Old Madam Wen was most annoyed by this flattering little girl. Now that her grandchildren had entered school, she finally felt relieved.
However, Madam Wen did not go to her daughter's place immediately. She just moved to share a room with her grandson and returned Wei Yin's room to Wei Yin. Then, she acted as if she was going to stay for a long time. There were still a lot of things to do, but Madam Wen was also open-minded, which ordinary old ladies did not have. For example, Madam Wei had always disliked jeans, but Madam Wen had no objection to them. Of course, she did not wear them either. She was used to wearing cheongsams, but she did not object to young people wearing them. For example, Madam Wen had no objection to Wen Yin wearing jeans. Madam Wei had always disliked jeans because she thought they were clothes worn by cowherds. It was okay to wear them at home, but she could not wear them when going out.
Well, now Mrs. Wei has gradually accepted it, because denim clothes are popular in the streets and alleys. Except for very formal occasions, everyone wears them. This kind of clothes also has advantages. It is durable and not easy to break. Of course, the little girl doesn't wear it. The little girl looks down on this kind of clothes. She thinks it is not good-looking. The little girl has her own aesthetic trend. She only wears beautiful silk, and the style is fixed. In summer, she wears small skirts and small jackets, and in winter, she wears small jackets and small skirts. She wears down jackets on the outside and small jackets and small skirts on the inside. The first time the little girl wore silk and the puffy skirt outside was made by Wei Yin. Wei Yin was studying fashion design. She made a puffy skirt with snow-white gauze. The hem of the skirt was decorated with some pink peach petals and sparkling sequins. The little girl didn't like white gauze skirts before, but this time, I don't know why, she liked it at first sight and wore it to school directly. To be honest, Chen Xuan thinks that this kind of clothes can be worn to dinner parties, but children don't understand this, and the little girl has always ignored other people's opinions. It is said that the whole school was amazed and that children who wanted to play with the little girl on that day had to queue up.
When some children asked her where she bought her clothes, the little girl would proudly say that her aunt made them specially for her and that they could not be bought outside.
This brought Wei Yin a small business. The little girl's kindergarten was good, and Chen Xuan and Wei Yin were both willing to spend money on education. A child in the kindergarten particularly liked the little girl's skirt, and Wei Yin sold his first design.
Wei Yin saw that her designs were also selling well in the United States, which showed that people's aesthetic tastes were similar. You know, Wei Yin was a person with great judgment. Back in Beijing, she dared to take out a loan to buy a house in Dongjiaomin Lane. She discussed with Chen Xuan that she wanted to rent a store to sell her own designed clothes. Chen Xuan supported Wei Yin's idea, but she did not participate in Wei Yin's business. This was different from when she was in Beijing. Chen Xuan had to attend classes and raise children. Moreover, university courses were not easy, and raising children also required careful work. Chen Xuan was determined to go into research. Moreover, Chen Xuan was not very interested in design. So, this time, Wei Yin and Qin Shu were partners. Qin Shu had begun to slowly reduce the foreign company's business, and he was free at hand. Wei Yin wanted to find someone to share the cost of opening a store, and the two hit it off.
Old Mrs. Wei also found time to talk to her son about it, wanting him to find a way to make a living. After all, although the house was free from her mother-in-law, the food, clothing and other expenses of the whole family all cost money. Wei Nian was not in a hurry. He worked part-time in Clara's company when he was free. Old Mrs. Wei felt sorry for him, thinking that her son was the only one working in the family, so she thought about whether she should collect some food expenses from her daughter who opened a shop as the owner.
Seeing that she was always worrying about nothing, Madam Wen consoled her, "Why are you so anxious? Whether it's buying land, buying a house, or doing business, you have to understand all the rules and regulations. I think A-Nian knows what's going on. He won't work for others forever. Don't worry."
Old Mrs. Wei said, "It's no use not being relieved. I can't help anyway."
Madam Wen asked Madam Wei, "Are you worried that you won't have enough money?"
Mrs. Wei thought that Mrs. Wen was going to bleed, but then she heard Mrs. Wen say, "You see how close the Johnson family is to our family? Johnson works in a bank. If his family didn't have money, he wouldn't be so friendly to our family. Don't worry, the children are rich."
Old Mrs. Wei also said to her daughter privately, "You said this aunt-in-law is really from a wealthy family. She is more cunning than us."
Wei Yin smiled, "Don't worry, Mom. My second brother wants to buy some real estate and land. The land here is not expensive, but we just arrived, so we need to find out the situation. Clara is a real estate agent, so she has all the information. My second brother also wants to use the opportunity of work to get to know more people and learn more about real estate and land."
Old Mrs. Wei was very supportive of buying land and nodded, saying, "That's right. There's no war here, so it's not bad to buy some land. We can pass it on to our descendants in the future." Knowing that her son had plans to buy property, Old Mrs. Wei no longer worried about anything.
Wei Nian was planning to buy a few apartments for rent, but he had to take his time to find apartments in good locations, and he had to be more cautious about buying land. Chen Xuan listened to Wei Nian about all these investments, except for buying land. Chen Xuan said, "As long as the apartment is in a good location, there will be no problem renting it. As for land, Brother Nian, tell me which piece of land you like. I can help test the composition of the land and take a closer look to see if it is suitable for growing crops." Chen Xuan was an expert at farming.
Wei Nian is not only responsible for the family's investment matters, but also for the family's social affairs, such as communicating with the family in Beijing, writing letters to his mother-in-law, Mrs. Wen, to tell her about his brothers-in-law's schooling, and he is also responsible for contacting Aunt Wen and Uncle Wen. Of course, Aunt Wen is mainly responsible for Mrs. Wen, but Uncle Wen is a smooth person and will call Wei Nian from time to time to chat, and gradually they become closer.
This year was a very smooth year. Chen Xuan's eldest sister successfully obtained a driver's license, and the family bought a car. When Wei Nian was interning at Clara Company, he also encountered two nice apartments. He bought them, found some people to renovate them, and rented them out again after safety inspection. From then on, the Wei family lived on rent. Although the money can only be recovered after more than ten years according to the income, it is not a common practice to put the money in the bank, mainly because the bank can go bankrupt regardless of whether it is good or not. Wei Nian still prefers to invest in industry.
The big thing about the summer vacation was the grades of the three Wen brothers. Perhaps because they had just transferred to the school, the three brothers' test scores in the first semester were average, with few A's and most B's. Wen Yin's transcript even had a C. However, the three of them had their own sports specialties and joined various school clubs.
After Chen Xuan received the three brothers' report cards, the three brothers looked at their eldest sister's face and did not dare to agree with the summer vacation plan proposed by the little girl. Chen Xuan first said to them, "Your test scores are average, but this is the first semester after you transferred here. You actually only took classes for half a semester in school. It's not bad to have such a score. The school has reserved homework for the summer vacation, so you should make a plan to do it. By the way, you should also reserve time for your club activities in advance, and then give me your plan."
Madam Wen did not criticize her grandchildren's homework, but she discussed with Chen Xuan in private, "We need to find a way. Otherwise, let's find some tutors for Shao and the others."
Chen Xuan thought for a moment and said, "There's no rush."
Afterwards, Chen Xuan methodically found out the subjects where her brothers got Bs, talked to them about these lessons, and then called the teachers one by one to make appointments with them, and asked the old lady to bring gifts and flowers to visit. Some teachers might have to go on vacation and have no time, so Chen Xuan would make an appointment with them on the phone to ask questions about her brothers' courses. There must be a reason for getting grades below A, and where the shortcomings are, this must be figured out.
Some shortcomings can be made up by studying during the summer vacation, but some require tutoring.
Chen Xuan drew up a tutoring plan for her younger brothers, showed it to her younger brothers and the old lady, and everyone agreed to hire a tutor for them. Old Lady Wen now trusts Chen Xuan very much, especially after receiving a call from her daughter. Aunt Wen had just learned about her nephews' report cards and called immediately, saying, "I said a long time ago that A Shao and the others should come to New York to study. Mom, you don't agree. What's going on now? Isn't Chen himself an A in every subject? Why are A Shao and the others' grades so bad? Didn't he get awards every semester in Nanjing?" She even gloated as she spoke, "My eldest brother and his wife have always had excellent vision. What happened this time? It concerns their own son, but they made a mistake. They don't trust my sister, but trust someone from another family. They are wrong!"
I'm so angry about this old lady. Your nephew's grades are not good, why are you gloating over his misfortune
Originally, Mrs. Wen was planning to take her grandchildren to live with her daughter for a while during the summer vacation, but now she has canceled the trip. Isn't that enough to make her angry? As an aunt, if your nephew's grades are not good, you should think of a way to improve his grades. But now she calls to make fun of you. This is her own daughter, and Mrs. Wen is also angry. Especially compared to Chen Xuan, who not only asked the teacher to understand the situation, but also hired a tutor and made a tutoring plan for her. Mrs. Wen replied to her daughter, "It is because your eldest brother and sister-in-law have good vision that they let Shao and others study in Boston!" Then she hung up the phone.
Aunt Wen called again, but Madam Wen refused to answer.
Chen Xuan did not take her brothers' average grades too seriously, but encouraged them, "I could not read a single word, but I was able to get into college. As long as you work hard, you will definitely be able to learn the course well."
Studying is not a difficult thing. As long as you have a normal IQ and work hard enough, your grades cannot be bad. Wen Shao and his classmates just transferred here. They have to adapt to the new environment and keep up with the school's progress. It is understandable that their grades in the first semester are average.
In this way, Chen Xuan had to do summer homework, participate in club activities, and study. She did not forget the little girl's summer plan and took her to learn swimming. Wei Nian took the little girl to this event. Chen Xuan could not stand the openness on the beach. Everyone showed their arms and legs. Chen Xuan, a semi-old-fashioned woman who came to the United States to study, still had her own way of letting go. Speaking of this, Wei Yin wanted to laugh and advised Chen Xuan, "Everyone on the beach wears swimsuits, who is laughing at who."
Chen Xuan said firmly, "I won't go to the beach in summer."
Old Mrs. Wei expressed her support for Chen Xuan's determination. She also said, "I saw at first glance that your second sister-in-law is a very serious person."
Wei Yin said, "My second brother has already rented a house by the sea. Are we the only ones going? Mom, you and my second sister-in-law are not going."
Mrs. Wei said flexibly, "Of course we have to go. We live in a house by the sea and we don't go to the beach which is immoral."
Old Madam Wen and Madam Wen have always had a bad relationship, but perhaps it is because Chen Xuan cares a lot about her brothers. Old Madam Wen is very good to Chen Xuan. She can see that Chen Xuan is conservative. But if you say Chen Xuan is conservative, there are not many women who wear pants now. Chen Xuan likes to wear pants very much. In Chen Xuan's words, pants are more convenient than skirts. But it is absolutely impossible for her to wear a swimsuit. Old Madam Wen asked her to buy a few short-sleeved dresses and slowly adapt to it. Speaking of which, Old Madam Wen is really a fashionable person. She will also give advice on Chen Xuan's dressing. She doesn't have to wear a swimsuit every time she goes to the beach. The long white gauze skirt that Old Madam Wen asked Wei Yin to make for Chen Xuan is very elegant.
When she lived by the sea, Chen Xuan would get up early to walk by the sea. There were very few people at the seaside at that time, the sea was deep blue, the sea breeze was very cool, and the first rays of morning light and clouds would appear in the distant horizon. Old Madam Wen also had the habit of getting up early, sometimes with Chen Xuan. As the two became more and more familiar with each other, Old Madam Wen said, "Xuan, there is something I have always wanted to ask you, I don't know if I should say it."
"What?"
"Your mother has not fulfilled her responsibilities as a mother for so many years. Have you ever resented her? Have you ever hated her? You are so kind to A Shao and the others. It's really rare."
Chen Xuan was a little surprised that Madam Wen asked this. Madam Wen looked a little embarrassed, but she admitted, "When I was going to come to Boston with A-Shao and the others, I didn't know you very well at that time, so I just thought too much about it."
Chen Xuan understood what Madam Wen meant by "thinking too much". She was probably worried that Madam Wen might have some resentment towards Madam Wen and would take revenge on Wen Shao and the others. Chen Xuan felt that Madam Wen was very thoughtful. Chen Xuan said, "To be honest, I was a little sad. But I was too busy at that time. I just had a little girl, and I had to run the store. I also had to study high school courses on my own. I had a lot to do every day and didn't have time to take care of it. Gradually, I came to terms with it and was glad that I was very busy at the time. Madam, if I had been so focused on resenting her, wouldn't my business and studies have been delayed? I think that everything in the world is divided into priorities. For me, my ideal is to become a first-class professor in the future, to have some understanding of science, and to become a person who can accomplish something. If people indulge in resentment, they will ultimately harm themselves."
"My life is getting better and better. Now, my husband and I love each other and we have two children. Moreover, my mother has helped me a lot. Otherwise, we would have to find a house to rent in Boston. My mother and Uncle Wen also helped us buy the boat tickets, which are not cheap. It is because of the help of my mother and Uncle Wen that we can live comfortably in Boston and quickly enter college life. Some people may say that if she had taken me away, I might have a better life. But in that case, it is possible that I would not be able to be a couple with Brother Anian. It is not easy to find a man like Brother Anian. Although many men seem to have better backgrounds, more knowledge, and more money than him, how many men can teach me how to learn foreign culture like Brother Anian? What about literature? Many men, when they move up and down, no longer look down on their first wives and turn to look for better ones. But Anian is different. If you extend a hand, he will help you. "Chen Xuan's voice is soft and gentle, and it drifts away slowly with the sea breeze. She said, "Besides, how many men, after getting married, are still willing for their wives to read and study every night? It's good if they don't laugh at them. I suffered a lot in the past, and those sufferings were not entirely caused by others. Moreover, I have been rewarded in this life. What's more, I still have to work hard for my ideals. To be honest, even now I always feel that time is not enough. In such a good university, every professor is full of knowledge and is very erudite. I always want to learn more and learn better!"
If a person has ideals, he will never indulge in trivialities.
Resentment is also a kind of triviality.
And the most useless kind of triviality.
Chen Xuan relaxed her heart. What was lost was lost, but her eyes were always looking forward, forward.
After her three grandsons received all A's on their transcripts in the second semester, Mrs. Wen went to live in New York with peace of mind.
The author has something to say: ps: I started writing this chapter yesterday. It took me a long time to finish it, but I was not satisfied with it. I finally posted it when I was satisfied. Sorry for the long wait. There is only one update today!