Chapter 64 Loquat Syrup

After spending a night at school, the final exams began.

In the primary schools here, all subjects are tested on the same day.

Shen Xuewei welcomed her final exams amidst the warm greetings of several teachers.

The homeroom teacher, Ms. Yan, was proctoring the exam and even lingered next to Shen Xuewei for quite a while.

Seeing that she had answered every question correctly, he walked away with a satisfied smile, keeping a close eye on the students behind him who were trying to cheat.

After the exam, Shen Xuewei and Wu Yuhong came out of the classroom together.

Wu Yuhong's backpack was bulging.

She packed all her clothes from school into the bag, intending to go straight home.

Shen Xuewei's belongings were all stuffed into a box.

She didn't want to take it back, but Grandpa Chen called the school to ask about Shen Xuewei's health.

Teacher Yan talked to him about it, and then reminded him that there have been a lot of petty thieves at the school lately.

Grandpa Chen was worried, so when Shen Xuewei and Wu Yuhong arrived at the back door, they saw that Grandpa Chen was already waiting there.

Shen Xuewei felt both disappointed and somewhat happy.

Disappointingly, with Grandpa Chen here, she figured she wouldn't have a chance to go to an internet cafe, log onto QQ, and say hello to the editors.

She had originally wanted to ask when she would receive her royalties from her new book.

It seems I'll have to wait until after the New Year to ask again.

Upon seeing the two appear before him, Grandpa Chen quickly walked a few steps to their side.

Shen Xuewei led him to the dormitory, where Grandpa Chen packed up her things, then carried them home on his back.

After the van returned to the village entrance, Grandpa Chen carried his things and walked quickly home.

Shen Xuewei and Wu Yuhong were left, and the two talked for a long time with reluctance.

Grandma Xi stood on the threshing ground and saw that she had been talking outside for a while and hadn't come back yet. Worried that she would catch a cold from the wind, she called out:

"Weiwei, what are you still doing outside? It's cold, don't stay outside, hurry home and warm yourself by the fire."

"Okay, Grandma, I'll be right back."

Shen Xuewei responded loudly, waved goodbye to Wu Yuhong, and ran home with her schoolbag on her back.

It's cold, and the ground is still frozen, so it's inconvenient to plant anything in the fields.

As a result, almost everyone in Xiaoli Village stayed at home.

When Shen Xuewei returned home, her maternal grandmother touched the clothes she was wearing and felt that they were still a bit thin, so she found two more sweaters for her to wear.

After putting on two sweaters, Shen Xuewei felt she had gained weight.

Seeing that she obediently put on her clothes, Grandma Xi smiled with relief and happiness, and let her warm herself by the fire pit.

Shen Xuewei moved a stool to the corner of the wall and sat down next to her grandmother to warm herself by the fire.

Granny Chen glanced at her, then picked up Mimi, the cat that was completely engulfed in ashes, and placed her in front of her.

Confused, Mimi barked angrily twice.

Although Granny Chen couldn't hear, she could see that it was cursing very filthyly, so she reached out and slapped it twice.

With two slaps, Mimi instantly perked up, letting Shen Xuewei fondle her to her heart's content.

The group ate around the fire pit, while the wooden door remained tightly closed.

The mountain wind, carrying a drizzle, howled past, rustling the leaves of the trees near the house like a wild dance.

After the meal, everyone still gathered around the fire pit to warm themselves.

There was a knock on the door from the outside, and Grandma Xi called out, "Who is it?"

Chen Fangqiu's voice came from outside the door, "Mom, it's me."

Grandma Xi got up and quickly opened the door.

After welcoming him in, they closed the door again.

After entering the house, Chen Fangqiu couldn't wait to take off his leather gloves and move a stool to sit by the fire pit to warm himself.

Seeing him shivering while warming himself by the fire, Grandma Xi couldn't help but nag.

"Look at you, wandering around outside in this freezing weather wearing only a leather jacket, aren't you afraid of freezing to death? And your second brother, really, all he does is buy these thin and impractical coats..."

Since Chen Fangyang's life improved, he stopped wanting his old clothes.

Chen Fangqiu was about the same size as him, so the clothes he didn't want ended up in Chen Fangqiu's hands.

Chen Fangqiu didn't buy many clothes this year; she wore clothes that Chen Fangyang had left behind.

He let his grandmother talk in his ear without responding, focusing only on warming himself by the fire.

Sure enough, no one responded to her. Grandma Xi talked to herself for a while, then stopped talking.

There was a sound coming from the pot on the tripod, and Grandma Xi quickly lifted the lid, revealing water boiling inside.

"Alright, the water's hot. Anyone who wants to take a bath, go take one now."

Grandpa Chen put away the tobacco beside him and got up to take a bath.

Scorched by the fire, Shen Xuewei couldn't help but grab her clothes.

Grandma Xi glanced at her and said, "By the way, Weiwei, it's been cold these past few days. You've only just recovered from your illness, so you're not allowed to take a bath."

Shen Xuewei immediately deflated and weakly replied, "I know, Grandma."

For someone like her who takes a shower every day, rain or shine, not being able to shower for two days is an extremely agonizing and uncomfortable experience.

However, at home, and right under her grandmother's nose, she couldn't go against her grandmother's wishes.

She grabbed a handful of corn and threw it into the hot ashes.

Soon, with a crackling sound, popcorn popped out of the ashes.

She shoveled the popcorn out, blew off the ash, and slipped a few kernels into the hands of her great-grandmother and grandmother.

The rest, including Mimi and Dahuang who came over, all got one, but Chen Fangqiu didn't even get half a one.

Chen Fangqiu glanced at her, knowing that she was still holding a grudge against him for taking her money before.

He didn't mind, but decided to rely on himself.

While Shen Xuewei was happily playing with the dog, he snatched all the popcorn from her hand.

Shen Xuewei was stunned for a moment, but after she came to her senses, she immediately turned around and complained to Grandma Xi.

"Grandma, look, my uncle is bullying me!"

Grandma Xi was very angry.

Weiwei had a rare appetite and was willing to eat more. How could her uncle be so inconsiderate?

She reached out and patted Chen Fangqiu's shoulder.

"Ah Qiu, how old are you? Why are you bullying Weiwei? Can't you eat it yourself? Quick, give it back to Weiwei!"

Seeing that Chen Fangqiu wouldn't return it, she simply snatched the item back from his hand and stuffed it into Shen Xuewei's hand.

"Eat up, Vivi. If you like it, you can make some more later."

She spoke with a tone full of kindness.

Shen Xuewei nodded, revealing a sweet smile.

"Thank you, Grandma. You're the best."

Shen Xuewei, who thought Grandma Xi was the best, frowned after being forced to eat a spoonful of cool loquat syrup by Grandma Xi before going to bed.

Grandma Xi patted her shoulder and told her to go back to sleep after she finished eating the loquat syrup in the spoon.

"Alright, go to sleep. Stay home tomorrow and don't go anywhere."

When Shen Xuewei came home from school today, she heard Shen Xuewei cough several times. Taking a spoonful of loquat syrup will probably help.