Wen Kai had his own plans. There was pressure but alongside it was more confidence. He didn’t need excessive family attention.
In Wen Kai’s words once the college entrance exam was over he’d know to go out and have fun.
So Wen Kai only spent one daytime in Rongcheng and went home with his parents that evening. No one stayed over at Wen Ying’s house so Wen Ying and Chen Ru didn’t have to share a bed that night.
This arrangement was meant to ease the relationship between Wen Ying and Chen Ru. Since the mother and daughter were no longer so tense about what colour to paint the walls Wen Dongrong didn’t feel his careful planning was wasted.
But the next day Wen Dongrong sneakily hinted to Wen Ying about his private stash of money.
A year ago who could have imagined Comrade Old Wen falling so low?
Money-wise Wen Ying had promised to give some and had no intention of backing out.
But Old Wen hadn’t been much help with her trip to Hunan last time and even switched sides when things went south. Such behaviour shouldn’t be encouraged.
“Dad you’re at least one of the unit’s leaders. Isn’t this a bit improper?”
Wen Dongrong showed no shame. “What do you know? That’s called retreating to advance. In that situation if I’d spoken up for you wouldn’t your mum have been even angrier? You think you lost out by giving me this bit of private money. You only see how轻松 I am when I take it but not the hard work I put in behind the scenes!”
Heh.
Wen Ying was quite impressed by his ability to make lies sound like truth.
And this man was her real father?
Wen Ying suspected her potential to be a lawyer might come from inheriting Wen Dongrong’s thick skin.
—That thought was too terrifying!
So terrifying that Wen Ying refused to dwell on it and quickly handed over the money to Old Wen.
It wasn’t the 1500 yuan Wen Dongrong had imagined but a mere 500 yuan.
“I can’t see how much work you did behind the scenes. I only saw it took over a month to get some results.”
Wen Dongrong was about to explode.
This rebellious daughter only gave him June’s money swallowing his April and May private stash!
Even if April’s money was skipped easing their relationship happened in late May. Why no money for May?!
After Wen Dongrong’s reasoned arguments Wen Ying agreed to add 300 yuan.
“Anyway next month you’ll get more. What are you afraid of? As long as you don’t stab me in the back at critical moments and give me some cover won’t I treat you well?”
To be fair Wen Ying often disobeyed her parents but when it came to money she was never stingy with them.
The second-hand car Wen Dongrong drove was proof.
Wen Dongrong grudgingly backed down saying casually: “What cover do you still need? Sneaking off to another province once wasn’t enough you want a second go? Are you tired of living too comfortably?”
Isn’t it good to just live well?
On second thought Wen Ying was unlikely to be an obedient good girl. Wen Dongrong adjusted his expectations from “don’t cause trouble” to “don’t cause trouble before final exams.”
As long as she really made it into the top 300 in her grade Chen Ru might think whatever but wouldn’t say anything.
This would prove Wen Ying kept her word knew her grades and was trustworthy to her parents.
Wen Ying thought of the publishing contract locked in her drawer and decided to give Old Wen a heads-up softening her voice with a smile: “If I hadn’t gone to Hunan where would I get private money to honour you? Since we’re on this topic I have good news to share—”
“I don’t want to hear it.”
Wen Dongrong turned and left afraid of Wen Ying’s “good news.”
The family atmosphere had just eased and Wen Ying wanted to stir things up again?
Wen Ying could handle it but he couldn’t. Wen Dongrong wanted a break—at least until he’d spent the 800 yuan otherwise he’d hate to return money that hadn’t even warmed his hands!
Wen Dongrong fled fast and Wen Ying felt disappointed not finishing her words.
—Comrade Old Wen was still more alert than her uncle.
Chen Ru didn’t know about the father-daughter deal. That night while Wen Dongrong washed his face and hummed a tune Chen Ru glared at him twice.
This dog of a man wasn’t reading but she needed to read. Couldn’t he keep it down?
Wen Dongrong didn’t sense his wife’s annoyance.
That night Wen Dongrong stuffed the 800 yuan into his pillowcase.
Money earned through hard work had to be guarded while sleeping to feel secure!
That night Wen Dongrong dreamed Wen Ying got into the top two universities in China. When the good news came his unit from leaders to regular staff lined up to congratulate him asking for his “secret to raising a daughter.” At the back of the line Old Li wore a leather jacket covering half his face—but even if he covered his whole face Wen Dongrong could recognise Old Li!
In the dream Wen Dongrong waved his hand giving Old Li a backdoor to the front of the line to listen. Old Li refused but Wen Dongrong dragged him forward.
In reality Chen Ru was woken by Wen Dongrong’s hand hitting her face.
Not only were his hands restless he even laughed out loud.
So why was this idiot man so happy today!
Was it because she agreed to let his mother stay in Rongcheng?
—She and her mother-in-law might not get along but she’d never stopped this dog of a man from honouring his mum!
They’d given plenty of money to the Wen family before.
The more Chen Ru thought the angrier she got. With a fierce kick she sent Wen Dongrong off the bed.
Wen Dongrong was mid-Versailles with Old Li in his dream and woke up bewildered by his wife’s kick.
“Why’d you kick me?!”
Was this woman crazy?
Chen Ru clutched the blanket sneering: “You know why!”
The yellow light of the bedside lamp on Chen Ru’s face was somewhat eerie.
Wen Dongrong felt guilty.
Did she know about the private money in the pillowcase?
“You’re nuts can’t you let a guy sleep—”
Wen Dongrong grumbled grabbing the pillow relieved to feel the money underneath yawning as he climbed back into bed refusing to talk with Chen Ru. Talking risked slipping up silence ensured safety. He closed his eyes performing an “instant sleep.”
Chen Ru was so mad she wanted to smother him with the pillow.
Wen Dongrong turned over continuing his act: “Zzz~~~”
The next morning Wen Dongrong pocketed the 800 yuan.
Nowhere at home was safe. He had to find a chance to spend it today.
At breakfast Wen Ying thought Old Wen looking left and right was like a sneaky thief.
Where was your leader’s dignity Old Wen?
Did the dog eat it overnight?
—
On June 7 2005 the college entrance exam arrived.
The provincial key school was one of Rongcheng’s exam centres so first- and second-years had a holiday to make way for candidates. Wen Ying naturally got the day off.
Before the exam Wen Ying and others sent encouraging texts to Qin Jiao.
On the first day of the exam several friends gathered downstairs at Tianjiao Film Company invited by Yuan Fenghui as the first batch of viewers.
Besides Wen Ying there were Xie Qian Wang Shuang Geng Xiao and Tang Yifeng and of course Li Mengjiao the female lead.
Qin Jiao was taking the exam and couldn’t come but all the “Shrimp King” shareholders were there.
Not just shareholders—Wen Ying with Yuan Fenghui’s approval also invited Yang Xi and Deng Yaomei to diversify the audience.
