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nTranslator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

n“Is there anything cheaper?” Mu Jingzhe asked the stall owner with a frown.

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n“There’s nothing cheaper than this, girl. Look at the quality and design. This is already the lowest price.”

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nThe boss gestured to point out the strong points of those clothes to Mu Jingzhe.

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nMu Jingzhe didn’t show it, but she deep down wanted to say that the quality and style were really average.

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nEven so, she couldn’t afford this.

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nAt the moment, Mu Jingzhe was in the town market. This time, she had come with the mission to buy clothes and school supplies for the children.

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nAlthough Mu Jingzhe had said those words to Zhao Lan that day, Shao Qiyang had also heard her. Despite being worried, he was too busy, so he could only ask Mu Jingzhe to help him buy the items.

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nThe plan to kick Mu Jingzhe out could only be postponed.

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nHe gave the rest of his money to Mu Jingzhe, but it was still not enough for the children to buy new clothes.

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nUpon seeing that the boss didn’t plan on budging on the price and looking at the quality and style, Mu Jingzhe decisively gave up.

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nThis was her fifth day in this world.

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nThe past two days had been quite peaceful. Shao Qiyang left early in the morning and returned from work late at night. He would leave the house before dawn, leaving only her and the five children at home.

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nBecause she only took care of them, cooked for them, washed their clothes, and thought of ways to grow some vegetables, everything had been fine in the past few days.

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nMu Jingzhe observed as she looked around, then went to buy the necessary textbooks, pencils, rubbers, rulers, and other things written on Shao Dong’s note.

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nShe had asked Shao Dong what he needed to buy when school reopened. Shao Dong still wouldn’t say a word, but he had given her this piece of paper that clearly listed the items and the amount needed.

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nAlthough he was only in second grade, Shao Dong’s handwriting was excellent. After the boss read it, he said that it would be even better if he practiced his handwriting further.

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nUnfortunately… There was no money.

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nThey didn’t even have the money to buy a brush and ink.

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n“I have to find a way to earn money as soon as possible.”

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nAfter walking around the market, Mu Jingzhe finally entered the fabric shop.

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nCompared to ready-made clothes, fabric was relatively cheaper.

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nNot everyone knew how to make clothes, but Mu Jingzhe did. Coincidentally, a sewing machine had been included in her dowry.

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nAfter returning home that day, Mu Jingzhe closed the door and got busy.

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nVery soon, the first day of school arrived. Shao Dong woke up early and was about to take out his washed clothes to put them on when there was a knock on the door.

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nShao Dong opened the door and saw Mu Jingzhe.

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nShe was holding a stack of clothes in her hands. “Little Dong, these are the clothes I made for you guys. Your names are on the pockets. You can wear them to see if they fit you. I also sewed a simple school bag. You can use that for the time being.”

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nMu Jingzhe wasn’t blind. She could tell how old their school bags were.

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nShao Dong looked at the new clothes in Mu Jingzhe’s hands and was stunned for the first time.

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nHe was used to people treating them badly. It had been like this since he could remember. Now that he was suddenly being treated nicely, he didn’t know how to react.

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nHe didn’t move. Mu Jingzhe could only explain. “They are all new.”

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nShao Dong came back to his senses and quickly took the clothes. “Thank you.”

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nThese clothes were new. It had been a long time since he’d gotten to wear new clothes.

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nIn the early years, when their father would come back to visit the family, Shao Dong and the kids would wear new clothes that didn’t fit for a few days. When his father left, they would no longer be theirs. They would look forward to their father coming back every day so that they could wear new clothes and feel full.

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nHowever, their Dad would only come back once a year.

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nLater, his father would finally return home and buy new clothes for them. However, he would be too busy to care. After he left, the new clothes would be snatched by the kids next door again.

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nHe hadn’t expected to receive new clothes again today.

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nWhen school reopened that day, the four children of the Shao Family, who used to be the most pitiful and often wore patched clothes, were in the limelight.

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nThat was because the four of them had changed into new clothes with designs the village didn’t have.

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nAlthough Shao Dong and Shao Xi were thin, they were already seven years old, so they were little adults. Thus, Mu Jingzhe had made them long-sleeved shirts and vests.

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nThe double-layered vests could keep them warm but were suitable to be worn in spring. When the weather got warmer, they could just take off the vests and wear their shirts.

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nThe shirts and vests were both casual, but they were indescribably beautiful and exquisite, fully accentuating the boys’ true appearance and vigor.

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nThe duo’s features were similar, but their temperament was completely different.

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nIf Shao Dong was the cool guy, then Shao Xi, who had been born so fair that he didn’t look like a child from the countryside, was like a little prince in a fairy tale.

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nShao Nan and Shao Bei wore checkered clothes. Shao Nan had a jacket that appeared extraordinary despite its simple design.

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nUsing the same fabric, she had made Shao Bei a Korean-style shirt with a doll collar.

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nIn combination with her beautiful braids and hair, she could be considered the most eye-catching girl in school.

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nThe four children attracted everyone’s attention the moment they appeared on the shabby campus.

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nThey involuntarily straightened their backs, their eyes filled with confidence.

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nThis was the happiest day of Shao Bei’s life. Everyone surrounded her, looking at her clothes, school bag, braids, and hair ornament. All her classmates envied her as if she was a little princess.

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nShe used to be the one who envied others.

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nAlthough she was only five years old, she loved to look pretty. Of course, she liked to be praised by everyone. Right now, she couldn’t stop smiling.

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nOn the way back from school in the afternoon, Shao Bei couldn’t help jumping up and down as she walked. She kept talking about how everyone had praised her and even occasionally complimented Mu Jingzhe.

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nAt first, Shao Xi was still smiling as he listened, but he gradually stopped smiling.

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n“It’s just a set of clothes, and all she did was comb your hair. You like her that much just because of that?”

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nShao Bei didn’t notice anything unusual about her second brother. “It… It’s not that I like her very much, but she is really great at braiding hair.”

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nShao Bei’s hair had previously been combed by Shao Xi, who only knew how to bunch it up into a ponytail that wasn’t even all that smooth. Although he tried his best to be careful, he still hurt Shao Bei every time.

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nThis morning, Mu Jingzhe had helped her comb her hair. It hadn’t hurt at all, and she’d even braided her hair, a hairstyle Shao Bei had never seen before. On top of that, she’d also adorned her hair with a gorgeous hair ornament.

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n“Second Brother, you don’t have to comb my hair for me anymore. Let her do it for me.”

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nSeeing that their home was just up ahead, Shao Bei sped up and ran over.

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n“We’re back.”

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n“You are indeed. Wash your hands and eat.”

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nMu Jingzhe had slowly corrected the four children’s hygiene habits and taught them to wash their hands before eating.

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nShao Zhong was a step slower as he ran to wash his hands with his siblings.

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nHe was also wearing new clothes.

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nLike his two older brothers, he was wearing a small vest, except he also had a hat that made him look rather adorable.

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nUsually, when his siblings went to school, he would follow them there. Every day, he would play at the school gate and wait for his siblings to finish their classes.

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nThis time, he hadn’t gone because he was wearing new clothes and was afraid of dirtying them.

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nHappy Shao Bei couldn’t help but ask Mu Jingzhe, “Auntie, do you know how to braid hair in other ways?”

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n“Yes.” Mu Jingzhe knew how to create many different hairstyles. “I’ll tie your hair in a different way tomorrow.”

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nThere was finally some noise at the dining table, and the family at last started looking like a family with five children. The atmosphere was just right, so Shao Xi used this opportunity to continue the conversation.

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n“Did you make the clothes? Why did you decide to make clothes for us?”

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nShao Xi’s voice was filled with curiosity, but his eyes had a calmness about them that didn’t match his age.

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nShao Xi would one day become a future famous author, literary giant, and media big boss who would control public opinion.

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nHe had seen the worst of human nature, so he didn’t believe that Mu Jingzhe would treat them well for no reason.

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nMu Jingzhe was silent for a moment before giving the most genuine answer. “I made them. I wanted to buy them, but it was expensive.”

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nMost importantly, I couldn’t afford them, dear.

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