Chapter 199 - 198: Mom, I Was Wrong

Keep in mind that many county elementary schools, even in cities, were far from having landlines installed. Wen Yaozu’s hometown was the Beijing Capital.

However, his home was in an extremely impoverished county, deep in the countryside.

A few years prior, it had been one of the designated areas for sent-down youth.

"We do! Our principal has a landline in his office. When the workers came to install it, all the teachers and students went to watch the spectacle."

This morning, he had used the landline in the living room to call the female soldier operating the switchboard for the military district, asking her to help him contact the school in his county.

Once the call connected, he openly gave his name and asked the principal to find Teacher Li, the one who knew how to use a computer.

He wanted to ask Teacher Li how to operate a computer.

He had also chatted with his friends at school.

She stopped teasing Wen Yaozu and explained with a smile, "Your brother-in-law will be back in a few days, and he’ll bring the computer with him."

"Alright~"

Wen Yaozu lifted his shirt, revealing his chubby belly. He patted it twice. "Sis, look! I’ve lost so many pounds."

"You have?"

"I have."

A couple of days ago, he had dug out a grain scale from the small storage room and had been weighing himself on it every day since.

A proud expression appeared on Wen Yaozu’s face. He hitched up his pants and said smugly, "I’ve lost ten-some pounds! When I go back to school, I won’t be the fat kid anymore."

"Good. Keep up the hard work."

’At his age, what Wen Yaozu needs most is praise. Once he loses the weight and gets his studies back on track, his future will be limitless.’

Wen Ci saw he was covered in sweat. "Go take a shower. When you’re done, I’ll take you to the mall for a bit."

"Why are we going to the mall?"

"Shower first."

Wen Yaozu realized his sister wanted to buy him clothes and shook his head. "You don’t have to buy me clothes! I’m still losing weight, so they won’t fit for long!"

"That’s true, but you’re also still growing. In a couple of years, you might be taller than me. You’ll be able to wear a size L into high school."

"Oh."

Boys tend to shoot up in height during middle school.

Wen Yaozu had drunk plenty of milk growing up. So while he was chubby, he was also much taller than other kids his age, which was how he ended up being the top dog at his school.

Watching Wen Yaozu’s retreating back, Wen Ci’s eyes curved into a smile. She planned to meet with a few business owners at the mall and would buy him a few new outfits while she was there.

Wen Yaozu had brought his clothes with him from school. Now that he’d lost over ten pounds, his pants were loose and baggy.

’I’ll get him a couple of outfits that fit, and I’ll also buy him a Hero-brand fountain pen. It won’t be long before Wen Yaozu starts middle school.’

’Unlike in elementary school, in middle school you have to start learning to write with a pen.’

’Hero-brand fountain pens were the most iconic gift of the eighties. Whenever key city-level schools held competitions, a Hero-brand fountain pen was always the prize for first place.’

’She hoped it would inspire Wen Yaozu to work hard and aim high.’

-

「Meanwhile, at the Jiang family home.」

Jiang Ye sat on the sofa, unable to sit still. Her gaze kept darting toward Mrs. Jiang as she bit her lower lip, trying to steel her nerves.

"Mom..."

When Mrs. Jiang didn’t react, she worked herself up, then dropped to her knees with a THUD at her mother’s feet. Grabbing Mrs. Jiang’s hand, she tried to make her slap her across the face, her voice choked with tears as she wailed:

"Mom, it was my fault. I was only a few years old when the Wen Family threatened me, but what’s done is done. Please, just hit me! It will help you blow off some steam, won’t it?"

The limp hand made no impact as it landed on Jiang Ye’s cheek.

Ostensibly, Jiang Ye was admitting her mistake, but in reality, she was just making the excuse that she had been too young to know right from wrong.