Chapter 6: Wanting a Younger Sister
“What happened to the blood on your school uniform?”
With her sharp eyes, Chen Feifei immediately noticed something was off. She picked up the red scarf around Chen Qiao’s collar and scrutinized it, discovering deeper red blood stains.
“Did you get into a fight? Were you bullied by a girl again? Really useless, are you even a boy? I told you to exercise, but you just play video games all day.”
Why ‘again’? Although there was a past, from now on, he was the one who would bully girls!
“I’m telling the truth, I accidentally got my nose bloodied when I was hit by a basketball. It was thrown by Wu Xinyu.”
Wu Xinyu is the daughter of a middle school teacher; Chen Qiao’s sister often went on stage to receive awards with her when they were in primary school, so she knew her well.
“How can you say that? You can’t even dodge a ball thrown by a girl; isn’t your head spinning? Did you bleed a lot?” Chen Feifei worriedly touched Chen Qiao’s forehead and asked.
Chen Qiao was a premature baby, weak and sickly since childhood, and he grew up surrounded by medicine.
He would often get seriously ill two or three times a year, suffering from anemia and low blood sugar, sometimes blacking out in PE class.
His butt had developed two small whirlpools from needles, and now he had a strong resistance to medicine; when he got sick, injections and pills didn’t work much anymore—he had to get IV drips directly.
When he was in fifth and sixth grades, he had a hen stewed with longan and some bitter tianqi for nourishment, which helped him get a bit healthier, but after he grew taller in junior high school, he got sick less often. At that time, the family had troubles and was very poor, and he really didn’t want to add to the burden.
“I’m fine; the bleeding stopped long ago.”
“You bleed a little and don’t know how much meat you need to eat to recover.”
Chen Qiao pushed Chen Feifei’s back as they walked into the kitchen: “Okay, the rice is almost cooked, the vegetables are washed; we’re just waiting for you to cook.”
“You washed the vegetables already?”
Chen Feifei looked around. The water spinach was very clean, the cucumber was peeled, the green beans had their ends pinched off, the strings were removed, and they were broken into roughly equal lengths.
“Chen Qiao, why are you suddenly so sensible today? Usually, you’d be the first to run upstairs to watch cartoons. Are you trying to borrow money from me again? I just lent you ten bucks the day before yesterday. Where did you spend it? Did you use it to play Bubble Dragon? Or scratch cards and hole-in-the-wall prizes? Do you believe I’ll tell Mom and Dad?”
Chen Feifei asked suspiciously; something was off.
Bubble Dragon was a gambling machine shaped like an arcade game. Arcades were universally rejected, and besides the original sin of gaming, they also bore a resemblance to gambling machines, making them a scourge in parents’ eyes.
Scratch cards and hole-in-the-wall prizes were children’s lottery games; the maximum win was like twenty bucks and offered various useless junk toys.
“None of that, I don’t touch those. I hate gambling. I really want to help out at home.”
“Uncle bought me candy; I told him not to buy it,” Chen Xinyu helped explain. (Chen Xinyu)
“Right, do you want candy, sister?”
“I don’t want any.”
Chen Qiao took a lollipop out of his pocket, unwrapped it, and stuffed it directly into Chen Feifei’s mouth.
“Mm… I said I don’t want any.”
“Is it good?”
Chen Feifei frowned and said, “Sour to death; do you have any other flavors?”
This lollipop was preserved plum flavor.
“There’s chocolate, green apple, and blueberry flavors.”
“I want the chocolate one.”
Chen Feifei actually liked sweet things but didn’t have the chance to eat them when she was young and couldn’t bear to have them now that she was grown up.
“What to do with this preserved plum one?”
“You eat it; don’t waste it. What, are you disgusted that I had it? When I eat instant noodles, you fight to drink the soup.”
“Not that I’m disgusted.”
You can’t just say you like the ones your sister has eaten, right?
Chen Feifei tied on an apron, opened all the valves at the bottom of the coal stove to make the fire burn stronger, and placed the pot on it.
“Sister, can you teach me how to cook?” Chen Qiao requested, laying the groundwork for cooking for his sister in the future.
“Did you get your head hit by Wu Xinyu’s basketball? Why the sudden change?”
You could say that.
“I’m about to graduate from primary school, and you’ll be in the third year of junior high, focusing on studying. I thought I’d help share your housework.”
“Why don’t you focus on studying first? If you have time to worry about me, focus on yourself first, or else Dad will scold you again.”
“I want to learn too; I’ll cook for Grandma later.” (Chen Xinyu)
Xinyu currently lived with Chen Qiao’s grandma, but she was old, and the things she made weren’t very bad, but they were often overcooked and too oily and salty—too much of it wasn’t healthy for kids or the elderly.
Though they had considered taking turns with Grandma, she was unwilling and insisted on cooking for herself, believing she was still capable, probably also thinking that Chen Qiao’s family’s food didn’t suit her taste.
The second uncle’s family couldn’t bear it either, and they sometimes went to Grandma’s to eat, plus the eldest uncle had passed away two or three years ago, and the eldest aunt’s family was working in Pengcheng, so they might not even return for the New Year. The third uncle was said to have died young, and the two aunts were married off to nearby villages—though not far, every family had its struggles. It was already good to be able to visit each other occasionally when going to the market.
“Okay, I’ll learn together with Xinyu.” Chen Qiao picked up Chen Xinyu.
“Then stay away; don’t get splashed with oil.”
Sister’s cooking was quite ordinary, standard and moderate. While she stirred with the spatula, she explained, adding salt and MSG carefully, first pouring it into the spatula or her palm.
“Come and taste it.”
Chen Feifei picked up a piece of cooked cucumber, blew on it, and fed it to Chen Qiao.
You could add sauerkraut to almost any dish at home; if the garden had no vegetables, sautéing sauerkraut alone could make a dish too.
“Is it salty? Is it cooked?”
“Just right.” Chen Qiao nodded. As long as his sister cooked, it was always delicious, but he couldn’t say that aloud; flattering would make his sister suspect he had ulterior motives.
“Does Xinyu want to eat, too?” Chen Feifei asked.
“I’ll eat when it’s time for dinner.”
“Very good, very good.” Chen Feifei squinted and smiled.
Chen Feifei plated the dishes and said, “Let’s serve it out first.”
There were three dishes without soup: stir-fried sauerkraut with slices of meat, stir-fried lean pork with green beans, and water spinach.
Chen Qiao’s rice turned out successfully, with just the right amount of water; the rice was neither hard nor too soft.
Before eating, Chen Qiao led Chen Xinyu to wash their hands, cleaning the dirt under her fingernails and in her finger crevices, then grabbed a towel to wipe her small face and neck, making her look clean and even cuter.
Chen Xinyu still couldn’t use chopsticks; her small hand held the spoon to scoop rice, looking very cute, with grains all over her face.
Chen Feifei and Chen Qiao continuously put vegetables into Chen Xinyu’s bowl, saying, “Eat more; you’re growing.”
“You too, stop talking about others.” Chen Feifei rolled her eyes at Chen Qiao and added a lot of vegetables to his bowl.
The three sat on a bench, with Chen Qiao and Chen Feifei sandwiching Chen Xinyu in the middle. This was to prevent her from falling, and because the three of them were small in size, sitting on one bench didn’t feel cramped. Their hands were short, making it easier to reach for food.
“We look like a family of three.” Chen Qiao couldn’t help but remark, actually, they had experienced many days like this.
“What foolishness are you talking about? I’m family, after all.”
Chen Feifei didn’t think of it in any other way.
After they finished eating, Chen Qiao instinctively stood up to clear the bowls and chopsticks, intending to wash them, while Chen Feifei was slightly taken aback. Considering Chen Qiao’s behavior tonight, it wasn’t surprising; there were times she hoped her younger brother would grow up a little, but when he really became sensible, it instead brought a sense of loneliness.
Chen Feifei took out a handkerchief to wipe Chen Xinyu’s greasy mouth, and Mom returned home right on time.
“I’m back; Xinyu’s also here.”
“Hello, Auntie,” Chen Xinyu sweetly called.
Seeing her mother’s kind face, which made her look much older than her forty years, not taking care of herself, busy with work, and occasionally having night shifts, turning her schedule upside down.
Unlike the impulsive urge to rush into her sister’s arms, ever since he started elementary school, Chen Qiao hardly spoiled his mother anymore but had spent a long time with his sister instead.
Chen Qiao was eager for his mother to rest well; even if Dad wasn’t being scammed, Mom would one day wear down from it all.
“Mom, I want a younger sister.”
“Why are you saying this again? Did you two argue?”
When the two siblings disliked each other, they would say angry words.
“I don’t want such a fierce sister; I want a younger sister.” (Chen Qiao)
“I don’t want such a naughty younger brother; I want a younger sister too.” (Chen Feifei)
Just yesterday, Chen Qiao and his sister had a fight over the remote control, a common little matter. For siblings to get along well after something bad happened at home, they had to stick together for warmth, understanding each other—only in carefree days could they argue.
And when it came to fighting with his sister, Chen Qiao had never won. Physically and in height, he wasn’t a match for her, and it was common for his sister to be on top of him. Sometimes when he fell or bumped into something during play, he would cry, and at those times, his sister would comfort him.
“No, I really want a younger sister! Isn’t the policy a bit relaxed now? It’s not as strict as when my sister and I were caught; if Mom wants to have another child later, it might be too late, right?”
“They won’t lock anyone up; fines still need to be paid. Isn’t there Xinyu? She’s just like your sister, right?” Mom bent down and teased Xinyu.
“Xinyu is my niece; she’s not quite the same as a sister.”
“It’s all my fault for not calling my uncle brother; my uncle doesn’t want me anymore, just like my dad doesn’t want me, wuwuwu…” (Chen Xinyu)
Chen Xinyu, feeling wronged, started to cry. She was a strong little girl and rarely cried because she was mature for her age.
Chen Qiao immediately panicked, not expecting his younger sister plan to go awry. He picked up Chen Xinyu and started to sway her, comforting her, “I don’t not want you, Xinyu; I won’t forget you. How about I buy you candy?”
Chen Qiao even took out the unfinished lollipop, but Chen Xinyu threw it straight to the ground, crying even harder.
“I don’t want candy; I want my uncle.”
“Okay, okay, I’m right here.” Chen Qiao continued to comfort her. Chen Feifei picked up the lollipop from the ground and said, “Xinyu, let your aunt hold you.”
“No, I want my uncle.” Chen Xinyu clung to Chen Qiao’s neck tightly.
“Then Auntie will help you teach that bad uncle a lesson, okay?”
“Okay.”
Chen Feifei gently tapped Chen Qiao with the lollipop, and Chen Qiao pretended to be in great pain, throwing a fit, making a funny face. Finally, Chen Xinyu burst into laughter, but it wasn’t long before she felt sorry again.
“Auntie, don’t hit him; Uncle is in pain.”
“He just feels pain; he’s not scared.”
Just when Chen Feifei was completely caught up in their game, she happened to glance at the clock on the wall and saw it was already six ten. For an excellent student like her, she didn’t even allow herself to be late, quickly stuffing the lollipop into Chen Qiao’s pocket and hurriedly running outside.
“Oh no, it’s this time already; I need to go to school for evening self-study.”
“Sister, you still have your apron on.” Chen Qiao called out.
“Ah?”
Chen Feifei returned to take off her apron and flung it towards Chen Qiao.
“You kids…”
Mom looked at their hurried movements with a comforting smile, as if all the day’s fatigue had vanished. The meaning of her hard work was right here.
