Chapter 750 The Most Correct Path
"Let's meet her first," Shen Jingjing said. "Let's meet her first and then talk about it."
Following Shen Ci's advice, Shen Min took a shower and then called home. As expected, her mother answered the phone and immediately launched into a tirade of abuse.
Shen Min numbly put her phone aside, drying her hair while enduring her mother's insults.
She was already used to it.
If my parents were in front of me right now, I would have slapped them!
"What's that 'whooshing' sound you're making over there? I'm telling you, you'd better get back here right now, or I'll have to go all the way to Longcheng to catch you!"
After drying her hair, Shen Min picked up her phone and said into the call, "I've arrived in Longcheng. I'll find a job to support myself and call you every week."
"Can't you understand me? I told you to get back here! Are you at your aunt's house right now?"
"What aunt? I'm at the hotel; I'll go look for a job tomorrow."
Shen Min was very clever. She pretended not to understand, partly because she didn't want to cause trouble for her aunt, and partly because it would be difficult for her family to find her.
"Didn't your aunt pick you up?" The mother on the other end of the phone was furious, jumping up and down. "I'm telling you, you'd better come back right now, or your dad will never forgive you!"
Shen Min hung up the phone immediately, not wanting to hear her mother's threats anymore.
She drew the curtains and turned off the lights, making the whole room dark and quiet. She wasn't afraid of the dark or the quiet; in fact, this environment made her feel at ease.
She hadn't had this much peace and quiet in a long time. From childhood to adulthood, her ears were filled with the scolding of her parents and grandmother and the sharp, piercing noise of her younger brothers.
She likes quiet.
So I fell asleep very quickly.
When she opened her eyes again, it was already dark. She glanced at the time and it was only a little past five o'clock.
It gets dark very early in Longcheng. Pulling back the curtains reveals the city's bustling and dazzling night view, which is so beautiful it makes your heart flutter.
But that was also her longing. She looked at it for a long, long time and it still felt unreal. She really left home and came to Longcheng. She did it.
A knock sounded on the door. Shen Ci had taken a room card with her when she left, so she swiped it and came up in the elevator.
"Sister!" Shen Min called out as soon as she opened the door, before noticing Shen Jingjing and Shen Yingying next to Shen Ci.
She had some recollection of her aunt, although the last time she saw her was many years ago.
"Auntie!"
"Xiaomin." Shen Jingjing was somewhat moved and looked at her gently, saying, "You've grown so much."
“Xiaomin, I’m your aunt, do you remember me?” Shen Yingying asked casually.
Looking at her aunt's unfamiliar expression, Shen Min gently shook her head and said apologetically, "Aunt, you haven't been back for many years, I... I don't quite remember."
"It's alright, child." Shen Yingying was easily moved to tears, and her eyes reddened as she looked at Shen Min in front of her. "Look how thin this child is."
The group didn't go far; they found a dumpling restaurant downstairs.
Northern dumplings are especially delicious. Add a platter of braised meats and two cold dishes, and enjoy them with dumpling soup – it's so satisfying!
“Auntie, I called my mom and lied to her that I didn’t see you. You can say the same thing to avoid Grandma bothering you.”
As soon as she sat down, Shen Min told Shen Jingjing about the situation.
Shen Jingjing looked at Shen Min, who was so sensible that it broke her heart.
"Xiaomin, your aunt is asking you, are you really not planning to go back?" Shen Jingjing asked again.
Shen Min nodded without hesitation: "Auntie, this is the bravest thing I've ever done in my life, because I knew I had to do it."
Shen Jingjing took a deep breath and nodded.
"Then let's repeat the year in Longcheng," Shen Ci suddenly said, speaking softly.
Shen Min turned her head in surprise, as if she doubted that she had misheard.
Shen Jingjing and Shen Yingying acted naturally because this was something they had already discussed.
Now that Shen Min has come, although they have no obligation to help or take care of her, it is impossible for them to completely stand idly by, let alone send her back.
She is currently at the most difficult crossroads in her life. Perhaps just a gentle push would truly help her change her destiny.
Although Shen Ci brought up the idea, there were limits to what she wanted to help and what she could help with, or rather, she was mindful of her limits.
“Xiaomin, your aunt will pay for you to repeat a year of high school, but you have to write an IOU for the money. You can pay your aunt back slowly when you get into university and have the opportunity to work part-time.”
Shen Ci's initial intention was simple: she could help Xiao Min solve her biggest problem, which was repeating her senior year in Longcheng, but everything after that would depend on Xiao Min herself.
"Auntie, really?" Xiaomin looked at her aunt in disbelief. She had already prepared to look for a job first thing tomorrow morning.
Shen Jingjing nodded gently: "Your aunt knows you've had a tough time, and she knows you're very strong. But escaping doesn't mean it's all over. On the contrary, your life is just beginning at this moment."
Shen Yingying also said, "Xiaomin, your aunt knows your grievances and fully supports your courage to fight against injustice. But in Longcheng, it's really hard to change anything if you just work. You may have to continue to suffer for the rest of your life."
"So your aunt, your sister Aci, and I have all discussed it and decided that you should go to university; that's the right path for you."
Shen Min cried again, and Shen Ci handed her a tissue to wipe her tears: "Don't worry about school, I'll take care of everything. You'll have to live on campus, and your aunt will transfer your living expenses and food allowance to you every month according to the normal standard."
"You can be frugal with your money, but you must eat on time, understand?"
Shen Min cried and said, "Sister, I can work part-time while repeating my studies to earn my own living expenses..."
“It’s not a big deal to repeat a year.” Shen Ci handed her another piece of paper: “This year of repeating a year is the most crucial. If you do well, you can get into a better university and a better major. Once you’re in university, you can think about working part-time to earn money when you have more free time. This year, focus on your studies and don’t let your aunt down.”
“Listen to your sister Aci, study hard, and you can find a good job in Longcheng so you can stay here in the future,” Shen Yingying said.
Shen Min nodded through her tears: "Thank you, Auntie, thank you, Auntie, thank you, Sister Aci. I will definitely study hard!"
The group breathed a sigh of relief and then exchanged a smile.
All of this happened suddenly, and the result far exceeded expectations, but they did not feel any burden at all; on the contrary, they were quite happy.
Shen Ci did not arrange for Shen Min to go home, nor did she even tell her where her home was. Before enrolling in school, she was still allowed to stay in a hotel.
This was indeed a form of self-protection; she didn't want people back home to know about her mother and aunt's current situation. Even though Shen Min was already very sensible, Shen Ci still did it.
The old lady's complaints were not absent. She called early the next morning, complaining that Shen Jingjing couldn't pick anyone up and didn't know where Shen Min had gone.
(End of this chapter)
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