Back to the 70s: My Childhood Sweetheart Spoils Me Rotten

"Morning." Zhao Guangran used to quite dislike Zhuge Hongjie, but after spending time together these days, he genuinely had a good impression of him.

For instance, he worked really efficiently, grabbing a lot of tasks, like shoveling snow and cleaning the book lending room.

Zhuge Hongjie paused his boxing practice, which he learned after moving in and seeing Zhao Xuran and the others boxing. Although he wasn’t as good as Zhao Xuran and the others, he was passable.

"Brother Hongjie, we’ll be going shopping for New Year’s supplies in a few days." Gong Ruini yawned as she came out. Winter mornings are definitely for sleeping in, but with so many people in the house unwilling to see her sleep in, they insisted on getting her up.

"Okay." Zhuge Hongjie was also used to seeing Gong Ruini yawning and exercising. Before he moved in, Zhuge Hongjie often heard topics about them.

The information he heard from the Zhuge family was all negative, labeling them as leeches who wouldn’t let go of Zhuge Zhi.

However, after moving in, Zhuge Hongjie saw another side—at least their presence made Grandpa Zhuge much happier.

"By the way, Brother Hongjie, give me your measurements. I’ll pass them to my mom later so she can make you a cotton coat." Thanks to Zhuge Zhi, they could buy a lot of things without ration tickets.

For example, Zhuge Zhi still has a habit of needing new clothes for the New Year. After getting the cotton fabric and batting, Cai Meina and Zhan Jing took time to make a cotton coat for everyone.

As for Zhuge Hongjie, since he arrived late, of course, there wasn’t one made for him. Now that he’s staying, they definitely couldn’t skip him.

Make him a new cotton coat? Honestly, the cotton coat on him now was his father’s from before. Not to mention if it fit properly, it certainly didn’t keep him warm anymore, but he didn’t want to accept it. "I have a cotton coat."

"It’s just some cotton and fabric Grandpa Zhuge had, a convenient thing to do," Gong Ruini said. She hadn’t touched the cotton coat on Zhuge Hongjie, but just from looking at its poor fit, she knew it really wasn’t suitable for him.

Even if it was Grandpa Zhuge’s materials, Zhuge Hongjie was embarrassed to take advantage of it. "I don’t want it, I have one." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"You must have it." Although Zhuge Hongjie hadn’t shared much about his past that day, they had Zhao Guangran, who figured out that Zhuge Hongjie’s situation was far more difficult than he said.

Gong Ruini didn’t know how much rage Zhuge Hongjie had accumulated in his heart, but from how the so-called clansmen and elders didn’t help him get justice at all, she knew once he truly succeeded, it would have nothing to do with the Zhuge family.

Zhuge Zhi might still consider the clansmen a bit, but for Zhuge Hongjie, there was no sympathy at all.

"Don’t you want to look nice when you go out to give New Year blessings?" No matter how upset those so-called clansmen and elders were with Zhuge Zhi, Gong Ruini thought they would still visit.

Zhuge Zhi not interacting with them had zero loss, but for those clansmen, the consequences were ones they couldn’t bear.

Go out for New Year visits? Zhuge Hongjie shook his head. "Why should I go out for New Year visits? Before, they thought I was poor and didn’t welcome me, worried I’d ask them for money."

"Now, I’m even less inclined to go out for New Year visits—to listen to their sarcastic remarks or hear them say they raised me and expect me to repay them in the future." Zhuge Hongjie could already imagine what those people would say to him.

Zhuge Hongjie didn’t care one bit for greetings among clansmen or the so-called care that required money; otherwise, who would bother with you?

The schemes those people had were obvious to Zhuge Hongjie, their acting was poor, or maybe they truly didn’t think Zhuge Hongjie would ever turn his life around.

But, "What a great opportunity, why not go out for New Year visits? If you don’t go, they’ll say you’re using Grandpa Zhuge’s influence to show them an attitude."

That was indeed possible. Zhuge Hongjie didn’t care about the words of those clansmen, but he couldn’t disregard Zhuge Zhi, "I’ll go out for New Year visits."

"It’s just New Year visits." He used to go despite hearing sarcastic remarks, no way he wouldn’t go now when he doesn’t have to listen to them.

Plus, Gong Ruini was right; why miss such a good opportunity to mock and ridicule? If he didn’t go this time to mock them a bit, who knew how they’d ruin their reputation outside?

"Yes, wear new clothes and go for New Year visits." Zhuge Hongjie didn’t refuse further, as he would definitely repay the favor in the future.

He admitted that his heart had hardened, not delaying his business for some unrelated people, but when someone was willing to step up during his low point, Zhuge Hongjie wasn’t foolish and would definitely return the favor.

As for whether those smart people would like the gift she sent, if possible, it’d be good to check more on Zhuge Mingshan’s situation,

"I heard she went back and was so angry she lay in bed, her condition quite serious." Zhuge Hongjie wasn’t without friends in the Zhuge family, just like him, they weren’t of high status.

But they knew many people, and besides, Zhuge Mingshan not passing her exam while Zhuge Hongjie, an inconspicuous guy, caught Zhuge Zhi’s eye, sparked all sorts of mockery towards Zhuge Mingshan.

Already with a bellyful of anger, Zhuge Mingshan couldn’t bear it any longer, but backed down hard, reportedly causing quite a stir.

Zhuge Mingshan just wanted a good outlet, but her fierce demeanor spread around; if she’d always been this fierce, no one would find it surprising.

However, she always tried to present as a gentle and virtuous woman, so this outburst definitely shocked many people.

People knew some could really act, but they didn’t know Zhuge Mingshan could act like this, swiftly spreading this news.

Those who long disliked Zhuge Mingshan wouldn’t miss such a chance; the decent ones fueled the spread a bit, while the indecent ones outright added insult to injury.

Concerned that there wasn’t enough dirt on Zhuge Mingshan, they even brought up her childhood incidents, causing an uproar.

If a grown-up schemed like this, people could accept it somewhat; but a little kid doing such things was truly unacceptable.

Regardless of the inability to accept it, all the parents whose children were in the same class or played well with Zhuge Mingshan instructed them not to get too close, fearing one day they would be betrayed by her.

When Zhuge Mingshan got this news, her condition, which had been improving, immediately worsened again.

However, in Gong Ruini’s view, who knows if she was feigning weakness, but it didn’t matter; eventually, she would surely taste the consequences.