Chapter 11 Life Swap 11
"Hmm, you two little rascals, why don't you know how to compare your grades with others?"
Ji Yaoguang shut up and glanced at Ji Huaizhi: "Are you going back with me or with your second uncle and aunt?"
Sun Qiao wanted her son to stay here and go back with them, so she gave him a wink, but her son didn't understand.
"Mom, is your eye twitching?"
Sun Qiao: "......"
Ji Yaoguang: "It's probably just an eyelid twitching. Auntie, is it your left or right eyelid that's twitching? My mom says it's bad if it twitches on the right."
Sun Qiao: "Hehe, I'll jump on both sides at the same time."
Ji Yaoguang lowered his head in thought, as if trying to figure out what it meant to jump on both sides at the same time.
"I'm going back with Yaoguang. My grandma is going to stew meat tonight, so come back early." Ji Huaizhi slung his schoolbag over his shoulder and picked up the iron ring to roll outside.
Ji Yaoguang followed behind and rolled around. Sun Qiao looked at the two of them with a somewhat complicated expression.
"You know, we don't get along with the eldest son's family, so how come Huaizhi and Yaoguang are such good friends?"
Ji Gangzheng put down what he was holding and dusted it off: "They're brothers, it's normal."
"Adults' grudges are none of children's business."
“I didn’t say anything, but I also find it strange that Feng Liji is so strong-willed and so calculating, yet those two are actually quite nice to Huaizhi. It’s a pity that Huaizhi doesn’t like to talk to them.”
“Although Huaizhi is mischievous, he is sensible, and no one in that area dislikes him.”
So it's not surprising that the two of them like each other.
But Sun Qiao felt something was wrong.
The two brothers, Ji Huaizhi and Ji Yaoguang, ran back and encountered many acquaintances who greeted them along the way.
"Auntie!"
"Auntie!"
"Grandpa, are you spitting out manure?"
"Hey, Huaizhi and Yaoguang, you two are out of school? Aren't you hot? Come pick a couple of cucumbers from our field to quench your thirst."
"No, I need to go find my grandma." Ji Huaizhi smiled.
The iron rings jingled and clanged. Ji Yaoguang wanted to eat them, just like his mother said, "Don't refuse something that's free." But to his surprise, Ji Huaizhi refused.
"I don't want it either, I'm going to find Grandpa."
"Ji Huaizhi, shall we go collect bird eggs later?" Ji Yaoguang's face was covered in black sweat; he was really hot.
"I'm not going. I'm going to help my grandma pick green beans."
Ji Yaoguang was somewhat disappointed: "Why would a boy like you do these things?"
Ji Huaizhi looked at him: "Your older sister is in the field too, aren't you going to help?"
"I'm not going. I never do these things at home." She puffed out her chest with a proud look on her face. "Don't your second uncle and aunt love you?"
Ji Huaizhi's eyes narrowed, and he sighed inwardly that this was how people were spoiled.
"You love me, Ji Yaoguang. If you don't help your older sisters from now on, I won't play with you anymore."
"Why?" Ji Yaoguang didn't understand. He really enjoyed hanging out with Ji Huaizhi. "You're not loyal!"
"You're so useless. Your older sisters love you so much, and you don't even know how to treat them well or protect them. You have no conscience and don't deserve to be a man."
"My dad said! A man should stand tall, protect his family, and be good to them! How can you be considered a boy like this?"
Ji Huaizhi's words made Ji Yaoguang blush. He pouted and retorted, "I have a little penis, how can that not count?"
"It doesn't count."
Seeing Ji Huaizhi run away, Ji Yaoguang shouted anxiously, "I'll calculate it! I'll calculate it!"
"A boy with a penis is a real man!"
"Ah!!! I'll calculate it!"
"The stinky Ji Huaizhi."
The people around burst into laughter, not understanding what the child was saying or babbling nonsense.
"Ji Yaoguang, you'd better protect him well, or he might get snatched away by an eagle!"
Hahahaha!
"That's right, you're not a real man without that thing!"
Hearing everyone's laughter, Ji Yaoguang ran away embarrassedly, covering his crotch. Ji Huaizhi went back and carried a small basket on his back. On the way, he met Ji Jiao, who was covered in sweat.
Ji Jiao stopped going to school and is now learning to be a tailor.
"Ji Huaizhi." Ji Jiao called out to him and handed him a cucumber from the basket.
Ji Huaizhi accepted it: "Thank you, Sister Jiao."
"Qianqian said you have excellent grades at school?" Ji Jiao started chatting with him, but her eyes remained fixed on his face.
"It's alright, you didn't go to the tailor today?"
"I didn't go. My mom told me to stay home and pick vegetables." Ji Jiao looked at him carrying a basket on his back: "Are you going to help Grandma?"
Ji Huaizhi nodded, his gaze falling on Tang Guixiang in the field; he didn't want to talk anymore.
The sun was about to set, the breeze was cool, the cicadas in the trees were chirping somewhat annoyingly, and occasionally you could hear dogs barking in other people's yards.
"Sister Jiao, I'm going there."
"Um."
As Ji Jiao watched his retreating figure, she murmured, "He's much more sensible than Yao Guang. It's still Uncle and the others who teach children."
She only found out that Ji Huaizhi was her biological younger brother, and that Yaoguang was the child of her second uncle and aunt, when she overheard her parents talking.
She was quite sensible back then.
I just don't understand why my parents did this.
Now, whenever she sees Huaizhi, she can't help but scrutinize his face to see who he resembles.
"What are you doing in the fields on such a hot day? Go back and do your homework."
Tang Guixiang, wearing a straw hat, was picking green beans and cowpeas in the field. Ji Huaizhi felt nauseous just looking at these things lately, and he ate them every day, at every meal, until he turned into a green bean.
"I finished my homework at school." As Ji Huaizhi spoke, he skillfully placed the cowpeas and green beans that Tang Guixiang had sorted into his basket.
"I'll carry these back first, and then I'll carry the rest later."
Tang Guixiang poked her head out from the vegetable patch: "Slow down, watch out for snakes."
"knew."
Ji Huaizhi's small figure ran back and forth three or four times. These fields were not far from home. Seeing that he had carried so many green beans back, Ji Huaizhi felt that he had no will to live.
I really don't want to eat this anymore.
Tang Guixiang held Huang Guang's hand, and you could tell what he was thinking just by looking at him.
"I'll make you some green beans and pork ribs for dinner tonight, don't look so glum."
Ji Huaizhi blinked: "Okay, as long as it's not potato stew with green beans or boiled green beans in plain water."
Tang Guixiang: "Hehe, I also cooked green bean porridge."
Ji Huaizhi: "..."
Ji Yaoguang came to find Ji Huaizhi with a slingshot; he still wanted to go and steal birds' nests from Ji Huaizhi.
"No, it's too hot."
Ji Yaoguang frowned: "I helped my sister with the work, and you went back on your word! Ji Huaizhi, you're not a loyal friend!"
Ji Huaizhi rubbed his bald head: "It's too hot. I'll take you to catch fish after school tomorrow."
Upon hearing about fishing, Ji Yaoguang's eyes lit up: "Let's pinky swear!"
"childish."
Ji Yaoguang's expression suddenly changed, and he frowned, looking somewhat sad: "Ji Huaizhi, I just remembered that I can't go fishing with you tomorrow. I'm going to my grandma's place tomorrow, my parents are going to work, and I'm going to see my uncle tomorrow."
"Are your parents going to work?"
Ji Huaizhi was surprised; were they still going out?
"Yeah, they wanted to take me with them, but I refused. I couldn't bear to leave you, my good buddy."
Ji Huaizhi's lips twitched, thinking to himself, "If you want to go, I'll find a way to make sure you can't."
"Okay, then I'll go by myself tomorrow."
"ah?"
"Huh what?"
During dinner, Ji Huaizhi ate two bowls of green bean porridge and quite a bit of green beans stewed with pork ribs, which tasted meaty.
“I heard from Yaoguang today that his parents are going out to work,” Ji Huaizhi suddenly said.
The other three were stunned for a moment.
Ji Gangzheng wasn't surprised: "It's not easy to make money at home. We need to spend money everywhere now. There are plenty of jobs in factories outside."
"What about the three children?" Sun Qiao frowned.
"They must have their own plans for going out." Tang Guixiang looks much younger than before.
Sun Qiao nodded: "That's true. Dad can take care of the children, and Ji Jiao doesn't go to school now, so she can stay home and take care of her younger siblings."
Ji Gangzheng: "Mom, I want to open a general store on this street. We can sell a little bit of everything so we can have some income. Besides, there are no shops on this street, so we have to go down there to buy things, which is inconvenient."
Tang Guixiang: "Just like that little convenience store outside?"
The couple nodded: "Yes, I stay home and mind the shop when I have nothing to do, while he still goes to set up a stall to resell those things."
“Sure, you can go help me out, and I can also keep the door open at home and sell some things.”
Ji Gangzheng and his wife actually made some money selling goods at their stall, but they were easily chased away and had to dodge the urban management officers. They went to busy places, so they never had trouble selling their goods.
Occasionally, they would also bring their own vegetables to sell, which provided them with some income.
The next day, Ji Huaizhi went fishing alone. When he came back, he was shirtless and covered in mud. Sun Qiao was at home watching someone make a cabinet. She turned around and saw her son had turned into a little mud figure. She turned her head and started looking for something.
Upon seeing this, Ji Huaizhi immediately dropped the clothes he was holding, which had been stretched out of shape, and turned to run outside.
The fish fell out and bounced on the floor.
Sun Qiao picked up a thin stick, mainly intending to hit him, but she didn't expect him to run so fast.
"Ji Huaizhi, why are you so mischievous?"
"Have you ever seen a kid climb trees or dive into the river after school?"
Ji Huaizhi was tanned dark. Although he didn't get the beating, Sun Qiao still hit him twice with a stick in the end, hoping to teach him a lesson.
Tang Guixiang remained silent while Sun Qiao was disciplining the child. She simply took the fish, killed it, cooked fish soup and fried some dried small fish that evening, and quietly encouraged him to eat more.
Ji Gangqiang and Feng Li left home carrying large and small bags.
Before leaving, they even carried a box of Siyuan instant noodles. (This is true; my mom said that when they went out to work, some people actually carried a box of instant noodles with them.)
Ji Huaizhi's family also opened a small shop, selling all sorts of things, including everyday items, snacks for children, and small toys.
And so Ji Huaizhi became the most popular kid on the street. His family ran a small shop, and everyone wanted to play with him.
Ji Yaoguang was unhappy. He and Ji Huaizhi used to be good brothers, but now he was about to become someone else's good brother.
(I'm going to sleep now, I'll add another thousand tomorrow.)
"Ji Huaizhi, Grandpa asked me to pick up the salt, and also two packets of Tianxiaxiu." Ji Yaoguang called to Ji Huaizhi, then looked at the many people behind him and said, "You're not loyal. Didn't you say we were brothers for life?"
"You're disgusting, your snot is dripping into your mouth." Ji Huaizhi said with no hesitation.
Ji Yaoguang inhaled it reflexively, which made Ji Huaizhi's face crack.
"Tianxiaxiu is 3.5 yuan, this big bag of salt is 1 yuan, and the total is 8 yuan."
"Grandpa didn't give me any money." Ji Yaoguang was stunned.
"Then go back and get it. I'll treat you to fried dough twists later."
"Yay!"
Doesn't Ji Huaizhi understand his grandfather's idea? His son opened a small shop, and the items inside don't require payment.
It didn't matter if his parents didn't accept the money, but Ji Huaizhi and Tang Guixiang did.
Ji Xiong cursed incessantly as he watched his grandson ask for money: "He's so unfilial, so incredibly unfilial. I don't know how Tang Guixiang raised such a child."
Ji Yaoguang, having learned a bit from Ji Huaizhi, said, "But Grandpa, buying things requires money. Taking things without paying is robbery, isn't it?"
Ji Xiong gave him five yuan: "Get lost! You little rascal, you've been corrupted by Ji Huaizhi!"
Ji Qian followed behind her sister and said enviously, "It's so good to be a boy."
Ji Jiao patted her younger sister's head: "You must study hard."
Ji Huaizhi took the five yuan that Ji Yaoguang handed over, gave him a pack of Tianxiaxiu snacks and a pack of salt, gave him fifty cents in change and half a pack of fried dough twists: "Eat with your sister."
"I know, let's go to the mountains to play this afternoon."
"No, it's pointless."
Ji Yaoguang pouted as if he were about to hang a chamber pot: "You're the one who's not funny."
"I'm going to sell rabbits on the street tomorrow, do you want to come?" Ji Huaizhi looked at him: "Your family has some too, right? I remember Sister Jiao and Sister Qian sometimes go to sell them."
"go!"
When Ji Xiong heard that his grandson wanted to go with his two older sisters to sell rabbits, he didn't say anything, but instead gave him 50 cents.
Turning to Ji Jiao and Ji Qian, he said, "Keep an eye on my little brother tomorrow. After dinner, which of you two can help me wash my clothes and clean the house? Also, the eggplants and green peppers in the back plot are ripe. We'll take them to the market to sell together tomorrow."
Ji Qian looked somewhat unconvinced, while Ji Jiao nodded in agreement.
Ji Xiong looked at the twisted dough sticks on the black cabinet and said, "You older sisters always think about what your younger brother needs, but don't actually try to take food from him."
Ji Qian bit her lip and said unhappily, "This is what Huai Zhi's younger brother gave us to eat together."
Ji Xiong gave her a look, and Ji Qian dared not speak.
Ji Jiao touched Ji Qian's hand, telling her not to talk back.
"You're so useless, fighting with your younger brother for food."
Ji Yaoguang was playing with glass beads outside and had no idea what was happening inside.
Ji Qian whispered, "I wish Ji Huaizhi were our real brother. He even treated me to a Coke yesterday."
Ji Jiao lowered her eyes and remained silent.
Ji Yaoguang, unaware that he was being disliked, got up, dusted himself off, and, chewing on a fried dough twist, called to his older sister to eat with him. He only heard his second sister say, rather irritably:
"Grandpa won't let us eat, saying we're stealing your food, you selfish little devils!"
Ji Yaoguang was at a loss: "We ate together, why are you yelling at me?"
"They're so mean to you! They all favor you. When Mom and Dad call, they only ask about you." Ji Qian started crying as she spoke, looking quite aggrieved.
Ji Yaoguang also felt somewhat aggrieved.
He didn't understand why his second sister always disliked him.
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