Chapter 571 - 11: The Cannon Fodder Daughter and Her Cannon Fodder Dad (Part 11)

"New world, new sensations. Guess how many lice I found in my hair?"

Little Buding wasn’t interested at all.

"Not interested, don’t tell me."

"Enough to stir-fry a dish."

"Please shut up, that’s disgusting."

Jiang Lai sighed.

Times are really tough nowadays.

She just couldn’t get used to hard times, so she had to hustle a bit to improve her quality of life.

After taking a shower and moving to a new place, the bedding was too hard, so Jiang Lai took out a set from the closet to use instead.

Waste not, want not.

She slept okay through the night, but the hard bedboard left Jiang Lai’s whole body aching.

There was a well in the courtyard shared by four families. When Jiang Lai went over with her cup, Jiang Hu had just filled a bucket with water.

Standing next to him, Jiang Lai helped herself to a cup and started brushing her teeth.

Jiang Hu, who was washing his face, casually noticed a fair-skinned girl walking over. Thinking it was Shen Yaoyao, he directly asked,

"Why are you up so early today? I’ll take you for breakfast later."

"Sure."

As soon as the girl responded, Jiang Hu was taken aback.

He wiped his face vigorously, and upon looking up, a slightly familiar yet somewhat strange girl stood in front of him—fair-skinned, big-eyed, with long, lush, smooth hair, wearing a washed-out long shirt, right beside him, brushing her teeth.

"You..."

"What’s up? Don’t recognize your own sister?"

Jiang Hu was jolted, rubbing his eyes.

"You’re Jiang Lai?!"

Could it be his long-lost little sister?

How did she change overnight?!

Jiang Lai muddled a reply.

"Where for breakfast? What to eat? I’m hungry, I want meat buns."

"..."

Jiang Hu was silent.

He couldn’t take his eyes off Jiang Lai.

The change was too drastic—how had she suddenly transformed from a scruffy, bruised kid into this lively girl?

He thought maybe he was just dreaming.

Jiang Lai rinsed her mouth and looked at him.

"What are you gazing at? Don’t recognize me just because I took a shower?"

"No..."

Jiang Hu shook his head, scratching his own head involuntarily.

This is how Jiang Lai looks?

She’d grown so much, from the little girl lost years ago into a youthful lady now.

Standing nearby, slender and tall like a budding willow, all fresh and pretty.

"Did you just mistake me? Were you planning to take cousin Yao Yao for breakfast?"

Jiang Hu hesitated for a second, unsure whether to nod or shake his head.

He felt too unfamiliar with this Jiang Lai, lacking any sibling bond.

Ever since Jiang Lai was lost, he subconsciously treated Shen Yaoyao as his real sister.

Coincidentally, the young Jiang Lai had been as fair and lively as Shen Yaoyao now.

Then, when Jiang Lai was found, she seemed disheveled and moody, with no resemblance to the past.

But now, looking closely at the girl before him, Jiang Hu’s deep-sealed memories were finally awakened.

She was his sister.

Especially those eyes, shiny black like the kitten he once had, carrying a gentle allure.

"It’s my fault; want meat buns, right? I’ll take you to eat."

Hearing this, Jiang Lai smiled at him.

"Brother, it’s the first time you’ve been so nice to me, even wanting to buy me meat buns."

Her words made Jiang Hu feel even more uncomfortable.

He felt guilty towards Jiang Lai.

Years ago, he’d taken his siblings out to play, but while chasing after the playful Jiang Li, he left his young sister on a path. When he found Jiang Li and returned for Jiang Lai, she’d vanished.

Years passed, and everyone said she’d been sold off, never to return.

So he shifted his guilt towards Jiang Lai onto Shen Yaoyao.

Just trying to ease his own conscience.

While lost in thought, Shen Yaoyao’s voice suddenly came from behind.

"Brother, who are you talking to?"

Turning curious towards Jiang Lai, upon seeing her for the first time, her eyes showed some measure and caution.

"Are you a relative from someone’s family?"

Looking fresh and fair like a schoolgirl, vaguely familiar but not immediately recognizable.

Jiang Hu helplessly chuckled.

"Your vision is as poor as mine; this is Jiang Lai."

Shen Yaoyao instantly fell silent.

The wary look turned to shock, disbelief, and upon realizing it was indeed Jiang Lai standing there, her expression calmed quickly, with a surprised smile emerging.

"Ah, I was seeing things—it really is Jiang Lai.

Jiang Lai, you’ve changed a lot."

"Yeah, showered at the bathhouse last night."

Shen Yaoyao’s gaze wandered from Jiang Lai’s hair to her face.

Eventually, she asked.

"Did you use shampoo? No wonder your hair smells so nice—it’s the first time I’ve smelled such fragrant shampoo, it must’ve been expensive, right?"

Jiang Lai chuckled.

"Not really, Ali saved coal money and bought it for me."

In crucial moments, it’s Jiang Li who’s reliable.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Shen Yaoyao’s usually maintained smile faltered, the surprise and anger flashing through her eyes almost revealing her thoughts.

Jiang Li actually gave such expensive shampoo to Jiang Lai?

Wasn’t he always giving anything good to her?

And yet, even she hadn’t received such an expensive gift!

Shampoo is wonderful, much better than soap; it leaves hair smooth, shiny, and fragrant, like Jiang Lai now—making even a scruffy girl look appealing.

Jiang Hu didn’t understand the chatter between the two.

But he’d caught the keywords.

Jiang Li had given something to Jiang Lai.

When did that kid become so thoughtful? Even buying things for Jiang Lai?

If the younger brother was already taking action, he, as the elder brother, couldn’t just ignore it. He had to do something too.

"I’ll bring you back meat buns later; I just remembered having something to do this morning, don’t worry, I’ll get it done and bring back buns for you."

Shen Yaoyao off-handedly asked.

"Brother, you just started working, don’t overspend on expensive meat buns. Jiang Lai would feel uncomfortable, so how about this? Jiang Lai, I have some saved candy, if you’re craving, I can fetch it for you."

She looked at Jiang Lai, waiting to see if she’d dare still ask Jiang Hu for things.

But in the next second.

"My brother promised me, besides, my brother is amazing, buying a few meat buns is a piece of cake!

Brother, you’re the best!"

That little dose of enthusiasm filled Jiang Hu with vigor.

What meat buns? He’s a man! Buying things for his sister is expected!