Chapter 271 Tense and Suffocating
“Grandma, this has nothing to do with Weiwei. I offered to help her take care of her myself. Lin Yuru… why are you bringing her up? I already told you, I broke off all contact with her because she's a bad person and always talks about people behind their backs…”
Grandma Xu, with a stern face, scolded:
"I was talking to a guest, why are you interrupting? Is this how you treat your elders? Is this how I raised you? Where did you go with your manners?"
Xu Yue's fear and awe of her grandmother were ingrained in her bones; upon hearing her grandmother's reprimand, she instinctively shrank back.
Shen Xuewei secretly observed the grandmother and granddaughter, and felt that the relationship between the two was...
It felt a bit tense and suffocating.
Grandma Xu stunned Xu Yue, then looked at Shen Xuewei. Perhaps because of Xu Yue's reaction just now, she stopped asking Shen Xuewei the same questions as before, and instead asked her other questions.
Although his tone was still firm, it was slightly softer than before.
Are you in the same class as my Xiaoyue?
Shen Xuewei shook her head, "She's in Class 7, and I'm in the experimental class. We're not in the same class."
Upon hearing the words "experimental class," Grandma Xu paused for a moment, then scrutinized Shen Xuewei for a while. Her originally sharp expression softened, replaced by a gentler one.
Xiaoru had been badmouthing this Shen Xuewei to her, and she thought she was some kind of disreputable student.
I only realized today that she was a girl who looked a few years younger than Xiaoyue, and now I know that she's in the experimental class at No. 1 Middle School...
Those who can get into the experimental class of No. 1 High School are all top students. Could they be the kind of people Xiaoru mentioned who hang out outside?
This Xiaoru is spouting nonsense to her; she's got some bad intentions. No wonder Xiaoyue doesn't like playing with her lately.
She was originally worried that this person would lead Xiaoyue astray.
Now it seems that it's already a miracle that Xiaoyue hasn't led others astray.
I really misunderstood them before.
"Oh, so you're a student from the experimental class. I thought..."
She paused, then took back what she was about to say and pointed to a chair next to her for Shen Xuewei.
"Sit down. It's a rare opportunity for you to come to my home, so don't be shy. Just make yourself at home."
Shen Xuewei thanked her, saying, "Thank you, Grandma Xu."
"I'm sorry, Grandma Xu, I did ask A-Yue to bring me breakfast and hot water before, but you don't need to anymore..."
"No, just let her help you take care of it. You two are friends, it's only right that she helps you. You're not that old, you look a bit younger than Xiaoyue."
Shen Xuewei admired her quick change of expression, but her face remained unchanged.
"Yes, I started school early and skipped grades, so I'm a bit younger than the other students."
"No wonder, she doesn't look the same age as Xiaoyue. You and Xiaoyue have a good time. I was a little harsh with my words earlier, please don't take it to heart. Come visit often when you have time, you're always welcome at home."
"Yes, definitely, I'll definitely come often when I have time..."
...
Watching her grandmother chatting animatedly with Shen Xuewei, a kind and gentle smile gradually appeared on her face.
Xu Yue pinched her cheek, somewhat incredulous.
Is this still her maternal grandmother?
"Xiaoyue, Xiaoyue? Xiaoyue!"
Grandma Xu's displeased voice brought Xu Yue back to her senses.
She snapped out of her reverie. "Grandma, I'm listening. What is it?"
Grandma Xu scolded her, "Look at you, every time I try to teach you something, you just ignore it. I don't know what you're thinking."
"I'm telling you, you should stay away from those shady friends of yours as much as possible. Learn more from Weiwei, learn good things, and don't lead Weiwei astray, understand?"
Xu Yuemian was already used to her belittling. "I know, Grandma."
However, seeing that her grandmother finally had no objections to her friend, she breathed a sigh of relief and was very happy.
Shen Xuewei shifted her position slightly. "Grandma Xu, if there's nothing else, I'll head back to school now. I have evening self-study tonight..."
"Oh, right, you also have to attend evening self-study sessions."
"Xiaoyue, hurry up and take Weiwei back to school. Also, didn't you already pack those two kettles of hot water? Remember to bring them with you."
Grandma Xu urged Xu Yue to hurry up and take Shen Xuewei back to school.
Shen Xuewei carried hot water out first, and after Xu Yue got on her bicycle, she jogged a few steps, jumped on, and sat down.
When the outline of the Xu family's house finally disappeared from sight, Shen Xuewei breathed a sigh of relief.
It's best to avoid the Xu family again; the atmosphere there is truly suffocating.
Xu Yue dropped her off at the school gate. Shen Xuewei got off her bicycle, put down the thermos, and waved to Xu Yue:
"Alright, you should go back now, it'll be dark soon."
Xu Yue replied, "Okay, I'll head back now. See you tomorrow."
"Bye-Bye."
After saying goodbye to Xu Yue, Shen Xuewei carried two thermos flasks and went straight back to her dormitory.
Seeing Shen Xuewei walk away, Xu Yue also rode her bicycle home.
As soon as she entered the house, she saw that there were more old clothes in the living room, and the smile on her face slowly faded.
"Grandma, didn't I tell you? I can work and earn money to buy my own clothes. I don't want other people's hand-me-downs..."
Grandma Xu glared at her, "People kindly gave you clothes to wear, and you didn't even thank them, instead you acted so disgusted. You're just as heartless as your father."
Xu Yue pursed her lips, expressing her resistance through silence.
Grandma Xu tossed the clothes to her, saying, "Take them back to your room and keep them safe. I just checked them all, and they fit you well."
Seeing that Xu Yue remained silent, she said earnestly:
“Xiaoyue, I know you help out at Cui’s shop on weekends and earn forty or fifty yuan a day. But Grandma hopes you will save this money carefully and not spend it recklessly. Given our family’s situation, we should try to save as much as possible.”
“Grandma is old and in poor health, she won’t be able to stay with you for much longer. After I’m gone, this house will belong to your uncle. You know your uncle, he has a certain temperament…”
She sighed and didn't continue.
Xu Yue knew what she meant.
Although her grandmother didn't talk much about the older generation, she had pieced together the family's situation from the old neighbors who lived nearby.
Her uncle was born to her maternal grandmother and her first husband.
When the first woman died, her uncle was still young. Her grandmother was worried that she wouldn't be able to support herself, so she later found another woman to live with her and she gave birth to her mother.
However, her uncle didn't like her maternal grandfather, nor did he like her mother.
Her maternal grandfather passed away early, and after her mother died, her uncle originally wanted her maternal grandmother to abandon her.
Grandma didn't want to abandon him, so he secretly threw her to someone else's doorstep, but she picked her up again, which caused a rift between them.
Later, my uncle went out to work, got married, and had a child. He wanted my maternal grandmother to take care of my aunt and the child.
Grandma offered to take her along, but Uncle refused, so Grandma didn't go.
As a result, her uncle and aunt became even more distant from her maternal grandmother.
He never came back after that.
Grandma felt guilty towards her uncle, so when she hired someone to build this house, it was registered under her uncle's name, but Grandma and her uncle still lived there.
The house belongs to her uncle... If her uncle comes back, she'll probably be kicked out.
Xu Yue suppressed the sadness and confusion welling up inside her and whispered, "I understand..."
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