Shu Guobing slammed the table so hard it echoed, but Wen Ying just widened her eyes with an innocent look, as if she couldn’t fathom why her uncle was upset.
Everything she’d said was true—just not what Shu Guobing wanted to hear.
—He’d tried to squeeze a soft persimmon, only to grab a prickly durian. Now his hand was stinging.
With Shu Guobing’s outburst, Wen Dongrong tossed his chopsticks down, shoved his chair back, and stood up. “Looks like this meal’s ruined. Wen Kai, Second Uncle will celebrate with you another day.”
Wen Kai nodded. “Second Uncle, I understand.”
Uncle Wen was trembling with anger.
Shu Guobing, this brother-in-law, was nothing but a troublemaker, and little sister Wen Hongyan was a fool.
Second brother Dongrong had helped the family so much—supporting Shu Lu’s education these past couple of years, holding a respectable position at work—yet here he was, humiliated by his own brother-in-law at home. Of course he’d be upset.
Grandma Wen panicked. “Dongrong, at least finish your meal before you go!”
Wen Dongrong glanced at his mother, appetite gone.
After years as mother and son, he knew her well. If it were his late mother-in-law here, she’d have shut Shu Guobing down with her elder’s authority in that situation… Sigh, but this was his own mom. Anyone else, and he wouldn’t have stomached it!
As Wen Dongrong stood, Wen Ying quickly followed, and the family of three left.
Before they even reached the stairs, they could hear the Wen family tearing into Shu Guobing and Wen Hongyan. Wen Hongyan, feeling wronged, whined—she’d been outdone by Wen Ying all day, hadn’t gotten the upper hand once, and now her second brother was furious.
“Mom, why don’t you call out my brother? Our Lulu’s so smart—studying in a small town will just hold her back! Wen Ying gets to study in Rongcheng, so why can’t Lulu?”
What Wen Hongyan really wanted to say was that Wen Ying was too dumb to deserve studying in the provincial capital—better to invest in Shu Lu instead.
Shu Lu was smart and pretty, destined for great things.
Grandma Wen rolled her eyes. “You’re asking me why not? The man you picked has no skills and a big temper. You two should keep your mouths shut if you can’t speak properly. You’ve offended your second brother today—good luck getting him to shell out money for your kid now!”
This was supposed to be a celebration for her eldest grandson, Wen Kai, and these two clowns had ruined it.
Grandma Wen was fuming.
Shu Lu’s tears welled up, but Grandma Wen couldn’t be bothered to comfort her.
This old lady was practical to a fault. Call her biased toward boys, and you wouldn’t be wrong, but put Wen Ying and Shu Lu side by side, and she’d still favor Wen Ying.
It wasn’t about who was prettier or smarter—one was a Wen, the other a Shu. She knew who was family and who wasn’t. She wasn’t blind!
…
Wen Ying’s family of three headed downstairs in silence.
Wen Dongrong was smarting from the slap in the face by his own kin, stewing over Shu Guobing and Wen Hongyan.
Chen Ru stayed quiet because of Wen Ying’s performance just now. If Wen Dongrong had shown this kind of backbone earlier, Shu Guobing and Wen Hongyan wouldn’t have dared climb over him like they did today. Those two troublemakers were his own doing—he’d spoiled them.
Wen Dongrong storming off wasn’t about defending his wife or kid—it was Shu Guobing’s insolence bruising his pride.
Chen Ru knew her husband too well. Years of dealing with the Wen family, and even with her strong personality, she couldn’t win—because Wen Dongrong always took their side, leaving her to fight alone.
What silenced her now was Wen Ying stepping up to defend her—something she hadn’t expected.
Here’s the thing: Chen Ru wanted a sharp, clever daughter, because she saw herself as smart.
Her marriage to Wen Dongrong had its flaws but was decent enough. After years together, she knew every couple had their mess. Wen Dongrong was smart too—escaping the countryside through study, climbing the ranks at work. That proved his wits.
Both she and Wen Dongrong were sharp, a power couple—logically, their kid should’ve outshone them. Yet somehow, Wen Ying, bright as a child, grew duller with age, disappointing Chen Ru deeply.
She might scoff at her sister-in-law’s family, but Chen Ru had to admit Shu Lu had a spark Wen Ying lacked—not just in studies, but in life. If Shu Lu wanted, she could twist Wen Ying around her finger!
Shu Lu knew when to say what, smoothing over Wen Hongyan’s tactless blabber. Being a kid, the Wen family couldn’t bring themselves to really hold it against her parents.
And Wen Ying?
A naive lump, never speaking up for her own mom!
She was a year older than Shu Lu, yet… just now, she’d roasted Wen Hongyan and Shu Guobing flat. It was rare—so unfamiliar it threw Chen Ru off.
Chen Ru suspected Wen Ying’s change came from her summer in Rongcheng, rubbing shoulders with new friends—probably a bunch of savvy rich kids.
That thought soured her mood further.
If Wen Ying could transform so fast, it meant she wasn’t hopeless—it was Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong who’d botched her upbringing. Could that be true?
Admitting fault was brutal for someone like Chen Ru. She’d rather take a knife than say she was wrong!
*Thump, thump, thump.*
Someone had to break the silence.
It was Shu Lu, chasing them downstairs.
Sweaty—whether from haste or heat—she stopped in front of Wen Ying’s family and bowed deeply.
“Second Uncle, Aunt, I’m sorry. I’m apologizing for my parents. They didn’t study much, so they don’t think things through… Anyway, it’s their fault. Please don’t hold it against them, okay?”
Tears brimmed in Shu Lu’s eyes. If Wen Dongrong or Chen Ru said “no,” they’d spill over.
She looked genuinely pitiful.
Her apology oozed sincerity.
Even if Wen Dongrong’s anger didn’t soften, Chen Ru was stuck—refusing felt like she was bullying the poor girl.
Wen Ying spoke earnestly, “Lulu, you didn’t do anything wrong—why should you apologize? Adult stuff is their business, not ours. I don’t like Uncle drinking all the time, but whether he drinks or works doesn’t change how I feel about you as my cousin. I’m saying this for Uncle’s sake—and yours. If he’d work and earn money, your life would be better!”
Wen Dongrong couldn’t help nodding.
Exactly. Shu Lu wasn’t the one at fault—why agonize over her?
Shu Lu was Shu Lu; Shu Guobing was Shu Guobing. If he let Shu Lu’s words sway him into forgiving Shu Guobing, the guy would only get worse next time.
Wen Dongrong prized his dignity above all, and Shu Guobing trampling it wasn’t something he’d let go easily.
In front of an outsider, he rare agreed with Wen Ying openly.
“Your cousin’s right. Your dad loafing around all day isn’t okay. If he’d put in some effort, would your mom need to grovel?”
Shu Lu’s mind buzzed.
—Second Uncle’s different now?!
