"Shut up!" Du Jianshan stepped forward and grabbed Li Fuqiang by the collar. "You won't admit it, huh? Fine, Xu Ergouzi from town is still alive. He confessed in the labor camp that you gave him cigarette coupons and instructed him to frame me. He still recognizes your face!"

Li Fuqiang's face turned deathly pale in an instant: "You...you're talking nonsense!"

"Then let's go! We'll confront them right now at the supply and marketing cooperative!" Du Jianshan's voice boomed like thunder. "Do you dare?"

"No! No!" Liu Xiuqin rushed over to stop Du Jianshan. "Jianshan, I'm begging you, please stop making a scene... I'm old, I can't take any more of this..."

"You're not worthy to beg me!" Du Jianshan shook her off and said coldly, "I'm telling you right now, if you dare to come looking for me again or try to take advantage of me even a little bit, I'll show the whole village what kind of people your family is! I, Du Jianshan, am cutting all ties with you from today onwards!"

After saying that, he turned and left, his back view resolute.

Behind her, Liu Xiuqin collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face, murmuring, "It's all my fault, it's all my fault... But why did your father make me protect Fuqiang before he died..."

As the crowd gradually dispersed, Aunt Zhang shook her head and sighed, "In this world, the most hurtful people aren't enemies, but family members..."

The next morning, Du Jianshan carried a hunting rifle, dry food, and a water bottle, and headed alone towards the mountains.

As he passed the town entrance, the blacksmith Liu Ergou waved to him and said, "Seeing the mountains? Heading into the mountains again?"

"Hmm," Du Jianshan responded, without stopping.

"There's been some activity in the mountains these past few days. I heard that golden-backed boars have been spotted. Be careful!"

“Perfect timing, that’s exactly what I was looking for.”

The blacksmith's eyelids twitched: "You really dare? That beast bit two of the Lin brothers to death last year—"

“If I don’t hit it, it will bite me.” Du Jianshan’s lips curled into a cold smile. “If we want to live, we have to be ruthless first.”

After saying that, he stepped into the forest. The wind blew against his face, and the grass was covered with dew. In the unknown depths of the forest ahead, danger and hope were lurking.

"Mom, do you even believe what you're saying?"

Du Jianshan stared into Liu Xiuqin's eyes, his tone like a sharp awl piercing her heart.

"You say both are your flesh and blood, but why do you only care about Li Fuqiang's future? He got into trouble, and you made me take the blame! No matter how nasty his words were, you endured it and protected him, but what about me? Aren't I your own son too?!"

"I..." Liu Xiuqin tried to explain, her voice trembling, but she couldn't utter a single word.

"That day you knelt down and begged me to take the blame, saying that Fuqiang's passing the worker-peasant-soldier exam was the family's hope, that I was healthy and clear-headed, and that I would be fine after a few years in prison..." Du Jianshan shook his head with a cold smile. "Do you think I don't remember? That day you were kowtowing and cursing me for my bad luck, saying that I was born a worthless good-for-nothing! Do you think I'm really stupid and can't understand?"

"I... I was just saying that in anger... Mom was just being impulsive..."

"Getting impatient? You're in such a hurry to send me to the detention center?" Du Jianshan approached step by step, his eyes sharp as knives. "Do you remember? I was beaten three times in prison, needed twelve stitches, and the wound on my back still aches. You say it's just out of anger, but did you even come to visit me once? Did you bring me a winter coat?"

"I...I..." Liu Xiuqin's tears streamed down her face, her hands gripping the hem of her clothes tightly, her lips trembling so much she couldn't speak.

“You didn’t come. I remember it clearly. It was Aunt Yu who brought me these cotton-padded trousers. She took them from her own son, saying she was afraid I’d get too cold.” Du Jianshan clenched his fists tightly. “Didn’t you say Fuqiang was the family’s hope? But how has he repaid you? Where is he now? Does he even know who his mother is?”

“He…he has his reasons. He said he’s afraid of being a burden to you, that’s why he’s not going home…” Liu Xiuqin tried to explain, but her voice was so weak it was almost inaudible.

"A burden?" Du Jianshan laughed angrily. "He hides in the city as a small contractor, living a life of luxury, lying to you that he's 'afraid of burdening his family,' but do you know what he's doing in the city? He mortgaged your name to get money to open an illegal workshop, and when things go wrong, he blames everything on you. I'm the one who cleaned up your mess!"

"Ah?!" Liu Xiuqin's face turned deathly pale, her legs went weak, and she almost collapsed to the ground. "He...he didn't say...he just..."

"He's just lying to you!" Du Jianshan interrupted her, his tone full of sarcasm. "Aren't you going to wake up? You've always thought you're protecting a filial son, but actually you're protecting a parasite that sucks your blood!"

The room was eerily quiet.