"Yes, after all, she's the eldest, we can't be too selfish."
Chen Liyuan had been uncomfortable with what they said earlier but hadn't spoken up. Now, seeing them mention Chen Lishu, she immediately became agitated: "My eldest sister takes special care of us younger sisters, but she's in college now, and I don't want her to worry too much."
Sister Shi Er pouted, "This eldest sister isn't selfish? Clearly, she's the eldest in the family, so why is all the burden placed on you? I don't think such a college student will amount to much in the future."
"That's enough!" Chen Liyuan suddenly put down her chopsticks with a 'snap': "It's not your place to comment on my eldest sister."
Seeing her like this, Shi Nan's expression turned displeased. After all, these were his closest relatives, and Chen Liyuan couldn't speak to them with such an attitude. He spoke up, "Liyuan, forget it. My elder sisters didn't say anything, there's no need to be so angry. Eat quickly."
Chen Liyuan turned her head, "Shi Nan, you think the same about my eldest sister too, don't you? I owe my current life to my eldest sister for supporting my studies. You can say anything about me, but I'm telling you, no one can say a bad word about her to me."
"You just look down on people from the countryside, don't you? Since I came in, no one has given me a single good look. We have seven daughters in our family, and I can't guarantee whether it will be the same after I get married, but I can guarantee who I marry and who I don't."
All her life, the most she heard was that they couldn't have sons, couldn't continue the family line. So, a strong resentment had been building up within her. When she got married, if she had daughters, she would cherish them like treasures and would never find someone like her father who favored sons. Facing her paternal grandmother who always made her mother yield to everything, if she couldn't find someone who shared her beliefs, she would rather remain unmarried her whole life.
As Chen Liyuan spoke, she stood up, "Shi Nan, you've truly disappointed me."
The initial infatuation had turned into deep disappointment.
From the way his family treated her from the moment she entered the house, Shi Nan hadn't spoken a word in her defense. Chen Liyuan could already foresee her life in the latter half of her years in such a family. As the saying goes, you judge a pig by its pen; what if the family conditions were good, and she liked him immensely? If the person himself wasn't right, she simply wouldn't consider him.
Shi Nan's mother threw her chopsticks down with displeasure, "What kind of attitude is that? Our family hasn't looked down on you, and you're the one putting on a show for us? Our Shi Nan is a college student. In terms of looks and family background, how many girls are eager to get into our family?"
Was being a college student that amazing? He was just a recommended student from worker-peasant-soldier programs. If her own academic performance hadn't been affected by her early need to work, Shi Nan's status as a college student would have been insignificant in her eyes.
"You don't need to look down on me. Since you think so highly of yourselves, let your son find someone else."
Chen Liyuan left after saying that.
Seeing her truly angered, Shi Nan became flustered and stood up to chase after her, but was stopped by his mother, "Nannan, you stop right there. If she wants to leave, let her go. Our family doesn't welcome such girls. As long as I'm alive, she'll never get into our family."
...
After dinner, Chen Lishu and Gu Xingdong took Ruirui for a walk, leaving Zhang Xue and Li Weimin some alone time.
"You really don't remember me?" Zhang Xue asked curiously after the others had left.
Seeing Li Weimin looking blank, Zhang Xue took the initiative to say, "That day near the train station, a thief snatched my bag..."
Li Weimin suddenly understood. No wonder he felt a sense of familiarity when he saw Zhang Xue; they had met before. He couldn't help but marvel at how magical fate could be.
"Your moves that day were amazing. I was stunned." Once Zhang Xue started talking, she became quite talkative, and she also harbored a bit of admiration for soldiers that girls often have towards military men. Praising words poured out of her like water.
Even Li Weimin, usually thick-skinned, couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.
"It's nothing, really. It's just regular training. If you want to learn, I can teach you when I have time."
Zhang Xue's eyes lit up immediately, "Really?"
"Yes, I can visit you next week when I'm off. Then I can guide you through the basic exercises. For girls, normally..."
Chen Lishu and Gu Xingdong, with good intentions, had created space for them, never imagining that the two would be discussing martial arts at home.
As it was getting late, Gu Xingdong drove Chen Lishu, Ruirui, and Zhang Xue back to the city.
...
Chen Liyuan stormed out of the Shi family's house, but Shi Nan didn't follow her out.
The moon on the fifteenth day of the lunar month hung in the sky like a silver plate, its clear, cold light casting long shadows on people.
It was seven or eight in the evening, a time for family reunions. Standing on the street, Chen Liyuan felt a moment of bewilderment.
Her first love had ended just like this.
Looking at the brightly lit houses on both sides of the street, she didn't want to go back to the factory. Feeling wronged, she suddenly thought of going to her eldest sister, Chen Lishu.
Everyone was home for the reunion, so there weren't many people on the bus. Chen Liyuan casually found a seat. About half an hour later, she finally arrived at the Provincial Normal University stop.
She got off and walked along, seeing that she was already near the entrance of the residential area. Chen Liyuan suddenly hesitated again.
If she knocked on her eldest sister's door at this hour, wouldn't she worry again?
As she stood there undecided, two beams of light suddenly appeared in the distance. A car soon drove closer, and Chen Lishu and Ruirui got out.
After dropping Zhang Xue off at her dormitory, Gu Xingdong then drove the mother and son home.
Watching the mother and son get out, Gu Xingdong also turned off his car and followed them.
Chen Lishu asked, confused, "What are you doing getting out?"
"It's too late, I'll see you both upstairs before I leave."
"We have to do morning exercises tomorrow. It's just a few steps to the building."
Gu Xingdong raised his hand and rubbed Ruirui's little head, "I can't afford to gamble on even the slightest possibility of danger."
"Sister?"
Chen Liyuan's voice suddenly sounded. Chen Lishu turned to look and saw her standing alone at the entrance of the residential area. She quickly walked over, "Second sister, why are you here so late?"
Chen Liyuan managed a smile, her gaze falling on Gu Xingdong as she called out, "Brother-in-law."
Seeing that she was dressed thinly, Chen Lishu frowned, "Are you cold? Wearing so little, come upstairs with me quickly."
Zhao Qiuyue knew Chen Lishu would be back, so she had left the light on and hadn't slept. Hearing the noise, she hurried to open the door.
Gu Xingdong saw them inside and knew the sisters likely had things to discuss. He didn't go in, "I'll head back now."
"Drive carefully on the way."
"Bye Daddy."
After bidding farewell to Gu Xingdong, Chen Lishu closed the door and changed her shoes. Without rushing to ask Chen Liyuan what had happened, she said, "Have you eaten? Are you hungry?"
Chen Liyuan shook her head dejectedly, "I'm not hungry."
Instead of saying she had eaten, she said she wasn't hungry. "Sister Qiuyue, please make some noodles for Liyuan and add an egg."
"Okay," Zhao Qiuyue replied and went to the kitchen.
After Chen Lishu and Ruirui washed up, Zhao Qiuyue's noodles were also cooked. She told Ruirui to go to bed, and Chen Lishu sat at the table to accompany Chen Liyuan as she ate her noodles.
As Chen Liyuan picked up her chopsticks, her eyes welled up, and she began to cry with grievance, "Sister..."