Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Brother Jiawu’s eyes widened: “You’re going to sleep in my room? Did you ask me?”

Brother Jiawen swallowed his egg and looked at him impatiently: “So, do you agree?”

Brother Jiawu opened and closed his mouth several times, then looked to Aunt for help: “Mom, Mom…”

Aunt snapped: “What are you calling me for? If you don’t agree, refuse him yourself.”

Brother Jiawu didn’t dare.

He gave me a pitiful look and resignedly said: “Fine. Second Sister can’t sleep in the living room. What if a thief breaks in again?”

Brother Jiawen was top of his grade, occupying the top of the household food chain. Brother Jiawu always copied Brother Jiawen’s homework, so he didn’t dare offend him.

Just two days after the thief incident, the brothers were on summer vacation.

Aunt took them to buy summer clothes and casually picked out two T-shirts.

But she seriously chose a dress for me, haggling with the shopkeeper for half an hour to save two yuan.

A dress that cost eighteen yuan-how could I deserve it?

I refused in a panic.

Aunt’s face hardened: “A girl should look like a girl. You wear your sister’s clothes every day, and they’re so big you look like you’re in a play.”

“If people from the factory see, it’s embarrassing for me.”

Brother Jiawu said I looked pretty, and the shopkeeper told me not to take it off.

“Just wear it out, it really is pretty. It was worth your mom haggling for so long.”

Aunt didn’t say I wasn’t her daughter.

I didn’t explain either.

In that moment, I even secretly hoped: if only she were really my mother.

I could gain two such wonderful brothers.

That was the first princess dress in my life that was truly mine.

The summer wind was hot and spicy, swirling over my bare calves and ruffling the pink skirt hem.

It also made my heart flutter, so happy I felt ungrounded.

Aunt went all out and bought eight catties of crayfish, saying we’d eat our fill tonight.

Brother Jiawu hollered that we must add lots of chili peppers.

Brother Jiawen said to set aside a portion without spice for me.

I smiled and said it was fine; if it was spicy, I’d just drink more water.

Before I finished speaking, I rounded the stairs and saw my mother, her belly swollen, carrying a small bag of eggs, and my older sister standing beside her.

Mother’s eyes were red as she looked me over: “Second Sister, you’ve grown thin…”

My older sister, however, stared at my new dress with intense jealousy.

Aunt welcomed them inside, and Mother wiped away tears as she thanked her for taking care of me.

My older sister went into the room, touching things here and there, even opening the wardrobe and rummaging around.

She asked enviously, “Wasn’t this Brother Jiawen’s room before?”

“I’m just staying for a few days.”

My older sister looked me up and down and commanded, “Take off your dress and let me try it on.”