Chapter 23 The Whole Village Watches Television

Chen Fangqiu brought back a television from outside, which was big news in Xiaoli Village.

At night, several villagers who had worked hard in the fields all day would rush to Chen's house to watch TV after dinner.

As if she had expected this, Grandma Xi brought out all the stools in the house.

There weren't enough stools, so some people sat directly on the threshold, staring intently at the small television on the table.

The TV is only 14 inches in size, and it looks even smaller on the square table.

Chen Fangqiu turned on the TV, which was filled with lightning-shaped mosaics; no picture appeared yet.

He shouted outside, "No picture! Fix it again right away!"

Suddenly, Chen Fangyang, who was no longer lazy, was outside fiddling with the orientation of the satellite dish.

While fiddling with it, he asked Chen Fangqiu, who was sitting next to the television, if the television had received a picture.

After several unsuccessful attempts, he became somewhat discouraged and pushed the hair that was covering his eyes back, pondering which direction to adjust it in next.

A small hand reached out from the side and blocked his way, but he impatiently pushed the hand back.

"Weiwei, stop fooling around. Your second uncle is busy and doesn't have time to play with you right now."

Shen Xuewei still insisted on extending her hand, and then punched the satellite dish.

Her sudden attack caught Chen Fangyang off guard, and he was so anxious he almost jumped up.

"Weiwei, what are you doing? What if you break this thing...?"

"We can see the picture now! We can watch TV!"

The cheers coming from inside the house made Chen Fangyang lower his voice considerably.

He looked at Shen Xuewei suspiciously. "How do you know this will work?"

Shen Xuewei snorted, ignored his words, and walked briskly back into the house with her hands behind her back. She leaned against Grandma Xi and watched TV attentively.

Chen Fangyang also hurriedly came back, moved a stool and sat down, and stood at the door watching TV.

Everyone was quiet, except for the occasional soft noise and the sound coming from the television.

Shen Xuewei, who hadn't watched TV in a long time, watched it for an hour as well.

When the hour was up, I pulled my attention away.

Elders used to say that children who watch too much TV are prone to nearsightedness. Although she didn't know if there was any factual basis for this, Shen Xuewei, who didn't want to become nearsighted again in her life, wasn't very interested in TV.

She cares more about her eyes than about the television.

She was a pretty little girl when she was young, but as she went through puberty, she developed many acne scars on her face and her nearsightedness of 600-700 degrees gradually made her blend into the crowd.

In this new life, she must protect her face and eyes.

The Chen family turned off the television, and only then did everyone reluctantly get up and leave, each going home.

Meanwhile, Shen Xuewei was already fast asleep.

Chen Fangqiu's maternal grandparents did not ask him why he did not stay in Huacheng.

Because the elderly couple had already received Chen Fangmin's letter before he returned.

With both sons at home, although they are not as helpful as Chen Xuewei in terms of chores, their presence makes the house much more lively, and the elderly couple often wears smiles on their faces.

Shen Xuewei secretly observed Chen Fangqiu from the side. After observing for a long time, she finally couldn't suppress her feelings and asked Chen Fangqiu about it.

"Uncle, uncle, have you seen my brother in Huacheng? Is he alright? Was he beaten? Does he have any friends who go to and from school with him? And..."

A barrage of questions was fired at Chen Fangqiu.

Chen Fangqiu turned her attention away from the television and slowly frowned.

Weiwei's older brother, who is also his nephew...

He recalled the child who didn't have a strong presence in his mind, "Your older brother, he's a good guy. Quiet, doesn't cause trouble, and is very self-disciplined at school."

It's just that... sometimes when I don't do my homework well, I get slapped by my dad, and I even cry secretly...

However, in that case, there's no need to tell Vivi.

Seeing the suspicious look in Shen Xuewei's eyes, as if she was about to ask more questions, he quickly added, "Your parents and your brother are doing well too. Okay, go play somewhere else, don't keep me from watching TV."

Shen Xuewei doesn't care about her parents or her brother; she only cares about her brother.

However, Chen Fangqiu was clearly busy watching TV and didn't want to pay attention to her. He gently pushed her aside.

She sighed and ultimately didn't press the matter further.

As the start of the school year approached, Grandpa Chen and Grandma Xi were already preparing things for her to use at Mingda Elementary School in town.

The town's primary school is far from home, and there are no suitable relatives to stay with, so Shen Xuewei needs to stay at the school.

Mingda Elementary School has dormitory buildings and a dedicated canteen.

Grandpa Chen cleaned the inside and outside of the box that Chen Fangqiu used to stay in, and put it on the drying ground to air dry.

Turning around, he saw Shen Xuewei standing on tiptoe, hanging a mosquito net on a bamboo pole, and couldn't help but sigh.

Shen Xuewei looked at him with concern, "Grandpa, what's wrong?"

Grandpa Chen didn't say anything, but just sighed silently again, then turned and left, leaving Shen Xuewei completely bewildered.

Grandma Xi prepared the quilt and sewed a few stitches on it to secure it in place, so that the cotton filling inside would not shift.

After sewing it up, she put the quilt in a clean burlap sack.

She glanced at Shen Xuewei beside her and tentatively asked, "Weiwei, how about... you repeat a year and study for another year of third grade?"

Shen Xuewei shook her head in horror, "I don't want to!"

She had already endured enough hardship during those six months of third grade, and was finally happy to be moving up to fourth grade.

Making her go back to third grade all of a sudden would be like killing her.

“I don’t want to repeat a grade. Kids who repeat a grade will be laughed at. Besides, I got high scores in Chinese and math, and the school there has already agreed to accept me. I don’t want to go back to Fuman Elementary School.”

Shen Xuewei emphasized this earnestly with a stern face.

As a child who has no power, adults can make decisions for her.

If her maternal grandparents make up their minds, she will most likely have to stay at Fuman Elementary School.

Thinking of this, Shen Xuewei's heart tightened, and she decided to use that card again.

She burst into tears, lay on the ground flailing her arms and legs, and cried out, "I don't want to go back to Fuman Elementary School! I don't want to!"

Grandma Xi had a headache looking at Shen Xuewei, who was crying loudly. Grandpa Chen, who came out of the house after hearing the news, also had a headache.

"Okay, okay, I'll listen to you, I won't go back, I won't go back..." Grandma Xi hurriedly coaxed her.

Shen Xuewei continued to cry, secretly glancing at Grandpa Chen's expression.

Her maternal grandmother was easy to deal with, but her maternal grandfather was the most difficult one to deal with.

Chen Fangyang, who came out with messy hair, rubbed his eyes and glanced at Shen Xuewei, who was rolling on the ground crying, and felt a little sorry for her.

"Mom and Dad, Weiwei is usually very well-behaved. It's not a bad thing if she's a little naughty sometimes. Please don't scold her!"

Clearly, he was still out of the loop, thinking that Shen Xuewei was being scolded by the elderly couple and was throwing a tantrum.

Having spent time with Shen Xuewei these past few days, they had established a friendly relationship, so he naturally couldn't bear to see Shen Xuewei so heartbroken.