Xia Lan, Xia Xing and Xia Cha were lying under the roof of their house.
They had heard the conversation between Xia Wangshi and Xia Zhenyuan very clearly.
Xia Lan was worried that Xia Zhenyuan could not cook and wanted to help, but Xia Xing and Xia Cha hurriedly pulled her back.
“Sister, let Dad experience Mom’s usual hard work! Also, why does Mom have to serve the entire family and not get anything in return?” Xia Xing said indignantly.
Xia Lan frowned and said worriedly, “If I don’t go and help, Grandma might not let us have food.”
Xia Xing pouted. “At most, we can go to the mountains to pick wild fruits to eat.”
Xia Lan scratched Xia Xing’s nose. “Eating wild fruits is not a long-term solution.”
Xia Cha, who had been silent, said, “Sister, let’s endure for a day. I’ll go out and think of a way.”
Xia Lan pulled Xia Cha, who was about to leave. “Cha Cha, where are you going?”
“Sister, the doctor said yesterday that Mom’s ill. I have to find a way to fix her jade pendant and earn some money outside.”
Xia Lan frowned even more. “Do you think it’s so easy to earn money? I only earn a hundred dollars a day in the orchard and it’s managed by Grandma. You’re just a little girl. Where are you going to earn money?”
“Sister, believe me.” Xia Cha held Xia Lan’s hand and patted the back of her hand. “There are many ways to earn money in this society now. You don’t only earn money by doing hard labor.”
“Take good care of Mom at home.” Xia Cha said and looked at Xia Xing. “Second Sister, go and pick some wild fruits and see if there are any wild vegetables. Let’s get through today first.”
For some reason, Xia Cha had become the most influential one among the three sisters. Xia Lan and Xia Xing were willing to listen to her.
…
Xia Cha still had the remaining money she had from buying medicine for Xia Lan.
She took the jade pendant that was broken by Xia Wangshi and went to the jade shop.
Wenfeng County’s jade store was unable to repair the jade pendant in her hand and suggested that she go to Yan City.
Xia Cha arrived at the bus station and planned to take a taxi to Yan City.
“Cha Cha?”
Hearing someone call her, Xia Cha turned around and looked at Xia Chuan, who was carrying a snakeskin bag.
“Brother.”
Xia Chuan walked to Xia Cha and asked, “Cha Cha, where are you going?”
“Yan City.”
Xia Chuan widened his eyes. “Cha Cha, you’re going to Yan City alone? Do Second Uncle and Second Auntie know?”
“I didn’t tell them.” Xia Cha saw Xia Chuan carrying a big bag of things and asked, “Is Brother going to Yan City too?”
“Yes, I’m sending something to my step-mother’s family.”
Xia Chuan’s step-mother was Fang Liu from the third branch. Xia Cha learned from Xia Xing that after Fang Liu married into the third branch, she treated Xia Chuan, the son of Xia Zhenli’s ex-wife, like a servant.
He would do all the heavy and dirty work.
The bus to Yan City arrived, and Xia Chuan and Xia Cha got on.
The two of them sat together and Xia Chuan let Xia Cha sit by the window. Before the bus started, he ran out of the car and bought a bottle of water and a packet of biscuits for Xia Cha.
“Brother, I don’t want it.”
“Take it. I didn’t see you, Sister Lan, and Xing’er go for breakfast this morning. I’m sure you haven’t eaten breakfast!”
Xia Cha looked at the water and biscuits Xia Chuan had forced into her hands and felt a lump in her throat.
“Thank you.”
“Little girl, don’t stand on ceremony with me!”
Xia Cha smiled at Xia Chuan. “When I earn money, I’ll treat you to good food.”
Looking at Xia Cha’s smile, Xia Chuan touched his head and revealed a simple and honest smile.
A few hours later, they arrived at Yan City.
Xia Chuan was worried about Xia Cha and asked her to go with him to the Fang family to deliver things.
When they arrived at the Fang family home, Mother Fang took the specialties and fruits that Xia Chuan had sent over. She looked at Xia Chuan and Xia Cha, who were both drenched in sweat. Not only did she not invite them into the house to drink some water, but she even looked disgusted. “You smell so bad because of your sweat. Alright, I’ve received the things. Hurry up and leave!”
Without waiting for Xia Chuan to say anything, the door closed with a bang.
Xia Chuan wanted to ask Mrs Fang to pour a cup of water for Xia Cha, but…
His dark face flushed red. “Cha Cha, let’s go! I’ll find a shop to buy you some water.”
Xia Cha shook her head. “Brother, I still have water. I’m not thirsty. Buy a bottle yourself!”
Xia Chuan chuckled. “I’m not thirsty. Let’s go and look for a jade shop.”
Xia Chuan brought Xia Cha to a jade jewelry store. Xia Cha took out the jade pendant and after the store owner looked at it, he gave a number. “It will cost at least a thousand dollars to repair this.”
This money was a very large sum for Xia Chuan.
Even when he had money, he only had fifty to sixty dollars.
All of the money he got from working in the orchard had gone into his grandmother’s pocket. He wanted to help Xia Cha, but he could not.
Naturally, Xia Cha did not have a thousand dollars in her pocket.
The two of them came out of the jade shop. Xia Chuan looked at the silent Xia Cha and comforted her, “Cha Cha, don’t be sad. Brother will take you to another shop to ask about it!”
Xia Cha shook her head. She felt that it was worth it if a thousand dollars could repair this jade pendant.
The most important thing now was to earn money!
Wenfeng County was less developed and more traditional, but it did not mean that Yan City was the same.
Although Yan City could not be compared to a first-tier city, it was still rather prosperous with tall buildings and numerous shops.
There should be more opportunities to earn money than in Wenfeng County!
“Brother, I still want to walk around the city. Why don’t you go back first?”
How could Xia Chuan let Xia Cha go around the city alone? He immediately shook his head. “No, no, I’ll accompany you.”
Seeing Xia Chuan’s insistence, Xia Cha could not refuse his good intentions.
Xia Cha walked around the city center and arrived at a large stage called JP Entertainment. There was a recruitment billboard there.
Seeing Xia Cha stop in front of the billboard, Xia Chuan pulled her slender arm. “Cha Cha, I heard that this place is very messy. Let’s go!”
“Brother, they’re hiring singers here.”
Xia Chuan looked at Xia Cha in disbelief. “Cha Cha, it’s not that I don’t think you can do it. If Furong came to apply for the job, she might be able to do it. After all, she’s studying in a arts school now. But you’ve never learned how to sing. Besides, you’ll have to face many people when you sing in such a place. I’m afraid you…”
“Brother, how do you know that I can’t do it if I don’t try?”
Xia Chuan looked at Xia Cha in disbelief. Was this the younger sister who would lower her head and was shy whenever she saw someone?
Xia Cha knew that some of her changes made the Xia family feel like they had met a monster. She scratched her head and thought of a lame explanation, “Brother, when I was unconscious after the accident, I had a dream. I met a teacher who was very good to me in my dream and taught me many things, including singing… Brother, do you believe me? If you believe me, will you come in and let me try it out?”
Xia Chuan looked at Xia Cha’s clear eyes and could not bear to reject her. After hesitating for a while, he nodded. “If you don’t get past the interview, we should leave quickly. I’m afraid you’ll be in danger in such a place.”
