People often feel that there's nothing memorable about a moment, but when they look back, they realize that it has already become a memory.
I was born into the Zhao family, a reclusive clan that controls the underground businesses of the Dragon Kingdom. They are a powerful tool in the hands of the authorities, used to maintain order in the underground world.
The Zhao family's foundation is not as deep as that of other reclusive families, and there are some differences, but this does not prevent the families from interacting. However, they are just interacting and are not close.
It wasn't until my father's generation that there were subtle changes. As the eldest son of the Zhao family, my father didn't get along with my second uncle and the others, but he was on very good terms with the second master of the Xie family, which led to more frequent interactions between the Xie and Zhao families.
I was often taken by my father to visit the Xie family in the capital, and that's how I met Uncle Xie's child, Xiao Xingzhi.
Back then, Xiao Xingzhi had round, bright eyes and long, soft eyelashes. She was tiny, never cried or fussed, and was incredibly cute.
Perhaps it was because Xiao Xingzhi was so good-looking that I accepted him as my younger brother back then.
Aunt Zheng also teased Xiaoxingzhi, saying that he had an older sister.
I was also thinking of asking Uncle Xie for Xiao Xingzhi.
It seems that after being rejected, she went back and pestered her father to give her a child like Xiao Xingzhi.
The father looked at the mother, seemingly seeking her opinion.
I remember my mother just rolled her eyes at my father and didn't say anything.
I am three years older than Xiaoxing. When I saw him again, he was already able to speak, calling out "Sister Jue, Sister Jue" in a soft and cute voice.
At first, I thought he was calling me "sister," but he mispronounced "jue" because he couldn't pronounce it clearly.
Later, Xiao Xingzhi said, "Jin also means beautiful jade, and Yu Jin means two jades, which together form the character 'Jue' (珏), hence the name 'Sister Jue'."
Because I am older than the younger generation of the Zhao family, they all call me Sister Yujin, except for Xiaoxingzhi.
Well, okay, Xiao Xingzhi always knows how to make his older sister happy.
Perhaps it was his sincerity that made me treat him differently from my peers in the Zhao family. Aside from when my parents took us out together, I would secretly seek him out to play.
Later, my parents died in a car accident. Coincidentally, my grandfather left for a while because of the Nancheng incident. Overnight, my status in the Zhao family changed drastically.
Simply put, they are inferior to servants.
After the father passed away, no one in the Zhao family could take charge, and internal strife broke out. They did several foolish things, all of which hurt the Xie family, thus creating enmity between the Zhao and Xie families.
However, my second and third uncles were unusually united in forcing me to hand over what belonged to my father. When I refused, they locked me in the courtyard and wouldn't let me out.
I'm waiting, waiting for the day when the old man comes back and seeks justice for me.
Later, the old man returned, and my hopes were dashed by his indifference.
Knowing the patriarch's attitude towards me, before the elders could react, my peers took the initiative.
My second uncle's son, Zhao Kui, brought a group of people outside my house. They insulted me and even dragged my parents into it, all to disgust me.
My father treated them well when he was alive, and he always talked about his family. Now, however, he has fallen to the point of complaining about them.
I was so angry that I taught them a lesson and beat them up pretty badly.
No one dared to bother me anymore, but I became known as a madman by the Zhao family. I think they wanted me to go mad, and if things continued like this, I would go mad too.
Later, I could still hear my fellow clansmen discussing Xiao Xingzhi in the courtyard, as well as elders cursing him.
The insults were very vulgar; they wouldn't dare say those things outside. Xiao Xingzhi probably won't hear them, but I feel sorry for him.
At the time, I didn't know what had happened; I learned the whole story from a casual conversation among the maids.
The insults I received from my clansmen reached Xiao Xingzhi's ears. He dealt with all of them, and judging from their tone, Xiao Xingzhi was also injured. They even said that I had implicated him.
I know clearly how I felt at that time; I felt powerless, and for the first time, I felt so weak.
One time, Xiao Xingzhi came and knocked on my courtyard door. He wanted to take me back to the Xie family to take care of me.
I can't go out. The Zhao family and the Xie family have already fallen out. If I go with Xiao Xingzhi, it will not only damage Xiao Xingzhi's reputation, but also affect Uncle Xie and the others' prestige in the Xie family. I know they don't care and aren't afraid of these rumors, but I can't do that.
I pretended not to hear Xiao Xingzhi knocking and stood behind the door listening to the conversation between Xiao Xingzhi and Uncle Fu.
"Third Young Master, that madman has no regard for the old friendship between the Xie family and won't appreciate it. Why should you and Second Master do this?"
"Uncle Fu, don't say that. Sister Jue isn't that kind of person. Those decisions were made by her uncles. She has no say in her current situation, and even if she were to vent her anger, it wouldn't be directed at a young girl like her."
“You know what she just went through. Her grandmother died young, her parents just passed away, her grandfather doesn’t care about her, and the relatives around her are all wolves and tigers. Anyone in that kind of environment would go crazy.”
"Besides, you know the people Sister Jue beat up. They're all just good at talking big. It's likely they were the ones who provoked Sister Jue with their rude remarks first, which is why she took action."
"But..." Uncle Fu was probably worried that those rumors would hurt Xiao Xingzhi.
"Uncle Fu, I know what you want to say. Don't worry, this will only happen this once. I won't do it again next time."
"All right"
I still didn't open the door, even though I was already in tears behind it.
A paper airplane flew into my yard, and only then did Xiao Xingzhi's footsteps fade away.
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
