Chapter 299 Don't Go Back

"Mom, I've talked to my master. I'll stay in the town down below and learn his skills from him for a few years. I'm thinking... once I have a stable job, I'll find a local, honest and kind girl, get married, and have children. I'll invite you to the wedding then. That's all, Mom, I'm leaving."

After finishing his sentence, Zhang Laosan picked up his luggage, opened the door, and left without looking back.

Zheng Xiulan chased after him, shouting, "Third brother, once you're kicked out of this house, never come back..."

Zhang Laosan paused for a moment and hummed in response.

"Mom, I'll call you and Dad. I don't earn much, so I won't give it to you. I'm saving it to get married."

After saying that, he quickly walked away.

Zheng Xiulan leaned on the railing, watching him walk up the steps quickly, one by one. She was both angry and anxious, and she pounded on the railing, her voice trembling with worry.

“Third brother, how can you be so heartless? When have I ever wronged you? Tell me, why did you leave me without a word? Your eldest brother has talked to me about it several times. You took five thousand yuan to buy a job, and I never mentioned it to you. How could you be so cruel as to just leave like that…”

As Zheng Xiulan spoke, she thought of what her son looked like when he was a child, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Good heavens, what terrible things has she done?

The eldest son always has a long face and acts like he doesn't even see his mother. He leaves all the children to her, and these days she carries the children to and from get off work. Unlike those in lower-level positions who have offices, she has to carry her child and be with those people, and she has to listen to their cold words. She's having a really tough time.

The second son is like a firecracker; one sentence from him can be ten sentences in return, and every word he says is like a stab to the heart. He's always bringing up money, and he's always saying that she forced him to divorce his wife and ruined his marriage. If you push him too far, he'll ask you to introduce him to a graduate student so that she can support him financially!

Is it that she doesn't want to introduce him? No, it's that he doesn't want to!

She had argued with Old Man Zhang several times about this.

Old Zhang said, "Doesn't he realize that she's a graduate student, an only child, with a house prepared for her by her parents, and a good job coming back? Why would she be interested in a divorced man with little money?!"

What could she possibly do?!

None of them understood her. She thought she had an obedient and sensible third brother, but the third brother quietly did something big!

He left this family for good.

How could she not be heartbroken?!

Zheng Xiulan cried for a long time, watching her third brother pick up his bag and get on the bus. She watched the bus disappear from sight, still crying.

A neighbor saw this and exclaimed, "Hey, what are you crying about so early in the morning? Don't you feel unlucky?"

I'll cry for you, I'll cry for your whole family!

Zheng Xiulan wiped away her tears, spat at the man, and turned to go back into the house.

The man sneered, "Pah, serves you right."

Fan Liangyu got the news from Zhang Lao Er's harassing phone calls, and called Su Hongying with regret, saying, "What a pity, that kid is quite shrewd. It's good that he ran away quickly, otherwise the Zhang family would have been even more lively."

Thinking of the child the Zhang family had taken but hadn't treated well, Fan Liangyu's lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but then she didn't.

Forget it, telling her would only cause her unnecessary trouble.

Zheng Xiulan is the kind of person who would rather her child die than give it to Su Hongying.

Su Hongying was extremely annoyed by the Zhang family, so why should she let her know?

Fan Liangyu paused for a moment, then asked Su Hongying, "Now that things are settled, what are your plans for the future?"

"have."

Su Hongying laughed and said, "I've bought a train ticket to the South. My third brother said that the South has a developed economy and there are many profitable businesses to be had. I plan to stay there for a few years and make some money."

"How many years?" Fan Liangyu felt inexplicably uneasy and asked casually.

Su Hongying laughed, "It's hard to say, maybe in a few years, or maybe... he won't come back."

"Su Hongying".

Fan Liangyu frowned, feeling a momentary throbbing in his chest. Gripping the phone cord, he reminded her, "Your mother, your eldest brother, your third brother, your family... don't you want them anymore?"

Su Hongying remained silent for a while.

She sighed softly and said, "I... I have no face to ask for it back. I used to be so heartless. For a man, I abandoned my own mother and my family. My older brother called me and asked me to go back to see my third uncle. I was like I was bewitched. I yelled that I would only go back if my mother apologized to Zheng Xiulan. Do you think someone like that deserves to be forgiven?"

Fan Liangyu also fell silent; she didn't know what to say.

Neither of them spoke on the phone. After a long while, Fan Liangyu sighed and said, "This isn't called being heartless, this is..."

"That's called losing one's conscience; one's conscience has been eaten by dogs."

Su Hongying gave a self-deprecating laugh and said, "Words spoken are like water spilled; they can't be taken back. My mother... probably doesn't want to see me anymore, so I won't stay around and get in her way. You... work hard, and if you ever feel like quitting, come find me. I'll go and make something of myself first."

“…Okay, which day’s train ticket did you buy? I’ll come see you off,” Fan Liangyu said.

Su Hongying said no need, "You don't have time, and I don't want to say goodbye. That's it, I'm hanging up."

"Su Hongying!"

Fan Liangyu stopped her, smiling as he said, "I can't control what happened in the past, but to me, you... are my salvation. You taught me to fight back, to turn back when I've gone down the wrong path, and to stop me from being trapped by a scumbag for the rest of my life. For that, I remember your kindness. I... thank you a thousand times over! Take care in the future. Remember to call me if you need anything. I'll do my best to help you within my power!"

Su Hongying was stunned for a moment, glanced at the microphone, and then burst into laughter a few times. As she laughed, tears welled up in her eyes.

She said, "Okay, I've got it, Fan Liangyu. Keep moving forward. You can look back, but never go back."

"……The same to you."

After hanging up the phone, Su Hongying told the hotel staff she was checking out and went back to pack her things. She had a small bag with only a few clothes, most of which were bought for her by her mother when she was at her parents' home.

She hadn't bought a single new piece of clothing in over a year since marrying into the Zhang family.

How ironic.

Su Hongying took a deep breath, waited for the staff to finish checking the room, went to the front desk to collect her deposit, bought some things at the department store, and then took a ride to Li's parents' house.

When she arrived at the destination, it was already completely dark. She waited for a while until there was no more noise before walking to the door of Mr. and Mrs. Li's house.

I glanced outside, and under the cover of darkness, placed the items on the threshold.

They found Li Sange's house in the dark and put down the things they had bought.

When she returned, there were no cars on the road. She walked for a long time before she saw a taxi that was driving at night, and took it to Li Banxia's new courtyard.

She had never been there; the address was given to her by Su Laosan.

They told her to get a divorce and go home, but she was too ashamed to come back, yet she memorized the address perfectly.

It was too dark, and only the outline of the courtyard could be vaguely seen. A tree that grew taller than the courtyard wall had a few branches sticking out of the wall. Su Hongying felt a sense of familiarity when she saw it.

It's the wisteria tree that her mother liked.

She tiptoed to reach it, but couldn't touch it at first. She took a few steps back, ran up and jumped, and her fingertips touched it instantly.

Su Hongying's eyes instantly welled up with tears, as if reaching the wisteria tree was the only way to reach her mother.

But whether it's the same or different, she knows it better than anyone else.

Some things, once done wrong, can never be undone.

After circling the courtyard, Su Hongying stopped at the gate, took a paper package out of her bag, stuffed it into the crack of the door, and sat down at the gate, silently gazing at the horizon.