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Chapter 54
Zhi Xia rode ahead alone, her nerves highly strung, never looking back.
Only when she noticed the lack of sound behind did she tentatively ask, "Fourth brother, are you tired?"
Zhi Xia called out several times, but there was no response. Only then did she belatedly realize what was happening.
Her nerves tensed up again, but luckily she did not fall this time, managing to ride steadily.
But as she turned a corner, some figures suddenly appeared.
"Be careful..." Zhi Xia cried out in fright, but it was too late to dodge and she collided with them.
Pei Jing was also surprised. He was walking here with Second Uncle's family when Zhi Xia suddenly came riding towards them on her bike.
Zhi Xia quickly tried to brace the falling bike with her feet, but being too short, her foot twisted as it touched the ground, sending piercing pain through her. She felt sure she was about to take a tumble.
But the next moment, she fell into a warm embrace.
Zhi Xia's body fell into Pei Jing's arms as he caught her. Her bike crashed to the ground with a clatter.
An Zhi Ang rushed over to help Zhi Xia out of Pei Jing's arms, "Little sister, are you alright? Did you get hurt from the fall?"
Feeling embarrassed by her own clumsiness, Zhi Xia said, "I'm fine, I just twisted my ankle a bit."
"Let me take a look," said Pei Jing. Spotting a stone step by a nearby house's door, he called An Zhi Ang, "Carry her over there to sit down first, I'll see how badly she's injured."
"Alright," An Zhi Ang readily obliged.
Pei Jing's Second Uncle Pei Sheng and his wife were there with their eldest daughter Pei Meng. An Zhi Ang asked them, "This is Zhi Xia right?"
Although their homes were not far apart, Zhi Xia had not yet visited the Pei family, so had not met Pei Sheng and the others.
An Zhi Ang nodded, "Second Uncle, yes this is Zhi Xia. I was teaching her to ride a bike, she's not good at it yet, that's why she bumped into you all. Don't take offense."
"That's fine, we were on our way to see your grandfather anyway," Pei Sheng replied.
With all eyes on her, Pei Jing held Zhi Xia's foot in his hand. Given their prior relationship, she felt a peculiar sensation, both shy and embarrassed.
"It's sprained, bear with it for now, I'll help you back," said Pei Jing.
No sooner had he finished speaking than he suddenly exerted force on her foot.
Snap! Searing pain shot up from Zhi Xia's ankle and she recoiled, a stifled moan escaping her throat.
"Try moving it, does it feel better?" Pei Jing said, seeing her pained expression.
The intense pain slowly subsided, leaving just a mild ache. Zhi Xia gingerly moved her ankle and found it much improved.
"It's a lot better already, thank you," she smiled gratefully at Pei Jing.
Pei Jing stood up and told An Zhi Ang, "I remember Uncle An has medicinal wine. Take her back and massage it firmly with the wine. It shouldn't affect walking tomorrow, but best to rest it today."
"Got it. Thanks Uncle Pei, please help me get Zhi Xia over, I'll take her back first." An Zhi Ang righted the fallen bike and straddled it. His long legs allowed him to brace himself on the ground.
Jiang Su, Pei Sheng's wife, felt it was inappropriate for the young uncle to be supporting a grown girl, despite the close ties between their families. Though not blood-related, it still seemed improper.
She took the initiative to step in, calling her daughter over too. "Let me help Zhi Xia, Meng Meng, don't just stand there, come help."
Together they assisted Zhi Xia onto the bike. After Zhi Xia's thanks, An Zhi Ang took her away.
Watching their retreating figures, Jiang Su remarked, "She takes after her mother, quite pretty and gentle, good temper too. My nephew from my maternal side is decent enough, I'll have a chat with her mother another day."
With a frown, Pei Jing said, "They're still young, I'm afraid it's not appropriate."
Missing his implication, Jiang Su said, "My nephew's not much older, a nice match for the youngsters. Let them get acquainted first, if suitable they can settle down later, that's good too."
Pei Jing's gaze at Jiang Su made her feel oddly wrong-footed.
"What is it? My family is poorer than the Ans I know, but not that bad right?" She genuinely liked Zhi Xia and was well-meaning in her intention, unlike if it was An Mei Yun.
Pei Jing began, "That's not what I meant, I meant that..."
But Pei Sheng cut him off, "Now that you mention it, I think my nephew Jian Guo would be quite suitable too. Our families are so close, if the kids got together, we'd be family twice over."
It was this kind of thinking, along with pressure from Eldest Uncle's family, that led to his daughter Pei Meng being sent down to the countryside instead of his nephew Pei Jian Guo, as originally planned.
No wonder his wife and daughter resented him, giving him the cold shoulder.
Pei Jing smiled mirthlessly, "Even Second Uncle thinks this way, no wonder Eldest Aunt holds that view. But Second Uncle, have you forgotten, it's exactly because Jian Guo is the sole boy of the third Pei generation that he should take on his responsibilities and protect his younger sisters. Not hide behind them and let them shield him. A man raised this way, how can he uphold the Pei family line?"
Pei Jing realized on this visit home that the biggest issue was how spoiled Pei Jian Guo was by the family.
Not quite spoiled rotten, but lacking grit as a man.
Amid heated arguments about being sent down, Pei Jian Guo just stood by watching his parents battle it out, not saying a word.
Finally, he used his status as the only boy of the young generation to shirk the duty originally meant for him.
In the early 1970s, while people mouthed slogans about women holding up half the sky and gender equality, the mindset of men superior, women inferior still lingered.
Pei Sheng and Jiang Su had only daughters. Jiang Su was willing to swallow minor slights, but this concerned their daughter's future, so she was furious.
Especially when Eldest Uncle pompously declared that a family's lineage depends on its sons, implying she was inferior for not having a son, and they would have to rely on nephews in old age.