Returning to Parents' Seventeen
Chapter 103 The Light Bulb

Chapter 103: Chapter 103 The Light Bulb

The breakfast shop was too exhausting; they had to wake up early every day.

Besides, You Shuzhen was not only good at making breakfast and noodles. She often researched other dishes to make for Xu Chuning.

But the ingredients were limited, and so were the conditions. Many exquisite foods she saw on TV could only be substituted with other dishes.

But this was not a bad solution.

It could save costs.

You Shuzhen was stunned, then chuckled with disbelief, "Child, why did this suddenly come up?"

"I was thinking about what Shen Yubai and Shen Sinian said, and the person who just bought noodles also mentioned that they came to buy noodles because they saw a colleague eating and thought it must be delicious," Xu Chuning said lightly, "If that’s the case, then why don’t we expand the shop a bit? We could put our sign out there."

Hearing Xu Chuning’s words, You Shuzhen shook her head, "No, Mom can’t."

Xu Chuning, feeling helpless, said, "Mom, you haven’t even tried. How do you know you can’t?"

You Shuzhen looked down, "Ningning, you are still in high school."

"..."

Xu Chuning was taken aback but soon realized, "Mom, I know what you are worried about. I can work a summer job after I graduate from high school. You don’t need to worry about my college tuition and living expenses; I have already planned it all out."

Xu Chuning never wanted to be a burden to You Shuzhen.

Upon hearing this, You Shuzhen pretended to be angry, "You are my daughter; if I don’t worry about your tuition and living expenses, who will?"

She scolded Xu Chuning, "Don’t say things like that anymore. Just concentrate on your studies, Mom has already saved up for your tuition and living expenses. After high school, Mom also doesn’t want you to work a summer job."

Xu Chuning’s lips twitched slightly, "But—"

"You Shuzhen was also stubborn about certain things, "No buts. Let’s talk about opening a restaurant later."

You Shuzhen thought it over, "If Mom is still able to work after you graduate, I will consider it."

Xu Chuning knew well that with only one year left before her college entrance exams, You Shuzhen indeed did not want too much disturbance in her life at this critical time.

She nodded, "Okay, but the thing I just mentioned, we could actually start thinking about it now."

You Shuzhen glanced at her, "I know, you practice your calligraphy, Mom won’t disturb you."

Xu Chuning: "...Oh."

She lowered her head to practice her calligraphy, and You Shuzhen, not wanting to disturb her, went next door to sit for a while.

Xu Chuning knew that her mother wanted to watch TV.

She smiled, "Go ahead, I’ll call you if there’s a customer."

Mother and daughter went about their own business.

After practicing her calligraphy, Xu Chuning wrote two test papers.

In a few more days, she would have finished all her summer homework.

Staying in the shop until the evening, Xu Chuning and You Shuzhen closed up and went home together.

As they walked into the familiar alley, Xu Chuning felt something was off but before she could react, You Shuzhen murmured, "Eh, it seems like all the light bulbs in the alley have been changed."

Xu Chuning was stunned, and only when she looked up did she notice that the streetlights, which had been broken and dark, were all lit up again.

Even the bulbs that were still on but obviously not bright enough had been replaced.

A neighbor walking behind them overheard and said with a smile, "Yes, someone came this morning. They said the community had received complaints about the broken streetlights here in the alley, so they came to replace them."

You Shuzhen frowned, "Weren’t these reported to the community before?"

"Of course, they were," the neighbor replied, "I guess the people who reported it before didn’t push hard enough."

You Shuzhen suddenly understood and smiled bitterly, "That’s possible."

Everyone was very pragmatic.

In today’s society, money and power carried relatively more weight.

By the time they were talking, they had already reached the entrance of the building they lived in.

Xu Chuning glanced up unintentionally and noticed that the light bulb in the stairwell, which had been broken for a long time, had also been replaced.

"The light bulbs inside the building have been changed, huh?" she remarked.

"Yes," replied the neighbor, "I heard that the community also issued orders to the landlords of this area, asking them to check the light bulbs, electrical wires, and other safety issues in each of their respective public areas. Maybe people from higher up will come to inspect later."

She spoke to the two of them, "Did you notice that the bikes blocking the road have also been moved away?"

You Shuzhen recalled for a moment: "I didn’t notice that."

Neighbor: "Take a look tomorrow then."

You Shuzhen agreed with a smile.

After exchanging pleasantries, Xu Chuning and You Shuzhen arrived home.

After saying goodbye to the neighbor, the mother and daughter entered the house together.

After changing their shoes upon entering, You Shuzhen was still marveling, "It’s good, we finally got the light bulb changed."

Xu Chuning didn’t say anything. She always felt that the light bulb was changed rather abruptly. Involuntarily, a name popped into Xu Chuning’s head.

But she quickly dismissed the thought.

Shen Yubai... Surely he wouldn’t bother with such trifles, right? Moreover, even if he did interfere, it’s improbable that he, with the status of the young master of the Shen Family, would exert pressure on the community here, right?

Though that was what she thought, Xu Chuning still decided, the next time she met Shen Yubai, she would casually mention the light bulb matter to gauge his reaction.

...

In the following days, there wasn’t much contact between Xu Chuning, Shen Yubai, and Shen Sinian; they were busy and so was Xu Chuning, as she powered through to finish her summer homework.

The day after finishing her summer homework, Shen Sinian had time to rest and came to the small shop with Shen Yubai.

Seeing them appear, You Shuzhen’s smile bloomed like a flower, "Sinian, Xiao Shen."

"Hello Aunt You." Shen Sinian was holding a bag of fruit, "Did you miss me?"

You Shuzhen chuckled lightly: "Of course, I did."

She assessed Shen Sinian and commented: "You’ve lost weight."

"Aunt You, your eyes are too sharp." Shen Sinian touched his nose, "I’ve lost just three pounds."

"Isn’t three pounds quite a lot?" You Shuzhen said, "Being too thin isn’t good."

Shen Sinian: "It’s not too thin. I eat very healthily."

You Shuzhen was half-convinced, "Health is the most important thing."

Shen Sinian: "I know."

As soon as the two arrived at the shop, the place instantly livened up.

Shen Sinian had a good long chat with You Shuzhen, who asked him what he wanted for lunch, saying she could make anything for him.

After Shen Sinian made his choices without reservation, You Shuzhen said, "I’ll go to the supermarket across the diagonal and be back. You two sit in the shop."

After You Shuzhen left, Shen Sinian immediately sidled up to Xu Chuning, "Ningning!"

Xu Chuning looked up: "You finally notice me?"

"I’ve seen you from the moment I arrived." Shen Sinian giggled, "What are you doing?"

Xu Chuning: "It’s obvious."

Shen Sinian glanced down, then suddenly looked over at Shen Yubai, "This... handwriting practice sheet..."

Shen Yubai glanced at him indifferently.

"What about the practice sheet?" Sensing something was off between the two, Xu Chuning asked.

Shen Sinian hastily shook his head: "Nothing, it just looked a bit familiar."

Xu Chuning made an ’oh’ sound, then nonchalantly pointed towards Shen Yubai, telling Shen Sinian, "He brought it."

Shen Sinian: "..."

Shen Yubai: "..."

After a few seconds of silence, Shen Yubai lifted his eyelids slightly, "How’s the practice going?"

Xu Chuning pondered for three seconds before answering, "Calligraphy practice isn’t something to be rushed; it has to be gradual and progressive."

Shen Yubai: "So?"

"So, don’t ask me how it’s going." Xu Chuning suggested he stop asking.

Shen Yubai: "..."

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