Xia Zhi doesn't agree with her brother's words. Xia Qiao is 14 years old, and he used to attend a private school with good grades. Now that he has picked up his books again, as long as he is willing to work hard, he will still do well in his studies. As for the family's situation... "Our family's condition is completely capable of supporting you and Xiao Shu in your studies."

  She had seriously calculated that the ten mu of land at home was enough for their family's daily expenses. Xia Xiuzai's salary was also enough for Xia Qiao and Xia Shu to go to school. Maybe in that case, they wouldn't have lived a very affluent life. But the worst-case scenario would be no worse than their current situation. They were already living a very unaffluent life now.

  Xiaqiao actually understood these principles too, but he still smiled bitterly: "Sixteen, you know... and also our grandma's family..."

  "They also have houses and land, and they can make a living on their own." Xia Zhi disagreed, "But they are used to eating by stretching out their hands. If they have something going on, I don't mind helping them out, but not in the way mother is doing it now..."

  Xia Zhi finished speaking and looked at Xia Qiao.

  Sending Tian to do odd jobs was not just a way of teaching her a lesson. Xia Zhi had other plans, such as taking advantage of Tian's absence to persuade Xia Qiao to join forces with him against Tian. As the eldest son of the family, Xia Qiao's words carried weight.

  "Sixteen, don't worry, big brother won't let mother sell you," Xia Qiao said.

  "Brother, I'm not just doing it for myself."

  Xiaqiao's smile was still bitter. "Sixteen, I know what you're thinking. But let's just drop it, okay? I couldn't bear to watch Mother... anyway, from now on, don't mention anything about me studying again." With that said, Xiaqiao turned and left.

  Xia Zhi shook his head and sighed silently.

  After a nap, Xia Zhi saw that there was nothing to do and came to the backyard. Xiao Hei Yu was about to go out and play, but when he saw Xia Zhi carrying his writing tools and sketchbook, he didn't say anything and just laid out his own set of learning materials.

  Xia Lao Ye Zi and Xia Lao Tai Tai were not at home, so Xiao Hei Yu Er brought Xia Zhi to study. The two children had just recognized a few words when Xia Shu came running over.

  "Hey Uncle and Sister, look who I've brought!" Xia Shu exclaimed excitedly.

  Tian Lai Bao was right behind Xia Shu. This time, he wasn't wearing a robe, but only a light blue cotton jacket and pants. After entering the house, he still seemed a bit stiff. Xia Zhi didn't react for a moment. Xiao Hei Yu had already enthusiastically greeted Tian Lai Bao.

  "Lai Bao, did you come alone?" asked Xiao Hei Yu Er.

  "Jīn suǒ hé dà shān sòng wǒ lái de, wǒ ràng tāmen xiān huí qù le." Tián lái bǎo kàn kan xià zhì, tā yī jiù yǒu xiē jiǎng jìn, dànshì gēn xiǎo hēi yú ér shuō huà què fēicháng liú lì. Tā duì cūn zǐ lǐ bù shú, zhǎo le lín jū jiā de háizi dài tā guò lái. Rán hòu tā zài mén kǒu kàn dào xià shù, jiù bǎ nà liǎng gè háizi gěi dǎ fàng huí qù le.

  "Old uncle, what are you guys playing?" Tian Lai Bao asked Xiao Hei Yu Er.

  This morning his big uncle came over, and they got along well afterwards. Although Xiao Hei Yu is young, according to the generation order, he should call Xiao Hei Yu "uncle". He called it quite smoothly.

  Xiao Hei let Tian Lai Bao sit next to him. He thought Tian Lai Bao was okay, although he didn't seem like much at first, but in the end, he didn't betray Xia Zhi in front of Tian San Niang, so he's a decent guy and can be befriended.

  The friendship between little boys is sometimes fought out, although this time the person who took action was Xia Zhi.

  Xia Zhi didn't expect Tian Lai Bao to take the initiative to come and play with them, and so quickly. But after reacting, she wouldn't hold a grudge against Tian Lai Bao because of what happened in the morning. Seeing Tian Lai Bao sitting next to Xiao Hei Yu Er, Xia Zhi asked him: "Lai Bao, how old are you?"

  "I turned eleven last February." Tian Lai Bao replied immediately.

  "That's younger than me." Xia Zhi smiled, she actually didn't think Tian Lai Bao was one year younger than her. Looking at Tian Lai Bao's height, she thought they were about the same age. "Lai Bao, you have to call me sister from now on." It won't be easy to casually hit this white radish head again.

  "Right." Little Black Fish nodded and poked Tian Lai Bao, "You have to call Sixteen 'sister'."

  "Summer's sister." Tian Lai Bao hesitated for a moment, then called out, and also took out an oil-paper package from his sleeve and placed it on the table, saying it was a snack he brought for Xiao Hei Yu Er and Summer to eat. "Rose cake, the best-selling one in my family's shop. Not available in the village. It's really delicious."

  "Really? Then I'll try some." Treating the other as a friend, Xiao Hei Yu didn't stand on ceremony, grabbed a piece and took a bite, then nodded his head, "It's quite delicious." He let Xia Zhi eat too.

  Tian Lai Bao hurriedly handed a piece to Xia Zhi, then carefully watched him. Xia Zhi suppressed a smile, this kid must have been intimidated by her, so she wouldn't scare him again. Xia Zhi took it and tasted a mouthful.

  The rose cake is sweet and has a strong fragrance of roses, and it's very delicate. It melts in your mouth. "Not bad," Xia Zhi also said.

  Tian Lai Bao's big eyes shone brightly, and he let Xia Shu take some. Xia Shu took a few pieces of pastry and happily called out to Tian Lai Bao. Xia Zhi then put on his shoes and went downstairs, fetched some dried dates, made a pot of sugar water, and brought it up to serve everyone a bowl each.

  Several children were eating snacks and drinking sugar water, and they soon became familiar with each other.

  Tian Lai Bao's given name was Tian Dian, and at home he was affectionately called Lai Bao. He had already studied for several years in the family school. The Tian family was a large clan that ran its own family school, so the children did not need to go to private schools outside.

  After some thought, Xia Zhi felt that among them, Tian Lai Bao's knowledge was probably the greatest, although this child didn't seem to be a bookworm either.

  The little black fish was eating snacks and looked up at Tian Lai Bao again: "I just remembered, I've seen you before. That day when I went to your grandma's house to eat dumplings, were you there too?"

  Tian Lai Bao nodded, "I came with my parents that day." His younger uncle was getting married, and he followed his parents to attend the wedding. His parents stayed in the village for a day before returning to the city, but he was kept behind by Tian San Niang.

  "Old uncle, I don't know you, otherwise I wouldn't be here, hehe..." Tian Lai Bao explained to Xiao Hei Yu.

  "No big deal, no fight no acquaintance." Little black fish was very generous, waved his small hand and dropped a book bag.

  Tian Lai Bao looked at Xia Zhi with a thoughtful expression. The child's thick eyebrows and big eyes made such an expression, which was actually not unpleasant to see. Xia Zhi pretended not to notice, lowering her head to draw red patterns.

  Xia Shu was munching on a pastry, his cheeks bulging like a little squirrel. He leaned in close to Tian Lai Bao's ear and whispered, "My sister is really fierce, Brother Lai Bao, don't provoke her. My sister hits me like that, after she's done, I don't even dare sit down, I sleep on my stomach... Brother Lai Bao, does your butt hurt? Is it swollen?"

  Tian Lai Bao's expression flickered: "Not painful, which can that, not a bit painful. Then... it doesn't count as anything!" Saying so, he decided to keep a distance from Xia Shu. Whatever pot is not opened, don't mention it!

  After having some snacks, Tian Lai Bao looked at the pen, ink, paper and inkstone on the table.

  "Lai Bao, we have to study for an hour this afternoon before we can play. Are you going to study with us or let Xiao Shu'er play with you first?" Because Lai Bao was behaving quite well and got along well with Xiao Hei Yu and Xiao Shu'er, Xia Zhi treated him with a smiling face.

  Tian Lai Bao came to find Xiao Hei Yu and Xia Zhi to play, but when Xia Zhi said that, he immediately nodded, indicating that he would follow first to learn, and then go play together.

  Xiao Hei Yu'er is teaching Xia Zhi to recognize characters, Tian Lai Bao holds Xiao Hei Yu'er's pen and looks on from the side. It turns out that Xia Zhi has just started learning characters, and it also happens that Xiao Hei Yu'er has just finished reading "Three Character Classic". He can also teach Xia Zhi, and will definitely do a better job than Xiao Hei Yu'er. However, looking at Xiao Hei Yu'er, Tian Lai Bao's big eyes blinked, but he didn't dare to speak up.

  Recommend "Yan Nan Gui" by author Zong Xiao Wu (direct link below)

  There was once someone who said that Great Chu actually has two great scourges.

  Xiao General holds a heavy army, on the surface loyal and righteous, but in reality is a treacherous minister.

  The Bai family is unscrupulous in business and are big swindlers.

  Xiao Ziyu felt rather helpless upon hearing this.

  She was the daughter of a treacherous minister and the wife of a treacherous merchant who had not yet passed through the door.

  In short, Miss Xiao of the Xiao family is indeed a 'double traitor' in this life.

  It's okay, in the worst of times, there is the best of you.