Shen Jinan, carefree and unconcerned, even opened the window and shouted, “Sister Baozhu, be careful! Don’t fall again!”
Shen Baozhu replied pitifully, “Xiao Nan, will you come with me?”
Without a second thought, Shen Jinan shook his head. “I haven’t finished my Winter Holiday Homework yet, Sis. I’m going to work on it now.”
Then he closed the window and returned to the stove to crack melon seeds.
Shen Qi watched coldly. This was the beloved “good brother” Shen Baozhu always talked about—he couldn’t even accompany her to buy groceries.
Xu Ailian, watching Shen Qi crack melon seeds, drink tea, warm herself by the fire, and watch TV, felt extremely irritated and tried every way to make her work.
“The floor needs sweeping, Shen Qi. You do it.”
“Why is the window so dirty? It needs to be cleaned.”
“Your brother’s clothes from his bathhouse visit the day before yesterday haven’t been washed yet. Go scrub them now.”
Shen Qi didn’t talk back. She obediently agreed and picked up the broom, sweeping slowly and deliberately.
Xu Ailian urged her, “Hurry up! There’s so much to do. If you don’t speed up, you won’t finish by noon.”
“Huh?” Shen Qi feigned surprise. “Am I the only one with hands in this house?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Shen Jinan will be eighteen after the New Year. Isn’t he old enough to wipe windows and wash his own clothes?”
“He’s your brother. Why are you ordering him around?”
“I’m doing this for his own good,” Shen Qi said seriously. “Didn’t he say he wants to join the Troops? Will someone scrub his clothes for him there? Doesn’t he have to handle his own chores in the Troops? If he can’t do anything, he’ll get beaten up as soon as he arrives.”
“That’s something to worry about later. He hasn’t even graduated from high school yet. What’s the rush?”
“If Dad finds out you’re spoiling him like this, he’ll definitely be angry.” Shen Qi shook her head. “Actually, I think Shen Jinan has potential. He may not be great at studying, but he’s a good candidate for the Troops. It’d be a shame if he’s looked down on over trivial matters—not worth the loss.”
Xu Ailian was speechless. It seemed… there was some logic to that?
Shen Congjun had repeatedly told her not to spoil the children, saying that doing everything for them would ruin them and hinder Shen Jinan’s entry into the Troops.
“Maybe… Xiao Nan, you go wipe the windows?”
“Wiping windows can wait. Let him learn to wash clothes first. Who’s going to wash his clothes after he enlists? He can’t go around looking sloppy all the time, right?”
“Right. Xiao Nan, come here. Mom will teach you how to wash clothes.”
Shen Jinan stuffed two handfuls of melon seeds into his pocket, tossed out a “I have things to do outside, I’ll be back for dinner later,” and slipped away—completely unwilling to do any work.
Shen Qi shook her head at Xu Ailian, as if to say, “Sigh, what a hopeless case.”
Xu Ailian’s face tightened, her mood thoroughly soured.
Shen Baozhu returned from grocery shopping, trudging through the snow, her face flushed red from the cold.
Her eyes were red too, as if someone had bullied her.
“Shen Qi, you’ve gone too far!” she fumed.
Shen Qi raised an eyebrow. “I was trying to help you, and you’re blaming me?”
“You got Grandpa Fang hospitalized!”
“What?” Shen Qi frowned. “Impossible. Grandpa Fang was perfectly fine yesterday.”
Precisely because she didn’t want to trouble Grandpa Fang, she had only brought up ending the engagement with Fang Yi and said nothing else.
“How dare you! It’s all because of you, running to Grandpa Fang and spouting nonsense!”
Shen Qi didn’t believe Shen Baozhu. She decided to go to the Fang residence herself.
The Fang family’s gate was tightly shut. No matter how long she knocked, no one answered.
Shen Qi then went to the guard post at the main gate and asked, receiving a confirmation.
“Yes, an ambulance came. The old master of the Fang family had a sudden illness, and the whole family went over.”
So he really did fall ill?
Deep furrows formed between Shen Qi’s brows—it must have been something Fang Yi said that angered Grandpa Fang.
Although she knew Grandpa Fang would likely recover, Shen Qi still rushed to the hospital.
In her previous life, she had waited anxiously at home for news, only gathering the courage to visit after Grandpa Fang was discharged.
Shen Qi no longer wanted to be a timid and cowardly person. She needed to go to the hospital and see Grandpa Fang come out of the operating room with her own eyes to feel at ease.
The Fang family had gathered outside the operating room, everyone’s faces grim.
Fang’s Father angrily scolded his son: “You insist on opposing your grandfather—do you want to anger him to death before you’re satisfied?!”
Fang Yi stiffened his neck: “It’s Grandfather who’s being unreasonable! The debt of gratitude he owes, why should I repay it? We’re in a new society now—I have the freedom to choose my own wife!”
Ding Mengshu chimed in: “Xiao Yi is right. It’s Dad who’s being stubborn. If Xiao Yi doesn’t like that girl, forcing them together is just making things difficult!”
“What do you know?!” Fang’s Father was furious. Women only care about likes and dislikes, love and romance!
Having the old man around brought many hidden benefits. If he were gone, with the man gone the tea cools—many things wouldn’t be as easily handled as before.
Ding Mengshu pursed her lips, clearly displeased.
Fang’s Father pointed at his son: “After your grandfather is discharged, you’ll immediately have a proper talk with Shen Qi. What’s this nonsense about canceling the engagement?! She’s just a child—how can she decide such important matters? When she comes of age next year, you’ll register your marriage immediately!”
Fang Yi clenched his fists, “No! I’m a living person, not a puppet to be manipulated! No one can control my life!”
“Well said.”
Shen Qi had appeared behind the crowd at some point, clapping twice with apparent seriousness.
“I’m no longer a child. I can decide all my own matters, including marriage.”
Her tone was cool, her gaze firm. “Previously, it was Grandpa Fang who strongly promoted this. I couldn’t refuse, not wanting to disregard the old man’s goodwill, which is why I interacted with Fang Yi.”
“After getting to know him, I found Fang Yi has no redeeming qualities, hence I proposed to cancel the engagement.”
“I hope Uncle Fang and Aunt Ding will help persuade Grandpa together. Don’t let repaying kindness end up creating enmity.”
The three members of the Fang family looked even more displeased.
Fang Yi’s gaze was murderous: “How dare you show your face here?! Spouting such high-sounding words, Shen Qi—what is your face made of to be this thick-skinned?!”
Fang’s Father’s gaze was icy: “We have no time to entertain you now, Shen Qi. You should leave.”
Not only did Shen Qi not leave, she instead sat down on the bench. “I’m not here to see you. I’ll leave on my own once Grandpa Fang comes out of the operating room.”
Ding Mengshu was quite unhappy: “Can’t you understand plain language, child? Must you stir up trouble until our family has no peace?”
Shen Qi tilted her head, looking at the three: “You think it’s my fault?”
“If not for you, would my grandfather be in the operating room?!” Fang Yi roared.
“It was clearly you, Fang Yi, who caused this, and you’re blaming me?” Shen Qi sneered. “I saved Grandpa Fang, and it was Grandpa Fang who insisted his grandson was outstanding and arranged the engagement. I didn’t refuse the old man’s goodwill and actively interacted with you.”
“You’re the one who’s been half-hearted all along, flirting with Shen Baozhu while enjoying my efforts, unwilling to have a proper talk with Grandpa Fang, and throwing tantrums nonstop.
Do you really think Grandpa Fang is forcing himself to repay a favor now? It’s because the old man feels his grandson is too disobedient, wanting to discipline you through this matter and teach you a lesson.
Speaking of which, I’m the innocent victim here. Clearly, I’m the one who saved Grandpa Fang—how did I end up becoming a pawn in your power struggle between the Fang family grandfather and grandson?”