After Rebirth, Minor Character Only Wants to Level Up
Chapter 18 - 017: Incitement

Chapter 18: 017: Incitement

Ye Qian returned to the West Room, closed the door, and fell onto the bed, burying her face in the sheets.

Bai Xue had been eavesdropping outside and heard some of it. In fact, she had always played the role of a loving mother in front of her younger daughter. Such selfish matters, she really didn’t want her younger daughter to see or know about.

Now that she knows, it’s hard to hide it anymore.

"Qianqian, don’t feel pressured. Every family is in similar conditions nowadays, especially in a family like ours where your dad has no support and I have no family to lean on. Life isn’t easy with two students relying solely on your dad’s salary. Although food and necessities are distributed by the army, it’s not enough, and we have to use your dad’s salary." Bai Xue sighed, "Why am I doing this? Isn’t it all for you? Saving money for your dance lessons. If you now blame me, then why am I doing all this?"

"Mom, did Dad agree too?" Ye Qian sat up.

Seeing her daughter listening to her, Bai Xue was happy and laughed, "Would I dare make decisions on my own if your dad disagreed? You should know what this is about. We hadn’t planned to tell you, but now that you know, don’t think too much. After the new year, settle your mind and study hard. The high school entrance exam is next summer, and your dance teacher said you need to practice well, or you won’t pass the Level 5 exam."

Bai Xue placed all her hopes on her younger daughter. They originally didn’t have a son, and with birth control policies, having another child wasn’t possible. The younger daughter grew up by her side, so all of Bai Xue’s efforts were focused on her "son," metaphorically speaking.

Ye Qian nodded, "Don’t worry, I won’t let Mom’s money go to waste. When I earn money in the future, I’ll take good care of Dad and Mom and provide for your old age."

"Alright, Mom will be waiting for you to take care of me in my old age," Bai Xue laughed happily.

Not mentioning the elder daughter, with the younger daughter, Bai Xue felt content.

Ye Qian’s thoughts stirred, and she asked hesitantly, "Mom, I feel that my sister seems to have a big issue with you and Dad. Maybe I shouldn’t learn dance and save the money for my sister’s education instead?"

"When hasn’t she had issues with me and your dad? Isn’t it because we left her in the countryside? Just ignore her." Bai Xue seemed annoyed when discussing the younger daughter.

Besides, they could fool her easily in the previous years; just a few clothes, even second-hand, would make her cling happily. But within just half a year, her mind has broadened; not even a new piece of clothing could satisfy her, and she even learned to talk back, which naturally made Bai Snow less and less fond of her.

Bai Xue didn’t say these out loud but knew them well in her heart.

Ye Qian didn’t say more, only knowing this much was enough, "Mom, Aunt Wu hasn’t come over. Should we go see her?"

Bai Xue looked at the clock on the cupboard, noticing it was just after 4, but since it was winter, it was already dark outside. She didn’t want to dampen her daughter’s spirits, and considering Liu Family’s high position, she wanted to build connections.

The mother and daughter quickly put on their coats and went out. When they reached the Liu Family, they were warmly welcomed by Wu Mengyi, who brought out apples and oranges from the house.

After putting them down, she handed an orange to Ye Qian, "Eat up, you look so thin. I heard from Zhiyuan that whenever your mom makes something good, she invites him, and all the good stuff goes to him, right?"

Ye Qian smiled shyly, "Auntie, Brother Zhiyuan always shares the meat with me."

"Yes, yes, keep praising him. Be careful, he might get proud." Wu Mengyi sat next to Ye Qian, then started chatting with Bai Xue on the opposite side, "When it comes to the kids in the compound, it’s your Ye Qian who is the quiet one. Your Ye He Ping is just like our Old Liu, hot-tempered, yet their daughters are both so soft-natured—no idea whom they take after."

"Isn’t it so? Speaking of Ye Qian, she’s better; but it’s your Liu Rui, she doesn’t even dare to speak when meeting people. This won’t do, nothing to say in our compound, but if she’s bullied outside, she wouldn’t tell us at home." Such words felt intimate.

It also closed the distance with Wu Mengyi, "You said it, I usually am not at home. With Zhiyuan, I’m relieved to have you take care of him, but I still worry about Xiao Rui, even though she’s always by my side. I just don’t know what to do."

"Kids have their blessings. We shouldn’t worry too much," Bai Xue wouldn’t let the conversation become disheartening.

Being smart, Wu Mengyi nodded with a smile, while encouraging Ye Qian to eat the orange, she asked, "Your eldest came back too, right? Why didn’t you bring her along?"

"That child is shy. You know she grew up in the countryside, and in the city, she becomes apprehensive, cautious with everyone she meets." Bai Xue gave a bitter smile, "And yet, she’s so stubborn usually, causing me headaches. I can’t manage her; I regret leaving her in the countryside for years. It would’ve been better to bring her along earlier."

Wu Mengyi, for the first time, saw something that troubled Bai Xue, "As you just said, kids have their blessings. With her being away from you all those years, there’s a bit of distance, but it’ll get better slowly. She’s also in the third year of middle school now, right? How are her grades? She has the high school entrance exam next year too?"

"The quality of education in the countryside isn’t good. I’m worried about this," Bai Xue, in front of outsiders, always played the role of a good mother.

Besides, what she said had depth. Without directly stating the grades, a mention of rural education quality already indicated how they were, without uttering a single bad word about her daughter.

Ye Qian quietly peeled an orange on the sofa without joining the conversation but now interjected, "Actually, my sister is quite diligent in her studies."

This sentence verified Bai Xue’s words.

Wu Mengyi nodded regretfully, comforting them, "If she really can’t get in, perhaps later, the army could arrange a job for her, and I’ll ask Old Liu about it."

Technically, Ye He Ping was with the infantry regiment, and the Liu Family with the artillery regiment, so their connection shouldn’t be deep, but Bai Xue had the knack for being on good terms with everyone in the compound.

Hearing Wu Mengyi’s words, Bai Xue felt embarrassed, "How could we trouble your chief of staff?"

Liu Zhiyuan’s father was the chief of staff of the artillery regiment.

If he arranged a job, it would just take a word.

Wu Mengyi laughed, "We aren’t outsiders, let’s not be so formal."

After Bai Xue expressed her thanks, she asked about Liu Rui, to which Wu Mengyi smiled, "The siblings are inside reading books, no way to get them out."

If Ye Qian hadn’t come, no way would Wu Mengyi not have called the children out.

After chatting a bit more, only then did Bai Xue leave with her daughter.

After seeing them off, Wu Mengyi entered her daughter’s room and found her sitting on a chair reading a book. As she approached, she remarked, "Why didn’t you come out? Fortunately, your Aunt Bai isn’t someone who cares, otherwise others seeing you hiding instead of coming out wouldn’t know what to think."

"Mom, since Aunt Bai doesn’t mind, why worry?" Liu Rui closed her book, propped her chin on her hand, and said slowly, "Aunt Bai is actually quite nice. My brother dislikes our food and always goes to their place to eat; we should give them some of our food and dishes."

Nowadays, with every family under such circumstances, food and dishes are rationed, and her own family would have to buy more, which Liu Rui understood.

Wu Mengyi curled her lips into a smile, thinking it was a good time to teach her daughter, "Xiao Rui, in this world, there are people whom you can’t see being unfriendly to anyone. They’re good with everyone, which means, in essence, they aren’t deeply tied to anyone. It seems kind but is actually a form of social tact and smoothness. The reason she takes care of your brother is that your dad is the chief and valuable to her. If not useful, she wouldn’t offend anyone either, as value governs everything."

Liu Rui, though soft-hearted, wasn’t gullible. She clearly understood her mother’s reasoning yet found it hard to accept that Aunt Bai was such a person, "So Mom, does that mean the more enthusiastic someone is, the more fake they are?"

Wu Mengyi contently nodded, "Your summary is spot on. I’m relieved you can analyze these things."

Her daughter wasn’t naive to the world, and over time she could adjust her temperament.

As for Bai Xue, satisfied with Wu Mengyi’s promise, she remained unaware that she’d already been seen through by Wu Mengyi.

[I’m getting some injections these days, and once done, I’ll update the side story for ’The Female Supporting Role is Reborn’].