"Dad—Dad?"
Hearing that address, Brother Cheng felt as if struck by a bolt of lightning, his head buzzing.
Had he misheard?
Did that child just call the man in the luxury car 'Dad'?
Didn't Zhang Qian say this woman married some middle-aged, divorced old man in their remote countryside?
How could a divorced old man from a remote village afford such a luxury car?
Are people in the countryside that rich nowadays?
It wasn't just him; even Zhang Qian beside him was stunned.
She knew Zhou Yueshen's family had money. After all, the bride price he gave Si Nian had become famous throughout the surrounding villages.
Her mother had even gone home and talked about it for days, saying she should have tried to match Zhang Qian with Elder Brother Zhou back then.
At the time, Zhang Qian was envious too, but she thought, no matter how much money he had, it was still in the village; life wouldn't change much.
Ever since she had experienced the city and seen its prosperity, her heart had been captivated.
No one from the countryside, no matter how wealthy, could attract her anymore.
But now, seeing Zhou Yueshen appear before her in such a luxury car, with his sharp, cold profile and an aura of unapproachable authority...
In comparison, the man beside her, the one she considered her city man, suddenly seemed so ordinary...
Zhou Yueshen noticed their conspicuous stares and glanced over.
Zhang Qian immediately tensed up. She didn't know why, but she instinctively took a few steps away, putting distance between herself and the still-dazzled Brother Cheng.
She used to be close with Zhou Tingting and often visited her.
Although Zhou Yueshen was rarely home, she occasionally saw him.
She never liked Zhou Yueshen much. She always thought he looked fierce and intimidating, like someone who might be abusive.
After returning from the army, he became even more towering, like a mountain.
He usually never bothered with his appearance, always wearing a worn-out sleeveless shirt, full of holes, without changing it.
He didn't seem like someone who had truly made money either.
So she hadn't paid him much mind.
But now, comparing him to the man beside her and seeing Zhou Yueshen's noticeably well-groomed appearance, she suddenly felt he wasn't as bad as she had imagined.
Seeing Zhou Yueshen look her way now, she even felt a bit nervous.
She was just about to say something when she saw him calmly shift his gaze away, as if she were air.
The words Zhang Qian was about to speak got stuck in her throat.
Zhou Yueshen got out of the car and looked at Si Nian. She was holding the child. The weather was cold, and the little girl had fallen asleep. Si Nian was holding her with both hands, unable to free them.
His thick, dark brows furrowed. He strode forward and took the child, his voice deep and gentle: "Let me take her. You've had a long day."
Si Nian shook her head. "Yaoyao didn't sleep long, it's not tiring. But it's cold, let's hurry home."
As she spoke, she looked at the Santana parked ahead, her expression subtle.
She looked at Zhou Yueshen: "This car?"
Si Nian was baffled. The old man's savings were with her, and he never asked to use them. Yet the bride price for the wedding, various wedding expenses, and the bicycle had already cost a lot.
Did the old man embezzle company funds?
She knew someone as shrewd as Zhou Yueshen wouldn't be completely unprepared.
But they had spent quite a bit recently.
And now he was driving a luxury car. Although Si Nian didn't know much about cars, she could recognize a famous brand like the Santana.
In this era, it counted as a top-tier luxury car!
You could buy several apartments in the city with that kind of money.
While it made sense that Zhou Yueshen, as a boss, would buy a nicer car,
Si Nian always felt that Zhou Yueshen wasn't the type to buy such an expensive car just for the sake of appearances.
The weather is cold now, riding a bike is too chilly and inconvenient. I asked Yu Dong to find someone and bought a car. It's second-hand, but it's been modified, just like new.
Zhou Yueshen said, watching her expression.
He was worried she might dislike it because it was second-hand.
After all, Si Nian's standards for quality of life were different from theirs.
City folks usually insisted on brand-new, genuine items.
That was what gave them face.
Although Zhou Yueshen rarely interacted with such people, he wasn't completely unaware.
Si Nian: "..."
Half a year ago when she first came to the Zhou household, they didn't even have a bicycle.
And now, the old man was saying it was inconvenient to ride a bike because it was cold?
That was the reason for buying a car?
Is this how the wealthy think—so simple and unadorned?
Seeing Si Nian silent, Zhou Yueshen added, "Don't dislike it. I'll buy you a new one later."
Si Nian: "..." Where did she show any disdain?
"Dad, is this our car?" Zhou Zehan had circled the car several times before dashing over, tugging at Zhou Yueshen's shirt corner, his little face full of excitement. "Do we have a car now?"
Zhou Yueshen looked down at his son's happy face and gave a slight nod. Then he looked at his older son, who wore a surprised expression. "Get in the car first. We'll load the things your mom bought and then go home."
"Yay! We're going home by car!"
The little second child excitedly rushed over, curiously touching the car from left to right.
Led by the little boss, Zhou Yueshen entered the department store and carried the large and small bags that Si Nian had bought.
Two staff members followed behind, helping carry things.
Passersby stopped and looked at the family with all their purchases.
Finally, seeing them head towards the parked Santana, they couldn't help but gasp in awe.
No wonder they bought so much—they were wealthy!
Brother Cheng and Zhang Qian, who hadn't left yet, were also dumbfounded.
Just moments ago, they were mocking Si Nian for not daring to enter the department store, for not being able to afford anything.
The next second, she walked out carrying bags and bags of purchases.
The two small bags in Zhang Qian's hands now seemed utterly ridiculous and shabby.
Before they could even process it, Zhou Yueshen had already gotten into the car, rolled up the window, shutting out their stares. The car turned around and drove away.
...
It was already 5 p.m. Si Nian and Zhou Yueshen had originally planned to drive home.
But before they even left the city, they received news that Zhou Tingting's family was in trouble.
The police asked them to come over.
They heard that Zhou Tingting's family had suffered food poisoning from eating braised meat and had just regained consciousness at the hospital.
Because their family made the braised meat, many households were poisoned, and now the families were causing a huge scene.
The family, having no way out, claimed it was the Zhou family who taught them how to make the braised meat, that the Zhou family had set them up. That's why the two of them were notified.
Hearing that their aunt was poisoned, the little second child's excited expression tightened.
He instinctively glanced at his older brother beside him.
Zhou Zedong sat in the back seat, holding his younger sister, his eyes downcast, his young brows carrying an indescribable coolness.
City Center Hospital.
Outside the hospital, chaos and noise reigned.
A few police officers were trying to persuade and calm the emotionally charged family members.
When Si Nian and Zhou Yueshen arrived with the children, they saw a familiar face.
It was Captain Li.
Seeing the two of them, Captain Li's expression was complicated.
After all, this year, the cases he had dealt with most frequently were related to the Zhou family.
First it was Aunt Liu's family, then the Si family. And the Lin family, now it's Zhou Tingting's household having an accident...
It seems this family has single-handedly taken care of all his business for the year.
"What happened?"
Zhou Yueshen was completely unaware of Zhou Tingting making braised meat. Hearing that she had poisoned herself because of it, he was puzzled.
He had known Captain Li for a long time, and they were considered good brothers.
Captain Li said, "According to the family, Zhou Tingting's mother learned how to make braised meat from you all. Then a few days ago, she started preparing to do business herself. To get people to support her business, she gave samples to all the neighbors, and everyone ended up with food poisoning..."
"Although it's not too serious, the families are making a big fuss now, demanding the Li family pay compensation. As soon as Zhou Tingting's mother-in-law heard about paying compensation, she pushed all the blame onto Zhou Tingting and your family, saying it was the sister-in-law who taught them how to do it, that you all harmed them."
After saying this, he glanced at Si Nian.
After hearing this, Zhou Yueshen's face darkened.
Si Nian was also a bit stunned. When did she ever teach Zhou Tingting how to make braised meat? She had no idea.
Thinking about the incident some time ago when Zhou Tingting went to the Zhou family, suddenly acting humble and trying to please, she raised an eyebrow. Could it be that Zhou Tingting's target back then was the braised meat recipe?
Sure enough, seeing Captain Li talking to them, the people around started gathering.
"You're Zhou Tingting's elder brother, right? Do you even have a conscience? Harming people to make money, my mother-in-law almost died from poisoning. Pay up now, or I'll sue you!"
"How can you be so malicious? Heartless merchants killing people!"
Zhou Yueshen looked at the group; they were agitated.
And rightly so. They just ate a little meat, who knew they'd end up poisoning themselves? Who wouldn't be angry?
He said, "We never taught Zhou Tingting how to make braised meat."
"Still trying to shift the blame? You're just passing it around, do you even have a conscience?"
Si Nian stepped forward and said, "This braised meat has nothing to do with the Zhou family. I make the braised meat entirely by myself. Zhou Yueshen doesn't even know how, so how could he possibly teach Zhou Tingting?"
"You're lying! We checked, the braised meat sold in the market is supplied by your Zhou family!"
Si Nian replied calmly, "That's correct, but that's just Zhou Yueshen helping my family sell the meat. Besides, has anyone heard of anyone getting poisoned from the meat we sell in the market?"
Everyone paused; clearly, they hadn't heard of such a thing.
But they hadn't gotten a resolution yet and were feeling wronged, so naturally they couldn't just let them off because of Si Nian's few words.
"Zhou Tingting said it was you who taught her, how could that be wrong? Isn't she your own sister?"
Hearing this, Si Nian laughed. "Some time ago, when Zhou Tingting brought her in-laws to our Zhou family to attack us, you all probably know about that, right? Her brother-in-law is still in jail because of that incident. Do you think I would teach someone who attacked me how to make braised meat?"
The crowd was stunned again.
That incident had indeed spread widely. Not only did Zhou Tingting's brother-in-law get into trouble, but her mother-in-law also lost her job after being reported. Everyone had sighed about it back then, thinking this family was really asking for trouble, actually taking people to cause trouble for the Zhou family.
Could it really have nothing to do with them?
"Then why would Zhou Tingting say you taught her?"
"Because if she doesn't say we taught her, she has to take responsibility and pay compensation herself. Of course she wants to shift the blame."
After hearing this, the crowd still seemed hesitant.
At that moment, the eldest child spoke up: "I know. I saw Auntie eavesdropping outside when Mom and Grandma were making braised meat."
The second child also stepped forward. "Yes, and she told me not to tell Mom."
Hearing this, everyone's expressions instantly turned very ugly.
If they were just suspicious based on what Si Nian said,
the words of the two children completely convinced them.
They still had some impression of these two children. Back when Zhou Tingting's elder sister passed away and the children had no one to care for them, they were sent to the Li family asking Zhou Tingting to look after them. Zhou Tingting directly chased the children away. Everyone thought it was pitiful back then, so they remembered.
They heard that because of this, her elder brother left the military to come back and take care of the children.
Usually, during holidays, she never went back home. When someone asked her, she even said there was no one at home.
She probably got jealous seeing Si Nian teaching her own family to make braised meat and making money, so she went to eavesdrop and learn secretly.
Otherwise, with their relationship being so bad, how could Si Nian possibly teach her.
"Damn Zhou Tingting, trying to kill us, is she!"
"The Li family is shameless too. Elder Sister Li even said she paid to learn it. Now that something happened, they shift the blame. I spit on them!"
"If she doesn't pay for this, I'll beat her to death!"
The group wasn't entirely unreasonable. Since Zhou Yueshen and Si Nian had explained clearly, they certainly couldn't trouble them anymore.
Zhou Tingting had been married out for so many years. As the saying goes, a married daughter is like spilled water. This incident happened at the Li household, so they had no reason to trouble the Zhou family.
The group rushed into the hospital room, grabbing the weak Zhou Tingting and Li's Mother by the hair and started cursing loudly.
"Damn it, you lying scum, still trying to shift the blame and not pay!"
"Your sister-in-law already said you took people to beat her up before. How could she possibly teach you how to make braised meat?"
"I think you just don't want to pay compensation, that's why you're shifting the blame. You're truly vicious!"
"No wonder I heard Elder Brother Li wants to divorce you. Serves you right!"
Zhou Tingting and Li's Mother had eaten the braised meat, had just recovered from poisoning not long ago, and were still very weak. Being pulled by the hair by a group of women, they had no resistance.
They were also confused.
"What are you talking about? My sister-in-law taught me this, I'm not lying."
"Spit! Still lying! Your nephews said they saw you eavesdropping and learning, and you threatened them not to tell the family."
Hearing this, Zhou Tingting's face instantly turned pale.
Beside her, Li's Mother was also dumbfounded.
Originally, she thought since this incident happened and there was no other way, she could just push the blame onto the Zhou family. The Zhou family was so rich, they could definitely pay.
She originally thought the Zhou family held a grudge for what they did before, so they gave Zhou Tingting a fake recipe to harm them!
She was even indignantly thinking about going to cause trouble and make the Zhou family pay compensation.
Who knew they never taught them at all!
It was Zhou Tingting who learned it secretly herself!
Thinking of this possibility, Li's Mother almost fainted from anger.
This idiot, she's going to ruin the Li family!
Si Nian and Zhou Yueshen gave their statements and then left.
Knowing they were in the clear, they didn't concern themselves with the fate of Zhou Tingting's family.
After getting in the car, Si Nian took another look at the eldest child and asked, "Did you really see Zhou Tingting eavesdropping?"
Zhou Tingting never stayed at their house in the evening, so how could she have eavesdropped?
Hearing his mother's question, the second child's expression immediately became panicked.
However, the eldest child spoke up, looking at Si Nian innocently and said, "Yes, Mom, I saw it."
Si Nian paused, looked at him for a moment. The eldest child's eyes held sincerity, just like usual.
She rubbed the goosebumps on her arm.
If she didn't know the Little Boss's true nature, she might have actually believed him.
Thank you everyone for the "Generating Power for Love" gifts!
