It wasn’t easy, but today, the school finally had a day off, and she had made a point to visit home, only to be turned away by the Shen Family, who informed her that her eldest brother had divorced his wife.
Xu Jiaojiao, worried, ran back home and, as she passed by the streets, saw Xu Nianhua and his siblings enter a shop she had long coveted. The clothes there were exceptionally beautiful, but, they were also incredibly expensive.
Xu Jiaojiao had saved up her pocket money for several months to finally buy a sweater, but unfortunately, now that the weather had warmed up, she couldn’t wear it anymore.
There Xu Nianhua and his siblings were, chatting and laughing as they walked into the shop. Their bright smiles and the crisp shirt and trousers Xu Nianhua wore made her burn with envy—those beautiful clothes, those radiant smiles...
Xu Jiaojiao clenched her fists tightly; before long, she watched Xu Nianhua pick out five or six pieces of clothing and, without even trying them on, proceeded to pay for them directly!
This scene only added to her agitation; she had to save up for a long time just to buy one item, yet how casually Xu Nianhua could purchase five or six such fine pieces!
The once-contemptible Xu Nianhua was now carelessly buying five or six beautiful garments!
Xu Jiaojiao felt an urge to burst into the shop, but she quickly checked her step, gave Xu Jiaojiao a deep look, and then turned to run back home.
"Mom, I don’t have anything to wear." As soon as Xu Jiaojiao got home, she started asking for money and said, "Why did uncle say that big brother and sister-in-law divorced? She’s so nice, how could they possibly divorce?"
Xu Jiaojiao liked her sister-in-law very much; she treated her very well. Often, the clothes she bought and never wore even once would end up on Xu Jiaojiao.
"You’re just a kid, so don’t worry about it. Why didn’t you stay at school and attend classes instead of running back home?" Zhao Juxiang had been distressed over Xu Zhihao’s issues these past few days and, upon hearing Xu Jiaojiao’s words unexpectedly, replied irritably, "You have nothing to wear, yet isn’t what you’re wearing clothes? Didn’t we just buy that last year?"
"Mom, you said yourself it was bought last year. The weather is hot now, and I haven’t bought a skirt for this year yet."
Xu Jiaojiao was about to act spoiled as she usually did, but before she could start, Zhao Juxiang furiously scolded, "Aren’t there so many clothes in the closet? Every time you come back, you’re either asking for money or to buy clothes. Where does the house have so many clothes from?"
"Just focus on your studies. You don’t even look at how Xu Nianhua got into Ningbei University. If you don’t get into university, don’t you bother coming back home!" The rage in Zhao Juxiang’s heart flared uncontrollably at the thought of her son; Xu Jiaojiao’s return had just hit the bullseye.
Xu Jiaojiao was startled; she had never seen Zhao Juxiang this angry before.
"Having you kids was like raising debt collectors, one after another all wanting to drive me to my grave." Zhao Juxiang realized she had been too harsh, but she couldn’t apologize to her daughter and turned away.
Xu Jiaojiao stood alone in the room, her hands by her trouser sides, gripping them tightly.
Ji Ying and Zhou He received the clothes Xu Nianhua had bought and kept criticizing her for squandering money.
"Mom, this money is from our translation studio. I bought things for Dad and my elder and second brothers, and for Zhuangzhuang too!" Xu Nianhua, brimming with excitement, divided the newly bought clothes. For young Zhuangzhuang, she had purchased a set of clothes with a blue tiger design and another with a yellow kitten design, both looking exceptionally cute.
"Sister-in-law, try these on Zhuangzhuang quickly; he’s sure to look good in them." Today when Xu Nianhua had been choosing clothes, she was utterly charmed by those tiny outfits.