С нетерпением жду весеннего ветерка!

Глава 51

After finishing the song, she bowed, stepped off the stage, ignored the thunderous applause behind her, and smiled at her music teacher's encouragement and praise—she knew very well her own capabilities.

He was simply taking advantage of the novelty and the leaders' favor; otherwise, he would have been booed off the stage by the impatient students long ago. His playing was only average, but the piece was lively and widely known, and some people even sang along in the audience, making it seem quite successful.

The erhu is ultimately not mainstream music. How could elementary school students understand the desolate and tragic tone of its melody? Perhaps only a monster like myself, reborn as a human, would be so fond of it.

He didn't move others, but instead moved himself—Qiu Shanglin is probably the first person to do so.

Sitting quietly in a corner backstage, still lost in thought, ignoring the surrounding noise, when it was time for the chorus, Pan Ling and others rushed onto the stage, and the backstage suddenly emptied.

Gu Zhiyuan finished his hosting duties and returned backstage. His gaze swept across the room and he saw Qiu Shanglin in the corner. He walked over, reluctant to interrupt her thoughts, but ultimately couldn't bear the faint sadness on her face. He coughed.

"That girl!"

To be funny, he deliberately used a bit of dialect. As soon as he spoke, Gu Zhiyuan laughed first. The tone reminded him of a story, and he said with a smile:

"That girl isn't that duck head."

An ordinary person would probably be baffled, but he was dealing with Qiu Shanglin, so he accepted without hesitation:

"Where can I find osmanthus oil on my head? Gu Zhiyuan, you're mocking me."

Gu Zhiyuan and she hit it off immediately. Their perfect teamwork made him feel like they were old friends, not like it was their first meeting.

Surprise: "You read Dream of the Red Chamber too?"

Shang Lin suppressed a laugh and deliberately looked him up and down: "Young people shouldn't read Dream of the Red Chamber, and old people shouldn't read Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Gu Zhiyuan, you're reading forbidden books at such a young age?"

Gu Zhiyuan's eyes lit up: "You said the same thing as my grandfather! He also said that we shouldn't have read Dream of the Red Chamber when we were young!"

"Great minds think alike."

He scoffed, "When there are no heroes, even a nobody can become famous—and you, a little girl, dare to impersonate one?"

Shang Lin pursed his lips, not refuting, picked up the erhu, played a tune, and stared at him provocatively.

Gu Zhiyuan tilted his head and thought for a moment: "Who says women are inferior to men?"

The two exchanged a knowing smile and stopped arguing. They both felt as if they had found a kindred spirit.

Shanglin usually reads books in a haphazard and disorganized manner, Xialin needless to say, and Changsheng has no interest in books. Yin Yeyao reads a lot, but all of his reading is purposeful and utilitarian. Only today, when he met Gu Zhiyuan, the two of them exchanged only a few words, but they both felt a great sense of satisfaction. They felt like they had met their match, like Bo Ya and Zi Qi. Although they had just met, they both believed that the other could become a good friend.

The two talked enthusiastically, gesturing wildly as they got excited, and talking non-stop.

Qiu Xialin was talking to Li Changsheng when she inadvertently followed his gaze and was startled.

His sister was chatting happily with a strange young man, who turned out to be the host who had introduced the program earlier. He had slicked-back hair and a powdered face; he looked like a scoundrel!

Looking at Changsheng's face, she stuck out her tongue and dared not bother him anymore, going off to play with other people.

Having some free time, Li Changsheng didn't go over directly, but sat down and slowly packed his things.

After the performance, they hurriedly got into the car, ready to head home. Gu Zhiyuan was reluctant to part and urged, "You must visit my home, and don't forget to bring the calligraphy copybook you mentioned."

Shanglin was still eager to continue: "Don't worry, don't worry. By the way, prepare all the books we just mentioned. I like them."

The two were so reluctant to part that they were completely unaware that Li Changsheng's face had darkened.

A few close male friends put their arms around him and nudged him: "Hey, your girl's about to run off with someone else. What's up? Want us guys to beat that guy up for you and vent your anger?"

Their laughter was filthy, their words disgusting; it was during the heyday of Hong Kong martial arts films, and the children's minds were filled with fantasies of the underworld. Changsheng's expression grew even more displeased, and he cursed:

"Get lost! What nonsense are you spouting!"

They grinned and said, "Oh, you're shy, you're shy."

He was punched in the stomach by Changsheng and cried out in pain. Seeing that Changsheng's face was serious and he didn't seem to be joking, he chuckled a few times and changed the subject.

Returning to school, exhausted, sleepy, and hungry, the school had prepared meals, but many students preferred to go home and rest. Shang Lin asked for leave, feeling tired and wanting to go home, and Li Changsheng naturally followed her. Xia Lin looked at this and that, but ultimately couldn't resist the temptation of the game. Amidst the hesitant greetings of her friends, she ran off in a flash.

Shang Lin watched coldly, a sneer appearing on his lips.

Qiu Xialin, your good days are over.

Back home, she quickly ate something to tide her over, and ignoring her grandmother's advice, went straight to Xinglong Popsicle Factory. It had been a long time since she'd been there. Before she even reached the entrance, she saw refrigerated trucks from out of town coming and going in an orderly fashion, busy but not chaotic.

Qiu Jianguo was discussing raw materials with someone in his office when he saw his daughter rushing in through the window. He gave his subordinates a wink, apologized, and left.

Shanglin only changed her top, but still wore a long, antique-style skirt. She stood in the courtyard, holding up her skirt and looking around.

He led her to the couple's temporary rest room in the factory and washed a pear: "Finished the performance?"

Shang Lin didn't bother with small talk and went straight to the point: "Dad, Mom and I are coming home for dinner tonight."

Her expression was grave, which startled Qiu Jianguo: "What's wrong?"

"Xia Lin went to the arcade again—he just came back from the provincial capital, he was exhausted and still went, we need to keep an eye on him!"

Qiu Jianguo pondered for a moment after hearing this.

"If all else fails, your mother and I can have a serious talk with him?"

Shang Lin shook his head: "It's not like I've said it once or twice, it just goes in one ear and out the other."

Qiu Jianguo also felt that it was not good to always indulge him like this. He had always entrusted his son's management to Shanglin. She had even persuaded Zhang Hongwei, who was so protective of his son. As a father, why would I be afraid that my daughter would harm her own brother?

"Sure, I'll go home with your mom tonight!"

When dinner time came, Qiu Xialin, having spent every last penny of his money and reluctantly watching others play games, returned home and found the atmosphere strange—his parents, who hadn't been home for many days, were sitting there, watching him intently.

He didn't care about the atmosphere and threw himself into Zhang Hongwei's arms: "Mom..."

Hehe, Mom's home. I'll sneak some pocket money later. I'm not afraid I won't beat them to a pulp tomorrow.

Zhang Hongwei patted his son affectionately, telling him to sit down and eat first.

As the final meal of his free life in Qiuxialin, Shanglin personally cooked today, making the complicated but delicious Nine-Turned Intestines that Xialin loves, paired with bright green bok choy, refreshing Sichuan-style pickled chicken feet, blanched lettuce and dandelion with dipping sauce, almond tofu, clove ribs, fried spicy mutton meatballs, and a pot of fragrant rice. Xialin ate until he was completely full, patting his belly and burping contentedly.

Shang Lin and Zhang Hongwei exchanged a glance. She cleared her throat and said, "Let's discuss something."

Li Changsheng had been notified in advance, and after eating, he took his schoolbag and went back to his room to do his homework. When his grandmother saw that her daughter and son-in-law had returned home, she hurried back to town to take care of her husband, leaving only her own family in the house.

Xia Lin, still grinning, nestled on the sofa: "Your son awaits your arrival."

“Starting this month, I will give you two siblings five yuan a month for pocket money.”

As soon as Zhang Hongwei finished speaking, Xia Lin jumped up: "Five yuan? Mom, are you kidding me? Five yuan is not enough at all!"

She glared at him and said, "How is it not enough for you? You eat and drink at home, and you don't have to pay for your own pocket money. You still think five yuan is too little? Go ask around in town and see which elementary school child gets five yuan a month for pocket money?"

He's been spoiled rotten, he's been spoiled rotten. Look at him, acting like a shameless scoundrel!

Remembering Shanglin's description of his spending all his time in arcades and the potential for him to go astray, Zhang Hongwei felt a surge of hatred. She really wanted to grab a slipper and slap him on the backside, but she restrained herself again and again, and only after her husband's prompting did she continue coldly:

“I hear you and your sister still have some debts to settle. Even close brothers should keep clear accounts. What you owe your sister, you should pay back. There’s no reason in the Qiu family to borrow money and not pay it back. But don’t expect your father and me to pay this money for you. Here are two options for you: one is to deduct your monthly allowance and give it to your sister. That should pay it off in three and a half years.”

Xia Lin stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

Three and a half years? Not a single penny of pocket money? Good heavens, I might as well kill him.

Without pocket money, how would he go to the arcade? How would he buy snacks and treat his underlings? And what about his older friends? If he didn't have money, who would listen to him?

Shaking my head, no, no, what about the other one?

“Go work at the stationery store in town to earn money. Your sister will give you twenty yuan a month, and you’ll pay it off in five months.” Zhang Hongwei transformed into a stern-faced judge, his words crystal clear.

Xia Lin counted on her fingers, calculating and weighing her options, then gritted her teeth and said resolutely, "I'll go to the stationery store!"

After saying that, he cast a resentful glance at Shang Lin, then turned and left.

I knew you'd find a way to get back at me, but you're so mean—I'm your own brother, yet you asked Mom and Dad to cut off my allowance!

It's just a matter of working to pay off the debt, right? My brother has worked a lot for you too, I don't believe I'm worse off than him!

Li Changsheng slowly rose from his squatting position outside the Qiu family's window, lost in thought.