Chapter 13: Actions Speak Louder Than Words

After smearing the last bit of paste, Li Jixiang held out her small hands, looking with obvious distaste at the freshly made rice-selling sign. She had torn up an entire grid notebook just to patch together the scrap cardboard she had found by the stove. Then, dipping a brush in thick blue-black fountain pen ink, she wrote the large words "Rice for Sale," making the sign look presentable enough.

As long as what she sold was good, it didn't matter if the sign wasn't pretty. Tossing aside the bald brush, she hung the sign on the door, stepped back a few paces, and found herself growing more satisfied with her work the more she looked. Just then, a rooster crowed in the backyard, and she realized dawn had already broken.

Today marked the start of seven consecutive market days. If she wanted to make money selling rice, she'd have to keep faking illness and skip school for a while.

Climbing onto the kang bed, Li Jixiang gazed up at the ceiling, pondering her strategy for selling rice. She couldn't manage it alone. She also needed to replenish her energy; it would be a shame if business boomed but she couldn't keep up physically and ended up unable to fetch rice from the granary of her fortune base, losing her store in the process.

Her eyes fell on the three golden grains of rice at the bedside. Was it her imagination, or did they shimmer with light?

"Golden rice can rapidly increase intelligence and strength, granting exceptional wisdom and physique."

A line of small text appeared unexpectedly, making her heartbeat race. Clutching the three grains of golden rice, she hesitated—should she swallow them all in one go, or try just one to test the effect first? She was confident in her intelligence, but her body's original constitution was so weak; without a healthy body, wealth would be pointless.

She swallowed one grain. Soon, she felt a warm current rising in her belly. Imitating the way heroines meditated on TV shows, she sat cross-legged at the edge of the kang, closed her eyes, and focused inward, feeling warmth flow through her body until a fine layer of sweat broke out on her forehead.

"Jixiang, Jixiang, what's wrong? Are you still sleepwalking?" An Chen pushed the door open, standing in the doorway with a bewildered look.

She’d been so absorbed in making the rice sign that she forgot to lock the door, letting the chubby boy slip in! Feeling even her fingertips grow as warm as spring, Li Jixiang opened her eyes.

"An Chen, what are you doing at my house? Your dad already brought over the pork last night."

"Yeah, I know. I was worried about you... Can sleepwalking be fatal?"

He hobbled over, eyes round and watery with concern. Seeing his expression, so genuine it outshone pearls, Li Jixiang felt her heart soften. She gathered up the professional smile she reserved for popular folks and took An Chen's chubby hand.

Aunt An had once said that when An Chen was four, he and An Ning climbed a tree to dig out a bird’s nest at the farm across from Granny Li's store. He fell, hitting the back of his head, and it was Li Jixiang's mute father who carried him to the hospital, preventing any aftereffects. Still, Li Jixiang suspected that was when he’d knocked his brains dull; he was always at the bottom of his first-grade class.

"Sleepwalking isn’t fatal, but I do need a few more days of rest. How’s your leg? Any better?"

"Much, much better. My mom said my brother will take me to school soon."

His cheeks flushed like apples as Li Jixiang held his hand. Though his eyes looked tired from a sleepless night, they shone with excitement. He felt as if light radiated from Li Jixiang's head, enveloping him, making his whole body feel light and his feet lift uncontrollably. He pursed his lips, staring intently at her face, as if waiting for a kiss.

Li Jixiang quickly let go of his chubby hand.

"Your brother would be worn out carrying you to school!"

"He can ride a bicycle. Jixiang, you should buy a bike too. Then we could go to school together. Ask my mom to buy you one—I saw she’s got lots of money tucked away in her metal box."

An Chen waved his chubby hands excitedly, not realizing she was teasing him about his weight.

What a naive child! Why would your mom buy me a bicycle? If I want one, I’ll have to earn it myself—and today, I can make enough for a bike.

Still, his intention was sweet. He was already siding with outsiders at such a young age. If he kept this up, he’d probably hand his whole family over to a wife someday—and if she turned out to be a cruel one, his life would be miserable. With a wicked daughter-in-law, even Aunt and Uncle An would have a hard time.

Intelligence truly is a good thing! Why are you so clueless?

After her silent grumbling, Li Jixiang looked into An Chen’s pure, untainted eyes and took his chubby hand once more.

An Chen trembled with excitement, his arms as plump as lotus roots.

"Sis doesn’t need your mom to buy a bike. Have her save up for your schooling instead. Remember, only by studying hard can you become who you want to be. What’s your dream?"

"When I grow up, I want to marry you."

"Pfft!"

The golden rice grain she’d been pinching almost fell to the floor. This boy’s intelligence really needed a boost. Desperate times called for desperate measures—the fortune base’s products couldn’t be counterfeit, could they?

Catching An Chen just as he was about to speak again, Li Jixiang pinched his chin, popped a golden grain into his mouth, and covered his lips so he’d swallow.

Startled, An Chen stared into her eyes, not understanding what she’d fed him. He tried to push the grain up with his tongue, his cheeks puffed out. But when Li Jixiang told him it was a crispy rice candy, he obediently swallowed it.

Outside, An Ning was talking with Granny Li. An Chen quickly turned to watch the door nervously—he’d snuck out, unsure how his brother had found him at Li Jixiang’s house.

"What rice? What’s it for?"

He only recognized the word "rice" on the sign.

"Tell your mom she can buy rice from us from now on—any kind she wants, fair prices, honest business."

Li Jixiang hurried off the kang, nudging An Chen out the door and seizing the chance to boost her popularity with An Ning. After swapping the golden rice grain, she was down to just 175 popularity points. Who knew how long it would take to reach ten thousand? Even if she courted these popular folks every day, it’d take over a month.

An Ning reached for An Chen’s ear, but at Li Jixiang’s pointed “Ahem,” he let his hand drop to his brother’s shoulder instead, patting him with a sigh.

A sizzle sounded from the kitchen—the noise of meat hitting the pan drowned out An Ning’s scolding. Li Jixiang beamed, watching the An brothers leave the little store.

Granny Li tossed a handful of wood in the stove, then turned and cheerfully told Li Jixiang to get more sleep on the kang. She’d stayed up all night, just to cook some meat for her granddaughter at dawn.

"Grandma, Ma Hongmei’s relatives in the countryside sent over some rice—they want us to sell it for them. Today’s market day in town, so if I set up a stall outside the blacksmith’s, it should sell out quickly."

"Ah, is there really such a good thing?" Granny Li could hardly believe it.