Chapter 16

Jian Li was constantly urging her older sister to leave with her.

“If you go to someone else’s house, our aunt might take it out on them. Come to my place instead, and let my mom argue with her.”

After all, in her previous life, Qian Ping married far away, something her mother always regretted.

“Your aunt has a good heart, but her mouth is too sharp, and she’s too hot-headed. Now she’s driven your sister into a far-off marriage—what good will that do anyone?”

“It’s my fault, too, for being so busy with business. If I had known, I should’ve stopped her. How could we let her go abroad with someone we knew so little about?”

“Your aunt is stubborn now, but she’ll regret it when she gets old.”

Jian Li didn’t know if her aunt would regret it, but remembering her cousin who never came back home later, she felt no guilt about pulling Qian Ping away.

“Go home and pack some things today, Sis. Tomorrow, sneak your luggage over to my place, and then…”

Jian Li laid out her plan in detail.

Qian Ping felt nervous and uncertain. “Will this really work?”

Jian Li patted her chest confidently. “Trust me! We’ll leave together tomorrow.”

Wang Yunyun chimed in, “Yes, Sis, go with Xiao Li. I’ll cover for you tomorrow.”

Qian Ping felt like she had lost her mind, going along with the mischief of her two younger cousins. But if she didn’t follow Jian Li, she’d have to follow that man from her hometown.

She hadn’t told her mother that this man had asked her unsettling personal questions in private—questions about whether she had dated anyone or had done certain things with anyone.

She hadn’t answered, but fear gripped her heart.

Remembering this, she clenched her teeth. “Fine, I’ll go with you tomorrow.”

Hearing Qian Ping’s agreement, Jian Li beamed with joy.

Then she noticed Wang Shuai, who had been shrinking into the background.

Wang Shuai was trying his best to be invisible. He had only come to snag a popsicle!

Jian Li narrowed her eyes at him. He quickly forced a smile and began swearing his loyalty.

“Don’t worry, Sis. I won’t tell anyone, I swear!”

He wasn’t stupid. Jian Li had kept him in line all summer, snitching on him whenever he acted up, ensuring he got his share of beatings from his father.

Wang Shuai felt indignant. Jian Li always said parents who hit kids weren’t good parents, yet she would gleefully watch when his dad hit him after her tattling.

Seeing his aggrieved expression, like a bullied housewife, Jian Li felt quite satisfied.

She even tossed him a carrot.

“Behave yourself, don’t mess things up, and when I come back during winter break, we’ll make more money together.”

At the mention of making money, Wang Shuai’s resentment evaporated. He grinned obsequiously. “You can count on me! Do you need help tomorrow? I’ll get Shi Tou and the others to help you move stuff.”

Qian Ping finally smiled sincerely as she watched her obsequious cousin.

“Thank you, Xiao Li, Yun Yun, and Xiao Shuai.”

Jian Li grabbed her sister’s hand. “No need for thanks, Sis. Come on, let’s get some popsicles.”

After buying popsicles, they ran into a truck selling watermelons. It was late in the season, and these watermelons, having been rained on, weren’t the best. But Jian Li bought half a sack anyway—five or six melons.

“Better enjoy these now; the next ones won’t come until next year.”

Watermelon was Jian Li’s favorite fruit, and this year, she finally fulfilled a childhood dream.

When her aunt started to cut the watermelon, Jian Li stopped her immediately.

“Don’t use a kitchen knife to cut the watermelon!”

She didn’t want watermelon with a garlic aftertaste ever again.

At Jian Li’s insistence, all watermelons this summer were cut with a clean iron sheet.

Her grandmother complained endlessly about it, saying Jian Li was “too particular” and “restless.”

Jian Li ignored the comments. Complaints didn’t cost her anything, and her grandmother’s favoritism was clear—she always favored her second son’s family. All summer, she helped her youngest son with housework and babysitting, then came home to moan and groan, asking her eldest son to fetch ointments from the city.

Jian Li found it maddening.

Her grandmother had her priorities all figured out—daughters came after sons, and the eldest son came after the youngest.

Even lunchtime was no exception. Although Wang Mengmei wasn’t home, Aunt Wang Menglan brought an impressive spread—pork belly, pig’s trotters, and several pounds of mutton.

Without a fridge, this meat would last at most one or two meals.

Aunt Sun Cuifang wasn’t stingy and suggested they make several dishes for lunch.

At this, Jian Li’s grandmother immediately called Yun Yun to fetch the second son’s family from town.

“There’s too much food for us to eat it all.”

Wang Menglan valued her brothers equally, so she had no objection.

But Aunt Sun felt a sting in her heart. The grandmother had come to live with them in her old age, but everyone knew she spent her days working for her younger son. When it came to Sun’s household, the grandmother just sighed and waited for others to serve her meals. All the housework and fieldwork were left for Sun to handle after she got home.

“Whenever you ask, the answer is always ‘I’m weak,’ or ‘I’m not feeling well.’

It really makes one frustrated.

Sun Cuifang couldn’t figure it out—why was there such blatant favoritism among the children?

Even when it came to raising kids, it was the same story. The second son’s family had a child first, and the old lady took care of that child until they started elementary school at five or six. But when it came to her own children, the eldest daughter was completely ignored by the grandmother—she didn’t even spare a glance.

That was bearable, but when her youngest child came along, the grandmother still didn’t show much care.

She claimed to look after the children, but she was always complaining about pains here or discomfort there.

Back then, the eldest, Wang Yunyun, was barely over a year old, and Wang Shuai was just a tiny baby. Sun Cuifang had to manage both ends, which left her with lingering postpartum back problems…

Jianli’s grandmother had no idea about her eldest daughter-in-law’s growing resentment, and even if she did, she wouldn’t have cared much.

In her words, who wouldn’t favor a capable, promising child?

Among the four children in the family, Wang Yuexi was the youngest and the only one who had pursued higher education. Naturally, she valued the youngest son’s household the most.

Shortly after Wang Yunyun arrived, her second uncle’s family showed up.

Second Aunt Li Xia, short and plump with a pair of glasses, immediately started praising upon entering:

“Even from afar, I could smell the meat Big Sister-in-Law was cooking. That braised pork—Chengcai’s been talking about it for ages!”

Sun Cuifang, busy in the kitchen, poked her head out. Well, what do you know—they arrived empty-handed.

Not only that, but as soon as Wang Chengcai stepped in, he was immediately doted on by the grandmother as though he were her precious treasure.

“Chengcai, come here! I haven’t seen you in so long. Is Grade 12 keeping you busy? Look at your face, so thin now. I’ll give you some oatmeal to take back. No matter how hard you study, you must eat properly…”

Wang Yuexi arrived last on his bicycle and overheard his mother doting on his younger cousin.

He greeted her as expected and joked, “Mom, why not give some of that black sesame paste to Xiao Cheng too? It’s good for the brain.”

The grandmother’s heart ached even more at this. She immediately agreed, “Of course! Your sister just brought back three packets. You all take them. What do I need supplements for? My grandson needs to eat well to ace his exams next year!”

“Black sesame is brain food, right? I’ll ask around in the village tomorrow and get some more for you.”

Wang Yuexi nodded, greeted Wang Menglan, and sidled up to his brother.

“Bro, got a light?”

Wang Yuedong didn’t say much. He pulled out a box of matches and tossed it over.

“Bro, give me a cigarette.”

Sighing, Wang Yuedong handed him the entire pack. “There’re only a few left.”

Cigarettes were a luxury—usually kept for worksite networking.

Disappointed, Wang Yuexi scoffed, “Hademen? Really?”

Hademen cigarettes were cheap—only two yuan per pack.

“Don’t want it? Give it back.”

“What’s wrong with two yuan?” His heart bled spending even that much.

Laughing, Wang Yuexi lit up, savoring the moment.

Money was tight—both he and his wife were teachers. Every penny was earmarked for their son’s university education.

After smoking, he slipped back into his teacher persona and started critiquing the kids before dinner was served.

He first scolded Wang Yunyun for her poor math skills, preaching the old adage, “Master math and science, and you can go anywhere.”

No one dared speak up. His words carried weight as the family’s only certified teacher.

Even Sun Cuifang, despite her frustrations with her brother-in-law, sided with him. “Yunyun, listen to your uncle. Math is important for better scores.”

Every stern teacher had an enabler, and Wang Yuexi thrived on it.

Next, his eyes landed on Wang Shuai, who had already considered running off when he saw the second uncle’s family arriving but was now stuck shelling corn in the corner.”

Wang Yuexi wore a look of disdain, followed by a heavy sigh.

Unlike how he scolded Wang Yunyun, Wang Yuexi’s comments on Wang Shuai were brief.

“Hopeless.”

In Wang Shuai’s limited memory, what annoyed him most was not Jian Li but his second uncle.

Whenever his second uncle returned home, he would inevitably get a beating after he left.

Sure enough, after Wang Yuexi sighed, Wang Yuedong’s sharp gaze swept over immediately, making Wang Shuai’s legs weak.

Second Aunt Li Xia, pretending to be concerned while delivering a sharp jab, commented, “Big Sister-in-law, I’ve wanted to say this for a while now. Even if you and Big Brother are busy making money, you still need to discipline your child. Xiao Shuai is quite smart, but if his grades are this bad, isn’t that the parents’ fault?”

Sun Cuifang’s face burned with embarrassment—this was why she could never feel confident when talking to Li Xia.

Li Xia’s son, Wang Chengtai, was said to excel in his studies, after all.

And then there was her own child, who brought home red-lantern warnings every semester and required multiple parent-teacher meetings.

How humiliating.

Li Xia, noticing the shame in her sister-in-law’s eyes, felt thoroughly satisfied.

She knew Big Sister-in-law resented the favoritism of their elders, but so what?

Her family had secure government jobs, and her son made them proud.

Her sister-in-law and husband were only primary school graduates—how could they raise an exceptional child?

With such an outstanding son, Li Xia believed she had every right to hold her head high in the Wang family.

When Wang Yuexi shifted his gaze to Jian Li, he noticed she had slimmed down significantly over the summer. While she hadn’t quite reached her target weight of 150 pounds, she was close.

However, in his eyes, she was still a lost cause.

Previously, he thought that even if she wasn’t academically gifted, her looks could help her marry well. But now, she was overweight and average at best in her studies.

“Tsk, tsk…”

Wang Yuexi glanced around at the children in the courtyard, feeling that none of them were promising.

Jian Li, however, was unfazed. That was just the kind of person her second uncle was.

Even in her past life, after she started working, her second uncle would still question her at family gatherings, asking if her boss recognized her abilities, whether she had earned any awards, and what her future plans were.

Exhausted from work, Jian Li didn’t have the energy to discuss three-year or five-year plans with her relatives. She often dismissed these conversations by saying she had no plans.

Her second uncle disapproved and began lecturing her.

“How can you have no plans? At your age, you need a clear understanding of your future.”

“You have to choose wisely between work and marriage. You can’t just drift aimlessly through life.”

“And another thing, you didn’t even greet anyone when you came in. Is that appropriate behavior? Do you act like this at work too?”

“You need to be observant and learn how to conduct yourself in the workplace.”

—-

Jian Li went from trying to argue back to silently enduring.

Her second uncle was the kind of parent who believed in motivational stories where someone’s life changed because they picked up a piece of trash and caught the attention of the CEO. Having never ventured beyond school walls, he thought life was just another version of school competition.

Unaware that life beyond school doesn’t come with a report card ranking who’s first or second, he clung to outdated views.

Jian Li remained composed and unaffected.

After criticizing the children, it was finally time to eat.

Sun Cuifang prepared her specialty—braised pork and stir-fried lamb with onions and coriander. The lamb was tender and fragrant, while pig trotters were stewed with soybeans until the gelatinous skin trembled in a rich, soy-colored broth, and the beans were soft and flavorful.

The table had three meat dishes. Wang Yuexi’s family, like a group of hunters with radar-equipped chopsticks, focused solely on devouring the meat.

Being a teacher might sound respectable, but due to historical circumstances and meager salaries, many still referred to them as “stinking intellectuals.”

Li Xia taught Chinese at the town’s middle school, and Wang Yuexi taught math. Together, their combined monthly income barely exceeded 200 yuan.

This money had to cover expenses like study materials for Wang Chengtai, a senior in high school, nutrition, and household necessities. Every month was a financial stretch.

This was one reason why their mother favored her youngest son.

Jian Li quickly grabbed a few pieces of meat and mixed them into her rice, savoring the taste with satisfaction.

Others weren’t as fortunate.

Wang Yuexi’s family ate with such intensity that little was left for the rest.

After the meat was gone, Wang Yuexi, picking his teeth, finally turned to Qian Ping.

“Sis, now that Pingping didn’t get in, what’s your plan?”

He already knew Pingping hadn’t passed—he was the one who delivered the news. After all, she studied in the town, and he knew her teachers well.

Li Xia chimed in, “Exactly. It’s been two years now. If the child isn’t suited for academics, why not let her learn a trade? Isn’t that better than forcing things?”

As the saying goes, “Many sisters-in-law, many troubles; many sisters, much drama.” Li Xia had always been narrow-minded, focusing only on outshining her in-laws.

Compared to Sun Cuifang, she brimmed with superiority.

Compared to Wang Mengmei, she felt just as confident.

But when it came to Wang Menglan, her sense of superiority wavered.

Wang Menglan may not have a son, but Qian Ping excels academically.

During the three years at the town’s school, Li Xia could always see Qian Ping’s name at the top of the honor roll.

Seeing it hurt her eyes and made her heart ache.

Her sister-in-law could earn money, but if her daughter also got into university, how could Li Xia ever compare?

So, without telling anyone, when Qian Ping failed her first entrance exam, Li Xia happily ate two extra bowls of rice.

When Qian Ping retook the exam, Li Xia, following Wang Menglan’s instructions, enrolled her in a cram school, silently wishing the heavens would grant her heart’s desire once more.

Sure enough, Qian Ping failed again.

This time, there was little hope of her retaking the exam.

Looking at Qian Ping eating with her head lowered, Li Xia sighed, “Sister, I’m not saying this to rub it in, but when Pingping chose science back then, I warned you to be careful. Girls don’t have the same stamina as boys. Look at her now… Ah, but it’s not a big deal for girls. She can stay home a few years, and I’ll help keep an eye out for a good match.”

Li Xia waited eagerly for Wang Menglan’s embarrassed reaction—that was her trophy.

But Wang Menglan wiped her mouth and dropped a bombshell.

“Why learn a trade? No need. I’m planning to send her abroad.”

“To America. Even washing dishes there earns $2,000 a month!”

Li Xia’s pride and joy faded, replaced with disbelief. “What? To America?”

Her heart skipped a beat, leaving her unsettled.

When she learned the full story, she was even more at a loss for words.

Wang Menglan praised America, talking about how wonderful life there was and how Qian Ping might even stay permanently.

“I don’t expect her to achieve much. As long as she stays there, when her father and I get old, we’ll join her, and we’ll all be together.”

It was as if Wang Menglan had finally reclaimed the dignity Qian Ping had cost her, going on and on about America’s greatness.

Li Xia couldn’t take much more.

“Sister, I think you should reconsider.”

Jealousy gnawed at her. “It’s so far! Are you really comfortable letting Ping Ping go alone? It’s not like going to the south to work, where you can visit. This is across many countries! What if something happens? Can you fly over?”

Wang Menglan waved dismissively. “What could happen? They have great welfare. If you’re sick, they treat you for free. You can even study for free. I’ve already planned it. She’ll work and study at the same time.”

Her biggest regret was dropping out early for her family, so she was determined to have Qian Ping fulfill her dreams.

“I hear it’s easy to get into Harvard in America. If she works hard, she might even get into Harvard.”

Li Xia: …

Ahhh, she was about to explode with anger.

Even worse, her own husband, Wang Yuexi, praised the plan.

“Exactly. Ping Ping, follow your mother’s plan and don’t forget her kindness.”

Qian Ping bowed her head even lower.

Wang Menglan pinched her impatiently. “Look at you! Your uncle’s talking. Why don’t you answer? With this attitude, you’ll suffer when you go abroad. You’ve got no drive.”

Jian Li finally understood why her sister rushed into marriage in her past life.

No one enjoyed that meal.

After dinner, Wang Yuexi’s family left immediately.

Qian Ping helped clear the table and whispered to Jian Li, “Xiao Li, let’s meet in town tomorrow?”

She had made up her mind—she was leaving!

Her mother’s words were like roasting her over a fire.

Even if it wasn’t a scam, she didn’t want to go to America!

She didn’t understand why her mother always wanted her to make a name for herself, constantly bragging first. Harvard? Did her mother even know where Harvard was? Talking about working and studying at Harvard like it was nothing.

Before dinner, Qian Ping had been unsure, but now her decision was firm—she wasn’t going.

She couldn’t fulfill her mother’s dreams.

Jian Li: “We’ll meet in town. Tomorrow, go to the station on your own. My bus will stop there, and we’ll go together.”

Qian Ping nodded heavily.

Jian Li wasted no time. After dinner, she said she was going to town to call her mother.

“My mom’s probably too busy to remember. I’ll let her know I’m going home tomorrow.”

Her grandmother snorted, but Jian Li ignored her.

She found a public phone, called the cotton factory’s shop, and waited ten minutes for her mother to call back.

When she heard her mother’s voice after more than a month, she playfully teased, “Miss Wang Mengmei, did you forget you have a daughter?”

Her mother, breathless from work, responded, “Oh, it’s already the 23rd. You start school on the 1st, right?”

Jian Li rolled her eyes. “When have I ever started on a different date?”

Her mother laughed, “I’m so busy I could drop. Okay, take a bus home tomorrow. Your dad will pick you up.”

Jian Li’s eyes sparkled with an idea. “Mom, you’re so busy—why not hire someone to help you out?”

Wang Mengmei sighed, “Why are you so concerned about this… I’ve been looking, but haven’t found anyone yet. Besides, with school starting soon and business slowing down in winter, I was thinking of just toughing it out.”

Jian Li replied confidently, “That won’t do! Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll take care of this as soon as I get back tomorrow. Just wait for me!”

Wang Mengmei warned, “Don’t go messing things up for me…”

Before she could finish, she heard the dial tone as Jian Li hung up.

Wang Mengmei: …It’s been over a month, and she still has that urge to give her daughter a good smack, doesn’t she?

With her plan set, Jian Li began packing her things.

She had arrived with just her clothes and a schoolbag full of summer homework, odd trinkets, and leftover stock she hadn’t finished selling.

Wang Shuai watched her with wide eyes. “Sis, will you come back during winter break?”

“Of course,” Jian Li replied as she packed.

She wouldn’t be there for the New Year itself, but her mother usually spent a few days at her family’s house after the holiday.

Wang Shuai grinned. “Then I’ll be waiting for you!”

Jian Li playfully knocked on his head. “Make sure you pass math. If you can’t pass, how will you manage accounts?”

Although reluctant, Wang Shuai nodded obediently.

He knew it was true—without math skills, he couldn’t keep track of money properly.

If he miscalculated and gave too little, it was fine, but if he gave too much, wouldn’t he be losing out?

Wang Yunyun handed Jian Li a long reading list. “Read some books when you get back.”

Though Yunyun had plenty to read now, she often felt lonely.

When Jian Li was around, there was someone to talk to and share conversations with. Once she left, Yunyun didn’t know who she could chat with anymore.

Wang Shuai?

Forget it. If Jian Li hadn’t made him do something productive this summer, his daily activities would still involve peeing contests and playing with mud. Yunyun hadn’t mentioned it, but before Jian Li came back, she had seen Wang Shuai competing with a group of kids to see who could pee the farthest…

He had looked utterly ridiculous.

Jian Li took the reading list, feeling reluctant to leave, and left them with a classic line from Grey Wolf:

“I’ll be back!”