Chapter 46 Your Name Suit You
"Trading is fraught with unpredictable risks. In order to protect and secure one's business, the Firewall Company is like armor and a solid fortress, which can keep enemies at bay."
In the Shen family's courtyard, two bowls of coarse tea and a plate of fried soybeans were placed on a small square table. In her haste, Shen Miao had not had time to prepare anything and could only apologize to Madam Xie for neglecting her.
But Madam Xi said it was no problem, and sat down on the small stool without any objection. She even picked up the teacup and took a sip. She glanced at the yellow dog in the courtyard that was squeezed into a kennel with the chickens, and said with a forced smile, "We didn't come here just to eat and drink. Besides, we just had some very good soup noodles."
Both were pragmatic people, so Shen Miao stopped exchanging pleasantries and began discussing the instant noodle workshop with Madam Xie. She proposed taking 30% of the profits, and Madam Xi didn't haggle much. Instead, she asked curiously what a "firewall" was.
This time, without the unreliable middleman, Shen Miao explained things clearly to Xi Shi in just a few words.
In short, in the Song Dynasty, before capitalism had even begun to emerge, the Xie family and other large families typically managed their assets through a simple two-tiered operation model: a parent company (the family itself) and subsidiaries (family-owned businesses such as shops, estates, and workshops). When those in power wanted to deal with you, it was incredibly easy; they could simply follow the trail and wipe you out in one fell swoop.
However, to avoid such situations and effectively preserve their businesses, later family businesses would make their equity structures exceptionally complex. It's important to understand that in the turbulent world of business, bankruptcy is sometimes not caused by doing something wrong, but rather by becoming too big, too good, or too conspicuous. The times cannot tolerate a single dominant player, which is why the saying "when one whale falls, all things flourish" often occurs.
In her previous life, as she owned more and more stores and gradually became involved in industries such as meat processing plants, cold chain transportation, and live streaming to help farmers, Shen Miao also began to learn how to protect herself.
A multi-tiered corporate structure is constructed, with parent company A holding shares in subsidiary B, and B in turn holding shares in sub-subsidiary C. When sub-subsidiary C faces disputes or risks, the risk will not directly spread to parent company A due to the separation of equity and legal entity. Furthermore, through legal and compliant equity holding on behalf of others, a platform company as the central entity, independent financial accounting, contractually agreed asset boundaries, and avoidance of related-party transactions, parent company A can be protected during storms.
Why did she want to open a noodle shop in this way? First, she distrusted the commercial system of the feudal dynasty. Although the Song Dynasty's commercial laws were the most comprehensive and lenient of all dynasties, she still couldn't believe in the fairness of the law under a unified imperial system. Second, the Xie family wanted to open the workshop on the border, targeting the sensitive soldiers and military supplies. She had a commoner's mindset, accustomed to avoiding risks first; while making money, she also valued her life. But this didn't mean she was too cowardly to participate. Her grandfather had said that doing business was like crossing a river with crutches—you had to be daring, but also careful. Instant noodles were indeed best suited for border areas; they wouldn't sell well in the prosperous city of Bianjing. Third, the Song Dynasty had the best commercial environment, with comprehensive laws and relatively fair taxes. In other dynasties, this method wouldn't have worked.
Fourth, Ninth Brother let slip that the Xie family was going to set up this workshop in Youzhou. Why did they choose Youzhou specifically? Shen Miao realized almost immediately: given the habits of their large family, there must be a clansman holding an official position in Youzhou, and a high-ranking one at that! Since someone was "protecting" them, this business was worth doing.
Shen Miao even drew a diagram on the table with tea, and explained with a smile: "As you know, Madam, I have been married into Jinling for three years. Maritime trade between Jinling and Mingzhou is booming. Merchants come and go, including not only Song people, but also foreign barbarians. The risks involved in maritime trade are more complex and volatile than those in regular trade, so we have to be careful. I heard about this method from the old lawyer next door and other big merchants. I found it novel and reasonable, so I kept it in mind. Now I'm just showing off my limited skills. I hope you won't think I'm being reckless."
Madam Xi and Granny Xi were lost in thought. They exchanged a glance, silent, yet their hearts were churning with shock at Shen Miao's words. What was the Xie family's current predicament? They had lost the trust of the officials, yet possessed immense wealth! From Xie's father's generation onward, no matter how talented or dedicated their descendants were to serving as officials, none had ever been able to break through to the sixth rank or higher. What did this mean?
It means they are guarding a mountain of gold, but no longer have the sword to protect it.
But Shenmiao's method opened a ray of light for the Xi family.
Previously, when Ninth Brother vaguely mentioned "firewall," she didn't understand its meaning, but now she realized how apt those three words were. Madam Xi also said seriously, "This servant understands as well. A provides the capital but doesn't participate. The business controlling the workshop is just an empty shell, without any actual business operations. Therefore, it's essential to choose a virtuous and loyal person to manage it, and then use this shell to connect A and C. But for this shell to be managed properly, the regulations and rules must be extremely detailed, with the distribution of power and benefits, the decision-making process, and the scope of authority all written down. Otherwise, if the shell runs away, everything will be leaked."
"Even the people around the eldest mistress are so capable." Shen Miao was greatly surprised. This short woman who always stood next to the eldest mistress of the Xie family did not introduce herself, but from her humble attitude, Shen Miao could roughly guess that she was the eldest mistress of the Xie family's servant. Yet she was so knowledgeable!
Xi Shi seemed to understand Shen Miao's gaze, glanced at Xi Mama, and smiled at Shen Miao, "A-Xi was chosen from among hundreds of servants of the Xie family. She studied and learned household management from several Xie ladies from a young age, originally intended to accompany Ninth Brother's aunt in her dowry. But..." But Consort Xie later entered the palace and committed suicide there...
She paused, not continuing, and instead began to talk about her past with a smile. "Later, I married into the Xie family from Youzhou. I was completely clueless about the intricate relationships and connections in Bianjing. So, the Grand Madam gave A-Xi to me to guide me and help me manage the household affairs. Therefore, you should not underestimate A-Xi. Although she calls herself a maidservant by my side, she is knowledgeable in reading and accounting, and is someone I respect very much."
Madam Xi immediately curtsied and said, "Madam, please don't say that. You're making me feel terrible."
"I see." Shen Miao smiled and apologized, but through Mama Xi, she gained even more confidence in the Xie family. If they could cultivate such an outstanding servant over more than ten years, then the Xie family must have many loyal and capable people like Mama Xi. It wouldn't be difficult to select a few to manage the business and workshops.
Moreover... she keenly realized that Madam Xie must have deliberately revealed to her that she had married into the family from Youzhou.
Thus, she understood the implied meaning behind the song and realized why the Xie family had chosen Youzhou—it turned out to be their closest maternal relatives.
Intelligent people don't need to say anything; a smile exchanged between them is enough to clear their minds.
However, Madam Xie's attitude towards Shen Miao was completely different from when she first came to meet her. She truly admired this beautiful yet incredibly shrewd and cautious young woman. It was truly remarkable that someone of her age and background could possess such insight.
Before coming to Shenji, Madam Xi had already found out about Shen Miao's background, family history, and even her ex-husband's wealth. So she agreed on the profit sharing and other preparations with Shen Miao. After everything was agreed upon, before leaving, Madam Xi patted the back of her hand, showing great pity for her.
After boarding the carriage and leaving, Madam Xi sighed to Mama Xi inside the carriage, "Madam Chen is so intelligent, I really don't know why she married such a worthless family? Could it be that she was really blinded by beauty?"
"When Madam Shen got married, she was only fifteen years old and had the protection of her parents. She must have been quite naive back then and easily trusted others." Madam Xi sighed softly, feeling a deep empathy for her. "Looking at the wise men of the past, they all endured many hardships. King Wen of Zhou was imprisoned and then wrote the Book of Changes, and Confucius was in distress and then wrote the Spring and Autumn Annals. In times of hardship, people will surely think of ways to change. Madam Shen's intelligence must have been honed by her own difficult circumstances."
Xi had practiced martial arts since childhood and, although she had a rudimentary understanding of literature, she was neither proficient nor fond of it. Now, listening to Xi's mother pedantically arguing over words, she felt a headache coming on. But then she thought of the Feng family she was going to visit in a few days, a family that was even more pedantic! So she hurriedly said, "Xi, remember to write two congratulatory poems for Madam Feng's birthday, and also prepare a few more sentimental poems for the occasion, like those about appreciating flowers and water. The Feng family is frequented by the wives of scholar-officials, and they always have to play poetry games at their banquets. Whenever I sit with them, I can barely eat a few bites of food, but I end up with a belly full of sour poems. It's really a miserable experience."
Mom couldn't help but chuckle: "Yes, yes, yes."
***
Shen Miao stood at the door with a smile, waving goodbye attentively until the Xie family's eldest daughter's carriage had disappeared into the distance, before skipping back into the shop. Ji Ge'er and You Yu hadn't returned from buying meat with Lei Ting, and Xiang Jie'er was taking a nap. Only Zhui Feng was chasing a fallen leaf that was being blown around by the wind in the courtyard. The name Jiu Ge'er (Ninth Brother) was quite fitting for it; it was indeed a dog as unpredictable as the wind.
Overjoyed with no one to share her happiness with, she rushed over and hugged the dog, giving it two big kisses on the head. Then, she happily rubbed its face back and forth, saying, "Zhuifeng, Zhuifeng, we're going to make gold! And once the workshop is up and running, won't we be able to make money just by lying down? At that time, your older sister will buy you two big bones every day, and we'll gnaw on one and throw the other away. That's how extravagant we'll be!"
The dog was being rubbed and whined.
Fortunately, Ji Ge'er and You Yu returned soon. They pushed open the back door with large and small bags. Lei Ting was carrying two packages of pig's trotters wrapped in oil paper on his back. He had been smelling the raw meat all the way back and carried them back very steadily.
If it were Zhui Feng, he would probably have gnawed the pig's trotters down to the bone halfway there.
Shen Miao took the meat and saw that Ji Ge'er was covered in sweat, so she urged him and You Yu to wash their faces. When the two returned with their faces wet, she couldn't hide her joy and said to them, "I'll go and braise this pot of meat first. After we close the shop, we'll go to Manager Zhou's bookstore to buy some stationery for you when you start school. Yesterday, Dr. Yao came to eat soup dumplings and said that those of you who have passed the preliminary examination will start school at the beginning of next month. Since you have some free time now, let's buy bedding, stationery, and other supplies first."
Shen Ji asked curiously, "Why is elder sister so happy?"
Shen Miao raised her eyebrows smugly: "My sister just got a big job. In a few days, she'll be hosting a banquet at Dr. Feng's house at Biyong Academy. She'll earn this much." She stretched out both hands and waved them in front of Ji Ge'er.
Shen Ji exclaimed in surprise, "Ten strings of cash?"
"That's too narrow-minded. Let's guess again, let's guess bigger." Shen Miao said happily.
"Twenty strings of cash?" Shen Ji hesitated to guess the amount.
“It’s ten taels.” Shen Miao put her arm around his arm and whispered in his ear, “Gold.”
Shen Ji's eyes widened, and he didn't even dare to utter the word. His lips moved, and he only managed to exhale a breath: "Jin?"
"Gold." Shen Miao became even more captivated. She had never seen what gold looked like in her entire life! In her previous life, she also loved gold the most, but she didn't buy jewelry. Instead, she would go to the bank every year to buy some gold bars and fill the safe at home to the brim. Every year, she would sit there and count them, and she would feel incredibly happy.
Shen Ji was also shaken and swayed slightly.
"Alright, let's just enjoy this in private, and don't tell anyone." Shen Miao put her hand to her mouth. "Go and wake Xiang'er up, wash her face, change her clothes, and then I'll make a pot of braised pork, and then we'll set off."
There was broth readily available, so all I had to do was chop the meat, wash it, blanch it, and then put it in. Just as I put the meat in the pot and was about to move the door panel to close it, a familiar-looking young soldier suddenly ran in and shouted urgently, "Madam Chen, are you closing the door at this hour? Luckily I came at the right time. Quick, bring twenty servings of instant soup noodles."
Shen Miao recognized him. At first, he led a large group of soldiers, including the head instructor of the Xiang Army, into the restaurant to eat instant noodles, which startled her. Later, he often came to eat noodles, but when he had time to sit and eat slowly, he would order mutton noodles. Only when he was busy would he order a few servings of instant noodles to take home.
"Alright, coming right up. Why so much today?" Shen Miao greeted him casually, then went inside and quickly wrapped it up, tied it into a bunch with hemp rope, and handed it to him. "It's been a while since we've seen you gentlemen visit. Is something important keeping you busy?"
"Don't even mention it. Qin Prefecture is currently quelling the rebellion of the Western Qiang, which has led to a surge in refugees, some of whom have even fled to the outskirts of Cai Prefecture. The instructor is cautious, fearing that some lawless individuals might sneak into the city and cause trouble. Therefore, he sends people to patrol the area every day and doesn't allow them to go home at night, saying it's in preparation for any eventuality." The young soldier yawned, clearly feeling quite tired these days, and then blinked and smiled, "When I'm on night duty, I get hungry, but I don't want to eat any flatbread. The soup flatbread from Madam Shen's place is the best; it's hot and makes me feel refreshed."
Shen Miao asked worriedly, "Is the situation in Qin Prefecture that bad?"
"I heard that General Xi has already recovered the two counties that the bandits seized. It seems that there was no real danger and the matter will be resolved soon." The young soldier waved his hand. "There's no need to panic. The refugees can't get into Bianjing City. We've been guarding it for several days, and we've only caught a few petty thieves taking advantage of the chaos."
Shen Miao didn't show it on her face, but after seeing the army off, she still decided to take her small stall out later to stock up on more non-perishable grains. She didn't want her soup noodle shop to go out of business if grain prices skyrocketed.
Just as she was pondering this, Xiangjie walked into the kitchen yawning, rubbing her eyes and saying, "Sister, I'm not going to the bookstore, I'm going to go play with Gou'er."
She was still thinking about how Gou'er had been beaten and scolded yesterday and had cried so miserably, so she wanted to see how he was doing today.
Shen Miao thought for a moment: "Alright, then you and Youyu can stay home. Leiting can stay too. I'll be back after I buy the things. When you and Gou'er have played enough, if I'm not back by then, go wait at Aunt Gu's house. I'll talk to Aunt Gu and ask her to look after you. Even if you and Gou'er want to play, play in the alley. Don't run out into the street, understand?"
Xiangjie said crisply, "I know, I won't run around."
After saying that, she pulled Youyu and ran towards the back gate of the Li family's house. Aunt Li was still asleep and the Li family's house was quiet. Chenmiao peeked out and saw Xiangjie barking like a dog at the Li family's door. After a while, Li Gou'er poked his head out with swollen eyes. The two whispered a few words to each other by the door, and then he tiptoed out. The two of them pulled Youyu and ran to the drainage ditch behind the water room to hide and talk.
It hasn't rained for the past few days, and the drainage ditches are still dry and winding. The children in the alley like to crawl in and play hide-and-seek.
Shen Miao went to the Gu family again to inform them, and Aunt Gu then carried a stool to the door, picking vegetables while watching from afar, waving her hand: "Go ahead and do your work, I'll sit here, they won't be able to get out of the alley no matter what."
So Shen Miao quickly packed up, closed the shop, took down the large umbrella and charcoal stove from the stall cart, and pushed it away with Ji Ge'er. Although there were many bookstores closer in the inner city, Shen Miao preferred to take the long way to buy from Manager Zhou. Firstly, she wanted to support Manager Zhou's business; secondly, his bookstore was closer to Biyong Academy, and many students from the academy associated with him, so he knew a lot about the academy, which Shen Miao could inquire about for Ji Ge'er; thirdly, the instant noodle workshop and the banquet catering business were both unexpected windfalls, and she was thrilled and happy to have finalized them today. However, she didn't want to flaunt her wealth, so she wanted to go out for a walk and let the breeze and sunshine outside calm her joy.
By the time she reached Lanxin Bookstore, Shen Miao had mostly calmed down. As she lifted the half-rolled reed curtain at the bookstore entrance, she thought to herself with a touch of self-mockery that she was, after all, just an ordinary person who was both sad and happy for herself. But being an ordinary person was fine too; these mundane memories filled with the stench of money made her feel rich and happy inside.
Shaking off those wild thoughts, she entered the room, calling out, "Manager Zhou," as she went in.
As soon as she entered, she met several pairs of eyes and realized that the usually quiet bookstore was unusually lively. Several students in wide robes and long sleeves were sitting or standing around the counter.
As soon as she finished speaking, they all turned to look. One of the baby-faced students immediately exclaimed in surprise, "Madam Shen!"
"Even Madam Shen is here to buy books? I've been locked up at home by my father these past few days and haven't been able to go to the shop for soup dumplings. I've gotten so thin from hunger!" He threw down the book in his hand and began to ramble on and on, even excitedly trying to squeeze past his classmates to chat with Shen Miao. But Shang An quickly pulled him back, so he turned to his friend and complained, "Brother Shang, why are you pulling me? You don't know, I've been locked up at home by my father and I've written three articles praising soup dumplings, and they're all about Shen's soup dumplings! You can't do anything about it. Madam Shen is a confidante for us gourmets, a beacon in the dark, and a haven for a lonely boat..."
"Ning Da, stop reading those sentimental essays of yours..." Shang An shuddered as he listened.
"..." Shen Miao also shuddered, getting goosebumps all over her body.
She remembered that this person had once refused her offer to buy him egg yolk pastries. Later, when instant noodles became popular, he colluded with many students from the Imperial Academy and the Biyong Academy to sneak out at night to eat instant noodles. However, Dr. Yao caught them red-handed, and she hadn't seen him for quite some time after that.
It seems that his truancy to eat noodles was exposed, and he was put in solitary confinement by his family. He was only released today.
After parking his car at the door, Shen Ji went into the shop. He stood silently behind Shen Miao, glancing warily at the strangely excited "Ning Da".
At this moment, Manager Zhou lifted the curtain of the back room and came out. While turning to the side and talking to the tall and thin man behind him, he stepped over the threshold: "Ninth Brother Xie, what do you need sand for when you go back to the academy? I have some river sand, which was originally used to raise turtles, so I'll give you a basin of it!"
As they spoke, the two turned around and were both taken aback when they saw Shen Miao. Then they asked in unison, "Why are you here, Madam Shen?"
Shen Miao first greeted Manager Zhou, and then looked up to find that Xie Qi was behind Manager Zhou.
Xie Qi's leg is finally fully healed. Although the splint had been removed long ago, it still hurt a bit when he walked. Now he can walk, run, and jump without any problems. His family urged him to return to the academy to study. Today, he came to Lanxin Bookstore to buy some writing brushes and ink, and also to replenish some other supplies before heading back to the academy.
Shen Miao could never be unhappy to see Xie Qi. She stepped forward and gave a slight curtsy: "I just met Ninth Brother at the night market yesterday, and now I've met him here again. Oh, by the way, I haven't told Ninth Brother yet, but Ji-ge passed the exam! He got sixth place!"
She pulled Ji Ge'er forward, looked up at him, and said with heartfelt gratitude, "If it weren't for Jiu Ge'er's advice and the book he lent Ji Ge'er, he probably wouldn't have been able to pass the exam so smoothly. In the future, when Ji Ge'er is at Biyong Academy, I hope Jiu Ge'er can take care of him when he has time."
"No need for constant thanks. My book is just icing on the cake. All of this is thanks to Ji-ge'er's hard work in studying. He should be the one to thank himself." Xie Qi did not take credit. Instead, he smiled and shook his head, then turned to Shen Ji and said, "Congratulations. Although we will not be in the same dormitory in the future, we can be considered half classmates. After you are enrolled, I will take you around to explore the area."
"Thank you, Ninth Brother." Shen Ji blushed slightly.
Shang An couldn't help but glance at the unusually gentle Xie Qi, thinking to himself, "When did Xie Jiu become so warm to others? Borrowing books? Taking a stroll?"
Ning Yi then leaned closer, tiptoed, and hooked his arm around Xie Qi's, whispering mysteriously to Shen Miao and her brother, "You don't know, do you? Xie Jiu is the apple of everyone's eye in our academy. He entered with the highest score in the preliminary examination, and afterwards at Biyong Academy, no matter what the exam was, he never came in second. Others may not know the books he read and the critiques he wrote, but I know them best. They are extremely insightful and apt. Hehe, I always borrowed Xie Jiu's books to read during the ten-day, quarterly, and annual exams, and after that, I always passed and didn't get kicked out of the top tier. Your brother, you really struck gold by being able to borrow his books back then."
Shen Miao looked at Xie Qi in surprise. So Ninth Brother was so good at studying? He never mentioned it or showed off his knowledge in front of her, nor did he put on airs. She had never imagined that he could be so good.
Xie Qi felt his cheeks flush as she looked at him with her bright, dark eyes. Feeling a little uncomfortable, he turned his gaze away and said softly, "Don't believe him, Madam Chen. He always exaggerates. I'm not particularly gifted in my studies; I'm just more diligent than others."
Shen Ji, however, had read every single annotation Xie Qi had written in the blank spaces of the old book, so he knew that Ning Yi was right and nodded silently. Xie Qi's brilliance lay not in how ornate and complex his writing was, but in how his words were like knives, always hitting the nail on the head. When he was answering questions, he had subconsciously learned to solve problems in the same way, and he figured that was the key to his success in the exam.
"No matter what, one should not forget one's roots or the kindness received. If Ninth Brother needs my help in the future, please speak up. As long as it is within my power, I, Shen Miao, will never hesitate to do it," Shen Miao insisted.
Xie Qi's heart pounded. Madam Shen's eyes were earnest, but he didn't take in anything she said. It was as if a gust of wind had swept through his ears, and he only caught the words "Chen Miao" in the wind. He subconsciously asked, "Madam Shen's name... which character is it? Is it the 'Miao' from 'Miao Shou Shui Hong Ran' (妙手谁烘染), or the 'Miao' from 'Yun Fan Miao Miao Baling Du' (云帆淼淼巴陵渡)..."
He acted rashly and only realized after asking all the questions that he had shamelessly inquired about Madam Shen's maiden name!
A warm breath crept up his ears.
Shen Miao didn't care. A name is something people call her by. She had lost her parents and her husband. Did that mean she couldn't show her name to others? No way! So she said frankly, "It's... the Miao of 'vastness of heaven and earth'."
It turns out that "渺" in "渺渺兮予怀" means "vast and boundless thoughts".
Water is gentle yet vast, weak yet powerful—a good name.
It suits her very well.
He silently repeated it to himself several times.
After saying the name, Shen Miao naturally turned to talk to Manager Zhou, asking him to pick out some good writing materials for Ji Ge'er and to ask what kind of paper and pens most of the students in the academy used.
Although it's not to encourage a competitive spirit, Shen Miao hopes that Ji Ge'er can have the things that his peers should have, instead of being ostracized or subjected to gossip because of his differences.
He would be living in the academy from now on, and would need to adapt to many new people and things. Fortunately, Ninth Brother was there too.
Shen Miao was relieved to see this.
As soon as she asked, Ning Yi enthusiastically stepped forward to recommend ink sticks to her, explaining which ink sticks were good, which brushes were hard, and which inkstones produced the darkest ink... He went on and on.
This time, Shen Miao listened attentively and even asked Manager Zhou to bring out a few items for Ji Ge'er to try.
Xie Qi still held the name Shen Miao in his heart, standing there for a while. He caught a glimpse of her vibrant, spring-like eyes and brows, and Ning Yi standing beside her seemed so noisy.
After a while, he withdrew his gaze, quietly walked over, stood two steps away from Shen Miao, subtly separating Ning Yi by a step, and gently began to help her choose things.
"...The Yan style calligraphy that Ji-ge'er is learning, as Ning Da said, isn't very suitable for the wolf-hair style. It would be better to use a medium-sized brush with a purple bamboo handle, which is most suitable for his age..."
Shang An stood to the side with his hands in his sleeves, and upon hearing Xie Qi's gentle and tender voice, he scratched his chin thoughtfully.
It's really lively.
***
at the same time.
In Yangliu East Lane, in the drainage ditch of the water house, Li Gou'er lowered his head, picked up a small wooden stick, and drew it haphazardly on the ground. He said to Xiang Jie'er in a sullen tone, "...I really don't want to stay at home anymore."
Xiangjie asked with concern, "Did your mother really hit you?"
“It’s even more painful than being beaten.” Li Gou’er’s eyes were empty as he tugged at the corner of his mouth. “My mother made me start today to practice calligraphy, recite poems, and write five policy essays every day, just like your brother. From morning till night, except for a break at noon, she watches over me like I’m in prison.”
Xiangjie clicked her tongue and said, "Won't this exhaust people to death?"
“Mother said that if Shen Ji can study like this, why can’t you? She said that your aptitude is no worse than his. If you study like him, you will definitely be able to pass the exam next year and even do better than him.” Li Gou’er exhaled. Although he was not old, he felt as if a stone had been placed on his heart, making it hard for him to breathe.
Xiangjie rested her chin on her hand, glanced at Youyu who was squatting there playing with weeds, and then turned to Li Gou'er to defend him: "But my brother only studied like this for a little over a month. During that time, he was so engrossed in studying that his eyes were glazed over. Sometimes when we talked to him, he didn't even know what we were saying. He was often lost in thought. My sister said that this was not good and later forbade him from studying so hard, saying that his health would collapse. If you studied like this for a year, you would definitely collapse too."
“But if I don’t do it, my mother will cry and make a scene, saying that I am useless and unfilial, so I have no choice but to listen to her.”
Xiangjie's face crumpled. She didn't know how to comfort Gou'er, so she imitated the adults, sighed heavily, propped her chin up, leaned against the drainage ditch, and looked up at the wisps of clouds drifting in the sky.
Li Gou'er also looked up at her.
They were small, squatting in the drainage ditch. Looking up, all they could see was a rectangular patch of sky, a deep, clear blue, like a piece of fired glass, completely enveloping them in this deep ravine. For no apparent reason, Li Gou'er felt a pang of sadness.
"Why isn't my mother as open-minded as your older sister?" Li Gou'er curled up his knees and hugged himself.
Xiangjie thought for a moment and honestly said, "I don't know." After a pause, she couldn't help but say proudly, "My elder sister is the best elder sister in the world, naturally no one can compare to her."
Li Gou'er was even more frustrated after hearing this.
They silently gazed at the sky, while Yu focused intently on pulling weeds. She pulled all the weeds at hand, then began piling stones. Turning to look for more stones, she suddenly tilted her head—
At the end of the drainage ditch, a pair of bright eyes seemed to be hidden in the dark hole underground, watching them.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
