WBSGVS Chapter 73 V2

“Yep, they held a banquet. It was pretty lively, so I tagged along to join the fun.” Aunt Xiuhong nodded, looking more relaxed, but couldn’t help mentioning Xiang Lifeng’s extravagance with a hint of envy. Then, as if dismissing it, she added, “It’s good you didn’t marry into that family. I heard the three kids got a beating at the banquet for picking on their new stepmother. Xiang Lifeng was the one who disciplined them, but once that girl stepped in with a few words, he stopped. If he wanted to discipline them, he wouldn’t let them off so easily! It’s not easy being a stepmother.”

Qingli smiled, “It doesn’t matter. I’m doing fine now.”

Just then, they heard a sound from the house. Little Xiaoyu came out, unable to open the courtyard gate, standing there expectantly. When Qingli looked over, the little girl called sweetly, “Sister!”

Qingli beamed, “Yes!”

Aunt Xiuhong laughed when she saw this, “She’s such a sweet child; no wonder you like her. But it’s been several days. Why haven’t you taken her back?”

“I’m taking care of her. Why should I take her back?” Qingli said naturally, freeing a hand to open the gate.

Aunt Xiuhong’s mouth dropped open in surprise, though she seemed somewhat prepared. “You’ll need to inform the village committee if you’re planning to raise her. Raising a child isn’t easy.”

“I will,” Qingli nodded, saying goodbye to Aunt Xiuhong before heading inside.

Xiaoyu followed her in. Once the cart was parked, she helped unload the goods—two baskets of items for sale, along with extra flour and sugar.

There was also a pack of cigarettes.

Qingli wouldn’t use them herself; they were for the village leader.

Xiaoyu had been abandoned as a child, her parents unknown. A kind family took her in, but they didn’t live long; when she was four, they passed away. Another kind old man adopted her, but he too passed away not long after. When she was five, yet another elderly man took her in; both her grandfathers survived on collecting scraps and had no family, but they cared for her as best as they could. Sadly, that second grandfather passed within six months.

Xiaoyu’s first adoptive parents had named her. They had found her in a light rain, and after braving the rain to bring her home, they couldn’t bear to leave her behind.

She hadn’t attended school and didn’t have a household registration.

Qingli hoped to adopt her officially, which would be relatively easy.

Recently, Xiaoyu had been resting and recuperating, with Qingli buying her new clothes. Her hair had been a dry mess, so Qingli shaved it down, covering her head with a cute hat. Her skinny face had started to fill out, making her look adorable.

“What time did you get up today?” Qingli asked.

She usually left early, and though they shared a bed, she moved quietly, so Xiaoyu rarely woke up with her.

Xiaoyu responded quickly, “Just woke up! I slept for a long time.”

On her first morning here, Xiaoyu had woken up with Qingli and stayed up when Qingli was awake. She barely managed to keep up the next day, so Qingli let her sleep longer. More rest would help her grow, and lately, Xiaoyu had been sleeping better.

Qingli patted her head and praised, “Good job. Are you hungry?”

“A little,” Xiaoyu replied, rubbing her tummy shyly.

It felt so good to know there was food when she was hungry, no longer terrifying like it used to be. It felt like a dream.

Qingli was hungry too but hadn’t cooked. Today, she’d bought some steamed buns and meat-filled buns on her way back, so she just needed to heat them.

Once reheated, the buns turned soft again, and the meat-filled buns were warm and fluffy. Each took one bun and one meat-filled bun and felt full.

After eating, they held hands, household registration booklet in hand and a pack of cigarettes in Qingli’s pocket, and headed to the village office.

As the village leader, he thought it was ridiculous for an eighteen or nineteen-year-old girl like Qingli to want to adopt a six-year-old girl.

“If your grandparents find out, they’ll be furious!” he warned.

Xiaoyu pursed her lips and tugged on Qingli’s clothes, whispering, “Sister, maybe we shouldn’t. My last grandfather adopted me without registering me.”

Qingli shook her head, gently holding Xiaoyu’s hand as she firmly told the leader, “I’ve made up my mind. My father’s registration is already separate from my grandparents. Now that my father’s gone, they can’t control what I do.”

The leader frowned disapprovingly, “You’re too stubborn!”

But seeing her determined expression, he eventually nodded. “Alright, I’ll be heading to the town at the end of the month for a report. I’ll make the change for you then. You have until then if you change your mind.”

“Alright,” Qingli agreed.

The household registration booklet didn’t mean much, and she’d already withdrawn her father’s savings. Keeping it with the village leader was the same as keeping it herself.

Xiaoyu nervously awaited the leader’s final decision, her eyes filling with tears when she heard Qingli’s firm answer. She held back her tears; her last grandfather had told her that crying would wash away her good luck. Happy moments should be met with smiles.

Thinking of this, Xiaoyu mustered a smile, her dimples showing as her eyes glistened with unshed tears, making her look endearingly pitiful.

Seeing this, Qingli pinched her cheek and coaxed, “Alright, from now on, you’ll be my little sister, Du Qingyu.”

Xiaoyu nodded vigorously, wiping her tears away, “Okay!”

Qingli took her back home. Though she was adopting Xiaoyu, it was as a sister, not as a daughter, as she was still young. Xiaoyu’s name was now Du Qingyu.

“Du Qingyu!” Qingli called out to the little girl skipping beside her.

Xiaoyu immediately stood up straight, her eyes shining as she looked at Qingli. “Sister!”

Qingli smiled brightly. “How about we race to see who can get home first? Sound good?”

“Yes!” Xiaoyu nodded eagerly.

She always supported whatever Du Qingli suggested. When Qingli said to run, she got ready.

“Start now!” Qingli called out.

Xiaoyu took off in a flash.

Her hat bobbed with every step under the sunlight, threatening to fall off at any moment, but she didn’t mind. Qingli followed a meter behind her.

The village leader’s house wasn’t close, but running took just a few minutes. The two of them reached the gate, with Xiaoyu’s face flushed with excitement. “Sister, I got here first!”

Qingli nodded seriously. “Yes, I lost, so I owe you a gift.”

“Huh?” Xiaoyu blinked in confusion, not quite understanding.

With a mysterious smile, Qingli led her inside and took a brand-new backpack from a basket Xiaoyu hadn’t noticed earlier. “Here’s your gift!”

“A schoolbag?” Xiaoyu looked at it with joy, too stunned to reach out and take it.

Life had been so good lately. Today, she’d even gone with her sister to register her household, and regardless of the outcome, she felt so happy. Now, receiving a schoolbag seemed almost unreal.

How did so many good things happen all at once?

Qingli nodded, helping her put on the bag and adjusting the straps. “Yes, a school bag. You’ll start school in September, so we’re getting you ready early. Before then, I’ll teach you some basics.”

“Okay!” Xiaoyu was even more excited to hear about going to school. Usually shy, she now threw herself into Qingli’s arms with a delighted cry and buried her head in her sister’s shoulder.

Qingli hugged her back while their little dog jumped around, tilting its head as it watched them, letting out little whimpers as if to say, “Don’t forget about me!”

It wanted to play too!

Next Door at the Du Family’s House

He Dan had gone to town early again and now returned with a dazed look, carrying her empty basket on her back.

The family was in a farming lull, with most chores completed, so they were all resting at home. Du Qing looked at his wife’s expression and frowned. “What’s wrong? Couldn’t sell everything?”

He Dan sighed. “I sold it all.”

She set down the basket, which was empty but still held a faint sweet smell.

“So why the long face?” Du Qing asked, puzzled.

He Dan covered her face, holding back tears. “But I had to lower the price to sell everything! I made good food with plenty of ingredients, so why don’t they like it?”

She’d made similar treats, maybe not as good as those copying Du Qingli’s recipe, but still quite tasty with plenty of sugar. Other than being a bit soft, there wasn’t anything wrong with them—so why couldn’t she sell them?

She’d been greedy at first and set her prices to match Du Qingli’s, and while a few people bought, it wasn’t enough.

On the first day, she came back with half her goods unsold. To avoid going home empty-handed, she reluctantly lowered the price. Even then, customers were scarce, and by midday, with the weather heating up and the goods starting to spoil, she had to lower it further just to make some sales.

The next day, not even her first few customers returned, and she didn’t make a single sale until she lowered the price at noon.

Refusing to give up, she adjusted her recipe at home, thinking it would help. But without bargaining, she still couldn’t sell anything, and fewer people came by.

Today, nearing noon again with no buyers, she lowered the price even further.

She finally sold everything, but on the way back, she realized she’d barely made anything. Calculating her expenses—eggs, flour, and especially the expensive sugar and raisins she’d added like Qingli—she realized she was ten yuan in the hole.

She’d lost money.

Seeing her like this, Du Qing sighed. “Let it go. We’re not cut out for business. Your cooking isn’t exactly on Qingli’s level, and it’s no surprise people didn’t buy it.”

Hearing this, He Dan’s sadness turned to anger. “What’s that supposed to mean? I’ve been cooking for over twenty years—how could I lose to some young girl? Besides, I’m her aunt; why didn’t she share her recipe with me?”

Du Qing’s face hardened. Feeling guilty over past issues, he didn’t want to trouble Qingli anymore. “I’m warning you, don’t bother her. From now on, let’s keep to ourselves.”

“No!” He Dan shook her head, unwilling to let it go. She had just said it out of frustration before, but now an idea took hold. Why hadn’t Qingli shared her method with her? She’d only said how profitable it was, leading He Dan to dive in and lose money, waste time, and miss several days of work.

She stood up with determination, muttering, “Yes, I’ll go ask. I’m her aunt, and we’re not even on the same street, so we’re not competing. Why wouldn’t she tell me?”