Picked Up the Female Lead When She Was Young (GL) - Chapter 21

“How could I lie to a little girl like you? Don’t worry, I’ll go back to the countryside tomorrow. It won’t take too long to go back and forth.”

Grandpa Zhang was in a great mood after winning against Xia Wanshuang and was quickening the pace of putting away the chess pieces.

“That’s perfect, then. This little girl was quite anxious today,” the owner said with a laugh. The reason he stopped supplying the fruit was because his father-in-law (Grandpa Zhang) had brought them, and he couldn’t possibly bother his father-in-law to go up the mountain for a small child.

“It works out perfectly. You go. I’ll watch the store for you,” Grandpa Zhang said, smiling. He picked up the folded chessboard and waved at his son-in-law.

Xia Wanshuang, holding Zhou Qinglang’s hand, walked along with Grandpa Zhang, chatting as they went.

“But what do you need the ice jelly fruit for? Is your mom going to make it for you to eat? You know, you don’t need to go through all that trouble. Every afternoon, people on tricycles come by selling ice jelly and mung bean soup.” Grandpa Zhang stroked his chin, looking at the two well-behaved little girls.

“I’m going to sell it, Grandpa. If you’re free around eight o’clock, you can go to that barbecue place. I sell it right there.” Xia Wanshuang pointed to the barbecue restaurant they had just passed, but didn’t explain much more.

“Sell it? Why would your parents make a child run errands?” Grandpa Zhang thought Xia Wanshuang was the barbecue owner’s child and glanced at the restaurant with slight disapproval.

“No, Grandpa, you misunderstood. My home is in the Xiwang Residential Area. The uncle at the barbecue place is very kind and lets me sell things outside his door. I just want to earn money myself. My mom and dad are no longer around.”

Grandpa Zhang’s footsteps halted. He looked at Xia Wanshuang, then at Zhou Qinglang’s dark, innocent eyes, and forgot what he was about to say.

He wanted to ask if there were any other adults in the house, and he wanted to say that making the ice jelly was tiring, but in the end, he said nothing.

“Right, girl, where do you live? When I pick the fruit, I’ll bring it right to your house.”

“Xiwang Residential Area, Building 3, Unit 3, 303.”

“Heh, that’s easy to remember.” A string of threes. Grandpa Zhang remembered it immediately.

“Then, Grandpa, when you bring it, I’ll pay you for it.”

“Agh, it’s not worth much money. The fruit grows wild; it belongs to the mountain, not to me.”

As soon as Grandpa Zhang finished speaking, he noticed Xia Wanshuang trying to bring up the payment again, so he kept talking.

“Girl, if you want to thank me, just come to the park and play a few rounds of chess with an old man like me. I’m getting old and don’t have many hobbies. I just like playing chess, and you can even give me some pointers.” Grandpa Zhang pulled open the awning of the fruit store, rolled up the metal door, and walked inside, making a conversational request.

“I couldn’t possibly do that.” Xia Wanshuang was already thrilled about the turn of events. Hearing Grandpa Zhang wouldn’t take money, she didn’t know how to thank him. She had enough spare money and wasn’t afraid of the initial cost; she was confident she could earn it back.

“Little girls are all formality and politeness. Just do as I say. It’s getting late. You two should hurry home.” Grandpa Zhang picked up a palm-leaf fan and waved it a couple of times, generating a bit of cool air.

“Take these and eat them.” He grabbed two mangoes and handed one to Xia Wanshuang and one to Zhou Qinglang.

“Remember to play chess tomorrow, now.” Grandpa Zhang specifically instructed. Xia Wanshuang nodded emphatically.

“I absolutely won’t forget.”

By this time, the sky was completely dark. The streetlights outside the residential area had come on, their spaced-out light illuminating the path and making their hearts feel brighter, too.

“Sister, that Grandpa is very nice.” Zhou Qinglang spoke after a moment of silence, holding Xia Wanshuang’s hand tightly.

Truthfully, she hadn’t seen much kindness before this.

She thought that if she were still the beggar girl she once was, perhaps many people would have a different attitude. Her feeling wasn’t one of mockery; she was grateful she had met Xia Wanshuang.

Even when she looked like that, her sister was willing to reach out, willing to bring her home, and let her live so cleanly.

“Yes, there are still a lot of good people in the world,” Xia Wanshuang whispered, her voice scattering on the gentle night breeze.

They went home and ate the mangoes. It was Zhou Qinglang’s first time eating a mango. Her hands and mouth were covered, and she just giggled foolishly at Xia Wanshuang.

“Silly goose.”

Xia Wanshuang gently poked Zhou Qinglang’s nose, her spirits soaring because the ingredient issue had been resolved.

[System]: Phew! All collected!

The system suddenly spoke, catching Xia Wanshuang off guard.

Although she knew the system was in her mind, Xia Wanshuang often forgot about it.

After all, the system had no weight and didn’t cause her discomfort. It was silent most of the time, so Xia Wanshuang sometimes overlooked its presence.

[System]: Hmph! You don’t care about me at all QAQ!

[System]: You even forgot I exist!

[Xia Wanshuang]: Sweetie, what nonsense are you talking about? How could I possibly forget a cute little goofball like you?

The system burst into mental tears, realizing with a start that it wasn’t the host’s favorite little darling anymore.

[Xia Wanshuang]: Alright, I’m just teasing. What is it? What did you collect?

[System]: Well… that old grandpa asked you to teach him chess, right? I accessed this era’s internet and collected all the relevant data I could find, plus many amazing matches. This way… you can have an easier time… Waaah-aaaah-aaaah!

The system said awkwardly, sounding increasingly wronged.

Xia Wanshuang laughed quietly, feeling a bit helpless with the child-like system. She mentally patted its head.

[Xia Wanshuang]: Thank you, System.

[System]: Y-you’re welcome.

Children’s emotions come and go quickly. Xia Wanshuang easily comforted the system. She looked at the real child, Zhou Qinglang, next to her and thought that being a parent was truly difficult.

The next afternoon, Grandpa Zhang arrived as promised.

Grandpa Zhang brought a large sack of fruit and also played two rounds of chess with Xia Wanshuang.

Xia Wanshuang won the first round, and in the second, she subtly threw the game, allowing Grandpa Zhang to leave their home with a joyful bounce in his step.

Xia Wanshuang put the fruit in the fridge for freshness. She bought a new, larger container for the ice jelly, washed her hands, and started making the ice jelly.

The labor of handmade ice jelly was the constant kneading and rubbing, which was very tiring for the hands.

Zhou Qinglang also washed her hands and came to help. Due to the time spent on preparation and playing chess with Grandpa Zhang, they set up the stall a bit later.

Xia Wanshuang still sold juice, but instead of the tiny cups, she used larger cups with lids and straws.

As soon as Xia Wanshuang’s ice jelly arrived, people from the park came over to buy it, and the barbecue owner ordered two bowls.

Grandpa Zhang passed by, and Xia Wanshuang gave him a bowl.

The ice jelly could be topped with watermelon or strawberries, depending on the customer’s choice. The red beans were cooked to a soft, sticky perfection, making it appealing to everyone.

Actually, the best version was Ciba Ice Jelly, but Xia Wanshuang didn’t know how to make the Ciba (sticky rice cake) or where to buy it. Still, the current version was very good.

By the end of the evening, the ice jelly and juice were sold out. Some people even called out for Xia Wanshuang to come again tomorrow, which she promised to do with a smile.

When she tallied the earnings that night, Xia Wanshuang found that after deducting the costs, she had made fifty yuan in one evening. Her little personal treasury was growing daily.

Her face was beaming, showing her excellent mood.

Though it was a shame about the hundred thousand yuan. At this time, ten thousand was still a significant amount of money. While selling things tonight, she overheard people discussing housing prices.

In an area slightly farther from the city center, a newly opened development was still 1,500 yuan per square meter. A hundred-square-meter apartment was only just over a hundred thousand yuan—an unimaginable price in the future.

Xia Wanshuang knew how much house prices would be inflated later, practically doubling every year. She really wanted to buy an apartment now. Even if she didn’t live in it, the rent alone would be substantial, and it would definitely come in handy later.

But the household registration issue was still a problem. Xia Wanshuang couldn’t be added to Jiang Wan’s hukou; that would derail the plot. Moving into someone else’s hukou was out of the question. Even if someone was willing, Xia Wanshuang herself wouldn’t trust a stranger with guardianship.

If she had to wait until she turned eighteen, that was eight years away. By then, the economy would have developed, and it would be impossible to buy a house in Tongli for just over ten thousand yuan.

At this thought, Xia Wanshuang’s joy faded somewhat.

A knock on the door pulled Xia Wanshuang out of her thoughts. She told Zhou Qinglang to wait in the room and peered through the peephole.

“Aunt Jiang? What’s wrong?”

“My friend just messaged me back. They couldn’t find any information on Langlang. That means Langlang doesn’t have a hukou right now,” Jiang Wan said, glancing inside the door and lowering her voice.

Jiang Wan had just received the news and came to tell Xia Wanshuang. She didn’t find the lack of registration unusual; Zhou Qinglang might have been homeless since childhood, and no one ever registered her.

“Not having a hukou won’t do, Shuangshuang. I’ll take Langlang to get her registered this Sunday. Otherwise, she won’t even be able to go to school.” Jiang Wan figured registering her was just a matter of paperwork; she couldn’t let the child be an undocumented citizen.

Xia Wanshuang’s mind went blank, and two big words flashed: “ABSOLUTELY NOT!”

The system had once again become a screaming chicken.

[System]: No, no, no! How can the male and female leads become legal sisters?! Shuangshuang, stop her!

[Xia Wanshuang]: They’re legal brother and sister.

Xia Wanshuang corrected her. Even in this situation, she had to maintain a proper level of rigor.

[System]: Who cares! Save the plot, please! I’m about to collapse along with it!