Shen Zheng and Shen Nan exchanged a determined glance, then both nodded reluctantly. Watching their brother walk away, they whispered to each other, "All right, we've agreed. I'll handle cleaning my room and the smaller living room, and you take care of your room and the larger living room."
"Why? Why is there still so much unfairness in the world?" Shen Nan protested.
"No reason, except that I'm a girl, and that's a pretty solid reason! Plus, I'm your sister. So, you have no grounds to refuse."
Shen Zheng scratched his head, clearly resigned. "Yep, those are two very solid reasons. I wonder, though, will you say the same thing when you're up against our little brother? But fine, since you're my sister, I'll accept it. Let's go!"
When they knocked on Shen Lang's door, they found him busily extracting a stack of cash from his safe. Watching her brother handle money with such nonchalance made Shen Nan feel uneasy. Just how much money does he have? And where did it all come from? The odd thing about Shen Lang was that despite his wealth, his interests seemed to diverge sharply from those of other kids his age. There wasn't a single toy or object of popular interest in sight—only books and stacks of drawings. Just looking at those thick dictionaries and hefty volumes made her feel dizzy. She couldn't fathom how her little brother lived like this.
Shen Lang stuffed the cash into his backpack with a casual air. Watching his easy manner made Shen Nan's teeth itch with frustration; she felt an almost irresistible urge to tackle him to the ground and give him a good thrashing. But, for now, that was just a thought, something to be enacted sometime in the future. Someday, she'd see him laid low under her feet.
The three of them boarded a public bus and headed downtown. Shen Lang, having been here several times before, led the way. When they arrived, he gestured to his brother and sister with a nod, saying, "This is the best shop in town, and they have a wide variety. Pick out whatever you like and let me know when you're done. I'll be over there getting some drinks—same as usual?" Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked off.
But Shen Zheng and Shen Nan barely noticed his departure; they were already deep in excited discussion as they darted toward the racks, chattering eagerly. As they compared options, a figure suddenly appeared next to them. It was another young student, but definitely not their brother. The air about this newcomer felt different, yet somehow familiar.
When they looked more closely, they realized it was Ouyang Lan. Beside her stood a woman, who appeared to be her mother. The siblings exchanged polite smiles with Ouyang Lan. "What a coincidence! Fancy seeing you here, Ouyang Lan." As her mother glanced over at them, they added in unison, "Hello, Auntie."
The woman looked a bit surprised but quickly returned their smiles. "Hello, you must be Lan Lan's classmates! I didn't expect she'd meet friends so soon on her first day of school. Are you here with your parents to buy a bike as well?"
Shen Nan nodded. "Yes, we were too busy over the summer. Auntie, please go ahead; we'll continue looking around."
With that, she tugged on Shen Zheng's sleeve, signaling for them to leave. Ouyang Lan's mother raised her eyebrows as she watched them go, then turned to her daughter with a puzzled expression. "Lan Lan, is there something going on between you? It seemed like she might have some sort of issue with you."
Ouyang Lan wrinkled her nose slightly. "They're brother and sister. This morning, the teacher assigned us roles in the Young Pioneers: I'm the head captain, and they were appointed as vice-captain and squad leader. If I hadn't come, those roles probably would have gone to them, so I think they might hold a bit of a grudge."
Her mother, Chen Jing, laughed softly. "Ah, so you already have a bit of a rivalry going on! Well, there's no denying it's a tricky situation. Regardless, you'll be working together in the future, so try to show a little patience—be generous, like your father."
"Yes, Mom, I understand."
When Shen Lang returned, Shen Zheng and Shen Nan had already selected their bicycles. But as he checked the prices, his expression darkened. "This is over budget. We had an agreement—you're not allowed to break the rules we set beforehand. Now, either give me a good reason, or a new deal. Otherwise, you'll have to choose again."
Chen Jing watched the scene from a distance, intrigued by these three young negotiators. The way they spoke to one another, serious and formal, made her curious. Although they were siblings, the bond between them was clearly more complex.
Shen Nan pouted, her face set in stubborn determination. She knew her little brother wouldn't be swayed by her pleading, yet she wanted to try. It wasn't that she wanted to make things difficult for him, but she couldn't help it; she'd seen the bike that Ouyang Lan had picked out—a sleek model she'd immediately fallen in love with. The problem was, it cost well over a thousand yuan. She hesitated, torn between her pride and her desire, but ultimately, she decided to push her luck.
Shen Zheng glanced between his siblings and Ouyang Lan's mother, who was still watching them with interest. He considered for a moment, then said, "How about this as a compromise: we keep our original agreement, where you handle the finances and cooking, but the task of cleaning Dad's room can be shared between Nan and me. How does that sound?"
Shen Lang paused, then raised one finger, signaling his terms. "Fine, just this once. However, you've gone over budget by about five hundred yuan. You have three years to pay me back. Since this expense exceeds our agreed budget, I'm not obliged to cover it. Of course, you can always refuse; it's entirely up to you. But if you exceed three years, we go back to the terms we discussed this morning—five percent monthly interest. Still, I'm willing to waive the interest if you repay it within the three years."
Shen Nan glared at him, puffing up in anger. "You little tyrant! Just you wait; one day, you'll pay for this."
Shen Lang seemed unfazed, shrugging. "What can I say? You're the one who broke the rules first. Even though I set the terms, you're free to refuse. Agree or decline—up to you."
"Hmph!"
Shen Zheng chuckled, looking at his sulking sister, then turned to Shen Lang with a smile. "All right, little brother, no need to spar with her. We'll accept this unfair deal since, well, we're still proletarians, and you've become part of the bourgeoisie. We're willing to be exploited this time!" With a dramatic sigh, he added a theatrical flourish, drawing out the words as though he were reciting a line from a Chinese opera, a touch of amusement and irony in his tone.