“I’ll help you.”
Shen Huai took the plate from her hands without saying anything.
Shao Qin frowned. How had this woman found out about Shanshan’s situation? Even Old Wu didn’t know about it.
At that moment, Shao Qin completely forgot the task her husband had given her. Once she came back to her senses, she was covered in cold sweat.
If her daughter found out that she herself had been largely responsible for her eldest son-in-law’s death, she would surely turn the entire family upside down…
However, she was not afraid of Lin Shu at all. Instead, she was filled with hatred toward her. She was already thinking about how to teach this little brat a lesson next time.
She quickly walked over and whispered, “Stop pretending. I’ve been through this myself, so I understand you young girls’ thoughts better than anyone. Be smart and ask for a divorce yourself. Don’t stand in the way of Shen Huai’s future.”
Lin Shu suddenly understood and nodded.
Looking at Wu Ting’s behavior and then at Shao Qin’s anxious expression, she finally understood.
So they wanted Shen Huai to become their son-in-law.
Shao Qin thought Lin Shu had given in and happily turned around and went back into the kitchen.
“Shen Huai, Director Shao wants to talk to you.”
As soon as Shao Qin entered the kitchen, she immediately stuffed the agreement from earlier into the stove.
Was Lin Shu sent by Heaven specifically to torment her?
If Shen Huai found out that she and Old Wu were behind all of this, would they still be able to get along in the future?
Seeing that Lin Shu remained stubborn, a vicious glint flashed through Shao Qin’s eyes.
“No, Lin Shu misunderstood. You go to the study. And take this inside while you’re at it.”
Originally, Shen Huai had simply come out because he was worried and wanted to check on her. But now it was obvious that there really was something going on between the two women.
Shen Huai looked at Lin Shu suspiciously. Seeing the smile at the corners of her lips, he still wasn’t completely reassured and turned around to go back inside.
“I really can’t understand it. How did Shen Huai ever fall for you?”
The moment the door closed, Shao Qin immediately complained about Lin Shu in front of the others.
With the way Director Shao was acting, anyone would think she was Shen Huai’s biological mother. In private, she was treating Lin Shu like a wicked mother-in-law.
“I’m pretty. Director Shao.”
Shao Qin was so angry that she could not even speak.
Such a promising young man absolutely could not have his future ruined by a woman with a bad class background.
The women all had their own thoughts. The others did not say anything, but Wu Ting clearly held a grudge against Lin Shu.
Every time they chatted, she somehow managed to steer the conversation directly toward Lin Shu, always saying something embarrassing.
“Sister-in-law, I heard that your ancestors sold out the country?”
Those words exploded like a bomb, instantly setting Lin Shu off.
Her ancestors had simply been merchants who did business during a chaotic period.
Merchants loved money, but at the very least, they would not sell out their country.
If her ancestors had actually committed treason, she would never have had the chance to be born.
As the daughter of two military officials, Wu Ting should have known where to draw the line when it came to such matters.
Yet she had made such an unfounded accusation in front of everyone.
What was more, these were extraordinary times. Even the slightest rumor or suspicious incident could cost someone their life.
Lin Shu stood up, about to fire back, when a stern reprimand came from behind her.
“Comrade Wu Ting, as a member of the military, you are making unfounded accusations and spreading rumors. I have no choice but to report this to your superior.”
The moment Shao Qin heard this, she hurriedly squeezed herself between them.
“This child just talks without thinking. Don’t be angry, Shen Huai. I’ll educate her privately later.”
Shen Huai did not give her any face at all.
“I’m sorry, Director Shao. I’ll take Lin Shu home first. Since Comrade Wu Ting doesn’t welcome us, we won’t come again in the future.”
And just like that, Lin Shu was led away by Shen Huai, not daring to make a sound the entire time.
Once they were outside, he quickly released her hand. The two walked side by side along the main road.
“You… you should go back. I can go home by myself. I shouldn’t have come in the first place.”
A trace of self-blame appeared in Shen Huai’s eyes. He felt that it was his fault for not thinking things through and allowing her to be bullied.
“It’s my fault. If you don’t like it, we won’t come here anymore.”
Lin Shu was surprised.
She knew that this situation was partly her own fault, but it was also inseparable from the social climate of the time. She had no objection to people looking down on her because of her background.
The man in front of her lowered his eyes, his expression cold. Clearly, he had been angered.
Lin Shu reached out and gently rubbed his cheek.
“All right. Besides, Staff Officer Wu is someone who has helped you a lot. You should still maintain a good relationship with him. I just won’t have any contact with them anymore.”
“But…”
“Are you not going to listen to me?”
Shen Huai fell silent, then slowly nodded, reluctantly agreeing.
A man who could probably knock her out with a single slap was actually this obedient.
Lin Shu felt that spending the rest of her life with him might not be such a bad thing after all.
But then she remembered her own class background…
She could only cherish the time she had now. At least for the moment, this good man belonged to her.
“Shen Huai, you’re really wonderful!”
She held back her tears and said this brightly to the man beside her.
The corners of Shen Huai’s lips curved upward as he looked at her, but in his heart, he did not dare agree with what she had said.
In reality, he was not as simple as she thought.
He had his own schemes and his own motives as well.
The two walked side by side, but there was still a little distance between them. Shen Huai wanted to move closer, but Lin Shu pushed him away.
He looked at her in confusion.
Lin Shu turned her head and saw that, at some point, the man had become aggrieved. His dark eyes were as clear and innocent as a child’s.
Helplessly, Lin Shu explained, “Even though we’re husband and wife, we can’t walk too close together outside. These are unusual times. Besides, you know my situation. If someone sees us and starts gossiping, it’ll affect you.”
Lin Shu understood the consequences very well.
There was a distant uncle whose daughter had also married a soldier.
The two had grown up together and had been close since childhood.
But because they had not been careful enough when they were outside, people started spreading rumors. As a result, that uncle’s daughter had been afraid to leave the house for quite some time.
People looked down on those from the so-called “Black Five Categories.” Once anything suspicious happened, this group would be the first to be targeted.
Now she had to be extremely cautious in everything she did so that she would not affect Shen Huai.
“Why? You’re my wife. What’s wrong with me walking beside you?”
“But they’ll say that I seduced you, that I’m a capitalist’s…”
Before she could finish speaking, Shen Huai covered her mouth.
“All right. I understand.”
At that moment, Shen Huai’s heart ached for her.
He had never known that people were saying such things behind her back.
She must have experienced many unpleasant things.
“A-Shu, don’t worry. From now on, I’ll be here.”
“Mm. I believe you.”
Shen Huai was practically someone blessed by fate. It would be difficult for him not to succeed.
In a way, she even had to thank Wu Ting. If Wu Ting had not caused this incident, the relationship between her and Shen Huai would not have taken another step forward.
Realizing that Shen Huai truly loved her, Lin Shu felt a little guilty.
She thought about how the two of them would be divorced in less than four months.
Such a good man would end up being given to another woman.
But reason quickly pulled her back.
Now was not the time to indulge in sentimental thoughts.
All the “evidence” in the house had already been destroyed, but she had never entered her brother and sister-in-law’s room or her father’s room.
As for the study, she could claim that her mother in heaven had wanted to read the books.
But when it came to the private rooms of the two men in the family, she could not easily find an excuse to act.
Especially her older brother’s foreign friends whom he had met while studying abroad.
There was more than one of them.
They had a very close relationship and kept in frequent contact. Her brother’s achievements in scientific research were inseparable from the help of these friends.
Even though he had repeatedly made contributions at work, many people were jealous of him behind the scenes. If anything happened and those people joined forces to kick him while he was down, it would be inevitable.
Because of the family’s class background, both her father and brother felt inferior to others. They were extremely respectful toward Shen Huai and usually listened to him the most.
Therefore, Shen Huai was the perfect person to help her!
Noticing his wife staring at him with a sly look in her eyes, Shen Huai took the initiative to ask,
“Go ahead. What do you want to say?”