Chapter 15

Xu Qingling spent three whole days and finally finished all the text portions. Cao Siqing had covered two-thirds of the large color blocks on her side.

Lu Ming and Master Li didn’t dare let the two young girls climb the scaffolding; the higher walls were done by the two men themselves. Xu Qingling volunteered to handle some of the finer details and outlines.

Every day, they finished painting by morning, started work again at three in the afternoon, and kept going until eight or nine at night. Except for the first day when she still looked somewhat human, Xu Qingling gradually began to look more and more like a refugee as the days wore on.

The happiest moment was when they wrapped up work each day and got paid daily in cash—holding blue-green hundred-yuan bills, the two girls grinned so wide their eyes nearly closed.

By the time Xu Qingling packed up and got home, it was already ten at night. Exhausted after a whole day of work, she found that her parents had changed the lock downstairs.

A lump rose in her throat. If this had been her previous life, she would have cried from the injustice and run over to Wan Yue’s house to sleep. But now, after a long day’s labor, she was so worn out she couldn’t shed a single tear.

In her past life, she had been the dutiful little darling, never confronting her parents. After the college entrance exam, when her parents forbade her from attending university, she simply didn’t go. They asked her to help watch the shop, and she obediently stayed home. Occasionally, Xu Demao gave her some pocket money, and she was overjoyed.

Growing up in a seemingly fair and balanced family, and being the most well-behaved and least punished child, she always thought she was the favored one.

For a girl raised on such illusions, the day she suddenly finds out her parents never truly loved her is the darkest moment in her life. Only after enduring the pain of severing that umbilical cord with her own hands can she truly grow up.

...

Xu Qingling shook the new lock on the iron gate, grabbed her backpack from the ground, and went next door to the breakfast shop to knock on the door. Sister Wang opened it.

“Sister Wang, my parents changed the lock and didn’t give me the key. I’m going to climb over from your second-floor balcony.”

In this urban village, houses stood so close that you could reach your neighbor’s window. Xu Qingling’s balcony connected directly to Sister Wang’s.

Sister Wang rubbed her eyes. “They changed the lock and didn’t give you the key?”

Xu Qingling deliberately poured out her troubles. “Yeah, I went out to work, and my parents weren’t happy about it. They changed the lock on purpose and didn’t even give me the key.”

Sister Wang was so shocked she woke right up. “Is that even possible? Your parents are heartless! If my daughter were as sensible as you, I’d be over the moon!”

Xu Qingling sighed. “If only my parents thought like that.”

Sister Wang was loud and outspoken. Xu Qingling heard her upstairs complaining that Xu Demao had reluctantly agreed to let their daughter attend university but refused to provide living expenses. When their daughter went out to work, they even changed the lock on the door—telling her to learn a lesson.

Listening carefully, Xu Qingling knew this story would spread through Oak Tree Village in a couple of days. Xu Demao cared most about his reputation; she was determined to make sure he couldn’t hold his head high in the village.

Jumping from Sister Wang’s house back into her own and pushing the door open, Xu Qingling didn’t even care whether her parents were asleep. She went straight to wash off the day’s grime.

The old house’s shower faced the squat toilet. Standing on it, Xu Qingling washed away the sweat and dirt of the day.

Upstairs, Wu Guifen lay awake, burdened by secrets. Hearing the noise downstairs, she hurried down and shouted from the doorway, “Why are you back? If you’ve got the guts, don’t come back!”

Xu Qingling slowly dressed, pulled back the shower curtain, and emerged with an expressionless face. “Why can’t I come back? If you want to kick me out and cut ties, just say it clearly!”

Wu Guifen was left speechless, words stuck in her throat. Xu Qingling, utterly exhausted, slammed the door and went to bed without saying another word.

The next morning, after brushing her teeth and washing her face, she left and stopped by the breakfast shop to buy two buns.

She hadn’t noticed clearly the night before, but early this morning Sister Wang truly saw the once-vibrant girl from the neighboring Xu household, now tanned and noticeably thinner.

It was cruel—Xu Demao had earned so much year after year, yet he was stingy even with the money for his daughter’s education. On such a hot day, he forced her to work outside to make money.

Xu Qingling took money from her pocket and handed it to Sister Wang. Looking up, she found the woman smiling gently, warmth nearly spilling from her eyes.

Having lived two lifetimes, she still couldn’t handle such kindness; unexpectedly, her nose twitched and tears welled up.

Without a word, Sister Wang stuffed two more buns into the plastic bag and softly said, “Eat these when you’re hungry. I’m not charging you.”

“Thank you, Sister!” Xu Qingling bit into a bun. “Delicious!”

*

Recently, Cao Siqing had become obsessed with collecting brochures from various real estate developments. While Lu Ming and Master Li napped at noon, the two girls canvassed the nearby streets, gathering as many brochures as possible.

Whenever they passed a sales office, they shamelessly asked for brochures—to study the layout designs and examine the environments and floor plans of different developments.

Cao Siqing made a grand vow: to own an elevator-equipped apartment before graduating from university.

Lu Ming thought his niece was crazy. “Do you know how much a house costs these days? My wife and I have been married for years and only bought a place last year.”

Xu Qingling smiled and said, “Big Brother Lu, I’ll bet you. I bet Siqing can buy a house before she graduates.”

Not just before graduation—last life, Cao Siqing was the most successful among more than a dozen girls in their class, running an advertising company that handled various celebrations around Xun City.

Lu Ming and Master Li asked in unison, “How much is the bet?”

Xu Qingling considered the prices four years ahead. “One thousand! If she buys a house, you each give me a thousand. If she doesn’t, I’ll give you each a thousand.”

“No help from parents allowed. It must be money Cao Siqing earns herself.”

“Deal!”

“Such a good bet!”

“If we don’t bet, we’re fools!”

“We’re betting!”

“Alright, it’s settled!”

Cao Siqing almost cried, surprised that Xu Qingling had so much faith in her.

After finishing their morning work, Lu Ming and Master Li lay on a bench to nap as usual. Xu Qingling and Cao Siqing rested a bit, then began wandering around again.

This old renovated neighborhood was the most densely populated area of Xun City. Rows of old bungalows were being razed, replaced by new residential complexes.

Camphor trees lined the roads, their shade dense.

After the first day’s encounter with Shen Peixiang, Xu Qingling never saw her again at Yonghai.

In her past life, married to Shen Luan, she only interacted with that aunt during holidays. The Shen family wasn’t close to her. But she heard that Shen Xingbang trusted this sister greatly and entrusted her to raise his illegitimate child born outside the family.

Families like theirs frequently toured apartments and bought properties. Xu Qingling dismissed the thought from her mind.

Walking down a street, they saw several people unloading desks and chairs from a truck. A middle-aged man with black-rimmed glasses stood nearby. Behind him, a two-story building bore the sign: Blue Sky Kindergarten.

Below the sign was a smaller line of text: Xun City Private Model Kindergarten.

Xu Qingling glanced inside through the iron gate. The playground equipment, tables, chairs, and books were all neatly arranged. Though the facilities looked slightly worn, it was clearly a well-established kindergarten.

She quickly pulled Cao Siqing aside, smiling brightly. “Do you want to buy your elevator apartment sooner?”

“Of course, I dream of it every day.”

“This kindergarten is empty during summer vacation. We could ask the owner if he’d rent a room to us for an art studio!”

Cao Siqing felt her mind spinning and instinctively asked, “Would the owner actually rent to us?”

“This is a privately run kindergarten. It’s empty for two months during summer but the rent must still be paid. Private kindergartens get no subsidies; the owner must want to cut losses. Look at the new complexes nearby—many young couples with kids about to start kindergarten or primary school. If we open a studio here, we should have no trouble enrolling students.”

Cao Siqing had been searching for a suitable place to open a studio but was ready to give up. Hearing Xu Qingling’s suggestion, she felt her heart stir. Setting up in a kindergarten would save a lot of trouble: no need to rent desks and chairs, even the blackboard was ready.

If each student paid 50 yuan per class, that’s 400 yuan for two months. Ten students would make 4,000 yuan, and 100 students would bring in 40,000!

Cao Siqing’s mental abacus clicked louder and faster, her heart racing with hope that her elevator apartment might really be within reach.

After unloading the desks and chairs, the delivery driver drove off. The middle-aged man grumbled, “Who delivers furniture without bringing it inside?”

Cao Siqing and Xu Qingling exchanged a glance and immediately began playing “Lei Feng,” stepping forward loudly, “Uncle, we’ll help you carry!”

The man was sweating profusely from the work and gratefully thanked the two young girls.

Xu Qingling smiled innocently. “Uncle, since you don’t have students during the summer, why buy so many desks and chairs?”

The man replied, “Our kindergarten has been open for many years. The old desks and chairs wore out, so we’re replacing them during the summer to avoid chaos when school starts.”

Cao Siqing said, “Uncle, you own this kindergarten? That’s amazing!”

The man sighed. “Not really. Private kindergartens face huge survival pressure.”

While moving chairs, Xu Qingling glanced around. “Uncle, your kindergarten is so large. The rent must be expensive.”

The man wiped sweat from his forehead. “Yeah! Over a thousand yuan a month. In one year, rent alone costs more than ten thousand. The three months of winter and summer vacation are empty, but the rent still has to be paid. If there weren’t so many students nearby, we’d really struggle.”

After moving forty sets of desks and chairs into the classroom, the man gave them a tour of the kindergarten.

Xu Qingling grew more satisfied and frankly said, “Uncle, we’re students at Xun University of Fine Arts. We want to do some work-study during summer, teaching children to paint. Your place seems perfect for a studio. Could we rent a classroom for the two months? That way, you reduce your rent loss, and we can earn some tuition money.”

Hearing they were university students, and seeing the paint stains on their clothes, the man believed them. The classroom was empty anyway, and who wouldn’t want to earn some rent?

But he couldn’t decide alone. “I do want to rent the kindergarten during summer, but I have to discuss it with my wife. You both look so young—have you talked to your families about this? If you’re serious, come back in a few days around noon with an adult. If the rent is right and my wife agrees, I’ll rent it to you.”

Cao Siqing was thrilled. “Great! It’s a deal!”

Xu Qingling, still cautious, confirmed the time and reminded the man not to forget his business license and ID then.

On their way back, Cao Siqing excitedly pulled Xu Qingling along, laughing, “I didn’t expect you to lie so smoothly, claiming you’re university students! I’m scared he’ll ask for our student IDs!”

Xu Qingling laughed, “What’s there to fear? If needed, I’ll show him my admission letter. Once you have Xun University’s admission letter, you’re a student!”

Cao Siqing gave up arguing. “Alright, alright! Whatever you say!”

Back home, they shared their plan to open a studio with Lu Ming and Master Li. The two men almost dropped their eyes in surprise.

Master Li shook his head. “You two really know how to chase money; you’re clever little things.”

Lu Ming recalled his niece’s childhood exploits and wasn’t surprised. As a middle schooler, she earned money by dubbing tapes for classmates at five yuan each and sold snacks at school. His aunt caught her and gave her a harsh beating, after which she calmed down somewhat.

“If you open a studio, who’s going to help me with my wall paintings?”

Cao Siqing rolled her eyes. “Don’t know how many students we’ll get yet. We won’t have classes every day. Don’t worry, I’ll squeeze time out to paint for you.”

Lu Ming looked at the two girls, their faces sunburned and glowing with light in their eyes. He was strangely moved and softened his tone. “Alright then. As long as you don’t mind the hard work.”

Xu Qingling grinned. “Not hard at all! Money in hand, what’s there to complain about?”

Cao Siqing added, “Big brother, I talked to the principal. We’ll go back in a few days to discuss rent. You should come with us—no adults, no one will trust us with the place!”

Lu Ming readily agreed. “Sure.”