Chapter 127
The adults were crying and the children were lowering their heads guiltily. Almost in an instant, the atmosphere in the room changed suddenly, and even Chang Fangyuan noticed that something was wrong.
No mother wants to hear others say bad things about her child, even if it is true, she doesn't want to hear it.
When they left, Wen Xiuwei was only ten years old and still a little girl who knew nothing. They had been gone for eleven years. Even her biological parents could not guarantee what Wen Xiuwei had become. Therefore, a trace of hesitation flashed through Chang Fangyuan's heart. She was afraid that without her care, Wen Xiuwei would really become the selfish person that these people talked about.
But after only a second of hesitation, Chang Fangyuan regained her composure. No, she knew her daughter. Even if Wen Xiuwei's temper became more severe, she couldn't possibly become what they said. She had been a good child since she was young. How could she do so many despicable things?
Chang Fangyuan frowned. The more her sister-in-law talked, the more she frowned. Wen Fuming, who was beside her, was looking at the room inch by inch.
It is not big, but is filled with various daily necessities. There is a table by the window and a small mirror hanging on the wall. There is no paper or pen on the table, only red ribbons, vanishing cream, and a pile of colorful needles and threads.
What attracted Wen Fuming's attention was not these ordinary objects, but a ceramic cat placed next to the pile of needles and thread.
The ceramic cat was only the size of a palm and had one ear missing. Even after so long, Wen Fuming still remembered it clearly because it was the one Wen Xiuwei had brought back from her grandmother's house. She loved it very much. When Wen Fuming and his wife had to go abroad on business, they had to leave her at her eldest brother's house. Chang Fangyuan packed everything else for her, but Wen Xiuwei insisted on taking the ceramic cat with her.
Ceramics are common these days, but ceramic ornaments are rare. Furthermore, this cat isn't the common white or black cats in China, but a cream-colored shorthair found only in Europe. It was a gift from a foreigner who came to the Chang family long ago to do business. It's incredibly delicate, and even after more than twenty years, it still looks timeless. Little girls love such adorable things, and Wen Xiuwei is no exception, and her cousin is no exception.
Wen Fuming didn't know why the cat only had one ear left, nor did he know why the cat left Wen Xiuwei's hands and became a member of this messy house. He only knew that he didn't dare to believe a word this family said.
The eldest sister-in-law started crying non-stop. Wen Fuming listened for a while and then said goodbye to them. Chang Fangyuan wanted to ask more questions, but he was forcibly pulled out. After they came out, they didn't leave. They walked around the area. Under Chang Fangyuan's puzzled gaze, he went to the alley next door, found a family, and asked them if they knew Wen Xiuwei.
"Of course I know. Xiuwei is such a hardworking child. Why, are you here to ask where Xiuwei lives? Don't bother, she doesn't live here anymore!"
Wen Fuming smiled and said, "We won't ask about that. Old man, how long have you known Wen Xiuwei?"
"It's been a long time. I knew her when she came here with her parents. Back then, she was still little. She kept her head down every day and didn't even dare to call out to people. Oh my, it made me feel so distressed. Now she's fine. She's turned from a sparrow into a phoenix."
The old lady spoke very honestly, but she always wanted to show off to these two outsiders that she knew Wen Xiuwei. She did know her, but Wen Xiuwei never said a word to her when she lived here. In her mouth, it seemed as if they had a very close relationship.
Mom and Dad?
Wen Fuming and Chang Fangyuan exchanged a glance. They hadn't heard their eldest brother and sister-in-law mention this matter just now. Chang Fangyuan turned his head and continued to ask the old lady, "Is Xiuwei living well here?"
The old lady waved her hands, looking embarrassed.
Chang Fangyuan was stunned for a moment, then she took out a banknote from her bag and said, "Old man, take this and buy yourself some nutrition later."
Chang Fangyuan had just returned to China and didn't have much RMB in her hands. She only had these few ten-yuan bills, which she had just exchanged. Apart from that, her bag was full of foreign currency.
The old lady's eyes were originally cloudy, but when she saw this photo, her eyes instantly became bright. Even the cataracts that had troubled her for many years were cured.
…
After receiving the money, the old lady was no longer afraid of being overheard by the Wen family. She waved to Wen Fuming and Chang Fangyuan, then lowered her voice and said mysteriously, "Not good at all! That family is so partial. They are all children, and they are all the same. But their family is not like that. They are only good to their son and eldest daughter. Xiuwei is just a servant in their family. She has to boil water and cook for them every day, spring, summer, autumn and winter. She is so small, and her face is always dark. In addition to cooking, she also has to wash clothes and do housework. Their eldest daughter always snatches Xiuwei's things. I've seen it several times!"
Chang Fangyuan listened blankly. It was clearly spring, but her heart felt like it was soaked in an ice cellar.
The old lady continued, "They can still classify their own children into different levels. This is the first time I've encountered such a family. A few years ago, the quota for educated youth to go to the countryside was allocated to their family. The eldest and second sons were already adults, but they insisted on sending the third daughter, Xiuwei, to the countryside. Xiuwei was just a little old at the time. I've never seen such cruel parents. However, in fact, they did a good thing. Otherwise, Xiuwei would never have had the opportunity to go out and make movies. This is what they call a blessing in disguise~"
The old lady's teeth were almost all gone. When she smiled, her eyes were narrowed, and she looked particularly kind. But no matter how kind she was, Chang Fangyuan didn't notice it. Two lines of tears flowed out, and she tried hard to hold back her tears. Wen Fuming next to her was very silent. He took Chang Fangyuan away from the house and walked to a slightly secluded place. Only then did Chang Fangyuan burst into tears.
She hit Wen Fuming's shoulder, "It's all your fault! It's all your fault! I told you to take Xiuwei with us, but you refused and insisted on sending her to your eldest brother's house. Is your eldest brother still a human being? You are a family of beasts! I was wondering why they didn't dare to look me in the eye. It turns out they are guilty. I hate your Wen family so much!"
Wen Fuming said nothing. Even though Chang Fangyuan hit him and it hurt, he endured it all.
Because this matter was indeed his fault.
At first, he thought they would be back soon after going abroad, and he trusted his eldest brother very much. He felt that they were all family. Besides himself and his wife, only his eldest brother and his wife could treat Wen Xiuwei as their own child. Chang Fangyuan originally wanted him to send Wen Xiuwei to her parents' home, but his father-in-law had passed away and his mother-in-law was too old. In addition, their family had three uncles and two married aunts. The family was so large that Wen Fuming felt that they would not take good care of Wen Xiuwei.
Now it seems that no matter how big someone's family is, it is impossible for them to take care of their daughter and turn her into a servant.
When something bad happens, people can't help but wonder what would have happened if it hadn't happened, if they had made different choices. But if you really think about it, even if Wen Xiuwei hadn't been sent to her uncle's house, or to the Chang family, she wouldn't have had a good life. Because the Chang family was labeled a capitalist, their vast wealth was confiscated, and the whole family was forced to live like rats. It was a completely different kind of torture, and it was hard to tell who was good and who was bad.
But these are just rational people's thoughts. Wen Fuming is in the middle of the situation, so he can't analyze these things calmly. His heart is now full of guilt and anger. Amid his wife's constant crying, Wen Fuming clenched his fists, turned around, and walked towards Wen Xiuwei's uncle's house again.
Wen Fuming is in his forties. He studied abroad in his early years and married Chang Fangyuan relatively late. They are almost fifty years old now, but he is not a very stable person. He is bold, adventurous, and has a very bad temper.
Knowing that he was going to teach that family a lesson, Chang Fangyuan did not stop him, but she was afraid that Wen Fuming would do something irreparable, so she wiped her tears and followed him.
The two of them had been gone for some time. When the eldest brother and his wife recovered from their shock, they started to curse at them. They blamed them for coming back alive. They also blamed Wen Xiuwei, who was far away in the capital, for not coming back peacefully after being gone for such a long time and for eating so much food from their family for nothing.
While the four of them were complaining, Wen Fuming had just returned. The doors and windows here were not soundproof, so he heard what was said inside immediately. He kicked the door open, and Wen Fuming grabbed his eldest brother's collar and beat him up.
From a long time ago, Wen Xiuwei has been more interested in people with bad tempers but kind natures. At that time, no one understood why, but now seeing Wen Fuming's appearance, everyone finally understood.
…
Wen Fuming is taller and stronger than his elder brother. When he was beating someone, his elder sister-in-law and two nephews and nieces just stared at him stupidly. After Chang Fangyuan came in and saw what was happening in the room, he not only did not stop him, but also sneered.
Her laughter almost scared the remaining three people to death. It was not that they were timid, but Chang Fangyuan's expression was so terrifying. Looking at them was almost like looking at dead people.
The Wen family's fortune was not the result of Wen Fuming's efforts alone, but was built up by Wen Fuming and Chang Fangyuan together. Chang Fangyuan had a much better temper than Wen Fuming, but if someone really made her angry, she would not show mercy, and might even be more ruthless than Wen Fuming.
On this day, the neighbors only briefly heard a man howling from the Wen family. When they were about to go over to check, there was no sound from inside.
It was not until several hours later that a man and a woman walked out of the house. The neighbors were curious and wanted to go over to ask what had happened. Unexpectedly, the four members of the Wen family were all pale and their legs were shaking like sieves. After being called by the neighbors several times, the Wen couple finally reacted. They both jumped up and frantically packed up their things.
No one knew what they had experienced. In short, in the middle of the night, the family ran away like thieves. No one knew where they went. It was not until many years later that someone met the old eldest brother of the Wen family in a faraway place. At that time, there were collective layoffs. He stood with other middle-aged people, waiting for the contractor to give him work, but because he was obviously not agile, several groups of people came, but no one chose him.
Both surnamed Wen, Wen Fuming's eldest brother and he were worlds apart. Wen Fuming had always sought wealth and fame through risk, while his eldest brother had the temerity of a needle. He had moved his family once before to avoid trouble, and now, to avoid Wen Fuming, he moved again. Each time, he ran so far that no one even bothered to chase him.
…
In fact, Wen Fuming didn't really scare them. He just said, "You all stay here and wait for me to come back." As for what he was going to do when he came back, the four of them had no idea, but just imagining it scared them to death. Later, when they found out that they had run away, Wen Fuming didn't react much. Let them run. For him, finding Wen Xiuwei first was the most important thing.
Compared with the four members of the Wen family, Wen Xiuwei was much easier to find. Nowadays, this was the only place in the whole country where movies could be made. After arriving at the studio in a dusty state, Chang Fangyuan's face turned pale from days of running around.
But when she saw the studio sign, she was still full of energy.
"Hello, do you know Comrade Wen Xiuwei?"
She learned from the security guard that Wen Xiuwei was not filming any new movies and had not come to the studio for some time. Once again, she was disappointed for a moment, but then she cheered up and asked the security guard if he knew where Wen Xiuwei lived now.
The old man did not tell them immediately, but asked who they were to Wen Xiuwei.
After learning that they were his parents, the old man was not surprised. Instead, he looked at the two of them suspiciously for a while before telling them Wen Xiuwei's address.
It's not that the old man was not cautious, but there were no crazy fans these days, so the old man was not so vigilant. Moreover, at this time, people would judge whether the other person was good or bad by their appearance. Chang Fangyuan was well-proportioned and a beauty of older age. He felt that it was unlikely that she was lying, so he gave her the address.
Anyway, that was Political Commissar Chu's home. Political Commissar Chu had recently become the deputy minister of a department of the Central Military Commission. He understood that these people would not dare to cause trouble in Political Commissar Chu's home even if they were very brave.
As if he were a monk sweeping the temple, the doorman always has first-hand information on internal gossip.
…
In mid-May, the weather began to get warmer. Chu Jiujiu moved all the electric fans in the warehouse out by herself, filled a basin with water, and wiped the fan blades bit by bit with a wrung-out rag. Halfway through, Chu Jiujiu yawned and felt a little sleepy.
I looked around and there was no one around.
Wen Xiuwei went to her teacher's house again today for some private lessons. Chu Liqiang remained true to his nature, always on his way to work or working. Chu Shao was still imprisoned at the base and would be released in about a week.
She is the only one at home, there are no rules to follow, and she can do whatever she wants.
Thinking of this, Chu Jiujiu gave an evil smile.
…
While humming a song, Chu Jiujiu fried nuts for herself, adding lots of oil and salt. She was prepared to give herself high blood lipids and high blood pressure in one day.
After frying the nuts, she did not waste the remaining oil and threw in a few small yellow croakers. These were all marinated by Wen Xiuwei and usually fried in the morning. Chu Jiujiu coated them with starch and fried them directly. When they were halfway through frying, she smelled the salty fragrance inside.
Smelling the familiar fragrance, Chu Jiujiu jumped several times excitedly until the fish inside was fried through, and then she carefully fished it out.
Normally at home, Wen Xiuwei never eats fried foods because they will make her fat and burn her throat. Although she is not a singer, she still has to sing a few lines occasionally. What's more, if her throat is greasy, her voice will not sound good, and she makes a living by her lines.
She doesn't eat it, and she won't let Chu Jiujiu eat it either. She controls Chu Jiujiu very strictly and really doesn't allow her to eat a single bite. Chu Shao and Chu Liqiang, on the other hand, can basically eat it once every two weeks.
Chu Jiujiu didn't know why Wen Xiuwei was so strict with her. She seemed to pay special attention to Chu Jiujiu's body, and her focus was not on health, but on beauty.
Beauty is Wen Xiuwei's greatest strength. She used to hate it, but now she loves it immensely. Almost every beautiful woman has the same fear: the fear of aging and becoming ugly. It's clear that Wen Xiuwei has this fear too, and she's not just afraid of herself; she's also afraid of Chu Jiujiu.
Chu Jiujiu also wanted to be beautiful, but she didn't have the persistence of Wen Xiuwei. In addition to wanting to be beautiful, she also wanted to eat whatever she wanted. But when Wen Xiuwei was around, she didn't dare to disobey her, so she could only eat secretly when she was not around.
After putting the fried fish and fried nuts together, Chu Jiujiu quickly began to clean up the evidence. She first washed the oil pan, then hid the oil bottle she had bought in advance, and took the cattail leaf fan that she would only use in summer. Chu Jiujiu fanned up and down vigorously for more than ten minutes before finally stopping.
She is so hard-working even when it comes to cheating, she is really worthy of being Chu Jiujiu.
After everything was done, Chu Jiujiu happily carried the two plates of fried food to the living room. That was not all, she opened the low cabinet under the TV and took out a half-empty bottle of foreign liquor.
Chu Jiujiu didn't know what the wine was called, and no one told her. She only overheard it when Chu Shao and Chu Liqiang were drinking it together. It seemed that it was imported from abroad and given to Chu Liqiang by someone, but he thought it had no taste, so he took it out and drank it with Chu Shao.
Chu Shao couldn't drink strong alcoholic liquor, as he would feel confused once he drank it. Chu Jiujiu heard this and took note of this bottle of wine. The alcohol content was not high, so wasn't it just right for her, a newbie who had never drunk alcohol before?
Foreign liquor, fried nuts, fried small fish, and a plate of sugar-coated tomatoes. Chu Jiujiu arranged everything in an orderly manner and poured the dark yellow foreign liquor into the cup. Chu Jiujiu happily put the cup to her lips and was about to drink it when suddenly, footsteps were heard outside the door.
Immediately afterwards, there was a knock on the door.
Chu Jiujiu was nearly frightened to death. She quickly poured the wine back and put it back in the cabinet. She didn't have time to destroy the nuts and fish, so she took them back to the kitchen. The living room still smelled of fried food, but the person outside couldn't be Wen Xiuwei, otherwise there wouldn't be a knock on the door. Thinking of this, Chu Jiujiu quickly ran back to the front door and took a look at the figure outside through the frosted glass. Finding it unfamiliar, she opened the door.
It took her nearly two minutes to go back and forth. The people outside kept knocking on the door, thinking that no one was there. Wen Fuming was about to turn around when the door in front of him creaked open.
Chu Jiujiu looked at the strange couple, puzzled: "Who are you looking for?"
Chang Fangyuan and Wen Fuming both looked at her, and Wen Fuming hesitantly called out, "...Xiuwei?"
He had never seen the movie and didn't know what Wen Xiuwei looked like now. Since he had never seen her, he was easily misled by Chu Jiujiu's appearance. Even Chang Fangyuan almost thought that this was their daughter, but after looking carefully, she found that this was not Wen Xiuwei.
Chu Jiujiu knew that she looked like Wen Xiuwei, but this was the first time someone had mistaken her for Wen Xiuwei. She touched her face and said with a smile, "I'm not Wen Xiuwei. Are you looking for her?"
While saying this, she kept blocking the door and had no intention of letting them in.
When the guard gave them the address, Wen Fuming and his wife didn't know what it meant. They thought it was just a small house, but when they got here they found that it was very prosperous. Perhaps this was the most prosperous place in the whole country.
Wen Xiuwei is just an actress, how could she afford to live in such a place? Not to mention, the person who opened the door was another girl. She was dressed casually and had loose hair, and it was obvious that she also lived here.
A more unacceptable possibility came to the couple's minds.
Wen Xiuwei...could she be married already?
It is a good thing for a daughter to get married, but if she gets married when you are not around, it is not something worth celebrating. As soon as you find her, she belongs to someone else's family.
Chang Fangyuan had a smile on his face, but it was a forced one. "Yes, we're looking for Xiuwei. What's your relationship with Xiuwei?"
Chu Jiujiu looked at the two people and felt that they did not seem to be here on business, but rather for personal matters.
She simply replied, "Sister."
"I'm her sister."
He even has a younger sister, it’s over, he must be married!
The only psychological comfort is that this family seems to be quite wealthy, and looking at the looks of this sister, I guess their son-in-law won't be too bad looking either...
Chang Fangyuan supported her husband next to her and continued with a smile: "I am Xiuwei's mother, and this is Xiuwei's father. Is Xiuwei home? Can we come in?"
Chu Jiujiu's eyes widened suddenly. She looked at the two people in shock, not daring to believe it for a moment: "Really? But you don't look like Weiwei."
Wen Fuming explained: "Xiuwei doesn't look like us, she looks like her grandmother."
Others might think this explanation is a bit far-fetched, but after hearing it, Chu Jiujiu felt that it was right.
This is a hereditary inheritance from the family roots!
…
After blinking and reacting for two seconds, Chu Jiujiu finally came to her senses. She quickly made way from behind the door and said, "Come in quickly! Oh my God, you guys went abroad, when did you come back? And it was so hard for you to find your way here from Shanghai! Have you eaten yet? Wait a minute, I just got some snacks, I'll give them to you right away!"
As she spoke, Chu Jiujiu ran to the kitchen and brought out two plates of fried food she had just made. After Wen Fuming and Chang Fangyuan walked in, they looked around the house silently.
It is very clean and full of life, with flowers, grass, electric fans and color TVs. There are many photos hanging on the wall, including family photos, studio photos and ordinary life photos.
There was a smaller photo of Chu Jiujiu and Wen Xiuwei. They were standing at the gate of the Temple of Heaven, both smiling very happily. Chang Fangyuan looked at them and felt relieved.
This family looks pretty good, at least much better than Wen Fuming's eldest brother.
Just as she was thinking about it, Chu Jiujiu came out with a tray. After putting everything down, she said enthusiastically, "Don't stand there anymore. Come sit down. Weiwei went to her teacher's house for classes today. Her teacher lives very far away and won't be back for a while. Wait a minute, I'll call her to come back."
Before Chang Fangyuan's butt even touched the sofa, he quickly stood up again and said, "No hurry, no hurry, class is more important."
Chu Jiujiu had already started dialing, and she retorted, "Of course it's urgent! Weiwei misses you guys!"
Hearing this, Chang Fangyuan stopped talking, his eyes a little red.
After running around so many places, she finally found a place where her daughter lived. She was happy to see her daughter, but what made her even happier was that Wen Xiuwei did not wander around and live a miserable life. She found a new home for herself in a place they could not see.
The air fell into silence. Wen Fuming and Chang Fangyuan didn't eat anything. They just stared at Chu Jiujiu. Chu Jiujiu waited for a while before a voice came from the other side.
Chu Jiujiu immediately asked, "Hello, hello, I'm Chu Jiujiu. I'd like to ask, is my father still in the office?"
"Ah? He went out. Where did he go now?"
Recalling the past, she blurted out without waiting for the other party to answer: "Did you go out to dinner with Deputy Minister Su of the Training Department?"
Chu Jiujiu was listening to the other person very seriously, and Chang Fangyuan and Wen Fuming were also listening to her very seriously. After hearing this, they looked at each other again.
"Yeah, I see. It seems I can't contact him. Thank you, uncle. Goodbye, uncle."
After hanging up the phone, Chu Jiujiu dialed another number. While waiting, she smiled at the two people in front of her, "Sorry, my father is not in the office. I don't care about him. I will call his security guard directly and ask him to go and pick up Weiwei. You guys eat, don't be restrained."
Wen Fuming: "..."
Chang Fangyuan: “…”
They even have guards. What kind of family are they?
The guards were not there either, but the guards' office all took orders from Chu Liqiang, so it was easy for Chu Jiujiu to ask them for a favor. Unlike the Military Commission office just now, which was full of bigwigs, Chu Jiujiu had to speak politely and could not ask them to do things for her.
As soon as she finished speaking, the car drove away. It was estimated that Wen Xiuwei would be able to go home in more than an hour. Chu Jiujiu thought about it and made two more calls.
One was given to Nie Bai, asking him to go find Chu Shao and ask for leave as much as possible so that he could come back today. The other was given to Han Shengyi, asking him and Grandpa Han to come back early today.
Chu Jiujiu was directing everyone over the phone, and she was quite skilled at it. It was only after she finished that Chang Fangyuan had time to ask his questions.
"Excuse me, who is your father?"
Chu Jiujiu: "His name is Chu Liqiang, you probably haven't heard of him."
I haven't heard of it. Just as Chang Fangyuan was about to say something, Chu Jiujiu pulled out the newspaper from under the coffee table and turned to the page she remembered. She handed it to Chang Fangyuan and said, "Here, this is the name."
Wen Fuming also leaned over and found that it was an appointment notice. Seven or eight people were transferred out, and five or six people were transferred in. Chu Liqiang's name was in the middle, neither in front nor in the back.
Wen Fuming and Chang Fangyuan's expressions were a little stiff.
It wasn't Chu Liqiang's name that froze him, but the words "Military Commission" that froze him.
Chu Jiujiu continued, "I've already called him, and he should be back soon. He's the deputy director of the Political Work Department, and the deputy director of the Training Department is close friends with him. I've always wanted to have dinner with him, but I've pushed it back several times before, and today I really can't."
After saying that, Chu Jiujiu smiled at them in a particularly kind manner. She wanted to show her hospitality, but in the eyes of the two people opposite her, her kindness seemed a little hidden.
Just at this moment, the door of the Chu family was pushed open again, and an old lady walked in hurriedly and asked Chu Jiujiu: "Really? Xiuwei's parents are here?"
Wen and Chang quickly stood up. Grandma Han looked at them, stunned for a moment, then gave a not-so-experienced smile, "You are Xiuwei's parents, right?"
Chang Fangyuan also smiled, "Yes, then you are?"
Before Grandma Han could speak, Chu Jiujiu spoke for her, "This is Grandma Han, she lives next door to the next door. I just called her over."
Grandma Han nodded, then remembered something and asked Chu Jiujiu, "When will Shengyi and Old Han come back? Did you call them?"
Chu Jiujiu: "Look at what you said, how could I have forgotten? Of course I called, but Brother Shengyi was not there. It was Secretary Lin who answered the phone. He said that Grandpa Han went to a meeting and Brother Shengyi was accompanying him. He could only come out after they finished the meeting."
Grandma Han couldn't help but mutter, "Why are we having a meeting at this time?"
She pulled Chu Jiujiu to her side and asked her quietly, "Is it a big meeting or a small one?"
Chu Jiujiu also replied in a low voice: "Even Chief Qi came to the meeting. I heard that they were discussing that matter."
Chang Fangyuan didn't know what the matter was. She just heard the three words "Chief Qi" and lowered her head to look at the newspaper in her hand. There was a person with the surname Qi on the first page. Chang Fangyuan looked at the report silently and didn't say anything for a long time.
Now that Grandma Han has come, Chu Jiujiu no longer needs to accompany the guest. She walks aside, listens to them quietly, and secretly puts a peanut into her mouth.
Chang Fangyuan kept asking Grandma Han about Wen Xiuwei's situation. When she learned that Grandma Han met Wen Xiuwei in the countryside and had known her for six years, she couldn't help but ask more questions.
Grandma Han basically gave good news, and that was the fact. Ever since she met the Chu family, Wen Xiuwei had been living a good life. Between the lines, Chang Fangyuan could tell that Wen Xiuwei lived here only because she had a good relationship with the Chu brothers and sisters. They got along like a family, and it was not a marriage relationship as she had imagined.
Chang Fangyuan breathed a sigh of relief and looked even happier. She had a good chat with Grandma Han. Wen Fuming usually just listened and occasionally said a few words.
After they finished asking questions, it was Grandma Han's turn to ask. She found out that they had been living abroad for eleven years. When their visas expired, they did not dare to return to China, nor could they, so they stayed there. Fortunately, they did very well in business and were major taxpayers in the local area, so Wen Fuming obtained a local citizenship for himself.
Originally this matter was not easy to handle, but money talks. For the sake of money, even though they have not withdrawn from this side, they have already handled it.
Originally, they had planned to secretly take Wen Xiuwei out of the country, but after contacting several people, they discovered that they were all domestic spies. If they really handed their daughter over to them, Wen Xiuwei would probably be in danger of death. Even if Wen Fuming was bold, he didn't dare to take such a risk. He gave up the idea of retrieving his daughter and reported these people and everyone associated with them. He had connections with cadres in the country, and because of this, they were able to return home earlier than others.
After all, reporting is a meritorious service.
…
As they were talking, Wen Xiuwei came back. Seeing her parents sitting in the living room, Wen Xiuwei was stunned for a long time and didn't dare to call anyone.
It was Chang Fangyuan who went over first and hugged Wen Xiuwei tightly, and then the family of three finally recognized each other.
Even Wen Fuming's eyes were red. When they left, no one thought that they would be separated for eleven years. Chu Jiujiu and Grandma Han felt very sad watching from the side.
Wen Xiuwei was the first to come back, followed by Chu Liqiang, and then Grandpa Han and Han Shengyi. After dinner was over, Chu Shaocai rushed back exhausted. The Chu family was very lively. He stood at the door, looking at the people in the room, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.
He is a little nervous.
Wen Xiuwei was at her happiest moment when Chu Shao walked in and did not introduce himself immediately. Looking at his expression, Wen Xiuwei knew that he was embarrassed in front of his parents. In a moment of impulse, Wen Xiuwei did not want to hide anything in front of her parents, nor did she want Chu Shao to not even have a proper identity. So, she stood up, took Chu Shao's hand, and walked in front of Chang Fangyuan and Wen Fuming.
She said with a gleam in her eyes, "Mom and Dad, let me introduce you. This is Chu Shao, and he's also... my boyfriend."
Chang Fangyuan stood up in surprise: "What?"
Wen Fuming was also stunned, "What?!"
Grandma Han realized it belatedly and widened her eyes: "What?!?!"
Hearing Grandma Han's voice, the first two people looked over, confused. Chu Jiujiu, who was behind Grandma Han, coughed lightly. She took Grandma Han's arm and whispered to her, "I'll explain it to you later. Please keep a low profile for now."
Reminded by Chu Jiujiu, Grandma Han realized that everyone in the room was looking at her, and today's protagonist should be Wen Xiuwei. She chuckled and said, "Nothing, nothing. You guys talk about yourselves, don't bother me."
Everyone: “…”
Chang Fangyuan then turned around. She kept looking at Chu Shao and asking Wen Xiuwei what was going on. Wen Xiuwei gave a brief explanation. Chang Fangyuan wanted to ask more, but was secretly interrupted by Wen Fuming.
It was indeed difficult to ask in front of so many people. The couple would sleep at the Chu family's house tonight. When there was no one around, Chang Fangyuan went to Wen Xiuwei's room and asked her to tell him everything that had happened.
Wen Xiuwei's face turned red. "Mom, how should I put this? We have always lived together, and there is no process."
Chang Fangyuan: "When did you two become friends?"
Wen Xiuwei was silent and said, "The year before last."
Chang Fangyuan asked again: "Did you two..."
"No!" Wen Xiuwei exploded. "Mom, why are you asking these questions? We haven't even gotten married yet, how is that possible?"
Chang Fangyuan: “…”
Remembering that this wasn't a foreign country, she knew she had misjudged the idea. After a moment of silence, she continued, "Have you made up your mind?"
Wen Xiuwei nodded and said, "I've thought about it."
"You'll follow him from now on?"
Wen Xiuwei nodded again, "Just follow him."
Chang Fangyuan fell silent. To be honest, Chu Shao was a handsome and tall boy from a good family. His father was a high-ranking military officer, and even his sister was very lovable. It seemed that he had good conditions in all aspects.
But, "What does he do? How much does he earn a month?"
Wen Xiuwei was silent. This was the only thing Chu Shao had to show off, and her mother even asked about it.
"He's an intern researcher in the army. As an intern, as you know, his allowance isn't very stable. It's usually 28 yuan a month, but sometimes the army rewards him. Have you seen the new color TV we bought? We bought it with his money and tickets."
When Chang Fangyuan heard this, he was indeed surprised: "He can even afford a color TV?"
Wen Xiuwei laughed dryly: "It was not bought with the allowance, but with his own money. However, the ticket was issued to him by the army."
It was actually pointless for her to explain in such detail, because Chang Fangyuan had been abroad for eleven years and she didn't know much about the situation in China. Wen Xiuwei thought that the allowance of twenty-eight yuan was very low, but Chang Fangyuan had no idea what twenty-eight yuan meant. Even if he said his allowance was sixty yuan, she still thought it was very low.
Let’s put the money aside for now. The main thing is that Chang Fangyuan is not very satisfied with this job.
He could only leave for two days a month, and only if something serious happened, and he couldn't tell her what he was doing. If Chu Shao was just Wen Xiuwei's brother, she would say, "This kid is really promising. He's already doing research at such a young age." But since Chu Shao was Wen Xiuwei's boyfriend, she started to find fault, thinking it wasn't the kind of job a good husband would have.
Wen Xiuwei advised her mother: "Chu Shao's job is not good. Do you think mine is good? I was away for almost a year last year, filming in other places the whole time. I didn't even have time to go home. It was Chu Shao who took the train to visit me. He won't always be like this. Chu Shao has a lot of things he wants to do. He won't stay in this base forever."
Chang Fangyuan glanced at her and said, "I haven't said anything yet, and you're already protecting me?"
Wen Xiuwei smiled shyly, "Isn't this because I'm afraid you won't agree?"
Chang Fangyuan looked at her calmly: "If I don't agree, you won't marry him anymore?"
Wen Xiuwei remained silent.
I already knew the answer, but when I saw her like this, Chang Fangyuan felt both angry and amused.
Forget it, forget it. Wen Xiuwei is already 21 years old, and it is time for her to find a partner. Since there is someone she likes, there is nothing wrong with developing the relationship. Anyway, she is back and can help Wen Xiuwei with more screening.
…
Everyone was in a restless mood that night.
Needless to say, Wen Xiuwei and Chu Shao, one was excited because her parents came back, and the other was nervous because she met her future father-in-law and mother-in-law.
After closing the door, Chang Fangyuan and Wen Fuming discussed and decided to stay in the capital. Foreign companies are operating every day and they cannot do without people there. When they need to go back, they will let Wen Fuming go back. Chang Fangyuan plans to buy a house locally and then take Wen Xiuwei out of the Chu family.
Chu Jiujiu tossed and turned tonight, happy for Wen Xiuwei but worried about Chu Shao.
Everyone was not very calm, but the one who was the most uneasy was undoubtedly Grandpa Han.
Han Shengyi slept on the third floor and could hear the angry voice of Grandma Han coming from the first floor.
"You already knew about this, why didn't you tell me?! Han Tinghui, you did this on purpose, didn't you? Now I remember you were trying to get me to introduce someone to Chu Shao. You really are just looking for trouble. How about I introduce you to someone!!!"
Han Shengyi turned over silently and closed his eyes, pretending that he heard nothing.
…
For the next period of time, Wen Fuming and his wife lived in the Chu family. The room was ready and did not need to be cleaned. It was not until early June that Wen Fuming received news from the company and left again. Chang Fangyuan stayed to look for a new home while getting along with the Chu family.
The more time they spent together, the more reassured she felt. However, her daughter was unwilling to leave with her, and the reason was not for Chu Shao, but for Chu Jiujiu.
In her words, Chu Shao and Chu Liqiang were both busy, and if she left, Chu Jiujiu would have to stay at home alone.
Chang Fangyuan thought for a moment and said, "Then let Jiujiu live with us."
Wen Xiuwei laughed: "If you don't let me live in the Chu family, then do you think the Chu family wants Jiujiu to live in our house?"
Chang Fangyuan was puzzled: "Then what do you say?"
Wen Xiuwei: “…”
If she knew what to do, she would have told you long ago.
After a long silence, Wen Xiuwei resorted to the strategy of procrastination, "Let's talk about it after you find a new home."
…
As June arrived, Chu Jiujiu was about to graduate. Like Han Shengyi and Chu Shao last year, almost all the classmates were worried about their next job or going to the countryside. Chu Jiujiu's name had been registered with the Institute of World History for more than two years. She didn't have to worry about being an educated youth or finding a job. Director Ma had even told her how much her monthly salary would be.
The salary is the same as other assistant researchers, which is 35 yuan per month.
More than thirty yuan is Chu Jiujiu's pocket money. However, people from a family like hers don't go out to work for money, but for experience and spiritual enrichment.
It was the weekend, and Chu Jiujiu stayed at Han's house for a whole day. Grandma Han didn't come back at noon, and Chu Jiujiu didn't want to cook by herself, so she planned to go out to eat with Han Shengyi.
When she was leaving, she was still talking excitedly to Han Shengyi: "Baozhu said she would take me to the Summer Resort in July, first to Chengde, then to Qinhuangdao. The weather is hot in July, just right for going to the beach. Chief Qi is so polite this time. They can just go out and play, and take me with them. Oh, we can eat seafood, hahaha~"
Han Shengyi listened to her with a smile. Chu Jiujiu was a chatterbox and others couldn't stand her, but Han Shengyi had trained himself to like listening to whatever Chu Jiujiu said, and he could listen all the time.
They walked down the street while talking. They were not far from the Han family, only a few dozen meters away. Then, Chu Jiujiu noticed someone looking at her. She stopped talking, turned her head, and looked at the woman opposite.
She is very pretty, but looks very fragile. It's June, and she is still wearing long-sleeved clothes. She is too thin, as if a gust of wind can blow her away.
Chu Jiujiu didn't know her and didn't understand why she was looking at her, but Han Shengyi's expression changed immediately when he saw the woman.
Noticing Han Shengyi looking at her, the woman opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something. Han Shengyi looked at her, but his words were addressed to Chu Jiujiu.
"You go home first."
Chu Jiujiu was stunned for a moment. She looked up at Han Shengyi beside her, then at the woman. After a moment of silence, she nodded and said, "Let's not eat out for lunch. I'll cook some noodles. Brother Shengyi, when you're done, remember to come back for dinner."
At this point, she smiled and said, "I'll put two eggs in it for you."
After she finished speaking, she turned around and walked towards Han's house in silence. She didn't look back, and neither did Han Shengyi. However, she had good hearing, and she heard Han Shengyi's voice was particularly cold. He said to the woman, "You are crazy, how dare you come here."
Chu Jiujiu didn't hear what happened next. She was busy in the kitchen. Just when she was halfway through cooking, Han Shengyi came back. He walked into the kitchen and took over Chu Jiujiu's work.
He chopped green onions quickly. Chu Jiujiu watched for a while and asked, "Is that person gone?"
Han Shengyi hummed.
Chu Jiujiu asked, "Will Grandma Han see her?"
Han Shengyi raised his head and glanced at her.
Chu Jiujiu's expression was very innocent. She had not done any special investigation, but the woman's appearance and age were there, and the most intuitive thing was Han Shengyi's reaction, so it was not difficult to guess who that person was.
Han Shengyi pursed his lips, lowered his head again, and answered simply: "No."
"How do you know?"
"I told her, and she didn't dare come here again."
Chu Jiujiu hummed. She wasn't as confident as Han Shengyi, but rather a little worried. "But, there's no such thing as an impenetrable wall in this world."
Grandma Han hated Ruan Mengru deeply. If she knew that Han Shengyi had met her...
There is about to be a bloody storm in this family.
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