Chapter 203 Without a word
She truly appreciated Zheng Mingyue's kindness.
That scene is still vivid in my mind.
She was cornered at the alley entrance, with people pointing and whispering, their words dripping with sarcasm.
It was Zheng Mingyue who stepped forward and silenced those gossipy old women.
This sentiment cannot be expressed with mere words of thanks.
True loyalty is about mutual protection.
Shen Cuifen understood this principle, which is why she would turn cold when others talked about Zheng Mingyue behind her back.
She knew that protecting someone wasn't just about standing up for them when they were being bullied.
Even when she wasn't around, he still protected her dignity.
This is what true friendship is all about.
It's not about clinking glasses at a dinner table, nor is it about polite greetings during holidays.
Instead, they are willing to shield you from harm at crucial moments.
Zheng Mingyue is such a friend, and so is Shen Cuifen.
Zheng Mingyue felt a warm glow in her heart as she listened.
"But I can't stand seeing you being bullied!"
Even though the matter is in the past, she still feels angry whenever she thinks about it.
Why do good people always have to endure?
Shen Cuifen grabbed her hand and gently pinched her waist.
"Don't get angry! When a woman gets angry, her health is more likely to suffer."
Shen Cuifen knew that Zheng Mingyue had a fiery temper.
Even the most fiery temper must protect its body.
She had heard from elders when she was a child that women with excessive liver fire are prone to damaging their qi and blood, and that illnesses would follow them as they got older.
That's why she always does this, wrapping serious words in jokes.
After saying that, she deliberately pinched him.
The fingers suddenly tightened, right at the most sensitive spot on Zheng Mingyue's waist.
This happened without warning, hitting her sensitive spot directly.
"Hey! Stop fooling around!"
Zheng Mingyue was so ticklish that she jumped up and down, laughing so hard she almost fell over.
"What are you doing! That's so mean!"
She was bent over, tears welling up in her eyes from laughing.
The dim hallway light reflected off the fine lines around her eyes, yet couldn't conceal her vibrant energy.
"That's more like it."
Shen Cuifen hooked her arm around her shoulder.
"Let's go home."
Before the laughter had even subsided, the two were already walking side by side.
Shen Cuifen draped her arm over her shoulder and walked briskly.
Their laughter echoed down the hallway.
Their cheerful laughter echoed from the corner of the stairs.
The streetlights in the neighbor's house started to turn on again.
The sounds of pots and pans clattering filled the air, and the aroma of cooking gradually filled the air.
As soon as she opened the door, she saw Shen Zhongshun clinging to Song Wenhua like a piece of chewing gum.
No matter how hard I pull, I can't pull it apart.
He was hanging half his body on someone's arm, his little face pressed tightly against it.
He looked just like a child who had found someone to rely on, refusing to let go no matter what.
Song Wenhua smiled helplessly, supporting him with one hand while carefully protecting his head with the other.
Song Wenhua pulled out a small wooden gun from somewhere and handed it to him.
The gun was quite well-made, with a straight barrel and a working trigger.
The wood was also coated with a layer of clear varnish, making it smooth and shiny to the touch.
It was clearly an old item, hidden away for who knows how many years, yet Song Wenhua found it at the bottom of some box.
He originally just wanted to entertain the child for a while, but unexpectedly the child became a treasure.
Shen Zhongshun treasured it like the back of his hand, holding it tightly and refusing to let go.
He held the wooden gun to his chest, looking at it from left to right.
His fingers stroked the gun barrel again and again, his eyes filled with reverence.
"Teach me how to fire a gun! Teach me how to aim!"
He jumped up and down twice, then tugged at Song Wenhua's clothes and shook them repeatedly.
In his heart, Song Wenhua was not only his older brother, but also an all-powerful role model.
He can write, tell stories, and make toy guns.
They're even more formidable than the People's Liberation Army soldiers on TV.
Song Wenhua squatted down and taught him step by step.
"Keep the butt of the rifle firmly against your shoulder, and keep your eyes on the sights... Don't rush, take your time."
He was incredibly patient, explaining everything word by word, and his movements were always precise.
He held Shen Zhongshun's small hand, helped him straighten his posture, and gently reminded him.
"Keep your breathing steady, don't let your hands shake, and stay calm when you're aiming."
As soon as Shen Cuifen entered the room, Shen Zhongshun, holding up his small pistol, hopped and skipped towards her.
"Mom! Look! Wenhua gave this to me!"
His voice was loud and clear, his face was full of pride, and his small chest was held high.
The wooden gun was swung in his hand, almost hitting the door frame.
In a child's mind, the value of a gift often lies not in the material, but in who gives it.
The fact that Song Wenhua was willing to spend time with him and give him her treasured toys was a great affirmation.
If we bring it back to the village and Er Gou sees it, his eyes will definitely pop out of his head, and he'll cry and beg to borrow it for half a day.
Shen Zhongshun had already rehearsed a great show in his mind.
He stood at attention with his gun raised on the earthen slope at the entrance of the village.
Er Gou squatted opposite, stretching out his dirty hand with a face full of envy.
"Zhongshun, can I fire a shot? Just once!"
He deliberately shook his head slowly.
"No, no, Brother Wenhua said that we must protect our own guns."
Thinking of this, he chuckled.
Shen Cuifen smiled and nodded, saying, "Then I must thank Brother Wenhua properly."
Her tone was gentle, and her gaze fell on Song Wenhua with gratitude.
She knew how difficult it was to coax this child.
Once you've decided on someone, you want to be with them all the time.
Song Wenhua was willing to spend time with him.
This sentiment is far more precious than a wooden gun.
Seeing Shen Zhongshun nodding vigorously, she looked around, trying to find someone she knew.
Where did Shen Xiuye go?
There were clearly four people in the room, but she always felt that something was missing.
She frowned, a sense of unease creeping into her heart.
Xiuye is usually very clingy to her, and she should have rushed over to ask her all sorts of questions when she came back. Why is she so silent today?
I looked around, but couldn't see a soul.
She glanced into the inner room again; the curtains were drawn tightly shut, and several empty cardboard boxes were piled up by the door.
It was unusually quiet.
Her heart skipped a beat, and just as she was about to step over, she finally couldn't help but speak.
"Wenhua, have you seen my Xiuye?"
She couldn't help but ask.
Song Wenhua was instructing Shen Zhongshun on how to pose.
Upon hearing this, he stopped moving, stood up straight, and pointed.
"She's in the inner room, staying with her sister."
As soon as he finished speaking, the faint sound of girls talking in hushed tones could be heard from inside the room.
It turned out they had been whispering inside all along.
Shen Cuifen nodded gently.
She slowly turned around and called out to the low mud house, "Xiuye! Come out! It's time to go home! The sun is almost setting, it'll be dark soon if we don't leave!"
A few seconds later, the door creaked open.
Shen Xiuye peeked out of the house and walked out with light steps.
But when she showed her face, Shen Cuifen was stunned.
Shen Xiuye's cheeks were flushed an unnatural pink, her face was burning, her head was down, and her fingers were unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.
Shen Cuifen could tell at a glance that she had applied powder!
Her heart tightened suddenly, and she quickly took a few steps forward to carefully examine her daughter.
Upon closer inspection, Shen Cuifen felt as if her heart had been violently clenched.
The girl's face was so white it almost reflected light, and her hair was neatly combed.
Even the shoelaces on their feet had been replaced with brand new red cloth strips.
Those rosy cheeks were clearly dyed with rouge.
The old coat she was wearing had frayed edges on the cuffs and hem.
But the red cloth shoes on her feet were so shiny they looked brand new.
"Brother Wenhua! Brother Wenhua! Was the way I aimed just now right?"
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