Chapter 71: First Revision

Chapter 71: First Revision

The brief Spring Festival holiday flew by, and Shen Shaoyuan was back at work, braving the elements every day on his commute between the commune and the village, which was quite tiring.

Fortunately, after the New Year, Shen Moer would go to the commune. The ninth workshop wouldn’t open immediately, but Shen Moer and Geng Liming had agreed to teach a year of art classes at the commune’s middle school to find talented painters. By the time school started, she’d be working at the commune.

The commune had arranged housing for the three managers of the ninth workshop in the residential compound—all small two-bedroom apartments. Workshop Director Mao Jianxin and Deputy Director Jin Caifei had already moved in. Shen Moer received the key but didn’t inspect the place herself, handing it directly to Shen Shaoyuan instead.

While Shen Shaoyuan was at work, he hired someone to help clean the house.

Many kiln factory apprentices had low pay and took on side jobs, usually just helping out colleagues. Cleaning houses was considered easy work, and since Shen Shaoyuan paid well, the workers were happy to make some extra money, so everyone was satisfied.

Shen Shaoyuan wasn’t great at this kind of thing, but after the New Year, his work in the propaganda department kept him busy, so he used the excuse that his family was occupied to get people to do the job.

People understood. Although Shen Shaoyuan hadn’t been at the kiln factory for long, he quickly rose from a temp to a full-time worker and then to deputy section chief, mainly because he was swamped. He basically handled all the work in the propaganda department, while the other two, Section Chief Xu Weiguo and Ding Lixin, could only assist.

Since Shen Shaoyuan arrived, the factory’s propaganda work had received much praise from higher-ups, and many places found reasons to borrow him. Many also tried to poach him, so the kiln factory’s bosses quickly promoted him, mostly to keep him around.

Shen Shaoyuan wasn’t the quiet type. He was talkative and often bragged about his daughter, so folks at the kiln factory knew that even though he only had one daughter, she was highly capable. As a teacher, she led two young students to win the provincial second prize, and they were the only ones in the city to do so. Later, she connected with the provincial Embroidery Factory, which set up a workshop in their commune for her embroidery skills. This was even more impressive. Look, Shen Shaoyuan hadn’t even received a house allocation yet, but the commune had already allocated one for his daughter. Everyone was envious and figured such a capable daughter must be busy!

As for Shen Shaoyuan’s son-in-law, he was also said to be very capable, working on crop yield experiments, so he’d definitely be busy come spring.

So, it wasn’t strange at all that Shen Shaoyuan hired people to clean the house. Some even volunteered to help, but Shen Shaoyuan didn’t trouble others and found apprentices to do the cleaning.

After the house was cleaned, Shen Shaoyuan began sending things to the commune from time to time. They planned to move on the twelfth day of the first lunar month, but they could send some small items in advance.

One day, Shen Shaoyuan was riding his bike home from work at full speed. As he approached the village entrance, someone suddenly jumped out from the roadside, almost colliding with him. Shen Shaoyuan immediately hit the brakes and tapped his foot on the ground, managing to stop the bike just in front of the person.

Shen Shaoyuan frowned and looked at the person. It was a woman in her forties, but she had two braids and wore a bright red cotton jacket. If not for her face, she could’ve passed for a young girl in her late teens. Her features were quite proper, especially her big, watery eyes, which gave her a somewhat pitiful look when she gazed at people.

She was a stranger, but there was something vaguely familiar about her. Shen Shaoyuan thought for a moment and realized who she was.

Zhou Chuntao.

Her appearance was quite different from how Shen Laoqi remembered her. Probably because Shen Laoqi hadn’t seen her since she got married, his memory of her was still that of a young girl in her late teens, so Shen Shaoyuan hadn’t recognized her at first.

"Shaoyuan."

Zhou Chuntao looked at Shen Shaoyuan affectionately.

Shen Shaoyuan’s eyebrows twitched. People in Yangliu Brigade usually called him Shen Laoqi, Lao Qi, or addressed him by his generational title, like Uncle Seven or Seventh Uncle. This was the first time he’d heard someone in the village call him by his name, and it felt a bit awkward.

Shen Shaoyuan said coldly, "Sister Zhou, you should be more careful when walking. If I hadn’t reacted quickly, I would’ve hit you. Luckily, I braked in time, so I didn’t hit you, and my bike wasn’t damaged. Otherwise, it would’ve been a hassle."

Zhou Chuntao choked. She was a few months older than Shen Laoqi, but he couldn’t just call her "Sister Zhou," as if she were much older.

But now wasn’t the time to argue about this. She put on a sad and fragile expression, looking tenderly at Shen Shaoyuan: "Shaoyuan, we grew up together and can be considered childhood sweethearts. Although for various reasons, we haven’t been in touch much over the years, in my heart, this bond of ours will never change with time. Over the years, I’ve often thought about the little moments we shared back then, like when we gathered firewood together, worked together..."

Shen Shaoyuan interrupted her: "Sister Zhou, it’s getting late, and my daughter’s waiting for me to come home for dinner. You don’t need to reminisce with me. After all, we didn’t collide, and my bike wasn’t damaged. Don’t worry, I definitely won’t ask you for compensation."

Zhou Chuntao choked again.

Damn it, who’s asking for compensation for your second-hand bike!

She twitched her lips, barely maintaining her tender expression. After calming herself, she added a hint of sob to her voice: "Shaoyuan, I know you must’ve been blaming me all these years for not responding to you back then. Actually, even though you never said anything, I understood your silent care and protection, and I was very touched. But you also know, my parents, well, they’ve passed away, so I shouldn’t speak ill of them, but because they looked down on the poor and favored the rich, I missed out on a good person. Over the years, I’ve actually harbored some resentment towards them. But after all, they were my parents, and I’ve always respected and been filial to them. Besides, I was young back then and didn’t dare to defy them, so…"

Shen Shaoyuan glanced at the bike handle that Zhou Chuntao was clutching, thinking to himself, "It’s just acting. Do you think I, Shen Shaoyuan, am afraid of you?"

He sighed deeply and said, "Elder Sister Zhou, I know you had a thing for Wang Daniu back then, but unfortunately, your parents broke you two apart. However, I didn’t expect that after so many years, you still remember him. Speaking of which, you two do seem to have some fate. His wife left him two years ago, and your husband passed away last year, so now both of you are single again. Are you telling me all this today because you want me to help bring you two together? You’re right, we grew up together, and I should help you with this. Don’t worry, I’ll talk to Daniu tomorrow. It’s not proper for a woman to make the first move in these situations. I’ll talk to him and ask him to take the initiative."

Zhou Chuntao: "???"

What on earth are you talking about?!

Who would be interested in Wang Daniu? He’s so poor that even his wife couldn’t stand the life and left him, leaving him with three kids. He’s constantly borrowing grain and money from the commune every year. Who the hell has any fate with him?!

Zhou Chuntao was on the verge of a breakdown.

She believed she understood Shen Shaoyuan well. He had always been straightforward since he was a kid and didn’t know how to refuse. Otherwise, even though his father had worked hard to secure two brick houses for him, he would not have been tricked into giving them up by his two older brothers.

Besides, she was indeed aware that Shen Shaoyuan had once been interested in her. So before stopping Shen Shaoyuan today, Zhou Chuntao had been very confident, thinking that winning him over would be easy.

She had even thought about showing some affection first to keep him hooked, then wait for Shen Shaoyuan to propose to her. Of course, she wouldn’t agree immediately; she would definitely negotiate some conditions with him.

She had heard that his daughter had been assigned a house in the commune, so the two houses in Yangliu Commune should be left to her son, Xu Qi. After all, Xu Qi was a boy who could carry on the family line. She hadn’t even demanded the house in the commune, which she considered quite polite.

Also, she wanted his daughter to arrange a job for Xu Wei. Wasn’t his daughter the Deputy Director of the Ninth Workshop? It wouldn’t be unreasonable to arrange a team leader position for Xu Wei, right? Such a good position should go to family members who would work wholeheartedly for her. Otherwise, how could a young girl manage people as a leader?

Oh, and she wanted his daughter to arrange a position for her too. Such a large workshop must have a supply department, right? Departments that handle money and supplies should definitely be managed by family members.

Her son, Xu Qi, was still a child, but when he grew up, he could take over his sister’s position. By then, he might not just be a Deputy Director, but even a Director or Factory Manager.

Zhou Chuntao had everything planned out, fantasizing about the next ten or twenty years, never expecting to stumble at the very first step, which she thought was a sure thing.

She was taken aback, unable to tell whether Shen Shaoyuan was being sincere or sarcastic.

After some thought, Zhou Chuntao concluded that Shen Shaoyuan must be doing it on purpose. He must be bearing a grudge because she didn’t choose him back then, so now he was deliberately bringing up Wang Daniu to annoy her.

Yes, that must be it.

Zhou Chuntao once again reassured herself, trying to relax her stiff facial muscles and putting on a tearful expression: "Shaoyuan, I know you’re angry with me—"

"Dad, who is this?"

A voice suddenly interrupted.

Zhou Chuntao, who had been working up her emotions for a while, was once again cut off.

Shen Moer walked over, glanced at Zhou Chuntao, and squinted slightly when she saw her face. Then, feigning ignorance of the situation, she said, "What’s happening here, Dad? Did you bump into this auntie? Why is she gripping your handlebar?"

Shen Shaoyuan looked helpless and said, "We didn’t actually collide, it was just close. Don’t worry, our bike isn’t damaged, so I didn’t ask Sister Zhou for compensation. She’s gripping my handlebar because, well, she and your Uncle Daniu were childhood lovers, and she wants me to help bring them together. It’s a minor issue, Sister Zhou, don’t worry, I’ll do my best. So you really don’t need to hold onto my handlebar; you can trust my integrity."

Zhou Chuntao felt like a dog trying to bite a hedgehog—nowhere to start. She argued, "No, Shaoyuan, don’t be angry. I’m not interested in Wang Daniu, there’s nothing between us. It’s you and I…"

Shen Moer’s eyes flickered, and she pursed her lips. She walked over and patted Zhou Chuntao’s hand, interrupting her, "Auntie, don’t worry. My dad said he’ll do his best, so you can rest assured. My dad doesn’t have time, but I’m still in the commune, so I can help too. Our family is waiting for my dad to come home for dinner, so we won’t chat any longer."

Zhou Chuntao’s arm went numb from the pat, and she instinctively released the handlebar.

Shen Shaoyuan seized the opportunity, got on his bike, and rode off in a flash.

Shen Moer slowly let go of Zhou Chuntao and smiled, "Auntie Zhou, don’t worry, we’ll handle this."

Zhou Chuntao finally started to catch on and grabbed Shen Moer, "No, Moer, your dad misunderstood. There’s nothing between me and Wang Daniu. I’m…"

Shen Moer smiled innocently, "Auntie Zhou, if there’s nothing between you and Uncle Daniu, then you should avoid appearing in front of my dad. Otherwise, I’ll definitely go ask Uncle Daniu why, if you two were childhood lovers, he hasn’t tried to rekindle the relationship."

"Goodbye, Aunt Zhou."

After saying that, Shen Moer strolled home.

Left standing there, Zhou Chuntao's face turned pale and flushed. If she still hadn't realized what the father and daughter meant by now, she would truly be a fool.

It was also because she had been too confident in Shen Shaoyuan's feelings for her from the start, so she never considered the possibility that Shen Shaoyuan might be unwilling. Now, thinking back, damn it, Shen Shaoyuan had been deliberately bringing up Wang Daniu from the very beginning!

Shen Moer's final words were a blatant threat, implying that from now on, she should stay out of Shen Shaoyuan's sight, or else they would find a way to pair her up with Wang Daniu.

That scheming little brat.