Bùn Đất Và Mây Xanh

Buy me tickets to the water park.

Get me a free night pass for KTV.

Get me bar vouchers, say there's original singers there so I can go ask for advice.

I accept everything but never actually go.

But I never miss a tutoring session.

My stepmother starts to panic.

After confirming I won't quit tutoring and her daughter can't take my spot, she frantically enrolls Jiang Zhao in classes too.

But half the summer break has passed – all one-on-one slots are full.

Jiang Zhao gets crammed into a six-person group class.

I deliberately stir the pot: "Auntie, you knew summer classes fill up fast. Why didn't you plan earlier?"

"I heard Song Lingling got private tutoring."

Jiang Zhao and Song Lingling have never gotten along.

Sure enough, she throws a tantrum at home: "Why didn't you sign me up sooner?"

Under my burning gaze, my stepmother can't explain her dilemma.

Amid our battles, summer ends quickly.

At the start of sophomore year's placement test, I rank 250th.

Two months of effort yielding this result satisfies me.

Results come out on my stepmother's birthday.

At the family dinner, she asks about my rank and snickers before putting on a concerned face: "Zhizhi, what happened? Your dad spent so much on private tutors, but you dropped ten spots from last term!"

"Xiao Zhao improved eighteen spots in group classes – she's top 100 now."

She turns to Dad: "Lao Jiang, maybe Zhizhi's heart isn't in academics. Let's let her study music like she wants."

6

Restaurant lights cast shadows on Dad's weary face.

He grips his chopsticks: "Have you been slacking off? Wasting my money on tutors?"

I look remorseful: "I tried, but Auntie kept saying 'don't waste your dad's hard-earned money' – the pressure was too much!"

Dad glares at Stepmom: "Why say such things to her?"

"I was just心疼 you," she backpedals.

"Auntie's right," I pout. "You're not just my dad now – you're her husband, Xiao Zhao's uncle. You can't spend everything on me."

"She's protecting her rights."

Dad slams the table: "I'm your father! I'll spend my money how I want!"

"No one gets a say!"

Stepmom's face darkens. It takes hours of sweet talk to calm him.

That night, through thin walls, her urgent whisper: "My brother's bank has new high-yield理财products – guaranteed returns."

"Let's invest our savings."

She's scared. Scared Dad will spend all on me.

Luckily Dad stays cool: "Show me the paperwork first."

Time to act.

The chance comes at Mom's memorial day.

After Mom died, Dad raised me alone for three years.

A single father balancing work and child – countless struggles.

Matchmakers swarmed.

Stepmom, as Mom's friend, often took me out.

She'd whisper: "Who knows if a stepmom would treat you well?"

When Dad started seeing a teacher, I panicked.

Manipulated by Stepmom's hints, I begged Dad to marry her instead – "Mom's friend will care for me."

Now I stroke Mom's tombstone photo, wanting to slap my past self.

Invited a wolf into our home!

Dad arranges Mom's favorite lilies, carefully removing stamens.

Mom loved flowers – our home was always blooming.

De-stamened lilies last longer.

Even after years, Dad remembers.

The mood set, I begin my performance.

"Dad," I whisper, "If you and Auntie have a baby... will I still be your favorite?"

Dad sighs: "I'm too old for more kids."

"My friend's dad said that too."

"Now his stepmom has a son – he says they're the perfect family. She feels like leftovers."

My voice quivers: "Sometimes I feel that way too. You and Auntie are so close, Xiao Zhao's so good..."

"Auntie will never see me as hers. I'm... redundant."

Tears flow freely now: "Dad, will I... lose my home?"

7

Dad hugs me: "Never. You'll always have a home."

That night, he tells Stepmom: "We're buying Zhizhi an apartment."

Stepmom blanches: "She's underage! Who knows where she'll study? It's too early!"

No! Prices will skyrocket soon!

Dad insists: "Our current home was half her mother's."

"She deserves this."

Stepmom's eyes gleam: "If we buy it outright, she won't appreciate it."

"Let's make a deal: If she enters the top class next term, we'll buy the apartment."

"If not, we'll invest the money."

Our school sorts top classes based on first-term finals.

Top 120 make science elite class.

Dad hesitates. Stepmom plays her trump card: "This will motivate her!"

Dad nods: "Deal."

"Zhizhi, want that apartment? Earn it!"