Chapter Twelve: Embarrassed

  Sorry everyone, I had something to do yesterday and couldn't get online, also forgot to set up the auto update earlier, so it caused a break in updates yesterday. But today there's one chapter at dawn and another around 8pm, making up for yesterday's update. Really sorry... In the future I'll remember to set an auto update, this way I can avoid sudden things happening.

  As Fang's words painted a picture of harmony among family members in Shen Huan's mind, she suddenly heard her tone change and before she could think further, her body reacted ahead of her rationality, nodding in response: "Mother, what instructions do you have?"

  Shen Huan didn't hesitate to agree with herself, and Fang Shi was already a bit embarrassed to speak up. At this time, she found it even harder to open her mouth. She carefully turned around to look at Li Shi, who was still sitting in the hall drinking tea, and saw that she seemed willing to help bring about a rare closeness between herself and her daughter. So, she said softly: "You know Xiao Yan's younger brother, You Xuan, don't you? He came to our house several times before."

  Shen Han didn't know Hu Youxuan at all, but since Fang Shi had said so much, it was no wonder that she would appear embarrassed. After all, from the various things that had happened earlier, it had already been clear that the relationship between Hu Xiaoyan and Shen Han was not harmonious.

  "Not a very deep impression."

  It's hard to say, so Shen Huan could only muddle through, and heard Fang Shi continue in a low voice: "Xiao Yan also mentioned it to us several times before, hoping you could help ask your mother-in-law if Yu Xuan can study with your younger uncle, after all, among the towns around here, only your younger uncle is a scholar..."

  It's not a bad thing to be diligent in reading books, and if helping her sister-in-law can ease the relationship, it might not be a bad thing either. Building a good relationship with the husband's family doesn't mean that once you're married out, you're like spilled water that can't be recovered; when something happens to your natal family, she should still help speak up for them.

  "Mom, you're so tense I thought it was something big. Studying isn't a bad thing, although grandma seems cold on the surface, she's actually very kind-hearted, and my uncle is also easy-going, if I talk to them about it, there shouldn't be any problem."

  Mrs. Fang felt a weight lift off her shoulders as Shen Huan was willing to speak up, but at the same time, she felt extremely conflicted. Previously, it was because her daughter hadn't returned, and no matter how much Hu Xiaoyan made a fuss about this matter, she could only put on a sour face and show discontent with implicit hints. Now that she had returned home, if Mrs. Fang didn't speak up as the mother, the family would probably never have peace. It's just that Yu Xuan was really a headache-inducing person - not learning or having any skills was one thing, but he also liked to take shortcuts and be cunning, which was another matter altogether...

  Thinking of this, Fang Shi couldn't help but feel a little heartache for her daughter, who had married into a family without a husband. Shen Han didn't say anything, but that didn't mean she wasn't worried. As for the Zhao family's situation, Fang Shi was well aware of it. When Shen Shiye insisted on marrying his daughter off to them back then, Fang Shi had argued with him for half a month.

  It's hard to bear but there's no way around it. This time, she rarely took the initiative to come back, so Fang naturally didn't want her to leave early and opened his mouth to keep her.

  "This time, come back and stay for a few more days. Your brother and your younger brother are always thinking of you, especially your little brother. Last time he went back without seeing you, and was sulky for many days after returning. Although your father doesn't say it out loud, in his heart he's also missing you terribly. He often goes to your room at night when everyone is asleep, and even caught a cold for several days last time."

  Mr. Fang spoke without any flowery language, just a few ordinary sentences, but Shen Huan felt like she was listening to someone else's story, yet somehow her heart was touched in a hidden place, and she couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat. Silently experiencing this concern that didn't belong to her, suppressing the turbulent emotions at the bottom of her heart, she nodded lightly and replied: "Mm, I'll stay behind and keep Mother company."

  "My baby has really grown up, it seems like our home will be lively for a few more days."

  "It's just..."

  Shen Han hesitated about whether to take the opportunity to tell Fang Shi about the trouble at her mother's house, but before she could think of a good way to put it, Fang Shi interrupted: "Are you still worried about that thing from before? Actually, your sister-in-law is also stubborn and has a soft heart, so she doesn't dare to speak up about anything."

  Shen Han understood that what Fang Shi meant was that Hu Youxuan wanted to study with Zhao Xiuzhu, and at the same time, she saw a very gentle and satisfied expression on Fang Shi's face. Shen Han then realized that in Fang Shi's heart, her children and husband were everything to her, and her happiness depended entirely on whether they could live together harmoniously.

  "So, in the future when you have time, come back and sit for a while, let mother have more time to look at you."

  This remark was somewhat sad to hear, so Shen Huan immediately smiled and eased the atmosphere, holding onto Fang Shi and Li Shi's hands as she said: "See what Mother says? I'm just changing my place of residence, it's not like I won't be coming back. And besides, it's just in a neighboring town, half a day's journey at most. Mother is so fond of me, what do you have to worry about? I promise you, from now on I'll come back often, so don't think too much about it, okay?"

  Shen Huan's actions and words made Fang Shi unable to hold back her laughter, a satisfied happiness appearing on her face as a mother.

  This scene of maternal love and filial piety happened to fall into Shen Shi Yi's eyes as he stepped in, his face clearly stunned for a moment before continuing to walk ahead, followed by Shen Yi Feng who was indeed keeping his promise, carrying the unconscious Shen Zi An on his back with an icy expression.

  The relaxed atmosphere vanished instantly, Shen Huan let go of the two mothers' hands, wanting to take a closer look, but when he raised his eyes and saw that their faces didn't look good, especially the father-son duo who were walking towards him with big strides, he dispelled the idea.

  A group of people arrived at the main hall, and Shen Huan saw Shen Shi Yi sitting on a chair with a cold face. His originally stern face now had an unmistakable look of worry, which made Shen Huan feel tense as well.

  In her mind, fainting was not a big deal and she would wake up after a while. But now that she saw the father and son with this expression, how could she think of the situation according to her previous thoughts?

  Shen Wing Feng gently placed Shen Zi An on the chair and leaned against it, only then did Shen Han have the opportunity to open his mouth and ask: "Zi An he..."

  "No big deal, just give him some water."

  As she watched Shen Wing Feng pour water into Shen Zi An's mouth, she soon heard the sound of 'gurgling', and knew that it was a sound that could only be made when water was choking in the throat. Just as she was feeling sorry for Shen Zi An, she saw his tightly closed eyes suddenly open wide.

  "Are you okay?"

  "What's wrong with him? I'm already used to it."

  Shen Zian coughed until his face turned red and his neck thickened, Shen Han couldn't help but ask with some concern. But unexpectedly, the one who answered was his mother. She looked at Fang Shi's face still carrying a doting smile, and understood in her heart that there must be no problem, otherwise, as a mother, how could she still smile at her son being bullied? However, the expression on Eldest Brother and Father's faces seemed like someone owed them 1.8 million, what was going on?

  She had a feeling that something was off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. However, knowing that Shen Zian was actually fine made Shen Huan's heart feel at ease. Unbeknownst to herself, she had already begun to consider herself as part of the Shen family and couldn't help but tease her little brother.

  "Your sister just reminded you, telling you not to go over there first, the person who came for a diagnosis had an external injury, but before she could finish speaking, you were already gone."

  "Every time you rush into the shop like a mad cow, then faint. Can't you figure out what's going on first? Do you think it's easy for me to carry you every time?"

  Shen Yifeng put down the cup and didn't leave Shen Zian's side, muttering to himself as he reached out to pat Shen Zian's back, hoping he could feel more at ease. Typical of him, complaining with his mouth but actually not wanting his brother to suffer this fate.

  "I knew you'd say that. Big brother, you don't go to the shop to help out, and Father can't handle it all by himself. Besides, I really do like practicing medicine and saving people."

  Shen Zian's face was still flushed, but he became dissatisfied with Shen Yifeng's words and immediately retorted. He didn't want to be the kind of person who faints at the sight of blood, but he couldn't let that take away his freedom to study medicine either. Besides, Father had said he had a talent for it. Eldest brother wasn't helping out with family matters anyway, so why was he saying such things about him?

  "Are you saving people? Count on your fingers yourself, how many times have I come back to resist you?"

  "It's better than you never going to the shop at all!"

  "Then you went and still caused trouble?"

  Looking at the two brothers, they obviously care about each other, but don't know how to express themselves, so their words are a bit awkward. Shen Huan was thinking about how to break the ice when he heard his father's very dissatisfied voice behind him: "Hmph! You think everyone is like you, doing nothing all day, not contributing to the family, only knowing how to research those flowers and plants? What can come of it?"

  Just by the sound, it's clear that Shen Shi Yu is on a short fuse at this moment. From the moment he stepped in, you could feel the fire burning in his belly, waiting to erupt. He had been holding back all along. Looking at her father's eyes blazing with anger, Shen Han didn't know whether she should try to comfort him or not. Then Shen Shi Yu's words came again: "If only you were half as diligent as Zi An, I wouldn't be so worried. I'm not afraid that you're stupid and untalented, just afraid that you won't learn!"

  "I..."

  "Father said that Master is useless!"

  Just as Shen Yi Feng had just uttered a word, he was interrupted by Hu Xiao Yan who was standing at the door with an unknown expression. She had a faint smile on her face and nodded to everyone before bowing to Fang Shi and Shen Shiyu to show respect. Only then did she continue slowly: "But he's not wrong either. If Third Brother keeps passing out every now and then, it's not just that he can't help with the shop, but he might even cause trouble. This is a small matter, at most affecting the shop's reputation. But this fainting problem of his, who knows if it's some kind of serious illness? If it goes on for too long, won't it be bad for Third Brother's health?"

  This remark is quite smooth, at first glance it seems that there's nothing wrong with it, but upon closer listening, it doesn't feel quite right. Shen Huan has lived two lifetimes after all, and the subtle implications in these words, she isn't deaf to them. Judging from her brother and mother's reactions earlier, Shen Huan knows that this sister-in-law is definitely not a simple person. Chapter 12: Embarrassed