Chapter 15

My younger sister really wanted to go.

In recent years, the county has suffered a serious loss of talent.

Many teachers have been poached by good schools in the prefectural and provincial cities.

The admission rate of County No. 1 High School has been declining year by year.

Mom and Dad were very hesitant.

In the end, it was still about money.

I made a special trip home and took out five thousand yuan.

“Of course she should go to the provincial capital. The higher the starting point, the higher the steps Qiuqiu can climb, and her whole life will be different.”

I have taken so many detours; all I hope for is that my sister can have smooth sailing and avoid any wrong choices.

Mom, with a hint of pride, said that I could pay Qiuqiu’s tuition.

Grandma and Aunt were both shocked.

After all, I’m still a student. With just some part-time jobs, how much money could I really earn?

The next day, rumors spread in the village, saying I was out every night fooling around and the money I earned wasn’t clean.

That night after dinner, Mom asked hesitantly, “Xiaxia, you’re not actually messing around in the provincial capital, are you?”

“So much money, you’re just a student-how could you earn that much?”

I was furious.

It’s one thing for people in the village to talk nonsense.

But she’s my mother-how could she suspect me like this?

I snapped at her once.

Dad scolded me, “Your mom is just worried about you. Did all those years of studying just teach you to lose your temper with your parents?”

The next day, I stood outside Aunt’s yard and said sarcastically:

“I work the night shift, not fool around. Some people have never even left the county their whole lives-so they probably don’t even know what a night shift is!”

“If you have so much time to gossip, you’d be better off working hard to help your son find a wife.”

Aunt was nearly furious to death.

I urged Mom and Dad to go to the provincial capital to make a living.

The bigger the city, the more opportunities there are.

Our manager’s friend had taken over a university cafeteria and was hiring.

But Grandma was firmly opposed, cursing loudly.

She said Dad was an unfilial son, a thankless wolf.

She called him a fool, saying he’d spent his whole life toiling for two daughters who would be married off anyway, and in the end it would all come to nothing.

She said he didn’t care about the family clan.

Several nephews still haven’t married, and he isn’t helping at all.

Dad backed down.

He sipped his gǔjiǔ (local grain liquor), “Forget it. If we go to the provincial capital, we can’t farm the land at home anymore.”

“You’re grown up now, and capable. In the future, if you can help with Qiuqiu’s studies, your mom and I have worked hard all our lives-we can finally rest.”

Dad, I know you and Mom have worked so hard.

But you’re only in your forties.

And I’m still a student.

But I can’t ask them to keep striving; I can only push myself.

It was then that I understood.

How hard it is for a girl to climb upward.

Because there will be countless hands pulling you down.

Those relatives who should support and encourage you can sometimes become the heaviest burden.

Fortunately, high school offers boarding.

On weekends, I would take the bus to Hexi to meet my sister.

In sophomore year, there were more major courses. I had to prepare for the TEM-4 exam and work, so I was even busier than before.

Big cities are full of hidden talents.

Qiuqiu barely squeezed into the top hundred in her grade for the midterm exam.

That day, she was especially downcast.

“Sis, I really am working harder than before.”