Chapter 7 Why are you here again?

The three Yao siblings quickly washed up, made and ate breakfast, and changed their clothes.

Yao Shula specially made sure that the three siblings changed into very worn-out clothes.

The cotton-padded jackets were made of stiff, clump-like cotton, and the elbows and knees of the jackets were patched up.

Yao Shuli went even further, deliberately finding a pair of old cotton shoes she wore when she was eight years old, with a hole in them so that her toes could be exposed.

"My uncle said he would wait for us at the three-way intersection in front of the machinery factory."

Let's pack up and head straight there!

"Remember, all you have to do is cry!" Yao Shula instructed her younger siblings as she took out the things she had prepared yesterday.

Yao Shula and Yao Shuli nodded vigorously as they put the white cloth that Yao Shula had prepared on their heads.

“There’s also hemp rope!” Yao Shula pulled three hemp ropes out from under the bed.

"Sister, I saw someone holding a funeral on the street ahead before, and it looked like the man was wearing a mourning cap."

It's basically a white cloth on your head and a hemp rope tied around your waist.

The woman... seemed to have only a white mourning scarf around her neck and a hemp rope tied around her waist, but she didn't seem to be wearing a mourning hat on her head." Yao Shuli suddenly remembered something.

Yao Shula was taken aback. Was this really the case? Wasn't wearing a mourning cap something every child should do?

You're wrong! They're actually the same.

It is true that the men wore mourning caps and tied with hemp ropes, but the women wore white mourning cloths on their heads as mourning caps.

I've seen it before; I specifically asked Grandma Zhou next door.

Grandma Zhou told me that women cry more and shed more tears, so they put a white mourning cloth on their heads and wipe their tears while crying. Yao Shuxin immediately retorted.

Upon hearing this, Yao Shuli thought it made a lot of sense.

Yao Shula also felt that Yao Shuxin's words made sense.

That makes sense, that's how it should be.

"Then... shall we also wear white mourning scarves and cry at the factory gate?" Yao Shula looked at the white cloth in her hand.

Yao Shuxin and Yao Shuli both nodded immediately.

"Yes! Let's cry together while wearing white sheets!"

“Okay, bring Mom’s photo too, and hold it in your arms.” Yao Shula nodded in agreement.

Just as the three siblings were tying the rope around their waists, there was a knock on the courtyard gate, followed by a familiar voice.

"Big sister, second sister, brother, I'm here!"

"You're all up, aren't you? I'm coming in!"

Little Tiantian!

The three siblings looked at each other, and each saw the doubt in the eyes of the other two.

This kid has been like he's vanished for the past three days, without a sound or a movement. Yao Shula is starting to wonder if she's picked up a little ingrate...

This time suddenly appeared.

In those days, most people left their doors ajar except when they went to bed at night, when they would lock them with bolts.

Or rather, even if the door is closed, no one locks it tightly during the day.

The gate to the Yao family's courtyard was only slightly ajar...

After Xiaotian finished speaking, he pushed open the courtyard gate and peeked inside.

Then I immediately saw the three siblings putting on white cloths over their heads and tying hemp ropes around their waists...

His eyes lit up immediately.

"Big brother, look, I told you Sister Shura was going to do something really fun today!"

"Come on in! We'll come and play with you too!" Little Tiantian said as she ran toward Yao Shula.

Yao Shula then noticed that Xiao Tiantian's cousin, Lei Jingwu, was still standing outside the courtyard gate.

At that moment, Lei Jingwu also saw the attire of Yao Shula and her two siblings, and his pupils widened in shock.

"Whose funeral are you going to attend?" Lei Jingwu asked in a low voice.

Yao Shula immediately shook her head.

"No! I just want to go to the gate of the machinery factory where my mom used to work to pay my respects to her!"

Lei Jingwu...

Having thoroughly investigated the situation of the Yao family over the past three days, Lei Jingwu immediately guessed what the Yao siblings were planning.

"Does it really have to be this way? Wouldn't the chances of success be smaller if we talked it out properly?" Lei Jingwu, who had already come in and immediately closed the door, asked Yao Shula.

Yao Shula nodded vigorously.

"Well! We ordinary folks have no other options but to do this!"

Whether it succeeds or not, we should at least do something.

"Even if we can't do it, we still have to vent our anger and make everyone see that despicable couple in a new light," Yao Shula said firmly.

"Aren't you afraid of what others will say?" Lei Jingwu suddenly asked with a smile.

Yao Shula immediately shook her head.

"Don't be afraid! In the end, they will be the ones who lose face."

We are just abandoned children, children abused after our mothers died. We are the vulnerable!

Lei Jingwu nodded.

Indeed, the eldest sister of the Yao family is someone who can put aside her pride and is willing to go all out.

He was just about to tell Yao Shula to be careful, and that she should definitely help him if she needed anything...

"Second sister, let me wear this white mourning scarf! I'll go with you."

Xiao Tiantian, who had already gathered around Yao Shuxin and Yao Shuli, was about to take the white mourning scarf from Yao Shuxin's neck and put it on herself.

"No! I only have one!" Yao Shuxin immediately grabbed her white mourning scarf and wouldn't let go.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Tiantian immediately looked at the hemp rope around Yao Shuli's waist.

"Brother Shuli, what about your hemp rope..."

"I only have one!"

There's only this much stuff; what are we going to do with it if we give it to you?

"It took us a lot of effort to get even this little bit of stuff." Yao Shuli gripped the hemp rope around his waist tightly.

Seeing that he couldn't get away from the siblings, Xiao Tiantian immediately looked at Yao Shula pitifully.

Yao Shula immediately turned her face away.

The older brother is right here; it's not my place to lecture him.

Before Lei Jingwu could even scold Xiao Tiantian, Xiao Tiantian found himself a new job.

"Picture frame! Sister, let me carry the picture frame for you!"

Just like that night, you were crying in front, and I was crying behind you, holding the photo frame.

"If you beckon, I'll come forward..."

As Xiaotian spoke, she climbed onto the stool under the table where the photos were placed.

Holding a picture frame! He's best at that...

Amidst the chaos, Lei Jingwu scooped up the struggling Xiao Tiantian and tucked her under his arm.

"You guys go first! Your name is Yao Shula, right?"

"Remember, you are in the right. You are here to fight for your legitimate rights. Think carefully about your conditions!" Lei Jingwu nodded to Yao Shula.

Then they left, carrying Xiaotian who was struggling to get down.

"I want to go with them! Big Sister needs me!" Little Tiantian still tried to struggle.

"I'll take you to see it later! Now come home with me!" Lei Jingwu gave Xiao Tiantian a light tap on the bottom.

Xiao Tiantian then calmed down.

...

Everything was ready. Yao Shula wore a white mourning scarf around her neck and a hemp rope around her waist. Then she took the photo frame containing her mother's picture from the table and hugged it to her arms.

"Let's go! We're ready to begin!"

And so, the three siblings, dressed in mourning clothes, left the courtyard...