Chapter 33 Unease

Cai Xiufen's tears stopped. "Forget it, I'm just too sensitive, always thinking of the worst. Let's sleep, we still have to wake up early tomorrow!"

The moonlight was bright, and the night breeze was as cool as water.

Three houses away from Captain Kang's lived the Xu family.

The window half-opened, Xu Chunxia lay on her bed, her mind irritated as she listened to the snoring of her two younger sisters.

She had been thinking from yesterday afternoon when Kang Li unilaterally ended their relationship to this very moment, and she still couldn't understand what had given her away. How had she, who had always thought him a fool, seen through her intentions? He wouldn't even listen to her explanation, disregarding any trace of their past affection, giving her the cold shoulder, and decisively no longer recognizing her as a friend?

Unable to sleep after so much thought, Xu Chunxia got up and pushed the window fully open, sat in front of it, staring at the moonlight outside, letting the cool mountain breeze soothe her troubled mind.

"Third Sister, why aren't you sleeping? What are you doing sitting by the window?"

Xu Chunmei rubbed her eyes and sat up, looking discontentedly at Xu Chunxia in the moonlight, "Since yesterday afternoon, you've looked quite odd, Third Sister. What's really on your mind? Why not talk about it? Maybe I can help you find a solution. Don't keep yourself up and disturb your little sister's sleep as well."

The Xu family had six siblings.

Above Xu Chunxia, there was an older brother and sister, and below were two younger sisters and a younger brother.

In order of seniority, Xu Chunxia was the third child; in the eyes of her parents, being in the middle, she was never the favored one.

"What's odd about me? You must be mistaken. Go back to sleep, and mind your own business."

With so many siblings, it was inevitable that each had their own thoughts. Moreover, Xu Chunxia's parents favored sons over daughters. In this family, Xu Chunxia, including her older sister, fourth and sixth sisters, were just means for their parents to acquire dowries for their brothers.

For instance, their older sister Xu Chunyue was promised by their parents to a thirty-year-old bachelor two years ago, just for the five hundred yuan bride price he offered.

With that money, their parents immediately arranged a marriage for their second son, Xu Chunlai, completely unconcerned about whether Xu Chunyue would have a good life after her marriage.

This year, at eighteen, she was also of marriageable age, but her parents, wanting one more labor force at home, someone to take care of the younger siblings, and because of her slight friendship with Li Bao, hadn't yet arranged a marriage for her.

This undoubtedly gave her some peace of mind; after all, she had someone in her heart and didn't want to be sent off carelessly for a small dowry, just like her older sister had been.

But after what happened yesterday and today at the Kang family's door, Xu Chunxia was losing confidence.

She was worried that once her parents learned that Li Bao had cut ties with her, they would treat her as they did her older sister, selling her off like livestock.

Whoever offered more money would end up buying her.

"Third Sister, you can keep pretending to be tough. I guess it's because Sister Li Bao no longer wants to be friends with you that you're so upset and can't sleep, right?"

Xu Chunmei spoke significantly. She was sixteen this year, also of age to marry. Just two years ago, she accidentally discovered her Third Sister's secret and has since paid extra attention to her affairs.

Indeed, it was yesterday afternoon. She saw her Third Sister walking with Brother Weimin from the Zhou family and Educated Youth Su from the Youth Educated Institute while slacking off during work. Curious, she discreetly followed the trio and overheard the conversation between her Third Sister and Sister Li Bao.

She was truly surprised. Li Bao, who appeared innocent to the point of naivety, had long known her Third Sister had feelings for Brother Weimin from the Zhou family. She hadn't expected Lí Bao to be so merciless in exposing her Third Sister's feelings and unequivocally ending their friendship.