She said that last line with meaningful emphasis.
Cold sweat instantly broke out on Luo Erfen’s forehead; the curses on the tip of her tongue died before she could speak them.
Her eyes darted about nervously. She pressed her lips together and waved a hand dismissively.
“If you’re sick, go back to your room at once. What nonsense are you spouting? You must be delirious from that fever of yours.”
Shen Zhaozhao feigned curiosity, leaning in to study both of them closely.
“Really not? The resemblance is just too striking.”
Luo Erfen took two quick steps back, scrambling for excuses.
“Stop imagining things. Shixuan comes from a prominent military family—how could he possibly be my son?”
“If I had a son like him, I’d be so happy I wouldn’t sleep at night! I’d beat drums and gongs to tell the whole village!”
“Unfortunately, my own son is good for nothing. He finally joined the army when he came of age, only to run away from the camp. Now he just loiters around the village all day, bringing nothing but shame on me!”
“Someone like Shixuan is the sort who should serve in the military—wouldn’t he look so handsome and dignified in uniform?”
A look of longing and fondness filled Luo Erfen’s eyes.
Shen Zhaozhao could barely stand to listen.
It was bad enough praising one while belittling another—but to put down her own flesh and blood, while singing the praises of a stranger she’d only just met?
She let out a cold snort.
“That’s hardly fair of you to say. Your son was sent home because he was injured—not because he deserted.”
“Once a soldier, always a soldier. He enlisted through proper official channels. Speaking of him like that—you’re questioning and insulting the military itself!”
“Those who know you might think you’re criticizing the recruitment board’s judgment. But those who don’t will assume you’re accusing them of taking bribes or pulling strings!”
“This isn’t a trivial matter. Spreading such lies could get you arrested and thrown in prison!”
Luo Erfen clapped a hand over her mouth instinctively, panic rising in her chest. She glared at Shen Zhaozhao, shaking a finger at her, ready to snap back—only to bite her tongue, terrified of saying something even more incriminating.
“Enough! You don’t even know for sure you haven’t caught tuberculosis! Why are you wandering around outside? If you infect anyone else, you’ll be the one locked up!”
“Useless thing—stay inside where you belong!”
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Shen Zhaozhao’s lips.
She was perfectly happy to avoid work.
If she’d let Luo Erfen keep badgering her without pushing back, the woman would only have gotten worse—sure to find every little chore to pile on her, just to make her miserable.
Not because the work needed doing, but simply to torment her.
Now that Luo Erfen had spoken up herself, Shen Zhaozhao could go right back to doing nothing.
She slung her bag easily over one shoulder, arching an eyebrow at Luo Erfen.
The look said it all: See? I can carry my own things. It was Fu Shixuan who insisted on helping me for no reason—and you dare blame me?
Luo Erfen was livid: “You—!”
Before she could finish, Shen Zhaozhao pressed a finger to her lips and shushed her.
“Careful what you say, Auntie Luo—you could end up in prison.”
The tone and words were a deliberate echo of the very threats Luo Erfen had just used against her.
Luo Erfen seethed all the more, teeth clenched and eyes blazing as she watched Shen Zhaozhao walk away.
“You little hussy! You’ve been here long enough—you’ve learned nothing useful, only how to be more insolent by the day!”
Wang Yurou heard the shouting outside, and guessed from the tone that she was being scolded again—no doubt directed at Shen Zhaozhao.
She poked her head out just enough to peek with both eyes, and locked gazes with Luo Erfen.
Luo Erfen was desperate for someone to vent her anger on. Her rage instantly shifted, and she snapped at Wang Yurou without hesitation.
“What are you staring at?! Did you think I was only yelling at her and not you? You’re both lazy, good-for-nothing brats!”
Still ranting, Luo Erfen stormed into the kitchen, finding fault with everything she saw.
“Look at this chopping board—soaking wet! Couldn’t you drain the vegetables before cutting them? Who knows how much dirt and grit is left on them?”
“And look at this pot—you call this clean? Are you completely useless?”
She ranted on and on, spittle flying everywhere.
Wang Yurou stood there taking it all, feeling as though she’d been spat on and doused in sour, foul-tasting words.
She was on the verge of tears.
Inside the house, Gu Shichuan watched through the paper window as Shen Zhaozhao drew nearer. He turned back and sat calmly at the table, as if nothing had happened.
He’d seen Fu Shixuan carrying her things, walking side by side with her just now.
Shen Zhaozhao was so fond of Fu Shixuan—she must be absolutely delighted, he thought.
He pressed his lips together, his expression unreadable.
But he hadn’t expected Shen Zhaozhao to stand up for him like that.
All his life, he’d known nothing but insults and put-downs from his parents—“good-for-nothing,” “worthless.” No one had ever taken pity on him, or spoken up on his behalf.
Even his relatives seemed to think it was only right he be treated this way—sometimes joining in with his parents to berate him.
He still remembered when he was small, going with them to visit relatives. On the way back, his parents had started arguing and stopped the car mid-journey. When they couldn’t settle their dispute, they’d turned all their anger on him.
He’d tried to stay out of the way, huddled quietly in the corner of the bus, not making a sound, just waiting for them to calm down.
Instead, they’d taken their frustration out on him. Both of them had decided they couldn’t stand the sight of him—and shoved him right out of the vehicle.
The bus had been parked right at the edge of the road, overlooking a slope leading down to a muddy puddle.
Luo Erfen and Gu Guanghui had pushed hard. Gu Shichuan stumbled, fell backward, and rolled straight into the mire.
When he scrambled back up, his parents were already driving away, leaving him behind without a second thought.
He’d walked for miles along winding mountain paths, soaked to the bone and shivering. He’d gotten lost, wandering into a strange village before a kind old man had pointed him in the right direction. It had taken him a full day and night to make his way back home.
By then, night had fallen.
All the lights were out; the house was pitch-black.
In his innocence, he’d let himself hope—maybe they’d gone out looking for him, that was why they weren’t home.
But as soon as he stepped inside, he saw they’d already eaten and gone to bed. Empty plates littered the table, and loud snores echoed through the rooms.
In the corner of the yard sat all his belongings, dumped on the ground without so much as a sheet over them. His bedding was already trampled and stained with mud.
It looked as though they’d been preparing to throw everything away.
He was still alive—and they hadn’t even bothered to search for him, yet they’d already cleared out his things.
Had they been hoping he’d never come back at all?