It wasn't that Qi Zhenzhen looked down on Qi Yi, but rather that in the original body's memories, this young lad had been very well protected by Yun shi and the original body. Although they lived a poor life, he had been somewhat pampered.
Being looked down upon, especially by someone who wished to protect him, Qi Yi's small face flushed red. "How does Big Sister know I can't endure hardship?"
The little fellow stared at Qi Zhenzhen with a stern face, his eyes unblinking.
Had his self-esteem been hurt? It wasn't that Qi Zhenzhen intentionally looked down on him. Rather, for a person to become strong, they needed to pay a great price. In her previous life, she had been thrown into a primeval forest at the tender age of five, with nothing to eat or drink, surrounded by poisonous insects and ferocious beasts. Worse still, those who should have been companions were forced to kill each other. Such suffering was not something ordinary people could endure. Even if Qi Yi didn't need to undergo such brutal training, becoming strong was no simple matter.
"Are you serious?" Qi Zhenzhen asked gravely.
Qi Yi's face was earnest. "Yi'er can endure any hardship."
In her previous life, she had learned only methods of combat and had never encountered systematic martial arts. However, physical training was largely the same.
"Alright, starting tomorrow, you will train with Big Sister," Qi Zhenzhen said softly.
Qi Yi excitedly lifted his small face. "Big Sister, are you serious?"
"Big Sister will say it again: becoming powerful is not a simple matter, nor is it something that can be achieved overnight. This process will be very long and very tiring," Qi Zhenzhen said, hugging Qi Yi. "Once we start, Big Sister will not stop just because you cry out in exhaustion."
"I won't, Big Sister. Believe me, I can definitely do it," Qi Yi said with determination.
Qi Zhenzhen smiled. If it was for the future, Qi Yi indeed could not live under her and Yun shi's protection. In ancient times, men were respected. In the future, he would need to become their shield, not a weak and incompetent person looked down upon by others.
Therefore, he had to start becoming strong from now on, to let him know how cruel the outside world was.
"Zhenzhen, Yi'er..." Yun shi's voice came from inside the house.
The siblings entered the house hand in hand. Yun shi had already propped herself up with her arms and sat up. Qi Zhenzhen quickly went forward to support her and placed a soft pillow behind her back.
"Mother, do you feel unwell anywhere?" Qi Zhenzhen asked.
Yun shi pursed her lips and smiled. A little more color returned to her pale face. "I don't feel unwell anywhere. I just woke up and wanted to sit up."
"Uncle Mo said that once you finish this medicine, Mother will be well," Qi Zhenzhen said. "However, illness comes like a mountain collapsing but leaves like drawing silk. You still need to rest carefully. Don't worry about household matters, Mother. I'll handle everything."
Yun shi felt a pang of guilt. She should have been the one taking care of the two children, but now the children had to shoulder the burden of life. It was all because she, as a mother, was not capable enough.
"Mother, you don't need to feel guilty. As long as we are well in the future, that's all that matters. The three of us will work hard together, and life will surely get better. As for other things, it's best not to think about them," Qi Zhenzhen said, holding Yun shi's hand with a gentle yet firm tone.
Yun shi stared at Qi Zhenzhen for a long while, her eyes filling with tears. She sniffled and choked out, "Yes, as long as the three of us are together, there's nothing we can't overcome. From today onwards, Mother will only think of you two and no one else. We will depend on each other, and we have nothing to do with anyone else."
When she left the Changping Marquis's mansion, the original body was already eight years old and could remember many things. She clearly remembered the life they had there. From the original body's memories, it was evident that she had expectations for that place, yet was also filled with hatred. It was contradictory. If Yun shi hadn't fallen ill, she probably wouldn't have thought of visiting the Changping Marquis's mansion.
Qi Zhenzhen chatted with Yun shi. Seeing the fatigue on Yun shi's face, she helped her lie down. Recovery was a process, and rushing it would only be counterproductive.
Qi Yi followed beside Qi Zhenzhen, watching her knead dough to make steamed buns and occasionally saying a few words.
Qi Zhenzhen was quite skilled at working with dough. In her previous life, she had even made plans for her future life. When she grew tired of the mercenary life, she would become a pastry chef or open a Chinese pastry shop.
Qi Yi gazed enviously at the dough as it transformed in Qi Zhenzhen's hands. Except for the first ball of dough, which was kneaded into a round and plump shape, every other piece of dough was shaped differently, resembling various small animals. They were so lifelike and beautiful.
"Your drool is about to drip onto the floor," Qi Zhenzhen said, tapping Qi Yi's forehead.
Qi Yi instinctively wiped his mouth, found nothing, and then realized Qi Zhenzhen was teasing him. He didn't get angry but continued to stare intently at the small animals. "Big Sister, have you seen all of these? But I remember dogs don't look like this."
Qi Yi was pointing at a steamed bun Qi Zhenzhen had made in the style of a Q version husky.
"Dogs don't look like this, but don't you think this looks better?"
Qi Yi nodded. "Yes, it looks much better than those fierce-looking dogs. Big Sister, why can you make things like this?"
"Big Sister saw them in picture books before."
Qi Yi looked thoughtful, a flicker of longing in his eyes.
The original body had stayed at the Changping Marquis's mansion until she was eight. Under Yun shi's tutelage, she had read many books. As for Qi Yi, he had been abandoned outside at the age of five. Moreover, the Changping Marquis's wife had intentionally kept him from it, so he had never even received basic education.
Although Yun shi was knowledgeable, living a difficult life with them outside had naturally led her to neglect matters of reading and writing. As a result, Qi Yi, at seven years old, was illiterate.
"Don't be sad, Yi'er. From now on, Big Sister will teach you to read and write every day. When Big Sister can no longer teach you, I will send you to school. You need to protect Mother and me in the future. Not only must your body be strong, but your mind must also be sharp so you can protect us better."
The original body and Yun shi had both overlooked Qi Yi's education. Reading was not just about recognizing characters; it was also about understanding many principles. Furthermore, in ancient times, studying was a path to advancement.
Given their current circumstances, for Qi Yi to achieve success, he had to study.
Tears welled up in Qi Yi's eyes, and he nodded vigorously.
Qi Zhenzhen was a person of action. After steaming the buns, she instructed Qi Yi to watch the fire and then went out.
When she returned, she was carrying a stack of grayish-white stone slabs.
She took a few burning wooden sticks from the stove and rubbed them on the ground a few times, creating simple charcoal pencils.
Qi Zhenzhen wrote the two characters "Qi Yi" on the stone slab, stroke by stroke, and taught Qi Yi to read them as she wrote.
Some people are naturally gifted at studying.
After Qi Zhenzhen had written them twice, Qi Yi could write them himself, and the characters showed no sign of a beginner's awkwardness. She then wrote some common characters, and Qi Yi learned them quickly.
"Yi'er, you must remember that no matter what you do, too much at once will be difficult to digest. Learning these ten characters today is enough. If you can pass my test tomorrow, we will continue learning," Qi Zhenzhen said calmly.
Qi Yi nodded, hugged the stone slab, and sat aside, repeatedly practicing the ten characters Qi Zhenzhen had taught him.