About Luan Xiaoxiang’s development, Chuxia had considered it. Not to mention anything else, merely based on how her aunt had supported their family over the years, she felt obligated to help her aunt’s family as much as she could.
What was most important to her aunt? Of course, it was the future of Luan Dajiang and Luan Xiaoxiang. However, at present, she really had no capability to help Luan Xiaoxiang and Luan Dajiang.
The siblings had been at the bottom of their class since elementary school. According to their aunt, they diligently did their homework after school, but when it came to exams, they were always ranked last.
When it came time for middle school entrance, the twins both failed—back then, not everyone could advance to middle school. Girls like Chuxia and Luo Xiaoqiong who went on to high school were extremely rare.
If the siblings had at least a middle school diploma, Chuxia would definitely have thickened her skin to ask Zhou Mikang for help, whether it was joining the military or finding a formal job at the commune, either way would have been a way out.
But the reality was, the siblings only had elementary school diplomas, and both these paths were blocked. As for college, that was even more out of the question. Previously, she had thought that in a few years, with the economic reforms, she could suggest that the siblings start a small business. Even though she had been sheltered like a flower in a greenhouse, she knew that even selling socks early in the reform era could make one wealthy.
The siblings were both honest and capable; even if their personalities didn’t allow them to make a huge fortune, living a good life was definitely possible.
But now, she couldn’t share these plans with Luan Xiaoxiang. However, from Luan Xiaoxiang’s tone, it was apparent her and Luo Xiaoqiong’s progress had already made her feel uneasy.
How to handle this kind of situation was really not her strong suit.
Previously, not only was she an only child, her father was also an only child, so she had no uncles, aunts, or cousins, only a maternal uncle who had a son. She didn’t interact much with her cousin, and whatever needed to be done, he would help her.
In sum, she had no experience in dealing with poor relatives.
When she first arrived in this time and space, she couldn’t accommodate anyone in her heart, let alone pay any attention to relatives. Later, after accepting Zhao Yulan and Lin Baohe, her principle was simple: those who were good to her parents, she would treat well; those who were not, she couldn’t be bothered with.
She was willing to promise Zhao Yuying to do as she asked, because Zhao Yuying was genuinely kind to Zhao Yulan, to her, and to her family.
The four children in Zhao’s house were close in age. First, they arranged a marriage for her eldest uncle Zhao Yushan, then for her second uncle Zhao Yushui, so back then, Zhao’s house was really struggling financially.
When Zhao Yuying and Zhao Yushui married in the same year, Zhao Yucui was eighteen and Zhao Yulan was sixteen, the age when girls love to look beautiful. Zhao Yuying then split the four sets of new clothes from her wedding dowry between Zhao Yucui and Zhao Yulan, giving one set to each.
The next year, when Zhao Yucui married, only Zhao Yulan was left at home. In the following years, every New Year, Zhao Yuying would make a new set of clothes for Zhao Yulan—herself always wearing patched ones.
Even after Zhao Yulan married, Zhao Yuying still helped her under the table when she could. The little clothes Zhao Yulan wore as a child, the diapers she used, were all prepared by her aunt and uncle’s family.
These, Chuxia had heard more than once from Zhao Yulan. Thus, although she intensely disliked Wang Meifeng, she still made such a promise to her aunt Zhao Yuying.
Upon closer inspection, her aunt Lin Baojuan had treated their family just as well as her aunt Zhao Yuying, and crucially, Lin Baojuan’s husband and the twins were also good to their family, which troubled Chuxia.
She really didn’t want this matter to cause any rift between her and Luan Xiaoxiang.
Not only was Chuxia worried, but Luo Xiaoqiong was also furrowing her brows in deep thought.
Seeing that her words had turned both their faces somber, Luan Xiaoxiang hastily said, "I was just speaking in jest. Don’t be upset, okay?"
"Sister Xiaoxiang..." Chuxia looked at her seriously, "When I have the ability to help you, I definitely will."
Luan Xiaoxiang’s expression became solemn, "Chuxia, do you consider me your sister or not?"
Chuxia hurriedly nodded, "Although you’re only two months older than me, even though I sometimes just call you by your name, I truly consider you my sister, and a close one at that."
"Then that settles it. Where is there a sister who doesn’t help her sister? And why would a sister arbitrarily get mad at her sister?" Luan Xiaoxiang grinned, showing her small tiger teeth, "I admit, seeing the life you and Xiaoqiong are living now, I feel envious, but I am just envious. I know my own capabilities."