Zhou Siyu listened to the conversation among the three, remained silent throughout, but her heart was already in turmoil.
With just a few words, Shen Mianmian easily persuaded Shen Jianhua. If she really did well on the test, and Uncle couldn't afford tuition for both of them, wouldn't that mean she'd have to drop out of school?
After dinner, Zhou Siyu, wanting to make a good impression in front of Shen Jianhua, volunteered to help Zhou Lanfang wash the dishes. When she got to the kitchen, however, Zhou Lanfang didn't let her help, fearing she might freeze her hands.
"Auntie, what if sister really does well?" Zhou Siyu asked with a worried face.
The two of them lived in the same room and were in the same class. How much Shen Mianmian loved studying might not be known to others, but Siyu knew. If the final exam was easy, scoring sixty points wouldn't be difficult for her.
Zhou Lanfang cursed bitterly, "That stupid brat is as dumb as a pig. She only gets a few points every test. Even if you lent her a brain, she couldn't score well." Then, changing her tone, she whispered, "Don't worry, your auntie has some private savings. It won't be a problem to pay your tuition fees."
Working at the kiln paid well, and since Shen Jianhua had worked there for two years and didn't have many expenses, she had saved up more than a hundred.
The middle school tuition and miscellaneous fees all together were only about thirty yuan. Next year, when Shen Jianhua found a job, she could continue to earn money.
As for Shen Mianmian, there was still more than half a year left. Lanfang had plenty of ways to ensure that brat couldn't continue school.
"Auntie, I always feel like Mianmian has changed. Could it be the village chief told her something?" Zhou Siyu voiced her underlying concerns. In the past, Shen Mianmian wouldn't dare to defy Auntie and was always nice to her.
Now, she seemed like a completely different person.
"So what if she knows?" Zhou Lanfang sneered, "If she dares to make trouble, I'll make her pay back all the years of support I've given her."
This brat had a face that looked just like a little fairy. When she got married, she would definitely be able to demand a substantial bride price.
The two of them whispered in the kitchen for a while, and by the time Zhou Siyu returned to the room, Shen Mianmian had already gone to bed. The military coat hung on a nail above the bed. Seeing that Shen Mianmian appeared to be asleep, she couldn't help but reach for the military coat.
"What are you doing?"
Shen Mianmian suddenly opened her eyes and stared fixedly at Zhou Siyu.
"You scared me," Zhou Siyu exclaimed, patting her little heart, "I saw your coat wasn't hung properly and was afraid it would fall. I wanted to hang it up for you again."
This brat, now she could even act—exhibiting a pitiful appearance in front of Uncle, but showing a cold face when alone with her.
"There's no need. It was given to me by someone else, don't touch it."
"Who cares."
Zhou Siyu huffed and went to bed after taking off her shoes.