It's no wonder the child grew up so twisted—with so many twisted people around him during his childhood, how could his heart not be warped?
That was one of the future blackened big shots. She had to improve her relationship with him. She didn’t expect him to treat her well, but at least when he took revenge on the women who had hurt him in the future, she hoped her name wouldn’t be on the list.
"I understand, Aunt Zhang. I’ll treat them well, don’t worry."
Since Si Nian agreed, Aunt Zhang couldn’t say much else. Holding Shitou, she stood up and left.
......
Meanwhile, Aunt Liu, who had been leisurely sunbathing at home, heard a noise and cracked open one eye to look.
Ever since she started working for the Zhou Family, she earned fifty yuan a month—though that included grocery money. She rarely actually bought groceries, just brought whatever was at home to make do. That way, she could save forty yuan for herself. Plus, whenever Zhou Yueshen sent meat over, she could take a good portion for herself.
With this job, even her in-laws didn’t dare yell at her anymore. Her daily tasks were light—just cooking two meals.
She absolutely couldn’t let Si Nian stay. If Si Nian stayed, she’d lose her job. Where else would she find such a cushy position?
She figured Si Nian probably didn’t know about delivering meals to Zhou Yueshen. Once Zhou Yueshen came looking for her, she could even use the opportunity to ask for a raise.
After all, the Zhou Family lacked many things, but money wasn’t one of them.
Seeing her daughter return, Aunt Liu immediately sat up straight. "Guifang, how did it go? Did you get along with Little Zhou?"
Liu Guifang, already humiliated and resentful, burst into tears at the question. "Get along? Lin’s daughter also went to deliver food! Brother Zhou didn’t even accept my meal! I’ve lost all face—how am I supposed to show myself in public now?"
Thinking back to the scornful looks from the village women on her way back, Liu Guifang’s face burned with shame. They must all think she shamelessly chased after Zhou Yueshen despite knowing he was married!
Aunt Liu was stunned. "What? Who went?"
"Who else? That Lin’s daughter, the one engaged to Zhou Yueshen! Mom, didn’t you say she couldn’t cook? Not only can she cook, but she even took the initiative to deliver food to Brother Zhou!"
Aunt Liu’s head spun. That city woman could cook? And she’d gone to deliver food to Zhou Yueshen?
This was bad. If that woman could cook, her job was as good as gone.
Without the Zhou Family’s job, she’d be forced back home to serve the whole family, and her already-disapproving mother-in-law would surely give her endless grief.
Aunt Liu regretted not going earlier. If she had, she might’ve caught on sooner and avoided this mess.
It was all that Si Nian’s fault for provoking her.
Fuming, Aunt Liu decided she couldn’t lose this job—she wouldn’t let that wretched woman take it from her. Her eyes darted around before landing on an idea.
She couldn’t sit still anymore. Checking the time, she realized Zhou Yuedong and Zhou Yuehan would be back from school in a few hours.
If she couldn’t deal with Si Nian directly, she could start with the two boys.
If Zhou Yuedong and Zhou Yuehan disliked Si Nian and drove her away, she’d be forced out—just like that woman from before!
Early the next morning, Aunt Liu waited along the path where Zhou Yuedong and Zhou Yuehan would return. In the afternoon, she finally spotted the two boys with their backpacks.
Her eyes lit up, and she rushed over with a feigned look of distress.
"Oh no, Yuedong, Yuehan, thank goodness you’re back!" she cried, her face twisted with worry.
Zhou Yuedong and Zhou Yuehan frowned. "What’s wrong, Granny Liu?"
"You were in class, so you didn’t see—that stepmother your father brought home has been abusing Yaoyao! When I went over, I saw her hitting and pinching the poor child. Yaoyao was crying her heart out! When I scolded her, she yelled at me for meddling and threatened to kick me out!" Aunt Liu wailed.
"What?!" The boys were horrified and immediately turned to run home.
Aunt Liu quickly grabbed them, putting on a hesitant expression. "Don’t rush! That woman is a master at pretending. If you go back now, she’ll act all sweet to Yaoyao. Yaoyao’s too young to understand—she’ll just be easily fooled. You won’t be able to prove anything, and she might even complain to your father, making him dislike you."
"You’re not his real sons anyway. That woman looks like a fox spirit, and she’s cunning. She’ll try to drive you out, just like the last one! If you confront her now, you’ll be playing right into her hands!"
Zhou Yuedong and Zhou Yuehan trembled with rage, their faces pale.
"Then what should we do?"
Aunt Liu’s eyes gleamed. "Yuedong, I may have scolded you before, but have I ever hit you?"
Zhou Yuedong lowered his gaze, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he nodded. "No."
"And I’ve never been a threat to you three. But that woman is different. She’s targeting not just you but me too. If she drives me away, who’ll look out for you? You know how bad things will get."
"It’s simple, really. If you two listen to me, I’ll help you get rid of her..."
......
In the afternoon, Si Nian took a peaceful nap with Yaoyao.
Yaoyao was an angel—she never cried upon waking. Si Nian turned on the TV, and the little girl sat quietly on the sofa, watching.
Worried she might be hungry, Si Nian set out some cookies and candy. Yaoyao could even unwrap the candies herself and pop them into her mouth.
Zhou Yuedong and Zhou Yuehan should be back soon, so Si Nian headed to the kitchen to start dinner.
She had bought plenty of ingredients yesterday, but since she’d woken up a bit late, she decided to make hand-pulled noodles instead. The dough, stretched to the perfect thinness, would yield chewy, springy noodles.
The Zhou Family mostly used lard, which was perfect for this weather. A simple bowl of noodles with lard and scallions would be delicious—and quick.
As she repeatedly stretched the dough to achieve the finest strands, she suddenly felt a presence behind her.
She turned—only to find a small boy staring at her with unsettling intensity.
Si Nian’s scalp prickled. Zhou Yuedong? When had he gotten back?
Did this child walk without making a sound?
No matter what, being watched like that—even by a child—sent a chill down her spine.
Given how Zhou Yuedong was later described in the story—eccentric, even twisted—she couldn’t help but view him differently from a normal child.
