Chapter 43 Where to Make a Fortune

Shen Xuewei's expression was aloof and cold, and her tone was equally indifferent.

"Dad, it's me, Shen Xuewei."

When these three words reached his ears, Mr. Shen was stunned for a moment before he remembered that there was such a person as Shen Xuewei.

He said "Oh," and then added, "Oh, it's Xiaowei. What's up with your call?"

Like Shen Xuewei, there were no outsiders nearby at the moment, and his tone was quite indifferent.

Shen Xuewei spoke without any politeness, almost in announcing, "Grandma wants to talk to my mom, so let my mom answer the phone."

Her father was displeased with her tone and scolded, "It's only been a year, how have you become so ill-mannered? Is this how your mother and I raised you?"

Shen Xuewei's expression turned cold, and she was about to retort when Grandma Xi stepped forward, waved to her, and took the microphone from her hand.

"Xiao Shen, don't talk about Weiwei like that. Weiwei is a good girl."

The father on the other end of the line paused, then changed his tone, "Oh, it's Mom. Oh, it's nothing, I was just talking to her, not scolding her. You want to talk to Amin, right?"

Knowing that her father on the other side couldn't see, Grandma Xi still nodded eagerly.

"Yes, I want to talk to Xiaomin. Could you let Xiaomin answer the phone?"

Mr. Chen's voice was somewhat apologetic, "Mom, I'm not in Huacheng right now. I'm on a business trip with my boss. How about this, in a few days, when I go back, can Amin talk to you then?"

Grandma Xi looked a little disappointed and murmured, "In a few days..."

She wanted to say something more, but her father made an excuse that he was busy and that phone calls were expensive, and hung up the phone before she could continue.

Shen Xuewei stepped forward to comfort her: "It's okay, Grandma. Didn't my dad say he'd have my mom call you in a few days?"

"Okay, in a few days, in a few days..."

As she read, she suddenly grabbed Shen Xuewei's arm, "By the way, do you remember your dad's number? Can you write it down for Grandma so she can call your mom later?"

Shen Xuewei coaxed her, "Okay, I'll write it for you in a bit."

Grandma Xi's tense face only relaxed after she received the note with Shen Xuewei's father's phone number written on it.

As if they had found some precious treasure, they carefully placed the small piece of paper into the plastic bag containing the money.

Shen Xuewei didn't know when her maternal grandmother received the call from Shen's father, as she had already returned to school by then.

On Friday after school, Grandma Xi, Grandpa Chen, and Chen Fangqiu surprisingly appeared together at the school gate to wait for her.

Shen Xuewei was both happy and curious. She quickly walked up and asked, "Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle, why are you all here today?"

Grandma Xi touched the new clothes she had specially bought for herself and was very happy.

“Your mom called me. She said she misses us and wants us to take pictures and send them to her.”

"Come on, Grandma will help you with your schoolbag. We'll go take pictures together later."

Shen Xuewei nodded indifferently, "I'll listen to Grandma."

Wu Yuhong followed beside the group, occasionally smiling at Shen Xuewei who looked over.

Grandma Xi looked at Shen Xuewei's hair, but was somewhat dissatisfied.

My hair is down to my shoulders, it's gotten a bit long, it's time for a trim.

There were two barbershops right in front of them, so the group led Shen Xuewei inside.

At Grandma Xi's request, the barber shop owner gave Shen Xuewei a bob haircut that reached almost to her chin.

He pushed the mirror in. "How is it? Are you satisfied?"

Grandma Xi, standing to the side, couldn't stop smiling as she looked at Shen Xuewei, who had changed her hairstyle.

"Satisfied, satisfied. Vivi, do you like it?"

Shen Xuewei gave a slight smile. "I like it."

Her grandmother said she was satisfied, so how could she say she didn't like it?

But... she glanced at her grandmother, then at herself in the mirror.

This hairstyle... if you remove the black headband from her grandmother's head, wouldn't their hairstyles be exactly the same?

Before the photo was taken, Shen Xuewei asked Wu Yuhong to hold her schoolbag for her.

She stood with her maternal grandfather, maternal grandmother, and Chen Fangqiu in front of a fake landscape backdrop. At her maternal grandmother's prompting, she tried to force a stiff, fake smile.

The photos have been taken, but you can only pick them up the next day.

As the group drove home, Grandma Xi's lips remained upturned the entire time.

Although they could pick it up the next day, the elderly couple still subconsciously wanted to save some money.

It wasn't until the weekend market day, and while I was dropping Shen Xuewei off at school, that I came to pick it up.

One copy of the photo was kept at home by the elderly couple, while the other was sent to Huacheng.

As is customary, Chen Fangyang returned home after working away from home for four months.

The elderly couple thought that this time he would come back and, like in previous years, stay at home until after the New Year before leaving.

However, this time it was completely unexpected.

His purpose in going home was simply to ask the two of them for their household registration certificates.

Grandpa Chen asked him in a deep voice, "What do you need the household registration book for?"

Chen Fangyang smiled brightly, so brightly it seemed he was hiding some secret.

“I found a great new job, but it’s a bit unusual. It requires not only my ID card but also my household registration book.”

Grandpa Chen frowned. "What kind of job requires even a household registration booklet? Isn't a photocopy enough? I remember you had a few photocopies before you left."

Chen Fangyang shook his head, his smile appearing somewhat forced.

"No, that company said they need the household registration booklet. Oh, Dad, don't worry about it. You wouldn't understand even if I told you. This is such a rare opportunity. Just give me the household registration booklet, and I'll bring it back to you when I have time."

Grandpa Chen's eyes held a hint of suspicion; he had a feeling something was amiss...

However, when Grandma Xi heard that this job was rare and that Chen Fangyang looked eager to take it, she got up and went back into the house.

As the footsteps faded and then drew closer, she handed the household registration booklet to Chen Fangyang.

"Here you go, the household registration booklet you requested. Once you get to the new company, work hard and don't slack off..." she naggardly instructed.

Chen Fangyang clutched the household registration booklet tightly, unable to suppress a smile, and casually nodded in agreement with Grandma Xi.

"Mom, I understand, you don't need to worry."

With that, he turned to leave.

Just before leaving, he suddenly remembered the money he owed Shen Xuewei, and he stopped in his tracks.

Looking around, I couldn't find Shen Xuewei.

"Dad, Mom, isn't today Saturday? Why isn't Weiwei home?"

Grandma Xi pointed to the back hill. "Weiwei is herding cattle on the back hill. She probably won't be back until evening. What do you want with her?"

No one answered her; Chen Fangyang had already run to the back mountain.

Shen Xuewei sat casually on the ground, with some grass under her.

A shadow loomed over her as Chen Fangyang stood before her.

"Second Uncle, you..."

Before she could even ask the question, Chen Fangyang had already pulled a wad of cash from his wallet, placed it in her hand, and turned to leave with a flourish.

"Alright, remember to burn the IOU. I don't owe you any money anymore."

Shen Xuewei looked down at the stack of red banknotes in her hand and fell into deep thought.

Where did her second uncle go to make his fortune while he was away?