Editor-in-Chief Han can do what else but try to scam the manuscript.
What Han Qin plans to do with the rest of the manuscript if she scams it Zou Weijun isn’t sure so she didn’t speculate.
The important thing is that Wen Ying was vigilant enough not to be tricked into handing over the later manuscript making it hard for Han Qin to carry out any schemes.
Wen Dongrong didn’t return on Friday but early Saturday morning he drove Great Uncle’s family of three and his mother to Rongcheng.
Upon meeting Great Aunt Zhu Meiqun secretly took Wen Ying’s hand: “You’re always close with your Brother Kai you should persuade him he’s working too hard.”
Zhu Meiqun knew her son studying hard was good but this year of repeating Wen Kai was really too intense especially nearing the college entrance exam studying day and night which pained her as a mother.
Zhu Meiqun had said this at home a few times and each time she was scolded by the old lady.
Grandma Wen might not understand much else but she wouldn’t stop Wen Kai from studying hard.
The old lady had three sons and one daughter and only Wen Dongrong made something of himself for no other reason than he studied relentlessly back then!
The Wen family was poor unable to afford education for every child but Wen Dongrong had the best grades so the whole family tightened their belts to support him.
Changing the fate of staying in the countryside farming depended entirely on Wen Dongrong’s desperate studying to seize his chance.
This relentless drive later proved right. Without Wen Dongrong’s hard work he would have been a farmer in the countryside and the rest of the Wen family wouldn’t have their current life. Truly it was studying that changed the whole family’s fate!
When Wen Ying fell ill with a fever during her high school entrance exam Grandma Wen thought girls didn’t need to study too hard clearly influenced by outdated patriarchal ideas. But when it came to Wen Kai’s studies Grandma Wen never indulged her grandson’s laziness.
The old lady had a scale in her heart and Wen Kai was the eldest grandson!
In Wen Dongrong’s generation he studied successfully and pulled the whole family out of the countryside.
For the next generation Wen Kai had to shoulder this responsibility to lead the Wen family to a better life—before Grandma Wen had no hopes for Wen Ying but now the old lady was slowly changing though years of ingrained thinking still made her instinctively prioritise the eldest grandson.
Studying too tiring?
Is studying as tiring as toiling in the fields?
The old lady thought her eldest daughter-in-law Zhu Meiqun having lived a few good years in the city had forgotten the hardships of farming and was getting a bit too smug!
Hearing Zhu Meiqun talk to Wen Ying the old lady rolled her eyes: “You’re just giving bad advice. What kind of mother are you? Others worry their kids won’t succeed but you worry your kid is too successful!”
“Mum it’s the one-child policy now Kai Kai is my only son—”
Zhu Meiqun had her own opinions to share.
Of course it’s best if her son succeeds.
But compared to health success isn’t the most important. A mother cherishes her own son!
Wen Ying looked at Great Aunt then at her grandmother.
“Stop arguing first. I think Brother Kai is in good shape. The exam is just days away and after it’s over Kai can relax as much as he wants. He won’t push himself so hard then. He can go travel or sign up for driving school and get his license by the time school starts.”
Wen Kai had lost weight but his spirit was strong.
If he was studying so recklessly as Zhu Meiqun said how would Wen Kai be willing to come to Rongcheng to relax two days before the exam?
Wen Ying always knew her cousin was a very planned person setting goals and working toward them. In her past life Wen Kai didn’t repeat but still went to Beijing for his master’s showing his determination.
Wen Ying sidestepped Great Aunt and Grandma and went straight to ask Wen Kai: “Brother Kai the exam is coming up again how do you feel?”
Wen Kai adjusted his glasses: “I won’t say I’ll do better than last year but at least not worse depending on the difficulty of this year’s papers.”
Whether someone studies seriously and to what extent can fool others but not themselves. Wen Kai felt pressure but was mostly confident. He spent an extra year solidifying his foundation compared to fresh third-years. He might not crush many candidates but this year’s him should outdo last year’s him!
Repeating didn’t crush Wen Kai it made him more confident.
Wen Kai didn’t forget to care about Wen Ying. “I heard from Second Uncle your goal this term is top 300 in your grade? Little Ying you’re amazing. It shows choosing the provincial key school was right.”
Last year the siblings debated being a big fish in a small pond or a small fish in a big one. Wen Ying chose the latter and Wen Kai was quite worried.
After all Wen Ying was introverted and in a new environment with excellent classmates she might buckle under pressure.
Now Wen Kai had to admit he was wrong.
Wen Ying’s resilience was much stronger than he imagined!
A high-pressure environment didn’t crush Wen Ying but spurred her transformation.
Top 300 in the science track at a provincial key school would likely get her into Sichuan University no problem.
Wen Kai was genuinely happy for Wen Ying.
Wen Ying was modest: “I haven’t reached top 300 yet and my dad is already bragging everywhere?”
Wen Kai laughed. “Don’t you feel Second Uncle is different now? I can’t pinpoint exactly how but it just feels that way.”
—Like he’s less hypocritical?
It wasn’t nice to say this about his own Second Uncle but Wen Kai’s overall impression of Wen Dongrong was that he loved speaking in official tones.
Wen Dongrong was used to putting on airs outside and brought the same attitude home to his family.
But this year not only Wen Ying had changed dramatically Wen Dongrong had too!
He still spoke in official tones and was as hypocritical as ever—but in that tone and hypocrisy there was a bit of charm especially when boasting about his daughter trying to act three parts nonchalant which was just too funny!
Wen Dongrong didn’t know his nephew had seen through his Versailles act and enthusiastically showed everyone the new house under renovation.
Wen Dongrong pointed to one room saying it was for his mother. The old lady was clearly delighted but still refused: “I won’t come I don’t know anyone in the provincial capital I can’t stay here!”
“Coming for a few days now and then is fine.”
Wen Ying chimed in and the old lady sneaked a glance at her daughter-in-law Chen Ru’s expression.
If Chen Ru showed the slightest displeasure the old lady would never step foot in this house again.
It wasn’t about clashing with Chen Ru. Any mother with a bit of sense wouldn’t watch her son and daughter-in-law fall out over her.
Living in the provincial capital wasn’t important her son’s family needed peace.
Before due to Wen Hongyan’s family issues Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong nearly divorced and Grandma Wen knew this.
Chen Ru was in a good mood these days.
Thinking of the 2000 yuan her mother-in-law gave after Wen Ying’s entrance exam and how the old lady sided with reason over family during the conflict with Wen Hongyan’s family Chen Ru’s years of resentment had faded.
Noticing the old lady’s glance Chen Ru tried to smile sincerely: “Once the house is ready of course we must invite you to visit.”
Wen Kai scratched his head.
Not only had Second Uncle changed Second Aunt had changed a lot too.
Was this the special charm of the provincial capital?
Wen Kai thought then his resolve to test into Beijing was right.
If the provincial capital could change Second Uncle and Second Aunt so much Beijing could foster even more growth!
As a mother Zhu Meiqun worried for Wen Kai but Wen Kai didn’t worry for himself.
Kids from ordinary families had few chances to change their fate and the college entrance exam might be the fairest one. If he didn’t seize this chance he’d regret it later.
Unlike Wen Ying with her rebirth cheat wanting to grab every opportunity Wen Kai had the practical spirit of a small-town scholar: with no other talents just focus on studying!
