The cousin and friends in the capital were delighted for Wen Ying.
The Wen family back in their hometown were truly stunned.
Wen Ying hadn’t expected that her promotional video would spark a storm in the old Wen family.
The Wen family had long known that Wen Ying had published a novel.
But knowing was one thing, seeing her promotional video on television was another… Whether she published a book or not, Grandma Wen didn’t understand, but appearing on TV, that she understood.
To be on television, one must be truly remarkable.
Wen Ying’s aunt, Zhu Meiqun, was at a loss for words, only finding her voice long after the video ended:
“That girl Xiao Ying, has she become a big star?”
Uncle Wen’s face lit up, “Not a star, Dongrong said it’s for promoting some writing competition. We rough folks don’t get what kind of contest it is, but you just need to know it’s a big deal!”
All bearing the Wen surname, Uncle Wen was thrilled at his niece’s success, his face flushed with excitement. Fearing Grandma Wen might not understand the video, he even played commentator.
Grandma Wen nodded repeatedly at the explanation, “No wonder Old Two always brags. With a child like that, the whole house shines!”
Would it air again tomorrow?
If it did, they’d need to inform the relatives and folks in the countryside.
Uncle Wen wasn’t sure, “I’ll have to ask Second Brother about that!”
When they said Wen Ying had published a novel, the folks back in the countryside didn’t understand, looking skeptical as if they were being boastful, leaving Uncle Wen speechless.
Television was different. If it was on TV, how could it be fake?
Uncle Wen felt that Wen Ying’s promotional video was as significant as his son Wen Kai getting into Capital Aerospace University this year, both bringing great honour to the Wen family!
The mother and son excitedly discussed returning to the hometown, while Zhu Meiqun sat quietly, saying nothing.
Zhu Meiqun was naturally happy, but her joy was tinged with an indescribable melancholy.
Wen Ying used to keep a low profile, but with a single step, she’d outshone Wen Kai by miles.
Just last year, she was an unremarkable girl, and this year, she’d become so dazzling!
Zhu Meiqun wasn’t malicious enough to wish ill on Wen Ying, but as a mother, she always hoped her child would outshine others, especially when compared to familiar or related children.
Wen Kai had never let Zhu Meiqun down.
After repeating a year, he got into Capital Aerospace University. What an outstanding child, better than those around him. If there was anything he fell short of compared to Wen Ying, it was probably family circumstances.
Wen Kai was studying in the capital, and Zhu Meiqun gave him 600 yuan a month for living expenses.
She’d looked into it, and the usual range was 400-800 yuan. There were likely higher amounts, but in her social circle, she didn’t know any wealthy families giving more than 800 yuan.
In Zhu Meiqun’s view, 600 yuan was plenty.
If she gritted her teeth, 800 yuan was doable, but both she and her husband worked in a small city with modest salaries. An extra 200 yuan didn’t seem like much, but it added up over time. Years ago, they’d saved to buy a house in the city, and now they had to support Wen Kai’s university expenses, cover household costs, and even save again for his future marriage.
With limited income split several ways, life was naturally tight.
Thankfully, Grandma’s living expenses were covered by Second Brother’s family… Sigh, Grandma had helped raise Wen Kai, contributing the most to their family, yet Second Brother’s family bore the cost of her care. Zhu Meiqun wasn’t thick-skinned enough to accept it easily, but life’s pressures were real.
So, perhaps Wen Kai could have been even more outstanding, if not held back by ordinary parents.
“Ring, ring, ring…”
The home phone rang. It was Wen Ying’s uncle.
He called about the promotional video, brimming with excitement. Uncle Wen found a kindred spirit, and despite his usual reticence, he couldn’t help but join his younger brother in a long chat.
Uncle Wen concluded, “Big Brother, don’t you think Xiao роботу
System: Ying’s transformation is huge, and it’s got to do with the education in the provincial capital, right? Second Sister-in-Law transferred her job there, and Second Brother drives back and forth every day. It looks exhausting to outsiders, but if that effort results in a kid as outstanding as Xiao Ying, it’s worth its weight in gold. Big Brother, I’ve thought it over, and I’m sending my kids to study in the provincial capital!”
Uncle Wen dropped this bombshell, leaving Big Brother Wen stunned.
“Send them to the provincial capital for school?”
“Exactly. People aim high, and water flows upward too. Second Brother’s whole family moved to the provincial capital, and I don’t think they’re coming back. We should go too. Second Brother’s the smartest in our family, and following his choices can’t go wrong.”
Uncle Wen’s thoughts flowed smoothly, clearly not a spur-of-the-moment idea, seizing today’s opportunity to voice it.
Big Brother Wen faltered, then snapped out of it, rejecting Uncle Wen’s idea, “No, you can’t go to the provincial capital!”
He grew anxious, “Third Brother, we can’t do this. Second Brother has his wife and kids to support. Dragging our whole family to the city and expecting him to help us settle, that’s too much for him…”
Settling in a small city was already tough enough.
To go to the provincial capital and rely on Wen Dongrong—wouldn’t that exhaust him?
Big Brother Wen suspected Uncle Wen was eyeing their niece who’d published a novel, hearing that writers make good money. But for uncles to drag their families to leech off their niece? That’d get you scorned in the countryside. Big Brother Wen would rather die than do something so low, and he warned Uncle Wen not to entertain such thoughts.
Uncle Wen got heated, “What are you saying, that I’m out to mooch off Xiao Ying? The provincial capital’s big enough. With hands and feet and a willingness to work hard, am I afraid I can’t make a living?”
The brothers argued, leaving Grandma Wen unable to get a word in, but Zhu Meiqun, as if a fog had lifted from her mind, saw clearly.
There was no need to send Wen Kai to the provincial capital for school now.
But Zhu Meiqun’s hopes for her son’s future mirrored Uncle Wen’s exactly.
She pushed past her husband, standing by the phone, “Your brother’s not going, but I am!”
This stunned Uncle Wen.
“Sister-in-Law…”
“You heard right, I’m going to the provincial capital. I’ve got to earn money for Wen Kai!”
Zhu Meiqun’s words were impulsive at first, but saying them out loud made her resolute, “Youngest, tell me, isn’t our Wen Kai outstanding? Last year, he got into university but chose to repeat a year to get into the capital. He loves the capital, loves big cities. If we make him return to a small place after university, aren’t we holding him back? I want to earn money for Wen Kai, to help him buy a house, so he can stand firm in a big city!”
If they couldn’t afford the capital, they’d buy in the provincial capital.
If they couldn’t afford a big place, they’d get a small one.
If they couldn’t pay in full, she’d heard you could make a down payment.
Parents helping out a bit would lighten their child’s burden.
Their generation moved from the countryside to the city. For Wen Kai’s turn, he could surely strive from a small city to a big one.
