Ten Rules for Family Survival

“Smack!”

She sauntered over to her younger brother and delivered a big slap, one he loved the most.

“Smack, smack!”

Grandma also received two slaps.

“Smack, smack, smack!”

Mother was slapped three times.

As long as it didn’t break the rules, any amount of hitting was allowed.

Xu Si smiled warmly at the three little rascals before her. “Keep playing your music and dancing, then!”

She quickly grabbed Grandpa, who had been hiding by the door, and sat him down on the sofa. Xu Si glanced at his missing finger.

The rules forbade giving steamed buns, but caring was allowed.

“Grandpa, your hand must hurt a lot, right?” She feigned a frown, looking at him with genuine concern.

“Yes… my hand hurts terribly, but, but the Red Apple Company says one of my fingers is worth a hundred thousand steamed buns!”

“Good granddaughter, if you give me a hundred thousand steamed buns, I’ll be back on my feet in no time. Then I’ll give you a million buns, how about that?” Grandpa’s eyes were bloodshot, his expression wild as he coaxed her with certainty.

Red Apple Company!

She caught the key phrase.

“Grandpa, what exactly is this Red Apple Company?” Xu Si cupped her face with both hands, speaking cheerfully.

“Heh… heh… heh… If you want to know, you have to give me a hundred thousand steamed buns first, okay?”

She pondered briefly, then smiled. This was easy enough.

Xu Si opened her account and transferred a hundred thousand steamed buns to another card. Extending her hand, the card appeared in her palm.

“Take this card to Grandpa, and I’ll give you a bun.” She waved to her brother, signaling him to come.

Her brother grinned, eager, and handed the card to Grandpa. “I gave it to Grandpa, now give me a bun!”

“Go play somewhere else!” Xu Si tossed him a bun.

Turning her attention back to Grandpa, she nodded for him to speak.

“Well, the Red Apple Company… they’re the developers of our Meiman Community. They’re everywhere; no matter where you are, they’ll find you! Heh… heh… heh…” He pocketed the card and turned to leave.

The old man’s rant was as good as saying nothing at all.

She moved quickly into the study and closed the door behind her.

The one advantage of the study was no contact with family. It looked much the same as yesterday, except for a bloody handprint on the wall.

She placed her hand over it, and a voice whispered in her ear: “It’s a deceitful spirit, run! Run away! Run!”

It was the same eerie female voice from the phone last time!

“Who are you? Answer me!” Xu Si looked around carefully, but the voice gave no reply.

Yet, at her feet, a piece of paper appeared!

[Family Survival Rules - How to Pass:]

[Level A: Gain mother’s love and understanding.]

[Level B: Take the little rabbit to the slaughterhouse.]

[Level C: Go to the Red Apple Casino with Grandpa.]

It seemed she had no choice but to pursue Level A, since Levels B and C, though they might mean passing the level, likely led to new challenges.

She believed “love and understanding” was the core purpose behind this scenario, yet she had just beaten up her entire family. Now they wanted her to talk about love and understanding?

Did that make sense?

Xu Si felt something was off.

After a quick search in the study, Xu Si returned to her room—still looking for the rabbit.

The rules and the passing methods all mentioned the rabbit, seemingly a living one.

So far, all she’d seen were cooked rabbit dishes.

She and Xiao Xian carefully searched the room until Xu Si suddenly felt something furry under the bed!

A rabbit!

Wonderful! Having the rabbit meant there was hope!

Normally, a rabbit’s eyes are red, but this one had a single eye that shimmered with a strange light.

Before she could ponder further, someone knocked at the door.

The rules said mother hated small animals and must not find out, so she immediately exchanged for a cage and hid the little rabbit back under the bed.

Xu Si opened the door, and it was Grandma!

“Granddaughter, my dear granddaughter, rabbits are very evil. They will keep watching you. If you see a rabbit, you must give it to your mother!”

“Family always loves you. Even if they scold or hit you, it’s for your own good. You must obey!” Grandma gently stroked her hair with a kind expression, tears glistening in her eyes.

She really deserved this.

Having just slapped Grandma twice, listening to these caring words made her feel guilty—guilty enough to slap herself awake in the middle of the night.

“Grandma, I understand. I’ll be obedient!” Xu Si nodded immediately and handed her a steamed bun. “Why are rabbits considered evil?”

This time, Grandma surprisingly didn’t take the bun, her face filled with terror. She shook her head violently.

Xu Si pressed the bun into Grandma’s hand.

Grandma looked at the bun, sighed, and said, “You child… anyway, rabbits are not good. Don’t let their eyes see you. Remember, you must cover their eyes!”

After saying this, Grandma turned and left.

Cover their eyes? What would happen if she didn’t?

Xu Si decided to defy fate and try it tonight. Once she made up her mind, excitement surged through her.

She threw two buns hard at the ghost across the hall.

Xiao Xian: My master is completely rebellious.

By eleven o’clock, mother hadn’t come knocking.

Usually, by this time, mother would summon her for dinner. Today’s sudden absence felt strange.

Had she gone out? Xu Si wondered.

Then her brother started pounding on the door, “Beautiful big sister! Your dear brother is hungry and wants food!”

Xu Si opened the door and stared at him silently.

“I’m telling you! I’m hungry! Didn’t you hear me?” Her brother’s eyes bulged with frustration as he bit his lip hard.

“I heard you. Both my eyes heard you!” She replied dismissively, tapped the doorframe, and tossed him a few buns. “Stop ordering takeout. Don’t bother me, got it?”

Her brother’s face lit up with triumph. “But Mom said we can’t get takeout. We have to go buy food ourselves. If you don’t believe me, go check!” He grinned mischievously.

He pointed to the message board hanging in the living room.

[Mom’s Message]

[Dear, Mom has something important today and needs to visit Dad. Eat healthy food outside; no takeout. Don’t open the door to strangers. Grandma is resting because she’s unwell; don’t disturb her.]

On the table were a few thoughtful bags of buns left for her. Xu Si’s inner voice: This old ghost, I really can’t stand you.

Going out means she wouldn’t come back. She had no intention of leaving.

“Sis won’t eat. You go buy it yourself. I’ll give you all these buns, okay?” Xu Si tried to appease her brother, even though her hand was covered in unknown grime.

“Mom said we’re supposed to go together. How can you not go? Buns…” Her brother frowned, reluctant but tempted by the buns. “Sis, you have to listen to Mom!”

The great persuader was back at work.

“Look,” Xu Si pointed at the message board with a sly smile, “where does Mom say we have to go together? I’m not eating, so I don’t have to go!”

Her brother glanced at the board: Eat healthy food outside, no takeout.

She had a point. Mom didn’t specify who had to go. Perfect, he’d score some buns again!

Xu Si waved goodbye to her brother, who was about to leave.