That apple really was huge. You Sanmei had a small mouth; after biting at it for a while, she grew tired, lay down on the heated kang, and drifted off to sleep without noticing.
When she woke again, it was to soft, chattering voices right beside her ear.
Chen Haonan stared at the half-eaten apple that had rolled over near her pillow, pouting so hard his lips jutted out. “So annoying! That was the biggest one! I kept it tucked under my blanket for days, too precious to eat. If I’d known Mom would sneak it to my little aunt… I should’ve eaten it myself!”
Chen Haobei didn’t like this timid little aunt either, but as the older brother, he had to say something to calm him down.
“Let her have it then. Besides, you’re always farting under the covers anyway—probably already seasoned that apple with your gas!”
“……”
You Sanmei’s eyelids twitched, and suddenly her stomach felt a little queasy.
“No way! I’m not letting this slide! Uncle doesn’t work the fields or do a single thing—Grandma, Grandpa, and Dad all support him. Now we’ve got another one who can’t do anything!”
“I’m gonna get her back!”
The moment he finished speaking, he turned and ran out.
You Sanmei, feigning sleep, grew curious—wondering what trick he’d come up with to get revenge.
A moment later, Chen Haonan came dashing back. Chen Haobei glanced at what he held and gasped, “What’re you doing with that iodine bottle?”
Chen Haonan: “This stuff’s colored. I’m gonna draw a giant turtle right on her face!”
Oh, You Sanmei thought to herself, so it’s iodine.
Wait—he can draw? Is he actually talented?
Chen Haobei exclaimed in surprise, “Haonan, you know how to draw?”
Chen Haonan rolled his eyes. “It’s just a turtle—you think you can’t draw one?”
He pulled out the stopper, poured a little onto his palm, then held it out. “Here—plug it back in for me.”
Chen Haobei took the bottle.
Chen Haonan climbed up to the head of the kang, dipped his right index finger in the iodine, and froze. “…Whoa, her face is so tiny—just about as big as Uncle’s palm!”
“Where should I start drawing?”
Chen Haobei leaned in. “Hmm… how about her forehead? It’s nice and round—should be easy to draw there.”
“……”
Ugh, You Sanmei grumbled inwardly, what do brats know? That’s called a full, noble forehead!
Chen Haonan swallowed hard. “Fine—her forehead it is! Here I go!”
He spoke with such gravity, as if he were about to perform some grand, important deed.
Both boys held their breath…
Chen Haobei watched for a moment, then frowned. “…Does that look right? Is that a turtle?”
Chen Haonan furrowed his brows and leaned closer. “…Yeah, of course it is—”
“GOTCHA!” You Sanmei suddenly opened her eyes wide!
“AH!”
Chen Haonan jumped so hard he plopped straight onto the floor with a thud!
Chen Haobei nearly dropped the iodine bottle and stumbled back a whole step!
Chen Haonan’s face crumpled—tears welling up, ready to spill any second.
You Sanmei said calmly, “Go get me a mirror.”
“…Huh?” Chen Haonan stared blankly, tears still glistening in his eyes.
You Sanmei raised an eyebrow. “I’m gonna grade your artwork!”
“Out of ten points—wanna know what score you get?”
Chen Haonan jumped right back up, cheeks flushing with excitement. “Yes! I wanna know my score!”
At school, the teacher always graded their work—and the ones with high scores got candy.
Real White Rabbit Creamy Candy from the city, too!
That’s why “getting a score” always filled Chen Haonan with so much hope and wonder. You Sanmei had overheard his sisters-in-law chatting about it one day.
Chen Haobei stood rooted to the spot, unsure what to do—but he set his jaw firmly and glared at You Sanmei, as if to say: Don’t think I’m gonna be as easy to fool as Haonan!
In the blink of an eye, Chen Haonan came rushing back.
He held out a tiny mirror to her—nervous but beaming with hope—then tucked his hands behind his back and waited.
You Sanmei sat up, brushed a few stray hairs from her forehead, and asked, “…What were you planning to draw again?”
Chen Haonan’s eyes lit up. “A turtle!”
You Sanmei smiled. “Not quite—you drew lines going across and down its back. That’s not a turtle—that’s a tortoise!”
“Turtle don’t have squares on their backs!”
“?!”
Chen Haonan gaped at Chen Haobei.
Chen Haobei thought hard for a moment, then said reluctantly, “…Haonan… she’s right. Real turtle don’t have patterns like that.”
You Sanmei said gently, “Haobei—hand me some of that iodine.”
Her voice was soft and warm, like a spring breeze brushing against his ears.
Only after he obediently poured some into her hand did Chen Haobei snap out of it—What just happened?! Why did my legs move on their own?!
He gritted his teeth in frustration, glaring down at his own legs: These aren’t my legs! They’re not!
This… this must be what they call being a suck-up!!!
You Sanmei leaned over the mirror and worked for a little while, then turned to them. “Alright—look closely. This is what a turtle looks like!”
“What’s a turtle?”
Suddenly, footsteps sounded from outside the door.
You Sanmei froze—nearly tumbling headfirst off the kang.
“Uncle?!” Chen Haonan stepped back nervously, instantly shrinking away from the bed.
He was still just a kid—brave enough to talk behind adults’ backs, but too scared to face them head-on.
Chen Haobei pressed his lips together and silently stepped in front of his little brother.
His uncle had never hit them, but everyone called him a good-for-nothing troublemaker—he had all sorts of shady friends. Who knew what he’d do if he got angry? And the grown-ups always took his side—even if he did something wrong, Grandma would only scold him a little.
You Sanmei’s voice dropped to a mumble. “N-nothing… just playing with Haobei and Haonan.”
“…Playing?”
Chen Jinsheng let out a dry laugh, like he’d heard the most ridiculous thing in the world. “What’s gotten into you? Since when do you play with them?”
You Sanmei fell silent.
Her ears burned hot—and all she could think about was that phrase: “a man with a strong, sturdy waist.”
Chen Jinsheng nodded slowly, satisfied, and drawled lazily, “Dinner’s ready. You two—go wash up.”
He turned to leave.
You Sanmei snapped out of it and threw back her blanket. “I-I’m coming too!”
She was starving—her stomach had been growling nonstop since she woke up.
Chen Jinsheng stopped in his tracks and turned back around.
Chen Haobei grabbed Chen Haonan’s hand and the two slipped away before he could say anything else.
You Sanmei sat on the edge of the kang, bending to put on her shoes—all the while feeling Chen Jinsheng’s gaze on her. Her hands trembled, fumbling with the laces again and again.
Chen Jinsheng clicked his tongue, strode over, crouched down, and grabbed her ankle.
“!” You Sanmei flinched instinctively.
“Hold still!” he snapped.
She froze immediately.
He tied her shoes in seconds, then stood up straight. “Always acting like everyone’s out to get you. Is it really that bad?”
Face flushing bright red, You Sanmei blurted out, “I’m not scared!”
Chen Jinsheng glanced at her with a teasing smirk. “You sure you wanna walk into dinner looking like that?”
“With a bright yellow turtle on your forehead?”
You Sanmei: “……”