Chapter 441 - 246: Mrs. Wen Asks Jiang Sifan for a 300,000 Bride Price, Is Lu Fan Going to Take Action?

Chapter 441: Chapter 246: Mrs. Wen Asks Jiang Sifan for a 300,000 Bride Price, Is Lu Fan Going to Take Action?

Throughout the day,

Lu Fan stayed by Jiang Yixia’s side, helping her with her work.

Although Jiang Yixia still kept a certain distance from him on the surface,

in the quiet moments between tasks, she would occasionally recall the embrace from the night before.

That flutter in her heart.

That feeling she hadn’t felt in so long.

Meanwhile,

Mrs. Wen had already arrived in Jinling.

She had come by train.

The trip from her county town had been a bumpy ride of more than ten hours, and by the time she reached Jinling, it was nearly noon the next day.

She was prone to motion sickness. Even on the train, she had thrown up twice. Her face was sallow, her lips were pale, and her legs felt like jelly when she got off.

She clung to a station pillar for a long while before she recovered.

She pulled a water bottle from her canvas bag, took a sip, and stuffed it back inside.

The bag also held a few steamed buns she had made the night before. She had planned to eat them on the way, but her stomach had been churning so badly she couldn’t eat a thing.

After asking several people for directions, she finally found the main gate of the Jinling Institute of Technology.

Standing at the school entrance, she looked up at the gilded sign, an indescribable feeling welling up inside her.

Her daughter went to school here, but this was the first time she had ever visited.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to come; she just couldn’t afford it.

A round-trip ticket cost several hundred yuan—enough to buy a month’s worth of groceries for the family.

If it weren’t for that three-hundred-thousand-yuan bride price, she might never have set foot in this university in her entire life.

She clutched the strap of her canvas bag, took a deep breath, and walked inside.

The campus was huge. The plane trees lining the road were bare, and fallen leaves carpeted the ground, rustling with every step.

She looked around, lost, unsure of how to get to the administrative office.

Students came and went, passing by her. Some were on bicycles, others clutched books, all chatting and laughing in small groups.

In her bright red cotton-padded jacket, Mrs. Wen stood out conspicuously among the young people. A few of them gave her a second glance, and she lowered her head, quickening her pace.

She asked a passing student for directions, but she didn’t quite understand their explanation. She had to ask another before she finally found the academic building.

Her advisor, Teacher Bai, was in her office organizing student files. When she heard a knock, she looked up to see a middle-aged woman standing in the doorway.

The woman wore a bright red, cotton-padded jacket, and her hair was permed into tight curls. Her complexion was poor, and her lips were pale, as if she were just recovering from an illness.

One of her hands rested on the doorframe. Her fingers were rough, with dirt still under the nails.

"Hello, may I ask who you’re looking for?" Teacher Bai asked politely, standing up.

Mrs. Wen walked in, placed her canvas bag on the floor, and rubbed her hands together. Her voice was a bit weak as she said, "Hello, Teacher. I’m Wen Wan’s mother. I’m here to request a few days of leave for my daughter. We have a family matter."

Teacher Bai paused for a moment, glancing from Mrs. Wen to the doorway.

She had been teaching for over a decade and had met many parents, but it was rare for one to show up unannounced like this.

"Mrs. Wen, please have a seat. What’s wrong with Wen Wan? What happened at home?"

Mrs. Wen sat down, her head bowed. After a few seconds of silence, she said, "There’s an urgent family matter. Her grandfather isn’t well, and he wants her to come home and see him."

Teacher Bai nodded and picked up her phone. "I’ll give her a call and have her come over. As for the leave request, you two can discuss it and decide."

She dialed the number, and it was answered after just a few rings.

Teacher Bai said, "Wen Wan, your mother is here in my office. She says she wants to request a few days of leave for you. Can you come over?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line before Wen Wan finally said, "Okay, I’m on my way."

After hanging up, Teacher Bai poured a cup of water for Mrs. Wen.

Mrs. Wen took it and held it with both hands, but she didn’t drink. She just stared down at the steam rising from the cup.

Her eyes were a little red, but she held back her tears.

She remembered the last time she had tricked Wen Wan into coming home for a blind date. She remembered the look her daughter gave her at the door of the hospital room.

She could never forget that look. It was like a knife, and the wound still ached.

But this time was different. This wasn’t a trick. This was for real.

She already had the three hundred thousand. She couldn’t back out.

When Wen Wan walked into the office, she saw Mrs. Wen sitting in a chair, cradling a disposable cup. The water had already gone cold; she hadn’t taken a single sip.

She twisted the cup back and forth in her palms, making a faint, crinkling sound.

Her heart sank, but she still managed to say, "Mom."

Mrs. Wen looked up at her. There was no smile on her face, only a stern expression that even held a hint of a command.

"Wan’Er, come home with me."

Wen Wan froze.

She hadn’t expected her mother to be so direct. There were no pleasantries, just an order to go home.

She glanced at Teacher Bai, who tactfully stood up. "You two talk. I need to grab something from next door."

With that, she left, pulling the door closed behind her.

The door clicked shut, and the office fell silent.

Wen Wan stood by the door while Mrs. Wen remained seated, a few steps separating them. Neither spoke first.

"Mom, why are we going back?" Wen Wan’s voice was calm, but her hands were clenched into tight fists.

Mrs. Wen stood up, walked over to her, and took her hand.

Her mother’s hand was rough and calloused, feeling like sandpaper against Wen Wan’s skin.

Wen Wan’s hand was small, and her mother’s completely enveloped it. She didn’t pull away.

"There’s something going on at home. You’ll find out when you get back." Mrs. Wen’s voice was hard, not sounding like she was open to discussion.

Wen Wan looked into her mother’s eyes. Her gaze was firm, unwavering.

Wen Wan’s heart sank further. Her voice grew tight. "Mom, did you take money from someone again?"

Mrs. Wen’s expression flickered, but she quickly composed herself.

She neither confirmed nor denied it, only saying, "You’ll find out when you get back. Stop asking so many questions."