Everyone in the courtyard was stunned. Old Man Wang turned his head, saw Shen Nanchu, was taken aback for a moment, and then his expression turned peculiar.
What is this girl doing here?
"Uncle Wang, you've just returned and are already in such a rage. Be careful not to harm your health."
Shen Nanchu walked in, with Zheng Tongwei following closely behind.
Old Man Wang's expression became somewhat awkward.
Logically, this girl saved his life, so he should be very grateful to her.
It's just that this girl's mouth is too sharp.
Old Man Wang was genuinely afraid of being talked back to.
But, this is a life-saving debt of gratitude!
Finally,
Old Man Wang mumbled a few words quietly,
"No, it's nothing, everything's fine."
As if remembering something, Old Man Wang hid his tobacco pipe away.
"Chu girl, you're here?"
Yu Lanhua, seeing Shen Nanchu, acted as if she had spotted a savior and hurried forward to greet her.
Shen Nanchu gave Yu Lanhua a reassuring look.
Before, not knowing that Wang Jianguo's father, Old Man Wang, was an old acquaintance, Shen Nanchu thought she would have to rack her brains a bit to figure out a solution.
Now, an old friend, and one whose life she saved at that.
This matter just got simple.
"Uncle Wang, it's good that your health is fine. After all, we met on the train!"
Shen Nanchu's next words made Old Man Wang even more anxious,
"Uncle Wang, you really should smoke less."
"Uh, I rarely smoke, just had a puff or two today when I had a moment."
Shen Nanchu didn't speak, only her smile was somewhat meaningful.
Old Man Wang felt a bit apprehensive.
This young lady is pretty, yes, but her mouth is sharp and her heart is cunning.
What if she spills the beans about him having had that illness? How would he ever get to smoke again?
In order to keep smoking that one puff after returning to his hometown, Old Man Wang had secretly gone back to the capital to see a doctor with his daughter, making sure his foolish son at home didn't find out.
To cure that illness, he even sold the gold he had hidden away for so many years.
Old Man Wang had a mind to chase Shen Nanchu away, so he glared at Wang Jianguo,
"If there's village business, you should hurry up and go!"
Shen Nanchu understood Old Man Wang's little schemes perfectly.
Want her to leave?
She refused.
"Uncle Wang, how is your illness?"
As soon as Shen Nanchu finished speaking, Wang Jianguo immediately rushed in front of Old Man Wang.
"Dad, you were sick?"
"When was this?"
"Why didn't you tell us?"
Faced with his own son's rapid-fire questions, Old Man Wang simply turned his face away.
"I'm already better."
"With your sister there, I was perfectly fine."
Shen Nanchu continued to expose him,
"Even after tuberculosis is cured, you need to recuperate properly."
"You definitely can't smoke, otherwise it might relapse."
Upon hearing this, Wang Jianguo felt as if struck by lightning.
"Dad, you were sick and didn't even tell me?"
"I'm calling my sister right now to ask."
Anxious and frantic, Wang Jianguo hurried out the door.
After just a couple of steps, he rushed back in.
This time, he directly snatched the tobacco pipe Old Man Wang had hidden behind his back.
"You keep an eye on my dad, collect all the tobacco in the house."
"Okay."
When it came to serious matters, Yu Lanhua was not the timid, submissive person she was a moment ago.
Old Man Wang knew he was in the wrong and was not nearly as domineering as before.
As for dividing the household?
Who had time for that now!
Moreover, deep down, Old Man Wang actually knew his son was filial; he just couldn't get over the hurdle of "dividing the household being unfilial," feeling he couldn't hold his head up in the village.
Shen Nanchu hadn't forgotten the root of the issue,
"Uncle Wang, the village head and Sister-in-law Lanhua are currently so busy with our village factory that they don't even have time to use the restroom."
"If the household isn't divided, besides village affairs, the village head and Aunt Lanhua also have to worry about family matters."
"Like spinning tops, they don't get a moment's rest all day."
These words struck a chord with Old Man Wang.
He had seen how busy his son and daughter-in-law were.
Those two unfilial grandsons, plus the granddaughter-in-law, were lazy and greedy, always quibbling over every bit of housework they did.
Actually, dividing the household really was for the best.
His big scene today was just an act for the two younger ones and the villagers to see.
After all, once the household is divided, he couldn't very well merge it back, could he?
Anyway, the face had already been lost!
Old Man Wang's skin was plenty thick by now.
After arguing for two days, the timing was about right, time to end it.
Old Man Wang's expression completely softened,
"Hmph, I'll forgive you this time."
"Next time you make a decision, you have to discuss it with me."
Yu Lanhua quickly agreed,
"Don't worry, Dad."
"You are the backbone of our family."
"If anything like this happens again, we'll definitely listen to you."
Old Man Wang felt content.
He looked at Shen Nanchu, feeling a bit uneasy,
"You girl, your mouth is too sharp, I can't argue with you. If you hadn't saved my life on the train, I wouldn't have let this boy divide the household!"
He glared at Shen Nanchu, but the previous anger was gone,
"Stay for lunch. Have your aunt stew some eggs for you, to nourish your body."
"Look how thin you are."
Old Man Wang looked at Shen Nanchu's slender limbs, his face full of disdain.
"No need, Uncle, I still have to go check on the village factory."
Shen Nanchu refused,
"You just got back, rest up. In a couple of days when things aren't as busy, I'll come again. Keep the chicken for me until then."
"Oh, and your family's ducks are good too, they'll be perfect to eat in a couple of days."
Old Man Wang: "..."
She really doesn't treat herself as an outsider at all!
Before Old Man Wang could respond, Yu Lanhua agreed first.
"No problem."
"We'll save both the chicken and the duck for you. Eat as much as you want."
When Old Man Wang heard this, his eyes widened like eggs.
Wasteful woman!
No matter how good the relationship, you can't just squander the family's chickens and ducks like that!
But, looking at Shen Nanchu's slightly rounded belly and her slender figure,
and remembering that Shen Nanchu had saved his life,
Old Man Wang gritted his teeth, simply turned around, and acted as if he had tacitly agreed.
The smile on Shen Nanchu's lips couldn't be hidden,
"Uncle Wang, really?"
"I can really eat as much as I want?"
Shen Nanchu was deliberately teasing Old Man Wang.
Unexpectedly,
Old Man Wang actually nodded.
"Be frugal."
"Don't squander them all."
Shen Nanchu: How generous.
Zheng Tongwei: Kind of want to get in on the meal. Should visit the village head's house often before dinner from now on.
