Chapter 56: A Daughter Can Also Shield Them From the Wind and Rain

Chapter 56: Even a Daughter Can Provide Shelter from the Wind and Rain

"Xiaomeng, take this back quickly! How can you bring so much money like this? If others find out, they'll intercept you!" Shen Yutian had never seen so much money before. He didn't feel happy; he only felt an overwhelming sense of dread.

His little sister had come to Shenjia Village alone with four children, passing through two villages along the way. If some street thug had set their sights on her, he couldn't even bear to imagine how dangerous it would have been.

"Good heavens, hurry up and put it away! It's blinding me! You're too bold—how dare you step out the door carrying this much money!" Wang Guizhi turned her head away, covering her eyes.

Shen Yutian stared at the money on the table, his eyes turning bloodshot. For someone who had been poor for so many years, seeing such a large sum of money all at once triggered an unimaginable surge of excitement, agitation, and confusion.

Excitement is an instinct, but controlling oneself to avoid greed is a matter of character.

Shen Meng surreptitiously observed the reactions of the three people. Under severe stimulation, a person's true inner nature is most easily revealed.

She was willing to help the Shen family partly because she was inhabiting the original host's body, and partly because the Shen parents had been so kind to her when she woke up.

However, she would never allow the Shen family to treat her like a piece of flesh to be latched onto like a leech.

That was not what she wanted to see. Fortunately, the Shen family did not disappoint her.

"Xiaomeng, it makes my heart truly happy that you thought of us. But Zhenping's stipend was earned through his own blood and sweat. Our family isn't that kind of greedy person. Take this money back. As for repairing the house, your second brother and I will find a way. No matter how difficult it is, we can't let a married daughter pay for it."

"Big Brother..."

"Don't say anything more, Xiaomeng. Put the money away. I'll drive you back tomorrow. Sleep with Mother tonight so you can warm up to her; she misses you every day."

As Shen Yutian spoke, he prepared to stand up. He couldn't handle the internal tug-of-war between the family's current living conditions and the glaring pile of money on the table; it made him feel incredibly uneasy.

"Big Brother, don't leave yet. I'm not taking this money back. How about this: consider these 150 yuan as a loan from you, Second Brother, and Xiaobin. Fifty of it is my way of showing filial piety to Father and Mother. The rest is for my sisters-in-law and my nieces and nephews to buy fabric, shoes, and socks. Our house really can't be lived in anymore; a heavy rain could blow it down. Do you really want to watch Father, Mother, your wife, and the children suffer? Besides, our family won't always be like this. In the future, can't you just pay me back once you've earned money?"

"No..."

"Fine!"

"Second Brother?" Shen Yutian hadn't expected that before he could even finish his refusal, his younger brother would agree outright. Forget talking about a loan—even if he were given this money, he wouldn't know how to spend it.

"Big Brother, Xiaomeng is right. We're still young. We might not be able to pay back 150 yuan for the rest of our lives. If you won't borrow it, then you can keep living in this dilapidated house with Sister-in-law. Xiaomei and I are going to live in a new house. Oh, there's something she told me not to say—Xiaomei is pregnant again. I certainly can't let her suffer anymore."

"What? Xiaomei is pregnant? You damn fool, why didn't you say so sooner! She's still working these past few days—how many months has it been? Has she been overexerting herself? No wonder you haven't let her hold Hongxing lately!"

Wang Guizhi glared at her second son several times, looking as if she wanted to slap him. Shen Yutian's dark face turned a purplish red.

Su Xiaomei and Lyu Qinlan, who had approached the door intending to speak, didn't dare enter. They hadn't expected that the conversation in the main room wasn't just casual chatter, but such a sensitive topic.

If it were up to them, they would rather not borrow the money. Carrying debt made everything feel heavy. Living frugally was one way to live, and living more comfortably was another; after all, one day follows another, and there wasn't much difference.

But looking at their own children and then at the children of their sister-in-law, a mother's heart would ache. What mother wouldn't want her children to eat well, drink well, and wear clean, warm clothes?

It was simply a matter of fate; no matter how hard they worked, the family remained penniless.

Shen Meng smiled faintly.

"That's perfect then. Second Brother, go find someone tomorrow to tear down the house and rebuild it. Build a few extra rooms and make it larger. This money is enough, though black tiles might take a bit more effort. I'll go ask about that later."

"Ah, alright!" Shen Yutian chuckled, watching Shen Meng stuff the money into Wang Guizhi's hands.

"Just tell Mother how much of this money you need. I'm in no hurry to be paid back. Living a good life is more important than anything else."

Tears welled in Wang Guizhi's eyes. Holding the stack of money, her heart was filled with complex emotions. She truly hadn't expected that the daughter she had held in the palm of her hand since childhood could now provide shelter from the wind and rain for them.

When Shen Fugui woke up and learned about this, he was furious for a while. Shen Meng knew he was just worried about his daughter, but the old man's weakness was also obvious. When Shen Meng shed a few tears and said he didn't treat her like family, the old man immediately turned red and fell silent.

In the evening, Shen Meng and Lyu Qinlan prepared the meal, but it was primarily Shen Meng. She only found out at dusk that for lunch, they had only stir-fried a single plate of beans with pork, and even then, it was all for the children. They hadn't even dared to put much meat in it, telling her to take the rest home.

Shen Meng was speechless. She directly chopped up all the remaining pork belly and used sweet potato starch to make silken chicken. With cabbage, eggs, and a sprinkle of cilantro, she simmered a pot of silken chicken soup.

She also stir-fried eggplant and a plate of pork with chili. When she scooped out the lard for frying, she used a spatula so aggressively that Lyu Qinlan, who was tending the stove, was startled out of her wits.

The fragrant aroma wafting from the Shen family courtyard was so enticing that it made it hard to sleep. Several people were even leaning against the wall, sniffing the scent and drinking cold water.

Shen Meng lit the kerosene lamp, and the whole family sat around the dining table. For a moment, no one moved their chopsticks. This was the most sumptuous meal the Shen family had ever had; they hadn't even eaten this well during the New Year. Especially that basket of oil cakes—glistening with oil, they made the children swallow hard with anticipation.

"Why aren't you eating? Pick up your chopsticks!"

"Xiaomeng, you can't live like this. No matter how much money you have, it won't last forever!" Wang Guizhi couldn't help but lecture her again.

"It's just because I'm happy to be home today. Mother, please eat with peace of mind. We are all grown up now; it's time for us to show filial piety to you and Father. Big Brother, Sister-in-law, Second Brother, Sister-in-law, Little Brother—everyone, please eat. After washing up tonight, go to bed early, otherwise Mother will worry about the cost of the kerosene."

"You silly girl, enough. Everyone, eat up and taste your sister's cooking."

Once Wang Guizhi spoke, everyone began to eat. Shen Yutian had long since lost his patience; he grabbed his chopsticks and took two large bites of the stir-fried pork. It was spicy, fresh, and fragrant, bursting with savory oil—it was incredibly delicious.

As he enjoyed his meal, he also served a few bites to Su Xiaomei. Everyone had a large bowl of the silken chicken soup, which had pepper added to it. Paired with the oil cakes, the eaters were sweating from the heat.