The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 169: You Will Lose Completely (5)_1

Chapter 169: Chapter 169: You Will Lose Completely (5)_1

"We must observe the ’seventh seven’ mourning period," they reasoned. Their family was about to have a baby, a joyous occasion—how could they, clad in heavy mourning attire, stay in their house?

Unable to persuade them, Grandma Sun could do nothing but helplessly return home with Sun Tiezhu and Zou Xing.

The siblings sat quietly in the room, the narrow space cold and empty.

Outside, the heavy snow silently fell, covering everything in white, silent and cold.

"We still have some of yesterday’s leftover rice; let’s heat it and eat," Pei Qin said, then stood up to go to the kitchen.

San Ya watched her with swollen eyes. With their mother gone, she suddenly felt lost and panicked, clueless about how to live or what to do.

But her calm eldest sister stood like a mountain—unlike them, not weeping hysterically in terror or helplessly throwing a fit—gradually dispelling the panic in their hearts.

Si Ya was the first to follow, starting a fire to warm the meal.

The heated food was ready, but no one had an appetite.

Pei Qin, holding a hot flatbread with green onions, finally felt her eyes moisten.

Sobbing, San Ya and the others managed to finish the leftovers.

Efficiently, Si Ya cleaned the pots and utensils, tidied up everything with a somber face, and walked into the room to face Pei Qin, "They caused mother’s death, making us orphans! We must take our revenge!"

Pei Qin glanced at her, "You go take revenge, then! At such a young age, all you think about is revenge!"

Si Ya caught her breath, "Mother was harmed by them! Or is it that you’re eager to follow them now that your real father has returned?"

At that remark, both San Ya and Pei Wendong paled even more, nervously looking at Pei Qin.

"If you want to go, then just leave!" Pei Qin said sternly.

"You really don’t want to go with them?" Si Ya pressed again. They were children of Jian Xiao, but only their eldest sister was the biological daughter of the second wife. If she went back to Old Pei’s House, it would betray their deceased mother! What would become of the three of them if she left?

Seeing her direct question, yet with cautious eyes, Pei Qin withdrew her gaze, ignoring her.

"Eldest sister..." Pei Wendong lunged forward, hugging her legs and sobbing. He was scared! With their mother gone, if their eldest sister abandoned them too, would they also die?

Pei Qin frowned and picked him up to stand, "I don’t care how much you cry today. After today, you all better plan your lives. Set a goal for what you want to do and work hard in that direction. Whoever doesn’t make the grade, I’ll throw out at any time!" She wasn’t so kind-hearted to take care of them without expecting them to fend for themselves.

Pei Wendong kept wiping his tears, afraid to cry anymore, but they wouldn’t stop.

San Ya felt scared and uneasy, but rethinking her sister’s words, she felt reassured. Their eldest sister hadn’t abandoned them!

Pei Qin finally turned to Si Ya, "If you can’t change your defiant nature, then fend for yourself or go find your own father! I won’t harbor you!"

Si Ya tensed up, her eyes fixated on her.

Pei Qin turned away and stood at the door, watching the snow whirl outside. The three of them looked at her, as if something had awakened within them.

The snow grew heavier, piling up thickly.

Pei Qin brought a small table and stool outside, tied a broom to a stick, and began to push the snow off the kitchen roof. Then, using the kitchen’s columns and door panels, she climbed onto the roof to clear the accumulated snow.

Watching her sweep the roof, San Ya was also afraid that the heavy snow might collapse their two small rooms. She found another badly worn broom and a broken shovel, collected the snow fallen on the ground into bamboo baskets and wooden tubs, and carried them outside the gate.