Chapter 16: Tang Xue in a Panic

Chapter 16: Communication Problems

Take her mother, Xie Xinlian, for example. She had only attended first grade. As the eldest daughter, she had to take care of her younger siblings. With her own agreement, she stopped going to school and started working at a young age. In the end, Xie Xinlian could barely recognize any characters other than her own name. She was truly illiterate.

By the time her aunt, Xie Xinyan, came along, the family was still poor, but conditions had improved somewhat. Aunt Xinyan was very well-behaved. After graduating from high school, she joined a local opera troupe to reduce the burden on the family. She traveled with the troupe, performing everywhere. She lived and ate with the troupe and earned an income. It was said that she had already become quite famous.

Whether it was Xie Xinlian’s choice or Xie Xinyan’s, they had chosen their own paths. Grandfather had never decided their paths for them. As for Little Uncle Xie Chengyu, if he had just communicated properly with Grandfather, Grandfather would have agreed to let him take the exam for the Business College.

Although Grandfather still carried the aura of a scholar and held some old-fashioned views, he had let go of the traditional hierarchy that placed merchants at the bottom. In this new society, the status of merchants was becoming increasingly important. Zhu Yanyi thought for a moment and then said, "Little Uncle, you are so timid and useless. If I had any ideas, I would tell my dad. You don’t even dare to tell Grandpa that you want to go to Business College. Sigh, you really are useless." She finished with a disappointed, sighing expression.

Xie Shengyu, standing nearby, burst into laughter. She poked Zhu Yanyi’s nose and said, "Why is a little child sighing?"

Xie Chengyu could not withstand the provocation. "It’s just telling Grandpa about my ambition. I’ll go right now. Don’t look down on me." With that, he turned and marched out proudly.

Zhu Yanyi hadn’t expected Xie Chengyu to be so impulsive. She was momentarily stunned. Seeing this, Xie Shengyu suppressed his laughter. "Ani, rest well. I’ll go see how your Little Uncle is doing." Before Zhu Yanyi could react, he hurried out. Zhu Yanyi felt that her Second Uncle was more interested in watching the drama.

As for the result, Zhu Yanyi didn’t hear. The next day, when she woke up, Grandma Qi Qiaoer’s expression was as kind as ever. Second Uncle Xie Shengyu went to work as usual, and Little Uncle Xie Chengyu went to school as usual. Zhu Yanyi was quite curious about the outcome, but no one told her.

"There is no wind today, so you can go out to play. But don’t play until you sweat, okay?" Qi Qiaoer warned carefully.

Zhu Yanyi nodded. "I won’t go out playing everywhere. I’ll go find Grandpa. Is Grandpa doing Tai Chi in the drying yard again?"

"Your Grandpa didn’t do Tai Chi today. He went to check the peas he planted by the river. He was worried the cold air a few days ago might have frozen them, so he went to look." Qi Qiaoer answered. She knew very well that her granddaughter liked to cling to Grandpa.

Zhu Yanyi tilted her head and thought for a moment. "Then I’ll still go find Grandpa. I want to see the pea seedlings too." She waved goodbye to Grandma and ran out briskly.

"Remember to stay away from the riverbank," Qi Qiaoer’s gentle reminders came from behind.

"I know," Zhu Yanyi called out loudly. Her small figure did not slow down at all.