Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Ridiculously Stupid Chapter 18: Chapter 18: Ridiculously Stupid Bai Yu was just about to speak when Bai Zhi appeared at the door,
“I said it, at that time I questioned Bai Ye, since we’re both sisters, and I’m his biological one, why didn’t he think to give me an egg?”
A plump and incredibly adorable doll of a child, compared to her, who seemed as though she could be knocked over by a mere gust of wind, who really should be the one eating the egg?
“If that’s what’s called, um…”
Bai Zhi thought for a bit, then pretended to touch her forehead unintentionally,
“I’m sorry if I hurt Xixi’s self-esteem, then I apologize!”
But, whether this apology was sincere, she would not guarantee!
Ye Xiu wanted to say something, but upon seeing Bai Zhi’s wound, she found herself speechless,
“Xingxing, you can’t talk like this. Xixi is your sister, we’re all a family, do you understand?
Later, when mom makes brother apologize, wasn’t it also wrong for him to push you?”
Hearing their words, Ye Xiu thought there must be some reason behind it all. It couldn’t possibly just be about an egg, could it?
But she needed to communicate with each of them individually; for now, let it be.
What she didn’t know was that it was indeed about an egg because, after enough disappointment, the original owner thought. If you can’t notice me, then I’ll find another way.
How naïve was that girl?
So naïve it was almost ridiculous!
Ye Xiu crouched down, looked at Xixi with pity, and wiped the tears from her face.
“Xixi, you did nothing wrong. We’re a family. Forever. Sister didn’t do it on purpose, can you forgive her?”
Ye Xiu hoped for reconciliation, so they would still be a family. But she hadn’t considered that this was just a veneer of harmony.
“Okay, mom, I don’t blame sister either. She was just confused by her anger then. When we dig up fish mint and make money, we’ll definitely share it with sister because she also works so hard at home. Right, brother?”
The group pet looked up at Bai Yu with a beaming smile, batting her eyelashes in the most adorable way!
As if Xixi was always so kind, what hard work did Bai Zhi have? Truly, if it were hard, could she have kept at it for years?
Yes, at this moment, Bai Yu completely forgot about their recent struggles with chores, thinking Bai Zhi was accustomed to it, taking over the household should still be Bai Zhi’s duty, but sharing money… that was absolutely out of the question.
Ye Xiu felt warmth in her heart, thinking how sensible and sweet Xixi was, yet it shouldn’t be like this!
She pinched the group pet’s nose affectionately and looked at her dotingly,
“No need, that’s the fruit of your labor, keep it for yourselves!”
If Xingxing needed it, she could give her a little spending money!
“But sister works so hard at home!”
The group pet frowned seriously, as if they didn’t care for Bai Zhi at all.
Bai Zhi thought such scenes must have played out many times before. Ignoring her wishes and deciding her future outright while the group pet scored points with everyone!
“It’s fine, let’s go make dinner now.”
Ye Xiu smiled, thinking how good Xixi was but she couldn’t let Xingxing reap the rewards without working.
Yes, because Ye Xiu also hadn’t done much household work, in her subconscious, Bai Zhi wasn’t that tired!
“I’m sorry!”
Bai Zhi really couldn’t bear to listen any longer. She directly interrupted!
They talked so cheerfully but didn’t even ask for the opinion of the person involved—the one the decision concerned.
Or perhaps, in their hearts, her decision simply didn’t matter!
If it were the original owner, she might have felt upset and just tagged along with them, but now that was impossible.
Ye Xiu and Xixi turned around and saw Bai Zhi indifferently playing with a vegetable in her hand, slowly peeling away its leaves one by one—it would soon be ready to wash.
Ye Xiu frowned. Could it be that Xingxing wanted to lay claim to the money Xixi had worked hard to earn?
“Xingxing, you should know that the money Xixi and the others earned is from their own efforts digging up fish mint. You can’t ask for it!”
Ye Xiu didn’t want her child to desire an unearned windfall, which was good.
“So…” Bai Zhi smiled sarcastically, looking towards Ye Xiu, “you think this way too?”
What sort of family did the original owner live in? Being neglected was one thing, but no one even cared about her thoughts, and now were they just assuming she was at fault?
What did Ye Xiu see? She saw disappointment and grievance in her daughter’s eyes…
“No, Mom is just afraid you might…” take the wrong path,
“Xingxing, I know you also want money to buy candy and snacks, but you see, we need to earn it ourselves, right?”
Ye Xiu stepped in front of Bai Zhi, knelt down, and took her hand, speaking with heartfelt sincerity.
“Sister is very tired from going up the mountain to dig up fish mint, so you can’t do this! Mom hopes you’re a good child. Can you be that?”
Her heart aching as she looked at her daughter, as a mother, she wished for her to be well-behaved, even if not perfectly so. But she couldn’t bully others. She could be a bit lazy, but she must not expect something for nothing!
“No, I can’t!”
Bai Zhi pulled her hand back and looked at Ye Xiu dispassionately.
Ye Xiu’s eyebrows furrowed. Why had Xingxing become like this?
“If a good child must give up her education for the so-called sister,
If a good child means taking care of everything at home while they just go out to dig fish mint and still complain when they come back,
If a good child means everything you do is for Xixi and I can only watch,
Then why should I be a good child? Isn’t this wound on my head enough?
You’re right—no gains without pains! I agree with that too,
You are the parents; you’d be kind to raise me, and normal not to.
So, I’ll just support myself and you don’t need to worry about me anymore,”
Bai Zhi surveyed everything in the yard, including the pigsty behind her.
“Without these issues, I can earn my own tuition. I’ll live with Grandpa!
They…”
Bai Zhi stretched out her hand, pointing at Bai Yu, and smiled coldly,
“He says I should return the 200 yuan. Because I took that money, that’s why Dad had to carry cement. I’m sorry, but I have no money.
Because I got eight or nine stitches and the dressings need changing every other day, Grandpa has used up his money on medical fees. We don’t even know where the money for tomorrow’s medicine will come from, so I have no money! If you insist on me paying it back, then give it some time—once I have the money, I’ll repay it. Sorry for the trouble today, but I’ll be leaving now!”
Bai Zhi didn’t hesitate at all, turning around to leave,
Indeed, there was nothing in this family worth the original owner’s reminiscence. She had thought the original owner’s mother was quite decent, but sadly, while she might have been nice, she never truly paid attention to her daughter!
Perhaps she was misled, perhaps it was unintentional, but when she said those words, could it be that she didn’t also wound the original owner’s heart?