While Wen Ying was tirelessly working as an emotionless writing machine, Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong returned home. Surprisingly, the anger sparked by Wen Ying’s “disobedience” began to fade.
This was largely thanks to the groundwork the couple had laid earlier.
Friends and relatives all knew Wen Ying had taken the middle school entrance exam while sick, and her failure seemed a foregone conclusion. Grandma Wen, with her big mouth, had spread word that Wen Ying would need tens of thousands just to secure a school spot. Everyone’s expectations were rock-bottom, so when Wen Ying actually did decently, it was a shock!
A score of 578 wouldn’t stand out at a provincial key high school—too low for the experimental class.
But back in Wen Ying’s hometown, it was a solid result. Scores above 600 were rare as phoenix feathers.
How did Chen Ru spin it?
She returned the two thousand yuan Grandma Wen had offered for Wen Ying’s schooling.
Grandma Wen was puzzled. Chen Ru smiled, “She made the cutoff for the provincial key high school, Mom. We won’t need your money. Keep it for yourself, and give it to Wen Ying when she gets married.”
Grandma Wen was skeptical. “She made the cutoff? Then why did you and Dongrong say she did poorly?”
Grandma Wen thought Chen Ru was out of her mind!
Chen Ru faltered, “We didn’t expect her to perform beyond her level.”
Grandma Wen snorted, “I don’t get this ‘beyond her level’ nonsense. A kettle holds only what it can—you don’t know until you pour.”
Grandma Wen hadn’t imagined Wen Ying could get into a provincial key high school. Despite favoring grandsons, she didn’t actively want to trample her granddaughter.
After mulling it over, she decided it wasn’t her fault. An illiterate old lady like her couldn’t gauge Wen Ying’s grades—she’d just gone by what Chen Ru usually said.
Chen Ru had misled her!
Wen Ying getting into a provincial key high school gave the old lady some joy. She waved off the two thousand Chen Ru tried to return. “Once money’s given, keep it. Use it as pocket money for Wen Ying. Kids in the provincial capital dress well—you should buy her some new clothes too.”
Pocket money?
Chen Ru was set on using money to keep Wen Ying in line; there was no way she’d hand over two thousand yuan. But she couldn’t say that to Grandma Wen. Instead, she suggested Grandma Wen give it to Wen Ying herself when school started.
Grandma Wen took the money back.
The old lady couldn’t keep her mouth shut. After Chen Ru told her Wen Ying’s score, it spread to all the Wen family relatives in half a day.
Relatives felt like Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong had played them.
This was “doing poorly”?
It was pretty good!
With that score, Wen Ying could pick from several local high schools—experimental classes were within reach, even the elite rocket classes.
Wen Ying’s aunt, Zhu Meiqun—Wen Kai’s mom—knew her sister-in-law Chen Ru was fiercely competitive. Years of being in-laws had sparked plenty of clashes.
But Wen Dabai and his wife had been rural farmers, and it was thanks to Wen Dongrong’s help that they’d settled in the city. Out of gratitude, Zhu Meiqun always yielded in their spats.
Even with her good temper, Zhu Meiqun couldn’t help muttering that Chen Ru was scheming.
Wen Dabai hushed her. “Wen Ying doing well is a good thing—it shows our Wen kids are all great at studying.”
Relatives knew, but Wen Dongrong’s coworkers didn’t yet.
When his subordinates at work found out, they flattered him. Wen Dongrong played it humble: “Her total score’s average—probably not enough for the provincial key’s experimental class. But her English was decent.”
148 in English—a standout single-subject score.
A subordinate joked, “With English that good, you’ll have to send her abroad to study!”
Wen Dongrong waved it off. Studying abroad was too costly—few small-city families could afford it.
Chen Ru got similar reactions at her workplace.
In short, by setting low expectations and then exceeding them, Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong gained a lot of face.
This didn’t shift their views, though. Freedom? Without their strict oversight, would Wen Ying have scored 578?
Chen Ru had heard that many girls excelled in elementary and middle school but faltered in high school.
If there’s no intellectual gap between genders, then a drop in grades during high school must mean distractions—strict vigilance was needed to prevent puppy love!
To ensure Wen Ying’s success in the college entrance exam, they couldn’t ease up in high school—they had to watch her even closer!
What university would Wen Kai get into this year?
Thinking of her daughter’s defiance, Chen Ru felt a fire burning inside.
Chen Li’s family feared Wen Ying would lose; Chen Ru hoped she would. The harder the fall, the deeper the lesson, and the more obedient Wen Ying would be under their control later.
The idea of Wen Ying earning over ten thousand yuan for tutoring, tuition, and living expenses during the summer? It never crossed Chen Ru or Wen Dongrong’s minds.
…
Wen Ying sat at the computer all day, her back and waist aching.
Being a writer wasn’t about churning out volume. Good thing she hadn’t planned to dip into the emerging online literature scene—daily updates would kill her. She’d rather relive her life step-by-step.
Earning through labor was inefficient.
Earning through brainpower was efficient.
She had professional skills aplenty, but no way to cash them in. Wen Ying even checked out the buzzing Tianya Forum, spotting a “Legal World” section where big shots supposedly hung out.
Sure enough, she recognized several names.
These folks were forum celebrities now and would later dominate the legal circle.
Posts varied wildly—some hunted for cases, some bragged, some networked, some stumbled in by accident.
There were those seeking advice, trolling, preaching democracy and constitutionalism, airing grievances, or decrying government corruption—a real mixed bag.
One commonality: all legal advice here was free!
Big shots, aren’t you too idle, giving free consultations online? Well, even a decade later, online legal advice stayed mostly free. Other lawyers offered it to build fame, attract cases, and earn praise—time spent online turned into income or satisfaction.
For Wen Ying now, this was another case of distant water not quenching near thirst.
She was only sixteen!
She could pose as an expert online, but if someone hired “Expert Wen” for a case, she’d be exposed.
Still, she registered an account.
Useless now didn’t mean useless later.
Qin Jiao’s text came then. Wen Ying replied she’d be free the day after tomorrow, and Qin Jiao said they’d plan then.
Wen Ying tapped the desk with her fingers.
Labor was cheap, brainpower needed a channel, and netizens wouldn’t easily part with cash for strangers—everyone’s money was hard-earned! In real life, the free spenders weren’t self-made tycoons but well-born rich kids.
Qin Jiao was one such rich kid.
But she’d been so kind to Wen Ying, treating her as a friend. Wen Ying wanting to profit off her made her own cheeks burn.
Another dead-end road!
Frustrated, Wen Ying changed and went downstairs to run.
Chen Li sighed in relief. Once Wen Ying was gone, she said to Deng Yaomei, “Look how hard they’re pushing this kid. I’m worried she’ll break the keyboard.”
Earning money wasn’t that easy.
Adults struggled to make cash—how much harder for a 16-year-old Wen Ying?
