Starting a new chapter in life

Chapter 209 Shen Runze's Lies

After the two sat down, the waiter, as usual, brought two glasses of warm water and placed them in front of them, then handed them the menu. Rong Qiang saw that Rong Gang hadn't touched it, so he reached out and took it. Then he turned to Jing Yan and asked, "Why did Auntie think of inviting us here?"

Jingyan turned to look at him as well: "This coffee shop is relatively new; I've never been here before. I came here to rest after shopping yesterday, and I thought the environment was nice and the food was good too."

I thought I'd bring you kids along to experience this, to broaden your horizons. Don't just stand there, look around, order whatever you want to eat or drink, it's on me today."

Upon hearing this, Rong Qiang looked closely and asked, "Auntie, what did you eat yesterday? How did it taste?"

"I had the milk coffee, it tasted good. I heard that pure coffee is very bitter. The small cakes here are also good, not too sweet. I think they taste better than the birthday cake I bought before. You can try them later," Jingyan said, pointing to the dessert section on the menu.

Rongqiang doesn't like milk coffee, so he ordered an Americano. As for cake, he really didn't know what to order, but he still ordered a pudding cake, thinking that he wouldn't eat it himself but would take it back for his mother to try. She loves pastries the most, but the weather is cold now and the chicken farm can't be left unattended, so she can't come.

Rong Gang, who has a sweet tooth, also ordered a cappuccino and some cookies. An An thought for a while and then ordered the same thing as Rong Gang. It was much easier for the women. They didn't have to think about it; they all ordered milk coffee, and no one wanted to make things difficult for themselves. As for the cakes, everyone chose one to try to avoid repeating any, so they could taste more flavors.

At that time, coffee shops didn't have many customers. People who could open such shops were rich and had plenty of free time. They didn't expect to make money; they just wanted to pass the time. It was rare to see everyone ordering only one drink and one dessert. The waiters were very attentive.

After eating and drinking, Jingyan asked the clerk, "Can this coffee be taken away?"

The waiter shook his head: "We don't have cups for takeout, you can only drink in the store, but cakes and pastries can be taken away."

Jingyan packed several cakes, arranged them separately, and handed two to Ronggang: "Take one back to your mother, and give the other to your girlfriend. You can't eat something new and then not think about her."

After Rong Gang took it, he suddenly remembered and said, "Auntie, my mom and Sister Huo have already agreed to settle things for us after the New Year. She also told me this morning to talk to you and see if we can have a gathering at your house on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year. My mom's rented house is a bit small and not suitable for hosting too many people."

Jingyan was pleasantly surprised: "You're engaged! That's wonderful! It's only right that we get together at home. I even asked Sister Yuan to help me find someone, but she hasn't given me any news yet. You've already made your decision. But Ronggang, now that you've made your decision with Xiao Huo, you should be devoted to him and not be like your father, who has so many ulterior motives."

Rong Gang was initially quite happy, but his mood sombered upon hearing this. However, he still nodded solemnly: "Auntie, don't worry, I won't do that. I will never forget how much he hurt my mother back then, and I will never let my family suffer that pain again."

Jingyan smiled and patted his shoulder: "It's good that you have a plan in mind. Remember, there's nothing wrong with being kind, but you can't be kind without limits. In the future, when you encounter problems, discuss them with Xiao Huo more often. Don't be fooled by her gentle and easy-going appearance. In fact, she knows what she's doing. At least in my eyes, she's more reliable than you."

Rong Gang nodded: "I understand, Auntie. I'm too trusting and easily deceived."

Jingyan looked up outside and said, "Then you and Rongqiang go back first. Tell your mother that you should just buy a few strings of firecrackers to set off for the New Year. Don't bother preparing any New Year's goods. Come over to my place for the New Year. There will be more people and it will be more lively."

The two children left, and Jingyan took them home. He Zhijun came home from get off work and had the chance to try the cake. Although the flavor was novel, he only tasted it and wasn't very interested. In the end, it ended up in Jingyan's stomach.

The two adults were unreliable; they hid in the room and ate alone, without ever thinking of leaving anything for the child. It wasn't surprising that Jingyan would do something like that, but He Zhijun's actions did surprise her.

However, since he was willing to pamper her, pushing him away was not the way of being a wife that Jing Yan had just learned. What is the way of being a wife? As long as the husband is good to the wife, whether it is spending money or putting in effort, she should accept it with peace of mind, and praise him a few more times to encourage him to do the same next time.

When you give a man the opportunity to make sacrifices for you, he will care about you more. This is what she learned from Yuan Changsheng and his wife. Now she is using it, and judging from He Zhijun's reaction, she knows that men really do fall for this.

Jingyan ate with a smile on her face, occasionally feeding him a bite. The taste, which He Zhijun hadn't been particularly interested in before, now tasted sweet and delicious. He felt that his wife was loving him more and more.

This year, the house was still lively during the Spring Festival. Jingyan's family of four went to Yangzhou to spend the holiday with her parents, while the rest of the family stayed at her house. When Jingyan's family returned on the third day of the Lunar New Year, they found two unfamiliar faces in their home.

Shen Runze introduced with a smile: "This is my sister and brother-in-law. They rarely think of me, their older brother, and they had a change of heart to come and spend the New Year with me. They plan to leave on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year."

The two families greeted each other: "Teacher Shen said you married and moved to Beijing, which is quite far from here. Why did you come over at this time? Are you still at ease leaving the child at home?" Jing Yan asked.

Sister Shen laughed and said, "We didn't come here to spend the New Year with him. We came to pick him up and take him to Beijing for the New Year, and maybe he can go on a blind date with us. My sister-in-law has been gone for almost twenty years. It's time for him to move on and start a new life. I didn't expect that he wouldn't be taken away by us. Instead, he left us here to spend the New Year with him."

Jing Yan frowned upon hearing this: "Isn't Teacher Shen hurting the foundation? Even if he were to find someone with children, it would still be a waste of their time. Isn't that a bit unfair?"

Shen Meimei's eyes widened: "What do you mean by 'damaged the foundation'? My sister-in-law died because of complications during childbirth, but my brother is perfectly healthy."

Two shocked faces, big eyes staring at small eyes.

Shen Meimei turned to Shen Runze and asked, "Brother, are you going around saying you're not a man?"

Jingyan: "Teacher Shen, didn't you say you damaged the foundation?"

Shen Runze rubbed his forehead, his tone helpless: "I've said this to so many people and never been caught out, but I really didn't expect you two to be so reckless, exchanging all sorts of things. Didn't anyone think of saving me any face? You just got caught like this?"

He Zhijun became interested: "Come on, tell me, how did this come about? It sounds like a good story. This is the first time I've heard a man say that he can't do it, and the key point is that it's a lie."

Looking at the room full of people bursting with curiosity, Shen Runze sighed and told the truth: "I met my wife when I went to the countryside. To be more precise, she is my savior."

As you all know, my family had a bad class background, and we were targeted when we were sent to the countryside. The jobs we were assigned were the kind that were incredibly tiring and paid very little. I wasn't exactly a hard worker myself, and I was almost tortured to death back then.

I became emaciated after only a few months there. Two years passed like this. Then, on my way to irrigate the fields while carrying manure, I fell into a ditch due to heatstroke and dizziness. I was struggling in the water, thinking I was going to die, when a girl rescued me. She was my wife.

When she rescued me, the villagers saw it, and those gossipy old women started spreading rumors: my wife is the village secretary's youngest daughter, beautiful, the most beautiful girl in the village, and many young men in the village like her.

She had high standards; she was only a junior high school graduate and didn't fancy any of the young men in the village. Her family doted on her and originally planned to keep her for a few years so she could marry into the town or county and at least not have to toil in the fields anymore.

Unfortunately, I ruined my reputation. In the village, a woman's reputation is more important than anything else. The village secretary sighed and thought that maybe I should just find an honest and reliable person in the village to marry. When I heard this news, I mustered up all my courage and knelt at the village secretary's door for two days to beg for her hand in marriage. Only then did her family agree.

Although my initial intention in proposing marriage was simply that I couldn't bear to see a good girl's reputation ruined because she saved me, and that she would have to marry someone of lower status, I thought we could get married first, and then divorce later when there was an opportunity so that she could marry someone she liked. After marriage, we could treat each other with respect.

Unexpectedly, our relationship grew better and better after we got married. She was a cheerful and generous girl who loved life. Knowing that I couldn't do the work, she asked the village secretary to help me find an easier job. Life at home was tough, so she earned more work points and took on most of the household expenses.

Seeing how hard she worked for the family and for me, I couldn't bear it. So I took out two gold bars that I had hidden and gave them to the village secretary, asking him to help me exchange them for some grain so that my wife wouldn't have to work so hard.

But although money was useful, people in the countryside couldn't get all kinds of coupons. It was probably because of the physical deterioration in those years that she died in childbirth. Neither she nor her child survived. I felt that I was useless and that's why I couldn't save her. I felt very guilty.

My father-in-law's family, despite their grief, tried to comfort me, saying that their daughter was unlucky and that's why she died young. They took extra care of me, and some sycophantic families, thinking that my situation was better, even wanted me to remarry.

It's ridiculous. I've already met the best woman. I don't need anyone else. That's why I told people I'd fallen for someone else. That way, I don't have to deal with those complicated people.

Later, when the environment improved, I was able to return home. I originally wanted to bring my father-in-law and mother-in-law back with me, as it was only natural for me, as their son-in-law, to take care of them in their old age. However, they refused to come with me, saying they were used to life in the village.

Later, I would send them half of my monthly salary as a token of my filial piety, which they accepted, making me feel much better. It wasn't until they passed away and I returned for their funeral that I learned the elderly couple hadn't touched any of the money I'd sent them over the years; they'd saved it all.

When I returned, her older brother handed me the bankbook, saying that the elderly couple wanted me to start my own life and stop clinging to the past for the sake of old friends.

Do you know, my own family abandoned me, but my in-laws treated me like their own son. You can't understand that feeling unless you've experienced it yourself.

I wasn't waiting for anyone; I just hadn't met anyone who moved me. Not long after I came back, I started tutoring at your place. I've been living a comfortable life these past few years. My life is peaceful, and when I feel lonely, I come to your place to hang out. It's quite relaxing.

"If it weren't for my sister who's such a troublemaker, this shameful thing of my own would never have been discovered." After saying that, Shen Runze couldn't resist the urge to lightly tap his sister's head.

Sister Shen covered her head, somewhat unconvinced: "I didn't say anything wrong. You're over forty this year. While you're still not too old, find a second spring. At least when you can't move anymore, you'll have someone who cares about you. My intentions are not wrong."

Shen Runze pointed to Zhizhi and An'an: "With these two kids, why would I be afraid of no one taking care of me when I'm old? They say a teacher is like a father, and I only have these two disciples in my life, so I'm practically their godfather. Isn't it only right that they take care of me in my old age and see me off in my final days?"

Zhizhi and An'an nodded quickly: "Auntie, don't worry, we will take good care of Teacher Shen and will take care of him in his old age and see him off when he dies. Don't worry, he won't be lonely and helpless."

Sister Shen...

"Fine, it's your own life anyway. It's your business if you don't want to change. Don't blame me for not caring about your brother if you regret it later." Sister Shen still tried to save face.

Now that everything was out in the open, the brother and sister could spend the New Year together peacefully. Just then, Jingyan brought up Ronggang's engagement. "Since the two families are getting engaged on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the wedding date should be set soon, right?" Jingyan suddenly asked.

Jingxian nodded: "The main topic of our family gathering this time is the wedding date. I'm planning to rent a house for Ronggang and his wife. We can't afford to buy one right now, but renting is no problem. We'll let them live alone."

Jingyan had no objection: "That's fine. It would be best if the rented place was close to mine. If the young couple doesn't want to cook in the future, it will be more convenient for them to come to my house for meals. Since your cooking skills aren't great, I won't put any more pressure on you."

Jingxian… “You really are my sister. Everyone says we’ve been fighting since we were kids. You just deserve a beating.”

Jing Yan pouted: "What do you mean by fighting since childhood? When have you ever hit me? You're the one who makes yourself so angry, I'm not angry."

"That's because Mom and Dad always favored you, saying you were the youngest in the family and that I should give in to you. Back then, I couldn't bear to wear my new clothes every year and kept them hidden in the closet. But you, you wore your own torn clothes and then came to rummage through mine. Tell me, is it your fault or mine?" Jingxian immediately thought of the humiliation he suffered at Jingyan's place back then and asked irritably.

Jingyan shook her head cheekily: "It's your fault for not hiding it properly. I always manage to find it. Besides, didn't Mom give you new clothes later?"

“Yes, they made it up to me. Every girl in the family gets a new set of clothes every year, but you get two. Your parents are so biased.” Jingxian had felt resentful about this for many years, and bringing it up now seemed to bring the two sisters back to their childhood.

Jingyan took her arm: "Alright, Third Sister, so many years have passed, why do you still remember?"

Jingxian glared at her and gently pinched her cheek: "You are the most charming one in the family. No wonder the whole family dotes on you. Unlike me, I only know how to throw tantrums. But now it's better. I have hope for the future, and my temper has improved a lot."