Volume One, Chapter 12: Song Huaichuan Suddenly Smiled

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Shen Zhigao couldn’t control his aim and slammed hard against the door with a loud bang. Hearing the noise, Shen Zhiyi looked up, her face full of surprise as she glanced at Shen Zhigao. "Second Brother, what are you doing? Why are you sitting on the floor?"

Shen Erge, who had even prepared some comforting words, was speechless. Would they believe he said it was because the floor was cool?

Beside them, whether out of frustration or sheer disbelief, Song Huaichuan suddenly chuckled and then withdrew his hand. As his hand pulled back, the yellow progress bar was forced to pause.

Shen Zhiyi felt a bit disappointed but seeing her score rise by several digits brought some consolation to her heart. Well, next time then; you can't just drain someone dry all at once.

Shen Zhigao once again expressed his gratitude to Song Huaichuan and Wang Tieniu and inquired about the situation and the information on the assailant.

Wang Tieniu knew more than Song Huaichuan and answered directly.

"After the leader took Shen Sister away, I kicked him a few times. He woke up, tried to run at first but failed... caught red-handed, yet he still denied his crime... When the police questioned him, guess what? That man wasn’t even from our province..."

"A drifter?" Shen Zhigao asked.

"No. He came with a letter of introduction, said he was visiting family. But when questioned further, he stammered and couldn’t explain clearly..."

The suspect denied the crime, insisting he was only asking Shen Zhiyi for directions. The case was still under investigation and wouldn't close anytime soon. Shen Zhigao, anxious but helpless, after confirming Shen Zhiyi was unharmed, prepared to take her home.

After walking a while, they noticed Song Huaichuan and Wang Tieniu following behind them.

Shen Zhigao turned back to look at the two. Facing his silent inquiry, Song Huaichuan simply explained, "Same route."

Wang Tieniu chuckled, "We’re taking the same path back."

Shen Zhigao, considering their identities, understood and said no more.

Along the way, Shen Zhigao and Song Huaichuan remained mostly silent, only hearing the voices of Shen Zhiyi and Wang Tieniu.

Wang Tieniu asked, "Sister Shen, you mentioned breaking off your engagement earlier. What happened?"

Shen Zhiyi replied, "Ah, just a scumbag acting like Chen Shimei, thinking I’m a burden."

Wang Tieniu said, "You’re so beautiful, and he still dislikes you? If I had a wife like you, I’d wake up smiling in my dreams... By the way, you asked our leader to be your boyfriend before, right? What do you like about him?"

Hearing that, Song Huaichuan, walking behind, couldn’t help but glance at Shen Zhiyi.

She seemed to love smiling.

Her smile never faded along the way.

At that moment, whatever Wang Tieniu said struck a chord, and she giggled again.

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A book in her hands hid half her face, revealing only her curved brows and sparkling eyes.

As if sensing someone watching her, Shen Zhiyi glanced back.

When their eyes met, the brightness in her eyes intensified.

She turned away, unabashedly smiling, "Because he’s handsome."

Shen Zhigao: "..."

"Hehe, I’m not bad-looking either. I’m the most handsome guy in my village. Sister, you might consider me," Wang Tieniu volunteered, also taking a jab at his rival, "Our leader is like an iron rod—cold and hard. Looks can only get you so far; he… doesn’t know romance."

Shen Zhiyi chuckled again.

Wang Tieniu said, "Your ex-fiancé is blind. You’re the most beautiful fairy I’ve ever seen. Surely many guys are after you."

Shen Zhiyi countered, "Not necessarily. I’m physically weak; they all think I can’t have kids."

"Cough, cough, sis!" Shen Zhigao coughed behind them as a subtle reminder.

Wang Tieniu and Shen Zhiyi both glanced back at him briefly, then turned away again.

Wang Tieniu asked, "What do you look for in a partner?"

Shen Zhiyi waved her hand, "Not much, just a few small requirements. First, at least love me; second, handle the mother-in-law relationship well. I don’t ask him to always side with me, but at least be fair and reasonable, not deaf or blind, right?"

Wang Tieniu nodded vigorously, like a gorilla pounding a pestle, "Got it, got it."

Shen Zhiyi continued, "These are the basics. Besides that, there are emotional and practical skills. I’ve summarized six points:

1. Be able to handle both formal occasions and kitchen work.

2. Earn money to support the family.

3. Manage the household and take care of the children.

4. Protect wife and kids; deal with scumbags.

5. Endure loneliness and recognize fake charmers.

6. Spoil wife and give her money to spend.

That’s it. My demands aren’t many."

Shen Zhigao: "..."

Song Huaichuan: "..."

Wang Tieniu was stunned.

He scratched his head, "Sis, I have a poor memory and little education, what exactly do you mean by all that?"

Shen Zhiyi said, "Brother Tieniu, you’re a good person."

Wang Tieniu brightened, "Really?"

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Does that mean he still has a chance?

Shen Zhiyi nodded, "Really. If I hadn’t already set my sights on your Song..."

But Shen Zhigao interrupted immediately—

"Sis!"

He quickly stepped forward and covered Shen Zhiyi’s mouth, worried she might say something outrageous, then hurriedly pulled her away.

Wang Tieniu was left standing there, stunned.

"Leader, what did Sister Shen mean just now?"

Song Huaichuan smirked, glanced at him, and walked past.

Wang Tieniu hurried to follow.

Soon they reached a fork in the road.

At Song Huaichuan’s reminder, Wang Tieniu quickly handed over the items he had picked up in the woods to the Shen siblings.

"Almost forgot, Sister Shen, these are your things you left behind earlier."

Shen Zhigao had noticed the pile Wang Tieniu was holding but thought they were their own purchases.

Now hearing they were Shen Zhiyi’s, he instinctively spoke, "Sis, when did you buy these?"

Shen Zhiyi shook her head, "I didn’t buy them; they gave them to me."

Why would they give his sister gifts for no reason?

Shen Zhigao instinctively looked at Song Huaichuan.

Only when Shen Zhiyi explained about the translation help she had provided did Shen Erge’s doubts vanish.

Wang Tieniu added, "This is the reward our place gave Sister Shen."

Shen Zhigao felt relieved and again thanked the two, "Thank you for saving my sister today. I’ll treat you to a meal another day."

Meanwhile, Shen Zhiyi said to Song Huaichuan:

"Song Huaichuan, you left a pen at my place earlier, but I didn’t bring it today. I’ll return it next time we meet. Or you can come find me anytime; I’m at school every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday."

Song Huaichuan said nothing else, just, "Alright."

Then he turned and walked with Wang Tieniu down a nearby path.

Meanwhile, Shen Zhigao, curious about the army’s rewards, was rummaging through the bag.

Hearing Shen Zhiyi’s words, he instinctively asked, "What pen? Is it this one? There’s a pen in here too, is that one of the rewards? It feels pretty nice."

Shen Zhiyi froze and abruptly turned to look at the pen in her Second Brother’s hand.