Li Shuying's mind went blank for a fleeting moment.
That voice…
Beside her, Li Jianmin's fingers tightened instinctively around the bundle of money in his hand, the crisp notes crumpling under his grip.
Slowly—almost mechanically—the two siblings turned around.
A few steps behind them stood Li Jianguo.
"S… Second Brother?" Li Jianmin stammered, his voice betraying his unease.
Li Jianguo did not even spare him a glance. His eyes remained fixed on Li Shuying, sharp and unyielding.
"You didn't answer me," he said, his tone calm yet carrying an undercurrent of restrained anger. "How exactly do you plan to do that?"
Li Shuying swallowed hard. For a brief moment, she closed her eyes, steadying her thoughts. When she opened them again, her expression had returned to a practiced calm.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Second Brother."
Li Jianguo's expression darkened further, and the restraint in his voice snapped like a taut string.
"You still dare to lie?" he said sharply. "When did you start lying to your elder brothers? No… not just you—both of you."
His gaze swept over them, heavy with disappointment.
"I saw everything with my own eyes," he continued, each word landing like a hammer. "From the moment you left the house before dawn… to you sneaking into that black market… selling supplies… and then running like thieves under watchful eyes."
His voice hardened.
"Do you take me for a fool?"
At his words, Li Shuying and Li Jianmin exchanged a quick glance, shock and guilt flashing across their faces.
Li Jianguo did not miss it.
"You actually dared to enter a black market," he went on, his tone rising slightly, "and worse, you engaged in private trading!"
He took a step forward, his presence pressing down on them like a mountain.
"Do you even understand the consequences of what you've done?" he demanded. "At best, you could be detained for ideological reeducation. At worst… you could be sentenced. Your records would be stained forever. Do you think you would still be able to attend university? Receive proper job allocation?"
His words carried the weight of the reality, harsh, unyielding, and absolute.
Li Jianmin hurriedly spoke up, unable to bear the pressure any longer.
"This is only the second time we've gone," he said, his voice hurried but defensive. "And it's not as serious as you think. Little Shuying asked around—people say the black market may seem dangerous, but even the authorities know about it. Most of the time, they just turn a blind eye."
Li Jianguo's gaze snapped toward him, sharp as a knife.
"And you believed that?"
Li Jianmin froze, instinctively nodding—then shaking his head—caught between doubt and stubbornness.
Li Jianguo let out a cold snort.
"If what you said were true," he replied, his voice laced with disdain, "would they still operate in secrecy like rats in the dark? Precisely because it is illegal, it survives in the shadows."
His eyes shifted once more to the two of them—heads lowered, silent.
Then his gaze dropped to the thick stack of money in Li Jianmin's hands.
His brows furrowed.
"Where did you get these supplies?" he asked, his tone turning grave. Then, as a thought struck him, his eyes narrowed. "The chicken and eggs from last night… were they from the same batch you sold today?"
Li Jianmin hesitated. He glanced at Li Shuying, who remained silent, her head slightly lowered, her expression unreadable.
After a brief pause, he nodded.
"Yes… they came from the same source."
He swallowed before continuing,
"As for where they came from… it's better if Little Shuying explains it to you."
Li Jianguo's eyes widened slightly.
"You mean… she arranged all of this?"
His gaze shifted back to Li Shuying, filled with disbelief.
"Is that true, Little Shuying?"
Li Shuying gave a small nod.
She did not speak.
Silence fell between them.
For a long moment, Li Jianguo said nothing. The early morning breeze stirred faintly around them, yet the air felt unbearably heavy.
It was simply too unbelievable.
In these times, even families with connections struggled to obtain decent food supplies. Yet his little sister—not only secured such high-quality goods, but also managed to sell them for profit?
His thoughts grew darker.
Suddenly, he looked up, his expression turning sharp, almost fearful.
"Little Shuying…" he said slowly, his voice low, "did you get involved with some… unsavory people?"
A dangerous thought surfaced in his mind—stories he had once heard from classmates who had travelled. Tales of foreign agents, of spies who lured unsuspecting civilians with food and money, drawing them into betrayal of the nation.
His eyes widened slightly.
"You didn't forget," he said, his tone turning stern, "that we are the children of a soldier serving the country, did you?"
It took Li Shuying a moment to grasp what he was implying.
But the instant she did—
Her head snapped up.
"Second Brother, what are you thinking?" she said, her voice firm, tinged with disbelief. "I haven't associated with any shady people."
She met his gaze directly, her eyes clear and unwavering.
"They are just like us—ordinary citizens of Huaxia," she continued. "They've simply built connections across regions, bringing supplies from the south where resources are more abundant. That's all."
Li Jianmin nodded in agreement and added quickly, "Those people were introduced to Little Shuying by her classmate. As for anything suspicious… I don't see it. She brings in the supplies, sells them, and returns the cost while keeping the profit. It's nothing more than a simple exchange, a fair give-and-take."
Li Jianguo's frown deepened instead of easing, he asked slowly "What kind of people would willingly help others earn profit from their own goods? Does that not sound strange to you?"
Li Shuying knew there was no avoiding it now.
Just as she had done before with her third brother, she calmly recounted the story she had prepared.
Her tone was steady, her expression composed.
Yet when she finished, silence fell once more.
Li Jianguo stood there for a long time without speaking. The faint morning light had grown stronger, revealing the conflict in his eyes more clearly.
It was difficult—almost impossible—to believe.
In these harsh years, even well-connected families struggled to obtain basic provisions. Yet somewhere, somehow, such a network existed… and it had reached their small county?
Finally, he drew in a deep breath, as though making a difficult decision.
"This ends here," he said firmly. "No more dealings with those people. This should be the last time. From now on, both of you will focus on your studies. Do you understand?"
The words fell like a verdict.
Li Jianmin instinctively lowered his head.
But—
"No."
The single word was soft, yet resolute.
Both Li Jianguo and Li Jianmin froze.
They turned to look at Li Shuying in disbelief.
This was the first time she had openly refused an elder brother.
But the girl standing before them was no longer the timid thirteen-year-old they remembered. Within her was a soul that had weathered a lifetime—one that understood, far too clearly, the cruelty of what was to come.
Li Shuying lifted her gaze and met Li Jianguo's eyes directly.
"Second Brother," she said quietly, "you understand our situation better than anyone."
Her voice was calm, but every word carried weight.
"Our family is already standing at the edge of a cliff, advance or retreat, both lead to peril. If we step forward recklessly, we may fall. But if we stand still… we will still fall, only slower."
She paused, letting her words settle.
"Tell me," she continued, "who do we have to rely on?"
Her gaze did not waver.
"Our grandparents? The production brigade? The villagers?" She gave a faint, almost bitter smile. "Or Father, who is stationed far away in Baicheng? Even if something happens, it would take him more than a day just to return."
Her voice softened slightly, but the gravity only deepened.
"And those twenty yuan we finally took back… do you think that will save us?"
She gestured faintly toward the distant fields, barely visible under the morning light.
"It hasn't rained for three months. The land is already cracking. The winter harvest is about to begin, yet there is still no sign of rain. This is not just hardship—it is the beginning of a drought."
Her words fell heavily between them.
"Mother is still working in the fields every day," she went on. "Even if she exhausts herself, how much can she harvest? Will it be enough to feed even herself?"
A quiet breath escaped her lips.
"We are alone, Second Brother, and when times grow harsher—and they will—no one will come to save us. If we do nothing now, we are only waiting for that day to arrive. What we are doing is not greed. It is survival."
Li Jianmin, who had been silent until now, clenched his fists. Though hesitation still lingered in his expression, his voice gradually steadied.
"I… I think Little Shuying is right," he said.
He looked at Li Jianguo, then back at his sister.
"I was afraid at first," he admitted honestly. "But after today… I understand."
He gestured toward the money in his hand.
"With this, we can finally breathe a little easier. We won't have to rely on others. We won't have to bow our heads in the main Li household."
His voice grew firmer.
"If we can continue like this… we can protect our family."
He paused, then added quietly,
"And I won't let Little Shuying face this alone. Yes, there are risks. But in times like these… is fear more important, or is survival more important?"
Silence fell once more.
Li Jianguo found himself unable to immediately refute them.
Li Shuying and Li Jianmin did not wait for Li Jianguo's reply. Without another word, they turned and began walking back toward the village.
The morning had fully broken by then. They were already close. After another half an hour, the familiar outline of their courtyard came into view.
As they stepped inside, they saw Li Jianhua sitting beneath the old poplar tree in the yard. His back was slightly hunched, his gaze distant, as though his thoughts were far removed from the present moment.
Li Shuying's eyes immediately fell on his face.
The faint dark circles beneath his eyes, the unusual stiffness in his posture—
She frowned slightly.
"Elder Brother," she called softly, stepping closer, "what's wrong? Did you not sleep well last night?"
Li Jianhua seemed not to hear her at first. Only after a brief pause did he snap out of his daze and turn toward her.
"I… I just couldn't sleep," he replied, his tone dismissive, his eyes avoiding hers.
Li Shuying's frown deepened.
Something was not right.
Ever since last night, when he had returned unusually late, his behavior had been… off. Even now, he seemed reluctant to meet her gaze, as though deliberately hiding something.
But she did not press further.
Li Jianhua, as if eager to shift the subject, spoke again, "Why are you two coming from outside so early? Where did you go?"
Li Shuying and Li Jianmin exchanged a brief glance.
"We just went out for a walk," they answered in unison.
Before Li Jianhua could ask anything further, the two of them slipped past him and hurried into the house, leaving him sitting under the poplar tree, his brows slightly furrowed in confusion.
Meanwhile, in the county...
Zhao Hongmei had been waiting at the gates of Taonan County No. 1 Middle School for quite some time.
The morning bell was not far off, and students had already begun streaming in, yet the person she was waiting for had not appeared.
Her brows gradually knitted together in irritation.
"That spoiled bitch really treats the whole world like her servants," she muttered under her breath, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Making people wait like this—what a grand 'young lady' she thinks she is."
Just as she finished murmuring, a flash of red caught her eye.
Tang Yualn appeared at the far end of the street, riding a bright red Flying Pigeon women's bicycle. The polished frame gleamed under the morning light, and her figure, dressed in a neat dacron outfit, stood out sharply among the plainly clothed students.
Zhao Hongmei's eyes flickered.
A trace of greed… and something darker.
Her gaze dropped unconsciously to her own worn clothes, the coarse fabric faded at the edges.
Her fists clenched tightly.
That… should have been her.
Those fine dacron clothes, that bicycle—those admiring gazes—
They should all belong to her.
After all, she was the protagonist of this world.
Yet every time she stood among these rich county students, watching Tang Yualn and the others, that fragile illusion she maintained in the village shattered completely.
The sense of inferiority gnawed at her relentlessly.
Taking a slow breath, Zhao Hongmei forced those thoughts down, burying them deep within her heart. By the time she looked up again, an exaggerated, gentle smile had already formed on her lips.
She stepped forward quickly, positioning herself directly in front of Tang Yualn's bicycle.
"Sister Yualn," she called sweetly, "you're here. I was just about to head into class—shall we go together?"
Caught off guard, Tang Yualn's eyes widened slightly. She instinctively slammed the brakes.
The bicycle screeched to a halt, the front wheel swerving sharply. She nearly lost her balance, her body tilting dangerously before she managed to steady herself.
Her face darkened instantly.
"You filthy bitch!" she snapped, her voice sharp and furious. "Are you trying to get me killed? How dare you walk into my path like that?" she continued coldly. "If you're so desperate to die, why don't you just suffocate yourself in your own piss instead of dragging me down with you?"
Zhao Hongmei's face flushed a deep, burning red.
For a fleeting moment, she stood frozen in place. Then, as if suddenly awakened, she glanced around—only to find that several students had halted mid-step. Some covered their mouths, whispering behind their sleeves; others did not even bother to hide their amusement, their laughter low but unmistakable.
A wave of humiliation surged through her chest, hot and suffocating.
Her fingers curled tightly at her sides, nails digging into her palms.
If not for the system task… if not for those precious Protagonist Halo Points—
She would not have spared Tang Yualn even a single glance.
Forcing down the boiling anger within her, Zhao Hongmei took a slow breath and raised her head again. By the time she spoke, a strained smile had already returned to her lips.
"Sister Yualn," she said gently, "I was only trying to befriend you."
Tang Yualn let out a cold snort, her lips curling in disdain.
"Befriend me?" she repeated, her gaze sweeping over Zhao Hongmei from head to toe, unabashedly contemptuous. "Have you looked at yourself?"
Her voice turned sharper, each word like a slap.
"You smell like a pig from the countryside, your skin is darker than a laborer's—and you still dare to dream of standing beside me?"
She leaned slightly forward, her tone dripping with ridicule.
"Stop daydreaming."
With that, she kicked the pedal and rode past her without another glance.
For a moment, all sound seemed to fade.
Then—
The murmurs returned.
The suppressed laughter.
The sidelong glances.
Zhao Hongmei's ears burned as though set aflame. Her chest rose and fell sharply as she struggled to steady her breathing.
In that instant, a violent urge surged through her—
She wanted nothing more than to rush forward, to grab Tang Yualn by the collar and strangle her where she stood.
But she did not move.
Instead, she closed her eyes briefly, forcing herself to calm down.
Endure… endure for now.
If the straightforward path would not work—
Then she would take another.
Her eyes slowly opened, a faint, calculating light flickering within them.
She knew Tang Yualn's weakness.
A secret carefully hidden beneath pride and arrogance—
Her quiet infatuation with the class leader, Chen Yongan.
Tang Yualn had never acted upon it. As the daughter of a deputy director, she carried herself with an air of superiority. Without knowing Chen Yongan's family background, she would never lower herself to pursue him.
But Zhao Hongmei was different.
She was no ordinary girl.
She was a reborn soul—one who knew what others did not.
She knew exactly who Chen Yongan was.
And more importantly—
She knew how to use that knowledge.
A slow smile curved at the corners of her lips.
Not only would she make Tang Yualn willingly draw close to her—
She would also teach Li Shuying a little lesson.
The thought seemed to soothe the humiliation lingering in her heart.
With renewed composure, Zhao Hongmei adjusted her clothes, lifted her chin slightly, and walked toward the teaching building.