chapter 6

Chapter 6

After settling down in the city, Dad continued his business of collecting mountain goods.

Because Cheng Yubai was around, he felt at ease when going out. He drove his three-wheeler to various villages to collect goods, often returning only every two or three days, and each time he came home, he would collapse into bed and fall asleep immediately.

Seeing him so tired made my heart ache.

But Dad said that he and Mom insisted on having me, and since they brought me into the world, they had to take responsibility. If he had to work hard and suffer for me, that was only right.

Even though he said that, I still felt bad inside.

Our teacher had taught us about the story of the crow feeding its parents in class. I wanted to cook a meal for Dad, but Cheng Yubai absolutely wouldn’t let me into the kitchen. After thinking it over, I realized that making tea was the simplest thing I could do.

I rummaged through the cupboards and found half a bag of tea leaves.

I grabbed a big handful and brewed a strong enamel mug of tea, then nervously brought it to Dad. He took a sip, grimaced for a long time, and finally said, “Tsk, the tea my daughter made is really delicious! So sweet!”

“Really?” I was overjoyed and quickly pushed the enamel mug closer to his mouth. “Then Dad, drink some more!”

Dad gritted his teeth. “Alright! Dad will drink some more…”

I was young then and couldn’t tell one kind of tea from another. Later, I learned that the bag of tea in the cupboard was bitterleaf tea Dad had bought in the summer to refresh himself, and it was even more bitter than coptis root.

Luckily, Dad was busy and only drank half the mug before leaving.

Phew-

That was close. I almost murdered my own father.

Cheng Yubai, who had witnessed the whole thing, quietly put the remaining tea leaves on a high shelf where I couldn’t reach them, probably afraid I’d get another sudden urge and brew him a cup too.

He was in junior high now, much busier than before.

But fortunately, he didn’t live at school and didn’t have evening self-study, so he could still come home every day.

My elementary school had a cafeteria. Since Dad was busy, I usually ate breakfast and lunch at school. The food there was just to fill our stomachs and had no real flavor, so every evening while doing homework, I especially looked forward to the meals Cheng Yubai cooked.

After dinner, he would take me out for a walk.

Because Dad always told people we were siblings, whenever we ran into neighbors on the street, they would smile and ask, “Xiao Bai, taking your little sister out to play again?”

Cheng Yubai would nod politely.

I was too lazy to greet people, so I’d just close my eyes and play dead on his back.

Life continued like this until the end of my fourth grade, when Cheng Yubai entered high school with the best grades in the county.

By then, he had grown up, shot up in height, and his handsome face became even more striking. His deep eyes, refined profile, and sharp features were beginning to show.

Just standing there, his posture resembled a young pine tree.

Everyone knew he had a younger sister-

On the way home from school during the first week of fifth grade, someone suddenly tapped me on the shoulder.

I turned around.

An older girl was holding a pink envelope, smiling brightly at me.

“Excuse me… are you Cheng Yubai’s little sister?”