In the early morning light, Jiang Cheng, who was accustomed to waking up early, silently recited vocabulary while performing a set of Five Animal Exercises.

After her workout, she held a book in her hands, her long legs stretched out on the table as she did her leg stretches.

An hour and a half later, Jiang Cheng opened the door on time, just as Shen Xing from across the way came out holding an envelope.

“Writing letters again?”

Shen Xing hummed in affirmation, stuffing the thick envelope into his backpack.

“Big brother told me to write often. He always includes stamps in his replies. If I don’t write enough, he might think we don’t miss him.”

Jiang Cheng blinked. She thought Shen Xing’s big brother wanted him to write more letters, but probably not this many.

Shen Xing’s chattiness seemed to have found an outlet in his letters.

If Shen Que, who was far away, knew what Jiang Cheng was thinking, he would wholeheartedly agree.

He really hadn’t expected Shen Xing to write so much!
At first, after their mother passed away, his status didn’t allow him to return home whenever he wanted, so he used this method to reassure Shen Xing and Shen Yue.

Now, besides training, Shen Que had to rack his brains every day to figure out what to write in his replies.

After three months, even his superiors praised him for the improvement in his report-writing skills!

But he couldn’t stop writing; Shen Que was afraid Shen Xing and Shen Yue would overthink things.

“Your big brother is quite something.”

“Of course!”

Shen Xing immediately launched into an enthusiastic praise of his big brother, following Jiang Cheng like a little chatterbox.

“Sister Jiang Cheng, let me tell you, my big brother is amazing! When we were kids, he was the one who could pee the farthest in our compound!”

“Pfft,” Jiang Cheng spat out her water, spraying it far.

This was the first time she had ever heard someone compliment someone else like that.

Shen Xing also realized something was off and scratched his head before continuing, “My big brother was also the best fighter in our compound! Lin Chengyuan was no match for him. When we were kids, my big brother would often pin him to the ground and beat him up.”

“Oh?”

Jiang Cheng suddenly became interested.

The two of them, one big and one small, sat at the entrance of the Shen household.

Shen Xing chattered on about Shen Que’s heroic deeds from his childhood.

Shen Que’s image gradually took shape in Jiang Cheng’s mind through Shen Xing’s words: a man of action rather than words, with a strong sense of revenge… and the one who could pee the farthest?
Huh? What kind of nonsense had slipped in?

“Shen Xing, there’s more than a decade between you and your big brother. How do you know all this so clearly?”

“My big brother told me in his letters!”

Jiang Cheng: “???”

She had underestimated Shen Que’s vengeful nature. Who would have thought he would pass down stories through letters??

Shen Que, who was somewhere doing covert training: Time to write another reply. Good thing Lin Chengyuan was such a troublemaker back then, otherwise I wouldn’t know what to write about. Shen Xing’s letters are just too long!
Shen Xing was so animated as he spoke that he didn’t even notice someone coming out of the house across the way.

“With just one look from my big brother, he scared him so much he peed his pants! Then he slipped and fell right into the latrine!”

“Hahaha! Too bad it was winter.”

Jiang Cheng’s comment made Shen Xing nod vigorously.

The two of them, one big and one small, completely ignored the couple showing affection across the way.

Lin Chengyuan’s distant memories were stirred by Shen Xing’s words. He felt like they were talking about him, but he had no proof.

With a grim expression, he carried his lunchbox down the steps.

“Chengyuan!”

He missed a step and nearly fell.

Jiang Cheng and Shen Xing exchanged glances, then stood up one after the other. Jiang Cheng looked down and said, “His legs still aren’t too steady.”

“Let’s go, sis, before he tries to blame us.”

He Dan, unaware of the context but not stupid, immediately spoke up to defend Lin Chengyuan: “Jiang Cheng, what’s the point of making insinuations? Always resorting to underhanded tricks.”

Jiang Cheng, who had already stepped inside, turned around.

“Xingxing, did we mention anyone by name?”

Shen Xing shook his head firmly. “No.”

Jiang Cheng looked at He Dan with confusion. “People pick up money, they pick up things, but picking up insults? That’s a first.”

He Dan’s face turned pale, and she anxiously looked at Lin Chengyuan, wanting to explain. But Lin Chengyuan shook off her support and walked out of the courtyard with a displeased expression.

When He Dan turned back, Jiang Cheng and Shen Xing were already gone.

“Sis, what are you doing? Everyone’s finished eating. It’s your turn to do the dishes.”

Lin Jiaojiao came out, her eyes showing a hint of dissatisfaction.

It’s just a job, sending people back and forth all day long. In her opinion, He Dan just didn’t want to do any work.

He Dan, hearing this, felt even more uncomfortable. Why should she be the one to do the work?
She had already contributed six hundred yuan! That was money she got from selling her job.

Though her heart was full of resentment, she turned around with a smile and agreed.

“Alright, I’m coming.”

Half an hour later, Jiang Cheng, Shen Xing, and Shen Yue left the house together, heading to work and school.

When they parted, Jiang Cheng took two boiled eggs from her bag and handed them to Shen Xing and Shen Yue.

“Eat them when you’re hungry.”

“Study hard, aim high!”

After handing over the eggs, Jiang Cheng ran off. Shen Yue looked at Shen Xing, unsure.

“Brother—”

“Take them. Next time big brother sends some coupons, we’ll buy some fabric and make sister a new dress.”

Shen Yue shook her head, pouting. “I don’t deserve eggs. I can’t study hard. I get sleepy as soon as class starts!”

Shen Xing’s mouth twitched.

Well, at least his little sister had a clear understanding of herself.

“It’s fine. Sister Jiang Cheng gave them to you because she likes you, not because she likes your studying.”

“Really?”

Shen Xing nodded firmly.

He was absolutely certain that Sister Jiang Cheng had already figured out that Shen Yue wasn’t cut out for studying.

Unaware of Shen Xing’s thoughts, Shen Yue immediately broke into her signature bun-faced smile.

“Sister Jiang Cheng is the best!”

Shen Xing smiled and ruffled his sister’s head.

No wonder Sister Jiang Cheng loved tousling their heads so much. It really was satisfying.

After the three of them parted ways, Jiang Cheng arrived at the recycling center without incident.

Unexpectedly, Sister Wang was also there.

No need to ask; something must be up today.

“Sister Wang.”

Jiang Cheng didn’t ask or pry, simply following Sister Wang.

“Xiao Jiang, you’re here. The higher-ups want us to compile a big statistical report for the past few years, and it’s urgent. We’ll be busy for the next few days.”

“Got it. I’ll follow your lead, Sister Wang. What should I do first?”

Sister Wang was pleased with Jiang Cheng’s attitude and quickly assigned tasks without wasting any time.

Jiang Cheng immediately put down her backpack and followed Sister Wang, carrying out box after box of record books.

They were soon swamped with work.

At lunch, when faced with Sister Kong, who had bruises on her arm, Sister Wang didn’t even have time to get angry.

By 4:30 PM, they had only managed to sort through one-tenth of the materials.

Sister Wang stretched her back, looking at Jiang Cheng, who was still diligently working, and felt more than a little satisfied.

This kid is really something!

“Xiao Jiang, do you have a boyfriend?”

The matchmaking gene, which automatically activates at a certain age, prompted Sister Wang to ask.

Jiang Cheng’s face turned slightly red as she shook her head. “Sister Wang, my household registration is in the countryside.”

Sister Wang then remembered that Jiang Cheng had taken over Du Yun’s job.

After some thought, she decided not to pursue the topic further.

As soon as work ended, Jiang Cheng hurried back. She was hungry.

For dinner, Grandma Shen made three-grain steamed buns, cabbage stewed with vermicelli (no meat), and half a sausage that Jiang Cheng had given her in the morning.

Throughout the meal, Shen Xing was unusually quiet.

Jiang Cheng and Grandma Shen exchanged glances.

“What’s going on?”

“Not sure.”

After dinner, Grandma Shen rushed to do the dishes, taking little Shen Yue with her.

Jiang Cheng sat down next to Shen Xing and quickly figured out the problem.

Homework.

Shen Xing had to write an essay.

The topic of the essay was “My Father.”