Zhou Yueshen saw two people come to the door that day. Although Si Nian hadn't said anything, he could roughly guess what it was about.
He didn't ask many questions, just told Si Nian that if she didn't want to do it anymore, it was fine.
It didn't matter if she wasn't a teacher anymore.
He would support her in other things.
"Just in time, you're taking the college entrance exam this year. This time can be well spent studying at home."
Si Nian shook her head while applying lotion to her body: "No, I signed a contract. If they make me leave, they have to pay compensation. But if I leave, it's my own problem."
Zhou Yueshen stood by, changing Yaoyao into her pajamas. Hearing this, he thought it made sense.
After putting the little girl's pajamas on and taking her to the bathroom, he said: "Alright, you go to sleep first. I'll take Yaoyao to her room."
Taking Yaoyao to her own children's room, Zhou Yueshen had made her a small bed following Si Nian's suggestion.
Railings were added on all four sides to prevent her from falling off at night.
The rooms were close together, and if the door was left open, they could hear if the little girl cried at night.
Before bed, Si Nian didn't let her drink water or eat fruit, so she could sleep until dawn without wetting the bed.
Of course, she still occasionally wet the bed, so Zhou Yueshen found some plastic sheeting to put under the sheet, so they only had to wash the sheet.
He returned to the room. Si Nian had finished applying her lotion.
She had her back to him, combing her long, glossy black hair.
Her hair reflected a halo of light under the lamp, smooth and silky, impossible to put down.
After transmigrating into the book, Si Nian had always taken great care of herself.
The body the original host had maintained was nurtured by her to become even more exquisite.
Even after staying in the countryside for half a year, she hadn't gotten tanned because of it.
Zhou Yueshen watched for a while before going into the room to shower.
The more exquisite she was, the rougher he seemed in contrast.
The man who used to take ten-minute quick showers now spent twenty minutes bathing today.
By the time he came out bare-chested, Si Nian was already lying down.
Zhou Yueshen approached and pulled her into his arms.
It proved that even after showering twice, his skin was still rough.
Her skin was like milk.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and he said in a low voice, "Nian Nian, I need to go away for a few days."
Si Nian immediately looked at him: "That letter?"
Zhou Yueshen nodded slightly: "Yes."
He didn't say more.
Si Nian understood; his former profession destined many things he couldn't let her know.
She didn't ask further.
Although somewhat worried, she still said: "Alright, go ahead."
Zhou Yueshen actually hadn't known how to bring this up with Si Nian.
He was worried she would be unhappy.
But he didn't expect her to agree so easily.
For a moment, he was speechless.
Si Nian said: "Of course, if you don't come back..."
"Hmm?" Zhou Yueshen lowered his head to look at her.
Si Nian laughed: "Then I can fall in love again!"
Zhou Yueshen's face darkened instantly: "Not allowed."
Realizing his voice was a bit loud, he immediately softened his tone and said: "I'm only going for a few days, then I'll be back."
Si Nian wanted to say more, but Zhou Yueshen had already pressed her into his embrace.
He said stiffly: "Sleep." He didn't want to hear any more of those infuriating words from her mouth.
He was just going back to take care of some business, not to die there.
Si Nian laughed, hugged him, and gave him a loud kiss. "Goodnight."
Zhou Yueshen's tightly pressed lips relaxed. He kissed the corner of her mouth lovingly: "Goodnight."
...
While things were peaceful and sweet here, over at the Si family, a huge argument had broken out.
Third Uncle Si, having failed to get things done, went to Si's Father and made a scene.
He said Si's Father took money but didn't deliver.
Si's Father was frightened and immediately brought him home. Hearing that Si Nian hadn't gotten things done, he was also very surprised.
It took a lot of appeasing and compensation to finally see him off.
Zhang Cuimei sneered: "I told you, how could she be so kind as to help you? It turns out it was to harm you. Serves you right! You still treat her as one of your own, but did you ever consider if she puts you in her eyes? She's an ungrateful wretch!"
Thinking about how Si's Father took Third Uncle Si to Si Nian's door, spending money to curry favor with her, yet didn't give a thought to their own relatives at home,
coupled with the last time she was left stranded on the road, Zhang Cuimei and Si's Father were in the middle of a cold war.
Now, seeing him so deflated, she couldn't help but mock him.
Si's Father, already filled with pent-up anger, immediately flew into a rage upon hearing this!
"It all comes down to you! If it weren't for you insisting on marrying her off to the countryside back then for Sisi's sake, she wouldn't hold such a grudge against us!"
Si's Father was very angry now. With Si Nian not around and Zhang Cuimei walking right into the line of fire, she naturally became the target.
They hadn't argued in all these years, but ever since their last big fight, a rift had appeared.
Now, neither was willing to back down. Late at night, they argued so loudly the neighbors could hear.
Finally, Si's Father slammed the door and left, not returning all night.
Liu Dongdong comforted Zhang Cuimei, but there was a hint of mockery in her eyes.
She had a feeling, a premonition that this family was falling apart.
...
The school provided lunch, so Si Nian saved the time of making lunch.
But thinking that Zhou Yueshen was going on a long trip, she still got up a bit earlier in the morning, planning to make some food for the man to eat on the road.
After all, in this era, long-distance travel meant taking the train, and the food sold on board was expensive and unpalatable.
She had to make more for him to eat on the journey.
The man loved meat, so Si Nian cut a large piece of pork belly, chopped it into minced meat, and marinated it for over ten minutes.
Then she kneaded the dough into large flatbreads, placed the marinated meat in the middle, kneaded it together again, and the meat pies were done.
Brushing oil on the bottom of the pan, she pressed the meat pies onto it one by one, flipping them until both sides were golden brown.
She made five large pies in one go, using up all the filling.
The little ones loved sweet things. Si Nian had bought some sweet sesame paste filling before.
It was originally for making tangyuan at home, but now she simply used it to make sugar cakes.
Sugar cakes made with glutinous rice flour would be even more delicious.
Soft, sticky, sweet, and fragrant—the number one favorite snack for kids.
All the children at home loved chewy, glutinous things.
Si Nian had a taste for it too, so she simply kneaded a bit more glutinous rice flour.
Making sugar cakes was also simple: put the sesame sugar in the middle, shape it into a tangyuan ball, then flatten it into a cake shape, and fry in oil until both sides are golden brown before taking it out.
The sugar cakes made this way were crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, soft, sticky, sweet, and fragrant.
She ate three in a row before stopping.
She packed them separately into the children's lunch boxes for them to take. She also packed a portion for Zhou Yueshen. The two children came downstairs.
Honestly, wearing their school uniforms, the two little guys immediately looked the part of well-bred children.
Not at all like the pitiful, skinny monkeys she had first seen over half a year ago.
After finishing breakfast, carrying their own lunch boxes, the whole family set off.
Si Nian pushed her bicycle, with Yaoyao sitting in the front.
The two children followed her with their backpacks.
Soon, a group of children gathered behind them.
They were all kids Zhou Zehan had gotten to know running around these past few days. Hearing he had become Jiang Jiu's boss, everyone admired him.
Plus, the younger Zhou boy had also entered their school, so they all agreed to go to school together.
Si Nian didn't recognize any of them.
"Hello, Second Brother's Mom!"
"Hello, Teacher Si!"
"Teacher Si is so pretty!"
"The little sister is so cute, I want to marry her when I grow up!"
Before the words were finished, the words immediately earned a cold glare from the older Zhou boy and the younger Zhou boy.
Si Nian's eyes curved into smiles: "How do you know I'm a teacher?"
"Second Brother said so. Second Brother said you're an English teacher now, and you're really amazing."
"That's right, Second Brother's English is also great. He can even say 'Good morning'."
"We're in first grade and still can't say it, but he already can!"
Si Nian couldn't help but chuckle.
The little second son, who was looked down upon by everyone back in the countryside, was so popular here.
Hearing his little followers' praise, the little second son's nose was practically pointed to the sky.
"That's nothing, I can say even more."
Jiang Jiu immediately leaned in. "Second Brother, you promised to teach me."
"Right, I want to learn too..."
The group of children chattered noisily, creating a lively scene.
Just after they left, an army-green SUV pulled up in front of the Zhou family's house.
Zhou Yueshen, his features cold and stern, stepped out carrying an army-green duffel bag.
His voice was low and cool: "Let's go."
Reader: Of course we can, we agree to anything you say.
Mountain: (Biting a handkerchief and crying) (Moved.jpg)
