The girl escorted Wen Dongrong and Deng Shangwei to the village entrance. Before getting into the car, Wen Dongrong suddenly turned his head and said, “Study hard. All the things you’re experiencing now, whether poverty or disdain, insults, only when you study and achieve success will everything fundamentally change!”
The girl was stunned for a moment, then nodded heavily. “I’ll listen to Uncle Wen.”
Wen Dongrong didn’t waste words and waved goodbye to the girl.
Along the way, Deng Shangwei kept sneaking glances at Wen Dongrong from time to time. Wen Dongrong frowned. “Why do you keep looking at me?”
Deng Shangwei gave an awkward smile. “Brother-in-law, you seem particularly emotional today.”
Deng Shangwei was actually thinking of Wen Dongrong because of this girl.
Don’t look at Wen Dongrong’s decent job now. In the past, the Wen family was very poor. Grandma Wen was widowed very young too. It was extremely difficult for a rural woman to raise four children.
A girl from a poor family would be bullied at school. Could Wen Dongrong have been bullied when he was studying?
Of course, Deng Shangwei knew his brother-in-law was proud, so he only dared to guess secretly in his heart and didn’t dare to ask.
Wen Dongrong saw through Deng Shangwei’s little thoughts at a glance, his face serious as he clarified, “When we were studying, the atmosphere was simple. Now there’s talk of sponsoring poor students. Go back 30 years, which student had money in the family was rare. Everyone was equally poor, so there was no looking down on anyone. I think today’s students have good family conditions, parents let them eat too full, only then they have idle minds to do these things!”
Deng Shangwei didn’t know why Wen Dongrong was so indignant, but the words made sense, so he couldn’t help nodding. “I’m not afraid of Deng Jie and Deng Hao being bullied. I worry about them bullying others. Before, I did worry about little Ying. She was indeed too obedient! Girls being so obedient isn’t good, better to be a bit feisty and practical. She’s very good now.”
Deng Shangwei chuckled, unaware that his casual words had stabbed Old Wen hard again.
Wen Dongrong felt stifled in his heart.
Advising the sponsored poor student to be self-reliant was because the girl had no family support and could only rely on herself. Wen Dongrong could sponsor her studies, but couldn’t care about her study and life status all the time.
The girl they visited today was like the former Wen Dongrong.
Wen Dongrong relied on studying to jump out of the farm gate. What he didn’t have before, he has now. The girl could take this path too!
Wen Dongrong felt stifled because he had worked so hard, yet his own daughter’s treatment was the same as the poor student’s. What was the point of his struggle?
The more he thought, the angrier he got. Wen Dongrong’s mindset exploded, suddenly telling Deng Shangwei who was driving to change route.
“Where to?”
“Back to the county, to Wen Ying’s former junior high. You know the way?”
“I know, but…”
But why?
Deng Shangwei knew a bit about Old Wen’s habit of showing off, suspecting Old Wen wanted to go back to hometown to flaunt the “writer rich list” thing.
Deng Shangwei wanted to speak but stopped. “Brother-in-law, as the saying goes, don’t show wealth. Newspapers every day say little Ying earned tens of millions writing novels. I’m afraid if you go back hometown now, someone will ask you to borrow money!”
“Not about that, I’m going to see Wen Ying’s junior high class teacher. You focus on driving first.”
Wen Dongrong hadn’t been to Teacher Kang’s home, didn’t have Teacher Kang’s contact either. This couldn’t stop Wen Dongrong’s determination to see Teacher Kang. Nose below a mouth, if don’t know just go to school and ask.
Fortunately Teacher Kang lived in the school’s teacher building. Wen Dongrong arrived at school, asked and knew.
Wen Dongrong let Deng Shangwei wait downstairs, tidied his clothes and went up, knocked on Teacher Kang’s door, after self-introduction explained purpose, Teacher Kang’s face strange.
“Teacher Kang don’t overthink, I have formal job, am decent person. I just want to know about Wen Ying’s social circle in junior high, absolutely won’t do anything to those kids.”
“You misunderstood.”
Teacher Kang couldn’t help laughing. “Your wife came this morning already.”
Chen Ru called last night to make appointment, this morning arrived on time, Teacher Kang received Chen Ru at home.
Students coming back to school to visit teachers after graduation many, parents specially coming back to visit teachers after student graduation, Teacher Kang working so many years hadn’t encountered several times.
Like this couple coming separately in one day, one advance appointment one sudden idea… Teacher Kang first time encountered.
Speaking of funny, before at parent meetings Teacher Kang reminded Chen Ru, Chen Ru seemed not understand, this reaction so slow, now how suddenly understood?
Wen Dongrong stunned.
Chen Ru out early in the morning, came to see Teacher Kang?
From Teacher Kang’s meaning, Chen Ru already did what he wanted to do, asked about Wen Ying’s those “friends” in junior high.
Wen Dongrong felt if he acted fast enough, could catch up to wife’s footsteps, now a bit urgent to leave, unexpectedly Teacher Kang suddenly spoke to stop him. “Wen Ying’s dad, junior high three years six semesters, I remember you busy work didn’t come to school for parent meeting once. Some words I said to your wife this morning, I think if you’re not in hurry, why not listen too?”
Teacher Kang saying, stepped aside to make way, seemed to invite Wen Dongrong in for detailed talk.
Parent meetings missed in junior high three years, Teacher Kang planned to make up for Wen Dongrong today!
To be honest, now caring if daughter bullied in junior high three years not much meaning, whether Wen Dongrong or Chen Ru, doing this indeed can reduce their guilt, but if only to reduce guilt, Teacher Kang thought no need.
Past happened things are faits accomplis, nothing can change.
More important is now, is future.
Wen Ying not yet 18, Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong still need to be Wen Ying’s parents many years, how to understand own child, how to communicate effectively with child, how to be parents truly needed by child, this couple still have to learn!
Teacher Kang didn’t mind being this bad guy.
Before Wen Ying was Teacher Kang’s favourite good student, now Wen Ying is excellent student making Teacher Kang proud, as for future Wen Ying… teachers hope own students go further climb higher very normal, in Wen Ying’s upward process, Teacher Kang willing to help with own effort!
Wen Dongrong hesitated a moment, still followed Teacher Kang in.
In this simply decorated teacher dorm, Teacher Kang talked with Chen Ru morning, afternoon had to lecture Wen Dongrong again.
Lecture what?
Restore Wen Ying’s junior high life to the couple, talk about Wen Ying in Teacher Kang’s eyes.
Introverted and sensitive little girl, had too many thoughts didn’t know who to tell, writing became only outlet.
Others can see Wen Ying now enjoying flowers praise, relish so-called “writer rich list”, discuss those tens of millions royalties income, Teacher Kang yet can see under this glamour, sensitive little girl seemed still original self.
Before writing compositions, now writing novels, essentially no difference.
Before chubby, now youthful and beautiful.
Before introverted, now confident and generous.
Wen Ying seemed to have a lot, many people vying to be friends with her, no one exclude bully her again, her friendship will bloom, love will come, family… still missing something!
So Teacher Kang like criticising Chen Ru, criticised Wen Dongrong hard again.
Big boss like Wang Jun, before at parent meetings no less scolded by teachers, Teacher Kang now scold Wen Dongrong no pressure.
Bank manager, agency cadre, these just Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong’s social job titles, in family, their identity is “parents”, still not performing well kind of parents, Teacher Kang want scold just scold!
