Snatching a Witty Queen

No Pain, No gain

Audrey was stunned not by Lacy's sudden words, but by the two dimples that appeared on Lacy's cheek. It was rare to see those dimples because Lacy was rather stingy with her smile. The nickname icy Beauty wasn't just a say. This little sister was really stingy with her smile, looking at the beautiful dimples on her cheek Audrey couldn't help but pull at them.

Her face was soft like marshmallow, soft and tender, pleasing to pull at, so Audrey enjoyed pulling them, but not Lacy. Slapping Audrey's hand away she resumed her cold and indifferent demeanor.

"Keep your hands for yourself."

Lacy was helpless as she patted her cheek, they felt hot, she didn't doubt that they might be some marks on it.

"You really look pretty when you smile, why don't you smile often, smile for me ok.", Audrey poked on Lacy's face with a helpless sigh, it was really rare to see this girl's dimples. She barely had time to enjoy it when Lacy had already swallowed it back.

She really wanted to know why Lacy smiled so rarely, but thinking about their lives, it wasn't something to be proud of. She really wanted to offer the best life to Lacy, but she didn't have the means to do it. Their father favoured boys morethan girls, so he hated his wife for only giving him three daughters and no son. From the moment he got himself a second wife, he had raised her cripple, just for the sake of her two months pregnancy. It was unknown whether the woman really carried a male child in her womb, at least their scum of father believed it. While their mother became the person who served that woman who considered herself as a queen.

Getting a second wife might look gloriouse, but to they who had an average life with barely some food to fill the gaps in their teeth, it really wasn't gloriouse. But they were helpless against their polygamouse home.

In the 1980s it was normal for a man to marry several wives, but he had to be able to afford to take care of them. Though some men relied on their wives farm work to fill their pockets, it wasn't a gloriouse thing either, men still had to maintain their socalled dignity.

It was a pity they were just beast in sheep's clothing.

"Here, it should be lukewarm now.", Audrey brought with her the green herbal pigments that she had mixed and cooked according to Lacy's instructions. Looking at the green pigment in the bowl, Audrey couldn't help but frown deeper.

However, Lacy gulped down everything without even frowning, her expression was calm as indifferent as always, as if nothing could waver her steady emotions.

But Audrey still couldn't help being worried, she knew that this herbal soup was rather bitter, she once tasted it and it made her mouth bitter for a while day, though Lacy took it normal. She wished she had some candy, but she didn't have a single cent in her pockets, she could only help Lacy with another cup of water.

"Here."

Lacy had just finished the green pigment when Audrey had brought a cup of water towards her mouth. Looking at plastic cup that seems as if it had been used for decades till the point of losing it original colours. The colours had either scraped or pilled off, but the cup was still clean and tidy, containing a warm clean water.

She didn't stand on ceremony with Audrey and passed her the empty bowl to get the warm water. She tested it and realised that it was right to drink so she didn't hesitate and quickly gulped it down, letting it flow down to her throat and warming her stomach. It was winter now, drinking a warm cup of water could indeed keep her warm.

However, it couldn't solve the problem of her hunger, she was still very hungry, however she couldn't rely on her weak and wife devoted mother to feed her children. She couldn't rely on her sister either, who might seem smart but was infact naive and stupid.

While analyzing their current situation, Lacy realised that she was powerless in this world where woman had practically no value. Because of her poor health, her mother had sent her to her grand mother while she was a toddler. She had lived by her grandmother's side for morethan fifteen years, of which she was able to acquire a lot of knowlegde.

They weren't many educated girls in their small community and the one who were opportuned to study could be considered rich people. It was only two years ago that the government advocated learning as children's first priority. Despite parents reluctance to send girls to school, they still had to obey the law. Though, not many girls had been able to go past the third year in junior high school, at least they also received the right to study, which gave girls an opportunity to recognize a character.

It was good enough that they could read and write, but not many parents would let their female go further her studies. As for her, because of her weak health she hadn't been able to go to school, but she had learned morethan enough from her grandmother. She was certain that if she was given the opportunity to take the college entrance exam it wouldn't be any trouble. However, it was in the premises that they could afford the fee. Her grandmother died three months ago, leaving her with her chauvinistic grand father and his two other wives. It was certain that those women wouldn't accomodate her presence, so she decided to come back to her mother. Life wasn't easier, but it made not much difference.

It was just that she might not acquire more knowlegde from her wise grandmother, she was on her own from the day her beloved person died, not even her mother could save her.

After a heavy sigh, Lacy decided to forget it, she was weak to begin with, but it didn't mean she was useless. So she wouldn't let her grandmother's teachings go to waste.

"Alright, let's go " Lacy said indifferently to Audrey while putting on a warm knitted caot. But Audrey was quiet puzzled at her sister's sudden reaction.

She had only left a while to keep the bowl and cup, however when she came back Lacy was warmly caoted in two more layers, she knew that Lacy only dressed like these when they went out.

"Little sis, are you going out?"

"Umhum." Lacy replied simply, causing Audrey's furrowed brow and puzzled expression. Why did her weak sister suddenly want to go out in this chilly weather?

As if she could read her thoughts, Lacy gave her a light reply.

"Aren't you hungry, let's go search for something edible."

Thinking about feeling her stomach, Audrey's mouth salivated, it would be a lie to say that she wasn't tempted. Apart from the plain rice porridge they had Yesterday afternoon, she hadn't eaten anything since then, so it was obviouse how hungry she was. However, she still had to think of her weak sister, if she walked out in this chilly day, won't her health worsen.

Ignoring her growling stomach, Audrey strode towards Lacy who had already walked further ahead.

"Wait sis, there's no need to go hunt for food, I'm... I'm really not hungry."

Without looking at her, Lacy continued to stride forward to her destination, as if she had treated Audrey's words as air.

Upon realising that her sister didn't say anything, Audrey opened her mouth to speak but was cut off by Lacy's short sentence.

"Even if you're not hungry, I am."

Audrey immediately swallowed back words that were on the tip of her tongue, she was indeed hungry and so was Lacy. She didn't even have the ability to get food for Lacy, so what right did she have to stop her from going out. Besides, it was likely that if they didn't search for their own food, they'll probably have to starve to death.

"Alright, I'll follow you."

Audrey could only comply, it was useless to stay behind, she still reminded herself of her sister's words a month ago.

'No pain, no gain.'