The Cost of Friendship and Sibling Rivalry

By around ten in the morning, the class affairs had been mostly wrapped up, and the homeroom teacher dismissed everyone, calling only Ouyang Lan to stay behind briefly. Since he disliked crowded halls, Shen Lang lingered in the classroom until most of the students had already gone. Once the corridor was quiet, he picked up his bag, unlocked his bicycle, and was about to head out when he heard someone calling him from behind. He looked back, noticing his brother and sister walking over from a distance. He hesitated for a moment but decided to wait.

Meanwhile, Ouyang Lan returned to the empty classroom to retrieve her bag. As she headed toward the school gate, she spotted Shen Zheng and Shen Nan nearby. She had already met them briefly that morning when the class was selecting the student leaders, so they recognized each other, albeit without much interaction. Ouyang Lan had been appointed as the head of the Young Pioneers, while Shen Zheng and Shen Nan had been named assistant leaders and squad leaders, respectively. Even though everyone appeared cordial on the surface, they all knew it was more for show—such courtesy was little more than a social formality.

As Ouyang Lan passed by, she nodded politely at the siblings, exchanged a small smile, and continued on her way. Not far from the school gate, she found Uncle Zhao's car waiting, arranged by her grandmother to ensure her safety as she adjusted to the unfamiliar city. Though she had initially resisted the idea of a chaperone, she admitted it was convenient, especially as she wasn't fully familiar with the area. As she entered the car and caught sight of the siblings through the window, she felt a strange pang of recognition for the boy pushing his bike. Where had she seen him before?

It wasn't until she reached home that realization dawned: the boy was her classmate, the one who had sat aloof that morning, gazing out the window with a look of indifference even as she was introduced to the class. "What an arrogant little guy," she muttered to herself, chuckling at the memory of his distant expression.

Back at the school gate, Shen Lang addressed his siblings, who were each offering him smiles and gestures of exaggerated enthusiasm. "So, what's Dad made you two do this time?" he asked, cutting straight to the point. "Or maybe you should wait until we're at home to talk about it? I still need to pick up some groceries. Don't worry; I'll be around this afternoon." He glanced at Shen Nan with mild annoyance. "And can you get off my bike seat now?"

With a huff, Shen Nan climbed off, her face tinged pink from embarrassment. "Well, I want cucumbers and tomatoes for lunch," she announced, striking a tone that was both insistent and oddly bashful.

Without glancing back, Shen Lang pedaled off, calling, "Put in your orders next time; extra items are coming out of your allowance." As he disappeared down the road, Shen Nan stamped her foot in frustration, her pout a mixture of irritation and reluctant amusement. Shen Zheng snickered and patted her shoulder. "All right, all right, let's go home. You know, we'll need him to cooperate this afternoon if we're going to pull this off."

When they arrived home, Shen Lang was already busy in the kitchen, perched on a small stepstool as he cooked. Watching him, Shen Nan couldn't help but sigh, "Brother, don't you think things would be easier if we managed the family budget ourselves? After all, we handled things fine when we were class treasurers. We're not exactly incompetent."

Shen Zheng nearly choked on his drink, pulling away as if he'd been burned. He reached over to feel her forehead, playfully worried. "You're not running a fever, are you? Managing finances is one thing, but think about it: if you're in charge, he'll still have to cook. I'll admit, you're more than qualified to handle the budget—but I'll be the first to jump ship if I have to take over his chores too."

Stifling a smile, Shen Nan pouted, "Just you wait. In two years, I'll make him pay for all of this." She turned towards the kitchen. "Little brother, is lunch ready yet? I'm starving. Can I have a taste first?"

Throughout lunch, Shen Lang observed his siblings whispering and exchanging glances. He pretended not to notice, waiting until the meal was over and the table was cleared. Finally, he poured himself a cup of hot water and leaned back. "All right, spit it out. You've been scheming since you walked through the door, but I'm not nearly as patient as you two. So, who's going to tell me?"

Shen Zheng sighed and took the lead. "We both want bikes. It would make getting to and from school so much easier. But Dad only agreed to cover part of the cost, so we still need a fair bit of cash. Apart from Dad, you're the only one who has that kind of money. So, we're hoping you can help."

Shen Lang nodded. "Sure, I'd be happy to lend you the money. I'm your little brother, after all." He leaned forward, his expression neutral. "You have two options. The first is to take a loan from me. I'll cover whatever you're short, but you'll have to pay it back with interest. Since we're family, I'll keep it modest—five percent per month."

Shen Nan scowled. "Five percent? Isn't that a little much for family?"

Shen Lang tilted his head, feigning innocence. "Not at all. I'm already being generous. Look, here's how it works: if you borrow 200 yuan from me, you'll owe me 210 yuan by the end of the first month. If you still can't repay it, it'll be 220.5 the next month, then 231.525, and so on. Simple."

Shen Nan's hands balled into fists. "Fine, then tell me how much it'll add up to if we take ten months to pay it back. Just give me the total—no decimals! And honestly, are you trying to bankrupt us?"

Shen Lang disappeared briefly, returning with a calculator. He spent a few moments pressing buttons before finally looking up with a cool smile. "It'll come to about 325 yuan. Not that much, right?" He shrugged nonchalantly. "Of course, you don't have to borrow from me. I'm not forcing anyone. Think of it as a little lesson in high-interest loans. Better to learn about it from me than get taken advantage of by someone else. Just looking out for you."

As he announced the figure, Shen Nan looked ready to lunge at him, while Shen Zheng held her back. Still fuming, she spat, "So what's the second option?"

"Option two is simple. You each pick out a bike within a budget of 120 percent of the cost of mine. I'll buy them for you. In return, though, you'll have to help with the household chores. We all have our responsibilities—I keep the living room, Dad's room, and I cook. You two each get one of those. I'll be happy to hand it over."

Both Shen Zheng and Shen Nan stared at him, realizing they'd have to either fork over interest or take on extra work. The decision weighed heavily on them.

"Think it over," Shen Lang added, draining his cup with a smirk. "If you've made up your minds by this afternoon, we'll head out and pick your bikes today."

Back in her own home, Ouyang Lan replayed her day in her mind, recalling Shen Lang's nonchalant demeanor and how he hadn't once spared her a second glance.