Chapter 10: The Rebellious Elder Sister Ideals are plump, reality is bony.

  It's not long after the New Year's Day, the final exam has ended, and we've received our report cards. Next is a winter break of over 20 days. We all happily returned home, because soon it will be Chinese New Year. The Spring Festival holds extraordinary significance for the Chinese people, being the best moment for family reunions. For us kids, it also means eating delicious food and receiving red envelopes filled with money.

  On the twenty-seventh, my cousin Nan Qingqing came to our house early in the morning, saying she wanted to play with me. My mom asked me to serve her some snacks like melon seeds and peanuts, and we watched TV together. This cousin of mine, Nan Qingqing, is tall and beautiful, with a pair of bright eyes and a fair complexion, making her look like a little beauty. She's six years older than me, currently in second year of junior high school, but her grades are poor, and she attends Fourth Middle School. Moreover, since my uncle works out of town and her mom doesn't take care of her, she has more money, and at such a young age, her classmates call her "Kuan Jie" (meaning "generous sister"). Of course, there are also people who flatter her to her face because of her money, but behind her back, they say she's stupid and doesn't have a brain.

  She ran away from home when she was in her third year of junior high school, just because my grandmother didn't agree with her request to drop out of school to learn hairstyling or sell clothes. She suffered a lot before returning home. Now that Qingqing is about to enter the third year of junior high school in half a year, I want to help her avoid taking the wrong path this time. My sister was very good to me back then; she took me to take my first photo sticker, to the ice rink for the first time, and to eat barbecue for the first time.

  I watched Qingqing change the TV channel, there weren't many channels to begin with, she changed it a few times and my eyes were dizzy. I reckon Qingqing must have some thoughts on her mind, otherwise she wouldn't come to our house, in two days we'll be having dinner together anyway. I smiled and said: "Old sister, no, Qingqing, you came to my house today to play with me, hehe, tell the truth, is there something going on that you want to confess, looking for my mom to save you?" In the past when I was in university, I always called her old sister, and now I forgot to change it.

  Qingqing's sister said with a childish tone, "Little imp, you know again, but it's not what you think. It's not about finding Auntie Er to attend parent-teacher conferences or sign things. I'll whisper to you, I don't want to study anymore. I want to learn hairstyling and sell clothes. Either way, I think I'm very suitable. But I estimate my mom might not agree, so I want to find Auntie Er to help me test the waters. If I say it myself, my mom will definitely chase me with a broomstick to beat me up. A good man like me can't suffer losses in front of his eyes."

  I thought: Elder sister, you really understand your mom. She absolutely won't agree to it. She expects you to at least finish high school or vocational school. How can she easily let you not even finish junior high? You're really being unrealistic. I carefully said: "Qingqing, how about this, why don't you finish junior high first and then talk about it? At least you'll have a graduation certificate. Also, I want to ask you, is there someone who's instigating you to drop out of school?"

  Elder sister looked left and right, saying: "How could that be? You know I'm not doing well in school, always being discriminated by the teacher, labeled as a bad student. My mom doesn't even want to attend parent-teacher conferences anymore, what the teacher said was really unpleasant, wasn't it Auntie who attended last time? I think instead of this, I might as well learn a skill." Elder sister's eyes were darting back and forth, obviously lying, but I didn't expose her, saying: "Then Qingqing, if mom doesn't agree, what will you do?"

  My sister frowned and said, "I haven't thought of this yet, let's take it one step at a time." She patted me on the back and said, "You're eager for me to agree, but you haven't even asked me yet, and you're already giving me an out." My sister didn't seem like she was lying. All I wanted to say was, sister, ideals are plump, reality is bony. Never mind, at least for now my sister doesn't have any thoughts of running away from home, I must think of a way to nip this idea in the bud. If all else fails, I'll take drastic measures and tell mom to keep an eye on my sister, as long as we have the green hills, we won't worry about not having firewood to burn.

  I smiled and said to my older sister, "Yes, Qingqing, let's not think about that anymore. The New Year is coming soon, let's be happy and watch TV. You like watching 'The Sword of the Three Young Masters', right?" My sister said, "Okay, let's watch it together. But I only like to watch the beginning, not the end. Xie Xiaofeng and Murong Qiudi are a perfect match, but Ji Gang and Chen Yutai are so annoying! And even though San Shao Ye and Qiudi didn't end up together, Qiudi still died, which is too sad. And what's with Ji Furong and Ding Xiaodi? They obviously like each other, but they're siblings... it's just wrong. Lovers should be together in the end. By the way, I'm currently watching 'Jin Fen Shi Jia', I sneakily watch TV every day. You haven't seen it, have you? It's really good! Jin Yansi and Leng Qingchun are such a great match... if only they were a real-life couple too. Yesterday, I saw them get married, the white wedding dress, the room full of lilies... so romantic! I hope my own wedding will be like that someday..."

  It's really a heart-wrenching plot, and the forbidden love has been around for a long time, but it became more popular after 2010. Sister, I don't want to disappoint you, but Jin Yanzhi and Leng Qingqiu are not a good match. Jin Yanzhi was raised in luxury from a young age, pursuing free and pure love, but her flaws ultimately led to the loss of her loved one. Leng Qingqiu is a talented woman from a poor family, with a gentle yet strong personality, yearning for independence, having "the talent of Daiyu and the stubbornness of Cuicui". In the end, they are not on the same path, and it's no wonder that they eventually parted ways.

  Sister, sister, so you had a longing for wedding dresses from such a young age! No wonder before marrying Yang, you specially went to Suzhou's Wedding Dress Street to look at wedding dresses and insisted on buying one instead of renting. You ended up with a very fashionable set at the time. And indeed, there were many lilies at the wedding, mostly white with some pink accents, it was all planned out! Now your little girl's romantic feelings have burst forth, every young girl thinks about love after all. It seems you've forgotten that you also went through this stage! At noon, sister stayed for lunch at our place, and dad kept serving her dishes, asking her to eat more. Sister didn't refuse, with food still in her mouth, she said: "Second uncle, your cooking is really delicious, it's on par with my dad's. Not like my mom who always makes me eat stir-fries and stews until I'm sick of them."

  Mom smiled and said: "Qingqing, if you like to eat, have some more. Your second uncle is happy that someone is appreciating his cooking, otherwise it would be left over for the next meal." After lunch, Dad went back to his room for a nap, while Mom, my sister and I stayed in my room.

  "Qingqing, are you just here to play with your sister today? Are you and I having another disagreement?" Her mother asked in a serious tone. Qingqing's older sister didn't see the need to hide anything, so she spoke straightforwardly: "Auntie, I don't want to study anymore. I want to learn hairstyling or sell clothes." Her mother seemed unsurprised, saying: "Qingqing, you're only in second year of junior high now. Even if you graduate from junior high next year, if you really don't want to study, have you thought it through carefully? Won't you regret it later? You know that the years spent studying are like gold - once they're gone, they're gone for good. By then, it'll be too late for regrets."

  Elder sister said seriously: "Auntie, actually you know more than my mom that I'm not the material for studying. It's not that I don't want to study, it's just that I really can't continue. Always staring at me, homework won't be done, parents will be criticized, all became old tricks. I have self-awareness, I know my mom wants me to attend high school, but my grades are really impossible. Auntie, you've been to high school, you know what kind of grades and perseverance it takes to attend high school. If I go, it would be a waste of time and money for myself."

  "Qingqing, listen to your tone, you've thought this through and don't want to study anymore. But listen to Auntie's advice, at least finish middle school, having a middle school diploma is better than nothing. You graduate from middle school, that's at least something to show your parents. As for learning hairstyling or selling clothes, you're still unsure which one you want to do, maybe after graduation you'll be certain or have other ideas. This needs careful consideration. Auntie will help you sound out your mom's thoughts. But you must promise me to behave and stay in school during this time. I heard the reputation of your school is not good, there are often hoodlums from society who try to lure people, you need to be careful and protect yourself."

  Elder sister nodded and said, "I know, Auntie. Recently, there have been rumors that some people are waiting at the school gate. As they say, No. 1 Middle School produces top scholars, No. 2 Middle School produces hoodlums, and No. 3 and No. 4 Middle Schools talk about romance. Xiao Xiao, you must study hard and get into No. 1 Middle School in the future to make our family proud. If I'm not capable, then it's up to you."

  I smiled and said: "Qingqing sister, I will work hard to study, definitely get into the number one middle school, and then strive to get into a famous university, bringing glory to our family. Who knows, maybe the champion's hat will land on my head, and I'll also make our alma mater proud, becoming a celebrity in the history of No. 1 Middle School! Hehe, sister doesn't need to be discouraged either, among the three hundred and sixty professions, every profession has its own champion."

  Mom said: "Don't talk too big, what's with this famous university? Who knows where you'll end up, maybe in some rural area. Qingqing, everyone has their own destiny, just grasp it well."

  Older sister said: "En en, Second Auntie, I believe in my younger sister even more, and she also has you as her strong backing mom. If I were your daughter, wouldn't that be great?"

  The atmosphere was a bit sad for a moment, so I quickly took out the delicious chocolate that Hou Jingya gave me that day to share with older sister. Older sister patted my head and said: "You still have a conscience, you didn't forget about your sister when you got something good."

  This afternoon, I helped my mother with the big cleaning together with my older sister. We were busy and happy. After having lunch and dinner, we let our father send my older sister back home. My sister also promised my mother to get along well with her mother-in-law when she goes back home, so that everyone can have a happy new year.