Chapter 19 Chapter 19
It was the first time that Wen Ying knew that Wen Cong could drink so well.
The light was hazy, swirling around in Wen Ying's eyes. She struggled to raise her arm and hold down Wen Cong's hand as he poured her wine: "You can't drink anymore."
There were already a pile of empty bottles on the table. Wen Ying felt dizzy and her words were swollen. But Wen Cong was still sober. He easily pushed away her blocking hand and filled the glass. "It's okay, sister. It's just the two of us. It's okay to drink too much."
Wen Ying's remaining sanity reminded her that something was wrong. She focused her eyes hard and frowned at Wen Cong: "What's wrong with you?"
Wen Cong fiddled with his phone twice, seemingly opening some software. He then turned the phone screen upside down and leaned forward slightly to look at Wen Ying: "Sister, do you think I shouldn't give up this opportunity to continue my studies?"
"Of course, studying is the most important path for you," Wen Ying said slowly, trying to express herself more clearly. "Your father favors boys over girls, so he won't consider you. So you need to plan for yourself. With a good diploma, you'll find a good job in the future."
Wen Cong sighed. "It's not that my dad doesn't want to support me, he just has his own difficulties. Our family isn't well off, and my mom can only afford basic living expenses. Wen Jun is a boy, and when he grows up he'll need to buy a house and get married, so the pressure on them as parents is huge."
Wen Ying was a little wary: "What do you want to say?"
Wen Cong was a little embarrassed and spoke after a long while. "My dad said that if we could get some of the compensation for the demolition of our ancestral home, my schooling and Wen Jun's house purchase would be solved." She begged, "Sister, my dad is right. You have a high income, and your annual income is enough to cover our family's expenses for several years. This money is just a number to you, but it can save our family's life. We don't want to give you all the money, we just want a part of it. With this money, I can continue my studies. Sister, isn't this what you want to see?"
Wen Ying was horrified. She didn't expect that Wen Cong would say this.
"Just because I have a high income, does that mean I have an obligation to share some of my money with you?" Wen Ying just found it funny. "Wen Cong, do you even think your father's suggestion makes sense?"
Perhaps it was the alcohol that emboldened him, but Wen Cong suddenly became tough: "Wen Jun is my brother. If he has a hard time in the future, I will still have to find a way to get money to help him. This is my fate anyway, sister. You and I are the best people in the entire Wen family. You can't be so heartless and watch me ruin my studies."
She pulled a document from her schoolbag and handed it to Wen Ying. Her voice dropped again, almost pleading, "Sister, I don't want all your money, just a portion, a very small portion. This is a voluntary donation contract. I found a sample online. As long as you sign it, I can promise you that I will never let my dad appear in front of you and cause you trouble again."
Wen Ying folded her arms, feeling a chill run down her spine. "You invited me to dinner and poured me wine just for this, right?"
Wen Cong covered the receiver with her hand and spoke in a very low voice: "My dad asked me to record the whole process. If I can't get you to sign today, he will beat me to death. Sister, please save me."
Wen Ying sneered twice, tears welling up in her eyes. "Wen Cong, thank you so much for making me realize a reality today—I don't have any relatives left in this world."
She wiped the water marks from the corners of her eyes angrily and picked up the pen: "I hope you will do what you say, Wen Cong. From now on, I don't want to see the face of anyone in your Wen family again."
She had just lowered her head to write three water drops when a big hand suddenly stretched out from in front of her, snatched the pen from Wen Ying's hand, tore the gift contract into several pieces in a few seconds, and threw it hard in front of Wen Cong.
"If you want to beat me to death, just do it. When the police file a case and transfer it to public prosecution, I will definitely seek justice for you." His voice was stern and his tone was cold and gloomy.
Wen Ying had never heard Shen Li speak in such a tone, let alone to Wen Cong.
Wen Cong was also startled, his face pale. He stood up and stepped back, stammering, "Brother-in-law..."
Chen Li grabbed Wen Ying's wrist and pulled her up from her seat without even looking at Wen Cong: "Don't call me brother-in-law. Xiao Ying doesn't have any relatives in this world, only a husband."
Wen Cong stood huddled in the corner, crying: "I have no choice, I can only do this."
Chen Li interrupted her without mercy: "How can there be no way? You can apply for financial aid to go to school, and if you do well in the grades, you can get a scholarship. Even if things don't work out, as long as you tell me you need money to study, I think neither I nor your sister would hesitate to pay for your tuition. But you didn't. You didn't consider any other options and just blindly followed your father's request. In fact, deep down you also think that this is what you should do, don't you? Wen Cong, you are indeed better than your father, but not much better. If you have a rough life in the future, don't blame others, only blame yourself for being stupid and weak."
Chen Li grabbed Wen Ying's wrist and pulled her out of her seat, his face a little cold: "You don't want your stomach anymore? Drinking for such a person, I really hope you won't regret it when you wake up and have a stomachache."
Wen Ying smiled bitterly, tears welling up in her eyes: "I already regret it. Take me home, I just want to get some sleep now."
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Tongxi Villa is the earliest comprehensive sanatorium in Minshi City. It covers an entire hilltop and is dotted with various apartments, houses, and villas, with all kinds of hospitals and supermarkets.
Wen Ying stopped to take a few breaths, then looked up to see the path ahead disappearing into a layer of misty fog in the mountains.
Shen Li waited for her: "Tired?"
Wen Ying shook her head: "I'm not tired, I just think the scenery is beautiful."
The scenery here is truly beautiful. The Tongxi River flows along the mountainside, so the air is rich in moisture and moist. The pines in the forest are still green, and a layer of mist flows slowly between the pine needles like water.
Chen Li pointed ahead and said, "We'll be there in a moment. We can drive there, but the wide road certainly won't be as scenic as the mountain trails. You've been staying in the office a lot lately, so I wanted to get you some exercise."
Shen Li's grandfather moved in five years ago. He preferred quietness, and immediately chose the innermost two-story building. The building sat on a high hill, with a road below and a stone path above for pedestrians.
Wen Ying said as she walked, "Grandpa doesn't like me very much, but it's almost New Year, so I should come visit."
Chen Li told her not to worry: "I'm here, you can rest assured. Grandpa is old and sometimes has stubborn and old-fashioned ideas. Don't take it too seriously."
After walking a little further, they could faintly smell the scent of sandalwood from fireworks. Wen Ying knew they were almost there.
Grandpa Shen Li’s Western-style building is close to Tongxi Temple. The ancient temple is quiet and peaceful. Cultivating oneself here really makes one feel like an old immortal.
The red brick building soon appeared before my eyes. In the courtyard stood a lush locust tree. Although it was winter, the temperature in the mountains was high, and the locust tree's leaves were still lush and green.
The hospital gate was fingerprint-recognized. Shen Li took Wen Ying in and happened to meet a doctor and a nurse coming out of the first-floor entrance carrying a medicine box.
At Tongxi Villa, every elderly resident has his or her own doctor and nurse who monitors their physical condition daily, and the central canteen will reasonably distribute daily meals according to the physical condition of each elderly person.
The doctor had served Grandpa Shen Li for many years, so he naturally recognized Shen Li and greeted him with a smile: "Long time no see, Inspector Shen."
Shen Li nodded and smiled back: "How is Grandpa's health?"
"We just finished today's health monitoring. Professor Shen's indicators are all good, except for a slightly high blood pressure. It's not serious, though. It rained in the mountains last night, and maybe the noise was too loud so he didn't get enough rest. We'll come back after Professor Shen takes a nap this afternoon. Don't worry."
Shen Li thanked him politely, and the doctor turned his attention to Wen Ying: "This is..."
Shen Li said naturally: "My wife."
Grandpa Shen Li was a conservative man and could not accept Shen Li's sudden marriage, which led to his dissatisfaction with Wen Ying. Therefore, Wen Ying only visited the city twice, after the wedding and before leaving for Jiangcheng. The medical staff here had no impression of her.
The nurse behind the doctor looked surprised and a little strange. But the doctor said nothing, said goodbye, and left with the nurse.
Wen Ying watched them leave, touched her face and asked Chen Li: "Is there something on my face? The nurse just now seemed surprised to see me."
Shen Li led her into the entrance and found a new pair of cotton slippers from the shoe cabinet: "They all know that I'm married, but they probably didn't expect my wife to be so beautiful."
Wen Ying smiled with her lips pursed, then lowered her head to put on her shoes.
There was another door inside the entrance. When Chen Li pushed it open, Wen Ying suddenly understood why the nurse looked surprised.
Zheng Di's laughter was as crisp and clear as a tender bamboo shoot. "Really? I've never heard my father mention it before."
The nurse must have thought that Zheng Di was Shen Li's wife.
Professor Shen also laughed, his old voice still strong and powerful: "Yongzhi is your father, why would he take the initiative to tell you about his embarrassing school days?"
Zheng Di's father, Zheng Yongzhi, is the Deputy Director of the Min City Justice Bureau. He's a prominent figure in Min City's political and legal circles and one of Professor Shen's most proud students. Zheng Di has always been a good student and a well-behaved person, and Professor Shen has always had his eye on her and wanted to match her with Shen Li.
Wen Ying and Chen Li's sudden marriage completely cut off the old man's idea of acting as a matchmaker.
Shen Li and Wen Ying walked into the south floor-to-ceiling balcony. Professor Shen was leaning on a rocking chair, and Zheng Di was sitting next to him showing him photos on her phone.
When he saw Wen Ying, the smile on Professor Shen's face disappeared without a trace. He straightened up and looked at Chen Li: "How did you find time to come here?"
Shen Li handed the paper bag in his hand to Professor Shen: "The New Year is coming soon, Xiaoying picked out a cashmere sweater for you."
"Grandpa," Wen Ying felt awkward in front of Professor Shen, and smiled, "I hope you like it."
"Oh," Professor Shen didn't even look at her, pointing to the empty sofa next to him, "Put it there."
He waved for Shen Li and Wen Ying to sit down. Zheng Di then spoke, smiling directly at Wen Ying: "Wen Lu, I haven't seen you since the lawsuit between Mr. Zhou and Mrs. Zhou ended."
Professor Shen casually asked, "Have you ever been involved in a lawsuit together?"
Zheng Di smiled: "Lawyer Wen and I are well matched. We represented both the plaintiff and the defendant respectively. The court debate stage was very exciting."
Professor Shen became interested: "Who won?"
Zheng Di said proudly: "Of course it's me. I can be considered as an indirect successor to your legacy. With your blessing, I will certainly win the case."
Professor Shen was very pleased with Zheng Di's words and laughed out loud with his head thrown back.
Wen Ying softly said, "It's just the first trial. Lawyer Zheng has been in the profession for so many years, has he forgotten that the second trial is the final trial?"
Professor Shen's laughter stopped abruptly, and he glanced at Wen Ying with some impatience. "The path of justice requires talent, and not everyone can make it through hard work. I didn't know you were married at the time, but now that you're married, you must manage your family and marriage well. You've been working hard in Jiangcheng for the past few years, and you and Xiaoli have been apart for a long time. In my opinion, after you return to Minshi this time, it's best for you to focus on your family, have a child soon, and put your work aside if you can."
Wen Ying felt suffocated. Before she could say anything, Shen Li had already blocked the accusations for her: "Grandpa no longer understands the mentality of us young people. In my eyes, I appreciate career-oriented women more. Besides, I'm too busy with work. Xiao Ying has urged me a few times, but I haven't considered the issue of having children yet."
Professor Shen was about to say something, but Shen Li spoke first, pointing in the direction of Tongxi Temple outside the window. "My eyelids have been twitching lately, and I'm a little nervous. While it's still early, can you help me get a peace amulet?"
When Professor Shen heard this, he became worried about Shen Li: "Did something happen to you recently? I think your line of work is dangerous. Why don't you transfer to a university and pursue academic studies?"
Chen Li signaled Wen Ying with his eyes to leave quickly. She glanced at Zheng Di, who was a little jealous, and lowered her head and quickly left the house.
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