Chapter 11: Don't Talk to Elders Like That

The next morning, before the sky had even brightened.

Gao Qinghe, who had been enjoying a dream of living in a mansion, eating snacks, drinking milk tea, and binge-watching shows, with a row of exquisite, high-end jewelry laid out before her to admire, was jolted awake by Huang Ying’s loud, rhythmic knocking on the door.

The dream was gone, and her heart was broken.

With a surge of suppressed ferocity in her chest, Gao Qinghe crawled out from under the covers and began to get ready.

At twenty, Gao Qinghe was poor but beautiful.

There weren't many nice clothes in her closet, but Gao Qinghe was neither rushed nor anxious; she happily put together an outfit.

On top, she wore a light blue mid-length cotton jacket over a white turtleneck sweater.

On the bottom, she wore black corduroy straight-leg trousers, paired with light-colored sneakers.

She gathered her freshly washed long hair with her fingers and tied it into a lazy bun at the crown of her head, intentionally leaving a few strands at her forehead and temples to frame her face.

She also took the opportunity to cover the faint, not-yet-faded bruise on her forehead.

She had no cosmetics.

She simply applied some snow cream for moisture, then pressed her lips together to bring out their natural color.

Gao Qinghe had a good foundation—her skin was delicate and fair, clean and without a single mole.

Her face was a classic Chinese oval shape; her eyebrows were neither too thick nor too thin, and her eyes were large and expressive, with outer corners that naturally tilted upward, softening her gaze while highlighting a sharp, piercing quality.

Her nose was petite and high-bridged, and her lips were full and alluring.

With makeup, this face would be bright, flamboyant, and eye-catching.

Without makeup, it was pure, bright, and elegantly classical.

The blue and white outfit and the lazy bun made her look playful and lively, fitting her age perfectly.

Facing the mirror, Gao Qinghe rubbed her eyes vigorously until they looked misty, making her gaze appear less sharp.

Gao Qingmiao shouted from the doorway, "Sis, are you ready yet? If we don't leave, we'll miss the bus to town."

"Coming."

Gao Qinghe put down the mirror and trotted out of the room.

Grandma had woken up early and boiled a bowl of sweet potato noodles for each of the siblings heading to town.

Gao Qinghe hadn't even finished eating when she heard the sound of a bus horn at the village entrance.

Gao Qingmiao sprang up, grabbed her, and started walking.

"Hurry, hurry! The bus won't wait!"

Thinking of the elderly and their osteoporosis, Gao Qinghe didn't dare to run.

Suddenly, a damp, early spring breeze slapped against her face.

She paused, then smiled.

She grabbed Gao Qingmiao’s hand in return and took the lead, rushing forward.

"Driver, wait! There are still people who haven't boarded!"

The siblings sprinted all the way to the bus. Gao Qingmiao shoved aside the people blocking the door and pushed his sister up.

Gao Qinghe successfully boarded, her eyes scanning quickly to find two empty seats.

She rushed over to take one and saved the other for her brother.

She patted the seat with her slender hand, "Hurry, hurry, over here!"

Those who boarded later saw there were no seats left and had to stand, glaring at the siblings with annoyance.

But the two of them just looked at the scenery outside the window, chatting and laughing, treating the others like air.

The village bus didn't care if the seats were full; it stopped whenever someone waved.

Only when the aisle was packed so tight that no one else could fit did it finally pick up speed and head toward the county seat.

When she first got on, Gao Qinghe was still marveling at the passion of youth.

Gradually, her smile froze.

The mountain road was winding and steep, and combined with the thick, stifling mix of odors inside the bus, it made her head spin.

Gao Qinghe gritted her teeth and swallowed the sour bile rising in her throat.

She endured it for two and a half hours.

They arrived at the county seat.

As soon as the bus stopped, Gao Qinghe immediately got off.

Breathing in the fresh air, she finally felt alive again.

It was another half-hour drive from the county seat to the mine, requiring a transfer.

The regular bus didn't go that way, so they had to take a private van.

There were many vans passing by the mine, so Gao Qinghe wasn't in a hurry.

Since it was still early, she decided to buy a gift first.

Gao Qingmiao was curious: "Who is it for?"

"It's our first meeting; I have to leave a good impression," Gao Qinghe explained.

She stepped into the newly opened Xinhua Bookstore.

The salesperson, who was mopping the floor, didn't bother to greet them.

Gao Qingmiao looked as if he’d seen a ghost: "Sis, you want to buy a book?"

To Gao Qingmiao, a place like a bookstore was sacred and high-brow.

He felt the atmosphere here clashed with his identity as a poor student, making him feel completely uncomfortable.

Especially the salesperson’s scrutinizing gaze, which made his hair stand on end.

Gao Qingmiao pulled his hoodie collar up to cover his face and whispered

"Sis, let's go. What kind of gift could you find in a bookstore? It's all boring stuff."

Found it!

Gao Qinghe happily took the thick "Criminal Law" textbook off the shelf.

She checked the price on the back: 19.8 yuan.

Forget it, Jiang Baohai wasn't worth it.

Under Gao Qingmiao’s bewildered gaze, Gao Qinghe quickly put the book back on the shelf, turned around, and strode out.

Gao Qingmiao hurried to follow, terrified.

Even though he hadn't stolen or robbed anything, he felt as guilty as a thief.

The salesperson looked confused.

Gao Qinghe hadn't given up on the gift, however; she scanned the area toward the station with a clear goal in mind.

"A salvage yard—this is it."

Gao Qinghe stood in front of the old book stall at the entrance of the salvage yard and asked with a smile

"Boss, do you have a copy of 'Criminal Law' here?"

"I do!" the boss replied enthusiastically. He bent down, reached to the corner of the table, and took the thick "Criminal Law" book that was being used to prop up the table leg and handed it to Gao Qinghe.

"Here, one yuan and twenty cents."

Gao Qinghe brushed off the dust with disdain. The cover looked decent enough. "Fifty cents."

"One yuan!"

"Sixty cents."

"Eighty cents!"

"Deal."

Gao Qinghe pulled out a one-yuan note and handed it over; the boss gave her twenty cents in change.

Seeing some pretty wrapping paper in the salvage yard, Gao Qinghe shamelessly asked for some.

She re-wrapped the book, and it looked quite presentable.

Gao Qingmiao watched the whole process, a sense of sympathy rising in his heart.

But he didn't know who he should be sympathizing with.

At eleven in the morning, a van stopped briefly for half a minute at the entrance to the mine road.

The van kicked up dust and drove away.

Gao Qinghe and Gao Qingmiao, clutching the gift, walked confidently out of the dust.

Transport trucks loaded with black coal drove out of the mine gate one after another.

There was a security booth by the gate with an old man sitting inside.

Just as Gao Qinghe was about to walk into the mine, the old man, who had been intently listening to the radio, stood up immediately.

He barked aggressively: "What are you doing? Get out, get out!"

Gao Qinghe muttered to herself, *Did Jiang Baohai not tell the guard she was coming?*

She smiled on the surface: "I have an appointment to meet your Boss Jiang here."

A youthful, pretty face came into view, and the guard’s eyes went straight, lingering on her with reluctance.

After a long pause, he asked, "Huh?" and then, "What did you just say?"

Gao Qingmiao was displeased: "Old man, are you hard of hearing?"

Gao Qinghe waved at her brother—don't talk to the elderly like that.

She turned and beckoned to the old man.

The man leaned in, his eyes sliding down to look at her.

Gao Qinghe took a sharp breath: "I said! I have an appointment to meet your Boss Jiang here! Did you hear that clearly—"

"You disrespectful old lecher!!!"

After shouting, she didn't even look at his red and blue, bark-like old face. She elegantly brushed off her clothes and walked into the mine.

Her posture was as if she were walking into her own home.

Fearing the guard hadn't heard clearly, Gao Qingmiao cursed again: "Old lecher!"

"Just wait until my sister and Boss Jiang get their marriage certificate; I'll have my brother-in-law fire you, you shameless old thing!"

"You, you!"

The old man trembled all over, so ashamed and angry he nearly fainted.