009: Wen Qiao Works as a Maid, Warned by Shen Jichuan
At this moment, Wen Qiao had just reached the kitchen doorway. She heard clearly what Shen Jichuan and Wang Yuezhi were saying about her.
Wen Qiao let out a bitter, light laugh.
Indeed, wasn’t it true that she had schemed tirelessly, even going so far as to stir up trouble and shamelessly cling on, just to marry Shen Jichuan?
In his eyes, she naturally became a scheming woman.
Wen Qiao focused seriously on her work in the kitchen.
That morning, she had gone to the market to buy fresh vegetables.
Like the Shen family, the Zhao household had long ago acquired a refrigerator.
In the countryside, such a thing was not only unseen but unheard of.
Combining both her past and present lives, Wen Qiao had only ever seen one and knew such a thing existed.
It was Auntie Wang who told her: the top part was for freezing, the bottom for refrigeration.
Meat should be placed in the top to freeze, so even in the heat of summer, it wouldn’t spoil or develop odors.
That morning, Wen Qiao had bought two jin of meat, originally planning to use it for stir-fries.
Auntie Wang said that since there were guests at home today, Wen Qiao should braise it into braised pork.
Auntie Wang was well aware of Wen Qiao’s cooking skills.
She had full confidence in her.
In the living room, Wang Yuezhi chatted with Shen Jichuan about everyday trivial matters.
“Wen Qiao is a girl from the countryside who came to rely on relatives. She’s sensible and said she didn’t want to trouble them, so she found a job instead.”
“Jichuan, you still hold deep prejudices against women comrades. What happened back then is in the past; you should let it go. All these years, not getting married isn’t a solution. Haiyang is already so grown up. You should find someone suitable; you’ll have someone to accompany you in the future.”
Shen Jichuan was never short of people trying to set him up.
But he wasn’t interested, mainly because he didn’t want to marry.
When he adopted Shen Haiyang, the boy had become withdrawn after losing both parents. Shen Jichuan poured all his energy and time into him.
Later, he met someone he was quite satisfied with, and they reached the point of discussing marriage, but she chose someone else.
Shen Jichuan didn’t resent anyone.
He truly lacked the ability to love.
He spoke coldly and directly, never knew how to sweet-talk, and work always came first.
Even when a partner was sick and needed him most, he was always too busy, unavailable.
Not even a word of concern.
Being in a relationship with him was like being with a block of ice.
That’s what his former partner had said about him.
Shen Jichuan said calmly, “I’m too old to talk about feelings anymore. Haiyang is about to start looking for a partner. I’m fine living like this; you don’t need to worry about me.”
“You child, calling yourself old in front of me—then I must be an antique.”
Wang Yuezhi chuckled.
Zhao Minghan came out hearing their laughter.
He asked, “What are you talking about, laughing so happily?”
As he spoke, he glanced at the clock on the wall.
“Mom, Lili is about to finish school. I’ll go pick her up.”
“Jichuan, please sit and have some watermelon. Lili’s school is very close; I’ll be right back.”
Zhao Minghan’s daughter, Zhao Lili, was in fifth grade at the elementary school within the family compound.
It was a five-minute walk.
Round trip, about ten minutes.
Shen Jichuan nodded.
“Go ahead, it’s fine.”
Wang Yuezhi was very enthusiastic. Seeing Shen Jichuan not taking any watermelon, she personally handed him a slice. Shen Jichuan didn’t stand on ceremony either, quickly finishing the watermelon. Looking at the juice on his hands, he stood up.
After saying to Wang Yuezhi, "Auntie, I'm going to wash my hands," he didn't head to the bathroom but went straight to the kitchen instead.
Wen Qiao had already prepared the stir-fried vegetables, and braised pork was simmering in the pot. When someone suddenly entered the kitchen, Wen Qiao assumed it was Brother Zhao.
As she turned around to ask what the person who had come in wanted, she looked up and saw it was Shen Jichuan.
The spatula in Wen Qiao's hand nearly fell to the ground.
Shen Jichuan glanced at Wen Qiao with an indifferent expression. "How did you manage to become a nanny at Principal Zhao's house?"
Wen Qiao hadn't expected him to ask that.
Just as she was about to explain, Shen Jichuan continued coldly, "Remember what I said: don't mention our relationship to anyone outside."
Wen Qiao nodded.
"I know. I haven't said anything. I'll continue pretending not to know you."
As for how she ended up working as a nanny at Principal Zhao's house, she felt there was no need to explain.
Even if she did, would Shen Jichuan believe her?
Her earlier actions were indeed deliberate threats against Shen Jichuan.
But later, when she regretted it and wanted to negotiate with him, he hadn't given her the chance to backtrack.
She could only let the mistake stand.
To be honest, marrying Shen Jichuan and humiliating Shen Haiyang had indeed given her satisfaction.
But without money, she couldn't take a single step.
Now, she had no mind to humiliate Shen Haiyang; all she wanted was to earn money and support herself first.
In her past life, her obsession with Shen Haiyang had led to such a miserable end.
Was it only Shen Haiyang's cruelty and ruthlessness to blame?
Wasn't there also her own fault?
Wen Qiao had thought about this question.
But now, she was the passive and weak one. In Shen Jichuan's eyes, no matter what she did, it would be wrong.
Explaining would be pointless; it was better to say nothing.
When Zhao Minghan returned from outside and didn't see Shen Jichuan in the living room, he asked his mother, "Has Jichuan left?"
Wang Yuezhi replied, "He went to wash his hands."
Seeing Shen Jichuan emerge from the kitchen, Zhao Minghan said with a smile, "It's not your first time at my house. Don't you know where the bathroom is?"
"The kitchen was closer," Shen Jichuan said flatly.
Inside the kitchen, Wen Qiao thought to herself that Shen Jichuan hadn't come because the kitchen was closer—he had come to warn her.
While working at Principal Zhao's house, she must not mention their relationship.
At the same time, he reminded Wen Qiao to be mindful of boundaries.
If it were known that the wife of a deputy division-level cadre was working as a nanny in someone else's home, it would embarrass him.
At her father's prompting, Zhao Lili obediently called out, "Uncle Shen."
Then she turned and headed to the kitchen.
With a sweet voice, she called out to Wen Qiao, "Sister Qiao, I finished all my exams this time. Can you come to the next parent-teacher meeting? My classmates all say you're really pretty."
Wen Qiao turned to look at the fifth-grade girl in front of her and said softly, "Sure, but only if your dad and grandma agree. Come and taste the braised pork I made—is it too salty or too bland?"
The Zhao family treated her very well—the elderly couple, Zhao Minghan, and his daughter Zhao Lili were all kind to her, especially Zhao Lili.
Having grown up without her mother around, Zhao Lili was introverted and withdrawn, disliking contact with others.
It took Wen Qiao three to five days to gradually win her over with food.
Wen Qiao's education level wasn't high, so she couldn't help Zhao Lili with her studies.
But she would wash Zhao Lili's clothes, tidy up her room, and pick out clean, comfortable, and pretty outfits for her.
She would also braid her hair into delicate little plaits.
Zhao Lili especially liked this older sister.
Wen Qiao picked up a piece of meat with just the right balance of fat and lean, blew on it to cool it down, and fed it into Zhao Lili's mouth.
Looking at Sister Xiao Qiao, who was smiling brightly at her, Zhao Lili felt a warm glow in her heart.
"Sister Xiao Qiao, you're so good."
"Will you be my mommy?"