Labor Day arrived.
Last year, Chen Ru’s stellar performance earned her a hefty year-end bonus. Combined with the couple’s regular savings, by May this year, Chen Ru had funds again. The two 105-square-meter apartments they’d bought on mortgage in the same neighborhood were finally ready for renovation.
In the same complex, when Chen Li accompanied Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong to view properties, Chen Ru purchased two smaller units, while Chen Li opted for a 156-square-meter larger one, in the same building as Wen Ying’s family but on a different floor.
After Pan Li caused a scene in the neighborhood where Chen Li lived next to Lin Lin’s family, Chen Li no longer wanted to stay there. Once Yu Wenhao was arrested and no longer needed to feign poverty, Chen Li began renovating her new place. Now, with the renovation complete and Wen Ying on holiday, Chen Li invited Wen Ying’s family to tour the new home.
Since Wen Ying’s family was also about to renovate, it was a perfect chance to take notes. The renovation industry was murky, and Chen Li wanted to warn them about pitfalls she’d encountered.
Chen Li and Deng Shangwei had millions in savings, and with Qin Xianming allocating more quotas to Deng Shangwei, his career was soaring. Money wasn’t an issue for their renovation. On the way, Wen Ying wondered if she’d see a gaudy, ostentatious new home.
The minimalist style that would boom a decade later had few fans now. Black, white, and gray color schemes weren’t trendy either. Wealthy bosses favored redwood furniture and beige floor tiles, aiming for grandeur, not simplicity.
Some even decorated their homes like KTV lounges, making Wen Ying instinctively look for a microphone or expect a fruit platter!
Chinese style could be elegant, but only if the whole house was cohesive.
A living room with redwood furniture paired with a cushioned European bed looked bizarre.
Before entering, Wen Ying’s imagination ran wild. But upon stepping inside, she saw the living room sofa wasn’t redwood, and she relaxed.
Not tacky at all, it felt quite cozy.
“What’s with that look? Relieved?” Chen Li teased.
Wen Ying, embarrassed, didn’t admit she’d underestimated Chen Li’s taste.
Chen Li’s home was European-style, not cutting-edge in Wen Ying’s eyes, but the female owner’s care was evident everywhere. The house was filled with green plants to absorb odors, and a vase on the coffee table held fresh flowers Chen Li had bought, vibrant and blooming.
A happy family brings life’s joy.
Wen Ying’s eyes welled up.
In her past life, her aunt never lacked houses. After her divorce, her ex-husband gave Chen Li all their savings. Unversed in other investments, Chen Li bought properties. Her cousins, Deng Jie and Deng Hao, were a playboy and a slacker, only able to squander thanks to the family’s wealth.
But what use were so many houses? Whenever Wen Ying visited, Chen Li’s home felt cold, not even a potted flower in sight. No matter how much money, it wasn’t a home.
Now, Chen Li enthusiastically described the layout, a stark contrast to her past life, “Four rooms, one spare for a study. Deng Jie and Deng Hao don’t need a full-time nanny anymore. I won’t hire a live-in maid, just someone to cook and clean during the day, going home at night. This house is for our family of four.”
Chen Li showed Chen Ru and Wen Ying each room.
Chen Li’s new home had a dedicated study!
Their old home had four rooms too, but Chen Li hadn’t considered a study.
Neither she nor Deng Shangwei were particularly scholarly, and a study would’ve been for show, rarely used.
Things were different now. Over the past six months, both had been reading. A study in the new home was ideal, with a computer for browsing or working from home.
Computers weren’t just for Minesweeper or Solitaire anymore. A single internet cable connected to a vast world. Though 2005’s online content was far less rich than a decade later, Chen Li, unaware of the future, was already dazzled.
“I even signed up for a computer training class,” Chen Li said, a bit shy.
Neither Chen Ru nor Wen Ying mocked her, and Chen Li relaxed.
The class taught basic office software, simple stuff, but the old Chen Li wouldn’t have known it!
Looking back, she’d wasted so much time.
“Sis, you always said dating delayed my college chances. I didn’t think much of it, since Shangwei and I are happy, and without degrees, we’ve still supported our family with our own hands… Now I regret it a bit. Even without college, I shouldn’t have stopped learning,” Chen Li said sincerely.
Chen Ru nodded gently, “Good you know I meant well!”
At 31, she’d finally seen the light.
Chen Ru glanced at Wen Ying, there’s another one who doesn’t get it!
Wen Ying pretended Chen Ru’s look wasn’t aimed at her.
Chen Li had noticed the odd tension between mother and daughter.
What was going on? Weren’t they close not long ago?
Chen Li shot Wen Ying a look.
—What did you do to upset your mom?
Wen Ying stayed still.
Unless Manager Chen figured it out herself, no one’s advice would help.
While the three toured the rooms, Wen Dongrong and Deng Shangwei made awkward small talk in the living room.
Deng Shangwei offered Wen Dongrong a cigarette. Wen Dongrong took it but didn’t light it. Deng Shangwei laughed, “Brother-in-law, you really quit smoking?”
Had to.
Cigarette money was surrendered.
The 500 yuan pocket money subsidy was returned too.
Wen Dongrong’s woes had no outlet. For once, he found Deng Shangwei tolerable and asked how much the renovation cost.
Deng Shangwei, wary of Wen Dongrong’s temper, hesitated before telling the truth. Wen Dongrong frowned, “Renovations are that expensive now?”
In ’99, when Wen Dongrong’s work unit assigned him a house, it came simply furnished. They only made minor changes and added appliances, costing little.
Just a few years later, renovations were so pricey!
Deng Shangwei didn’t dare offer a loan, instead hinting, “Wen Ying’s shop is doing alright.”
They were family, living together, so whose money was used didn’t matter.
Wen Dongrong glanced around, “Don’t bring that up. We can’t let Wen Ying pay for renovations, she’s not even an adult!”
If Wen Ying paid, Chen Ru would be even angrier.
The mother-daughter cold war hadn’t thawed, and Deng Shangwei’s idea would worsen things.
Deng Shangwei realized Wen Ying and Chen Ru were at odds—given Chen Ru’s temper, he genuinely thought Wen Ying was a fearless “warrior”!
But staying at odds wasn’t sustainable.
A warrior could become a martyr.
A tense family atmosphere stifled everyone, no one could be happy alone.
After seeing off Wen Ying’s family, Deng Shangwei said to Chen Li, “Should we do something?”
Chen Li teased, “You’re usually a mouse around my sister, and now you’re bold enough to tug the cat’s whiskers!”
Tug the cat’s whiskers?
Could anyone surnamed Chen whitewash it like that?
That wasn’t a cat, it was the Chen family tigress!
But no choice, he felt for Wen Ying, so he’d have to grit his teeth and step up.
