Chapter 355: Still Different

When Wen Yu arrived at her uncle’s new home, it was already filled with laughter and chatter.

Upon entering, she saw Magistrate Wen with Wen Shizhu, and needless to say, Mr. Hu was also there! He was mainly there for silent companionship, like a shadow…

Magistrate Mo had also arrived, and several people were drinking tea and chatting.

Chen Wensi and Chen Wenliang were off to the side, talking about something with Magistrate Mo’s son.

Chen Wenliang had returned home for the New Year, and his family doted on him. These past few days, they had been spoiling him and feeding him all sorts of delicacies. As a result, he was feeling a little smug. Seeing Wen Yu enter, he pulled a long face and acted all high and mighty! Both Chen Wenliang and Master Mo’s son stepped forward to greet her, but he turned his head away, ignoring her.

After Wen Yu finished greeting everyone, she joined Wen Shizhu and the Chen sisters. Turning her head, she saw Chen Wenliang’s behavior and found it both irritating and amusing. “Cousin has returned home for the New Year?” she asked, initiating the conversation.

Chen Wenliang remained sullen, as if he hadn’t heard her.

At this, Qi Wu couldn’t stand it anymore. His face turned cold, and he stared at him with a chilling aura.

Chen Wenliang had grown accustomed to being around his drill instructor, and he could immediately sense this intimidating feeling without even looking. He instantly became submissive and shuffled over to say, “Cousin, Cousin-in-law, Happy New Year!”

“Chen Wenliang, how were your exam results before the New Year?” Qi Wu refused to let him off the hook.

“Not bad…” Chen Wenliang lowered his head.

“What do you mean ‘not bad’? Out of fifty students, what was your ranking?”

Everyone fell silent, looking at him.

At this moment, Chen Wenliang regretted his usual laziness and slacking off, which left him unable to stand tall in front of them. “Uh… about forty-fifth.” Then, he added defiantly, “Some of them started earlier than me, and some are older!”

Qi Wu said, “You should know that it took me a lot of effort to get you into that place. Next year, if you’re still at the bottom of the class, don’t blame me for not letting you have a good New Year!”

Qi Wu’s rare sternness made Wen Yu secretly gloat. “Chen Wenliang, did you hear what your cousin-in-law said?”

“Yes. Cousin-in-law, Wenliang obeys!” Chen Wenliang found the familiar feeling of being in front of his drill instructor and answered with a straight back.

Uncle Chen snorted softly: Serves him right! After returning home, the whole family doted on him, but he kept finding fault with everything. Now that he’s been reprimanded, he’s finally behaving.

Wen Shizhu hadn’t seen Wen Yu for several days, and the two of them whispered to each other. “At the Hu family, his uncle and aunt came and brought many gifts.”

Wen Yu asked, “Did Mr. Hu say if you can still come to the shop after you get married?”

“He said it’s all up to me. I can do whatever I want! And he can find a few good cooks to help me.”

Aunt Chen called Wen Yu over. “Ah Yu, your Aunt Mo sent people to deliver a lot of New Year’s goods before the New Year. She said she received all the New Year’s gifts you sent and said you were too polite!”

Wen Yu said, “I’ve been really busy these past few days and haven’t had time to pay my respects to Aunt Mo for the New Year.”

Magistrate Mo overheard this. “Everyone is busy during the New Year. There are a lot of people at my house today too. I managed to escape!”

Everyone continued to chat and laugh, waiting for lunch.

Chen Wenhui’s two sons and the eldest grandson of the Chen family, under the personal guidance of their uncle, had also grown into young scholars. In March, her cousin would be getting married… Judging from his current appearance, he was clearly more responsible than before.

Her cousin, needless to say, was doing exceptionally well. Even her younger cousin could handle the affairs of the shop. She had given her a generous red envelope before the New Year, so she must have saved a small fortune for her dowry.

Having relatives like the Chen family, the Mo family, the Wen family, and the Hu family, living their lives step by step, was a good thing.

All of this was her own doing!

…

Today, the Song family also had guests, mostly related to Song Shang.

Early in the morning, news spread that Song Chihan had a slight fever.

It turned out that yesterday, in that filthy little courtyard, she had forced herself to endure the discomfort and listen to the old woman’s nonsensical talk.

Then, the old woman handed her a small packet of medicine and told her to mix it into the chicken meat herself, and then feed it to the kitten in the cage.

As expected, when it came time to actually do it, her heart raced, and she trembled with nervousness. Her eyes glazed over, and she hesitated for a long time before handing it over. The kitten ate it with relish, but not long after, it let out a shrill cry, its appearance horrifying.

Song Chihan was terrified and ran out.

Her uncle only said one thing: “Not as easy as you imagined, huh?!”

She remained listless until she returned home, and she even had a slight fever in the evening, but she didn’t dare to say anything. It was harder than she imagined. Although she didn’t show it in front of Wei Zhikuan, she did regret it a little.

She probably wouldn’t succeed…

But when her trusted nanny told her that Uncle Wei had given her a package, she knew what it was… After thinking for a moment, she seriously instructed, “Find a safe place and put it away!”

Madam Song and Song Shang, upon hearing that Song Chihan was not feeling well, went to her room.

✿✿✿

Madam Song was very anxious, asking her all sorts of questions and even feeling her forehead, her concern evident.

Song Shang’s men could easily deal with people like Wei Zhikuan, couldn’t they? They had thoroughly investigated the matter and quickly switched the medicine. When Song Shang saw that small packet of white powder and heard the name of the drug… it was likely that this daughter was already dead in his heart.

At this moment, he looked at Song Chihan with an icy gaze. “Why did you get sick after going to Wei Zhikuan’s place? What did he say to you, or… did he make you do something?”

Song Chihan was very nervous and subconsciously replied, “No! We didn’t do anything!” Feeling that her tone was wrong, she added weakly, “Maybe I’m just a little tired.”

Actually, Song Shang’s feelings were complicated: How old was she?! To already have such a heart? To dare to plot such a thing?

She seemed quite similar to himself when he was young.

But… what kind of environment had he been in back then? He had been ruthless, and for what reason?

And what about her? Who was she trying to poison? And for what reason…

Therefore, she and I are still different!

“If meeting him makes you unhappy and tired, then don’t see him again.” Song Shang said coldly.

Madam Song also nodded. “Yes, Han Bao’er, seeing him once is enough to fulfill the predestined connection! From now on, you have nothing to do with the Wei family!”

“Grandmother, Father!” Song Chihan said, “I still want to see my uncle.”

Song Shang sneered. “Oh? You still want to see him? Is there something unfinished? It seems you weren’t this close to him when your mother was alive.”

“But my mother is gone!” Song Chihan responded quickly, her voice stubborn.

Song Shang asked, “Did he tell you that he wants to take you back to the Wei family? Do you want to go with him?”

Upon hearing this, Madam Song became anxious. She was about to speak but then saw her son’s expression. Like mother, like son… What had happened?

Song Chihan turned her head away and said sharply, “My surname is Song, why would I go to the Wei family? You really want me to leave, don’t you?”

Song Shang wasn’t annoyed. “I thought you wanted to go.”

“I don’t!”

“That’s good. Then did your uncle mention how your mother’s property was handled? Did they leave you any jewelry or anything as a keepsake? If you don’t understand, I’ll send a steward to inquire.”

Upon hearing this, Song Chihan felt guilty. Her uncle had said a lot of things and even mentioned taking her away, but he hadn’t mentioned her mother’s property at all. He hadn’t even said anything about leaving her some jewelry or clothes as a keepsake…

“Father!” Song Chihan refused to think about it any further and used the rules she had learned to argue with Song Shang. “You drove my mother away. I’m just a member of the Song family! Her property has nothing to do with me! Moreover, I want to handle this matter myself and not trouble Father!”

Her attitude was very serious, carrying a maturity that didn’t match her age…

For the first time, Madam Song looked at Song Chihan seriously… Before, she knew that she had a bad temper and was arrogant… It was what Wei Shi had taught her, but it also had something to do with her own indulgence…

But now, she suddenly realized that she didn’t know this side of her granddaughter…

Song Shang smiled and said, “Rules are rules, and family affection is family affection. Your uncle loves you so much, wouldn’t he think for you? When your mother left the Song family, the Song family compensated her and the Wei family with a large sum of silver.”

Song Chihan’s face flushed red. “I don’t understand what you’re telling me, Father!”

“It’s precisely because you don’t understand that I have to teach you! Song Chihan, no one in the Song family owes Wei Xiangyu anything, and no one owes you anything! On the contrary, your grandmother and I have been very considerate to you. Don’t let your pampering make you forget your roots! From today onwards, you are not allowed to see Wei Zhikuan again!”

“I want to see him!” Song Chihan shouted, panicked.

“You dare!” Song Shang’s face was incredibly cold. “If you go to see him, then go to the Wei family with him… and never come back!”

After saying that, Song Shang turned and left.

Madam Song was shocked. “Shang’er!” She hurriedly followed behind. She had to ask what had happened…

Song Chihan burst into tears…

Madam Song heard her cries, but she didn’t turn back.

My neighbor came back home after visiting her relatives for half a year, and well… when I was cleaning the hallway during the Qingming Festival, I threw away the bucket of wall paint she had left in the fire escape. It was a full bucket, the best kind, even computer color-matched… It was so heavy. I don’t know what I was thinking back then, I didn’t even ask her about it.

I ran into her in the hallway today and apologized… We ended up chatting for a long time.

That’s why I only wrote one chapter at this late hour.

The second chapter might be late. If it’s too late, how about just one chapter today?