Chapter 196 begins the performance
He secured the opportunity for Shen Xuewei to continue her studies, at the cost of paying for her three years of high school.
However, every month, he still had to hand over 2,500 yuan to Shen Jiaying and Chen Fangmin.
At that time, Shen Xuewen's monthly salary was less than three thousand yuan.
Having reached this point, Shen Xuewen had used up all his courage, and he gritted his teeth and agreed.
He was usually very frugal, but he became even more frugal after that.
With his support, Shen Xuewei was able to attend high school as she wished.
In order to spend as little money as possible, Shen Xuewei was very frugal throughout high school.
During winter or summer vacations, I look for temporary jobs whenever I have the opportunity.
It was also with his financial support that Shen Xuewei was able to finish high school.
Later, when she entered junior college, she did not ask Shen Xuewen for money again. She saved up her living expenses and tuition fees for the next two years by taking out a student loan for a year, working part-time and doing other jobs.
She didn't want Shen Xuewen's money, so Shen Xuewen bought a computer and traveled a long distance by train to give it to her.
She could easily repay the money she owed Shen Xuewen, but the favors she owed him were hard to repay.
He was her brother, but he never owed her anything, and the things he did for her were not things he was obligated to do.
But he still helped her.
Shen Xuewei could be ruthless to anyone in the Shen family, but she couldn't be ruthless to her brother, no matter what.
The words used to describe Shen Xuewen are rarely superlative.
He was taciturn, cowardly, indecisive, and unambitious... These were the impressions that outsiders and even family members had of him.
But to Shen Xuewei, he was the best brother in the world.
Shen Xuewen shifted uncomfortably, feeling that Shen Xuewei's gaze was somewhat strange.
He glanced at the group of people chatting noisily on the other side and whispered:
"Weiwei, are you...is something wrong?"
Shen Xuewei snapped out of her daze and shook her head at him, "Brother, I'm fine, I just miss you a little."
Shen Xuewen got goosebumps on his arms. "Weiwei, can you please not say things like that? I find it a bit cheesy, it's not like you."
In his memory, his sister should be a quiet person who doesn't talk much.
The strange, cheesy words coming from her mouth made him feel that this person wasn't his sister, but rather like someone possessed by another, as described in novels.
Shen Xuewei caught a glimpse of his eyes and knew he was probably thinking about something again.
She tugged at Shen Xuewen's sleeve, "Brother, let's go for a walk."
Just then, Shen Xuewu walked over and asked, "Brother, Second Sister, what are you talking about?"
When Shen Xuewei saw him, the smile on her lips faded slightly.
"I didn't say anything, it's something you wouldn't understand anyway."
She pulled Shen Xuewen towards the exit, and Shen Xuewen followed her lead. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Shen Xuewu behind him looking somewhat displeased, and hesitated before saying:
"Weiwei, aren't we going to invite Xiaowu?"
Shen Xuewei let out a long breath, suppressing her annoyance with Shen Xuewu. "It's alright, let him stay with Mom. Besides, brother, after all these years, you only think about him and ignore me?"
Shen Xuewen was good to her, but he was also Shen Xuewu's brother, and he treated Shen Xuewu well as well as well.
Hearing Shen Xuewei say this, Shen Xuewen scratched his head, somewhat at a loss.
"Weiwei, I didn't mean that."
He was tongue-tied and afraid of upsetting Shen Xuewei, so he tried to explain but couldn't think of any more words.
"Okay, brother, I know that's not what you meant. Just take me for a walk around the village, I don't want to listen to the adults."
Shen Xuewen nodded, "Okay, then I'll treat you to something to eat at the convenience store."
He hadn't been to the village many times, and he didn't like visiting relatives' homes. The only place he really knew was the village store.
Shen Xuewei looked up at him and smiled, "Thank you, brother."
Seeing Shen Xuewei happy, Shen Xuewen's face also lit up with joy.
The two walked slowly toward the convenience store, talking as they went.
"Brother, didn't I give you my phone number? Why don't you call me?"
After Shen Xuewei asked Chen Fanglan to buy her a cell phone, she unusually took the initiative to call Chen Fangmin from the home phone, just so she could talk to Shen Xuewen and give him her number.
Shen Xuewen explained, "I remember the number, but I couldn't borrow a phone. My parents don't usually give me pocket money, so I don't have money to go to a phone booth..."
Shen Xuewei felt a pang of sadness, but managed a forced smile.
"It's nothing, brother. Look at this."
She took out her phone from her pocket, waved it in front of Shen Xuewen, and handed it to him.
"Here, this is my phone. It has a SIM card and I've already topped it up. Keep it safe, and also keep the charger safe. Don't tell Mom and Dad, or they'll take it away."
Shen Xuewen was embarrassed to take it, "No, I've already used it, so what will you use?"
Shen Xuewei said casually, "It's okay, I'll ask my aunt to buy it for me again later. You haven't met my aunt yet, have you? She's very good to me. And do you remember my second aunt...?"
Having not seen each other for a long time, Shen Xuewei had a lot to say to him.
Shen Xuewen took the things she gave him, but since he wasn't going back, he had no choice but to accept them and listen to her talk silently, occasionally saying a word or two.
The two grabbed a bag of snacks from the convenience store, and Shen Xuewen insisted on paying for it.
After leaving the convenience store, Shen Xuewen held the food in his hand but didn't eat it.
Seeing that Shen Xuewei had finished her portion in small bites, he handed his to her.
Under Shen Xuewei's enthusiastic advances, the last bit of unfamiliarity between the two disappeared completely, as if they had returned to their childhood.
They returned home chatting and laughing, only to find that there were even more people there.
The various relatives of the Shen family, mainly Shen Jiaying's older brothers and sisters, and their children.
A huge crowd filled the living room.
Shen Xuewei stood at the door, hesitating whether to go in.
With so many relatives, she was overwhelmed.
Just as she was about to turn around and leave, Shen Jiaying discovered the two of them inside the house.
"Xiaowen, Xiaowei, what are you standing there for at the door? Come in quickly!"
Upon hearing this, all the relatives turned to look at the door.
"Oh, this is your daughter, Xiaowei, right? She's grown so much."
Shen Jiaying chuckled and responded, then walked to the door and pulled the two of them in, one on each side.
"Yes, you've both met my sons. This is my most beloved daughter. Come, Xiaowei, quickly greet her, this is you..."
With a stiff face, Shen Xuewei called out to all the relatives.
She wanted to leave, but Shen Jiaying wouldn't let her go. He dragged her into a performance, making her put on an act in front of everyone.
“Over the years, Amin and I have been working outside, taking care of two children. If there hadn’t been a real reason, we would never have sent her to her maternal grandparents’ home.”
“She was obedient and the most well-behaved since she was a child. As you can see, my parents-in-law are getting old, and it was difficult to send Xiaowen to school when she was in school. Xiaowu is also very clingy and needs someone to accompany him all day, so it was also difficult to send him away.”
“Amin and I discussed it for a long time before deciding to send our daughter to her maternal grandparents’ house. Although we visit every year and send money every month, it’s hard to believe how much she’s grown up…”
He rattled off a long speech, which drew praise from the crowd.
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