Chapter 204: Style over Temperature
The two strolled around the town, and Shen Xuewei bought the things that Grandpa Chen and Grandma Xi had asked her to do, as well as a few pounds of fruit and some snacks, planning to go to Fuxing Village later.
The two waited for a car by the roadside. Shen Xuewei got off at Fuxing Village, while Wu Yuhong continued on to Xiaoli Village.
Upon arriving at the Chu family home, Shen Xuewei secretly slipped snacks and toys to Chu De'an, acting like a thief.
Chu De'an gave her a thumbs up and whispered, "Sister, you're the best."
Shen Xuewei nudged him, "Stop talking nonsense and hurry up and put it away, or if we run into someone else, they'll take it all away."
Upon hearing this, Chu De'an quickly put the things away in the room.
Seeing that she had packed her things, Shen Xuewei called out loudly, "Second Aunt, Second Uncle, I've come to see you."
Chu Fu was washing bed sheets by the ditch by the back door when he heard this and peeked in.
"Oh, Weiwei, what brings you here? Your second aunt said she'd visit your maternal grandmother's house tomorrow."
Hearing Shen Xuewei's voice, Chen Fangli came out of the house. When she saw Shen Xuewei, her eyes crinkled with laughter, and she went up to touch her face.
The slight coolness to the touch caused the smile on her face to fade.
"It's so cold outside, why didn't you wear more clothes?"
Shen Xuewei retorted, "Second Aunt, I'm wearing four layers, including my coat."
"So what if you're wearing four layers? They still feel so thin. What if you catch a cold?"
"Don't be like your aunt. She loves beauty and is the kind of person who values style over warmth... You can be like her when you grow up."
She pulled Shen Xuewei into the room. "You've come at the perfect time. I crocheted some sweaters for you the other day, one for you and one for An'er. Perfect, just put them on."
Every year, Chen Fangli would crochet sweaters for Shen Xuewei and Chu De'an, usually finishing them in early winter so they could wear them.
However, because I recently had a baby, I didn't have the energy and time to finish crocheting it, so it took me two months to finish this time.
Under her supervision, Shen Xuewei obediently put on the sweater and twirled around in front of her.
Does it fit?
Shen Xuewei nodded, "It fits perfectly, it fits exceptionally well."
"That's fine. Quick, put on your coat too, don't catch a cold. Stay at your second aunt's house tonight, and I'll have your second aunt's husband take you home tomorrow."
Shen Xuewei remembered the promise she had made to Grandma Xi before leaving home and refused:
"No, Auntie, I promised Grandma I'd dye her hair today when I left home."
"I'll check on Kang Kang a little longer, then I'll head back."
She insisted on leaving, and Chen Fangli, not wanting to force her to stay, said:
"Sit a little longer, I'll take you inside to see Kang Kang. Later, I'll have your second aunt's husband take you home by bicycle."
This time, Shen Xuewei did not refuse. "Thank you, Second Aunt."
Chen Fangli led her to the next room.
Chu Dexi lay on the Simmons mattress, covered with a blanket, only his head showing, fast asleep.
Shen Xuewei softened her breathing and gently tapped the tip of his nose.
Chu Dexi, who is about three months old, is not as ugly as he was when he was just a few days old.
Previously, Chen Fangli and Xi's maternal grandmother both said that he looked like Chen Fangyang, but Shen Xuewei didn't think so at the time.
Looking at it now, I suddenly realize that there is indeed a vague resemblance.
Chu Dexi looked like a little angel when he was asleep.
However, an hour later, Chu Dexi woke up and cried loudly, like a demonic wailing.
Shen Xuewei was completely bewildered, thinking he was like a little devil.
Chen Fangli skillfully soothed the child, feeding him and carrying him around the room without showing any impatience.
Looking at the gentle and loving Chen Fangli, Shen Xuewei was stunned for a long time.
Chen Fangli put the child back to sleep and noticed that Shen Xuewei's eyes were glazed over, and she didn't know what she was thinking.
She held out her hand and waved it in front of Shen Xuewei's eyes. "Weiwei, what's wrong?"
Shen Xuewei snapped out of her daze and met her worried eyes.
"It's nothing, I just think you're so gentle, Auntie."
Chen Fangli, however, sensed something else in her words. She squeezed Shen Xuewei's hand and asked in a low voice:
"Did your parents say something to you when you went back this time?"
She comforted Shen Xuewei, "Don't worry about what your parents say. If anything happens, just tell your second aunt. Your second aunt is always here for you."
Shen Xuewei leaned gently against her, "Second Aunt, you're so kind."
With a second aunt like that around, parents and such don't really matter anymore.
Knowing that Shen Xuewei would be going back today, the Chu family prepared dinner in advance so that Shen Xuewei could eat at home and then have Chu Fu take her back by bicycle.
Chu De'an also insisted on going to the Chen family, even when Chen Fangli took out a whip, he wouldn't listen.
With a single sentence from Shen Xuewei, who was at odds with him, "You can go, but bring your winter break homework. You need to finish it in the next few days," Chu De'an was sent packing and retreated to his room.
Chu Fu, holding the bicycle, freed his hands and gave Shen Xuewei a thumbs up.
Taking advantage of Chu De'an's return to his room, the two quickly left.
Along the way, Chu Fu chatted with Shen Xuewei. When Shen Xuewei asked why he didn't let Chu De'an go back to the Chen family with her,
"Right now, only your second aunt and I can keep him in check. If he goes to your maternal grandparents' house, they'll spoil him rotten, and he'll become completely unruly."
Shen Xuewei muttered, "But I'm still here, aren't I?"
Chu Fu glanced at Shen Xuewei in the back seat.
"You dare say you're not the one who spoils him the most?"
Shen Xuewei is capable of managing, but while managing, she can't help but spoil them.
Thinking back to the toys and snack bags he swept out from under Chu De'an's bed a few days ago... I wonder how many things this girl secretly bought for that boy. I hope she doesn't spend all her living expenses on them.
Shen Xuewei choked, unable to refute.
Chu Fu took Shen Xuewei back to the Chen family home. Despite the elderly couple's attempts to persuade her to stay, she only drank a cup of hot water and chatted for a while before riding her bicycle back home.
Before it got dark, Shen Xuewei quickly helped Grandma Xi dye her hair.
After she finished dyeing her hair, she held up a mirror for her grandmother to see.
"Look, Grandma, how energetic he is!"
Grandma Xi looked at the person in the mirror who seemed younger and nodded with a smile.
"Yes, she looks much younger."
Grandpa Chen, having moved a stool and sat down beside her at some point, suddenly spoke up when he saw that Grandma Xi's hair was dyed:
"I want to dye my hair too."
He can't let his wife look so much younger than him.
Grandma Xi glared at him, "Why are you dyeing your hair? You didn't want to before when I asked you to, but now that you see how well I did, you want to do it too."
Shen Xuewei hesitated, looking at the little bit of hair dye left. "How about we use the rest to dye Grandpa's hair? Otherwise, it's just a waste to leave it there."
Grandma Xi glanced at it, and thinking that Shen Xuewei's words made sense, she gave up her seat.
"Come here, let's dye it."
Shen Xuewei used the remaining hair dye to dye Grandpa Chen's hair, turning his nearly half-white hair black.
When Chen Fangqiu returned home that evening, she saw her grandfather, who had black hair, and looked at him curiously a few more times.
Grandpa Chen felt a little uncomfortable. "What are you looking at? Where have you been gallivanting these past few days? Why are you coming back so late?"
Chen Fangqiu looked away, ignoring what he said, and went straight back to her room.
Grandpa Chen stood in front of his door for a long time, but in the end he didn't say anything and silently turned around and went back inside.
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