Time flies, and soon it was time for Xie Yuanyuan to go to the countryside.

Although things seemed peaceful at home during this time, everyone had a thorn in their side, but no one said it.

They sent their capable eldest son to the countryside.

Where does this leave him with his pride?!

How could Xie Daguo make a mistake? Xie Yan is a complete ingrate.

He glared at Xie Yuanyuan and said loudly, "The educated youth office just contacted me a couple of days ago. You better get to the countryside right now."

"Since you miss your good older brother so much, go find him!" His voice was filled with determination and ruthlessness!

Xie Yuanyuan shuddered at the sound.

She turned to look at Xie Ting, then at her mother who was weeping, and laughed sarcastically.

Her smile carried a hint of bitterness and helplessness. At this moment, she finally understood Xie Yan. Before, she herself was the one who benefited from the situation and couldn't see the power dynamics in the family.

In that instant, she finally understood: Xie Ting was the true darling of this family! Anyone who threatened his interests was a sacrifice.

She gave a bitter smile and said, "Okay! I will go to the countryside, don't worry!" Her voice carried a hint of determination and utter disappointment.

She wiped her face, her fingertips stained with blood and tears. As she turned, she bumped into the metal mirror by the door. She saw herself in the mirror: a swollen left cheek, disheveled braids, but with a pair of eyes exactly like Xie Yan's—eyes filled with disappointment and burning with anger.

She tugged at the corner of her mouth, pulling at the wound on her face. The pain reminded her of what had happened that day, making it even more vivid in her memory.

She turned and ran away without looking back, tears welling up in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall.

He ran all the way to the supply depot and saw Xie Duoduo working there. Tears welled up in his eyes.

She stood at the door, watching Xie Duoduo's busy figure, feeling wronged.

Xie Duoduo was wiping the counter when someone next to her reminded her that she saw her younger sister standing at the door crying, and her cheeks were obviously swollen from being hit.

Her heart sank, and she quickly asked Sister Zhang next to her to watch the counter while she ran out.

When Xie Yuanyuan saw her sister, tears welled up in her eyes. She hugged her sister and went from silently weeping to crying loudly and aggrievedly, as if she wanted to cry out all the grievances she had suffered during this time.

In the end, she cried until her body trembled slightly in Xie Duoduo's arms, her tears soaking Xie Duoduo's thick cotton coat.

After she finished crying, she choked back tears and whispered the whole story to her.

After listening, Xie Duoduo sighed heavily, "Alright, stop crying. You're all all mushy now, you're not pretty anymore."

He pulled her to the staff rest area at the back, saying, "You sit here and rest while I wait for you. I'll take you to a state-run restaurant for dinner after get off work, okay?"

Xie Yuanyuan clung tightly to Xie Duoduo's clothes, looking around anxiously.

Xie Duoduo patted her head. "It's okay. No one will be coming here for the time being. You can rest here."

"There's a sink here. Why don't you go wash your face and tidy yourself up first?"

After confirming that no one was around, Xie Yuanyuan gradually relaxed.

After washing her face and getting herself ready, she sat there in a daze.

Xie Duoduo would come over to check on her from time to time, and only when she made sure she was still sitting there safely would she feel at ease.

After Xie Duoduo got off work, she asked someone to pass on a message to her in-laws, saying that she was going back to her parents' home today. Then she took her younger sister to a state-run restaurant and ordered braised pork, which Xie Yuanyuan had always wanted to eat.

Soothed by the delicious food, Xie Yuanyuan felt a little better, but she still didn't want to go back to her home for the time being. So, Xie Yuanyuan took her to stay at the guesthouse and returned to the Xie family home herself.

After Chen Guihua explained the situation, Xie Duoduo sighed. Both her children were her children, and Xie Ting was also her younger brother. She understood her parents' actions, but no matter what, it was Xie Yuanyuan who had been wronged.

Moreover, judging from this situation, she really is going to the countryside this year!

Xie Duoduo was filled with helplessness and worry. She looked at Chen Guihua, her voice choked with emotion, "Mom, is it really impossible for me to find another job?"

Even a temporary one will do!

She knew what Xie Yuanyuan's going to the countryside meant; she might never be able to come back in this lifetime.

Xie Yan is a perfect example; she didn't want Xie Yuanyuan to go to the countryside.

She spoke again, "You know, Yuanyuan is beautiful. I'm afraid she might encounter some misfortune after she goes to the countryside."

Chen Guihua sighed, tears welling up in her eyes, "We can't bear to part with Yuanyuan either! But you know, we really don't have the money to buy her another job right now."

Her voice carried a hint of helplessness and sorrow, as if she were telling the story of this family's predicament.

Xie Duoduo understood that this was the situation.

She sighed helplessly and said to Chen Guihua beside her, "Mom, can you talk to Dad and tell him not to hit people so easily?"

“Yuanyuan is already a big girl, how can you keep hitting her? And hitting her in the face, that must be so hurtful to her self-esteem!”

"It hasn't been that long! This is already twice."

Chen Guihua sighed as well, her face full of pain and regret. She gently patted Xie Duoduo's hand and said, "You know your dad's fiery temper. Yuanyuan always says things that stab him in the heart."

"If the situation hadn't been so urgent, and your dad had always doted on Yuanyuan, never even once hitting her when she was little, how could he possibly hit her now!"

"Those two slaps hurt more than if they had hit me!"

As she spoke, Chen Guihua's eyes reddened slightly. "You should try to persuade her tonight to stop going against her father. Fathers and daughters don't hold grudges overnight."

Xie Duoduo nodded silently, her heart heavy as if filled with lead, and dragged her heavy steps back to the guesthouse.

The streets outside were deserted, the streetlights cast a dim yellow glow, and occasionally one or two stray cats would wander around in the corners, making weak meows, as if they too were sighing for the family's conflicts.

In the dimly lit corridor of the guesthouse, the incandescent bulbs emitted a faint and flickering light, their shades covered in dust, much like her heavy heart at that moment.

Xie Duoduo composed herself at the door before turning around and going inside.

In the guesthouse room, the two sisters lay on the bed, surrounded by a quiet environment where only their soft breathing could be heard.

Xie Duoduo gently hugged Xie Yuanyuan, and the two began to whisper to each other.

That night, the two sisters opened their hearts to each other and talked about many things, from childhood anecdotes to current family conflicts. Tears mingled with whispers, spreading through the quiet night.

The next morning, soft sunlight streamed through the cracks in the window and onto the bed. With her sister's company and encouragement, Xie Yuanyuan seemed to have calmed down a lot. She packed her things and set off on her way home.