Chapter 66 Granny Chen
She took the incense from Zheng Feng, and following the instructions of the adults, bowed three times in front of the image of the gods and Buddhas, and then inserted the incense into the incense burner.
After offering incense, she stepped back.
Tao Qiuying and Zheng Jianjun sat at the head of the table, both looking at her at the same time.
Shen Xuewei stepped forward, knelt down three times, and called out, "Godfather and Godmother."
Both of them smiled and handed Shen Xuewei a red envelope, then told her to get up.
Zheng Jianjun picked up a piece of red cloth with writing on it from the table and handed it to Shen Xuewei.
"Good child, your name is Shen Xuewei, right? That's a good name. But since you've become my godfather, I've given you a new name. It's Zheng Jinyan. From now on, at my house, you'll be called Zheng Jinyan, understand?"
"Okay, thank you godfather for helping Wei... Jinyan with the name. Jinyan likes this name very much."
She took the red cloth, on which her birth date and her new name were written.
Grandma Xi used small buttons to fasten the red cloth around her body.
After successfully becoming godfathers, Shen Xuewei and her two companions needed to stay at the Zheng family home for lunch.
Zheng Jianjun was talking to Grandpa Chen and Grandma Xi, while Shen Xuewei sat to the side, exchanging glances with Zheng Feng.
Zheng Feng is currently in the first year of junior high school, but before that, he also studied at Mingda Elementary School, one year ahead of Shen Xuewei.
More importantly, the two had interacted at school.
He was one of the customers who asked Shen Xuewei to help them with their homework...
Many things from her childhood are no longer remembered by Shen Xuewei.
She remembered having a godfather, but she couldn't recall when.
In my past life, I finished sixth grade here and went back to my hometown in the countryside to study. After that, I lost contact with my godparents.
Later, after she started working, she did take the time to come back and visit the two of them.
By then, the two of them had aged considerably.
She always called them godfather and godmother, but she didn't actually know their real names.
As for her godbrother, they didn't have much interaction in her previous life. She only met him once when she came to the Zheng family to pay New Year's visits. She never saw him again after growing up, so she didn't have a deep impression of him.
However, in this life, the two of them actually crossed paths before that.
She looked at Zheng Feng, and Zheng Feng looked at her too.
He glanced at the three adults chatting animatedly to the side, and then at Tao Qiuying, who was busy in the kitchen.
Seeing that no one was paying attention, he leaned closer to Shen Xuewei and threatened her in her ear:
"Don't you dare tell my parents about me not doing my homework, or I won't accept you as my sister!"
Shen Xuewei's lips twitched slightly.
Her godbrother's threat... was really simple and straightforward...
Before she could speak, Zheng Feng became anxious.
"Did you hear that? Don't tell them, or I won't let you off the hook when you go to junior high."
Shen Xuewei suppressed a laugh and said, "I know, I won't tell anyone, just don't tell anyone yourself."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Feng breathed a sigh of relief, and his gaze towards Shen Xuewei became more affectionate.
"How could you possibly think of worshipping my parents?"
“It wasn’t my idea; it was my maternal grandparents’ idea. They were good to me, so I did the ceremony.”
Zheng Feng looked at Shen Xuewei, who had lost a lot of weight, with a hint of sympathy in his eyes.
"Look at you, you're as skinny as a chick. When you get to junior high, who knows how you'll be bullied."
Shen Xuewei pressed her advantage, saying, "You're practically my brother now. If I get bullied in junior high, won't you help me?"
Zheng Feng choked for a moment, wanting to ask why he should help.
However, now that she has become his godfather, she is indeed, by all accounts, his sister.
He reluctantly said, "If you are really being bullied, well... as long as you're not the one bullying others, I'll do my best to help you."
Shen Xuewei was amused by his smug look. "Okay, thank you in advance. When I go to junior high school, remember to look after me."
Zheng Feng patted his chest and promised, "No problem."
Strangely enough, after becoming her godfather, Shen Xuewei's health gradually improved.
She had previously lost her appetite, but the weight she had lost gradually returned.
The Chen family saw this and were overjoyed.
On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, Grandma Chen's grandson came to pay his respects and brought news of his mother's passing.
Grandma Chen was deaf, and her grandson gestured in front of her for a long time before she realized that he was saying that her daughter had passed away.
At that moment, tears welled up in my eyes, but I couldn't say a word.
Grandma Chen is 89 years old this year and is still in good health.
The old man next door, Mr. Chen, was two years younger than her. He spent nearly 20 hours a day lying in bed and needed someone to help him with his bodily functions.
Based on his physical condition, it's probably only this year.
Granny Chen was even able to get out of bed.
My daughter is dead, and soon my husband will die too.
There are very few elderly people her age left.
On this day, she held her grandson's hand tightly, almost reluctant to let go.
Her grandson is almost fifty years old, and there are still a lot of things to do at home.
Even though she was reluctant to let him go, she could only watch him leave.
Before leaving, she gave all the money she had saved over the decades to her grandson.
Grandpa Chen knew, but he didn't say anything.
Grandma Xi's mouth moved, but thinking of how many years Grandma Chen had worked at home, she couldn't say anything.
After seeing her grandson off, Granny Chen sat dejectedly in front of the door, gazing at the roadside for a long time.
Grandma Xi felt a little sorry for her, so she went back into her room and took out a fifty-yuan note from under her pillow and gave it to her.
"Mom, it's not that time yet, why did you give him all the money? If you want to eat something later, where will you get the money to buy it? Keep this money safe, don't give it away anymore, at least you'll have some money to keep you safe..."
"Even though you probably won't need it, you still need to have some money on hand."
She kept talking and stuffed the money into the pocket on Granny Chen's chest.
Granny Chen's cloudy eyes were lifeless; she couldn't hear her words and showed no reaction whatsoever.
Grandma Xi sighed and walked away from her.
By the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, fewer relatives had come to pay their respects to the Chen family.
Grandma Xi prepared some more gifts and took Shen Xuewei to the Zheng family to pay New Year's greetings.
Although she had just visited before the Lunar New Year, now that Shen Xuewei had paid her respects to Zheng Jianjun, the Zheng family would be considered legitimate relatives of the Chen family.
As Zheng's goddaughter, Shen Xuewei should also send gifts during festivals.
As soon as they arrived at the village entrance, Zheng Feng, who was playing with firecrackers in the field, noticed the two of them immediately.
He quickly stepped forward, led the two into the house, and announced loudly, "Mom and Dad, Grandma Xi and Jinyan are here."
The two responded, and Tao Qiuying poked her head out of the kitchen and greeted them, "Aunt Xi, Jinyan, please sit down first. I'll have Jianjun come out and talk to you two."
Grandma Xi quickly replied, "No need to trouble yourself, we can manage on our own."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zheng Jianjun was already in the main room.
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