This place was considered the favorite shopping spot for wealthy young ladies of this era.
No matter the era, there will never be a shortage of affluent people.
As soon as Si Nian stepped inside, her eyes landed on a figure-hugging red qipao, the kind she had seen wealthy heiresses wear in period dramas set in the Republic of China era—elegant, noble, sensual yet tasteful.
Anything that caught her eye at first glance was bound to be exceptional.
She immediately turned to Zhou Yueshen and asked for his opinion.
Zhou Yueshen glanced at the red qipao and fell silent.
Though the color was stunning and the dress itself exquisite, no one knew better than him just how alluring Si Nian’s figure was.
Even in casual clothes, she was breathtaking.
He couldn’t even begin to imagine how she would look in this qipao...
Yet, meeting Si Nian’s sparkling gaze, Zhou Yueshen could only murmur, "...It’s beautiful."
Based on his recent experience shopping for her and the children, he already knew she wanted it.
"The one next to it isn’t bad either," he added, shifting his gaze to a loose-fitting Western-style dress, his tone serious.
To his surprise, Si Nian immediately wrinkled her nose in distaste. "No, I want this one."
The Western dress was pretty, no doubt, but in this era, rural areas were still quite conservative. Wearing it outside would invite trouble.
Though some might not say anything outright, deep down, they’d resent it, whispering behind her back about her being "obsessed with foreign things."
Besides, a Western dress in the village would be far too flashy.
That’s why the lovely dresses she already owned had mostly stayed untouched in her wardrobe.
And while the Western dress was attractive, it demanded the right figure and poise—one wrong move, and she’d end up looking like a layered cake, just like Lin Sisi.
Nothing special.
Their qipao was far better.
Perfect for a wedding, too.
Zhou Yueshen was effectively shut down, his suggestion dismissed. With no further input, he gave up.
After purchasing the dress, the two left the shop and climbed onto his motorcycle.
Si Nian assumed they were heading home, but instead, Zhou Yueshen drove back to the auto repair shop they’d visited earlier.
Thinking he was just informing his burly friend about the wedding, she didn’t dwell on it.
The man got off the bike and looked at her. "Wait here."
With that, he strode into the repair shop.
Si Nian nodded, and moments later, he reappeared—pushing something along with him.
Soon, she saw it clearly: a pink ladies’ bicycle, the classic "28-inch" model!
Si Nian was stunned.
Zhou Yueshen, a white helmet draped over his arm, stopped the bike and called out, "Si Nian, come here."
Her brows lifted as a wild thought crossed her mind—but she didn’t dare assume. Hurrying over, she asked, "Did you buy this?"
"For you," he replied.
He let go of the bike, reached up, and plucked the green helmet off her head, tossing it backward.
His friend, the burly man, caught it effortlessly before handing her the pristine white helmet instead.
Zhou Yueshen had never forgotten how Si Nian once said she hated wearing "a green hat"—especially one he’d put on her.
Si Nian blinked, accepting the white helmet before hesitantly asking again, "This bike... is for me?"
Zhou Yueshen gave a slight nod, explaining, "It’s not safe for you to ride the motorcycle alone with the child. A bicycle is more practical. I had this custom-made so you can easily visit your family, go to the market, or run errands."
A rush of emotions swelled in Si Nian’s chest—delight, joy, gratitude.
In the future, a bicycle might be nothing special, but in this era, it was a prized possession.
This one, a top-tier "Flying Pigeon" brand, was particularly coveted.
In their entire village, fewer than two households owned bicycles.
She’d never imagined Zhou Yueshen would buy her one.
But he was right—having a bicycle would make life so much easier.
Especially in the countryside, where a trip to the market meant a two-hour walk. With this, she’d save time and effort.
Bicycles in this era were built to last, sturdy enough to haul goods if needed.
It was more than enough for her.
The more she thought about it, the brighter her smile grew, her eyes crinkling with happiness. "Zhou Yueshen, thank you."
He arched a brow. "Since when do you thank me?"
"This was supposed to be part of your betrothal gifts," he admitted. "But it wasn’t ready in time, so I didn’t bring it over. Since we’re in town, I thought I’d show you. Try it out first."
"Okay," she agreed softly, then hopped onto the bike and pedaled off effortlessly.
As a city girl, riding a bicycle was second nature to her. Now, she rode freely, enjoying the breeze.
Zhou Yueshen slid his hands into his pockets, watching her silhouette.
After a couple of laps, Si Nian circled back, her eyes alight with excitement. "Zhou Yueshen, let’s go home!"
"I’ll ride ahead. You’re fast—you can catch up!"
The abandoned Zhou Yueshen: "..."
Seeing she was dead serious, he called out, "Si Nian, come back."
She turned the bike around, blinking at him. "What’s wrong?"
"I’ll have Yu Dong deliver it this afternoon. You can ride it at home."
Si Nian’s face fell. "Why? I can just ride it back!"
His voice deepened. "It’s too far. Ride it once we’re home. Be good."
With a dejected sigh, Si Nian reluctantly dismounted, her disappointment palpable.
Zhou Yueshen suddenly felt like a villain.
Quickly, he ushered her back onto the motorcycle, and they headed home.
The moment the bicycle arrived, Si Nian’s first order of business was taking Yaoyao for a spin.
The front basket was spacious and sturdy, perfectly securing the little girl as they rode. Within minutes, Yaoyao was giggling with delight.
When the Eldest Child and Second Child returned home and saw this, their eyes widened in amazement.
Second Child immediately tossed his schoolbag aside and sprinted over. "Mom! Mom! I want to ride too!"
Si Nian stopped the bike and let him climb on.
Having ridden on Zhou Yueshen’s motorcycle before, Second Child knew the drill—clambering onto the backseat and wrapping his arms tightly around Si Nian’s waist. As soon as they started moving, he burst into laughter alongside his sister.
After a couple of laps, Si Nian waved over the Eldest Child—no, Zhou Zedong—and explained that she’d given them new names.
The boys were a little unfamiliar with them but thrilled nonetheless. Other kids only had one name, but they had two!
The Eldest Child, usually shy, approached hesitantly, too embarrassed to hug Si Nian and settling for clutching her clothes instead.
But the sheer joy of riding soon melted his reservations, his face breaking into an excited grin.
When the bike hit a bump, momentum sent him bumping against Si Nian’s back.
Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her.
Realizing what he’d done, his face flushed crimson.
He started to pull away but, noticing Si Nian didn’t react, peeked up at her expression.
She didn’t seem to mind.
Slowly, he let his arms settle back around her, resting his cheek against her back with quiet contentment.
It felt different from hugging his father...
Nearby, Shitou heard the laughter from the Zhou family’s yard and came running down, eager to join in.
Standing outside the Zhou family's iron gate, she watched Si Nian teaching Zhou Yuedong and Zhou Zedong—the Eldest Child and Second Child—to ride bicycles in the yard, her eyes instantly shimmering with envy.
