Shen Qingran looked calmly at her so-called parents sitting opposite her.
Some people simply didn’t deserve to be parents—like the pair in front of her.
“I’m going to the countryside, and I’ll need a lot of money. This box is definitely not enough!”
“At the very least, I need 10,000 yuan, plus nationwide grain and oil ration tickets!”
“Fabric tickets and wine tickets that can be used nationwide!”
“Daily necessities like firewood, rice, oil, and salt are essential!”
“Additionally…”
Before Shen Qingran could finish, her stepmother’s face darkened.
“No, Qingran, aren’t you asking too much?”
Shen Tang also chimed in, “Yes, that’s a bit excessive!”
Shen Qingran didn’t argue or raise her voice—there was no need yet.
Emotions were to be used where they had value.
She looked at her stepmother with a smiling gaze. Though it was a smile, Zheng Xiuyu felt goosebumps rise on her back.
She had always thought she could read this little girl, but now she couldn’t discern anything from her eyes.
Shen Tang said, “Daughter, going to the countryside isn’t just for life experience—you really have to work!”
Shen Qingran nodded. “I’m not really going to work in the countryside, I’m just going to experience life!”
Ridiculous—she had been pampered all her life and never touched manual labor. Did anyone really think she was going there for reform?
Zheng Xiuyu assumed Qingran had a child’s temper and scolded her out of concern.
“Qingran, your mother says it’s for your own good—you should work on that spoiled temper of yours!”
“This trip isn’t just about experiencing life, it’s about re-education!”
Hearing this, Shen Qingran sneered. Re-education? I think you’re the ones who need educating!
But this time, it wasn’t her life that would change—it was hers, Shen Qingran’s.
“Mom, I believe what you and Dad say, but the situation is special!”
“I’m not doing this just for myself—it’s for the Shen family!”
“Our family is one of the top in the Imperial Capital! If we can’t even provide these few things, people might suspect we’re planning to run off!”
The couple exchanged glances. Guilty as charged, they wondered if this child had figured it out.
Shen Tang cleared his throat nervously. Zheng Xiuyu suspected maybe one of the other children had spilled the secret.
This young lady’s temper was no joke!
Seeing them hesitate, Shen Qingran decided to add more pressure.
“Here’s the deal: if you think it’s impossible, then I won’t go to the countryside!”
“Besides, we still have my brother, right?”
She meant Shen Ci, the eldest son and grandson.
Shen Tang’s face changed. “Ten thousand it is. I’ll have it ready in a few days!”
Shen Qingran nodded. Finally, some sense.
“All the tickets, anything that exists, I need them all!”
Zheng Xiuyu pursed her lips. When did her daughter become so materialistic?
“Qingran, I’m not saying this to scold you—but how can you be so materialistic?”
Shen Qingran paused, looked at her father, and said, “Mom, you say I’m materialistic? Isn’t the one who’s really materialistic in this family… you? If our Shen family didn’t have such a fortune, would I have married in after Dad was a son-in-law?”
“Who’s the most materialistic in this family, really?”
Shen Tang’s face flushed red and white. Ever since her grandfather passed, the Shen family had been distant from the other uncles, trying to avoid mentioning his status as a son-in-law.
Unexpectedly, Shen Qingran brought it up now.
Zheng Xiuyu didn’t expect this girl’s mind to work so fast.
She had stepped on Shen Tang’s biggest nerve.
“All right, enough. It’s settled then!”
Shen Tang, displeased, stood up and walked out.
The stepmother stomped after him.
Shen Qingran looked around—this villa was the only place from her childhood worth remembering.
“Miss, here’s the fruit I cut for you!”
A familiar voice spoke. A middle-aged woman in a blue, old-fashioned tunic stood there.
Shen Qingran’s eyes welled up—Zhang Ma!
After her mother died and the stepmother came in, Zhang Ma had always protected her.
Before she was sent to the countryside, her father and stepmother had driven Zhang Ma away.
Zhang Ma returned to her hometown, missed Shen Qingran, and even prayed for her at the temple. She eventually died in her old home.
Never expected that in this rebirth, she could see her again!
Shen Qingran held Zhang Ma’s hands and closed the door.
In her previous life, Zhang Ma always advised her to save some secret money, which she ignored completely—she had never been short of money, so she didn’t understand its value.
This time, she had learned her lesson. Money wasn’t everything, but having none was disastrous.
Zhang Ma placed the fruit on the dressing table and warned, “Miss, something’s off these past few days!”
“Oh?” Shen Qingran raised her head.
Zhang Ma looked around cautiously. “The madam and you have been secretly storing important jewelry!”
“And moving it to the basement at night. The madam has been leaving early and returning late these past few days!”
Shen Qingran’s eyes turned cold. They were preparing. Likely, after she left, they planned to take all the gold and silver.
The Shen family was a wealthy household. Since her father had married in, her grandfather had divided the inheritance, and because her mother was his only daughter, she had received more than the uncles.
This family fortune was no small sum!
Shen Qingran clenched her fist. “Zhang Ma, don’t worry. I know now!”
“You’ve protected me all my life!”
“I’ll go check on my grandmother first, and when I return, we’ll discuss the next steps!”
Zhang Ma nodded, holding her hand with pity. “Your mother passed too young, leaving only you. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have suffered all these years!”
Tears welled up in Zhang Ma’s eyes.
Shen Qingran knew her mother had been talented and skilled in medicine, but unfortunately, even a healer cannot save herself. She had died years ago in a car accident returning from a rural medical mission.
Zhang Ma looked at Shen Qingran, sensing something different about her now, though she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what. The child was increasingly resembling her mother.
“Zhang Ma, make me a sweet bird’s nest dessert. I’ll go see my grandmother soon!”
Zhang Ma nodded, wiped her tears, and rushed to the kitchen.
Shen Qingran grabbed a bucket and turned a few corners, arriving at a small private courtyard.
Unlike the cold faces at home, she now wore a smile.
This bird’s nest was truly valuable!