"I said, what's wrong with you?"

Yang Shujue grew impatient. "We're all girls, what are you afraid of? It's not like we're going to take off all your clothes, just show your wounds."

"I, that's not what I meant."

Zhang Ailan shook her head, but tears fell down her face. "I'm afraid you'll all despise me."

As she spoke, she slowly rolled up her sleeves, revealing that the skin on her arms was red and purple, with rows of glaring scars.

"Your injury... was it from a beating?"

Peng Shiyu was utterly shocked.

Yang Shujue's eyes widened in surprise and astonishment. "Who beat you up like this? Who was so cruel as to do this to you?"

I saw someone weeping silently.

She immediately realized something, and her tone was filled with anger, "Was it your brother Zhang Aiguo who hit you?"

Tell me, your brother is a real jerk. He beat you up like this for a woman who hates him. Does he even have a brain?

You are his own sister, his blood sister from the same parents, and he treats you like this for an outsider. He's not human.

"No, it's not my brother."

Zhang Ailan wiped away her tears and explained, choking back sobs, "It's my mother..."

"Your mother? She hit you?"

Yang Shujue frowned, somewhat incredulous. "Why would she hit you for no reason, and so violently? Has she gone mad?"

"Is it because of your brother?"

Lin Jingyu asked softly, but her tone was full of certainty, "During the meeting, your dad slapped your brother twice. After your mom found out, did she blame you?"

"Lin Zhiqing, how... how did you know?"

Zhang Ailan looked completely incredulous.

"It's easy to guess. Your mother treats your brother like the apple of her eye, spoiling and indulging him without any limits. This is enough to show that if he gets beaten, your mother will definitely take her anger out on someone else."

Lin Jingyu looked at her with bright eyes and said with certainty, "She definitely won't be angry with your dad. As for Zhao Qiaoyan, she has your brother protecting her, and your mom can't possibly rush to the educated youth compound to beat or scold people."

Then the remaining person is you.

"Who told you to not only hit Zhao Qiaoyan, but you also publicly insulted your brother, causing him to get beaten up? So it's not surprising that your mother hit you to vent her anger."

Moreover, Lin Jingyu clearly remembered the plot about her in the novel.

Her mother, Wang Xuehua, forced Zhang Ailan to marry a disabled man from the city in order to demand a high dowry.

Unable to bear it any longer, Zhang Ailan jumped into the river and committed suicide.

She was discovered and rescued by the female lead, Yang Shujue.

This not only brought Yang Shujue a good reputation, but also helped Zhang Ailan escalate the situation.

It seems that Zhang Tieguang had to make a public promise to protect his family's reputation, that he would not force Zhang Ailan to marry a disabled person.

Zhang Ailan took the opportunity to escape marrying into that family, and also made her parents hate her as an unfilial daughter.

Although she eventually remarried, it's unknown whether she was doing well or not, and there are no further episodes about her in the book.

I wonder if there will be any more wedding-related stories like hers in the future...

"Waaaaah..."

Zhang Ailan cried again in sorrow.

She stopped hiding it and cried as she said, "Lin Zhiqing, you guessed right. My mother blames me for everything. She blames me for making my brother lose face and for causing him to be beaten... Waaah..."

What does this have to do with me? I was trying to protect him from being bullied by Zhao Qiaoyan, but he hit me for that disgusting woman, Zhao Qiaoyan.

My mother is even more unreasonable; she not only scolds me but also hits me. I really wish I were dead to avoid this living hell.

"I'm asking you, does your mother even have a brain? How can you blame yourself for this?"

Yang Shujue was furious when she heard her sobbing. "Anyone with eyes can see that it was your brother who was causing trouble for Zhao Qiaoyan. You were trying to protect your brother, but you got slapped twice by him instead."

You could say your brother couldn't distinguish right from wrong because of Zhao Qiaoyan, but your mother didn't help you teach your brother a lesson, and instead blamed you for something that had nothing to do with you.

I don't think she treats you like a daughter at all; she treats you worse than a stranger. It's a miracle to have a relative like that.

"Alright, stop making things worse."

Lin Jingyu gave Yang Shujue a wink.

He then gently comforted Zhang Ailan, "Comrade Zhang Ailan, don't cry anymore. It would be too much to risk your life for such trivial matters."

Every life is priceless; why should you trample on your own life for the sake of others?

I'll give you a piece of advice; remember it well…

"Lin, the educated youth~"

Zhang Ailan looked up, her eyes brimming with tears, and asked, "Wh-what are you saying?"

"If you're not even afraid of death, what else are you afraid of?"

"I……"

Zhang Ailan was stunned.

Yang Shujue clapped and cheered, "Jingyu is right, Zhang Ailan, you're not afraid of death, so why would you be afraid of anything else?"

If you're willing to give up everything to die, then you should learn to let go.

Is it too foolish of you to risk your life for someone who doesn't love you at all, someone who doesn't care about you?

In short, you must remember that some relatives are not worth sacrificing your life for.

The most important thing is for you to learn to love yourself. Don't live for others; isn't it better to live for yourself?

“I, I…”

Zhang Ailan was stunned by her words.

In such a short time, I couldn't understand what she was saying.

"I can't figure it out right now, but you should think about it again when you get back."

Seeing her confused and uneasy look, Lin Jingyu sighed inwardly.

Turning to Yang Shujue and Peng Shiyu beside him, he said, "You two stay here and help her apply the medicine. I'll go and tie up the firewood. The sun has already set, so we need to go back early."

This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading!