Chapter 5, The Sparrow Perches on the Branch (2)

You guess

We, the lowly merchants, no matter how wealthy we become, still tremble in the presence of the officials. When will we be able to pass the imperial examination and bring solace to your father's spirit in heaven

Su Yu has had classmates write his assignments for him more than once, which is why he is very sensitive to phrases like "it's not for free for you..." This is precisely why he reacted as if he had been stepped on the tail just now

She quietly got out of bed and hurriedly pulled the half-reluctant Su Yu into the study

The star slowly fell into her palm, revealing a cold ring, with only a deep blue hue infused at the bottom

The response she received was an ethereal voice: "Endless hell, sinister god of the underworld"

The waterfall flows ceaselessly, and the sound of the rushing water is quite loud

After much deliberation, I finally concluded: "Upon seeing me, they run away."

Su Qing hurriedly flipped through his textbook and, with a determined expression, said: "If you hadn't called me to do your homework, how would I be asking you for money now"

This artifact has been silent for a long time; if it can defy fate and change destiny, it will offset past transgressions

She spoke in this unfamiliar silence: "... ... Yama, the King of Hell?"

My mother is celebrating her birthday, and I want to save some money to buy her a bracelet

Mrs. Su was taken aback: "Amitabha, how could the official possibly meet his end?"

Su Qing was afraid of scaring him, so she gently said: "I bought a bracelet and said it was a gift from both of us to her. Mom will definitely be very happy to hear that"

Before him is clear water, gently swaying, slowly submerging the limbs of the youth, his pale neck, and the dark strands of hair floating on the surface, resembling blooming black velvet flowers. With his eyes closed, he sinks down, leaving only his upturned chin above the water, like a gray-white solitary island.

As he spoke, the air trembled, the ground vibrated, and the characters transformed more rapidly, resembling frightened insects scurrying about; her heart and lungs also quivered, accompanied by an unbearable pain

I will help you copy

"To die and come back to life, how can such a thing be so cheap?" The voice of the evil god quickened, the echoes clashing, resembling a series of spells striking at her heart, "Since I am fed, then I shall place you into the cycle of reincarnation, as for your vacancy, it shall be filled by the soul offering person..."

... ... the common woman ... ... '' She performed a formal bow, `` valuing personal feelings, disregarding human relationships, between uncle and niece ... ... ''

Su Yu seemed to be persuaded by her: "So how much do you want?"

Indeed, my mother has always been fond of me; whenever she is in a good mood, she even increases my allowance

She possesses bright eyes and white teeth, and her smile carries a sense of unpretentious dignity.

This money is sufficient for the orphans and widows to meet their basic needs. Su Yu always has pocket money comparable to that of his peers every month, while Su Qing has none at all

The headless and tailless wind comes from afar, stirring her hair and sleeves, then rushing towards the distance

Su Qing writes beautifully in the small regular script used for hairpin flowers, which is not without its practical applications

This is the capital

Sister, I can't finish my homework." Su Yu tugged at her sleeve, his face filled with worry, "Please help me.

If it were not for this matter

Su Qing paused for a moment and bowed in silence.

*

The sky has not yet brightened, but the birds outside have already begun to sing. Before long, the sound of roosters crowing rises and falls from the mountains.

He is looking up at the waterfall. From the side, a cluster of eyelashes protrudes, the bridge of his nose is extremely straight, and his lips, like his face, lack color.

"Miss Su, go ahead." Jia San blocked her way.

He saw Su Qing first looking at him in confusion, then hesitantly taking a few steps towards him, crouching down to bring her ear close to him, so close that he could see her ears and neck turning red with embarrassment: "... What did you say?"

Having been raised at home until the age of fifteen, with no particular skills to speak of, she was destined to be a parasite dependent on others, and had never contemplated leaving.

The income from the commission of the Pingjing tea shop, delivered by the courier, is the living expenses for the entire family for half a year, as we cannot cultivate land at home

The crowing of the rooster can be heard from afar, eliciting a chorus of responses; when it calls out once more, dawn is surely approaching.

As soon as she smiled, Mrs. Su fell silent, glancing at her a few more times, her gaze containing a hint of the unique curiosity and profound meaning that belongs to women.

As Su Qing stepped out of the old residence, she brushed past a hurried courier. Mrs. Su had not yet exited the house when her voice rang out: "Come, come! Hurry in."

Su Qing turned around to see the face of a strange boy, filled with a smile that was overly ingratiating.

He smiled even more brightly: "You have forgotten, we have met before, the last time you saved the young master..."

She composed herself, turned around, and gently touched Su Yu's head. In the dim light, she could clearly see the new pimples that had appeared on his forehead: "Up so early?"

Be clear ... ... within this ... ... the fate of women like you is one of perpetual sorrow and a life of hardship.

When Su Qing was young, she slept with her adoptive mother. After growing up, she set up a bed outside Mrs. Su's room to facilitate taking care of her family at any time. As Su Yu grew larger, it became inconvenient for him to move in and out, and she would put on her clothes in a haphazard manner every night.

The candlelight illuminated her face, casting shadows of her eyelashes that stretched like flower tendrils. He had not noticed before that her eyes were so bright.

For so many years, she has never dared to look back and think about those tender moments of affection. She could only, like an old horse with a bit in its mouth, desperately bury her head and move forward.

*

Remember, you go to any lengths for yourself, and everyone can take advantage of you

The cost of a few bowls of tofu pudding. Su Yu did not hesitate, handed her the money, let out a long sigh, and lay down on the bed, covering his head with the blanket

He stomped his foot in frustration and said, "What use is money to you?"

Shh. Su Qing lowered her voice even further, "Do you want to wake Mom up?"

The basin in Su's hand was immediately snatched by Jia San, who said: "Oh, Miss Su, you are truly polite"

Su Qing gazed at his retreating figure, and a brief command came from behind: "Clean it thoroughly"

A deep blue star appeared in the sky, a beam of light coldly illuminating her dark hair

Su Yu responded with a soft "mm-hmm"

Think again

Jia San is even more enthusiastic: "How can such work require your personal involvement? I am specifically responsible for washing clothes at home."

Since you all are so clever, how about we play a game together

Silence

When he raised his voice, Su Qing felt a bit embarrassed. Even in her past life, during the most difficult times, she never worried about money

Su Qing, with a hint of selfishness, sat in her brother's spacious study, skillfully and cautiously spreading out the paper as she had wished.

He is as thin as a monkey. With a slight curve of his eyes, he has already developed smile lines at a young age. His eyes dart around, shining with a shrewd and slick glimmer.

"Su Qing," the tone slightly rising, resembling both a hint and a warning, "one who is broad-minded and pure-hearted, who has committed no great wrongs in life, yet ends up in hell after death, what do you think is the reason for this?"

Mother! Su Yu stared blankly and shouted, "What imperial examination, what officials, it's all long gone!"

Su Qingwei smiled faintly, her voice lowered to a whisper: "How could I possibly do your homework?"

Su Qing instinctively looked behind him

However, times have changed, and her difficult journey of saving money has only just begun; one must not be too thin-skinned

Su Qing knocked even more resolutely: "I am willing to enter hell immediately. This person is arrogant and conceited. If the revered deity allows him to act as he pleases, would it not tarnish your reputation?"

"The life you do not cherish is actually very precious." The evil god sneered, "How could someone use the soul-feeding forbidden technique to sacrifice for me, in exchange for your life to be renewed."

Over the years, the original self has resembled a sister, practically becoming a maid in the house. Suddenly displaying the demeanor of an elder sister is still somewhat refreshing.

Is that so

Su Yu was taken aback, unable to believe it, and stared wide-eyed: "You want money?!"

... separation from close relatives, as children, unable to fulfill filial duties ...

This heart is as hard as iron and stone, burning like a star's spark; if it cannot be discovered, it will be missed, yet even when discovered, it is still difficult to hold on to

Ten copper coins

Unavoidably, it has become more and more beautiful.

Su Yu held his neck high and said, "You are my sister, and you still ask me for money?"

Even if she has changed her core, she is still consuming what belongs to others, so how can she reasonably expect others to treat her differently

He stared at the reddened skin in silence for a moment, then clearly repeated, "Is rock candy sweet?"

Su Qing, in a state of panic, grabbed the edge of the basin and said, "I need to do the laundry..."

It seems that all she can do now is to do her utmost to save some money, in case one day she can no longer return to that home

"Do you lack money?" Su Yu retorted.

The fine mist around the waterfall refracts sunlight, creating countless radiating spots of light, while the surrounding shrubs are a translucent green

Beneath her feet lay countless characters that shimmered like fireflies, akin to a speck of dust settled upon the pages of a book

After a person dies, their soul enters the chaotic void

The smell of cooking oil and soapberry cannot compare to the familiar pungent scent of ink; she brought her nose close to the pages, slowly inhaling, as if she could detect the distant fragrance of pine resin

Su Yu shook off her hand, his eyes filled with both surprise and disgust, his glare at her resembling that of someone who had just been bitten by their closest dog.

When Su Qing was young, she often helped run out of the town to fetch things. Ever since Mrs. Su burned Su Qing's clothes, she has not been allowed to handle this money again

It would be one thing if it were her own, but since she has already accepted their money...

But that chilling voice continues: "Falling into the abyss of hell, is there any dissent?"

Nonsense

The young man glanced at her once and then no longer looked at her, holding the bound book resting on his knees, tapping it impatiently against his knee.

Su Yu has little interest in his studies and does not stand out much at school. Since he started attending school, there has not been a single instance where he did not procrastinate.

Is it really wrong to live like this

Suddenly realizing that what I asked was nonsense, Su Qing is unlike him; she usually does not have any pocket money.

Su Qing smiled and shook her head, putting the copper coins into her pouch, and walked towards the stream while holding the basin

"Writing, you can write Chinese characters, right?" Su Yu said impatiently, "That old man really thinks too highly of himself. What era is it now, and he still treats us like printing boards? We can't finish copying, and we still have to stand as punishment. I..."

A wave of dizziness and blurriness ensued, followed by a gradual clarity in vision

A fresh scar had appeared at the corner of his eye, long and resembling a centipede. Su Qing stared at it, hesitating for two seconds: "You..."

Su Qing stood on the stone steps and knocked on the window. The door of the neighboring house opened, and a basin full of dirty clothes was handed out, with a half piece of paper on top separating a few coins. A woman, holding a crying child who was restless, said with a smile: "I really can't keep up with the work, thank you for your hard work."

"Do you think that just flattering me is enough?" The tone of the evil god was harsh, revealing a hint of anger. "This person has forcefully entered hell using dark magic, and with such great expectations, if we do not satisfy him, would it not be asking the impossible of a strong man"

A slender youth is sitting on a large rock beneath the waterfall

Su Qingxiao smiled and said: "The old one can still be worn."

Every morning, Su Yu's journey to school is a tough battle. He wakes up late, is in a terrible mood, and hastily shoves two of Su Qing's freshly made pastries into his mouth before grabbing his backpack and rushing out the door

"Sister is really nice." Su Yu yawned with ease, just about to leave when he was pulled back by Su Qing, who grasped his arm. The girl's pair of eyes sparkled in the dim night, staring at him for a while as if hesitating over something, making him feel uneasy.

His gaze was somewhat gloomy as he looked over.

"The new pants fit quite well." Mrs. Su was in a good mood. Seeing Su Qing bustling about, a sense of guilt welled up in her heart. "I didn't make you any new clothes for the New Year, I feel sorry for you. When I find some good fabric at the end of the year, I will make you a complete outfit."

The sound of the waterfall was immense, and his voice did not stand out, but as soon as his lips moved, it was clear that he was calling her

Who could have anticipated that the school is still teaching the "Zuo Zhuan" at this time, while classical literature has already declined

Su Qing turned around, feeling somewhat uneasy as she adjusted her cuffs

Buzzing, countless voices overlap, making it difficult to hear clearly

Su Qingfei quickly picked up the basin, and before Jia San'er could speak, the young man sharply turned his face, his gaze piercing: "Su Qing."

"I can't explain it clearly to you." Su Yu impatiently pushed up his glasses and shook off her arm before running away

Seeing her at a loss for words, a voice responded leisurely: "Su Qing, if one does not act for oneself, heaven and earth will punish them."

He still appeared to be grinning playfully, but the fleeting glance he cast revealed a profound respect for his master. "Why did you bring a basin when you came to see the young master?"

He has a neatly combed parting, and his gaunt frame is concealed within an old-style silk long gown. Sitting in the interplay of light and shadow, he lets the wind tousle his hair, resembling a spirit or phantom in the forest

Mrs. Su extended her tentacles like an octopus to wrap around him, adjusting his collar: "My child, you must study hard at school"

Su Yu's expression softened a bit, yet he still reluctantly mumbled: "Then why don't you ask her for money to buy it, why come to me"

A single sound struck like a hammer on the heart, and a layer of sweat broke out on the forehead. Silence seemed to have become her utmost display of rudeness and resistance.

"Yes, yes, I guarantee it will be clean—" Jia San, holding a basin with one hand, made a gesture of patting his chest from a distance and squeezed into the group of women.

Then she said: "Ayu, your sister did not copy for you for nothing"

The sound of the waterfall grew closer, and she crouched by the lake when suddenly someone called out to her: "Miss Su!"

The heavy pouch tucked in the bosom emits a sporadic jingling sound

There is indeed such reasoning.

Su Yu was wary of Mrs. Su, murmuring something under his breath that was not clearly audible

A pulling pain radiated from the wrist, as if a pair of invisible hands had yanked the bracelet down, causing it to vanish into thin air

He is decisive and resolute, capable of igniting the fleeting clouds of the world with a single flame, and then carefully concealing them with ice and snow

Not correct

Su Qing raised her head, her black pupils trembling, as if she had not heard anything: "Who?"

Su Yu's head suddenly jerked back, nearly causing him to fall to the ground

... ...

Su Qing sat up, breathing heavily, and touched the cold circular ring pressed against her chest through her clothes: "A Yu?"

The biting wind blew coldly, and her lower lip trembled slightly: "This humble woman... does not know who he is."

Su Qing suddenly opened her eyes, the sweat on her back soaking her clothes

Su Qing hesitated for a moment, then carefully stepped over the moss-covered stones and reached the other side

I dislike people like you the most

Mrs. Su's thoughts are quite simple; to keep her bound, one must not give her money or freedom

But others can make demands, what right does she have? Is it not a matter of course for a sister to help her brother

Su Qing approached and finally heard his voice: "Jia San ... ... "

Su Qing jokingly remarked, "Are your classmates doing your homework for you for free?"

Su Qing snapped the textbook shut and said, "How can you say that"

The evil god has not appeared. Yet, it seems that the eyes of the evil god are everywhere, both in the heavens and on the earth: "You are biased towards him"

Dizziness has intensified: "... ... as a wife, unable to bear offspring ... ..."

The young girl, whose frail figure resembled a fleeting drop of dew about to dissolve, suddenly began to struggle fiercely: "With the evil god above, there is authority; as for my fate, it should have been decided long ago"