Chapter Ten: The Grand Unveiling

“Does she really think she can cling to my brother? Ridiculous!” Bai Xiaolian looked down on Sheng Zhaodi with contempt.

In the end, Sheng Zhaodi could only return to her own doorstep, crouching on the ground as tears streamed down her face without her even noticing. It was all that little wretch Sheng Wanqiu’s fault. If it weren’t for her, she wouldn’t have been driven out by their mother, nor would Aunt Bai have barred her from entering the courtyard.

Meanwhile, Sheng Wanqiu was admiring her reflection in a small bronze mirror.

Tsk tsk tsk! Still too thin, and the complexion was poor—not white enough.

Her best features were her eyes—lively yet charming. Her small nose was pretty upturned, and her lips were plump. When she smiled, two dimples appeared on her cheeks; when not smiling, she looked serene and graceful. If only she were a bit fairer and a little plumper, she could be considered a little beauty.

Of course, appearances can be enhanced by fine clothes; dressing well can still impress others!

For now, the pressing matter was to figure out how to make money. This great Yue County valued education, so she should send her younger brothers to school. If even one of them could become an official, she could live comfortably, doing nothing.

Also, if she did find a way to earn money, she couldn’t afford to be without protection. If the authorities found some flimsy excuse to raid her home, all her hard work would be for nothing—no matter how much money she earned.

“Why aren’t you washing up and going to bed? What are you doing staring into that mirror, fussing over your looks?” Granny Sheng came in, shuddering at the sight of her grimacing at the small bronze mirror.

It was unlucky to look in the mirror after dark, so she quickly interrupted her.

“All right, Granny, you go to bed first! I’ll boil water for a bath then sleep,” Sheng Wanqiu said briskly, jumping off the bed and heading to the kitchen.

She had always wanted to try the old-fashioned soil stove after watching short videos. The dinner had been cooked by Sheng Huai’an, but she hadn’t tried using the stove herself yet.

Without much thought, she started working on it. Soon, a soot-covered person emerged from the smoke-filled kitchen.

“Damn! I’m choking!” Sheng Wanqiu sat on the floor coughing.

“You foolish girl! What are you doing? You almost set the kitchen on fire!” Granny Sheng scolded as she rushed in, pulling out the wood packed tightly in the stove, then gave Wanqiu a few playful punches.

“Granny, don’t hit me! I was just boiling water for a bath; I wasn’t trying to burn the kitchen down!” Wanqiu pleaded, running away while looking back.

“Boiling water? That’s not boiling water! You almost poked a hole in the pot! You’re getting dumber by the day!” Granny Sheng shouted, chasing after her with the fire poker.

In the end, it was Sheng Huai’an who boiled the bathwater for her. Wanqiu felt tearful as she touched the few strands of hair that Granny Sheng had pulled out—this old woman was too harsh, even pulling her hair!

She had thought adjusting to this era would take time and that she would have trouble sleeping, but as soon as she lay down, she fell asleep deeply, lulled by the chirping insects.

Granny Sheng watched over Wanqiu curled up at her feet, gently covering her with a thin quilt and tenderly stroking her hair. Perhaps this child found a way to find joy in hardship.

After a restful night, accompanied by the crowing of roosters, Sheng Wanqiu opened her eyes.

“Whose rooster is that? Kill it and stew it! So noisy! What time is it? Could only be the roosters from the ‘Skin Peeler Sheng’ family!” she grumbled.

“What are you muttering about? Who’s Skin Peeler Sheng?” Granny Sheng came in, looking disapprovingly at Wanqiu’s messy hair.

“An unkind old landlord!” Wanqiu stretched and replied.

“Hurry up and wash up; we’re taking the ox cart to town!” Granny Sheng ignored her nonsense and busied herself with preparations.

Wanqiu dressed and stepped out into the yard, wandering around looking for a toothbrush.

“Sis, what are you looking for?” Sheng Huai’an appeared from the kitchen carrying breakfast, noticing her pacing.

“Uh, I don’t know how to say it… how do you rinse your mouth?” Wanqiu scratched her head, puzzled.

“That’s easy!” Huai’an said, breaking off a piece of white bamboo and handing it to her.

“Use this to rub your teeth with some coarse salt!”

“Sis, what’s wrong with you? Still half asleep? How did you forget this?” Huai’an looked at her suspiciously.

“I’m just a little out of it,” Wanqiu smiled awkwardly and took the bamboo to brush her teeth.

Tsk tsk, that almost tore up her gums—what a torture!

They quickly finished breakfast—a bowl of rice porridge clear enough to see their reflections and a blackened, unidentifiable cake. Wanqiu pounded her chest three times to swallow it.

Granny Sheng sent the two grandsons to the elder daughter’s house in the neighboring village and took Wanqiu herself to the town girl’s home.

The elder daughter’s family was nearby, so Granny Sheng felt comfortable sending the boys alone since they often went there.

“Be careful on the way. If anyone bothers you, fight if you can; if not, run and tell me. I’ll avenge you!” Wanqiu warned her brothers.

Before she could finish her instructions, Granny Sheng dragged her away, clearly exhausted. One troublemaker in the family was enough; two would be unbearable!

Granny Sheng squeezed onto the ox cart with her, filled mostly with people from nearby villages. This ox cart made two trips daily.

Their village, Qingshan, was relatively close to town, separated by two villages. Walking would take over two hours, but the ox cart could make it in about an hour if it went quickly.

The fare was two wen per person—very affordable. Wanqiu paid the fare herself, having tucked her small coin purse safely away in her three-hundred-square-foot space.

Wanqiu held a clay pot, resting her head on Granny Sheng’s shoulder, enduring the jolting bumps beneath her.

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