Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Doubts
Next to the state-owned restaurant at the entrance of the alley is a time-honored bakery. They recently hired a pastry chef from Shanghai, and their butter bread is so fluffy and sweet that a long line forms outside every afternoon when the bread comes out of the oven.
Liu Mianmian was in a good mood after successfully getting a high-paying job. She no longer had to scratch out the ninety-eight yuan and twenty cents in her pocket, so she happily queued up to buy three loaves of bread.
Liu Mianmian actually didn't expect it to be so smooth.
Three hundred and eighty yuan was given to give the restaurant manager some room for bargaining, but the man from Gangcheng was very rich and complained a few words but did not bargain at all.
In an era when the average monthly salary was only a few dozen yuan, she earned 380 yuan a month, a truly high income. Excluding those self-employed individuals, there were probably very few people in South City who earned more than her.
I was walking towards No. 9 Qiuzhi Lane carrying a brown paper bag, and I met some elementary school students who were just leaving school. The little ones sniffed exaggeratedly and started chattering loudly.
"The unlucky wife from Courtyard No. 9 bought a butter bun!"
“I bought a big bag!”
"Hurry, hurry, let's go home and get the money and line up!"
…
There was a sound of tapping footsteps, and the little ones each went into their own yard. Soon, sounds of cheering or crying came from several yards. It seemed that some were happy and some were about to be beaten.
Liu Mianmian: “…”
Who is the shameless person behind the scenes who claims that she is the unlucky daughter-in-law?
When Liu Mianmian reached the gate of Courtyard No. 9, she heard someone talking inside: "...Xiao Shen's health isn't good, but he's handsome, well-educated, and has a good family background. It's easy for him to find a city dweller with a formal job, not to mention a university student of equal status. But this guy now, with no diploma, no job, and grew up in the countryside, and I heard he has a bad temper? Oh my, I really feel sorry for Xiao Shen!"
Liu Mianmian couldn't help but roll her eyes.
The original owner grew up in the countryside, but at least he managed to graduate from high school. In that era, his education level was not considered low.
Besides, Shen Weizhuo is just in poor health. His life is already counting down.
Besides, didn’t the Shen family come to them to get married to bring good luck? Why did this person feel sorry for Shen Weizhuo?
Liu Mianmian heard Aunt Liu's voice again: "Who told you that? I think Miss Liu is a nice person. She's pretty, a high school graduate, and has a decent education. She has a bit of a temper, but it's not bad. What little girl doesn't have a little temper?"
"Her parents do love her. When they first came to visit, they told her that she had suffered a lot in the countryside and they wanted to find a good match for her. They said they knew Weizhou was a good person and were willing to marry her. They also said that if Weizhou didn't agree, the marriage would be annulled and they would find a new one for her. Both parties are respectable, so I think this marriage is a good one."
I didn't expect Aunt Liu to speak up for me behind my back.
However, Liu Mianmian felt strange. In the original owner's memory, her biological parents told her that she was engaged to Shen Weizhuo when she was born. Now that both of them have reached the marriageable age, the Shen family came to propose marriage.
But according to Aunt Liu, it seemed that the original owner's biological parents came to the house on their own initiative?
When Liu Mianmian walked in, the two people who were chatting in the yard were startled. The middle-aged woman with a broad face and triangular eyes stood up and greeted Liu Mianmian with a smile: "Is the bride back?"
Liu Mianmian didn't respond. She continued to herself: "Oh, it's getting late. I have to go back to cook. See you later!"
After the people left, Aunt Liu explained awkwardly, "That's Aunt Cao from Yard 4. She likes to matchmake people when she has nothing to do. Wei Zhou didn't ask her for help with the matchmaking, so she's upset and said that on purpose. Don't pay any attention to her."
"You're just taking advantage of the situation, I understand." Liu Mianmian didn't take it to heart and asked, "Aunt Liu, it was my parents who first proposed the engagement, wasn't it?"
Aunt Liu packed up her sewing basket and said, "Weizhou said he wasn't in good health and didn't want to be a burden to others, so he kept putting it off. If your parents hadn't come, Professor Shen and the others would have forgotten about it. After all, it's a new society now. Who would still be thinking about a child marriage from ten or twenty years ago?"
After saying that, he felt something was wrong and immediately tried to make amends: "But fortunately, I have you as my childhood sweetheart, otherwise, how could Wei Zhou get married?"
Liu Mianmian joked: "Find someone from the city who has a formal job."
Aunt Liu was so guilty that her voice became louder: "Oh my, listen to Cao Dazui's nonsense, it's impossible to find it. If it weren't for you, Wei Zhou would be destined to be a bachelor!"
He was really forced into a corner and even started to belittle Shen Weizhuo.
Liu Mianmian laughed and handed the paper bag to Aunt Liu: "I've eaten half of the butter bread at the entrance of the alley. You can share the rest."
Liu Mianmian went back to her room to wash up. With nothing to do, she flipped through a few books on the desk: "Electromagnetism", "Solid State Physics", "Projectile Aerodynamics"... well, she couldn't understand them at all.
Liu Mianmian sat down at the desk and thought about what Aunt Liu said.
She had always thought that the Shen family had taken the initiative to propose marriage to the Liu family in order to find a wife for their terminally ill son, but according to Aunt Liu, the facts were just the opposite, and it was the Liu family who took the initiative to propose the marriage.
The problem is, the original owner has no memory of this at all.
Actually, it’s not surprising. After all, the original owner was not aware of the 2,000 yuan betrothal gift.
There are probably many things that her biological parents are hiding from her.
From this perspective, the original owner's biological parents had a truly shrewd plan. They married off a daughter they weren't close to and didn't particularly like, in exchange for a 2,000 yuan betrothal gift and the Shen family's connections. Perhaps they thought that future promotions and salary increases for the entire family, even their extended family, would be a breeze.
But who knew that the original owner was instigated by the scumbag to elope, and then it was like a domino effect, one thing after another, Shen Weizhuo died of illness, Yu Wan was disabled in a car accident, Shen Weiyun got into an accident... The two families became complete enemies.
According to the custom in South City, tomorrow is the third day of the new year. At the dinner table that evening, Yu Wan mentioned this matter, saying that according to custom, she had prepared four gifts: cigarettes, alcohol, canned food, and wedding candy. She also said that she had prepared a few pieces of new fabric and asked Liu Mianmian if there was anything she needed.
Before Liu Mianmian could respond, Shen Weiyun spoke first: "We're missing everything. It would be best if we could move everything from home over there."
Shen Bokang glared at his daughter: "Shen Weiyun, is this your upbringing?"
Shen Weiyun was not afraid of her father at all. She muttered, "What did I say wrong..." She wanted to say something else, but when she met Shen Weizhuo's gaze, she blinked guiltily and immediately took back the words: "Okay, can't I just eat?" She was not afraid of anyone else, but she was afraid of her own brother.
Liu Mianmian acted as if she hadn't heard the conversation between the father and daughter. She said to Yu Wan as if nothing had happened, "According to custom, I only need to bring four gifts. If I bring too many, the neighbors will think I'm going back to my parents' house to show off."
Every good word she says always sounds sarcastic when it comes out of her mouth.
Yu Wan just smiled and said softly, "Mianmian is really thoughtful. It's really hard to make special arrangements. Put the fabric away for now and bring it back next time you go back."
Yu Wan's gentle eyes made Liu Mianmian feel like a naughty and unreasonable child.
Even in order to maintain the original character, Liu Mianmian couldn't help but feel that her attitude was excessive, and she swallowed back the ungrateful "lines" that were on the tip of her tongue.
Forget it, the Shen family is not familiar with the original owner, so just act casually.
Besides, a prodigal son can turn back. She just has a bad temper. It is not impossible for her to gradually become a better person.
Liu Mianmian convinced herself and said "yes". She said nothing more and concentrated on the stir-fried pork and bamboo shoots in front of her. The bamboo shoots were sweet and fresh, and the pork was tender and smooth. It was very delicious.
Shen Weizhou looked up at Liu Mianmian.
She made a scene last night but didn't go out. She just said there was a thief outside. Her lover, whose surname was Zhu, was arrested by the police station because of this.
This is completely different from my previous life.
Also, in her previous life, her mother had asked her at the dinner table what she should bring back to her parents' home. She thought the gift was too light, so she asked for cakes, tea, and money, saying that she wanted to give red envelopes to her nephews and the children of the neighbors. In fact, after returning to her parents' home, she didn't spend a penny.
This is also completely different.
When he returned to the room, Shen Weizhuo felt something was wrong when he saw Liu Mianmian washing up in the bathroom for a long time and then pouring hot water to soak her feet.
When he was speaking in sharp tones and sarcastically, he was quite similar to his previous life, but when he was leisurely leaning back in a chair and soaking his feet, he was like a completely different person.
The Liu Mianmian in the previous life had always been sharp, sensitive, and even inferior. She would never be in this relaxed state, and her attitude towards him had always been very bad.
"Do you want to soak your feet? I'll pour some hot water for you." Feeling Shen Weizhou's gaze, Liu Mianmian took the initiative to show her kindness. "Soaking your feet can speed up your metabolism and relieve fatigue. Soaking before bed can also improve your sleep quality. Your hands and feet are cold, so soaking your feet is very good."
After all, they have to live under the same roof, so Liu Mianmian still prefers to have a good relationship with Shen Weizhuo.
Anyway, this person won't live long, so just treat it as hospice care.
If you think about it this way, not to mention helping to pour water, even helping to wash feet is possible.
Shen Weizhou said coldly: "No need." The doubt in his eyes became even stronger.
If you don't have to, then don't.
Liu Mianmian wiped her feet clean, poured out the foot washing water, and quickly got into bed.
Shen Weizhuo was still sitting at the desk reading a book. Although Liu Mianmian was surprised that he was still so energetic despite being about to die, she did not think much about it. Instead, she thought about returning home tomorrow.
She was also quite curious about the original owner's parents who wanted more and more. In their eyes, their biological daughter, who was finally found, seemed to be just a bargaining chip to gain benefits.
Of course, there is still two thousand yuan.
Some people are just too possessive of other people's money. This is a disease and needs to be treated.
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