Chapter 1
I sniffed, wriggled out of Mother’s arms, and reached for Lin Qingwu’s wrist.
“Don’t just stand there, Sister! Put this on. It’s a little gift from me.”
My voice brimmed with affection as I prepared to force the jade bracelet onto her hand.
With that big, solid frame of hers, she had to weigh more than me.
Without hand cream to help it slide on, the bracelet was bound to catch on her knuckles.
Once she cried out in pain, I’d put on my sweetest, most innocent act.
Then our parents would see which daughter was their little darling, and which had truly been raised in luxury!
Chuckling to myself, I grabbed the hand hidden in her sleeve. I already had my accusations ready.
The next instant, I nearly howled.
What was that texture?
It felt like a loofah that had spent ten years scrubbing a stove.
Rough, hard, and covered in bumps!
I yelped and let go.
The jade bracelet plopped onto the carpet and rolled twice.
“Sister! Is that a hand or a piece of old bark? You’ve scratched my hand all red!”
I held out my soft, pale palm for her to see.
“I use the finest complexion cream on my hands every day. I can’t bear even a little dry skin!”
“A woman’s hands are her second face. Why haven’t you taken better care of yours?”
I sounded regretful. Inside, I felt rather pleased.
There. A country bumpkin was still a country bumpkin.
Lin Qingwu didn’t argue. She picked up the bracelet and held it.
“The jade is beautifully translucent.”
“I’ve seen pebbles in the river worn smooth by the water, but never anything this clear. Thank you for thinking of me.”
Oh, no. Disaster.
That one little speech, with neither a complaint nor a word of self-pity, completely undid Mother.
A moment ago she’d been hugging me and calling me her darling. Now she rushed over to embrace Lin Qingwu, tears pouring down her face.
“My child! My precious girl… How did you bear such hardship?”
“I’ve failed you! From now on, anything you want is yours!”
“The finest charcoal, every kind! Burn it by the basketful!”
“I’ll find you the best complexion cream and the softest cloud brocade!”
Lin Qingwu gave a faint smile. “Please don’t grieve so, Mother.”
“Life in the countryside was poor, but we managed. Chopping wood, lighting fires, breaking ice for water in winter—those were ordinary chores. My hands grew rough, but I grew stronger. They’ll recover in time.”
Wonderful. Now she’d won Father over too.
He strode across the room, so stricken he looked ready to dash his head against the ground.
“My daughter, I’ve been a wretch of a father, letting you suffer all those years away from home.”
“Tell everyone: from this day forward, Qingwu is the rightful eldest daughter of this household!”
“Give her the storeroom keys! Anything she wants is hers. Anything she needs is to be fetched at once!”
I stood behind them, resentment surging straight to the top of my head.
Why should she steal all their attention the moment she arrived?
Because her hands were rough as whetstones? Because she could talk about chopping wood and breaking ice?
I knew how to bathe in rose petals and put pearl powder on my face!
Didn’t seventeen years of mastering a pampered life count for anything?