Chapter 44: It’s only human to act a little shameless to find a partner…

Chapter 44: It's only human to act a little shameless to find a partner...

As the vegetables sizzled in the wok, Shen Shaoyuan entered the kitchen. He washed his face with water, rubbing a towel as he asked Shen Moer, "I just rode over and saw Fu Zhiqing running out of our house like he was being chased by bandits. What's the hurry? Is there an emergency at the educated youth group?"

Shen Moer chuckled, then thought for a moment and decided to share the less important details first: "Fu Zhiqing brought over a live rooster, and it's now in the chicken coop. He said they wanted to replenish after the exhausting harvest season, but it's inconvenient to cook at the educated youth group."

"So, he and Zheng Zhiqing are coming over for dinner, right? They bring the meat, and we provide the staples. Sounds like we're getting the better deal."

Fu Mingze and Zheng Jiamin had been helping out at their house for quite some time, so Shen Shaoyuan was quite familiar with them. He casually asked, "Are we doing this tomorrow? I'll bring something else when I return from the commune."

Since buying meat required ration tickets, Shen Shaoyuan thought about buying some offal that didn't require tickets, like liver, to prepare a dish. After all, they couldn't take too much advantage of the situation with just one chicken.

"You decide," Shen Moer replied, flipping the spatula. She quickly served the stir-fried preserved pork with long beans onto a plate, then rinsed the pan, added oil, and poured in the beaten egg mixture.

Watching Shen Moer's skilled movements, Shen Shaoyuan felt a pang of sadness. His little Moer, who in Great Liang was more pampered than some lesser princesses, had become so adept at household chores in just a few months.

Ah, how unpredictable life can be!

Thinking this, Shen Shaoyuan wrung out the towel and said, "Little Moer, I have some good news to tell you."

Shen Moer turned to look at her father, smiling, "What is it?"

Shen Shaoyuan first went out to pour the water from the enamel basin, then returned, placed the basin back, and stood beside Shen Moer before saying, "I'm getting a promotion next month."

"Ah?!" Shen Moer's hand trembled, accidentally pushing the wild mushrooms on the cutting board into the pan. "Oh no, I meant to make spinach scrambled eggs!"

Shen Shaoyuan didn't mind at all: "Then it'll be mushroom scrambled eggs, and we'll make spinach soup instead."

Shen Moer laughed, "Alright."

She casually flipped the spatula a couple of times, then glanced at Shen Shaoyuan again, "Dad, you're really amazing!"

Shen Shaoyuan also smiled.

After a few more flips of the spatula, Shen Moer said nonchalantly, "Dad, I also have something to tell you. Well, it's sort of good news, I guess."

Shen Shaoyuan was surprised, "Oh?"

For Shen Moer, the biggest recent good news was probably that the two kids had won awards and could go to the provincial competition. Shen Shaoyuan couldn't think of any other good news at the moment.

Shen Moer turned to look at her father, a mischievous smile on her face, "Fu Zhiqing just said he wants to be in a relationship with me, and I agreed."

Shen Shaoyuan: "???"

Shen Shaoyuan: "!!!"

His smile disappeared almost instantly, his face darkening as he exclaimed, "Is this good news?!"

Shen Moer laughed, "Weren't you the one setting up blind dates for me? That Zhang Junliang is just average-looking, and his mother is unreasonable. Plus, he's not willing to be a live-in son-in-law. From what Fu Zhiqing said, he's willing to be a live-in son-in-law."

Shen Shaoyuan was speechless, "Is he really willing to be a live-in son-in-law? He has no choice! He's so poor that he can't possibly continue living in the educated youth group's dormitory after getting married, can he?! I've seen through him long ago. He's not some kind-hearted person. All that running around, helping us with the bathroom—he's had ulterior motives all along!"

Shen Moer laughed so hard she was shaking, "But you said it yourself, he's been running around helping us."

Shen Shaoyuan fumed, "I've also noticed that it's not that you were unhappy with that damn Zhang Junliang. You've had your eye on Fu Mingze, that pretty boy, from the start!"

Shen Moer didn't deny it, "He's good-looking, right?"

Shen Shaoyuan retorted, "Can good looks really put food on the table?"

Moer: "Looking at him makes me want to eat another bowl of rice."

Shen Shaoyuan was even more furious: "Girls always side with outsiders!"

Moer laughed: "I told him, if my dad doesn't agree, then forget it."

Shen Shaoyuan choked, then sighed after a while: "How could I possibly not agree? That young man is indeed good-looking, quite poor, willing to be a live-in son-in-law, and has no parents around, so you won't have to suffer from a mother-in-law's nagging. It's... well, quite suitable."

The words "quite suitable" were said reluctantly, but the facts were indeed so. Moreover, if one were not so nitpicky, apart from being a bit poor, there wasn't much else to criticize about that young man.

Shen Shaoyuan thought for a moment, still somewhat angry, and said: "Take that chicken back to him right now!"

Moer scooped up the stir-fried wild mushrooms and eggs, starting to make spinach soup, and casually responded: "Alright, I'll take the chicken back to him later."

Shen Shaoyuan glared at her, then sighed wistfully after a while: "Girls always side with outsiders."

He also felt, inexplicably, as if a weight had been lifted from his chest.

Next month would be Moer's eighteenth birthday. In Great Liang, it was rare for girls her age to still be unmarried. And he, relying on his status as the emperor's younger brother and the emperor's affection for Moer, had thought that even if she were a bit older, it wouldn't be hard to find a suitable son-in-law in all of Great Liang.

So he had kept his daughter at home, year after year.

When the rebels surrounded the city, Shen Shaoyuan regretted it. After moving to a new world and life becoming slightly more stable, he had already been pondering this matter.

Now, it seemed settled.

Moer glanced at her father and suddenly said: "Dad, Zhou Zhaodi's stepmother caused trouble for me today."

"Huh?" Shen Shaoyuan was distracted, "That skinny little girl? Didn't she win an award and is going to the provincial competition? Her stepmother is still causing trouble for you?"

Moer recounted the day's events, and Shen Shaoyuan's expression immediately darkened: "She's trying to pull a fast one on us? No, I need to teach her a lesson."

Moer didn't stop him, just said: "Let's eat dinner first, then go."

After dinner and doing the dishes, Shen Shaoyuan fetched a basin of water, scrubbed his hands clean, went back to his room to get something, grabbed a wooden stick by the door, and then casually headed towards the village.

Moer smiled and followed behind.

When the father and daughter arrived outside the Zhou family's courtyard, Yang Daniu was inside, cursing: "...Who am I doing this for? Isn't it all for this family?! Why not ask the brigade for more work points while we can?! And that Teacher Shen, her family has two workers, they have more money and coupons than they know what to do with, they've even built big tiled houses, and now she's counting on that little money-loser to achieve something. What's wrong with me asking her for some money?! Pah, a bunch of cowards!"

Zhou Xiaoshuan's voice: "Lower your voice! The brigade leader said this is a collective matter. Besides, Zhaodi has already earned quite a few work points, let it go."

A muffled voice came from inside the house: "Listen to Mancang! He won't treat us Zhous badly, don't make a fuss, just focus on giving birth to the child..." It was probably the Zhou family's elder.

Yang Daniu: "If you care so much about the one in my belly, why don't you go to the commune and buy some malted milk or powdered milk?! Raising a son is no easy task, if he doesn't get some good food, why would he want to be born into your family?! A family of tight-fisted cowards, no wonder neither of the two brothers could produce a son!"

Before she could finish, the courtyard gate was kicked open with a bang.

Yang Daniu was startled and stood up: "Who is it?!"

Shen Shaoyuan entered the courtyard without a word, walked straight to the clothes drying rack, kicked it over, and then knocked over the round winnowing basket with dried vegetables next to it.

Zhou Xiaoshuan immediately rushed over: "Who are you?!"

Shen Shaoyuan replied with great authority: "Your ancestor!"

Yang Daniu followed closely, her eyes sharper than Zhou Xiaoshuan's, and she started cursing before getting close: "Shen Laoqi, you damned scoundrel, what are you doing causing trouble at our house?!"

Shen Shaoyuan suddenly raised the thing in his hand, and with a click, a bright light shone directly on Yang Daniu's face. Then, with the stick in his other hand, he pointed it towards Yang Daniu: "What kind of lowlife are you, daring to scam my daughter!"

As he spoke, he swung the stick to the side, knocking over a bamboo chicken coop. The chickens, already settled in the coop for the night, let out a sharp and piercing cry.

Yang Daniu and Zhou Xiaoshuan were momentarily blinded by the flashlight and couldn't speak. It took them a while to react.

"Lao Qi, what are you doing!" This was the spineless Zhou Xiaoshuan, who only picked on the weak.

"Shen Laoqi, I'll take you on!" Yang Daniu, holding her waist, tried to charge, but Shen Shaoyuan shone the flashlight on her again. As she hesitated, Shen Shaoyuan swung his stick at the already overturned rack beside her, causing it to make a sharp cracking sound, startling Yang Daniu so much she nearly jumped.

"Lao Qi, she's pregnant!" Zhou Xiaoshuan shouted in fear.

Shen Shaoyuan scoffed: "She's carrying your Zhou family's child, not my Shen family's. If she dares to come at me, I'll dare to hit her. If the child is lost, it's on her. At most, I'll compensate your family with a few bucks for nutrition. Don't worry, I can afford that much now."

Yang Daniu froze completely.

She had been using her pregnancy as a shield to act boldly, knowing others wouldn't dare to touch her. This tactic had worked well, as Zhou Xiaoshuan and his father now obeyed her every word.

But looking at Shen Shaoyuan, Yang Daniu felt he might actually dare to hit her.

Previously, when he demanded money from Shen Laoqi and Shen Laoer, he had even threatened to hang them with a rope. Villagers whispered behind his back that Shen Shaoyuan had been driven mad by Shen Moer nearly starving to death.

Indeed, he seemed to have a fearless, almost crazed edge to him.

Yang Daniu was greedy for money, but not greedy enough to risk her child's nutrition. She was counting on this child to secure her position and power in the Zhou family.

"If you dare to mess with my daughter again, I'll beat you to a pulp."

Shen Shaoyuan glared at Yang Daniu for a few moments, then kicked aside the debris on the ground and stepped over the scattered clothes as he walked out of the Zhou family's yard.

Only after Shen Shaoyuan was completely out of sight did Yang Daniu finally let out a wail: "Zhou Xiaoshuan, you coward! You just stood there and watched your wife get bullied like this! I can't live like this—"

Shen Moer stood under the tree outside the Zhou family's yard, watching her father walk out with the flashlight and stick, the sharp cries from the yard accompanying him. She couldn't help but laugh: "Dad, you're acting like some kind of tyrant."

Shen Shaoyuan said quietly: "You guessed right. One year, I ran into that spoiled nephew of Consort Cao in Qinghefang. That kid had his lackeys smash people's stalls just like this. I just copied him."

After a moment, he added: "Don't worry, she won't dare to trouble you again."

Shen Moer smiled: "Of course not, my dad's the best. Let me take the flashlight. It's so bright without needing candles or fire. This thing is really interesting. Director Xu is really generous to give you these things."

She had originally stood at the door, ready to rush in and help if her father couldn't handle the Zhou couple alone. But she quickly saw it wasn't necessary. The moment her father turned on the flashlight, Yang Daniu and Zhou Xiaoshuan were completely intimidated.

The flashlight cost five or six yuan, and you needed industrial vouchers to buy it. In Yangliu Brigade, few families could afford one.

This made her father's later remark about being able to afford a few bucks for nutrition particularly convincing.

No wonder he had been able to outsmart the Crown Prince since childhood. His acting skills were top-notch.

By the next morning, the news that Shen Shaoyuan had smashed Zhou Xiaoshuan's house had spread throughout the village. During the break, Shen Lingling, unusually without her usual snark, asked with a complicated expression: "Shen Moer, I heard your family has a flashlight now?"

Her family didn't even have one.

Strictly speaking, only one or two families in the village had one, and they rarely used it because replacing the batteries was expensive.

Shen Moer casually replied: "That's a work tool the factory issued to my dad. Sometimes he works overtime and needs the flashlight. It also helps when he comes home late."

Hearing that it was issued by the factory, Shen Lingling felt somewhat relieved. Although both her father and she were now earning wages, and their future wouldn't be too bad, the idea of suddenly being able to afford a flashlight was hard for her to accept.

If it was issued by the factory, that made sense. It was like the factory issuing work gloves.

Cheng Tao, who was listening nearby, laughed and said, "Uncle Shen is really something. At most, the factory workers get some protective gloves, but he even gets a flashlight. Impressive!"

Shen Lingling felt a knot in her stomach and got up to leave. As she reached the classroom door, she ran into a few aunties who were dropping off their grandchildren and overheard them talking about it. She casually interjected, "The flashlight wasn't bought. Their family doesn't have the money for that. It's issued by the kiln factory for overtime work when it's too dark to see."

The aunties caught on and immediately commented, "Wow, getting a flashlight for free, that's pretty sweet. Shen Laoqi is really capable. The factory even provides him with a flashlight."

Shen Lingling: "..."

Was that the point? The point was that their family had no money, no money!

Shen Moer, oblivious to Shen Lingling's inner turmoil, had called Zhou Zhaodi to the office early in the morning to ask a few questions. She was mainly worried that after her father provoked her, Yang Daniu might not dare to trouble them but instead take her anger out on Zhou Zhaodi.

Zhou Zhaodi shook her head, "Chen Maomao showed me the ropes. Whenever she scolds me, I run outside the courtyard and cry. If she tries to hit me, I just run away. She doesn't dare to walk fast, so she can't catch me."

This little girl, who now hung out with Chen Maomao all the time, indeed seemed much braver. Shen Moer gave her a pat on the head, "If anything happens, tell your teacher. If the teacher can't handle it, your Uncle Shen will back us up."

Zhou Zhaodi's eyes lit up as she nodded.

She hadn't been in the courtyard last night, hiding in the kitchen to watch secretly. Uncle Shen was a real tough guy. Even though he had smashed her family's stuff, Zhou Zhaodi felt that it was because her stepmother had caused trouble for Teacher Shen first, so Uncle Shen had to act. She didn't think Uncle Shen was in the wrong.

On the contrary, she actually envied Teacher Shen. Teacher Shen was a girl too, but no one called her deadweight. When she was treated unfairly, her father would back her up.

*

In the evening, Shen Moer dropped Zhou Zhaodi off on her way home. Standing outside the door, she listened for a while and heard Yang Daniu tearing into Zhou Zhaodi, calling her a good-for-nothing and an ungrateful brat, and ordering her to do chores, but she didn't lay a hand on her. So Shen Moer grabbed Chen Maomao's hand and left.

"A stepmother means a stepfather. Zhou Zhaodi's stepmother is really bad, and her father is bad too," Chen Maomao said, sounding all grown-up, then looked up with his clear but naive eyes and asked innocently, "Sister Moer, can the village head swap out Zhou Zhaodi's parents?"

Shen Moer chuckled, "Change with whom?"

She ribbed the little troublemaker, "Change with you? Let Zhou Zhaodi go to your house, and you go to Zhou Zhaodi's house. What if her stepmother lays into you then?"

Chen Maomao sighed, "I'm not scared of her stepmother hitting me. If she hits me, I can run away. She can't catch me. It's just that she's always cursing, and I can't take it."

"Comrade Shen Moer!"

Fu Mingze walked over from another intersection and stopped at arm's length from Shen Moer. He glanced at her, then at Chen Maomao, who was staring at him curiously, and asked, "Zhou Zhaodi, is she home?"

Shen Moer: "Yes, I just took her back."

Fu Mingze asked, "Did her stepmother give you any trouble?"

"We took Zhou Zhaodi to the door and left. Her stepmother was cursing her in the yard, calling her a good-for-nothing and an ungrateful brat, and making her do laundry. Her stepmother is really bad, and her father doesn't help her either. A stepmother means a stepfather!" Chen Maomao piped up.

Fu Mingze glanced at him and said, "Alright, we'll take you home now."

But Chen Maomao's eyes darted around, and he snorted, "You two are going on a date. I'm not coming with you." With that, he dashed off in the direction of his home.

The mischievous child, who spent his days chasing chickens and dogs around the village, didn't really need anyone to take him home.

After a moment of silence, Fu Mingze chuckled softly.

The little rascal, quite clever.

Shen Moer shot him a glance but said nothing, then started walking ahead.

They were still in the village, so Fu Mingze didn't rush to catch up. He followed at a leisurely pace, watching his future partner from a distance. Hmm, not yet, but soon.

Only when Shen Moer reached near the village headquarters did Fu Mingze quicken his pace to catch up. He followed her into the courtyard and, without waiting for Shen Moer to lift her foot, he very naturally kicked a stone to prop the door open. Seeing this, Shen Moer couldn't help but laugh.

Seeing her laugh, Fu Mingze secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said, "I'll go fetch some water and boil it. Once the water's ready, we'll kill the chicken."

No wonder he came so early; he’s here to help on his own accord.

Shen Moer didn’t say anything to stop him from helping. She had already decided to be with him, so household chores would definitely have to be shared, even after marriage—at least they’d have to split the work.

While Fu Mingze went to fetch water, Shen Moer went inside to grab some dried wild mushrooms. After a moment’s thought, she also grabbed some angelica and codonopsis, cut a piece of clean linen, and wrapped it all up with some spices, tying it into a small pouch with silk thread.

Fu Mingze came back quickly with the water, poured it into the pot, and covered it. Then he sat behind the stove to light the fire.

He didn’t seem too skilled at lighting the fire, which made Shen Moer curious. "Don’t you all take turns cooking at the educated youth group?"

Fu Mingze glanced at her and said, "The ones who can’t cook are in charge of chopping wood and fetching water."

Got it—Fu Zhiqing must be one of those in charge of chopping wood and fetching water.

Though Fu Zhiqing wasn’t great at lighting the fire, he was pretty good at keeping it going. The fire was strong, and soon smoke was rising from the pot. Shen Moer grabbed a bowl, tossed the wild mushrooms in, and scooped a ladle of boiling water from the pot, pouring it over the mushrooms.

Fu Mingze pulled the firewood out of the stove, pushed it into the ashes below, then stood up and said, "I’ll go kill the chicken."

Shen Moer glanced at him and asked, "Do you even know how to kill a chicken?"

Fu Mingze hesitated for a moment and said, "I haven’t done it before, but I’ve already asked someone for tips."

Shen Moer couldn’t help but laugh. "Who’d you ask?"

Fu Mingze: "I asked Aunt Cai. She said... just be quick, firm, and precise, and make a cut across the neck."

Shen Moer: "...I’ll handle it."

Shen Moer didn’t have much experience killing domestic chickens, but luckily, she’d handled plenty of wild chickens and rabbits. With steady hands and a sharp knife, just as Fu Mingze had said, she made a quick, firm, and precise cut across the chicken’s neck.

The chicken was tossed into an enamel basin filled with hot water. After soaking in the hot water, the feathers came off easier. The two of them sat on small stools across from each other and started plucking the feathers.

The enamel basin wasn’t big, so they were sitting pretty close. Shen Moer shifted a little and accidentally bumped his knee. She felt a little awkward and moved again, only to bump his other knee.

"..."

His legs were way too long, taking up way too much space.

Shen Moer looked up, intending to stand up and adjust the stool, but Fu Mingze also looked up at her at the same time. The distance was already close, and now their heads almost touched.

His warm breath on her face tickled a little, and Shen Moer suddenly felt her breathing hitch, her heart racing. She instinctively leaned back a little and stood up.

Almost at the same time, a wet hand grabbed her.

The slightly calloused fingertips unconsciously rubbed against her wrist, and Shen Moer’s face felt like it was about to burn. She turned her head and glared at Fu Mingze. "What are you doing?"

Fu Mingze didn’t let go of her hand, his deep, dark eyes fixed on Shen Moer. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Have you talked to your father?"

Shen Moer: "What if I have? What if I haven’t? Let go first!"

Fu Mingze: "No."

He said stubbornly, "If you’ve talked to him, then you’re my girlfriend. If you haven’t, you’re still my girlfriend. I’ll talk to Uncle Shen in person later."

Shen Moer was almost amused by his audacity. "Why are you being so shameless?"

"Hmm." Fu Mingze nodded seriously. "Isn’t it human nature to be a bit shameless when trying to find a girlfriend?"

So you’re proud of it?

Shen Moer stared at Fu Mingze for a few moments, thinking to herself that he was already pretty good-looking with his usual cold demeanor, but now that he was acting playfully, he seemed even more attractive.

How could she keep arguing with him?

"I've already said it, I've already said it," Shen Moer said helplessly.

Suddenly, the man stood up, and Shen Moer saw the light dim as he gently kissed her cheek.