Chapter 1

Zhili finished wiping the floor in the living room.

Slowly sat down, clenched her fists and beat her legs that were numb from squatting.

The afterglow of the setting sun was reflected on the calendar hanging on the wall, and the light ball and the numbers gradually overlapped.

Zhili looked up at the calendar with her little head, counting silently in her heart, 1, 2, 3——

8 days.

Adding the 18 days in May and the 30 days in June, it has been 56 days since she last saw her grandmother.

Grandma said she was going to a very far place and asked her to wait at home, but her home had been sold by her uncle...

Zhili clenched the rag in her hand, her eyes were red like a little rabbit.

Grandma, I live at my uncles house now, remember to come to my uncles house to find me.

"Mom! Is the meal ready?!"

Xu Dong, my cousin, who was lying on the sofa, shouted while playing with a tablet, "Can you hurry up? Im starving!"

Zhili heard the sound of the spatula in the kitchen and her aunts answer, "Its almost there, dont rush me, eat some snacks first, arent there biscuits on the coffee table?"

Xu Dong took out the remaining bags of loose biscuits, glanced at Zhili who was looking at him, and immediately glared back fiercely, "These are the biscuits my mother bought for me!"

He bit the bag open with his teeth, tilted his head back and poured the biscuits into his mouth, and glanced back at Zhili triumphantly after he finished eating.

The biscuit crumbs fell on the floor, piling up more and more.

As soon as Qian Pei came out of the kitchen, she saw the eye-catching biscuit crumbs on the floor. Seeing Zhili sitting there, she scolded him harshly: "Zhili, cant you have a little life in your eyes?! Your brother is young and ignorant, and you dont know how to help clean up? Hurry up and wipe the floor! Come over to serve the rice after wiping it."

Xu Dong smiled and made a face at Zhili, "Lazy pig!"

Zhili paused, looking at Xu Dongs fat cheeks and bulging belly, and couldnt help correcting him, "You look more like a pig on TV."

Xu Dongs eyes widened, and he jumped off the sofa with his two thick and short legs, and said angrily: "You scolded me?!"

Zhili was stunned for a moment, "Grandma doesnt let me scold people, and I never scold people."

"..." Although Xu Dong is one month younger than Zhili, he spends every day on the tablet and has learned a lot of swear words.

He subconsciously added in his heart, the people you scold are not human beings.

"!!" Xu Dong was so angry that he jumped up and down, "You called me a pig!"

Zhili was still confused. After thinking for a while, hesitantly changed his words, "A pig looks like you?"

After saying this, Zhili hurriedly ran to the kitchen in small steps, fearing that Xu Dong would say she called me a pig again. Of course, she was still very confused.

Yesterday, an old lady on TV said that she had a piglet grandson at home. My cousin was fatter and whiter than my grandmas grandson, so he must be a piglet.

Xu Dong was helpless and furious in the living room, "You look like a pig! Pig, pig, pig!"

So pig is also considered an insult?

Zhili was distressed. When she learned to read, her grandmother didnt say pig was an insult. When she came back, would her cousin complain to her grandmother?

Worried in her heart, Zhilis movements of serving rice were not slow. She held the rice shovel and served rice from the rice cooker to the white porcelain bowl little by little. When one bowl was full, she put it aside first and served the second bowl.

Qian Pei didnt take her sons yelling in the living room seriously. Ever since her son stole the old ladys money and was reported by Zhili last year, she had to symbolically scold him in front of other relatives. Since then, her son has hated Zhili.

Anyway, Zhili is just a burden that no one wants. Its no big deal for her son to scold her.

"Your uncle will not come home for dinner because he works overtime tonight. Just serve four bowls."

"Oh."

Qian Pei looked at Zhilis delicate face while putting the dishes on the plate and pouted.

Her sister-in-law is not a good person. The child she gave birth to will grow up, but she would rather the child be ugly, so that everyone who comes to the house will not only praise Zhili, and when talking about her Dongdong, she perfunctorily says that he looks blessed. Isnt this just saying that her Dongdong is fat? !

"Zhili, you have to learn to be diligent, you know?" Qian Pei acted like an elder and taught earnestly, "You are stupid, the kindergarten wont accept you, if you dont learn to work, others will say you are a bad kid who is annoying!"

I am not a bad kid.

Zhili listened silently, but she was refutating in her heart.

Picking up two bowls of white rice and about to leave, Zhilis eyes accidentally fell on the plate of sweet and sour pork ribs that Qian Pei was holding. The color was redder than that of her grandmothers. I wonder if it would be soft and sticky.

"There are only a few pieces of these ribs. I will make them for you next time." Qian Pei said lightly, "The money your mother gave you is not enough for your expenses for half a month. There is no money for you to eat meat at home."

Its not that she is reluctant to let the child eat some meat, but she is in a bad mood when she thinks of her sister-in-law who always made her suffer in silence in the past, and she is more and more displeased with Zhili.

Zhili pursed her lips, mustered up her courage, raised her head and said, "Grandma often said that the money my mother gave me was enough to spend." Even if she was spanked, she would tell her aunt that grandma would not be wrong.

"Grandma said, grandma said, you only know what grandma said all day long!"

Qian Pei stared at Zhilis clear and transparent almond eyes, and felt guilty for no reason. After a brief moment of guilt, she became angry and raised her voice a little, "Didnt your grandma say that your mother likes you and doesnt hate you? If she didnt hate you, why didnt she come back to pick you up?! Why didnt you let your grandma take you out?! Why did you throw you to someone else to raise?! She might not recognize you when you walk on the street!"

Zhili was frightened by the roar, but thinking that her aunt didnt believe her grandma, she still refuted with a pale face, "Grandma said that my mother worked hard outside to make money to support me and didnt want me to suffer with her."

At this point, Zhili lowered her head and blinked hard to stop the tears from flowing.

She wanted to tell her grandmother and mother that she was not afraid of hardship.

She didnt want to live in her uncles house anymore. Her uncle said she was ignorant, her aunt said she was a bad kid, and her cousin always tore up the picture book her grandmother bought for her and said he wanted to kick her out. They all disliked her.

Although Zhili had never gotten along with her mother since she was a child, she had seen her mother on TV. She was very beautiful, more beautiful than other mothers in the community.

"Mom doesnt hate me." Zhilis soft voice was tinged with tears, "Grandma said that mom loves me very much, loves me very much." Grandma cant be wrong, and mom wont hate me.

Seeing that Zhili was about to cry because of grievance, Qian Pei cursed in her heart. It turned out that she was a bastard born by Xu Qingying. The mother and daughter cried in the same way, as if they were severely bullied by someone.

If it werent for Xu Qingyings generous living expenses, she would have kicked this burden out of the house long ago.

Qian Pei turned away, not seeing her, not being bothered, "Bring the food out."

After a while, the food was served on the table, and her cousin Xu Xia, who was in the bedroom, also came out.

Xu Xia had just entered high school, and she was pretty and charming. When she saw Zhili, she didnt smile, but sat down on the chair next to Zhili with a cold expression.

After Zhili climbed onto the chair, she rubbed her sore eyes and secretly looked at Xu Xia.

Two days ago, Zhili heard her cousin and the classmates who came to her house say that they didnt like her and that it was troublesome to live in the same bedroom with her.

Zhili also felt that it was troublesome for her to live in her cousins bedroom. She couldnt help but count on her fingers and silently calculate how much pocket money she had saved in the past. She didnt know if it was enough for her uncle to buy another bedroom.

Hmm.

She was short, so she didnt need to buy one, but half... half of half could also sleep.

Xu Xia looked at Zhili, who was just five years old beside her, and what flashed in front of her was the luxury car that Zhili sat in when she left in her previous life.

It was out of tune with the old residential buildings around it, and Zhili, who was sitting in the car, seemed to be from a different world from them.

Perhaps the memory was too deep at that time. Even though more than ten years had passed between two lives, Xu Xia still remembered that day clearly.

Another week.

Xu Xia lowered her eyes. In another week, Xu Qingying would come home to take Zhili away and marry Zhili into a wealthy family.

Recalling the luxury car, Xu Xia suppressed the irritability in her heart, turned her head, and smiled at Zhili, "The floor of the living room was wiped very clean, Lili, its hard work." Zhili didnt stay in the wealthy family for a long time, but she could find opportunities to get some benefits from Zhili. Little Zhili was easier to deceive than Zhili in high school in her previous life. During this period, she must win over Zhili.

Zhili looked at the smile on Xu Xias face, was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly shook her head and said it was not hard.

Strange.

Didnt my cousin say that she didnt like me? Why did she smile at me?

"You dont have to wait for your dad today." Qian Pei pushed the sweet and sour pork ribs in front of Xu Dong, untied her apron and hung it aside, "Lets eat first."

Xu Dong was not skilled in using chopsticks, so he reached out and took a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs, and his mouth was full of oil.

Zhili silently picked up the fried celery that was close to her and ate it.

It was still not delicious.

Zhili lowered her head and silently ate a big mouthful of rice.

She especially hated eating celery, except for celery dumplings.

In addition to sweet and sour pork ribs and fried celery, there was also a portion of hot and sour shredded potatoes on the table.

The shredded potatoes were a little far away, and Zhili hesitated for a while, but still stretched out the second chopsticks towards the fried celery.

Hate to eat but can be overcome.

Xu Dong was eating the ribs deliciously, and suddenly saw Zhili eating fried celery, and immediately determined that Zhili liked to eat celery very much.

Remembering that Zhili scolded him like a pig before dinner, he raised the stainless steel spoon and slapped Zhilis hand heavily.

"Pah!"

Zhilis skin was originally white, and the red mark left on it by the spoon was particularly conspicuous.

"This is the celery my mother made for me!" Xu Dong said unhappily, "You ate it all, what should I eat? You eat it for free at my house all day long!"

Zhili was afraid of pain since she was a child, and the pain spread belatedly with the red mark on the back of her hand.

She was in so much pain that tears welled up in her eyes, but she held back her tears and insisted, "I didnt eat for free. Grandma said my mother gave me money."

Xu Dong knocked on the table with a spoon, "You ate for free! For free! For free!"

Zhili clenched her hands and retorted unyieldingly, "Its not for free. Grandma said--"

"Enough! Stop talking about grandma all the time. Its so annoying!" Qian Pei was worried that Zhili would get used to talking about living expenses in front of outsiders in the future. She switched the hot and sour potato shreds with the fried celery in a bad mood, "Its rare for your brother to like vegetables. As a sister, you should let him eat the potato shreds."

Xu Dong felt that he had won and grinned.

What do you mean by giving money? He often heard his parents call and tell others that Zhili ate and drank for free at home.

When Zhili saw the spicy and sour potato shreds in front of her, the tears in her eyes were smothered. She didnt need to eat celery!

Xu Xia watched the fight between her brother and Zhili silently. Seeing Zhili defeated and eating potato shreds pitifully, she reached out to pick up a piece of sweet and sour pork ribs. As expected, she got a glare from Xu Dong.

However, when Xu Xia wanted to put the sweet and sour pork ribs into Zhilis bowl, he remembered the messy life in his previous life and Zhilis bright future. His eyes were filled with emotions. He turned his wrist and put the sweet and sour pork ribs into his own bowl.

Zhili has always been despised in this family. He was grateful enough for her to smile at him.

Halfway through the meal, the doorbell rang.

Qian Pei got up and opened the door, and soon came over with the opened box.

Xu Dong stretched out his two greasy hands to look through the box, "Mom, whats in it?"

"Family portrait pottery dolls." Qian Pei said as she took out the Q-version figurines made of colored pottery, holding the base with one hand and pointing at the fat boy in the middle with the other, "Isnt it cute?"

Xu Dong was not interested, "I like Optimus Prime."

Zhili slowed down her eating and stared at the Q-version pottery dolls in Qian Peis hand.

There were four of the little toys that looked like they were made of plasticine, and the fat boy in the middle was thinner than his cousin.

Qian Pei noticed Zhilis gaze and smiled deliberately: "Zhili, you havent taken a family photo yet, right?"

Zhili finished the last mouthful of rice in the bowl and asked in a low voice: "What is a family photo?"

"..." Qian Pei choked, "A family photo is a photo taken of the whole family together, with dad, mom, and children."

Xu Xia saw Xu Dong opening his mouth to speak, and interrupted: "Zhili, have you finished eating? Hurry back to the house after you finish eating."

Zhili nodded, jumped off the chair, and ran back to the house.

Xu Xia watched Zhili close the bedroom door and felt relieved.

It was not that she was worried that Zhili would be laughed at by Xu Dong, but that she was afraid that Zhili would vent her anger on her, Xu Dongs biological sister.

"Why did you let Zhili go!" Xu Dong said unhappily, "When can Zhili go? I dont like her! Cant she live with her own parents?"

Qian Pei took a few photos of Taoou and posted them on WeChat Moments. Thinking of the gossip news she had seen, she sneered, "Her mother finally got promoted as a mistress, how could she have the courage to bring Zhili, a burden, back home." I dont know if Xu Qingying can give her more living expenses, as her husband wants to buy a new car.

Xu Xia frowned, "Mom, dont say anything in front of Dongdong."

Qian Pei waved her hand indifferently, "Hes a child, he wont understand even if I tell him."

Xu Dong snorted.

Why cant he understand? A mistress is a bad guy who specializes in stealing other peoples fathers. Dahes father next door was stolen by a mistress, and Dahes mother has been scolding him these two days.

Zhili was still thinking about the family portrait when she returned to the bedroom.

Is it a family portrait only when there is a father, a mother, and a child?

Zhili tilted her furry little head, and the ponytails tied on both sides swayed a few times. After a while, she scratched her head in distress, "But what should I do with only my grandma and mom?"

After sitting for a few minutes, Zhili suddenly ran to the small cardboard box in the corner of the wall filled with clothes, got in, and rummaged inside with her little butt sticking out. After searching for a long time, Zhili finally came out with frizzy hair and a small jar in her hand.

The jar was filled with dried fruits that Zhili and her grandma had made in the past.

Grandma said that this was called a memory jar. After eating a dried fruit, she could say a word to her grandma, and her grandma could hear everything.

Zhili picked a piece of banana crisps, chewed it and swallowed it, holding the small jar in her hand, and asked expectantly and nervously: "Grandma, when you come back, lets go find mom to take a family photo together!"

"What are you eating secretly?!" As soon as the voice fell, a figure rushed over like a firecracker, reaching out to grab the jar in Zhilis hand.

Zhili was scared when she saw Xu Dong and thought of the torn picture book before. No matter how Xu Dong tried to grab it, she refused to let go and shouted: "This is what grandma gave me!"

"Why should grandma only give it to you!" Xu Dong held the jar tightly and refused to let go. His face flushed and he wanted to grab the jar from Zhilis hand. He shouted regardless, "This must be what grandma gave me to eat! Your mother robbed other peoples fathers, and you robbed my candy!"

He also lowered his head and wanted to bite Zhilis hand.

Zhili was already very angry when she heard Xu Dong say bad things about her mother. When she saw Xu Dong open his mouth and bite it, she used all her strength to push him out without thinking.

Bang!

Xu Dong didnt expect Zhili to be so strong. He was pushed unexpectedly. His small body fell backwards and his elbow hit the sharp corner of the table, bleeding instantly.

The bright blood and the burning pain stimulated Xu Dong at the same time. He stared at Zhili for a few seconds. After reacting, tears burst out and he cried.

Zhili hid the jar behind her and looked at Xu Dong who was sitting on the ground crying, at a loss.

Qian Pei rushed over after hearing the sound. When she saw her son falling to the ground and his elbow bleeding, her legs almost went weak. The next second, she was furious, "Zhili!"

Zhili met Qian Peis eyes that seemed to be spitting fire, and her little face turned pale. But even so, she took advantage of Qian Peis free time to bandage Xu Dong and hid the jar back to the bottom of the box with shaking hands.

A few minutes later, Xu Xia, who was about to come out of the bathroom, saw Qian Pei dragging Zhili out across the living room, raising his arm and hitting Zhili fiercely.

Xu Xia paused and stepped back.

If she went out to stop it now, her mother might beat her too. Besides, if Zhili didnt suffer, how could she show how valuable her help would be later?

——

In the corridor, Xu Hongli walked up the stairs while peeking at the message he had just sent to Qian Pei in his pocket. Seeing that there was no reply, he was immediately anxious like an ant on a hot pot.

Why havent you replied yet?

If you dont reply, he will take people home!

Xu Qingying glanced at him, smiling, "Are you busy with your business?"

"No, not busy." Xu Hongli forced a smile back, praying in his heart that Qian Pei would not order Zhili around like he usually did.

Xu Hongli was supposed to go out for drinks with a client but was stood up. He was so angry that he came back and saw a luxury car parked downstairs. He had discussed it with his colleagues two days ago and the price had already exceeded 4 million!

Before he could take a photo to send to his friends, he was surprised to see his sister Xu Qingying, whom he hadnt seen for several years, getting out of the car. The flickering street lights made him feel that the beautiful profile was inexplicably unfamiliar.

Xu Hongli smiled and greeted her.

In fact, he didnt like this sister very much. As a celebrity, she could earn at least eight figures a year, but she was too lazy to lend him a few million so that he could buy a high-end house.

It was because of the pressure from the old lady that he didnt expose Xu Qingyings cold-blooded behavior to the media, otherwise Xu Qingyings reputation, which had already fallen to the bottom, would definitely be trampled into the mud.

Now that the old lady has passed away, he looked at Xu Qingyings expensive clothes and reborn temperament, and then glanced at the assistant behind Xu Qingying who had not spoken from beginning to end, and his little thoughts came up again.

Xu Qingying probably really became the mistress of some rich man and got promoted as the gossip reporter said, otherwise she would not give such generous living expenses. Xu Qingying wanted to spend money to buy peace.

In this case, it is not too much to ask Xu Qingying to give some more money to his biological brother, right? Only when he succeeds in starting a business can he continue to support Zhili and prevent Zhili from causing trouble for her.

Thinking of Zhili, Xu Hongli couldnt help but think of the message his wife hadnt replied to yet. Seeing that he was only one floor away from the door, he asked with a stiff face: "Qingying, are you planning to take a look at Zhili this time?"

"Yeah."

Xu Hongli just breathed a sigh of relief, and Xu Qingyings next sentence made him stagger and almost fall on the stairs. He turned his head suddenly, "You, what did you say?!"

"I said--" Xu Qingying raised her foot and walked up the steps, looking at him coldly, "Im going to take Zhili away."

Leave?

Take Zhili away?

If you take Zhili away, wont I lose a lot of living expenses? !

Xu Hongli was about to ask again when the familiar door appeared in front of him. He quickly walked in front of Xu Qingying, took out the key to open the door, and planned to take a look at the scene at home first. Zhili must not be mopping the floor in the living room at this time.

"Click."

The key opened the door, and the incandescent light in the house tilted out.

The next second, the childs cry and sharp curses rang out, "You little bastard who was born by a mother but not raised by one! How dare you hit Dongdong?! Ill beat you to death!"

Xu Hongli froze at the door.

Xu Qingyings face was cold, and she pushed away Xu Hongli who was blocking the way in front of her and strode in.

In her sight, Qian Pei grabbed the arm of a little girl of four or five years old with a ferocious look, raised her right hand high, and slapped the little girl in the face.

"Pa!"

A crisp and loud slap sounded suddenly, and the scolding stopped abruptly.

Zhili, with tears on her face, looked blankly at her aunt being slapped to the ground, and the beautiful aunt who suddenly appeared in front of her-

looked very much like her mother on TV.