Wang Qiqi rolled over, picked up the alarm clock from the bedside table. “Only eight o’clock.” After working so hard for so long, today was the very first day of the winter vacation. Forget it, treat myself; I won’t study this morning. “Just a little longer.”

Wang Qiqi slept on, and when she woke up again, it was already ten o’clock. She shot upright from the ** bed with a sharp gasp. Even though the meeting time at the restaurant was set, and she knew her aunt and uncle wouldn't arrive early, nor would the aunties and uncles from the same complex, as the hostess, Wang Qiqi couldn't keep her guests waiting.

After tidying her bed and taking care of her personal hygiene, Wang Qiqi grabbed a down jacket and prepared to leave.

Just as Wang Qiqi reached the main entrance, she turned back. “I need to grab a book so I can sit inside, reading while I wait, instead of just sitting there like an idiot waiting for nothing.” Wang Qiqi rushed back inside, stuffed a political science textbook into her bag, and headed for the restaurant.

Han Tao trailed behind his mother, Luo Hongjuan, carrying bags and packages. Luo Hongjuan, of course, was also laden with bags and parcels. “Going to the restaurant?”

Wang Qiqi hummed in response. “Why did you buy so much food?” Wasn’t tonight’s dinner supposed to be at my place? Why the need for so many groceries? I was planning to bring a few main dishes back, and there are only three of us eating; there’s no need to buy this much.”

“The market won’t have vegetables until after the fifth day of the New Year.” Before leaving yesterday, Han Tao had peered into Qiqi’s refrigerator and found very little—only some wontons and shumai that her auntie had wrapped. Han Tao genuinely wondered if this girl planned to subsist on these little snacks for the next few days, so he and his mother went to the market early this morning to stock up on produce.

Hearing Han Tao say that, Wang Qiqi finally recalled the custom. Right, the traditional farm markets are closed from the afternoon of New Year’s Eve until the fourth day of the New Year. It’s true that later on, even if people hadn’t prepared, they could just go to the supermarket. Because of this shift, Wang Qiqi genuinely hadn't remembered that detail. “I didn’t know! I didn’t buy anything, but I have to leave for the restaurant now…” Wang Qiqi panicked, wondering if she’d have to survive the first few days of the New Year on nothing but shumai, wontons, or instant noodles. That would be a rather austere New Year celebration.

Han Tao looked at Wang Qiqi, who seemed utterly flustered, and raised the bags in his hands. “I bought these for you. You open the door first; I’ll put these in your kitchen.”

Luo Hongjuan watched the frantic Wang Qiqi and thought that this flustered girl perfectly matched her usual impression of her. “You’re still young. Your mother used to handle all these things. It’s normal that you didn’t know.”

Luo Hongjuan glanced around to ensure no one was nearby. “I’ll come over in the afternoon to help prepare the New Year’s Eve dinner.”

Luo Hongjuan had initially wanted Qiqi to come over for the reunion dinner, but Qiqi had mentioned that her house had air conditioning. If they turned it on, everyone could enjoy the meal in warmth and watch the Spring Festival Gala together. Luo Hongjuan actually felt staying at their own place was fine, but thinking about how her son would freeze studying in their unheated home, she relented after Qiqi made the suggestion.

“Qiqi, are you just getting here?” Wang Rui, looking highly displeased, was wearing a new outfit that failed to meet her standards—not just the style or the quality, but most importantly, the brand name was not what Wang Rui desired.

Wang Rui had spent the trip wondering if she would look cheap compared to Wang Qiqi, and whether Qiqi had bought a new outfit this year. To her shock, Qiqi was wearing old clothes. “Qiqi, you didn’t go out and buy new clothes, did you? It’s not like you’re short on money.”

Wang Qiqi swallowed the urge to roll her eyes, put down the textbook she was holding, greeted her uncle and aunt, and poured three cups of hot tea for them in passing. “When Auntie called me a few days ago, I told her I didn’t have the time or the perceived need to buy new clothes this year.”

“Oh, you’re not planning to wait for the sales, are you?” Wang Rui certainly remembered Qiqi saying that, but she truly hadn't believed Qiqi wouldn't buy anything new. “The last time Great-Auntie was here, she always said children must wear new clothes for the New Year.”

Her mother had always said that, too—that a girl should dress up well while she was young, or she would regret it later when she was older. “Since my parents passed away, I’m not a child anymore, so I don’t need new clothes every year.”

Wang Rui shot Wang Qiqi a scornful look. Hmph, she has money but won’t spend it on looking presentable. What a miser. Tsk, she’s clearly just refusing to buy me clothes, so she won’t buy any herself. Otherwise, given Qiqi’s old personality, how could she wear old clothes during the New Year? “Qiqi, you’ve changed so much these past six months; you barely buy new clothes anymore.”

“I have no choice. With my parents gone, I need to save a bit. Plus, their passing cost a great deal. Buying the plots, handling the funeral—it all added up to about a hundred thousand yuan.” Wang Qiqi emphasized again, hmph, if you think I’m stingy, let’s talk about funeral expenses. Did you think the ten thousand yuan I gave each of you cousins—male and female—was free? “And I shelled out a fortune when you were in high school. I wonder what the return will be when I go to university.”

Wang Rui was momentarily speechless. Every time she pressured Qiqi about money, Qiqi would bring up these two large expenses. In fact, besides those two amounts, Wang Rui couldn’t recall getting any other advantage from Wang Qiqi—oh yes, that one time she ran into her off-campus and Qiqi bought her fast food. But even that one meal had caused her considerable trouble, and the money she provided for Wang Rui’s high school entrance had only tarnished their family’s reputation further. She hadn't expected Wang Qiqi to become so formidable, caring so much about money.

Wang Dagui shot a look at Li Cui and Wang Rui, two individuals who only ever managed to mess things up. They still couldn’t grasp what kind of person Wang Qiqi was. Her brother and sister-in-law were easygoing people who didn't place much value on money; how did their niece turn out so differently? Wang Dagui truly couldn't fathom it.

Wang Qiqi watched the disappointed expressions on Wang Dagui’s family’s faces, thinking, I suffered so much because of you people in my past life. Do you still expect to extract more money from me? Dream on. They were certainly persistent, though, fighting on despite repeated failures, showing no sign of retreating.

Wang Qiqi didn't want to continue the conversation. She opened her political science book and resumed reading. Honestly, reading about Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought gave her a headache. Every time there was an exam, she had to put in a huge amount of effort, or her grades would slip considerably.

Wang Rui watched Wang Qiqi actually reading while at the New Year’s Eve dinner. “Qiqi, you really are so diligent.” Tsk. She knows perfectly well we’re having a family reunion dinner, yet she insists on putting on a show by reading a book here. Isn’t that just mocking me?

Wang Qiqi kept her head down, focused on her book, and failed to notice the fierce expression on Wang Rui’s face. “I have no choice. We go back to school on the fifth for mini-tests in all subjects. With only half a year left until the Gaokao, these are truly hellish days.”

Wang Qiqi could guarantee she said this entirely unintentionally and added nothing extra, but somehow, these words terrified Wang Rui. “Ah, really? Is the third year of high school that miserable?” Wang Rui remembered Gao Kai gathering friends yesterday for dinner and karaoke, staying out quite late. She had initially thought the third year wasn't that painful, but looking at Wang Qiqi today, Wang Rui realized the third year must be quite brutal. “But Gao Kai didn't seem that miserable.”

Wang Qiqi let out a long breath. “Yes, the humanities track is that brutal; there’s so much to memorize. The science track is much better; you just need to know how to solve problems.” Wang Qiqi said casually, “Sigh, if my science wasn't so poor, I wouldn't have chosen humanities.”

Wang Rui did a quick mental calculation. It seemed she wasn’t particularly strong in either science or humanities. If forced to choose, she felt science might be slightly more suitable; she certainly didn’t want to live such a miserable life of constant memorization. “I think I should probably choose science too, in the future.”

Wang Qiqi secretly chuckled to herself. This fool. Doesn’t she know that liberal arts is generally better suited for women? It’s not that girls are bad at science, but women generally don’t have the same advantage in STEM fields as men. Conversely, women often have an edge in memory. Wang Rui’s memory was actually quite good. If she chose humanities and worked a bit harder, getting into a decent university wouldn't be impossible. But if she truly chose science, would she perform well?

“But we women don’t have much of an advantage in science. Of course, choosing humanities means being as miserable as I am.” Wang Qiqi was half-persuading, half-encouraging her. She knew that if she didn't offer some counsel, this girl might blame her later if her Gaokao scores were poor, claiming Wang Qiqi had misled her. So, she had to offer a gentle nudge. “Xiao Rui, even though the humanities track is tough, wouldn’t it be better if you could get into a slightly better university?”

Li Cui had also heard this before; Wang Rui wasn't truly outstanding in science. “Xiao Rui, listen to Qiqi, your science skills…”

Wang Rui’s temper was quite stubborn; the more people told her she couldn't do something, the more determined she was to do it. “Mom, my scores in both tracks are about the same, and I hate constantly memorizing things. I absolutely don’t want to spend all day clutching a book and reciting like Wang Qiqi.” She was determined to choose the same major as Gao Kai.

Wang Damei’s family of four was always the last to arrive. “Xiao Rui, you want to choose science?” Wang Damei had never held a high opinion of her young niece—spoiled, poor grades, but much sweeter-talking than Wang Qiqi. She was surprised that with such a dull mind, she would opt for science. “Xiao Rui, you want to study science? Girls really should study humanities.”

After greeting everyone, Wang Rui shook her head. “I know girls are usually better off in humanities, but it’s not like no girls choose science. I think I’ll be better off in science than in humanities.”

Wang Qiqi picked up her teacup for a drink, feeling inwardly that this New Year’s Eve dinner was entirely worth the cost if it meant successfully cornering Wang Rui.