Chapter 92: Educated Youth Who Abandoned His Wife and Child – 23

Brigade Leader Su’s hand froze. Then, with disbelief written all over his face, he lifted the cloth covering the basket completely—and sure enough, saw a plump, round tin can.

He carefully poked at it. Perfect. It was malted milk…

For a moment, he stood frozen in place. No one had told him about this!

He really wanted to beat those two unlucky kids to death.

Seeing his expression as if an earthquake had hit him, everyone instantly understood—he hadn’t known either.

Someone couldn’t help but pat his shoulder and sigh. “These kids really don’t know how to live. You’d better keep them in check.”

Brigade Leader Su gritted his teeth and growled, “Oh, I’ll keep them in check, all right. What kind of family do they think we are, squandering like this?!”

But despite his words, they were his family—what could he really do?

He sighed inwardly. Spending money like water… he was really afraid that one day, his daughter would be so poor she wouldn’t even have food to eat.

His wife was right. While they could still work, they ought to put in some extra effort, save up more Work Points, and convert them into money—all for their daughter’s future.

Brigade Leader Su quickly covered the basket with the cloth again.

Forget it—out of sight, out of mind.

He could calm down, but the others certainly couldn’t.

First a bicycle, then a wristwatch, and now a can of malted milk—Heiniu had already been given so many good things by this Shen Xiuyan. Who knew how many more gifts he’d sent?

Never mind what kind of conditions Shen Xiuyan came from—just looking at Heiniu, she didn’t exactly scream “reincarnation of Daji.”

Where did she learn all this witchery, to have a man wrapped around her finger like this?

No, Heiniu must have some extraordinary skills.

Once they got back, even if they had to throw away all shame, they had to get Heiniu to teach their daughters a trick or two.

If they could learn even a little, maybe they could snag such a thoughtful husband someday too.

The cart quickly reached the village. As soon as they arrived, Brigade Leader Su jumped off and grabbed the basket, rushing home.

Someone just opened their mouth to call out, “Brigade Leader, should we start counting the people—”

Before they could finish, Brigade Leader Su was already gone.

Another village cadre chuckled and said, “I’ll count the heads. Let him go home and cool off. I’m sure he’s got a lot to say right now.”

“Hahaha, don’t we all,” someone else laughed.

Brigade Leader Su shoved the gate open with a heavy hand, wanting to express the turmoil in his heart.

But he used too much force—two chips of wood fell off the old, disrepair gate again.

Feeling a bit guilty, he looked up—and just happened to lock eyes with Shen Xiuyan, who was drinking water. That instantly recharged him.

But Liu Yanmei shot him a glare. “How old are you? Still acting all reckless.”

Brigade Leader Su immediately deflated, sulkily walking over to the table.

He carefully placed the basket on the table, then turned to Liu Yanyun and complained, “Do you know what those two kids did today?”

“What could they have done?” Liu Yanyun didn’t understand. They came back just fine—what trouble could they have caused?

Brigade Leader Su pulled out the can of malted milk from the basket and slammed it down on the table.

“See for yourself!”

When Liu Yanyun got a good look, her hand shot up to support her jaw, wearing an expression as if her whole world had collapsed.

“You didn’t stop them?! What do we need this for? Got money burning a hole in our pocket?” she scolded, and smacked Brigade Leader Su hard on the back.

“I was watching the cart for them! How would I know they’d pull something like this?” Brigade Leader Su retorted, then turned and glared at Shen Xiuyan.

Have you ever been stared down by a pack of starving wolves with glowing green eyes?

No?

Well, he had!

The whole ride back, he hadn’t dared breathe too loud—afraid that if he inhaled wrong, the people riding with him would pounce and tear him apart.

Shen Xiuyan touched his nose with an innocent look. “But you insisted on taking it…”

Oh boy—Brigade Leader Su was so angry his liver hurt.

Was this about taking it?

This was about why they bought such an expensive can of malted milk in the first place!

But then Shen Xiuyan waved a hand, looking righteous. “Alright, alright. It was from my mother. Her son gets married—how could she just give her daughter-in-law a big enamel mug? That’d be absurd.”

When he brought up the future in-laws, Brigade Leader Su choked.

If the boy’s mother really gifted it, he had no grounds to object.

“Wait a minute. If she gave the malted milk, then why did you two buy the enamel mug?” Brigade Leader Su came back to his senses and continued to scold.

Every cent saved is a cent earned—why throw away money like that?

“Well, my big brother’s still around, isn’t he? Let’s say he gave the mug to his new sister-in-law,” Shen Xiuyan said with total confidence. “Besides, you buy malted milk—of course you need a good cup to go with it.”

Brigade Leader Su: “……”

Liu Yanyun: “……”

Fine. You’ve got money, you’ve got logic. We can’t win this argument.

Only Su Mingyue was thinking something completely different. Her heart was bursting with sweetness—Brother Shen is so good.

He even took responsibility for everything. Her parents didn’t even know it was she who had asked for the enamel mug.

Taking advantage of the moment when her parents weren’t looking, Su Mingyue stealthily tugged at Shen Xiuyan’s hand.

Shen Xiuyan smiled at her—a smile that said, Don’t worry. Your Brother Shen is dependable. I won’t let your parents scold you.

Brigade Leader Su rubbed his forehead, utterly defeated.

Did they really think he and the child’s mother were blind? That they couldn’t see such obvious little gestures? What had they been alive all these decades for?

Forget it. If her future husband wanted to spoil her, as parents they should feel lucky.

He sighed and called out, “Yanyun, there is food in the jar—Xiuyan bought them for you from the state-run restaurant. Come eat while they’re still warm.”

Liu Yanyun: “……”

No way. Just how much money did you guys spend on this trip?

Isn’t anyone reliable around here?

Now they’d even gone to a state-run restaurant?!!

In just over two months, she’d eaten food from the state-run restaurant twice—something she’d never even dreamed of before.

Still, eating was eating. She gave a sharp glare to her husband, who clearly couldn’t resist temptation.

How much did all this cost?! Did he not even think to help their son-in-law save money? What kind of father-in-law acts like this?

Brigade Leader Su quietly rolled his eyes.

Great. After all that, it still ended up being his fault.

What about his standing in this household???

Where had it gone?

Why did it feel like he was falling lower and lower…