Chapter 372
After saying that, Si Nian patted his shoulder and entered the classroom.
Fang Bowen stood frozen in place.
Waiting until Si Nian's back disappeared from view, he lowered his head, pursed his lips, and whispered, "But... I've been working really hard too."
It was just that Zhou Zehan's efforts were seen and acknowledged by Teacher Si. But his own efforts were completely ignored by his mother.
Teacher Si cared about the process, while his mother only cared about the results.
Over at the Si family home, Lin Sisi was in a state of turmoil.
She had completely lost the mood to study. The homework she handed in had even been repeatedly criticized.
It wasn't that she didn't want to study hard; her mind simply wasn't on it right now.
The things happening recently had already slipped out of her control.
If she didn't correct them in time, it might truly become irreversible.
Because of this, she feigned illness and took a few days off.
The other day, she had run into a familiar face at the door of Si Nian's house.
That's right, that woman was Fang Hui.
The woman who had changed her destiny in her previous life.
She never expected her to be right by Si Nian's side.
Fang Hui was a reporter. In their previous life, Si Nian's business had boomed, and having married Fu Yang, she had enjoyed boundless glory and success.
Fang Hui had once needed to interview Si Nian for a work assignment. Because of this, she neglected her own son, who reportedly died in an accident later on.
As a result, Fang Hui harbored a deep grudge against Si Nian and constantly wrote unfavorable reports about her.
Even the fact that Si Nian wasn't the biological daughter of the Si family was dug up by her.
However, she had discovered it too late. By the time Lin Sisi was found and informed of this, it was already too late.
At that time, Si Nian and Fu Yang were already a loving married couple, and the Si family was incredibly proud of her.
Only then did Lin Sisi realize that the woman she had once envied was actually the thief who had stolen her identity.
Later, she was reborn.
The very first thing Lin Sisi did upon her rebirth was to find Mother and Father Si to reclaim her true identity.
Her heart was set on making Si Nian, this endlessly glamorous eldest daughter, experience the suffering she had once endured.
She was so focused on planning traps for Si Nian that she completely forgot about Fang Hui, whom she had only met much later.
Yet, unexpectedly, she bumped into Fang Hui right at Si Nian's doorstep.
This shocked Lin Sisi greatly.
Because in her past life, Fang Hui hadn't appeared until many years later.
The Fang Hui of that time had looked somewhat wretched, her eyes brimming with resentment toward Si Nian. Whenever Si Nian was mentioned, she would frantically claim that Si Nian had ruined her life.
Her hatred for Si Nian was so deep that it led her to offend Fu Yang. Ultimately fired from her job, she sought out Lin Sisi, wanting her to step forward and help expose Si Nian's identity as a fake heiress, ready to fight Si Nian to the bitter end.
However, Lin Sisi had been reborn before she could seize that opportunity.
She never imagined Fang Hui would appear this early.
If she hadn't interviewed Si Nian yet, did that mean her son wasn't dead?
Then wouldn't that mean she didn't have a grudge against Si Nian?
Even though her rebirth had changed many things, Lin Sisi realized that almost everyone she had met in the past would still make an appearance.
In that case, she wasn't fighting alone.
If she had Fang Hui's help, perhaps her own reputation would improve, and Si Nian wouldn't be able to continue her glamorous life.
Of course, this matter couldn't be rushed. Now that she knew where Fang Hui was, she just needed to find an opportunity to approach her when the time was right.
Right now, the person occupying Lin Sisi's mind was Liu Dongdong. What exactly did Liu Dongdong go to the gynecology department for? Was it really just a simple gynecological issue like Si Nian had claimed?
But if that were the case, why did she bundle herself up so tightly, terrified of being recognized?
And who exactly was this boyfriend Liu Dongdong spoke of?
Why didn't her parents know anything about him?
Was there truly something going on between her and Fu Yang?
She would only find out once Liu Dongdong returned.
Lin Sisi had called the village. After learning that Liu Dongdong had never gone home, she became even more certain that Liu Dongdong wasn't as sincere to her as she appeared on the surface.
She had originally thought she was the one using Liu Dongdong, only to finally realize that she seemed to be the one being used.
Lin Sisi tried her hardest to suppress the panic rising within her. If she lost her composure, who else could help her?
She asked around the neighborhood and learned from the neighbors that Liu Dongdong basically stayed at the Si residence all the time, rarely going out except to buy groceries.
She did frequently deliver food to the Fu family, but everyone just assumed it was arranged by Mother and Father Si.
If she never went out, how could she have possibly met a boyfriend?
Lin Sisi nearly crushed her teeth from gritting them so hard.
Fortunately, on the third day, Liu Dongdong finally returned.
Lin Sisi immediately confronted her about her boyfriend.
Zhang Cuimei was also somewhat suspicious and asked directly, "Dongdong, didn't you say you went back to your hometown? Why did someone say they saw you at the hospital's gynecology department? Is something wrong with your health?"
A place like the gynecology department—when an unmarried, childless woman went there, she would inevitably be misunderstood.
Zhang Cuimei had been dwelling on this too, feeling that only girls who didn't respect themselves would go there.
Coupled with her daughter mentioning that Liu Dongdong had a boyfriend, she couldn't help but overthink it.
Which made her blurt out the question.
Liu Dongdong's expression shifted, but she quickly explained, "I-I just went to deliver something for someone, I wasn't there to see a doctor myself."
Zhang Cuimei breathed a sigh of relief, but Lin Sisi didn't believe a word of it.
Delivering something required bundling up so tightly? And lying to them about going back to her hometown?
She asked suspiciously, "What about that boyfriend of yours? What's his name? Bring him out so I can meet him; I'll help you see if he's a good match."
Liu Dongdong lowered her head. She had already guessed what was going on, and she knew that if she said she had one, Lin Sisi would definitely find a way to force her to bring him out. Thus, she said, "W-We've already broken up. Actually, I've been in a bad mood these past few days because of this, which is why I wanted to take a break."
Lin Sisi said thoughtfully, "Is that so? My mom even said she'd help you evaluate him, and if he wasn't any good, we'd introduce you to someone else. My mom knows quite a few good families. If you married into one, you'd definitely live a good life. Right, Mom?"
Zhang Cuimei chimed in, "Of course. Dongdong, you're not getting any younger. Having a pure, unmarried girl taking care of us all the time makes me feel bad. Don't worry, Dongdong, the ones Auntie introduces to you will definitely be good, and they won't look down on you for being from the countryside..."
Liu Dongdong's face looked awful. "O-Of course. It's just that I've just broken up, and I really..."
Lin Sisi smiled. "What does that matter? Out with the old, in with the new. Besides, it's just to let you meet them; it's not like you're being forced to marry them, right? This is my mom's good intention, after all."
Zhang Cuimei also felt a bit uncomfortable in her heart. If her daughter hadn't strongly insisted she help, she would never have introduced someone like Liu Dongdong to anyone.
Although Liu Dongdong took care of them, it didn't change the fact that she was an uneducated country bumpkin. Not only were her background conditions poor, but her older sister was even having an affair with Zhang Cuimei's husband.
If it weren't for the fact that she was her daughter's friend, she wouldn't have even let her stay.
And now, she was actually hesitating.
She really thought too highly of herself.
Hearing her daughter's words, she reluctantly gave face and agreed, "That's right. An opportunity like this isn't something just anyone can get."
Lin Sisi pressed, "Or could it be, Dongdong, that you're still pining over that boyfriend of yours, and that's why you're unwilling?"
Liu Dongdong tightened her grip and forced a smile. "How could that be..."
Over at the Si family, everyone harbored their own ulterior motives.
However, things were incredibly peaceful on Si Nian's side.
Si Nian told Zhou Yueshen about the people from the apartment building coming over to apologize.
Zhou Yueshen's expression didn't change much, but afraid that she might feel pressured, he said, Give it some time and they will stop making a fuss. Don't worry.
Originally, Zhou Yueshen only wanted to teach these people a simple lesson. If he were to truly target them, it wouldn't bring any benefit to his own family either.
At the very least, he wanted them to know that the Zhou family was not someone they could casually offend or bully.
Now, not only the middle-aged women, but even Da Zhuang and his group of children had been taught a lesson and were forbidden from coming over to provoke Second Child.
The Zhou family enjoyed a lot more peace and quiet.
Sure enough, it didn't take long for the meat at the supply and marketing cooperative to return to its original price.
The sudden surge in meat prices was wrong to begin with. Seeing that these people had made enough of a profit, the higher-ups naturally had to put on a show of stepping in to prohibit price hikes, threatening fines and so on.
Thus, the price reverted to normal.
The people from the apartment building actually thought their apologies had worked.
They secretly decided in their hearts that no matter who they offended, they must never offend the Zhou family again.
Si Nian was about to take the college entrance examination, so the school allowed her to wrap up her work early. As for who would replace her, Si Nian let the director decide. After all, she had only been there for half a year and didn't know many people well.
The director didn't make things difficult for her.
Meanwhile, Second Child had sprained his ankle a few days ago and was recovering at home.
When Si Nian asked him how he sprained it, he said he was racing with his classmates and ran backward, only to trip over a stone.
Si Nian didn't know whether to be angry or amused.
Second Child wasn't sad at all about missing classes; in fact, he was quite happy.
He even said, If getting sick means I don't have to go to class, then I wish I were sick every day.
A while ago, when he saw that Fang Bowen didn't have to go to school because he was sick, he had been envious. He hadn't expected it to be his turn so soon.
The only thing that troubled him was that his younger sister would ask him every day how to read this character or pronounce that word.
Second Child obviously didn't know, but he was too embarrassed to admit it in front of his sister.
So he would secretly check the dictionary, only to discover that his sister was actually reading some sort of chess book.
In order to project a more authoritative older brother image in front of his sister, he even dug out all his secret savings and went to buy a Gomoku set.
Although it felt a bit different, he figured that since they were both board games, they should be more or less the same.
However, Second Child still didn't quite understand it. Right now, he and Jiang Jiu were hiding by the door, studying how to play.
While other kids had their butts in the air playing marbles, these two kids had their butts in the air playing Gomoku.
Kids were never quiet creatures; if they didn't understand, they would ask.
Every time Zhou Zehan made a move, Jiang Jiu would ask, Second Brother, why did you play here?
Second Brother, can't you play it on the side?
It's empty here, so I'll play here.
Just play wherever you see an empty spot.
Fang Bowen, who was passing by on his way home, listened until the veins on his forehead throbbed. He couldn't take it anymore.
You're so stupid!
Why were his older brother and younger sister so smart, yet Zhou Zehan was so stupid?
He turned around, pointed at the messy black and white pieces, and said, Playing here can block the white piece. This is the right move. When five black pieces are connected in a row, you win!
Second Child froze for a moment, then suddenly saw the light. Ah, I get it! I was wondering why it's called five-in-a-row. So you need to connect five pieces together.
I'm so smart! I think I definitely have a talent for this.
Fang Bowen: ...?