Chapter 253 was absolutely terrible.

Grandma Xi was a little uncertain. "It's hard to say. When I called him last time, he wasn't feeling well. I don't know if he can come."

Shen Xuewei looked at Granny Chen sitting by the fire pit warming herself, and did not continue to ask about the topic. Granny Xi also tacitly skipped the question.

Grandpa Chen returned from chopping firewood, just as dinner was ready at home.

After dinner, Shen Xuewei handed her report card to Grandpa Chen and went upstairs to wash up.

With Shen Xuewei back, the house became more lively.

She sat down beside the three elderly people and kept them company while they talked. Just then, Chen Fangqiu returned from outside.

Shen Xuewei glanced at him, but was met with a cold look from him, and quickly looked away.

After some time apart, Chen Fangqiu seemed even more unapproachable.

Chen Fangqiu sat with the group for a while, then suddenly asked his grandfather for money.

Grandpa Chen's face, which had been slightly smiling, suddenly darkened.

"Money, money, money, what have you been doing outside all this time? All you do when you come home is ask for money! In the past year alone, you've taken almost ten thousand yuan from me and your mother."

"Ah Qiu, you're not young anymore. You're already twenty-five. It's time to start thinking about the future."

"If you were doing something legitimate, the money would have been spent, and that would be fine. Why did you have to gamble? Are you trying to drive me crazy?"

Seeing that Grandpa Chen's face was flushed with anger and agitation, Grandma Xi quickly tried to persuade him:

"Don't get so agitated, talk to me properly, take care of yourself, and ignore this brat."

After trying to persuade Grandpa Chen, she turned around and saw Chen Fangqiu looking completely indifferent, and couldn't help but sigh.

“Ah Qiu, your father and I are getting old and can’t help you for many more years. You need to be more sensible and find a proper job instead of hanging out with your good-for-nothing friends all day.”

"If all else fails, just stay home, don't go anywhere, find a wife, and settle down. That's much better than you gambling away money outside. How much of our family's wealth can you afford to squander like this?"

These were the things Chen Fangqiu hated to hear the most, and she immediately stood up.

He caught a glimpse of Shen Xuewei huddled next to Granny Chen and sneered.

"In the end, isn't it just that you're unwilling to spend money on me? You have no money to give me, but you have money to support an outsider's education. You must be out of your minds."

Shen Xuewei listened with her head down and her face expressionless.

Since she started high school, Chen Fangqiu's opinions about her have grown stronger day by day, and he has become increasingly displeased with her.

Even though the elderly couple told him that she hadn't spent much of the family's money, Chen Fangqiu thought that they were just saying that on purpose to appease him.

To be honest, if she hadn't wanted to spend more time with her elderly relatives, she wouldn't have come back so quickly.

Grandpa Chen couldn't stand Chen Fangqiu saying such things, so he stood up abruptly and slapped Chen Fangqiu.

Grandma Xi called out and quickly ran to Chen Fangqiu's side.

"Ah Qiu, does it hurt? Let Mom take a look."

She gave Grandpa Chen a reproachful look, "Ah Qiu is such a grown man, how could you still hit him?"

The father and son both kept their faces down and didn't say a word.

Chen Fangqiu tilted her head to one side and saw Shen Xuewei with her head down, seemingly realizing her slip of the tongue.

He pursed his lips, said nothing, shook off his grandmother's hand, and turned back to his room.

The door slammed shut, and the entire Chen family fell silent.

This wasn't the first time such a situation had occurred, but the elderly couple were still quite angry with Chen Fangqiu.

"How could this child say such a thing?"

Grandma Xi's worried gaze turned to Shen Xuewei. "Weiwei, don't pay attention to your uncle. He's probably drunk outside and talking nonsense."

Shen Xuewei remained as sensible as ever, saying, "Yes, Grandpa and Grandma, I'm fine. I know my uncle didn't mean it."

Hearing Shen Xuewei say this, the elderly couple breathed a sigh of relief.

After this argument, the Chen family fell into a strange atmosphere.

It wasn't until the 27th or 28th of the lunar year that Chen Fangyang and Chen Fanglan returned home one after the other, and the atmosphere finally returned to normal.

After the two returned, Chen Fangqiu, who had been thinking of asking his family for money, suddenly stopped asking the elderly couple for money.

Shen Xuewei knew that Chen Fangyang had probably given her the money privately.

Although she had money, Chen Fangqiu was not in a hurry to go out and play, and stayed at home.

Shen Xuewei knew he probably didn't like her, so she usually tried to avoid him.

Grandma Chen's health deteriorated, and in less than ten days, she became so weak that she could no longer get out of bed.

Almost every child in the Chen family had been raised by her.

Seeing that she was not doing well, the New Year was particularly cold and depressing.

By the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, her spirits had suddenly improved significantly. She was not only able to get out of bed, but also ate two bowls of noodles.

Everyone saw this, but their smiles became increasingly forced.

His mental state has improved, but he can no longer recognize people.

Looking at the crowd in front of her, she fixed her gaze on Grandma Xi. "Xiao Hua, you've come to see your mother! It's been so many years since I've seen you. Why haven't you come before?"

Grandma Xi shouted at her, "Mom, you're confused! I am Youyan!"

Granny Chen gripped her hand tightly, as if afraid that if she let go, the person would disappear from her sight.

"Little Flower, Mom misses you so much, Mom is so sorry for you..."

Grandma Xi sensed something was wrong and looked at Grandpa Chen.

Grandpa Chen looked grave and shook his head at her: "Let her shout. You stay with her, I'll go call everyone."

Grandma Xi wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, "Okay, I'll listen to you."

She helped Granny Chen back into the house and coaxed her to lie down on the bed.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Granny Chen held her hand tightly and kept calling her Little Flower.

Shen Xuewei leaned against the door, her eyes slightly red, and peeked inside.

She guessed who the old woman was referring to as "Little Flower." At this point, the old woman probably didn't want anyone to get close and disturb the "mother and daughter."

However, seeing that her grandmother, who always gave her delicious food every time she came home, was nearing the end of her life, Shen Xuewei couldn't bear to leave and wanted to accompany her on her final journey.

Shen Xuewei blinked away her tears, but still went into the room and stood at the foot of the bed looking at her great-grandmother.

Chen Fanglan also quietly walked in and stood next to Shen Xuewei.

A short while later, Chen Fangyang also sneaked in.

The three of them remained silent, neither speaking nor disturbing the old woman, simply keeping her company in silence as she embarked on her final journey.

Grandma Chen breathed her last, holding "Little Flower's" hand.

She seemed to have regained her senses, and her last words before leaving were: "Xiaohua, Mom has come to see you."

Grandpa Chen was frantically making phone calls when he suddenly heard crying coming from inside the room.

Realizing something, he dropped the receiver and rushed to the bedside.

Seeing Granny Chen pass away peacefully on the bed, and hearing the sad and suppressed sobs beside him, he staggered, but still forced himself to stay calm and orderly arranged everything.

Shen Xuewei stood in front of the house with red and swollen eyes.

She felt that the spring of 2007 was absolutely terrible, and she didn't like it.