When Shen Yueru saw the long list of demands on the paper, she could no longer hold back.
“Big sister, you’re going to the countryside to receive re-education. Bringing so much money with you wouldn’t look good.”
“Besides, the journey isn’t safe. With so many cash coupons, what if you lose them?”
“And it’s such a large sum. Mom and Dad might not be able to gather it all at once. Please don’t make things difficult for them.”
Wen Qiao let out a cold laugh and didn’t indulge her at all.
She shot back immediately.
“Oh? I’ve already spent eight years in the countryside. Isn’t that enough?”
“As for safety, I’ll take care of myself. There’s no need for you to worry.”
“And whether Mom and Dad can afford it—that’s their concern.”
“They haven’t even said anything yet, and you’re already feeling sorry for the money.”
Shen Yueru hurried to explain.
“Big sister, you misunderstood. I didn’t mean—”
Before she could finish, Wen Qiao cut her off.
Then she began to play the victim.
“Yueru, you’ve been eating delicacies in the Shen family, living in a spacious, bright villa, never lifting a finger, wanting for nothing.”
“And me? In the Wen family, I survived on husks and wild greens. I never had enough to eat or proper clothes to wear. I lived in a dirty, cramped woodshed and worked endlessly every single day.”
“I endured eighteen years of hardship in your place. Is this little compensation really too much?”
Her almond-shaped eyes brimmed with tears. Pearls of tears rolled down her cheeks, one lingering by her face as she choked back sobs and spoke slowly.
“I finally found my biological parents, but before I could enjoy even a single good day, I have to go back to the countryside and suffer again. Once I leave, I don’t even know if I’ll ever return.”
“I’m already eighteen. In a few years, I’ll be of marriageable age. If I can’t come back, I’ll have no choice but to marry locally. Alone, with no money or coupons to my name—how would I survive?”
“Tell me, is this request really unreasonable?”
Shen’s mother pulled Wen Qiao into her arms.
Her expression was tinged with guilt as she said tenderly, “Good child, don’t cry. It’s not unreasonable. You’ve suffered all these years.”
Though she had little emotional bond with Wen Qiao, she was still flesh of her flesh.
How could she not feel heartache?
If there had been any other option, how could she have let Wen Qiao go suffer in the countryside again?
Shen’s father was also visibly moved.
The Shen family truly owed this child. Although the amount of money and coupons she asked for was considerable, it was still understandable—let it be compensation.
As she had said, no one could predict government policy.
They had once thought the “Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside” movement would pass quickly.
But seven or eight years had gone by, and there was still no sign of it ending.
With no hope of returning to the city, most educated youths had settled down and married in the countryside.
He couldn’t guarantee when Wen Qiao would be able to return.
This was a debt the Shen family owed her.
Consider it her dowry given in advance.
Shen Yueru was nearly furious to death. She clenched her fists so tightly her nails almost dug into her palms. Wen Qiao was definitely pretending to be pitiful on purpose.
Mother already felt guilty toward her. With this tearful performance, how could she possibly refuse?
Who would have thought this wretched girl was so scheming?
Always playing the “real daughter” card—leaving Shen Yueru unable to say anything in response.
After a moment of silence, Shen’s father handed the list to Shen’s mother.
“Prepare everything according to this.”
Shen Guiyuan was displeased.
“Dad, are we really giving her all that? Isn’t it too much? She’s just a country bumpkin—what would she even do with so much money and coupons?”
Shen’s father’s expression turned stern.
“That’s enough. It’s none of your concern. Qiaoqiao has suffered all these years—what’s wrong with her taking a little more? And watch your words. What country bumpkin? She’s your biological sister.”
Under Shen’s father’s severe gaze, Shen Guiyuan shrank back and reluctantly muttered an acknowledgment.
In this household, the person he feared most was his father, followed by his eldest brother.
Especially his father—once his face darkened, the invisible pressure was suffocating.
Normally he joked around without worry, but the moment Shen’s father grew serious, he didn’t dare utter a word.
Shen Yueru’s expression turned gloomy.
She had no standing to argue.
Though Wen Qiao bore the surname Wen, she carried the Shen bloodline.
As for herself—though she bore the Shen surname and had been cherished for eighteen years—she was ultimately an outsider.
She had no right to stop Shen’s father from giving that money to Wen Qiao.
At that moment, she not only hated Wen Qiao but also resented the Wen couple.
Those two old fools—why couldn’t they just stay quietly in the countryside? Why did they have to bring Wen Qiao to stroll around the military compound? If they hadn’t, the Shen family would never have discovered the truth.
She didn’t know when the countryside policy would be canceled, but this year it had clearly relaxed somewhat.
If she had just stayed hidden at home for a while longer, maybe she wouldn’t have had to go at all.
She would still be the Shen family’s high-and-mighty little princess.
But now Wen Qiao had benefited instead.
Not only had she become the real daughter, she had also extorted a large sum from the Shen family.
No. Those money and coupons were meant to be her future dowry. How could they fall into that village girl’s hands?
She needed to think of a way to withhold them.
Shen Yueru quickly composed herself and moved closer to Shen’s mother.
“Mom, I’ll help you prepare everything. I was thinking the wrong way before. Big sister really hasn’t had it easy all these years. If we prepare things sooner, she can leave for the countryside sooner.”
Shen’s mother nodded in relief.
“Good.”
This child Yueru was just too kind, always repaying grievances with virtue.
Though Shen’s mother felt guilty toward Wen Qiao, she genuinely loved Shen Yueru too.
She only hoped the two girls could live in harmony.
Both the palm and the back of her hand were flesh—she didn’t want either of them hurt.
Still, she felt she had wronged Yueru in this matter.
Fortunately, Yueru had always been sensible and considerate. Even if she felt wronged inside, she never made things difficult.
Luckily, Yueru would not be leaving in the future and would remain by her side in the Shen family. There would be plenty of time to compensate her.
Wen Qiao raised her delicate brows slightly.
She had only opened her mouth wide as a test—if it worked, fine; if not, forget it.
Who would have thought that after just a few tearful words, her “bargain-bin” parents would agree so readily?
Maybe she had asked for too little.
But seeing the pained expressions of the Shen siblings, it didn’t seem that way.
Perhaps the two of them simply didn’t know the true extent of the Shen family’s wealth.
Oh well. Being able to use their guilt to obtain this much was already quite good.
A pleasant surprise.
With this money and coupons, no matter where she went, she wouldn’t have to worry about food or clothing.
Wen Qiao didn’t follow Shen’s mother and the others out.
She had already taken all the money and coupons from Shen’s mother—leaving not a single bill behind—claiming she needed to personally purchase some supplies for going to the countryside.
In truth, that was merely an excuse.
She had something more important to do.
To prevent Shen Yueru from tampering with her assigned destination, she planned to personally go to the Educated Youth Office to fill out the registration forms.
And while she was at it, she would collect the countryside subsidy.
Who would ever complain about having more money?
Shen’s father had already contacted the office for her—she could go anytime.
She told only Shen’s father about her destination. No one else knew.
Especially not Shen Yueru.
Once the form was submitted, even if Shen Yueru wanted to interfere, she wouldn’t have the chance.