Chapter 10 Agreement
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"Okay, stop arguing, both of you."
Zhao Xianlai interrupted the quarrel with his voice.
He suggested, "Mianmian still has half a term left in her ninth grade, right? Let her finish the ninth grade first, and then decide based on whether her grades improve."
Given the current situation, that was the only option, as for the future, it still depended on whether Shen Mianmian could make the effort herself; he didn't want to crush the hope in her eyes.
"No..."
"I agree."
Shen Mianmian spoke up before Zhou Lanfang could.
In her previous life when she helped Zhou Siyu take care of the child, she had learned quite a bit of knowledge, although she had nearly forgotten it, picking it up again wasn't hard.
She was confident.
Zhao Xianlai looked towards Shen Jianhua, "Do you agree?"
"I agree too." Since it had reached this point, it was necessary to give the village chief face.
Zhou Lanfang, furious, clenched her teeth. That damned girl, so quick with her mouth, actually stole her words.
Now that Shen Jianhua had agreed with the village chief, if she voiced her opinion, it would seem too obvious, and Shen Jianhua would definitely get angry; she could only endure it for now.
Damned girl, want to study? She would deal with her properly later.
The matter seemed to be settled, and Zhao Xianlai gave a few more reminders to Shen Jianhua before heading back home.
No sooner had Zhao Xianlai been seen out than Zhou Lanfang started making a scene, "Our family has no savings left now, where are you going to find the money for her tuition for the second half of the term?"
"Let's talk inside the house." He was worried that Zhou Lanfang, in her anger, might let something slip, and said to Shen Mianmian, "Mianmian, you go back to your room to rest too."
"Mm."
Shen Mianmian responded with a sound, but she didn't return to her room; instead, she went to Zhao Xianlai's house again.
Just as Zhao Xianlai had barely arrived home and had not yet settled down, he saw Shen Mianmian come again. His first thought was that Zhou Lanfang must have made a scene.
"Did your mom hit you again?"
He Nan's eyebrows also furrowed slightly. She had returned home once and was still dressed so thinly; it seemed her father really didn't take her seriously.
Noticing He Nan's expression, Shen Mianmian wondered: Does he find her a nuisance?
She could not back down.
She did her best to ignore He Nan's gaze.
"Uncle Zhao, I'm not here to complain this time; I'm here to borrow money."
"Borrow money?"
"Borrow money?"
Zhao Xianlai and Li Chunhua both paused for a moment, while the profound darkness of He Nan's eyes flickered.
Shen Mianmian gathered her courage, "Uncle Zhao, Aunt Li, you both know my family's situation by now. My mom will definitely try everything she can to keep me from studying when the time comes, so I want to ask, in case she really doesn't give me the tuition, could you lend it to me first?"
Before they could reply, she quickly assured them, "I will definitely return the money to you before the start of the twelfth grade, and I can write an IOU."
Given Zhou Lanfang's temperament, she would surely complicate things when it comes time to pay school fees. She had to find a safety net in advance, just in case.
The tuition for the ninth grade was thirty yuan, and she was confident that she could pay it off before high school started.
Zhao Xianlai and Li Chunhua exchanged glances, apparently understanding Shen Mianmian's intent; she was borrowing the money without her parents knowing.
Thirty yuan was no small sum. A year's earnings from farming might only bring in a hundred yuan or so, and a month's labor off the farm barely made twenty yuan, sometimes even less than fifteen.
Shen Mianmian was still a child, and Li Chunhua hesitated a bit.
After a moment of contemplation, Zhao Xianlai spoke, "Mianmian, I can cover the tuition for you for now, but there's a condition."
Shen Mianmian's eyes brightened, "Uncle Zhao, please tell me."
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