Chapter 11: Sending Army Coats

"There's just over half a month until the final exams. If you can improve your grades by five ranks from before, I'll cover your tuition for the latter half of the semester."

"I can do that." Right now, she was pretty much at the bottom, so moving up five ranks was not a difficult task at all.

Seeing her respond so readily and without hesitation, Zhao Xianlai nodded in satisfaction, then added, "If you can make it into the top ten of your class next semester, I can cover your high school tuition fees in advance as well."

"Thank you, Uncle Zhao. I will work hard."

She then turned to Li Chunhua, guaranteeing with sincere conviction, "Auntie Li, don't worry, I will definitely pay you back this money."

She didn't want the matter of borrowing money to cause any family conflicts.

Seeing Shen Mianmian being so understanding and considerate of her feelings, Li Chunhua felt much more at ease, "Mianmian, as long as you can manage it, I have no objections." Zhao Xianlai had already laid out the offer, and no matter what, she couldn't undermine her own husband.

"Thank you, Auntie Li." Shen Mianmian was truly grateful, "I've missed a few days of school, and I have a lot of coursework to catch up on. I need to go back and study now."

In their eyes, she was still a child; no amount of promises could be very persuasive. The only thing she could do was to study hard.

"Alright."

Auntie Li nodded, and as she escorted Shen Mianmian out, she reminded her, "Put on more clothes when you get back, it's cold now, and you haven't fully recovered from your injury. Don't catch a cold again."

"Okay."

Shen Mianmian nodded obediently, and at the doorway, she finally said, "Auntie, you should go back inside! It's cold out here."

After speaking, she was about to leave, but someone called out to her.

"Wait a second."

"He Nan..."

As the man with a commanding presence approached, Shen Mianmian opened her mouth but didn't know what to call him.

Noticing her discomfort, He Nan reminded her lightly, "Call me Big Brother He."

"Big Brother He." Her mind hadn't quite caught up, but her mouth obediently followed the prompt.

This man's presence was so daunting; being around him, one couldn't help but be led by his influence.

He Nan nodded with an 'mm' sound, opened the back car door, and took out a military coat, "Wear this."

"..."

Hesitating for a moment, Shen Mianmian didn't take it, "Big Brother He, thank you, but once I'm home and inside, I won't be cold."

This thick military coat—if she dirtied it, she couldn't afford to compensate.

Seeing her concern, He Nan didn't expose it, "It's too small for me, I'm giving it to you to wear."

As he had little contact with young girls, his tone was like that of speaking with a younger cousin.

Was he giving it to her?

Shen Mianmian was stunned for a moment.

"Take it," He Nan said again.

"Thank you." Right now, she indeed needed a cotton-padded jacket. The only one she had at home was a very thin old padded coat, which had belonged to Zhou Siyu from the year before last. It was now a bit small for her, with sleeves half a size too short. Zhou Siyu had got it dirty the day before yesterday, and it still hadn't dried due to the bad weather.

The classroom was cold, and without a padded coat, she could easily get sick.

Seeing she was holding the coat but not putting it on, He Nan raised an eyebrow slightly, "Will holding it in your hands keep you warm?"

Shen Mianmian's face flushed, and she hurriedly put on the military coat which then enveloped her from head to toe, as if she had approached a stove, instantly warming her considerably.

He Nan then opened the driver's side door and took something else out, "Take this, too. It's no use to a big man like me."

Scented beeswax?

Shen Mianmian's eyes lit up.

In this era, it was a precious item. It worked especially well for chilblains and frostbite on the hands, and it could also be applied to the face, a divine skincare product for winter days.

Her hands were severely frostbitten, swollen like leavened buns, making it inconvenient to write; she really needed this.

"Thank you, Big Brother He."

"Mm." He Nan nodded, "Go back now!"

…