Lesson Six: Oranges

"You little bastard! You've been out all day, playing host? Why didn't you just drop dead out there? Would've saved me a meal. There's so much work at home, and you're just pretending to be blind, slacking off, aren't you? If you're not here, who's going to do it? Me? Or your little brother? Are you trying to work me to death?!"

Mother Liao's voice was shrill, her finger jabbing at Liao Xue as she hurled abuse, spittle flying. Liao Xue cowered like a quail, listening in numb silence to the stream of filth directed at her.

Shen Qiancheng, drawn by the commotion, stepped out to watch the spectacle.

Shen Qiancheng thought: Just missing a handful of melon seeds.

Mother Liao, red-faced and thick-necked from yelling, had a fierce look about her. Shen Qiancheng studied the face—no trace of youth remained in those brows and eyes. Comparing it to her own, apart from gender, she could see little resemblance.

And Liao Xue... Shen Qiancheng couldn't help but roll her eyes. Standing there taking the abuse—no wonder she got scolded.

"Well said!" Shen Qiancheng clapped as she appeared before the two, her white dress making her smile look angelic.

This remark came from the heart. Shen Qiancheng genuinely admired Mother Liao's talent for cursing.

Liao Xue's gaze shifted; her usually calm eyes inexplicably reddened at the sight of Shen Qiancheng.

Mother Liao rolled her eyes, sizing up Shen Qiancheng with disdain and wariness. "Who are you? I'm disciplining my daughter—none of your business. Don't go looking for trouble."

She's not really your daughter, you know...

Shen Qiancheng smiled sweetly, her sly, elongated eyes curving, adding a touch of kindness.

"I simply admire your talent for cursing. You really have a way with words—well said, wonderfully said, a veritable torrent of eloquence, every word a gem."

This woman in white—probably escaped from some asylum.

Mother Liao stared at Shen Qiancheng like she was an idiot. Such a pretty girl, pity she's mentally ill; otherwise, she'd fetch a good bride price.

"Whose daughter are you? Dressed all in white like some jinx. Don't think I can't tell you're insulting me!"

Mother Liao planted her hands on her hips, glowering defiantly at Shen Qiancheng, only to see Shen pull a stack of red bills from her bag. Her eyes widened, as if she'd just regained sight after years of blindness.

Shen Qiancheng exuded an air of control, chin lifted slightly as she regarded Mother Liao, casually waving the cash. "Here's a thousand. I'd like to hire you to curse someone. If you can make it entertaining enough to please me, this is all yours."

Shen Qiancheng thought: She called me a jinx—how delightful.

Shen Qiancheng's smile made Mother Liao uneasy. Who hires someone to curse? Definitely a lunatic.

Mother Liao eyed the red bills—rich and stupid, indeed. She was about to take the money when Liao Xue grabbed her hand from behind.

Mother Liao irritably slapped Liao Xue's hand away. "Don't get in the way of my earning money."

Liao Xue stammered, "She's the leader who came to invest in our village."

Rich and stupid, indeed.

Mother Liao's expression shifted instantly, fawning. "A leader, is she? My Liao Xue brought you here. You look lovely in white, like a fairy."

Shen Qiancheng was displeased. She'd preferred the 'jinx' moniker—hopefully it would bring bad luck to Shi Jianren.

Mother Liao sensed leverage and changed tack. "But... a thousand's too little, isn't it? I want two thousand. For two thousand, I'll make sure you're thoroughly satisfied—worth every penny."

Shen Qiancheng hadn't expected Mother Liao to haggle. She truly wasn't short on money. "Three thousand," she said with a resigned sigh. "Given your talent for cursing, I can go up to three thousand."

With that, she pulled out another stack of bills. "Curse to my satisfaction, make me happy, and this is all yours."

Mother Liao's eyes stayed glued to the money. Finally, she confirmed, "I just curse, and I get paid?"

Shen Qiancheng sighed. "I hate that man to death, but I'm not good with words—can't curse to my heart's content. Then I met you. You're so skilled—mind if I record this to savor later?"

She put on a helpless, resentful expression.

Liao Xue wondered: She doesn't seem to have a dull tongue.

Blinded by greed, Mother Liao agreed, eager to seal the deal. "Just say the name—whether it's the Jade Emperor or the King of Hell, I'll curse them till you're overjoyed."

Shen Qiancheng: "Not the Jade Emperor—Shi Jianren."

Mother Liao was puzzled. "Surname Shi?"

Shen Qiancheng: "Full name, Shi Jianren."

Mother Liao was baffled. "Who names their kid 'Jianren' (meaning 'scum')? Nobody in our village even goes by 'Black Egg' or 'Dog Leftover' anymore."

Liao Xue felt something was off—the name Shi Jianren sounded familiar. She tried to interject, but Mother Liao shoved her away. "You little tramp, scram! Don't get in the way of my earning money."

Shen Qiancheng waved the cash, the crimson bills like dung luring a dung beetle.

Mother Liao cleared her throat and launched into a tirade.

The Village Chief had stepped away to use the restroom, and when he returned, Shen Qiancheng was gone.

His wife said she'd seen her head out, probably wanting to stroll around the village.

Suddenly, the Village Chief remembered a few troublemakers in the village. If they offended Shen Tianqing and she got upset, the investment would go down the drain.

He hurried out, but as he reached the doorway, he heard fragments.

"Shi Jianren, a dog-born bastard with no upbringing, may his sons be born without..."

The Village Chief's heart plummeted and shattered.

Praying Shen Qiancheng wasn't there, he peered through a crack in the door—she was standing right at the entrance...

He composed himself behind the door, then bellowed, "Shen Jun's wife!"

He scanned the area but saw no Mother Liao, only Shen Qiancheng, who scowled. "Village Chief, you've come."

Where was Shen Jun's wife? Hadn't she been cursing just now?

The Village Chief's heart churned, but he feigned calm.

"President Shen, here you are. I've been looking for you—the room is ready..."

He tried to gloss over it, but Shen Qiancheng wasn't letting it slide. She cut him off sharply. "I took a look around and noticed something interesting. The villagers of Liao Family Village are generally polite, but there are a few..."

At the word 'few,' the Village Chief's heart leaped to his throat.

Shen Jun's wife was notoriously sharp-tongued and unreasonable, a known troublemaker. No one wanted to tangle with her, and he dreaded it too, but he forced a nod. "Indeed, there are..."

"Shi Jianren, a dog-born bastard with no upbringing, may his sons be born without..."

Shen Qiancheng played only that one sentence, her unreadable eyes fixed calmly on the Village Chief.

With evidence in hand, the Village Chief felt as miserable as if he'd gone three months without a bath. He took a deep breath. "President Shen, this... this..."

"If you don't welcome our investment, I'm free to leave anytime," Shen Qiancheng said, examining her nails with feigned nonchalance, her tone laced with impatience, like an invisible pressure bearing down on the Village Chief.

Seeing Shen Qiancheng genuinely angry, the Village Chief cursed Shen Jun's wife a thousand times in his mind—one rotten apple spoils the whole barrel.

He waved his hands hastily. "Please, don't be like that. President Shen, she's not right in the head. When she was young, her in-laws despised her for giving birth to a daughter, and she lost her mind a bit. It was only after she had a son that she came around. Please don't stoop to her level."

Shen Qiancheng toyed with her phone, raising an eyebrow in displeasure. "Who was she cursing?"

The Village Chief closed his eyes. "The Chairman."

Shen Qiancheng feigned sudden realization, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "So you knew."

The green cornfields ringed Liao Family Village in patchwork layers; birds chattered like mischievous children. At the small square by the village entrance stood some exercise equipment, where folks often gathered to chat after meals.

Liao Xue trailed behind Mother Liao as they emerged from the village shop. Mother Liao, flush with her newly earned three thousand, had happily bought some stale toys—toy guns and the like—that boys liked, plus snacks Liao Xue had only ever seen but never tasted.

Just moments ago, she'd wanted to buy a notebook while her mother was in a good mood, but Mother Liao had scolded her soundly.

All the way from the shop to the lane before their house, Mother Liao kept berating her.

"A dropout like you needs a notebook? Don't you know to save money for your brother? I've raised an ungrateful wolf."

Liao Xue listened quietly. She knew her mother would quiet down after the rant, and she knew none of those snacks were for her—her mother would say, 'A good-for-nothing girl should be grateful for any scraps.'

The gate creaked open. Liao Xue habitually went to the well to draw water and wash clothes.

The June water was still chilly straight from the ground. She plunged her hands in, shivering slightly, then scrubbed vigorously at the grime on the collars and cuffs.

From inside came her brother's laughter over his new toy and Mother Liao's cooing over her 'heart and soul.' Liao Xue kept working, but the white foam couldn't fully lift the grease stains.

Soon, her younger brother Liao Feiyu ran out, his head, torso, and rear like three balls strung together. His chubby hand held the toy gun, barrel pointed at Liao Xue, making sound effects.

Liao Xue kept washing, ignoring him. Dissatisfied, Liao Feiyu knocked the gun butt against her shoulder. "You're supposed to be dead, you know—I killed you."

Liao Feiyu would start seventh grade next semester—middle school—but at home, he was used to having free rein. Seeing Liao Xue ignore him, he narrowed his eyes and shoved her.

"Die, die!"

Liao Xue, thin and frail, toppled over with one shove, her palm scraping against dirt mixed with small stones. She lifted her hand—blood welled across it.

Liao Feiyu pouted and shouted, "Dead, dead! I win! Mom, I won!"

He ran inside, yelling. Liao Xue was used to it. She silently picked herself up, rinsing the fine cuts under the water.

You'll get used to it. Haven't you gotten used to it just fine?

Liao Xue sighed, standing to hang the clothes.

"Stop washing for a minute. I almost forgot—give me the money the Village Chief was supposed to pay you for picking up the guest." Mother Liao had appeared before her, munching on an apple.

Liao Xue froze. She'd lied earlier, telling her mother there'd be a reward for picking up the guest, to get permission to go.

But...

Liao Xue bit her lip hard, unaccustomed to lying. "They haven't paid yet. I didn't get the chance to ask..."

Hearing there was no money, Mother Liao looked thunderstruck, her voice spiking an octave. "Not paid yet?! Then hurry up and go get it! And make sure the Village Chief transfers it to your brother's phone—he's in a hurry to top up for his game skins."

Liao Xue nodded. "Okay. I'll go as soon as I finish hanging the clothes."

"Forget the clothes—money first! You can hang them when you get back," Mother Liao pressed.

Trembling, Liao Xue walked toward the gate under her mother's watchful eye.

How was she supposed to come up with fifty yuan?

Liao Xue was still thinking when she unlatched the iron gate and looked up to see a face she didn't want to see, and a flowing white dress.