the candy coating had started to melt in the midday sun.

As they approached, Shen Cui glanced at Zhou Shi’s face. Her complexion was normal, just a bit paler than usual.

Zhou Shi greeted them with a smile, “Why are you here so early, Mother-in-law? I was thinking of asking Grandma to keep you guys a little longer.”

She seemed a bit off, but since Zhou Shi had gone back to her parents’ home today, whatever bothered her must be related to her family matters. Shen Cui decided not to interfere in such domestic affairs.

Pretending not to know, Shen Cui replied, “My sister-in-law seemed to have something to discuss with me. I guessed it might be about letting her relatives study here, so I left early.”

Mu Er Pang also acted as if he didn’t notice and asked Zhou Shi, “Is this candied hawthorn stick for me, sister-in-law?”

Zhou Shi instinctively said ‘yes’, and Mu Er Pang took it with a thank you.

Only then did Zhou Shi notice that her hand was sticky from the melted candy. She hurriedly said, “This one has melted, it’s not good. Let me buy you another one.”

Mu Er Pang took a bite of the candied hawthorn stick, chewing loudly. He enjoyed it a lot, “No need, this one is fine. It hasn’t gone bad, I can still eat it!”

With the crowd on the street, the three of them were swept along. Shen Cui urged them to walk and talk at the same time.

They walked back home together, just like they had come. Zhou Shi still seemed a bit absent-minded. It took her a while to realize that Shen Cui was carrying a food box and insisting on carrying it herself.

Shen Cui teased her, saying, “Are you smelling the aroma of fermented tofu? My mother even said yesterday that she saw you eat a few more bites and thought you liked it, so she specially brought some for you.”

“Grandma’s cooking is very good. The fermented tofu has crispy tofu skin and sweet and savory meat filling…” As she spoke, Zhou Shi’s eyes suddenly turned red.

Shen Cui glanced at Mu Er Pang, who quickly walked a few steps ahead of them, showing he understood and avoiding making her worry.

“Tell me, is your younger sister-in-law bullying you, or is it both your younger brother and sister-in-law?”

Zhou Shi tried to wipe her eyes, but when Shen Cui asked, tears fell uncontrollably.

She cried with a choked voice, and Shen Cui gently patted her back, waiting for her to calm down before Zhou Shi slowly explained what had happened that morning.

It turned out that when she went to her brother’s house that day, she prepared red envelopes for her nephew since she had earned some money. She also bought a candied hawthorn stick from a vendor.

But unfortunately, when she arrived at the alley, she saw her brother and sister-in-law coming out with her nephew in their arms.

Her brother hesitated a bit, saying, “Since you’re going back to your mother’s house today, wouldn’t it be better if you go back by yourself? What if my sister comes back home and finds nobody?”

His sister-in-law immediately retorted, “Other people going back to their mother’s house would bring their family along. Why should I go back only for myself?”

“This… this is because our family’s situation is special, with no elders at home. Didn’t you know this before you married me?”

” Zhou Heng, don’t forget, this house was purchased with money from my mother’s family… She didn’t even bother to visit us last year. There’s no guarantee she’ll come this year. Let’s go, let’s go.”

Although the situation was embarrassing and the words of her sister-in-law were not pleasant to hear, Zhou Shi just thought it was unfortunate timing and tried to avoid them.

She found a corner to stand in, her wide and large coat hiding her figure, so even her own brother didn’t recognize her from behind.

As they passed by, Zhou Shi heard her brother say, “Even if not for my sister, even if it’s for my brother-in-law? My brother-in-law is a scholar who passed the exam and entered the government school to study. He has a bright future. Who wouldn’t give our family some face when they hear about him?”

His sister-in-law scoffed, “You shouldn’t have mentioned this. Just thinking about it makes me worry for your sister. As you said, your brother-in-law is a scholar with a bright future. Can he really live with your sister for a lifetime?”

This made Zhou Shi quite angry, but her brother quickly agreed, “We know the situation ourselves. As you said, my brother-in-law is a scholar, with a bright future. He can’t just live with my sister for a lifetime.”

“I know, I know. When we meet her again, I will be polite to her. Let’s go, she might not come today. If she finds out we’re not at home when she comes, she won’t be angry with us.”

The young couple left after their conversation.

Zhou Shi felt both angry and wronged, but she had been making a living for many years and wouldn’t cry over a few idle words. She soon adjusted her emotions.

But for some reason, every time Shen Cui asked, Zhou Shi’s tears flowed uncontrollably.

After hearing Zhou Shi’s story, Shen Cui was not surprised. Zhou Shi’s brother wouldn’t let her suffer in her original life. Even if she endured it silently, how could her own brother not know her situation? Obviously, she just didn’t care.

In the original plot, Zhou Shi’s brother’s family had little involvement, except for visiting and mourning after Zhou Shi’s death.

Mu Yunchuan knew his brother-in-law was insincere, but out of respect for the deceased Zhou Shi, he still gave him some consolation money and found him a small job.

For such a family, Shen Cui wouldn’t be surprised by any hurtful words.

“You…” Shen Cui sighed in frustration. “I praised you in front of my mother today, saying you are smart and clever, and have made great progress. How could you be bullied just like that?”

Zhou Shi blushed, but quickly realized that Shen Cui was not blaming her but encouraging her. She was not alone now; she had family backing her up!

After pondering for a while, Zhou Shi reflected, “I shouldn’t have hidden. The house in the city was bought by my sister-in-law. I didn’t have the ability to provide my brother with a decent dowry when they got married. So she didn’t owe me anything, nor did she have to respect me. Since we can’t get along, I should just avoid them in the future… But when my parents passed away,. He was raised by me, but he doesn’t show any respect for me as his elder sister. I should settle the score with him.”

She had indeed made progress compared to before. Seeing that she had figured it out herself, Shen Cui didn’t need to say much. She just asked, “If Mu Er Pang grows up in the future and is not filial to me, and conspires against me behind my back with his wife, what should I do?”

Mu Er Pang hadn’t gone far and vaguely heard this. He immediately whispered in his heart, how could he be unfilial to his mother?! He would rather be struck by lightning than do that!

However, since his mother and sister-in-law were having a heart-to-heart talk, he didn’t intervene and deliberately walked a few steps ahead.

“He’s not that kind of child… If that day really comes, I’ll be there with you to beat him with a cane!”

This remark was also heard by Mu Er Pang, so he walked even farther away.

After walking for a while, Zhou Shi wiped her face and apologized, “Mom and Mu Er Pang, please go back first. I have something to do.”

Shen Cui let her go. When Zhou Shi left, Mu Er Pang came over and asked what she was up to.

Shen Cui smiled and said, “Maybe she’s going to buy a cane?”

Mu Er Pang: “Huh?”