"You really surprised me today. You're not usually like this. Did someone say something to you?"
Gu Xiaoying kept questioning, mainly because Gu Xiaoqing was acting quite differently from usual.
Gu Xiaoqing sighed, "Sis, it's nothing, really. I just can't stand it. Why does Dad say those things? It's normal for parents to raise their daughters, but raising a brother's children is unheard of.
Today I overheard Grandpa and Grandma talking to Dad by the fields. They meant for me to stop going to school and start working the land sooner, so as to lighten the family burden. They even said daughters are raised for others, and it's better to work early and save money for the brother's schooling. And given our family's situation, they told Dad to handle it this way."
Gu Xiaoying knew that the idea didn't come from their dad—he had a good heart, always meaning well and never influenced by others' opinions.
When Grandpa and Grandma spoke, Dad probably just listened.
Tonight's words were likely meant for Xiaoqing to agree to, but unexpectedly, the usually compliant Xiaoqing completely blocked Dad with just one sentence.
"Sis, after Dad left, I heard Grandpa and Grandma say that Uncle's Gu Xiaocheng is about to graduate and soon will need a job. In no time, he'll be needing money for marriage, and without Dad's support, Uncle will have a harder time, so there's no reason for us to hold Gu Xiaocheng back.
I was simply angry. Aren't we Grandpa and Grandma's grandchildren too? Why should we sacrifice for Gu Xiaocheng, and so unconditionally?
Dad is the eldest, yet who in the family gets the least when splitting family property, gives the most, and needs to contribute yearly support money equivalent to another household's living expenses?
If things don't change, we'll eventually work for Gu Xiaocheng—toil away for Uncle and his family. Uncle's family doesn't even produce enough grain in a year, yet it's all from our family. Why is that? Uncle has a monthly salary of forty-two yuan, and Aunt's too, which combined is more than our family's yearly total, yet we still have to support Uncle. Does this make sense?
It's always the wealthy helping the poor, never the poor exhausting themselves to help the wealthy. Grandpa and Grandma are just too biased."
Gu Xiaoqing actually hadn't gone out at all today, but heard their parents whisper about this in the past, so she crafted this reasoning. These words aren't just made up by herself.
These were what Grandpa and Grandma privately said when they didn't want to lend money for the younger brother's medical treatment back then—not making them the scapegoat, just stating it earlier.
Gu Xiaoying was furious hearing this, angrily saying, "Grandpa and Grandma are just too biased. Always doling out favors to their children—why is our dad so unwelcome to them? On the contrary, Uncle and the other get all their attention, as if they're the real sons."
Gu Xiaoqing laughed, surprised her sister could speak so frankly. Seems in a past life, they weren't always meek, just never expressed due to parents' suppression.
Looks like, this time, she wouldn't have to exert much effort to train them into a family of tigers.
Tigers are good, definitely better than lambs.
Lambs are just left to be eaten up.
We prefer being tigers, tigers are good.
Tigers eat meat.
At least they can feed their bellies.
Not bullied by others.
"Sis, I've been wondering. Has Dad never thought about this over the years? The whole village talks about Grandpa and Grandma's favoritism, but Dad and Mom have such open hearts.
I can't bear to keep us spending nothing, yet working hard to earn money for others—that's out of the question. Any expenses should be for our own family, not them."
Gu Xiaoqing eagerly pushed her older sister, needing at least one ally—their strength in resistance would be much greater.
Gu Xiaoying was also indignant now, reflecting on their family's past experiences, her mood worsened.
Instantly, she said, "Exactly, our family should manage our money wisely and not just throw it away, only to receive nothing in return. Look at Uncle's Gu Xiaocheng, Uncle's Gu Xiaofeng and Gu Xiaomin, what are they wearing compared to us? Our clothes are among the least presentable in the village.
With Dad's praise, they're lost, giving away our money, falsely calling it a loan. Usually loans are paid back, making future loans easy, but in our case, it's always a take-without-give-back scenario.
Really, what's Dad's motivation?"
Gu Xiaoying complained, her tired voice echoing in the dark, likely ready for sleep.
Gu Xiaoqing didn't respond, and after a while, heard her sister's familiar snoring, sighed. Her sister stopped schooling after the fourth grade; back then she had little interest in academics, finding it challenging, and was coaxed by Grandpa and Grandma.
For years, Gu Xiaoying labored on the farm, now practically a fully operational workforce.
No one withstands a day's field work easily.
Turning over, her hand brushed against the rough and calloused texture of her sister's palm on the pillow, the scars and bumps a testament to long years of labor.
Gu Xiaoqing swore that this time she must stop her sister from listening to Grandpa and Grandma's persuasion to marry an older cripple—not to look down on disabled people. If it were a capable man with ambition, being older and handicapped wouldn't matter.
But the prospective brother-in-law from her previous life was nothing but a complete wastrel, still under his mother's control at his age. She would dictate no field work, he followed; forbid good food for the sister, he didn't give.
As a result, their nurturing sister lost two children soon after marrying into his family, rendering her infertile.
She became like a slave to them, tirelessly serving and doing menial tasks for the family.
After all that, the mother-in-law went around boasting that their sister was a childless hen, idle and useless.
If anyone else had said that, Gu Xiaoqing would believe it, but accusing her own sister, Gu Xiaoying, she refused to believe it whatsoever.
This time, no one will readily dictate the sisters' lives, nor lead this family down the same old path from last life.
Hasn't this change already begun?
No fear, everything will get better, everything will transform.
Gu Xiaoqing closed her eyes, drifting into sweet dreams.