Chapter 223 People Separated into Two Worlds

She stood at the door with her schoolbag on her back, her gaze falling on the nearby Wu family's house, when she suddenly remembered something.

"By the way, did Yuhong get into No. 3 Middle School? She has so much stuff to bring to school, why don't we ask her to ride with Second Uncle to school?"

Grandma Xi sighed, "She's not going to school anymore. She'll stay home and help with farming and other chores. In a couple of years, she'll be married into the family and they'll live a good life."

Shen Xuewei's body suddenly stiffened. "Not studying anymore?"

The day before the high school entrance exam, the two were still dreaming about the future. How could they suddenly decide not to continue their studies?

She ran towards the Wu family's house, saying, "I'm going to ask Yu Hong."

Grandma Xi called to her from behind, "Hey, what are you doing going to see her? Her parents won't let her study, how can you still afford to send her to school?"

Shen Xuewei ignored him and ran quickly to the Wu family's house.

The door to the Wu family's house was ajar.

Shen Xuewei looked at the corner of her clothes peeking out from behind the door, and she knew that Wu Yuhong was hiding behind the door.

She took a deep breath. "Yu Hong, I know you're at home. Open the door."

There was no sound from inside the house, so Shen Xuewei remained standing guard at the door.

After more than ten minutes, the crack in the door slowly widened, and Shen Xuewei quickly squeezed in.

"Why aren't you going to high school? Didn't we agree before that we'd go to high school together in the county, then go to university, and then do what you want to do? You clearly got accepted, why aren't you going?"

Shen Xuewei was also anxious. Standing in front of Wu Yuhong, she couldn't help but ask a series of questions.

Wu Yuhong turned her head away. "It's nothing, I just don't want to go."

Shen Xuewei couldn't see the expression on her face, so she reached out and turned her head back.

"Don't lie to me, you said you were going before the high school entrance exam."

She stared at Wu Yuhong, and after seeing a hint of tears in Wu Yuhong's eyes, she suddenly realized something.

Her initially excited tone subsided, and she said calmly:

"Is it because your parents don't want you to go to high school?"

Wu Yuhong's lips trembled, but she remained silent.

Shen Xuewei, however, had already guessed the reason from her expression.

"Is it because of money, or some other reason, that your parents don't want you to go to school?"

“If it’s money, that’s fine. Yu Hong, I have money, I… I can lend it to you privately, and you can pay me back when you have a job and money.”

Wu Yuhong said in a hoarse voice, "Don't ask anymore. Anyway, I'm not going to study anymore. That's my business and has nothing to do with you."

She pushed Shen Xuewei out the door, slammed the door shut, and refused to open it no matter how much Shen Xuewei pounded on it.

Grandma Xi rushed over and pulled Shen Xuewei away, who was still frantically banging on the door.

"Weiwei, it's Yuhong's parents who won't let her go to school. There's no use in you talking to Yuhong. This is someone else's business, so don't interfere."

"Your second uncle is urging you. Don't you like sleeping on the top bunk? If you go too late, you won't be able to get the bed you want."

Shen Xuewei was pulled along by her, but her head was still looking back.

That door remained closed for a long time, separating the two into two different worlds.

She suddenly grabbed her grandmother's hand and pleaded, "Grandma, Yuhong's grades are very good. Could you please persuade Yuhong's parents to let her go to school?"

Grandma Xi stopped, looking at Shen Xuewei, whose emotions were on full display, half surprised and half sighing.

“Weiwei, Grandma knows you mean well. But this is someone else's business, and we shouldn't interfere. Besides, how do you know Grandma didn't try to persuade them?”

“Yu Hong’s parents are very stubborn; once they say something, it’s no use trying to persuade them.”

Shen Xuewei still didn't want to give up, "Grandma, do you know which plot of land they're on today? I'll go find them myself and tell them..."

Her relationship with Wu Yuhong in her previous life was just so-so. They would talk to each other in the village, but they didn't have much contact at school. They were familiar with each other but not close.

But this time was different. She skipped a grade and went to school in the same grade as Wu Yuhong, which gave her more opportunities to interact.

Wu Yuhong is reserved and quiet, but she takes care of her during their time together.

She would help Shen Xuewei carry water, save a seat for Shen Xuewei, and go to and from school with her.

Shen Xuewei's memories of the past few years are filled with the image of Wu Yuhong.

She was her best friend over the past few years.

From any perspective, Shen Xuewei didn't want her to stagnate here. She could go to even farther places and have a brighter future ahead of her.

"Weiwei!"

This was the first time Grandma Xi had spoken to Shen Xuewei in such a serious tone, revealing a side of herself she had never shown before.

Shen Xuewei seemed both frightened and stunned.

After stopping Shen Xuewei, Grandma Xi softened her voice.

“Weiwei, this is Yuhong’s family’s business. Didn’t your grandma try to persuade them? If they need money, their grandparents can lend it to them from the neighborhood, but what they need is more than just money.”

“Yu Hong’s father got married in his thirties and had Yu Fen and Yu Hong. Yu Fen is already married and living elsewhere. Now the couple only has Yu Hong and doesn’t want her to go too far away. Do you understand?”

Shen Xuewei's eyelashes trembled.

So, is this the way to keep your daughter by your side forever?

Seeing Shen Xuewei's resentment, Grandma Xi pulled her along as they continued walking home.

"Grandma knows you and Yuhong are close, but these are things they've already decided on, and no outsider can change them. In the end, it'll only make things awkward when the two families meet... Listen to Grandma, just leave this matter alone..."

Chen Fangyang was already in the driver's seat when Grandma Xi opened the car door and shoved Shen Xuewei inside.

She urged Grandpa Chen to get in the car quickly, and only breathed a sigh of relief after watching the car drive away from Xiaoli Village.

Looking in the direction of the Wu family's house, gazing at the tightly closed door, she shook her head and sighed.

As Chen Fangyang drove, he noticed the low mood emanating from Shen Xuewei.

He tugged at Grandpa Chen's sleeve in the passenger seat and asked in a low voice, "Dad, did you and Mom secretly scold Weiwei behind my back?"

Grandpa Chen was taken aback, then scolded, "Why are your mother and I scolding Weiwei for no reason?"

Chen Fangyang glanced at Shen Xuewei in the back seat through the rearview mirror.

That's strange. I wasn't scolded, and I was fine before. Why did I suddenly become so depressed?

He coughed lightly, "Um, Weiwei..."

Shen Xuewei looked somewhat dejected and interrupted him.

"Second Uncle, I don't want to talk right now."

Chen Fangyang swallowed his words, "Fine, then your second uncle won't talk to you. Aren't you carsick? Go to sleep, your second uncle will wake you up when we get to school."

Shen Xuewei hummed in agreement, leaning against the window. She was clearly suffering terribly from motion sickness, but she couldn't fall asleep no matter what.

Chen Fangyang felt the atmosphere in the car was a bit oppressive, so he quickly turned on the music to lighten the mood.

The car drove slowly along the road, and after a long time, it finally arrived at Luli No.1 Middle School.

The car was parked on a reserved wasteland outside the school gate, and the three of them got out.

Grandpa Chen and Chen Fangyang each helped Shen Xuewei carry her things, and together they stepped into the school.