Hearing what Wang Zhaodi had done to his wife during his absence, Shen Chi's heart shuddered repeatedly, and his eyes showed a fierce look due to his fury. The summary from Yuan Lin even frightened him more.
At that moment, he truly realized how absurdly wrong he had been. His negligence had brought such great harm to Wanwan.
Initially, he felt somewhat disheartened by Wanwan's coldness toward him after she awoke, but now he thought that him only receiving cold treatment from his wife, rather than a slap, was already fortunate.
Seeing that Shen Chi took his words to heart, Yuan Lin couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. He was genuinely worried that his brother would stubbornly refuse to yield, damaging the marital relationship further.
Although Lin Xiaoguai was not from Yuanjiazhuang and he didn't know her, he had heard many rumors about her.
This girl was beautiful, smart, and not mean-spirited. Although she had never worked in the fields, during the years her mother passed away, she, at her young age, had managed their household proficiently. Her father's clothes were always clean and tidy, far from the slovenliness typical of rural men who had lost their wives, clearly showing the girl's hardworking and capable nature.
His brother might be good, but the girl was not bad either. What he initially did was indeed unkind, and if he didn't lower his pride now, this young couple might come to an end.
Before leaving, Yuan Lin still worriedly advised, "I know you are always proud, but as someone with experience, I must point out to you, you can be proud with anyone, but you cannot afford to be proud with your wife."
Knock, knock. The knocking sounds pulled Lin Xiaoguai out of her thoughts, and she looked toward the door.
A small head peeked in, her eyes sweeping timidly across the hospital room.
"Sister-in-law." Seeing Lin Xiaoguai, Shen Xiu's eyes lit up. She closed the door, ran to the bedside, and struggled to take off her backpack, pulling out a large bag of fruit.
"Why are you all sweaty?" Lin Xiaoguai could be harsh to any Shen Family members, but Shen Xiu was absolutely an exception.
Back then, if it weren't for Shen Xiu's care, she would have long died from a high fever under the indifference of other Shen Family members.
Hearing this, the little girl's eyes reddened, and she said worriedly, "I heard my classmates who don't stay at the school say it, so I asked for leave to come here."
Lin Xiaoguai knew without asking that she must have run all the way here.
"What's this about the fruit, where did you get the money to buy these?" Lin Xiaoguai frowned slightly, knowing that the grandma was not generous to this little aunt, usually tight on provisions for her own sons, and would not spare any extra money for the little aunt.
Moreover, fruit that time was not something usually bought like in later years, wanting to eat an apple during festivals was a luxury, expensive and hard to buy.
"I earned ninety cents by picking up recyclables during the holidays," Shen Xiu said, her face both proud and shy.
Ninety cents at that time was not a small sum, considering an ordinary worker's salary was barely twenty yuan—and it was no wonder that even an introverted girl like Shen Xiu would show such a proud expression.
Looking at her rosy, flushed cheeks, and then at the portion of fruit, Lin Xiaoguai asked complexly, "Where did you buy these from?" It was obvious to her that Xiuxiu must have spent all her money.
"I wanted to buy it from the street, but there were only two fruit stalls and they weren't fresh. Then I met a classmate who said her family grew them, so I bought it from her home," said Shen Xiu, taking out a pear and smiling, "Though these fruits are small, they are freshly picked. Sister-in-law, let me peel it for you."
Seeing Lin Xiaoguai looking toward the bag of fruit beside the bed, Shen Xiu said softly, "My classmate's family only grows pears. There weren't other fruits at the street stalls, but I also bought some raw chestnuts from her family's storage to stir-fry for you to eat later."
Looking at this fifteen-year-old little aunt, Lin Xiaoguai didn't know what to say for a moment. Even across lifetimes, she couldn't forget how this little aunt used to sneak food to her while she went hungry.
"Xiuxiu, have you eaten yet?"
Lin Xiaoguai originally asked casually, not expecting Shen Xiu to hesitate before shaking her head, "No, my classmate's home is more than an hour's walk away, and I was too embarrassed to eat there."
She was genuinely hungry, her stomach uncomfortably empty.
"Why didn't you eat before coming?" Lin Xiaoguai suddenly asked, realizing her own silly question— the child clearly had no money left.
"Have a pear first. Your brother will bring some food over soon, and you can eat with me then."
"I'll only eat one, the rest are for sister-in-law," Shen Xiu thought for a moment but didn't refuse. After a pause, she hesitantly said, "Sister-in-law, please don't blame my brother."
Lin Xiaoguai was slightly stunned, looking down in silence.
Seeing this, Shen Xiu was about to say something when Shen Chi just happened to walk in carrying a pot.
"Xiuxiu, why are you here?" Shen Chi asked in surprise.
"I came to see sister-in-law," Shen Xiu replied softly.
Shen Chi glanced quickly at Lin Xiaoguai and saw his wife looking tenderly at Xiuxiu. Yuan Lin's words flashed through his mind, and he felt an indescribable complexity in his heart.
Shen Xiu stood up to help Shen Chi serve the chicken soup from the pot, turning to ask, "It's a bit hot, do you want me to feed you?"
"No need," Lin Xiaoguai shook her head, "Just use a cloth to pad it for me."
Shen Xiu nodded, skillfully skimming off the yellow-orange oil from the soup.
"Why did you skim off the oil?" Shen Chi frowned, watching.
People in those days valued the oiliness of their food, picking fatty meat when buying, naturally disapproving of Shen Xiu's actions.
"Sister-in-law likes light flavors and doesn't enjoy greasy food." Shen Xiu quietly explained before taking another chicken thigh into her bowl.
"That's enough, I won't be able to finish any more." Seeing Xiu'er reaching for another chicken leg, Lin Xiaoguai immediately stopped her.
Shen Xiu didn't insist, carefully placing a piece of cloth at the bottom of the bowl before handing it over to Lin Xiaoguai, and then poured herself some chicken soup to drink.
"Don't just drink the soup, take some more meat." Lin Xiaoguai spoke.
"No, I'm fine with just some soup; keep the chicken for sister-in-law." Shen Xiu shook her head repeatedly.
"I can't finish this much."
"Then save it for tomorrow." Shen Xiu insisted stubbornly.
"If I tell you to eat, you eat, the chicken won't taste good if left too long." Lin Xiaoguai said, brooking no denial.
Shen Xiu hesitated for a moment, she knew her sister-in-law preferred fresh food, but such chicken wasn't available daily.
"If sister-in-law asks you to eat, just eat." Shen Chi then spoke.
In the end, Shen Xiu added a few pieces of chicken to her bowl and started eating quietly.
Perhaps because her mind was preoccupied with too many things, Lin Xiaoguai didn't feel hungry, finishing what was in her bowl without serving more.
Shen Chi wanted her to eat more but, meeting those overly subdued eyes, didn't say anything.
He would rather have Wanwan hit him, scold him, or fuss with him, rather than pretending he didn't exist like now.
After eating, Lin Xiaoguai went to sleep while Shen Chi and Shen Xiu left the hospital room, both were very quiet, and after a long silence, Shen Xiu finally said, "Brother, don't let sister-in-law go back."
"I know." Shen Chi gave a wry smile, his sister unexpectedly worried about him.
Shen Xiu bit her lip, "I'm not going back either, none of us are going back."
Shen Chi was startled, "What are you talking about; what would dad think? He has always loved you the most..."
"Does his love matter? Always secretive, did he ever protect me once when Wang Zhaodi bullied me? Due to Wang Zhaodi's partiality, an outsider like Shen Zhu became the family's treasure! An outsider like Xiao Bao almost caused my sister-in-law to miscarry, they acted like nothing was wrong, not even apologizing, I can't tolerate this, brother!" Shen Xiu's face turned red, tears streaming down her face.
Shen Chi sighed, Xiu'er usually had a gentle nature and was timid; even if she didn't like Wang Zhaodi, she always respectfully called her 'Mom' in her presence, now addressing her by her full name showed how angry she was.
He was reluctant to endure as well, but there were many things Xiu'er didn't know, he could endure it, but Xiu'er...
"How are you getting along with your sister-in-law?" Shen Chi changed the subject.
Shen Xiu glared at him but still answered, "Very well, sister-in-law is kind and nothing like what others describe as stuck-up, and she speaks so gently."
Her lips pursed sadly, "If I had known this would happen, no matter how harshly Wang Zhaodi spoke to send me back to school, I wouldn't have returned."
It seemed the long-held resentment burst forth, and Shen Xiu, usually docile, refused to call that woman 'Mom' anymore.
"I'll take you back to school." Shen Chi sighed.
"Not yet." Shen Xiu looked at Shen Chi, "First clarify, what exactly do you plan to do with sister-in-law?"
"I..." Shen Chi looked hesitant.
"You're not thinking of sending sister-in-law back, are you?"
"Not that. Grandpa and grandma are about to return, I was thinking of entrusting Wanwan to their care."
"No!" Shen Xiu objected, "You only think grandpa and grandma can take good care of sister-in-law, have you considered if Wang Zhaodi bothers her? Grandpa and grandma are old, they can't protect her."
Seeing his usually compliant sister showing a fierce side, Shen Chi sighed, truly his mother's daughter.
But he had his concerns, "But it'll cost more if you follow the military, and it might not be as comfortable as living in the countryside."
Hearing this, Shen Xiu was unshaken, "If I were sister-in-law, I'd rather suffer hardship than stay at home." She paused, "Wang Zhaodi's maltreatment could drive someone crazy."
Wang Zhaodi wouldn't physically attack someone, but her verbal abuse was unmatched among the village women, with malicious and slanderous words effortlessly used to pierce one's heart and tarnish reputations.
Shen Chi had joined the military at fourteen and was rarely home, so he knew little of his stepmother's tactics, but Yuan Lin had thoroughly "educated" him before.
Thinking about the abuses his stepmother inflicted on Wanwan as described by Yuan Lin, Shen Chi's expression darkened as he began to consider his sister's suggestion.