Chapter 66

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Protagonist:

Chai Mi

The old residence really hadn't quieted down; Chai Mi was at home and could still hear crying and commotion up front, even the clatter of pots and pans being smashed to pieces.

Chai Mi looked at Chai Xiu drinking soda and told her with a smile, "Xiu'er, if you get angry or anything in the future, try not to smash those pots and pans; if you break them, you'll have to buy replacements yourself."

Chai Xiu smiled bashfully and nodded seriously.

Chai Mi adopted an 'it's none of my business' attitude and instructed Chai Xiu, "Xiu'er, go shut the main gate. So those half-dead playthings don't end up dragging our household into it."

It must be said Chai Xiu is truly obedient; whatever her sister told her to do, she did it, practically becoming Chai Mi's best errand-runner.

Chai Xiu went out and shut the main gate just like that.

Chai Mi's courtyard gate has a gatehouse. The gate is 2.2 meters tall; the gatehouse design matches the house's style — double-arched, high on both sides and low in the middle, with raised east and west ends for north-south drainage. The main gate is black, and there's also a half-gate over a meter high that can be latched shut (locally called a 'half-gate').

Chai Xiu didn't know whether Eldest Sister Chai Mi meant the main gate or the half-gate; anyway, shutting both was correct.

No sooner had Chai Xiu turned back into the room than Chai Mi heard someone knocking at the gate.

"Eldest Sister, someone's knocking at the main gate..." Chai Xiu cautioned carefully.

Chai Mi didn't even raise her head; she had kneaded the dough, cut it into sections, brushed on some sunflower oil, shaped the steamed buns into flower rolls... then grabbed a handful of sesame seeds and sprinkled them on top; these flower rolls went straight onto the steamer rack of the big pot to steam.

As for who was knocking, let them knock; they weren't afraid of tiring themselves out, and Chai Mi simply pretended not to hear.

When the flower rolls were done steaming, Chai Mi lifted the pot lid to let out the steam, then fished the flower rolls out and placed them on a small cooling rack woven from the fine upper stalks of sorghum straw; once they cooled a bit they could be eaten.

In this era, rice and white flour were still relatively luxurious; otherwise there wouldn't be that saying: 'Whose family doesn't eat dumplings at New Year?'

Although conditions have improved slightly now, flower rolls, steamed buns, and dumplings are still only eaten during holidays or special occasions.

Chai Mi waited until the flower rolls had cooled some, handed one to Chai Xiu, and Chai Xiu ate it quietly, her face full of delight.

After a while longer, Chai Xiu finished eating, couldn't sit still, ran out to take a look, and came back to tell Chai Mi, "Eldest Sister... seems like the one knocking is Cousin Sister..."

Chai Mi frowned in displeasure; if Chai Xiu said Cousin Sister, it could only be Chai Min.

Chai Mi didn't know if this 'sickly beauty' was truly ill in the head; what was she doing knocking on the door with nothing better to do?

Those people at the old residence aren't going to die; what's the panic?

Chai Mi knew Che Lianyun and Wang Huirong were crying and making a scene at the old residence; with more people around they might even stage a performance — hanging themselves, drinking pesticide, banging their heads against the wall...

Chai Mi dismissed them with contempt: If they have the ability, let one of them actually die so I can see; then I'd praise them for truly having guts.

But obviously, all of them are just scare tactics. They won't actually die, yet they scream and wail like their lives depend on it, putting on a half-dead act — for whose benefit?

"What's she here for?" Chai Mi grumbled dissatisfied.

"This sickly Chai Min, instead of studying properly, stays home all day when it's not even summer vacation — does she not want to go to university? Second Uncle and Second Aunt listen to her too... this guy's been really 'sick' lately."

The 'sick' Chai Mi spoke of wasn't real illness, but meant Chai Min had a mental problem.

Chai Mi had seen Chai Min a few days ago; three or four days have passed since — a high school couldn't possibly give three or four days off normally... Chai Min is clearly skipping classes.