Chapter 157 A Distinctive Label

I spent another busy and fulfilling week at school.

As promised, Chen Fangli brought Chu De'an back to the Chen family home to see her over the weekend.

Before June 20th, Shen Xuewei sent the latest manuscript to Yun Li and asked again when the payment would be made.

Once I confirmed that the payment would be transferred to her in early July, I logged off QQ with peace of mind, shut down my computer, and left the classroom.

For the next ten days or so, she had to focus all her energy on studying.

Over the next few days, she began studying frantically, to the point that she would occasionally slip out a word or two when talking to Ye Meiling.

Ye Meiling was impressed by her hard work and tried to avoid chatting with her during breaks, for fear of disturbing her.

After two days of exams on June 30th and July 1st, a group of students rushed out of the exam hall to pack their things and leave their dormitories.

When Shen Xuewei came out of the examination room, she was stopped by Lu Yonggui, who had been waiting for her.

He stared at Shen Xuewei with a hostile expression and sneered:

"Shen Xuewei, your older brother will graduate from junior high next semester. Let's see who will protect you at school after that!"

"Just because I can't deal with you now doesn't mean I can't in the future. Just you wait, next semester I'll make you suffer. I always keep my word, so you'll have a good laugh this summer. For the two semesters of junior high, I'll make sure you suffer every week when you go home!"

Looking at Lu Yonggui, who was making threats, Shen Xuewei remained expressionless.

This kid still doesn't know how dangerous society is. Does he really think he can threaten her like this?

Zheng Feng has graduated, but she still has an even more dangerous younger uncle standing there.

Her uncle has already been released from prison. Given his protective nature, she could easily call him and cry, and he would be at the school in no time.

Lu Yonggui, a petty thug who only acts tough in school, is no match for Chen Fangqiu, a seasoned thug who has been in the underworld for years.

They won't even know how they died.

Anyway, she'll just wait and see. If Lu Yonggui really doesn't treat her well, she'll show him what true ruthlessness is.

She's almost twelve years old now, and Grandpa Chen and the others don't come to pick her up or drop her off as often anymore.

Since it was summer vacation and she didn't have much stuff, she packed her things in two tote bags and left, so her family didn't come to pick her up.

She packed her things and went to Wu Yuhong's dormitory to wait for her.

After Wu Yuhong finished packing, the two of them took a car home together.

She made a promise with Chen Fanglan that she would come to pick her up the day after she received her report card.

Shen Xuewei worked on the farm with several elderly people in her family for a week, and finally the day arrived when she could go back to school to pick up her report card.

After receiving her report card and seeing that she ranked first in her class and first in the grade, Shen Xuewei breathed a sigh of relief.

Okay, as long as I'm still in first place, I don't have to worry about getting scolded when I get back.

Sure enough, after taking the report card home, Grandpa Chen squatted by the door, looked at it carefully, and then a gratified smile appeared on his face.

That evening, Chen Fanglan, who hadn't been home for more than two months, finally returned home.

When Grandma Xi saw her return, she happily went to greet her.

"Alan's back! Why didn't you tell Mom you were back on the phone? Mom would have cooked something nice. I just finished cooking and you came back. I should have bought some cured meat today..."

Chen Fanglan carried only a small bag, exchanged a glance with Shen Xuewei beside her, and nodded slightly.

After exchanging glances, she focused all her attention on dealing with Grandma Xi.

"Mom, I'm not an outsider, why are you preparing all this? As long as there's something to eat, that's fine. I came back to see you and Dad since I finally got a holiday..."

As the five of them were eating, Grandma Xi saw Chen Fanglan and brought up the old story again.

“Alan, you’re thirty already. You can’t live alone forever. Yongqiang, what do you think? He’s been pursuing you for so long, and he doesn’t mind that you can’t have children…”

Upon hearing this name, Chen Fanglan's face, which had initially held a slight smile, reflexively turned to one of disgust.

She had told Chu Yongqiang several times that she didn't like him and that he shouldn't waste his time.

But Chu Yongqiang seemed to be under a spell, relentlessly pursuing her and even fawning over her parents, winning them over completely.

She works in the county, and it only takes her about two hours to get back by car.

But he would rather call home every month than come back, and that's why.

She didn't think she was lacking in anything.

She is beautiful, fashionable, articulate, and capable of earning money; she can make a living on her own.

But once she returned home, her advanced age and inability to have children became her Achilles' heel.

This made her mother feel that as long as someone was willing to take her, it was a blessing for her.

She never took Chu Yongqiang seriously.

Because she felt that Chu Yongqiang was not good enough for her.

So far, whether from whose mouth she's heard it or from her own understanding, Chu Yongqiang has one distinct label.

That is, to be honest.

In Chen Fanglan's mind, honesty equals uselessness, boringness, and blandness, like plain water.

Only someone who has no redeeming qualities would consider honesty as their virtue.

In Chen Fanglan's eyes, Chu Yongqiang was just that kind of person.

She only has this one advantage, but in her opinion, she has quite a few disadvantages.

Plain-looking, shameless, and unclean...

She sighed deeply, unable to resist refuting her grandmother's words, "Mom, I think I'm fine as I am now. Don't mention him to me. I've already told you, I don't like him, and don't let him come to our house again..."

Hearing her say that, Grandma Xi was about to speak up for Chu Yongqiang again, "What nonsense are you talking about? I think he's a fine person..."

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing, Shen Xuewei quickly jumped in to stop them.

"Grandma, Auntie rarely comes home, let's have a good meal first. I got first place in my final exams again this semester, why aren't you happy for me, instead you're arguing again..."

Her aunt came back this time specifically for her; she had to help her grandmother with this attack.

She feigned displeasure, drawing Grandma Xi's attention away. "Happy? Of course I'm happy. Oh, I won't say anything more, let's eat first..."

With Shen Xuewei's help, the family finally finished dinner.

Chen Fanglan and Shen Xuewei cleaned up the dishes together and took them to the kitchen to wash.

Chen Fanglan looked around furtively and found that neither her maternal grandfather nor maternal grandmother were in the living room. They probably went back to their rooms. Only her great-grandmother Chen was lying on a recliner, smoking.

She nudged Shen Xuewei's shoulder and asked in a low voice, "Weiwei, have you prepared everything?"

Shen Xuewei lowered her voice and replied, "Auntie, I'm all packed. I can just put on my backpack and go."

Chen Fanglan then pushed her out of the kitchen, saying, "While your grandparents are in the room, hurry up and grab your things, then wait for me by the roadside."

Shen Xuewei nodded.

I tiptoed past the living room and quickly darted up to the second floor.

I slung my backpack, which contained all my things, over my shoulder, went down to the second floor, and headed towards the main entrance.

Da Huang stood guard at the door, looking at Shen Xuewei, who seemed to be doing something wrong, with suspicion, and opened his mouth as if to call out.

Afraid of disturbing her grandparents, Shen Xuewei quickly pinched its mouth and shushed it.