In her previous life, Wen Ying had not had time to complain to Wu Chunqin and Professor Shen before she was reborn.
Matters she had dodged before now had to be faced again after reliving her life. Chen Ru’s experience buying property in the Magic City reminded Wen Ying once more.
Wen Ying was glad once again that her rebirth timing was good. That wastrel Shen Huan… ah, Shen Huan was still a primary school pupil now. It would be several years before he went abroad after junior high, and even further before he developed a drug addiction.
A primary school pupil should be crushed under the weight of homework in his schoolbag.
Wen Ying suddenly smiled with ill intent.
“What are you smiling at?”
Chen Ru was puzzled. Wen Ying chuckled and asked, “Mum, did you see Auntie Wu’s son during your trip to the Magic City this time?”
“You mean Shen Huan? Of course I did. Your Auntie Wu brought him along and we all had a meal together!”
Shen Huan was clever and well-behaved. Upon mentioning him, Chen Ru praised Wu Chunqin and her husband sincerely for knowing how to raise a child.
Confidence came from substance. Compared to his peers, Shen Huan had learned much more. When led by Wu Chunqin to appear at any occasion, he was poised and unafraid. Even now, Chen Li recalled it with emotion, “That couple are both highly educated. The child learns by example. Unlike our two at home, who show their shortcomings when compared to Shen Huan.”
Chen Li had met Shen Huan too.
Before meeting him, Chen Li had thought that her two little devils had improved greatly in study enthusiasm and habits over the past year or two, shifting from frequent complaints from teachers to frequent praise. This change delighted her.
After meeting Shen Huan, Chen Li realised what “other people’s children” truly meant.
Even Chen Li herself had to admit that there was a vast gap in educational background between her and Deng Shangwei on one side, and Wu Chunqin and her husband on the other. On what basis could Deng Jie and Deng Hao surpass Shen Huan!
Deng Shangwei smiled and comforted his wife, “It is fine, it is fine. Deng Jie and Deng Hao started a bit low, but they have plenty of room to improve!”
Deng Shangwei was poor at studies, but he grasped the Ah Q spirit profoundly.
His optimism earned him a glare from his wife Chen Li. Chen Ru laughed in exasperation, “Know shame and strive harder. That does not mean you should be shameless.”
Only Wen Ying said sincerely, “Little Aunt, Uncle is quite right. The two cousins are still young. Who knows what they will be like in a dozen years? I think Deng Jie and Deng Hao may not lag behind Shen Huan at all!”
This was not Wen Ying blindly supporting her uncle Deng Shangwei.
Even if it was just comparing flaws, in her previous life, the two cousins had turned out as one a playboy and the other idle and irresponsible, neither harming the entire family.
Shen Huan was different. Drug addiction, secretly selling family property: he could torment Wu Chunqin and her husband to death.
Chen Ru turned to Wen Ying and asked, “By the way, why did you suddenly ask about Shen Huan?”
Wen Ying looked utterly serious, “I feel that Auntie Wu has taken such good care of our family. She wants your friendship to extend to Shen Huan and me. As the elder sister, I cannot wait for a primary school boy to take the initiative to fawn over me. I plan to proactively keep in touch with Shen Huan more.”
“How do you plan to keep in touch?”
Chen Ru was rather curious.
What common ground could a Year 12 student have with a primary school pupil?
Wen Ying said she could maintain correspondence with Shen Huan.
“Here is an idea. I will send him some test papers every month. Whenever he does them, he will think of me as his sister. Mum, do you think that works?”
Sending test papers to a primary school pupil every month?!
The room fell silent.
Wen Dongrong had just been rebuked by Chen Ru and had been quiet for a while. Now he could finally assert his presence again, “Are you trying to befriend Shen Huan, or make him flee in fright upon seeing you? Who sends test papers as a gift to a primary school pupil?”
“How not? I think Wen Ying’s idea is excellent. Sending toys or snacks is too common. Sending test papers is rare. Even if Shen Huan does not understand your good intentions now, your Auntie Wu certainly will!”
In truth, Chen Ru also felt sending test papers was a bit off, but anything her husband opposed, she supported unconditionally. She immediately affirmed Wen Ying’s proposal.
Wen Ying clapped her hands together, “Mum, since you approve, I will do it that way!”
Chen Li and Deng Shangwei exchanged glances.
The couple’s reactions were a bit slow.
Was today not the “Magic City Property Purchase Summary Conference”? How had it suddenly turned to discussing whether to send test papers to Wu Chunqin’s son?
What Chen Ru supported was what Chen Li had to back too. Chen Li’s support always showed in actions, “Little Ying, as the elder sister, you cannot show favouritism. When you send test papers to Shen Huan, do not forget our Deng Jie and Deng Hao!”
Wen Ying nodded with a beaming smile, “Little Aunt, rest assured. I will definitely prioritise those two.”
Drug addiction, playboy, idle and irresponsible?
These bad habits must be beaten out with test papers!
If a year of beating had no effect, then seven or eight years of continuous beating. Even scrap ore could be forged into fine steel.
Chen Ru could decide on buying property in the Magic City alone, but selecting test papers was a professional matter. Wen Ying had to consult Xie Qian.
Even Xie Qian, mockingly called the test paper spirit, fell silent at Wen Ying’s proposal.
“Leaving Shen Huan aside, just your two cousins. I recall Deng Jie is 11 this year, and Deng Hao is only 8…”
Was not starting test paper reinforcement training now too early?!
“Not early at all. Good study habits are best formed as early as possible. If we do not cultivate them now, shall we wait until they reach high school to panic? Peng Guoce is hardly a positive example!”
Wen Ying’s words did hold some reason.
Even the hamster had developed the habit of sending test papers as gifts to children. Xie Qian was quite gratified.
No one knew better than Xie Qian how difficult it was to reform a poor student!
“First ask what version of textbook Shen Huan uses.”
Xie Qian had never selected test papers for primary school pupils, but this was no difficulty for him. He could pop into a bookshop when free.
Wen Ying seemed to envision some wonderful future and smiled until her eyes curved. Xie Qian could not help but smile too.
Lately, he had dealt with those two scoundrels in the Magic City. The hamster’s family had bought property there too. Everything was developing positively. Only the matter with Jiashin Film Company, interrupted last time by He Zhen’s call, remained unspoken.
Xie Qian felt there was no time like the present. Today, he had to tell Wen Ying clearly.
“After school, fancy some fried skewers?”
Xie Qian invited her. Wen Ying’s eyes widened.
“…Xie Qian, are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
The fried skewer stall at the school gate was something Xie Qian always avoided. In the two years since transferring to the provincial key school, he had not touched a single skewer from there.
If not for his good looks, which gave him popularity at the provincial key school and nearby middle schools, and sitting at the stall drawing business for the owner, he would have been chased out long ago for occupying space without buying!
Wen Ying knew that every time they went to the fried skewer stall, Xie Qian was just going along with the group. This was his warmth, and she respected his eating habits too, never forcing him to eat skewers.
Today, Xie Qian had proactively offered to treat her to fried skewers!
Wen Ying pondered for a long while. Apart from her monthly exam progress to 92nd in the year, she could think of no other reason.
“No way, you are just treating me to fried skewers? I thought at least a five-pointed star reward. 92nd in the year: that is a breakthrough achievement.”
A breakthrough for this life, and the previous one too.
Wen Ying demanded a “☆” with a clear conscience.
Xie Qian asked if she wanted fried skewers or a “☆”. Only children made choices. Wen Ying wanted both.
Xie Qian casually tore off a sticky note and actually folded a “☆” for her.
“This is the third one.”
Wen Ying carefully placed this “☆” into her schoolbag, “I remember it all. Just two more and I can make a wish!”
For today’s treat, Xie Qian had not mentioned inviting Li Mengjiao. Wen Ying thus conveniently forgot about Li Mengjiao too.
The two sat facing each other in the fried skewer stall. Wen Ying’s first order of fried potatoes had just arrived when Xie Qian suddenly said, “I have something to tell you… no, more accurately, some things to tell you.”
