This night, Old Wen laid out a bed on the living room balcony.
Without opening the window it was too stuffy, opening the window was too cold.
Also, because Old Wen kept tossing and turning while lying down, the bedding didn’t retain much warmth, he tossed and turned for most of the night before falling asleep.
As for why not turn on the air conditioner, not sleep on the sofa?
People in Rongcheng generally endure the winter cold, air conditioner can be off if possible, why waste electricity turning on air conditioner for cold the body can endure!
The sofa wasn’t something the current Wen Dongrong could sleep on, although he could secretly sleep, but if Chen Ru came out in the middle of the night and saw, then he would have no sympathy points at all.
With this little scheme, Wen Dongrong only fell asleep in the latter half of the night.
The dignity of the family head at work, Old Wen hoped he could leave the balcony after his wife woke up but before his daughter came out of the room… sleeping on the balcony this kind of thing, he only wanted Chen Ru to see, unwilling to be mocked by black-hearted cotton.
Who knew this sleep he overslept, he was shaken awake, found Wen Ying squatting beside looking at him, Wen Dongrong jumped in fright, wrapped in bedding sat up. “What are you doing?”
Wen Ying’s eyes showed sympathy. “It’s eight o’clock, why are you still sleeping here.”
Wen Dongrong lose the man not lose the battle. “What do you know, occasionally sleeping on the floor is good for the lumbar spine, where’s your mum?”
“I don’t know either, at seven thirty I heard noise from the room door, got up to see she was already gone. Today isn’t Saturday, what is she doing out so early?”
Work overtime at unit?
Wen Ying worried Manager Chen wanted to avoid conversation.
This wasn’t okay!
Wen Ying feared quarrels, feared cold wars even more, cold war atmosphere more oppressive than quarrels!
Little Wen feared, Old Wen had no reason not to fear.
Wrapped in quilt Old Wen waved to shoo. “Move aside, I’ll get up and wash first.”
Packed up the bedding laid on the balcony, changed out of pyjamas, Old Wen returned to a neat and proper image.
First called Chen Ru but didn’t get through, Wen Dongrong not too sure. “Did she go to your little aunt’s house?”
Chen family sisters lived in same neighbourhood, Chen Ru unhappy in heart, finding own little sister Chen Li to vent very possible, Wen Dongrong didn’t continue calling, tidied clothes and went to find brother-in-law Deng Shangwei.
Black-hearted cotton investing in Tianjiao, Deng Shangwei definitely knew too.
Wen Dongrong didn’t drag Deng Shangwei down already very brother-in-law义, Deng Shangwei at least help him think of ways!
Old Wen left, Wen Ying touched her face, according to original plan today go to Xie Qian’s house to study, now what?
Hesitated a few seconds, Wen Ying decided still go study first.
Perhaps, last night’s that letter did touch Manager Chen, should leave Manager Chen some space, let Manager Chen calm emotions.
Wen Ying went to Xie Qian’s house as usual.
Li Mengjiao didn’t know Wen Ying family storm, heartless let “Wen Ten Million” fulfil the promise of treating three meals of fried skewers, Wen Ying amused by this fool. “Treat treat treat, three meals of fried skewers what is that.”
Xie Qian didn’t stop Li study slag from messing.
Wen Ying still in mood to respond to Li study slag request, seems Wen family storm not as fierce as imagined.
Xie Qian couldn’t help curious about that letter Wen Ying wrote.
—What exactly did hamster write, actually could touch strong Chen Auntie?
…
Wen Ying went to Xie Qian’s house to do homework, neatly dressed Wen Dongrong arrived at Deng Shangwei’s house, Chen Ru not there, but Deng Shangwei was about to go out, seeing Wen Dongrong laughed. “Brother-in-law, I was just about to call you, this time depart about right!”
Wen Dongrong slapped his head.
Turned out today was the day the two agreed to go countryside visit poor students, last night family “storm” made Wen Dongrong forget the agreement.
“Go go go, talk on the way.”
Wen Dongrong urged Deng Shangwei out. “You don’t know, that writer rich list in newspaper, harmed me and Wen Ying miserably!”
Wen Dongrong said Chen Ru already knew Wen Ying spent ten million investing in Tianjiao, Deng Shangwei couldn’t help shrink neck. “Then now what?”
“What else, just deal with it.”
The two drove all the way to countryside.
Straight line distance not far, only over a hundred kilometres, but latter half had a short section bad road condition, nearly noon the two arrived at today’s poor student home to visit.
This student started school late, 14 years old only in first year junior high.
Father died early from illness, mother disabled almost no labour ability, family relatives all disliked this family as burden unwilling to help, if not Wen Dongrong sponsoring, this girl last year would have dropped out.
Girl’s grades good, character somewhat introverted, very cherished hard-won study opportunity, school teachers all praised her diligent.
Wen Dongrong helped pay tuition, monthly extra 200 yuan living allowance, this money covered all girl’s expenses at school.
Girl very sensible, at school ate cheapest meals, once wrote letter to Wen Dongrong, said herself couldn’t spend 200 yuan a month, 100 yuan enough.
These words heard made heart ache.
A month 100 yuan living allowance how to live?
Township junior high for promotion rate generally arrange students board, monthly one home leave, meaning this girl monthly at school eat live 28 days, average daily living allowance less than 4 yuan.
4 yuan enough for what, before not even enough Wen Dongrong half pack cigarettes.
Of course, girl’s mother also tried to provide living allowance for daughter, but for a family almost dropped out, disabled mother’s provided living allowance negligible.
Wen Dongrong sponsored several students, this first one wrote letter saying monthly 200 yuan couldn’t spend all, he today specially with Deng Shangwei came girl’s home visit.
Indeed very poor.
This already 2006 year end, Wen Dongrong looking at female student home low mud brick house, trance thought this 1996 rural!
Seeing Wen Dongrong and Deng Shangwei come, home woman busied to kill chicken, quickly stopped by Wen Dongrong.
This noon, Wen Dongrong and Deng Shangwei stayed at this home for meal, food not great, girl and mother very satisfied.
Wen Dongrong asked her why say monthly 200 yuan living allowance too much, girl smiled very shy. “I don’t want Uncle Wen spend more money.”
Don’t want benefactor uncle spend more money, also afraid benefactor uncle dislike her spend too much would give up sponsoring, she could study really too hard!
Wen Dongrong of course didn’t reduce living allowance, he let girl at school not deliberately go hungry. “Not full can’t study well, surplus money you keep to buy some stationery.”
Disabled woman thanked the two thousand times, made Deng Shangwei uncomfortable, after meal hinted brother-in-law quick leave.
Woman inconvenient legs, girl sent the two out, walking on village path, Wen Dongrong suddenly asked girl. “Your home conditions bad, at school anyone bully you?”
Girl lowered head no speak, hesitated long time, out of trust for “Uncle Wen” still told truth. “Yes, some laugh my worn clothes, also throw my stationery. After I told teacher, they said I’m tattle tale bootlicker, say just say, anyway they dare not throw my stationery again.”
Scold just scold.
Because no dad, mum disabled, girl from young no less bullied.
Scold her okay, throw her stationery no.
Scolded won’t lose flesh, new stationery need her mum pay, this really lose flesh!
No need ask, Wen Dongrong knew girl wouldn’t tell these to disabled mother, because said useless, disabled mother no ability stand up for daughter, girl didn’t want mother humiliated together, didn’t want mother sad, so bore these silently alone.
Turned out bullied at school not only Wen Ying one.
Wen Dongrong heart yet didn’t feel better.
This girl home not say, knew said no one stand up for her.
Wen Ying why not say?
—Wen Dongrong not dead, Chen Ru not disabled either!
