Wang Qiqi had no idea the chaos that had erupted at home after she left. The moment she arrived at Huang Rong’s place, she startled the mother and daughter. “Qiqi, where have you been lately? You’re so dark and thin.” She used to be plump and fair, the picture of good fortune, but after just a few days apart, she’d turned into a dark, skinny child. While thinness was currently fashionable, Huang Rong still felt that girls who were too skinny weren't attractive. Wang Qiqi’s reaction, however, was that of someone in the yarn business: the weight of wool needed for the same sweater differs significantly between a plump person and a thin one.

“Sister Qiqi, are you ill?” Feng Yanxia asked hesitantly. Truthfully, it wouldn't have mattered if Qiqi hadn’t come today; she felt confident about the upcoming exam. Besides, after talking with her mother for a long time the other day, Feng Yanxia had relaxed considerably. The pressure to get into a good junior high school was intense. Her mother constantly stressed the necessity of attending a district key middle school to ensure a good high school, which would then lead to a good university. This constant pressure left Feng Yanxia unable to sleep well, compounded by the stress of English. For a long time, she felt an urge to simply quit studying. Thankfully, Wang Qiqi’s appearance had brought a sliver of light, granting her a bit more courage, and her mother’s talk had made Feng Yanxia feel that while the pressure remained, it was significantly lighter. “I’m not as worried about English now.”

Wang Qiqi smiled faintly. “It’s nothing. I was just feeling unwell because I started my period a while back, and my partner got overly anxious. I didn't actually come here to tutor you. Honestly, Yanxia, your fundamentals are good. As long as you don't panic or skip questions during the exam, you’ll absolutely be fine. I came today just to talk about the things you need to pay attention to during the test.” In Wang Qiqi’s view, elementary school exams were child's play. Only those who had endured the pressure cooker of the final year of high school truly understood the relentless mountain of problems, the continuous string of exams.

Huang Rong was surprised that Qiqi had braved the intense sun only to announce she wasn't planning to tutor her daughter. For a moment, she was stunned, unsure how to react. But then she recalled what her daughter’s teacher had recently said: her English scores were steadily improving, holding steady around ninety-five. As long as nothing went wrong during the exam, getting into the district key school was practically guaranteed. “Yes, yes, talking about what to watch out for during the test is better.”

Huang Rong reflected that exam mentality was also crucial. She remembered how her daughter’s expression had soured when they discussed the test recently; she had even cried while voicing her worries. It was then that Huang Rong realized how deeply rooted her daughter's anxiety about exams was. It was a blessing that Qiqi had offered guidance; after Qiqi had mentioned her own fixation with knitting, she had casually remarked that perhaps Feng Yanxia’s intense aversion to English stemmed from a similar psychological block. What a relief.

Wang Qiqi glanced at the foot traffic passing the shop. “Let’s step out for a bit, relax. You know, back in my final year, I would run every morning and take a short walk after dinner. Many people thought I was wasting time, but that brief respite gave me a chance to breathe, making me feel less exhausted by the books. No one wants to stare at textbooks for extended periods, especially under so much pressure.” Wang Qiqi inwardly counted her blessings that her parents had managed to secure her entry into a good elementary school, leading to a good junior high. Otherwise, considering her previous learning pace, she couldn’t imagine how she would have managed to transition from an ordinary middle school to a key high school.

Feng Yanxia looked up at Huang Rong, received a nod of permission from her mother, and left the shop with Wang Qiqi. Wang Qiqi had initially worried that her spontaneous decision might displease the young girl, as she was a very diligent student. Qiqi feared the girl might think she was discouraging her ambition. But once they were out of Huang Rong’s sight, the girl broke into a bright smile. “Finally, I can walk down this street without any burden. It’s been so long since I felt this relaxed.” Though she didn't know where Wang Qiqi was taking her next, she felt certain it would be somewhere interesting, or at the very least, somewhere she hated the least.

Wang Qiqi led Feng Yanxia to simply wander along the main street, discussing topics currently engaging young girls, such as celebrities and popular songs. Of course, Feng Yanxia also asked Wang Qiqi about the scenery she had witnessed while traveling in the United States or other regions.

“Sister Qiqi, I envy you so much.” Feng Yanxia realized she hadn't even left Beijing her entire life, and there were many places within the capital she hadn't explored. “I wonder if I’ll ever have the means to travel around, even just within the country would be wonderful.” Traveling cost a lot of money. Her deskmate had mentioned her family’s recent trip to Hainan cost a fortune, including plane tickets, which made Feng Yanxia terribly envious.

Envy? “There are ways to enjoy life when you have money, and ways when you don't.” Wang Qiqi recounted her experiences traveling frugally to Feng Yanxia. “Sometimes, just looking around the old hutongs in Beijing can be quite interesting, but a solid economic foundation is undeniably important. Even the most economical trips still cost money.” Even if you were backpacking, you might end up spending more along the way. Even in later years, among all those backpackers and so-called travel gurus, how many actually made money from their travels? “Plan well before you set out. Also, some places sound lovely and interesting based on descriptions, but you don't truly know what the traveler was thinking.” For instance, when Qiqi and Shi Man were touring the US, they encountered a couple of dangerous situations—nothing catastrophic, but certainly enough to give them a scare. Naturally, they never mentioned these incidents to anyone else, fearing that if the men found out, they wouldn't be allowed to travel again, a prospect they couldn't accept.

Wang Qiqi didn't just paint a rosy picture; she also shared the troubles she’d faced while traveling. Qiqi knew Feng Yanxia wasn't a delicate greenhouse flower; she had grown up tagging along with Huang Rong at her street stall, witnessing all sorts of scenes, like thugs demanding protection money or being chased away. When Feng Yanxia heard about the dangers Qiqi encountered on her travels, the envy on her face slowly began to fade.

“So, you see the life others lead that seems smooth, but you don’t see the problems they face. Just like in my final year of high school, there were many nights I couldn’t sleep, constantly worrying about not doing well on the college entrance exams. What you need to do now is shed that burden and simply enjoy the process of testing yourself.” Wang Qiqi stood by the riverside, watching an old man leisurely fishing. Just then, the sun began to dip toward the horizon. A gentle breeze rippled the water’s surface; it was utterly tranquil, like a painting, though Qiqi regretted not bringing a camera.

Enjoy the exam? This was the first time Feng Yanxia had ever heard anyone suggest she should enjoy taking exams. She froze there, genuinely not understanding the concept.

“The exam is coming regardless; you can’t avoid facing it just because you don’t want to. You might as well face it with a cheerful attitude.” Wang Qiqi found a clean, shady spot under a tree and simply sat down. If not for the skirt she was wearing today, Qiqi would have truly loved to lie down right there.

The two sat on the grass, taking in the scenery, occasionally exchanging a few words, but mostly remaining in comfortable silence. This quietness left Feng Yanxia feeling a bit bewildered; was this what they called clearing one's head? It was too serene.

When the sun finally set, Wang Qiqi finally stood up, dusting off her backside. “Alright, let’s head back, or your mother will worry.”

Feng Yanxia rose, completely puzzled, and followed Wang Qiqi back home. “Do you feel like the afternoon was wasted, that we should have stayed home sleeping instead?”

Feng Yanxia nodded sheepishly, murmuring an agreement. She thought sitting in one spot was no better than being at home, where she could sit or lie down as she pleased without worrying about what others thought. Sitting on the ground outside was dirty, and you always had to be mindful of one thing or another.

“When you stay at home, do you achieve a calmer state of mind? When you see the books on your desk, do you find yourself able to truly rest?” For a student facing exams, as long as the test date looms, the sight of books triggers an impulse to flip them open. “Do you know, sitting by the river, watching those old folks fish in such leisure, that is the kind of retirement life I look forward to the most.” Truly relaxing, free from the struggle for survival.

Feng Yanxia looked at Wang Qiqi in surprise. She had never imagined Wang Qiqi holding such an ambition, which sounded, somehow, rather unambitious.

“When you’re old, being able to live a leisurely life with filial children is the greatest fortune,” Wang Qiqi stated plainly. “But before that, you need to earn enough money, otherwise you’ll end up like…” Wang Qiqi gestured toward an elderly woman collecting trash as they passed by, “...ending up like her, needing to work hard to earn money when you should be enjoying your twilight years, perhaps due to ungrateful children or a major family crisis. So, money is very important, and you know how to earn it, right?”

Feng Yanxia nodded to show she understood. “I will study hard, get into a good university, and find a good job later.” However, the old age she envisioned definitely needed to be better than her current situation.

Find a good job? Wang Qiqi desperately wanted to tell the girl she was naive; how many salaried employees actually struck it rich? The lion’s share always went to the bosses; the workers only received meager portions.

“But I still think doing business is better,” Feng Yanxia said after a slight pause. “Even though my aunts and uncles look down on my mom, thinking she’s just a street vendor, my mom still earns more than them…”

“Business isn't guaranteed to make money, especially for girls. You’ll realize the difficulties of running a business later.” Wang Qiqi didn't believe Huang Rong would approve of Feng Yanxia going into trade. For a woman, running a business often involved more obstacles than for a man, especially since Feng Yanxia performed so well academically; Huang Rong would be even less willing to see her daughter pursue commerce. (To be continued.)