067 The Six Sisters of Old Sha’s Family

High Court
Old Sha Family Residence
Evening, the sky gradually darkens.
The ten members of Old Sha's family, all mice, sit around the dining table.
To Old Sha’s left sits his first wife, Susan; to his right, his second wife, Orlisa. The seven children, led by Grayley, sit together.
Apart from Grayley and his father Old Sha, the remaining family members at the table are all female.
“Why is there so little food tonight? How is that enough for the whole family?”
Susan complains, unable to tolerate any decline in their quality of life.
“This is quite enough. It’s plenty to fill everyone’s stomach. If you want more dishes, go make them yourself in the kitchen.”
“Bang!”
Susan throws her chopsticks onto the table.
“How can anyone eat like this? Just this one plate of meat—how are we supposed to divide it?”
“You won’t starve if you eat less meat. Good chance to lose weight.”
Old Sha doesn’t even glance at Susan, savoring his meal with gusto.
“You heartless old bastard, you only care about yourself! When you married me, your words were honeyed; now look at you! Like a block of wood all day long.”
Susan trembles with rage as Old Sha ignores her, her temper exploding instantly.
“Lately, the tribe’s been campaigning against corruption. It’s better for our family to keep a low profile. Victor is looking for examples to make, but things will ease up soon.”
Old Sha explains helplessly. His work is exhausting enough; when he’s home, he craves peace and has no energy left for arguments.
Susan, who never works and spends her days idly, cares nothing for these concerns, always brimming with energy at home.
Neither Orlisa nor any of the seven children—none of the mice—intervene. They’re long accustomed to scenes like this.
Aside from Grayley, who sits isolated in a corner, Old Sha’s six daughters cluster in groups, chatting and laughing non-stop.
They’re immune to their parents’ quarrels. Across the table, Susan continues to harangue Old Sha.
Orlisa and her son Grayley focus solely on their food, while the six daughters whisper to one another, discussing daily life in the tribe.
This is Old Sha’s family routine; they have long since grown used to one another.
“Lucy, I heard you’ve been seeing someone lately?”
“Who says so? That’s not true!”
Lucy blushes, nibbling on her bone with great decorum.
“I saw it myself. You and that brother of Karl—what’s his name, Edward—in the alley…”
“No way! You must’ve mistaken someone else, Miranda!”
Lucy hurriedly covers Miranda’s mouth, her cheeks flushed red as ripe apples.
Lucy is the fourth daughter; Miranda is the fifth. They are the closest of sisters, sharing everything.
Old Sha glances up, then resumes eating. He’s no longer interested in meddling in his children’s romantic affairs, considering it a failure of Susan as a mother.
He’s met the young Edward before; the boy seems decent enough, so Old Sha turns a blind eye.
“Hmph!”
“I’m full!”
Susan throws down her chopsticks and heads to her room.
Soon, Old Sha finishes his meal and leaves the dining room without a word, hands clasped behind his back.
Orlisa follows him out of the house.

After Old Sha and Susan leave, the young female mice at the table abandon all pretense and speak loudly, paying no attention to Grayley.
Don’t be fooled by how well-behaved Old Sha’s daughters are in his presence; once he leaves, their talk is as bawdy as any group of male college dormmates.
“Look, I’m surrounded by mountains!”
The eldest daughter, Julie, proudly thrusts out her chest.
“Lucy, take a look! Tell us what you think!”
Lucy, unashamed, sizes her up.
“Emmmm… impressive waves, but not as enchanting as my secret paradise.”
“I don’t believe it!”
“I want to try!”
“Me too!”
Her sisters crowd around Lucy, inspecting her.
“Wow, it really is a secret paradise!”
“Lucy, how do you keep your paradise so well-maintained?”
“Hehe, not telling you!”
“I know! Your boyfriend must be infusing your paradise with magic every day. You’re the only one among us with a boyfriend!”
Third sister Vera says, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Wow, Lucy, you’re so lucky!”
“No wonder you’re so gentle lately!”
“You’re awful!”
Lucy covers her mouth, blushing.
“Look at mine, look at the rippling waves!”
Youngest sister Helen lifts her shirt.
“That’s a washboard!”
“What washboard? At least a washboard has some contours—yours is more like a racetrack!”
“You’re so mean, picking on me!”
Helen feels herself on the verge of tears, unable to bear the teasing.
“There, there, little sister, yours could rival the hills of Horseshoe Mountain.”
Julie hurries to comfort Helen.
…
“Second sister, you’re shameless. I heard you’re the class beauty at school?”
Scheming Vera bats her big eyes, always ready to stir things up.
“That’s just… just… an empty reputation!”
Second sister Olidia laughs seductively, her captivating almond eyes deadly.
“Ahahaha!”
“You’re such a humble-bragger!”
“Haha!”
“Naughty!”
“I also heard several boys in your class fight over you.”

Lucy, the fourth sister, laughs wildly.
“Rumors can’t be trusted—they’re just boys with nowhere to vent their energy!”
“You’re so cunning, second sister. You’ve built a pond and raise fish!”
“I haven’t done anything, honestly. Don’t make me nervous all the time.”
“Haha, you little flirt!”
“Not at all! I’m pure jasmine tea!”
“Hahahahaha!”
The dining room is filled with laughter and a lively, cheerful atmosphere…

“Ahem, ahem, ahem, ahem…”
As the six sisters exchange tea banter, their eldest brother Grayley keeps his head down, hoping to finish quickly and disperse.
But when Vera claims to be “pure jasmine tea,” Grayley chokes and can’t help but cough.
The boisterous chatter suddenly halts as the incongruous male voice disrupts the mood. The dining room falls silent, the air thick with awkwardness.
The six sisters realize Grayley has been sitting quietly in the corner all along…
Perhaps his presence is so negligible that after Orlisa left with Old Sha, the sisters felt as if only the six of them remained. Grayley had simply been collectively… ignored…
Now, the six sisters finally notice their brother, and recalling their recent antics, they feel a wave of embarrassment…
Grayley sees his six beautiful sisters all staring at him and nods awkwardly, smiling.
Though siblings, the sisters treat their overweight brother like a stranger in public.
They share no common interests, can’t play together, and are not close…
“What’s with your coughing?”
Third sister Vera confronts Grayley, hands on hips.
“Nothing… I just choked.”
Grayley stammers.
“Was it my fault you choked?”
Vera’s gaze turns fierce, a different mouse entirely, pressing him hard.
“Uh… no! I didn’t mean that! You misunderstood!”
Grayley realizes his mistake and quickly gestures to clarify.
“Sisters, get him!”
As Vera gives the signal, all six sisters pounce…
They raise their fists and unleash a barrage of girl power on Grayley!
Vera, the third sister, even delivers a series of face slaps.
Five minutes later, Grayley, who only dared to cover his head and flee, never fighting back, is thoroughly beaten by his six ferocious sisters, left sprawled on the floor.
“Listen carefully! If you dare to repeat anything you heard today, we’ll ruin you together!”
Julie, the eldest, steps on Grayley’s groin and spits out each word with venom.
…