Grandma Wen was used to living with her eldest son.
Wen Dongrong and Chen Ru were both busy with work, and living with them would burden the couple.
Wen Changlin’s child was still young, and he was striving in the provincial capital as an insurance agent for his kid’s future. Grandma Wen didn’t want to hold him back.
She’d stay with her eldest son for her old age. In the countryside, the eldest son typically cared for parents, and since Grandma Wen had helped raise Wen Ying’s uncle’s children for years, she felt confident staying with him.
Back then, she helped with childcare; now, she could still cook simple meals.
Keeping an old lady like Grandma Wen idle wasn’t a blessing but a curse. She’d feel useless, unneeded.
So, she not only wanted to live with Zhu Meiqun and her husband but also help with work!
Thinking of her small contribution to grandson Wen Kai’s house, Grandma Wen was brimming with energy.
Chen Ru offered a spare apartment, but Grandma Wen refused.
Old folks weren’t used to elevator buildings.
Plus, her staying there would stop Wen Ying’s family from renting it out for income. The apartment was far from Zhu Meiqun’s fruit shop, making daily tasks like delivering meals too taxing!
“Keep the apartment for rent. Don’t worry about me. I’ll live with the eldest.”
For convenience, Zhu Meiqun rented a place in an old nearby complex. The conditions weren’t as good as Wen Ying’s family’s new place, but the rent was cheap, and it suited the shop.
Chen Ru didn’t insist, privately discussing with Wen Dongrong to rent out the other apartment and let Grandma Wen keep the rent.
“Tell Changlin we’ll each contribute 500 yuan monthly for Mum. Big brother’s family won’t need to chip in since Mum’s living with them and they’ll cover daily expenses. For future medical costs, we’ll split them three ways!”
The rent from a new elevator apartment was more than 500 yuan. Chen Ru was subtly subsidising her mother-in-law without pressuring Wen Changlin too much.
She also clarified how to handle Grandma Wen’s medical expenses, the real big cost for an elderly person with modest daily needs.
Wen Dongrong was stunned.
Why was his wife suddenly so reasonable?
“Is this for real?”
“It’s real now, but if you don’t believe me, it can turn fake fast!”
“I believe, I believe!”
Chen Ru had always been generous with the Wen family, so much so that Wen Dongrong took it for granted.
After Chen Ru’s big outburst over Wen Hongyan and her serious talk of divorce, Wen Dongrong was shaken.
Now, he didn’t dare secretly support the Wen family. Chen Ru’s sudden generosity left him overjoyed.
His wife was too good, leaving him flustered.
The family’s other apartment hadn’t been rented out. Initially, they wanted to air it out after renovations. When Zhu Meiqun came to Rongcheng for business, Chen Ru prepared to lend it to her, but Zhu Meiqun refused to take advantage.
Such self-respect earned Zhu Meiqun more of Chen Ru’s esteem.
With relatives like her, Chen Ru was willing to lend a hand.
At Zhu Meiqun’s current pace, in a few years, she could buy a house for Wen Kai in Rongcheng. Or if Wen Kai wanted to settle in the capital, a full purchase might be tough, but a down payment was doable!
Look at Deng Shangwei’s rise. The early years were hard, but once business smoothed out, money came fast.
Give Zhu Meiqun a few years, and her family’s life would reach a new level.
Chen Ru discussed this with Wen Ying first, saying the rent could help cover Wen Ying’s Shanghai apartment loans. Without it, the family couldn’t assist, and Wen Ying would handle the loans herself. Did she agree?
Chen Ru didn’t expect Wen Ying to repay the Shanghai loans immediately, assuming she had plenty of royalties saved. She didn’t know Wen Ying had invested all her money in Tianjiao shares!
But Wen Ying didn’t care about the rent.
Money gone could be earned again. If she could afford houses, she wasn’t worried about loans.
Grandma Wen doted on Wen Kai most but didn’t treat Wen Ying like nothing.
At an age needing care, a fixed monthly allowance gave the elderly security, whether they spent it or not. Wen Ying fully supported letting Grandma keep the rent.
After all, Wen Ying’s monthly contributions to Wen Dongrong were more than that. Earning plenty, she didn’t fuss over small sums. This was why she felt the Wen family was more harmonious this life—everyone’s prospects were better, focused on improving their lives rather than infighting. With more money, they didn’t nitpick!
One thing, though: spending on Grandma was fine, but her secretly aiding Wen Hongyan wasn’t.
“Don’t worry, your grandma’s no fool. After being tricked twice, she’s firm. If she still gave money to your aunt, Shu Lu wouldn’t have gone to your aunt’s fruit shop.”
“So, is Shu Lu’s matter settled?”
Two days had passed, and Wen Ying was curious about the aftermath.
Chen Ru snorted. “Unless Shu Lu and your aunt figure things out themselves, it won’t be fully resolved. They’ll cause trouble later, good or bad. People with bad intentions will always find a chance to stir things up!”
That was the truth.
Thinking of Shu Lu’s parting threat as the police took her, Wen Ying sighed.
Chen Ru said Wen Ying was acting old for her age and shooed her to do homework. “This weekend, don’t forget to invite Song Shao. We owe him a meal!”
“Got it!”
Wen Ying invited Song Shao, who didn’t refuse, replying on Friday afternoon, asking if he could bring someone.
Wen Ying hesitated. “It’s not Editor Song, is it?”
“It is. Don’t worry, he won’t talk nonsense in front of your parents. It’s for something else. If it’s inconvenient, never mind.”
Wen Ying wasn’t worried about Song Foxiang bragging to her parents. Manager Chen might not retort, but Wen Dongrong wouldn’t let it slide, likely turning the tables and outboasting him. Middle-aged men’s bragging knew no bounds, and Wen Dongrong was a master!
“Fine, bring him.”
True friends were like that: a bit distant after long silence, but once reconnected, they grew close fast. In just two or three days, Song Shao stormed back into Wen Ying’s circle, surprising Xie Qian, who was helping a primary schooler buy books with her.
“You’re inviting Song Shao to dinner?”
Wen Ying nodded. “Yep, not just me, my parents too.”
Xie Qian: …
He’d tutored her for so long and never got such treatment!
Wen Ying briefly explained why they were treating Song Shao. Xie Qian didn’t feel better.
It had been three days, and she hadn’t mentioned it!
So, the hamster was mad, right?!
