Wen Kai wasn’t in a bad mood, just a bit distracted, a level most wouldn’t notice. But Wen Ying, sharp as ever, picked up on it.
What was going on? Was he struggling to adjust to university life in Beijing?
It wasn’t just Wen Kai who might face this.
Some students from small towns, entering a top-tier city like the capital, felt the wealth gap between their hometowns and the city, leading to psychological imbalance.
Others, standout stars in their small towns, found themselves surrounded by equally brilliant peers at university, causing another kind of imbalance.
Some struggled with relationships, feeling isolated by classmates…
In his past life, Wen Kai went to Beijing for graduate school, already in his twenties, with a more mature worldview, clear on his goals. He stayed in Beijing after graduation, gradually finding his footing. Wen Ying, though never hearing Wen Kai’s struggles directly, had her own experiences striving in Shanghai, another top-tier city, and could guess without being told!
This life, Wen Kai went to Beijing earlier. Had he already encountered issues he couldn’t mentally adjust to?
Wen Ying probed subtly, and Wen Kai burst into a wry smile, “You really live up to being a novelist, always imagining things. How could I be isolated or bullied?”
Not to boast, but Wen Kai felt he got along well at school. “Isolation” was a word he’d never experienced. Wealthy or poor, classmates were happy to talk to him—being poor wasn’t a fatal flaw in relationships. The real flaw was the inferiority or pettiness poverty could bring. As long as Wen Kai wasn’t insecure or took advantage of others, what did money matter?
Would classmates look down on a poor student, shabbily dressed, eating the cheapest cafeteria meals yet winning national scholarships every year?
No!
They’d only admire such a person.
Conversely, a poor student who, at university, didn’t focus on studies or strive to excel, instead giving up to indulge in games or, to feed vanity, scamming money from family to buy luxury brands—such a student would be despised from the heart!
Wen Kai’s spirit was vibrant, showing no signs of the timidity that comes from being bullied. Wen Ying felt slightly relieved.
Now, she was even more curious about what was distracting her cousin.
With Shu Lu absent, Wen Ying and Wen Kai were the closest in age. Other cousins at the table were younger, absorbed in their own world, unbothered by Wen Ying and Wen Kai’s conversation.
Wen Kai quietly shared his concern.
He didn’t find Zhu Meiqun’s wonton stall shameful at all—it was a struggle for a better life!
But couldn’t this struggle be less grueling?
“I helped at the wonton stall for a few days and saw my mum’s business is actually pretty good. I want her to try a less taxing small business, but I’m afraid my ideas won’t hold up. No wonder they say scholars are useless—aren’t they talking about people like me?”
Wen Kai’s smile was helpless.
Studying was something he could control.
Failing the college entrance exam one year, he repeated and fought again, finally getting into his dream university.
At Capital Aerospace, he marveled at his peers’ brilliance, never daring to slack off, studying diligently to excel academically, aiming for an edge in grad school or job prospects.
These were things Wen Kai could control, setting goals and working hard.
But advising his parents, making their wealth-building less arduous… that was beyond him. His life experience couldn’t support such “advice.” He wasn’t like the Qin siblings with their family legacy or Wen Ying with her reborn insights. From an ordinary family, his perspective was limited—he was just a typical freshman!
He wanted to grow faster, but reality didn’t allow instant success. Wen Kai’s distraction stemmed from confusion over how to help his parents.
Part of his confusion came from comparing himself to Wen Ying.
He wasn’t jealous of her success.
But when he learned Zhu Meiqun quit her job to sell wontons, he truly wished to be like Wen Ying!
Even with a tenth of Wen Ying’s talent, his mum wouldn’t have to work so hard, right?
After all, Wen Ying earned royalties writing books and turned “crayfish” from a stall into a chain.
Both were food stalls, but “crayfish” could become a chain, while Zhu Meiqun’s wonton stall couldn’t. It wasn’t about what was sold, but who was selling. Zhu Meiqun lacked Wen Ying’s ability, and so did Wen Kai—how he wished he had it!
Wen Kai’s dilemma stumped Wen Ying.
She only achieved this with a second life’s experience; in her past life, she was less capable than Wen Kai!
As Wen Ying racked her brains for words, after three rounds of drinks, a tipsy Old Wen began his speech, saving Wen Ying by bringing up Zhu Meiqun’s business!
Drunk and sincere, Wen Dongrong stood to toast Zhu Meiqun.
“Sister-in-law, you’ve had it tough. You’re a bold woman, I admire you!”
Zhu Meiqun felt uneasy.
Wen Dongrong had arranged her factory job, and quitting to vend felt like letting him down.
When Wen Hongyan quit, Wen Dongrong was furious. Zhu Meiqun only hoped he wouldn’t be angry with her—praise was unexpected!
With Wen Dongrong’s words, all eyes turned to Zhu Meiqun, who didn’t know where to put her hands.
“I, I just… I haven’t done much!”
Zhu Meiqun was flustered.
Wen Dongrong downed his drink, and Zhu Meiqun, forced to follow, nearly choked.
Drunk but earnest, Wen Dongrong lavished praise on Zhu Meiqun’s business, embarrassing her so much she wanted to hide under the table. With big shots like Deng Shangwei, a seafood tycoon, at the table, how was her little wonton stall worthy of such public praise?
Zhu Meiqun felt guilty under the flattery.
To outsiders, it sounded like she’d built a Fortune 500 company!
Wen Kai’s father grew uneasy too.
Only Wen Ying’s eyes glinted: Old Wen’s performance had a conspiratorial flavor!
Sure enough, Deng Shangwei, quick on the uptake, followed his brother-in-law’s lead, praising how he started with a small fish stall in Chengdu, building modest wealth over years, but Zhu Meiqun’s future would surely surpass his.
Wen Dongrong gave Deng Shangwei an approving look, then got to the point, “Sister-in-law, here’s the thing. Our family moved to the provincial capital, with loans for two houses and big expenses. I’ve been thinking about a small business to supplement income, but you know I have my job. So, I’m wondering if I could invest some money, and we partner up, maybe open a fruit shop or something. I hear those are profitable!”
