Song Shao was the kind of person who always acted before speaking, making him an easy friend to have.
Even if the troublemaker today wasn’t Shu Lu but a stranger, and it took Song Shao some time to uphold justice, he would have stepped in without hesitation!
Zhu Meiqun was overjoyed. “So you’re Xiao Ying’s classmate! Quick, quick, Xiao Ying, convince him. He has to take these fruits!”
Zhu Meiqun enthusiastically thrust the fruits at him. Song Shao could handle Shu Lu but couldn’t fend off Zhu Meiqun’s zeal. Middle-aged aunties were a force of nature, leaving Song Shao standing there, foolishly holding a bag of fruit in each hand.
He shot Wen Ying a pleading look, but she only smiled. “Monitor, this is my aunt’s small token of gratitude. If you don’t take it, she won’t sleep tonight.”
Song Shao was about to speak when a man hurried over.
“What’s the situation? Where’s Shu Lu?”
This travel-worn man was Wen Ying’s uncle.
Wen Ying’s hometown wasn’t far from Rongcheng, but her uncle’s family didn’t own a car. After getting the call, he took leave, went to the station to buy a ticket, took a bus, and transferred to another, arriving last after Shu Lu had already been taken by the police.
“Waiting for you? By the time you got here, the matter was long settled!”
Zhu Meiqun couldn’t help but grumble, leaving Uncle Wen too ashamed to lift his head.
With Song Shao present, Zhu Meiqun was already restraining herself.
Wen Ying understood Zhu Meiqun’s anger.
Forget the lost business and money today. Shu Lu, a thick-skinned relative of the Wen family, had nearly morally blackmailed Zhu Meiqun, a lone woman. It was no wonder she was upset.
Uncle Wen felt deeply guilty. An honest man unskilled at sweet talk, he was far less adept at soothing his wife than Wen Dongrong. His face flushed as he finally came up with a way to make amends.
“I’ll quit my job and help you run the shop. If anyone causes trouble again, I’ll drive them off with a stick…”
“Pah, pah, pah, don’t jinx it!”
Whether to quit and run the fruit business together was a decision the couple had never settled on.
Today’s incident pushed Uncle Wen to decide. He didn’t want Zhu Meiqun facing such situations alone again.
Wen Dongrong had opposed Wen Hongyan quitting her job, but he didn’t object to his brother.
The couple was different from Wen Hongyan. Whether working steadily for a salary or running a business, their goal was a better life. Zhu Meiqun had quit first to start the fruit shop, earning more monthly than their combined salaries. For stability, Uncle Wen had kept his job.
A woman running a fruit shop, even with hired help, meant Zhu Meiqun had to handle many tasks herself. It was exhausting.
Living apart wasn’t sustainable either. If Uncle Wen quit to join Zhu Meiqun in Rongcheng, she’d have someone to discuss business with. Going it alone felt lonely, but together, they could rely on each other emotionally and practically.
Zhu Meiqun had hesitated before, but today’s events left her shaken.
Shu Lu was driven off, but what if Wen Hongyan came tomorrow to make a scene?
Furious earlier at her husband’s absence in a critical moment, Zhu Meiqun now wavered as he offered to quit and help. The fruit shop was doing well now, but if business soured, finding new jobs at their age would be tough.
Uncle Wen worked at a winery.
Wen Ying’s hometown was a renowned liquor base in the province, with many locals getting rich from the trade. The winery where Uncle Wen worked had shown signs of struggle recently, but years ago, it was a top employer, even building houses sold cheaply to staff.
Without Wen Dongrong’s help, Uncle Wen wouldn’t have landed that job!
“Maybe you should think it over…”
Zhu Meiqun could decide for herself, but deciding for her husband made her nervous, fearing a wrong choice.
Wen Ying, chatting with Song Shao while eavesdropping, fully supported her uncle quitting.
She knew the winery would soon be acquired.
In the original timeline, around next year’s college entrance exams, her uncle and aunt visited to discuss this. Uncle Wen was optimistic, saying the struggling winery’s acquisition by a big company was a new opportunity.
Wen Ying couldn’t recall what her father said, probably some official-sounding optimism about a bright future.
Sadly, after the acquisition, the winery didn’t soar as Uncle Wen hoped but lost its brand edge, becoming a mere supplier of raw liquor.
In her previous life, her uncle and aunt never quit to start a business, working steadily until retirement.
Before Wen Ying’s rebirth, the winery hadn’t gone bankrupt, limping along half-dead.
Her uncle’s pension was modest. To support cousin Wen Kai settling in the capital, Uncle Wen took a security job after retirement, while Zhu Meiqun worked as a nanny.
Following the original path, their steady retirement wasn’t easy. Why not try a new track?
“Auntie works so hard. With Uncle helping, she won’t have to handle deliveries alone.”
Wen Ying chimed in.
Chen Ru glared at her lightly. “Let the adults talk. Don’t interrupt.”
Whether to quit was for the couple to decide. Chen Ru wouldn’t interfere and forbade Wen Ying and Wen Dongrong from meddling.
Chen Ru cut Wen Ying off, warning Wen Dongrong with a look to stay quiet, then turned to Song Shao warmly, asking if he’d eaten dinner, clearly intending to invite him.
Song Shao said he’d eaten and was out for a walk, shaking the fruit bags. “Auntie, I’ve already got my thank-you gift. This much fruit will last me ages.”
Seeing the Wen family had matters to discuss, Song Shao took his leave.
Chen Ru nodded. “I won’t keep you then. You’re at Rongcheng No. 9 High School, right? It’s a great school. With your grades, you’ll surely get into a top university. You and Wen Ying were classmates before, so don’t lose touch. When you’re free, let Wen Ying know, and I’ll treat you to dinner!”
Chen Ru’s judgment of students was straightforward: good grades meant a good student.
She was wary of slackers but eager to befriend top students, hoping Wen Ying’s circle was full of them.
Xie Qian’s presence worried Chen Ru, fearing Wen Ying might fall into puppy love. Song Shao, however, gave a different vibe, not because he was unattractive but due to his gentle, forceful sense of justice. Seeing him didn’t bring “puppy love” to mind!
Chen Ru sent Wen Ying to see Song Shao off, trusting him and also using the chance to keep Wen Ying from meddling in her uncle’s job decision.
Wen Ying offered to carry one of Song Shao’s fruit bags, and he didn’t refuse.
As they walked along the street, chatting, Wen Ying learned why Song Shao was at the fruit shop.
His mother was a doctor at the provincial hospital, and he lived nearby!
“Monitor, your parents are both in Rongcheng. Why did you go to the county for junior high?”
Usually, parents from the county fought to send kids to the city, not the other way around.
Song Shao smiled. “My mum was studying abroad then, and my dad was too busy, so they sent me to live with my aunt for school.”
That explained it.
As they reached Song Shao’s apartment complex, Song Foxiang got out of his car and spotted his nephew, assuming Song Shao was there to greet him. Then he saw Wen Ying.
Wen Ying, talking to Song Shao with her face turned, caught Song Foxiang’s eye, nearly making them pop out.
Wen Ying and his nephew?!
“What are you doing here?”
“Editor Song, hello.”
Wen Ying greeted him with a smile. Song Foxiang cleared his throat, tossing his long hair. “Perfect timing. I’ve got good news to share… Song Chan got into Yale University.”
