Chapter 923: Disappointed
Chapter 923: Disappointed
Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Su Li was taken aback by how his once-timid little sister had transformed into a bossy little ruler, always picking on him. A flicker of annoyance crossed his mind; why did he seem so dull in comparison? But she was his sister, after all, and his irritation was fleeting. He couldn’t bring himself to say anything harsh to her.
He merely lowered his head, munching on his zongzi while mumbling to himself, “Fine, I won’t say anything. Everyone around knows you’re my sister anyway. I’ve boasted about having a three-year-old sister who speaks foreign languages…”
Su Le, overhearing her brother’s grumbling, huffed defiantly and walked away. A moment later, she returned, her little hand reaching for Su Li’s, her voice sweet and innocent. “Second brother, I was just upset because I didn’t get any zongzi. I didn’t mean it. Please don’t be mad at me.”
Su Li, who had a naturally forgiving disposition, had already forgotten about their earlier spat. He had expected her to come running over for some other reason. “Do you want to play with the little character cards? I can take you to find Gao Ming!”
Nodding enthusiastically, Su Le followed Su Li to find Gao Ming. They played until dinner time, then returned home with seeds that Grandma Gao had given them.
Su Li excitedly told Gu Zi, “Mom, Gao Ming’s dad really plans to move back! Gao Ming is so happy now, and I’m happy for him too. You understand, right?”
Though others might call him silly, and he himself felt less clever than his older brother and younger sister, Su Li believed he understood Gao Ming better than anyone. Gao Ming’s current joy came from the heart, and that was what truly mattered!
Gu Zi smiled and replied, “I understand. Because you’re good friends, seeing him happy makes you happy too. Su Li, your thinking is spot on. We can be strategic with others, but with friends we genuinely appreciate, we must treat them with sincerity. We should be wise, but also brave and sincere. Strategy works for those with ulterior motives, but we must reserve our honesty and courage for those who deserve it.”
Gu Zi often spoke of the need for caution in her dealings with others, yet her approach to sincerity was not contradictory. She treated people based on how they treated her; for families like the Gao family, she was willing to be open and genuine, while she kept her distance from the Xu family across the street.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the Xu household was still thick with tension.
Xu Sheng had hoped that once his father returned for the Dragon Boat Festival, he would be free from the relentless, devilish training sessions his mother forced upon him. When his father was home, his mother always seemed so much gentler.
But to his dismay, the latest news was that his father had more pressing work and wouldn’t be back to celebrate the holiday with them. Xu Sheng felt a wave of disappointment wash over him.
He envied the children outside who were free to play, especially the Su family kids. Occasionally, he would pass by their home and hear the laughter and joyful shouts echoing from within. Even from outside, he could feel the vibrant holiday spirit. But in his own home, aside from the sight of zongzi, there was barely any trace of festivity.
His mother seemed preoccupied, often focusing on mingling with other women in the neighborhood. She claimed it was to build connections that would benefit them in the long run, but Xu Sheng couldn’t understand why it mattered.
That evening, another unfamiliar face appeared at the dinner table—someone named Sun Qi, who seemed to have a substantial background and was exactly the type of person his mother wanted to befriend.
Xu Sheng didn’t take a liking to Sun Qi; he had no desire for his mother to associate with her. So, while he was supposed to be doing his homework, he found himself repeatedly interrupting their conversation.
He overheard snippets of their gossip, and it seemed they both had a disdain for the lady of the Su family. Xu Sheng didn’t want his mother to continue down that malicious path.
On his last attempt to interrupt, his mother, Huang Fei, lost her patience. She dragged him back to the study and quietly scolded him. “What’s wrong with you tonight? Can’t you see I’m busy with something important? Do you even realize how crucial it is for us to make these connections? This may be a small place, but the people here hold power. This is something you need to learn.”
Xu Sheng felt exhausted by her insistence. For the first time, he spoke back. “Mom, I don’t understand why you think forming cliques and badmouthing others is important. That’s not what real work looks like!”
Smack!
Huang Fei’s hand struck his face, and he felt a sharp sting.
Her anger boiled over as she shouted, “You ungrateful kid! So now you’re starting to argue with me? Remember this: I’m your mother! You do as I say; that’s the very least of what filial piety means. If you can’t even manage that, I can always have another child. Do you think you’re irreplaceable?”