Transmigration: Flirted with My Childhood Sweetheart
Chapter 266 - 265: Sister Lan Hides Money

Chapter 266: Chapter 265: Sister Lan Hides Money

Zheng Shan ultimately did not go down to the river to play.

She hugged her knees, curled up into a ball like a little hedgehog.

Lin Nianhe did not force her, but simply said, "Then whenever you want to play, come find me, and I’ll bring you here again, okay?"

Zheng Shan’s eyes moved slightly, and she imperceptibly nodded her head.

When Zheng Lirong came back, they had just finished dinner.

"Sister Lirong, have you eaten?"

"Not yet, I’m not hungry."

Zheng Lirong pulled Bai Xiaojun and Zheng Shan along, and said to Lin Nianhe, "I’m going to take them to stay at the guest house tonight, and we’ll come back tomorrow."

"Okay, just a moment," Lin Nianhe said, taking out a food container she had prepared earlier, "I saved some food for you, just heat it up with boiling water at the guest house before you eat."

It was almost dark, and asking her to stay for dinner would only delay her.

"Thank you, girl."

Tiredness was written all over Zheng Lirong’s face; she forced a smile, and when she saw that Bai Xiaojun still had an unidentifiable little stick in his hand, she quickly urged, "Go put that back, wash your hands clean, we are leaving."

Taking the opportunity, Lin Nianhe said, "Shanshan, go wash your hands with your little brother, too."

Although Zheng Shan was unresponsive to others, she was obedient to Lin Nianhe’s words and silently went to wash her hands.

Lin Nianhe took the chance to pull Zheng Lirong aside and asked softly, "Sister Lirong, is it that Shanshan has always been quiet, or has she just started being silent these past two days?"

Zheng Lirong was stunned for a moment, then ashamedly laughed and said, "I’m sorry, girl, Shanshan is usually sensible, it’s just that these past two days she got scared, causing you trouble, haven’t she? When I return, I’ll talk to her..."

"That’s not what I mean," Lin Nianhe’s gaze grew serious, "Sister Lirong, Shanshan might be... may have been frightened badly, children’s emotions are quite sensitive, you need to pay more attention."

Lin Nianhe was not a psychologist and could not diagnose, but she could clearly feel that there was definitely something wrong with Zheng Shan’s psyche.

If a child is frightened, the normal response should be like Bai Xiaojun’s: they may be scared, but they can be distracted by new and fun things. Children’s emotional fluctuations are frequent, which is what’s meant by "children are forgetful."

Zheng Lirong turned her head to look at Zheng Shan; the little girl was washing hands for her brother, with all limbs agile and seemingly nothing amiss.

Zheng Lirong didn’t take it too seriously, and after an "Ah," she said, "Probably just a bit tired these days, with a good appetite and all, what could be wrong?"

Lin Nianhe was initially planning to urge her to not leave Zheng Shan in the countryside, but seeing Zheng Lirong’s demeanor, she swallowed her words.

In the twenty-first century, countless people still describe depression as being capricious or fragile; what more in the seventies, when the concept of mental illness wasn’t even established?

Lin Nianhe said nothing more, just smiled and said, "Maybe I’m overthinking it. After you’re done tomorrow, bring the children over. I have class tomorrow, just come find me at the village school."

"Okay," Zheng Lirong still looked a bit embarrassed, "Sorry for the trouble."

"It’s okay. Oh, take my bicycle."

"Ah? No need..."

"No worries, I won’t be using it and it’s nearly dark. You should head back to town quickly."

"Alright then, I won’t stand on ceremony."

"Mhm, be safe."

After Zheng Lirong left with the two children, Lin Nianhe’s words still had a premonitory effect. Zheng Lirong observed Zheng Shan a bit more and indeed felt the child was different... but she was too exhausted to say anything to Zheng Shan, and fell asleep hugging her daughter without even eating dinner.

Not long after Zheng Lirong left, Qian Guozhu also took Wang Xiaoxiao to catch their train.

Before departure, Lin Nianhe spoke to Qian Guozhu about delivering goods to the provincial city.

Qian Guozhu’s face turned a bit red, and scratching his head, he said, "Actually, I also thought it would be just the same to deliver to our hometown, but my older sister said that if Zheng Lirong leaves the child at Ten Miles Team, she would probably not feel at ease if I don’t deliver goods to her."

"So my older sister said let me continue delivering to her, with a five percent commission... Zheng Lirong would feel better, and the both of us could earn a bit more. No one loses out."

Lin Nianhe: "It still has to be my Sister Shumei."

Playing the world’s human relationships clear as day; she knows all the tricks of the trade.

Lin Nianhe felt that Wang Shumei was far more formidable than her. She had been reborn and traveled through time, whereas Wang Shumei was genuinely just eighteen years old... What happened to not allowing spirits to come forth after the founding of the country? Why does nobody care about this crafty person?

While they were speaking, Wang Shumei came out with Wang Xiaoxiao in her arms.

Wang Xiaoxiao’s eyes were red, and with a pouty mouth, she hugged Wang Shumei’s waist and wouldn’t let go.

Wang Shumei hugged her, whispering comforting words, "Don’t cry, didn’t we agree already? Wait until you graduate high school, then sister will bring you over."

Wang Xiaoxiao’s eyes turned redder: "I just started junior high... it’ll be several more years..."

Seeing neither sister willing to let go of the other, Lin Nianhe stepped forward, patted Wang Xiaoxiao on the head and said, "Stop crying, when you have vacation, your big brother will take you here to stay for a bit. Moreover, in a few months’ time, your sister will have her home leave, so she can spend a lot of time with you."

Wang Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up, tears gone, and she shook Wang Shumei’s neck, "Sis, sis, can I come over once I have vacation?"

Wang Shumei hugged her, nodding and laughing, "Yes, you can come over during vacation, can come over during vacation..."

"Big sister is the best!"

Wang Xiaoxiao’s gloom cleared up, and after standing on tiptoe to give Wang Shumei a quick kiss, she let go of her and turned to embrace Lin Nianhe, "Sister Lin, next time I come, I’ll bring you some knife fish!"

"Sure, I’ll be waiting," Lin Nianhe tousled her hair and smiled, "You should get going, or you’ll miss the train."

"Alright, I will!"

Wang Xiaoxiao bounced away, following Qian Guozhu. Wang Shumei and the other two watched them from the village entrance for a long time until they could no longer see their figures, then slowly turned back.

As they turned back, Wang Shumei’s tears fell.

With a slap, Wen Lan patted Wang Shumei’s thigh and said, "You silly girl, why cry about it. With the money you’ve earned, you can return home any time you want in the future, can’t you?"

Sister Lan had been in good spirits all day.

She had divided up three hundred fifty-five yuan, which was more than her father’s annual salary. After sharing the expenses for the house construction with Wang Shumei and repaying the loan for Cailan’s mother’s medical treatment, she still had two hundred twenty-three yuan left.

She counted the money over and over, then searched the house trying to find a place to hide the money.

But found none.

Their house was solidly built, without even a mouse hole. She didn’t have the heart to dig into the wall for a hiding place.

In the end, Lin Nianhe gave her a lockable wooden chest as a friendly gift.

Lin Nianhe and Wang Shumei watched as Wen Lan put the money into the chest, wrapped the chest in a cotton jacket, then placed the jacket into a bundle, and finally put the bundle into the kang cabinet...

Afterward, she locked a huge iron lock, the size of a palm, onto the kang cabinet.

Lin Nianhe: "If a thief can’t tell what to steal with this, he really ought to change his profession."

Wang Shumei: "Forget about thieves, a normal person walking in and seeing this lock would know where the valuables are hidden."

Wen Lan earnestly took in the advice: "Hmm? So should I hang a few more locks?"

Lin Nianhe: "..."

Wang Shumei: "..."