Chapter Twelve: How Dare You Still Sleep!

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Zhang Chunxue was utterly stunned! She never dreamed that Song Xingzhi, the handsome young man admired by all the aunts in the surrounding villages, would actually like someone like her... a widow. Without a second thought, she flatly refused.

“Song... Secretary Song, don’t joke around! I... I’m not young anymore!” Flustered, she stumbled over her words. “Besides, you’re five years younger than me! How could that be right!”

She remembered her face burning bright red, her heart pounding as if it would leap out of her throat.

Yet, what Zhang Chunxue never expected was that after being rejected so decisively, Song Xingzhi didn’t return to the city. He stayed in the village, continuing his work as the team secretary.

He didn’t pester her again or mention his feelings. When they met, he was still polite and respectful, calling her “Sister Chunxue” just as before.

But openly and quietly alike, he showed even more concern for Zhang Chunxue and Xiaoxiao than before.

Sometimes it was a few pounds of grain coupons, sometimes a piece of good-quality fabric, sometimes a handful of candies secretly slipped to Xiaoxiao.

He did it so naturally and unobtrusively, as if he were merely a neighbor offering ordinary care to a widowed mother and her child.

If Zhang Chunxue had no feelings for Song Xingzhi, that would be impossible.

Which woman doesn’t long to be genuinely loved and cared for?

But at that time, her thoughts were mostly with her three sons. With Zhong Guosheng gone, she was the only support they had.

She even cautiously raised the topic with Zhong Chengyi and the others, wondering if she could consider remarriage.

To her surprise, the three sons, especially the eldest Zhong Chengyi and the second Zhong Chengren, strongly opposed the idea.

They said they had lost their father and didn’t want anyone else to become their stepfather. If she remarried, others would look down on them as brothers.

So, Zhang Chunxue had no choice but to forcibly extinguish the tiny spark that had just kindled in her heart.

Thinking of this, Zhang Chunxue’s heart felt as if an invisible hand had cruelly gripped it.

In her past life...

When exactly had Song Xingzhi returned to the city?

She vaguely recalled—it seemed to be after Xiaoxiao’s accident.

Her Xiaoxiao, her ill-fated daughter, had been beaten to death by that damned Wang bachelor. When the body was returned, she was only briefly grieved before letting go.

She didn’t even arrange a proper coffin for Xiaoxiao—just wrapped her in a tattered mat and buried her hastily in the back mountain.

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She still remembered that Song Xingzhi had come to see her.

That usually gentle and refined man had, for the first time, shown such a stern and pained expression.

“Sister Chunxue!” His voice was hoarse. “Where is Xiaoxiao? Didn’t she go to study in the county? How could she... how could she marry that scoundrel from the Wang family?!”

He had always believed she sent Xiaoxiao to school and had even entrusted others to send her stationery and money.

Zhang Chunxue wanted to explain but found she couldn’t.

Yes, in her past life, she had been indifferent to Xiaoxiao’s fate for the sake of a hundred yuan bride price and because she favored sons over daughters.

She still remembered the look in Song Xingzhi’s eyes then—disappointment and heartbreak—like two ice-cold blades piercing deep into her heart.

Looking back now, at that time, he was probably utterly disappointed in her.

So, a few days later, Song Xingzhi submitted his application to return to the city and left without looking back.

From then on, they had no further contact.

Zhang Chunxue stared blankly, realizing that since her rebirth, it seemed she hadn’t actually seen Song Xingzhi at all!

Nearly thirty years had passed, and she wondered if Song Xingzhi was still the refined, handsome man she remembered.

Lost in thought, sudden hurried footsteps came from the yard.

“Mom! Mom! Something’s wrong!” It was Xiaoxiao’s voice, trembling with tears and panic.

Zhang Chunxue’s heart skipped a beat. She didn’t even care about sleep and quickly threw on a garment as she walked out. “What happened, Xiaoxiao? What’s wrong?”

Xiaoxiao’s face was pale as she pointed to Zhong Chengren’s room, her voice shaking. “Mom! Second sister-in-law... she seems to have a fever! It’s burning hot!”

Zhang Chunxue’s brow immediately furrowed.

She hurried to Zhong Chengren’s door. The room was pitch dark; she could faintly hear suppressed gasping breaths and a baby’s weak cries.

“Is anyone in Zhong Chengren’s room? Zhong Chengren’s room?” Zhang Chunxue called loudly twice.

No one answered.

Her heart tightened as she pushed open the ajar door and entered.

Sure enough, Zhang Chunxue saw Zhou Mingli lying on the bed, sweat pouring down her forehead, her cheeks flushed bright red. She was struggling to breastfeed the wailing baby in her arms.

But the child, for some unknown reason, refused to nurse, crying incessantly until its voice was hoarse.

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“Mom...” Xiaoxiao followed in, whispering, “I just heard my niece crying badly, so I came to check. Who knew second sister-in-law was burning up like a furnace, barely able to speak! I hurried to find you!”

Zhang Chunxue felt Zhou Mingli’s forehead—it was scorching hot.

“Mingli? Mingli? How are you?”

Zhou Mingli opened her eyes drowsily, her gaze unfocused. Seeing Zhang Chunxue, her lips moved weakly, her voice barely audible like a mosquito’s hum: “Mom... I... I’m fine... just... burning up all over...”

She looked anxiously at the crying baby in her arms, despair tinging her voice: “I... don’t have enough milk, the baby can’t suck, so it’s crying...”

Zhang Chunxue’s mind went numb. This was serious!

“Xiaoxiao, quickly, go to the kitchen and scoop more than half a bowl of rice, add extra water, and cook a thick rice soup—hurry!” she ordered urgently.

Xiaoxiao let out a small “Alright” and immediately rushed to the kitchen.

After sending Xiaoxiao off, Zhang Chunxue turned sharply toward Zhong Chengyi’s room.

With his wife and child like this, how could Zhong Chengren not be looking after them?

She knew perfectly well that Zhong Chengren despised Zhou Mingli for giving birth to a daughter and hated the baby’s crying at night disturbing his sleep. No doubt he had gone to Zhong Chengyi’s place!

Sure enough, Zhang Chunxue kicked open Zhong Chengyi’s door to find Zhong Chengren sprawled out on Zhong Chengyi’s bed, sound asleep and snoring loudly!

“Zhong Chengren! How dare you sleep at a time like this!” Zhang Chunxue shouted angrily.

Zhong Chengyi was startled awake, rubbing his eyes groggily. “Mom, what’s wrong?”

Zhang Chunxue’s fury flared instantly; she couldn’t bother explaining to her son.

She stepped forward and yanked off the blankets. “Zhong Chengren! You scoundrel!”

The cold air rushed in, and Zhong Chengren shivered, snapping his eyes open.

“Why all the noise? It’s the middle of the night!” he grumbled, still half asleep.

“Your wife is burning up with fever, almost dying, and your daughter is crying from hunger, yet you’re here sleeping soundly!” Zhang Chunxue pointed at his nose, her voice trembling with anger.