Her gaze swept over Sun Shuqin.
In her previous life, she had strived to become a female entrepreneur, and her ability to read faces and discern intentions had long since reached mastery. Yesterday, from a distance, she hadn't observed carefully, but today, up close, she clearly felt that Sun Shuqin was not as simple as she appeared. The misty, watery eyes seemed like an act, devoid of genuine emotion.
On the other hand, her second son seemed to have completely fallen in love.
A gentle smile appeared on Cheng Loanloan's face: "Miss Sun, if there's anything you need, just say it. As long as Auntie can help, I will certainly not refuse."
Sun Shuqin's eyes were full of moisture: "Auntie, can... can you lend our family another twenty catties of grain?"
Upon hearing these words, Zhao Ergou immediately tensed up, his eyes reflexively looking towards Cheng Loanloan.
He was afraid that Shuqin would displease his mother before even entering the family.
The smile on Cheng Loanloan's face remained as gentle as ever. She continued, "It's not that Auntie doesn't want to lend it, it's just that we just lent ten catties yesterday, and today you're asking for another twenty catties. The water in one bowl isn't enough for everyone, and the other sons might have opinions."
Zhao Sanniu shook his head like a rattle-drum: "Mother, I have no opinion, lend it to them."
Just as Zhao Sidan was about to chime in, Cheng Loanloan shot him a cold look.
These little rascals really knew how to ruin her plans.
She raised her head and looked at her second son: "Ergou, you know how much grain we have at home. Do you think we should lend it?"
Zhao Ergou was about to shake his head when he saw Sun Shuqin looking as if she was about to cry. Tears welled up in her eyes, and his heart felt as if it had been crushed.
He stared at the girl in front of him, feeling a little flustered.
Cheng Loanloan sighed helplessly.
If she didn't lend it, there was always a feeling of guilt, as if she was breaking up their relationship.
She spoke faintly: "Miss Sun, we don't have twenty catties to lend. At most, we can only lend another ten catties."
Sun Shuqin's face showed tears of joy: "Thank you, Auntie, thank you so much..."
Cheng Loanloan instructed Zhao Ergou to go inside and get the grain.
Zhao Ergou's face was a mixture of complex emotions as he turned and went into the house.
"Miss Sun, I can tell you're a good girl." Cheng Loanloan said earnestly, "Our Ergou is ignorant and can't empathize with you. Please don't hold it against him."
Sun Shuqin's lips parted slightly, and she said softly, "Of course I won't hold it against Brother Ergou."
As soon as she heard these words, Cheng Loanloan's expression turned a little colder.
She had merely casually belittled her son a little, but she hadn't expected this Miss Sun to agree. In other words, in Miss Sun's heart, she was also blaming Ergou for not agreeing to lend the grain earlier... After all, she was young, and her thoughts couldn't be hidden. She lent another ten catties of bamboo shoots, but in return, she received insincere thanks from this Miss Sun.
Cheng Loanloan felt it wasn't worth it for her second son.
Zhao Ergou, however, didn't feel it wasn't worth it at all. He came out with ten catties of bamboo shoots, his face flushed, and said, "Shuqin, I'll see you home."
Cheng Loanloan said indifferently: "There are patrols at both ends of the village. If someone sees the two of you alone together, wouldn't that ruin Miss Sun's reputation? Huinü, you go see her part of the way."
Wu Huinü put down her work and stood up to see her off.
Zhao Ergou watched the slender figure disappear down the road, then finally spoke, "Mother, thank you."
Cheng Loanloan asked, "Do you really want to marry this young woman?"
Zhao Ergou's face flushed crimson, and he softly hummed in affirmation.
Cheng Loanloan sighed.
This boy had completely fallen into the depths of love, utterly blind to Sun Shuiqin's other side. She, as his mother, was the only one who could see it.
But first, she still needed to inquire about the situation of this young woman Sun Shuiqin's family...