Warning: This translation is as abridged as possible and cuts out almost all romance. Read the original, Part 1, Part 2, Part 2.2, Part 3 and Part 4
Read Disclaimer here first!

“Hey, for you.”
Under the light, the boy’s face was one of a complete stranger.
Yi Yao tightly grasped her broomstick, faced him and was silent.
The sunset shone threw the windows in the hallway. After a few reflections in the stairways, the light slowly turned into soft liquids, collecting in Yi Yao’s gradually reddening eyes.
Yi Yao held on tighter.
“What do you mean? Yi Yao grabbed the broomstick and stood in front of him.”
“Nothing … they said I could give you money…” the boy lowered his eyes, his hands frozen in the air. His white shirt showed through his school uniform. It was extra clean, with not a bit of dirtiness.
“What do you mean?,” Yi Yao opened her eyes as large as possible. She didn’t want to break down, she didn’t want to blink and let out the stinging tears.
“They said if I gave you money, you would …” the boy lowered his head, and said nothing more.
(more…)

Warning: This translation is as abridged as possible and cuts out almost all romance. Read the original here, Part 1 here, Part 2 here, Part 2.2 here and Part 3 here.
Read Disclaimer here first!

In 6th grade, there was a shish-kabob stand outside of school. A man wearing an Uyghur hat was there everyday.

At that time, everyone in the school went to eat there, but Yi Yao didin’t.

Because Yi Yao had no allowance.

But she wouldn’t ask mother for any, neither.

Later one day, she found five yuan on the ground, waited until everyone in the school left, and then secretly went to buy five shish-kabobs.

After taking the first bite, she covered her mouth and cried.

This event had originally been lost in her memories for a long time. But on the road home, she remembered it agin. The feeling that day, on this night, came to her in full force.

The snowflakes in the sky became larger and larger, and soon the world was white.

Yi Yao couldn’t help but pedaled harder; the bike slipped and sled in the snow, going crookily in the direction of home.

She couldn’t tell whether her face was covered in snow or tears, but either way, it was dirty. Yi Yao reached up to wipe it off, and felt it was sticky and slimy.

She dropped her bike at the door of the courtyard, and ran toward home.

The freezing hands found the keys, put it in the keyhole and opened the door. The room was pitch black.

Yi Yao let out a sigh of relief, turned around and closed the door and turned back around. In the darkness, a sudden slap loudly hit her face.

“You still know to come back? Why didn’t you die outside?”

(more…)

"Why don't you buy me, give me money ... I'll sleep with you."

Warning: This translation is as abridged as possible and cuts out almost all romance. Read the original here, Part 1 here, Part 2 here and Part 2.2 here
Read Disclaimer here first!

Qi Ming stood in front of her. The street light in front shined perfectly on his face. He rubbed the already red eyes. He said, “Yi Yao, I don’t believe what they said. I don’t believe it.”
As if in the darkness, someone turned the switch, and the tears rolled out without force.
“You clearly believed it!” She dragged out her backpack from the bicycle basket and threw it toward Qi Ming.
Pencil case, textbook, notebook, cellphone, they all came out from the bag and fell on Qi Ming’s body. A pen slashed across his face, immediately leaving a line of blood.
Qi Ming didn’t move.
“You did believe it!” Throws again.
“You believed it…” Throws again and again, until there was only an empty backpack. The texture of the cotton softly hit his body. Qi Ming stood without moving, but felt like it was even more painful than before.
Again and again, the backpack hits his body.
It was as if something poked a hole in his body, and all his energy was slowly leaving through the hole.
Yi Yao fell on the ground. Even her cries are stifled, leaving only her shoulders shaking up and down.
Qi Ming kneeled and held her, pulling her into his embrace.
Like hugging an empty doll.
“Why don’t you buy me, give me money … I’ll sleep with you.”
“I’ll go to bed with you, as long as you give me money.” (more…)

Warning: This translation is as abridged as possible. Read the original here and Part 1 here
Read Disclaimer here first!

Qi Yao cleared the bowls on the table.
Mother laid on the sofa, watching an inane TV series. Next to her hand was a plate of sunflower seed. She opened them as she watched TV, leaving a large pile of shells on the ground.
Yi Yao finished watching the bowls and came out with a broomstick, thinking of how to ask mother for money. “I want money, give me money.” Phrases like that are equivalent to a declaration of war at home.
When the broomstick reached her feet, she reluctantly raised her feet, as if Yi Yao interrupted her watching.
Yi Yao moved the broomstick back and forth, then took a deep breath and said, “Mom, do we have any extra money…”

“What extra money? Money is never extra.” Classic Lin Huafeng tone of voice – mocking and cruel.
Yi Yao pushed aside the anger in her. Some seed shells fell between the sofa and the ground, and couldn’t be brushed away.
“Can’t you eat nicely? They’re all over the ground. You’re lucky you’re not the one cleaning up. Why can’t you put them on the table?”
“So what if you are cleaning up? Aiyou, is it too lowly for you? Do you really think you’re worth anything? I’m taking care of you for free. Sweeping the ground? You have to lick the ground if I ask you.”
“Be clear. What did I get for free?” Yi Yao drops the sweeper. “Dad pays the school fees, and give you money every month. Plus, I serve you food and drinks. Even if you hired a servant, you would’ve have had to pay her, I…”
Before she could finish speaking, a handful of sunflower seeds flew over. All over her hair and clothes were sunflower seeds.
Although they’re small  and light, and almost didn’t hurt at all when they hit the face, somewhere in the body, they caused real sharp pain.
Yi Yao brushes aside the sunflower seeds on her hair and said,”Just tell me, do we have any extra money at home. If yes, give them to me. Otherwise, just pretend I didn’t ask.”
“Look for anything of value and home and why don’t you just sell them! You might as well as sell me, too!”
Yi Yao smiled, and returned to her room. As she closed the door, she said to Lin Huafeng, “Haven’t you already been selling yourself?”
And then the door slammed.
A cup followed and hit the door, falling to pieces.

(more…)