Chapter 6, Hardship
However, now that he is going back, Jiang Shuisheng may be even more afraid that she will not fit in, and thus find a woman to marry in order to take care of Jiang Sui
Zhao Nan was afraid she would be unhappy, thought for a moment, and then smiled, dipping her hand in as well: "It's fine, it really feels good. We can play like this, if it doesn't work out, we can just have Chi Yan refill the water."
She tried hard to show a look of disgust: "You have no idea, Chiyan is so disgusting. The backpack he carries is a girl's, and he picked it up from somewhere last year."
It turns out that such a large tank of water needs to be filled every day by Chi Yan, while his cousin is currently inside playing with her hands in it
This is the frustrating part; there are three children in the family, and the two little wildlings have excellent grades. As for Chi Yiming, that's understandable since he is her cousin, but why does Chi Yan deserve it! He was actually the top student in his class as well
Jiang Sui tightly embraced her clumsy little body, forcing herself not to listen
As he disappeared from view, Jiang Sui picked up her "Summer Paradise" and three banknotes fell out. Jiang Sui picked them up, a clean one yuan and fifty cents, without a single crease.
Zhao Nan's home is equal to Chi's home, Jiang Suibai | The tender little calves have all become stiff
This year, the courtyard has not yet been fully supplied with tap water, and some families are using wells. I remember the water in the wells being clear and icy, as if it were melted ice, especially in an era lacking air conditioning.
Jiang Sui covered her small face in frustration as she walked out
Under the August sun, Chi Yan looked at them with an expressionless face
His exposed arms are lean yet powerful, with muscles bulging when he exerts force
She opened her palm, and it was evident that these banknotes had been cherished by someone
Only Zhao Nan, who is oblivious to social cues, said: "You came back just in time; the water in the jar is dirty. Hurry and change it, or I will tell my mom!"
How disgusting
Jiang Suishi, feeling helpless, thought for a moment and said in a tone of innocent childlike simplicity: "Dad, Aunt Chen's house is not fun. I want to go out and play with other kids every day from now on"
As soon as the group of girls stepped outside, they were collectively stunned
The little girls are chatting happily
The young boy was drenched in sweat as he began drawing water from the well
This bed is indeed very simple, with deep blue fabric that is frayed at the corners
Chi Yan turned his back to her, unfastened the cloth strip on his hand, bit it with his teeth, and rewrapped it around the wound on his palm
Jiang Sui rose from the ground after striking it with her small pink fist
Chiyan did not look back
Her soft and tender voice lacked any aggression, yet the moment those words were spoken, Jiang Sui found herself standing in opposition to all the other girls
The outline of the moon emerged in the west, and Jiang Sui forced herself not to think too much. Chi Yan hated himself so much, and he had also said that keeping her a little further away from his life would be the best repayment to him
Jiang Sui raised her eyes
He glanced sideways at the sunlight streaming in, as the small shadow on the right hesitantly yet deftly made its way toward the door
The slowest Jiang Sui cautiously poked half of her little head out from behind the door
Liang Qian'er looked at Zhao Nan, extremely interested
Liang Qian'er said, "Isn't this inappropriate?"
Zhao Nan found it difficult to make such a beautiful friend as Liang Qian'er, fearing that she might look down on him because of his academic performance
Liang Qian'er flicked her ponytail and affectionately grabbed Jiang Sui's hand: "You arrived just in time, Zhao Nan invited us to her house to play! She has a seesaw, let's go together!"
Jiang Sui entered with a small face covered in dust, a bruise on her forehead, and swollen eyelids
The entrance to the small courtyard in the north leads to the main room, which contains a round dining table.
Zhao Nan, seeing Liang Qian'er so interested, said in a flattering tone: "Would you like to go and have a look?"
When exactly is he coming back? How long has he been listening?
He did not look at her, as if he were unaware that a little girl, unable to escape, was forced to remain in the room
Jiang Sui immediately declined upon hearing this
She shook her little head like a rattle drum, and Jiang Shuisheng looked at her with concern. Jiang Sui felt helpless, fearing that her father would stubbornly repeat his previous mistakes and arrange a wedding banquet with Chen Caiqiong to obtain a marriage certificate in the spring of next year
Understood, Father
He picks up such things to use
Jiang Sui wished she could run away quickly, not having to listen to the creaking sound of the water being drawn, filled with uncertainty. Did he see himself? Did he not see himself?
Even though he no longer holds her in high regard, and even though the cheerful little girl in the room is Mr. Chi Yan's beloved white moonlight, Jiang Sui still feels that this discomfort is making her "malnourished" soft fur stand on end
Jiang Sui stood upright like a small wooden post. She thought slowly, such a large vat of water...
Jiang Sui felt a strong resistance upon seeing Liang Qian'er, but compared to having Chen Caiqiong as her stepmother, playing with Liang Qian'er was not such a big deal.
Oh dear, the small knife is also pink
Upon hearing this, the girls eagerly put their hands in to play with the water
She heard Zhao Nan casually say: "Anyway, if the water tank is empty, it will be Chi Yan who gets beaten."
In the small house transformed from the grocery store, the laughter of Liang Qian'er and several girls was particularly clear
Although Zhao Nan is not particularly fond of Jiang Sui, the "best friend" of Liang Qian'er, she is new here and is eager to please the girls. She quickly said: "There is no one at home; my parents have gone to work, and Chi Yan and Chi Yiming are also not at home"
Jiang Sui said: "I am not bored, I am writing at home. It is very hot outside"
The girls swarmed out of the Zhao family's courtyard.
Jiang Shuisheng noticed that Jiang Sui was alone at home every day, and he expressed his concern: "Sui Sui, how about I ask Aunt Chen to take care of you again?"
The words of that group of girls still linger in my ears
Liang Qian'er looked even more displeased and stammered, "Um."
She is a small figure, standing dazedly in the yard for a while, with her lightly curled, pale yellow hair tied into two small braids
Indeed, Zhao Nan hesitated and said: "This is the water we use for cooking at home"
A girl let out a startled cry on the spot
Jiang Sui calmed down for a moment and asked Zhao Nan in a soft voice, "Is anyone at your home?"
How amusing, he even has a Snow White on his backpack
Jiang Sui is sitting under the elm tree
In August, the scorching heat still had not subsided, and Jiang Sui rarely went out.
He picks up things like this to use
The naive eight or nine-year-old girl did not realize how cruel this statement was and laughed heartily
She moved over slowly
Several girls in the room all poked their heads out to see what the sound of "thud" was.
Everyone turned to Jiang Sui, who held back her sobs and silently picked up the pens and textbooks they had thrown on the small bed
The Zhao family has such a well and a large ceramic water tank
The weary expression reflected in the water, sweat dripping into the basin, creating a layer of ripples
The sunlight was somewhat dazzling, and she closed her eyes
Zhao Nan looked at Jiang Sui with curiosity and a strange expression, not knowing what Liang Qian'er had said to him. Jiang Sui walked over; the weather was very nice today, the sunlight was gentle, and the warmth made one feel drowsy.
Two girls quickly withdrew their hands upon hearing this, awkwardly saying: "I'm sorry, I made it dirty"
Jiang Sui bit her lip
The azure sky, with the white clouds becoming gentle as well. This is the first time Jiang Sui has seen the place where Chi Yan and Chi Yiming live.
In the backyard, Jiang Shuisheng's voice came through: "Sui Sui, the wind is picking up, hurry inside, your father is worried it might rain."
The water in the tank was full, and Liang Qian'er couldn't help but reach out her hand to soak it in, smiling as she said, "It feels really nice"
Liang Qian'er stood together with four or five girls of the same age, and Chi Yiming's cousin Zhao Nan was also present
Chi Yan turned his back and sat down by the well
Zhao Nan reluctantly said, "He ranked first in the class"
Jiang Sui's calm demeanor belied a sense of inner turmoil.
A group of girls held hands and went to Zhao Nan's house
Jiang Shuisheng finally breathed a sigh of relief
He thought that life would wear away his already limited sense of self-esteem and shame, and that he would no longer feel troubled by such things that could not fill his stomach. Yet he did not understand, if he truly did not care and was not troubled, then why was he unwilling to turn back
In just a short stretch of road, she broke out in a cold sweat
Jiang Sui picked up the textbook, the boy's writing was vigorous and powerful, neatly inscribed with "Chiyan". She also put the pink small knife inside, then zipped it up.
Jiang Shuisheng occasionally glanced at the child running around in the yard with a windmill, a hint of sorrow clouding his brow
Zhao Nan took the backpack, and the girls exchanged glances, with no one speaking
Liang Qian'er snorted, well, Jiang Sui is not listening to her, so she is no longer her best friend!
What is there to be concerned about? After all, he is not here now. Come, I will take you to have a look. Oh, and he also picked up his small knife and eraser.
Jiang Sui steeled herself and said, "Oh, fine, let's go then"
She suddenly stood up and quickly walked towards the nearest grocery store to the well
She stumbled over her left foot and fell, hitting her forehead painfully
How disgusting
Everyone is not afraid of Jiang Sui, but under the cold and indifferent gaze of Chi Yan, almost no one dares to look at him
Jiang Sui was annoyed with her stuttering baby voice, and resolutely decided not to speak anymore, wondering what use such a voice was
However, more than ten years later, many of the donors for the Hope Primary Schools were Mr. Chi Yan.
Liang Qian'er pouted her lips, reluctantly taking her hand out.
It is nothing, it is nothing. Did not Chi Yan grow up healthy in the end, becoming a strong figure impervious to the ravages of wind and rain
Jiang Sui, come over and play!
Not far away, a girl saw her and her eyes lit up
She does not want to go
Jiang Sui said: "Haven't your parents taught you not to touch other people's things?"
Someone asked: "Zhao Nan, does your little cousin really do homework for others?"
The next day, Jiang Sui set out under the eager gaze of Jiang Shuisheng
Jiang Sui felt extremely helpless; while other families feared their children being mischievous, Jiang Shui was worried that she would be too well-behaved and not fit in, thus losing the joys of childhood.
Jiang Sui handed the backpack to Zhao Nan, saying, "Where did you take this from? Put it back where it belongs"
Like an unprotected self-esteem, laid bare under the gaze of all.
Liang Qian'er no longer wishes to stay in a cramped room; she would rather go out and play on a seesaw
Indeed, there is a printed Snow White on the outermost part of the backpack
Liang Qian'er exclaimed in surprise and then asked, "What about Chi Yan? Is his performance good?"
Liang Qian'er asked: "What are you doing, Jiang Sui?"
Zhao Nan's grades are particularly poor; she ranks among the bottom ten in her class. Every time after an exam, her mother, Zheng Yulian, becomes very angry.
His hand was wrapped in a circle of cloth, and his pupils were a deep, inky black that seemed impossible to dissolve.
Liang Qian'er also became interested and asked, "Is he doing well academically? I saw him doing homework for Zhang Lan."
Jiang Sui was taken aback; this was not the crumpled money she had given to Chi Yiming, but his own.
Fortunately, Chi Yan had nothing to say to her, so he returned the book and left
Jiang Sui slowly crouched down. She had countless times told herself that it was none of her business, but in a fleeting moment, she still clearly felt the discomfort in her heart amidst the laughter
Zhang Lan is about to enter the sixth grade this year, while Chi Yiming will only be in the fifth grade next semester
Zhao Nan curled her lips, feeling somewhat embarrassed, yet everyone knew, and she did not deny it: "Hmm"