My sister became the empress, but I'm still growing vegetables and raising chickens

Although it is not that cold in autumn, everyone wears several layers of clothes, especially now it is morning and the wind blows, everyone can't help but hug their arms tightly.

The younger sister was lightly dressed and shivered. She quickly walked to a house and waited under the willow tree nearby. She rubbed her face, which was stiff from the cold, and bit her lips hard to make them look a little red.

She knew that she had a great appearance and she also knew what she looked like to be most lovable.

When the door opened, a young man, not yet of age, emerged. His face was still childish, and his appearance wasn't particularly striking, but as they say, there are no ugly men under the age of eighteen, and judging by his appearance, he seemed like a fine young man.

The younger sister called out, "Brother Wang."

Wang Ming looked up and saw his younger sister. His face lit up with joy and he hurried over to her: "Sister Wan'er, why are you here?"

The younger sister looked up at him, then quickly lowered her head. Her eyes suddenly reddened, and she looked like she was about to cry: "I... I came to the county town with my aunt... and just... stopped by to see you. I didn't expect to meet you, Brother Wang."

Wang Ming chuckled and didn't notice anything unusual about his little sister. Instead, he was very excited. He thought that she was thinking about him and came to see him specially. She must be feeling embarrassed, so she said it was intentional.

……

The younger sister was speechless and could only continue: "Brother Wang, are you going to do something while you're out? Then I... won't keep you away."

"No, no, no, there's no delay," Wang Ming said quickly. "I'm planning to go to the bookstore to buy some pens and ink. It doesn't matter if I go there earlier or later."

The younger sister's eyes were filled with tears. "I see. Then... Brother Wang, you go. I'm just a village girl, and I have to take care of the housework."

Wang Ming's heart ached. He felt that Sister Wan'er was strong and capable. The basket had left a red mark on her delicate wrists. She was so thin, as if a gust of wind would blow her over. Yet, she was still so beautiful, with eyes full of affection that would captivate anyone with just one glance.

Wan'er, such a woman, still has to do rough work.

Wang Ming felt heartbroken just thinking about it. He really wanted to hold his sister Wan'er's hand, ask her to go home with him, and ask her to stop doing it.

He asked, "What are you going to do?"

"My dad...gambles, so I went to borrow money." The younger sister's voice was choked with sobs, and tears fell.

Wang Ming was horrified. He knew Wan'er's father was a worthless person. He didn't care about anything at home and often gambled. When he lost money and couldn't pay it back, he would ask Wan'er and her sisters to pay him back. Wan'er had asked him twice before, but the money wasn't much, just a few dozen copper coins. He could tell that Wan'er was desperate and had come to him for help. He was willing to help with such a small favor!

"How much, how much did your father bet this time?"

However, this time, the younger sister said nothing. She just looked at him stubbornly and shook her head: "I'll figure it out myself. Brother Wang, you go and get busy."

After that, she stopped looking at him and turned away.

This behavior made Wang Ming anxious. He chased after her and wanted to hold her back, but he felt it was inappropriate, so he had to walk in front of her to block her way. Only then did he see that his sister Wan'er was crying uncontrollably, her whole body was shaky, and her expression was full of despair.

How could he let her go? "Sister Wan'er, tell me, how much is it?"

"Don't ask me, I can't afford it." The younger sister bit her lower lip, looking very resilient. "Brother Wang, you've been so good to me, I have no way to repay you. I came here today just to see you one last time. From now on... I won't come again."

Wang Ming was about to collapse when he heard this. He didn't care about the difference between men and women and reached out to hold her wrist. "Sister Wan'er, how can you say that? Aren't you waiting for me to marry you when I come of age? Tell me how much money your father owes this time, and I'll find a way!"

"How could I be a burden to you? Brother Wang, I have nothing else to ask for. I just hope you can occasionally, occasionally remember that there is someone like me. That's all." The younger sister struggled, but couldn't break free, so she had to continue, "My father owes three taels of silver this time, and he can't pay it back. They will take me away, and I have decided to go with them, so..."

Although Wang Ming is a scholar from an ordinary family, he also knows what a casino is like. What will happen if Sister Wan'er is taken away by people from such a place?

He dared not think.

He was so nervous that he was at a loss. "I...I'll find a way. I'll find a way for you. Don't do anything rash. I have a tael of silver here. Take it first!"

The younger sister's eyes lit up, but she didn't show it on her face. She refused, "No, Brother Wang, I was so shameless as to ask you for money before, and it was already embarrassing. But at least the money wasn't much, and I didn't have the nerve to refuse it. I could have accepted the money from you, but how can I take so much money from you now?"

Wang Ming interrupted him hastily: "Stop talking nonsense! One tael of silver may not be enough, but it will be enough to meet the emergency. Let's see if we can ask those people to give us a few days' grace. As for the rest, I'll find another way."

The younger sister was crying so hard that she was out of breath. Instead, she held Brother Wang's hand and said, "Brother Wang, I really... really..."

……

After leaving and walking to a place where Wang Ming couldn't see her, the little sister's expression had returned to normal. She held the silver in her hand, a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

In the morning, Xiaomei met with four men and borrowed a total of two taels of silver. After leaving the county town, she quickly went to the casino, found the owner, and returned the two taels of silver to him.

"The rest will be delivered in two days."

The younger sister thought to herself that there were still three people she couldn't meet today. If she came back tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, she would be able to collect the one or two taels of silver.

She went back to Songji Village first. She told Aunt Jin and the others early in the morning that they should go back after finishing their work so as not to wait and make her elder sister worry.

It was already mid-afternoon when they returned to the house. Si Xingzhi was making a fire and cooking in the kitchen. Si Muyan was sitting on a stool beside him, still looking weak, teaching her father how to make a fire, how to wash rice and cook, and how to cut vegetables and cook.

The younger sister was so shocked when she saw this scene. Her father, who knew nothing but gambling, could actually cook?

But think about it, now that my second brother is gone and my eldest sister is down, if my father continues to be a hands-off boss, then we're really finished.

Seeing his younger sister come in, Si Xingzhi hurriedly asked, "Did you borrow the money?"

"I borrowed two taels and I've already returned them. I'll think of a way to deal with the remaining one tael tomorrow." The younger sister said, looking at Si Muyan with concern. "Are you feeling better today, big sister? I see you're still not in good condition. Do you want Doctor Zhang to come and see you again?"

Si Muyan was about to answer when she heard a woman's angry curse outside.

"You little bitch surnamed Si, come out here, you shameless thing, you cheated my son out of his money, get out!"