(I) Body Parts

Shen Wanwan had no siblings. Even if she did, her stance was clear: everything should be equally divided.

There aren’t many things in the world that can’t be evenly divided, it all depends on whether one wants to. She wasn’t the type to selflessly sacrifice herself as an older sister.

When Shen Heping saw his daughter enter, he stubbed out his cigarette.

He was smoking hand-rolled dry tobacco, using whatever paper he could find to roll it, which made it very harsh.

He couldn’t bear to throw away the small leftover piece, so he placed it in a homemade ashtray, ready to smoke it when he remembered.

Apart from buying cheap tobacco, Shen Heping had no other places to spend money. He handed over all his earnings to Lin Yuying to manage the household.

Shen Heping didn’t really handle things at home. Whenever he spoke up, it was mostly about Shen Zhuo.

“Wanwan, what’s going on with you and your brother these past few days? He said you hit him?”

Shen Wanwan waved the fried chicken wings in front of Shen Zhuo, gently shaking them, “Dad, you still don’t understand me. How could I possibly beat him? I don’t have the strength.”

Shen Heping looked at Shen Zhuo with suspicion.

There were many people and children in the alley, and little quarrels and fights were common. But the Shen family was different. Shen Wanwan always protected her brother and never fought with him, so when Shen Zhuo came to complain, Shen Heping took it seriously.

He still hoped for the siblings to have a good relationship and support each other.

“Xiao Zhuo, didn’t you say your sister hit you? I can see that your neck is bruised,” Shen Heping first established his point, “Wanwan, I know Xiao Zhuo is a naughty kid, but no matter what, you’re his sister. He’s your only brother, and you two need to support each other in the future. When you get married, if your in-laws bully you, you’ll need a brother at home.”

Shen Heping had repeated this speech countless times.

Every time he said it, Shen Zhuo would straighten his back proudly, as if he had really avenged his sister.

The original owner would be moved and work harder to contribute to the family and her brother.

But unfortunately, Shen Wanwan wasn’t the original owner. She innocently looked at him and said, “Dad, I really don’t know. Maybe Xiao Zhuo is just talking nonsense? How could I hit him? I love him too much to do that.”

Shen Heping said, “Xiao Zhuo doesn’t lie. Xiao Zhuo, you tell us.”

Shen Wanwan shook the bag of chicken wings again.

The greedy little bug in Shen Zhuo’s stomach was almost provoked. He quickly contradicted himself, “Dad, um… Sis didn’t hit me, we were just playing around.”

Shen Heping: “…”

Shen Wanwan, with her “good temper,” said, “Could there be some misunderstanding? Xiao Zhuo wouldn’t lie, you know.”

Wouldn’t lie.

Those two words sounded especially harsh.

Shen Heping: “…”

The honest Shen Heping couldn’t sit still in front of his daughter.

He grabbed a broom and walked toward Shen Zhuo. “Are you tired of living, kid?!”

The broom hit Shen Zhuo’s backside, and Shen Zhuo yelped and screamed in response.

But Shen Wanwan knew that Shen Heping wouldn’t really hurt Shen Zhuo. He had hardly ever hit anyone, and he certainly hadn’t hit the original owner.

While dodging, Shen Zhuo said, “Sis brought back fried chicken! Let’s eat fried chicken!”

Just as they were in the middle of this commotion, Lin Yuying and the elderly Liu Cuixia brought Shen Wanwan her dinner.

They had already eaten, and Lin Yuying had specially reheated the food for Shen Wanwan.

The Shen family cared about Shen Wanwan, but they favored Shen Zhuo more.

The family dinner was simple. The staple food was steamed cornmeal buns, with scrambled eggs and spinach, and a seaweed soup.

The portion sizes were small, especially the scrambled eggs with spinach. Shen Zhuo had picked out all the eggs, leaving only the small pickled cucumber and preserved vegetables that had been a staple in the Shen family for years.

Shen Heping liked to eat his steamed buns and rice with the pickled vegetables, Lin Yuying often drank the soup, and Liu Cuixia ate the vegetables. Anything with meat or a strong smell was saved for Shen Zhuo, since in the Shen family, eggs were considered meat.

Shen Wanwan placed the chicken wings on the plate, and Shen Zhuo hovered near the round dining table, eyeing them eagerly.

Shen Wanwan called out, “Dad, Mom, Grandma, come over here. I bought five pieces.”

As expected, everyone waved their hands, saying, “I ate too much already. You two eat.”

Shen Zhuo gleefully grabbed two pieces, “I didn’t get enough to eat. I’ll eat, I’ll eat.”

Before he could even put them in his mouth, Shen Wanwan hit his hand with chopsticks. She put on a stern face and said, “What’s one chicken wing going to fill up? I said one per person, so it’s one per person. Eat it while it’s hot, it won’t taste as good once it cools down.”

Shen Heping and Lin Yuying exchanged glances but didn’t say anything.

They hadn’t realized why their usually mild-mannered daughter suddenly spoke so assertively.

Liu Cuixia, not thinking much of it, said, “This little bit isn’t enough for you two. Grandma won’t take any, Xiao Zhuo is growing, let him eat more.”

Shen Zhuo beamed, his smile almost reaching his ears.

But Shen Wanwan repeated firmly, “Are you sure you can’t eat anymore?”

“I had a big bowl of soup tonight, I’m full!”

Shen Wanwan then moved the plate with the chicken wings in front of herself and casually took the chicken wings Shen Zhuo had grabbed. “One per person. Since you guys won’t eat, I bought the wings, so I’ll eat them all myself.”

The family didn’t expect Shen Wanwan to say this.

Liu Cuixia didn’t even realize there was anything wrong with it, “Just share them with your brother.”

Shen Wanwan didn’t pay attention to Shen Zhuo’s stunned gaze and said directly, “Shen Zhuo is already in high school, not a little kid. There’s no such thing as adults not liking to eat meat. If you keep indulging him, he’ll just get worse and won’t learn to share. These chicken wings were bought with the money I earned from doing part-time work. I have the right to decide what happens with them. I won’t take away his food, but let me make this clear—if I buy something, either everyone eats it, or I eat it myself. You can choose.”

After saying this, Shen Wanwan calmly started eating her meal.

The steamed cornmeal buns were too rough, and some of them were a bit hard. The spinach wasn’t something Shen Wanwan liked either, but at least she had bought chicken wings.

Old-fashioned fried chicken wings weren’t seen much later on, but Shen Wanwan loved the ones with a thick batter coating, they smelled absolutely delicious.

Shen Wanwan devoured two chicken wings in one go, and only then did Shen Zhuo remember to complain, “Sis, you’re so stingy!”

Shen Wanwan glanced at him, “Whether you can eat or not depends on Mom and Dad’s attitude. If you want to be generous, go earn your own money. When I was your age, I was already helping Mom sell buttons to make money.”

After saying that, she didn’t waste any more words and happily continued eating the chicken wings.

She chewed while sucking her fingers, “So delicious.”

Shen Zhuo: “…”

He wanted to eat too!

Shen Zhuo looked toward Shen Heping and Lin Yuying for help, seeking a solution.

The couple was still in a daze. Their usually mild-mannered daughter had suddenly become so firm. Even though they didn’t understand why she insisted on them eating, neither knew what to say at that moment.

It didn’t seem right to get angry with their daughter, and while the family was still confused, Shen Wanwan had already finished all the chicken wings, even burping loudly, “I’m so full.”

Shen Zhuo: “…”

She’d rather be full than share with him!!

Shen Wanwan wasn’t going to be polite with Shen Zhuo. She finished her meal, quickly cleaned up her dishes, and then went back to her room.

She planned to wake up early the next day, increase her stamina, and start practicing again.

Perhaps she was just too tired from the past couple of days. As soon as her head hit the pillow, she fell asleep. Not long after, she heard a woman’s low sobs beside her.

“The situation is already like this. I can’t keep worrying about so-called glory and wealth. I must leave. I have to take Huahua with me. I can’t wait any longer!”