Chapter 2 - 002 gets up earlier than chickens
Ge Sanmei was not exactly fond of her daughter, but considering she was a girl who would eventually marry someone, she didn't dwell on it too much, and before leaving, she instructed, "I've put a bowl of fine grain in the cupboard, get up and roll out some dough for noodles. Your second brother needs brain food for his studies, and your third brother is growing."
Li Xianglu was already impatient. That old woman's heart had completely shifted to the western end of the village, and she just wouldn't stop. What was there to explain? It was just blatant favoritism to feed her sons better.
Was all this necessary? She was just fourteen and also growing. Why did nobody care about her? However, Li Xianglu didn't verbalize any of this, she simply sat on the bed and coldly watched Ge Sanmei, who still seemed eager to nag.
Ge Sanmei was startled by her daughter's cold gaze, and realizing her own words, she felt guilty. She cursed a few times, calling her daughter a loss-making proposition, and left the house.
Li Xianglu got dressed and neatly folded Ge Sanmei's and Li Erfu's blankets and quilts, placing them at the west side of the kang near the large wooden chest, before climbing down from the kang.
At this moment, a groggy Li Jianqing saw his sister climbing down from the kang and cheerfully said, "Little sister, why don't you sleep a bit more?"
Li Xianglu looked at her third brother in front of her, a skinny youth with a dark face and a smile. She replied smilingly, "Third brother, I have to cook. You sleep a bit more; I'll make fine noodles for you later."
Li Jianqing perked up at the mention of fine noodles and immediately climbed out of the covers, asking from the side of the kang, "Really? Did Mom say she's making fine noodles?"
Li Xianglu nodded, put on her shoes and said, "Yeah, you sleep a bit more. I'll leave the blankets, I will fold them when I come back with dinner."