"What is it? Tell me." Several old men looked at Xing Zhaozhao in unison.
Xing Zhaozhao pointed to the place where the commotion had happened the day before yesterday: "Weren't there two people fighting there that day? It was that ungrateful son who ran away with his ungrateful father, and then he found out that his biological mother had demolition compensation money, so he ran back to bother his biological mother. Do you know what that old lady's surname is? Isn't it Hao?"
The old men looked at each other in bewilderment.
They were too busy watching the spectacle to really understand the details.
"Is your surname Hao?"
"I don't think so."
"I think so."
"I don't remember that."
Xing Zhaozhao: "..."
The old men talked for a long time, but couldn't reach a conclusion.
"Why are you asking this?" they turned to ask Xing Zhaozhao.
Xing Zhaozhao has been making up a lot of lies lately, and she can come up with any lie without thinking: "I saw the excitement the day before yesterday, and when I got home I told my elders about it. After listening to it, my elders felt that the plot sounded familiar, and it seemed that a similar thing had happened to a distant relative that they hadn't contacted in a long time. So they asked me to come and inquire to see if it was that person."
"Oh, is that so? We really don't know anything about this. We just overheard some gossip, so we don't know the details. I'll go find someone who knows for you."
After saying that, the old man went to a group of elderly women who were wearing cheongsams and gracefully practicing their catwalks, and pulled one of them over.
Compared to the old man who knew nothing, this old lady was a know-it-all.
"That's right, her surname is Hao, her name is Xiuning, she used to live in Xiaogaozhuang, but that place has been flooded and turned into a reservoir..."
The old lady went on and on, recounting Hao Xiuning's entire past in detail.
Afraid of spoiling her fun, Xing Zhaozhao didn't dare to interrupt. She listened patiently until the end before eagerly asking, "Do you know where she lives?"
“It’s nearby.” The old lady pointed. “Go that way, through the alley, and you’ll reach the street behind. There’s a bakery there. She lives upstairs, and the bakery’s storefront is hers too. If that wretched thing hadn’t suddenly appeared, she would have houses, money, shops to collect rent, and her nephew to occasionally take care of her. Her life would be incredibly comfortable. It’s a case of hardship followed by happiness. It’s all because of that wretched thing…”
As the old woman spoke, she couldn't help but start cursing.
However, Xing Zhaozhao couldn't listen any longer at this moment. She quickly thanked her and hurriedly went in the direction she was pointing.
After passing through a narrow alley, Xing Zhaozhao arrived at the street the old lady had mentioned. It was narrower and quieter than the previous street, making it a suitable place to live.
Before she could even look for the bakery, she spotted Hao Xiuning carrying a supermarket plastic bag, presumably out shopping. Unfortunately, her ungrateful son blocked her way.
"Mom, that's your own grandson. The debt collectors have come to our house, making the whole family miserable. If this continues, your granddaughter-in-law will divorce you and leave with your great-grandson. You're not short of money, what's wrong with taking out some to help?" Zhang Peng pleaded with Hao Xiuning.
Hao Xiuning said coldly, "I told you long ago, I don't have that much money to fill the hole in your family's coffers, and I'm not interested. What grandson or great-grandson? Those are your sons and grandsons, they have nothing to do with me. Don't forget, we've already severed ties."
After all his sweet talk failed to get any results, Zhang Peng lost his patience and his face turned ferocious: "How can blood ties be so easily severed? You're just selfish, unwilling to spend money, and don't want to help."
Hao Xiuning said angrily, "That was because you two ungrateful wretches forced me to do it. You can abandon your wives and mothers at will, so why should I still open my heart to you? I'm not stupid. Get lost."
Zhang Peng, enraged, grabbed Hao Xiuning and raised his hand to strike her: "You old hag, I think you might as well just die already..."
"Stop!" Xing Zhaozhao immediately stepped forward and grabbed Zhang Peng's hand that was about to slap him. "In broad daylight, a grown man like you is hitting an old man in the street. Don't you have any shame?"
"Get out of my way. This is our family matter. It's none of your business to meddle." Zhang Peng said, trying to push Xing Zhaozhao away, but he was surprised to find that the hand she was holding was unable to move, and he was stunned for a moment.
Xing Zhaozhao remained calm as she slowly twisted Zhang Peng's hand away, saying, "Then it's even more inappropriate. Although I grew up in a remote mountain village and haven't seen much of the world, I still know to respect my elders. Uncle, you're quite old; don't you even understand this basic principle?"
Zhang Peng was drenched in cold sweat, feeling as if the bones in her wrist were about to break, but he still gritted his teeth and refused to let go: "What do you know about our family affairs? Why are you meddling in other people's business?"
"Oh?" Xing Zhaozhao turned to look at Hao Xiuning, suppressing her emotions and not revealing a trace of anything unusual.
"So, what heinous thing did the old lady do to make you dare to lay a hand on her? Didn't you support him? Or did you abuse his wife and beat his son?" she asked.
Hao Xiuning was worried that the little girl, who was so petite, would suffer if she suddenly came over to help. But now that she saw that the girl seemed to have some skills, she felt relieved.
She looked utterly dejected, shook her head, and said, "None of that. His father abandoned us when he was very young. I raised him with great difficulty, but he never learned his lesson. As soon as his father came looking for him, he followed him around like a puppy. From that moment on, we cut off all ties. I have never met his wife, son, or even the granddaughter-in-law and great-grandson he just mentioned. They have absolutely no connection with me."
Xing Zhaozhao couldn't help but feel sorry for her after hearing this, and turned to look at Zhang Peng angrily: "So you're an unfilial son, an ingrate! How dare you come to see the old lady? I'm ashamed for you."
Zhang Peng's face was flushed red, whether from pain, shame, or anger, it was hard to tell.
He yelled at the old lady, "Mom, are you even my real mother? Other mothers hope their children can have a good life, why can't you see anything good in me? Dad can take me to the city and give me a good life, what's wrong with me following him? Do you have to tie me to your side, trap me in the countryside, and make me suffer poverty for the rest of my life?"
Xing Zhaozhao: "..."
It's confirmed, it's not shame, this person has no sense of shame.
Hao Xiuning had long since given up hope. Hearing her son's words, she remained calm and composed: "Since your father is so good, you should just stay with him. Why did you come back to me?"
“You’re my mother. You gave birth to me, shouldn’t you be responsible for me? I’m in trouble now, and you have the ability to help me, isn’t it only right that you do?” Zhang Peng shouted.
Hao Xiuning: "..."
Hao Xiuning began to reflect.
How did she end up raising such a thing?
So, it seems you really have to choose a good spawn for having a baby?
Xing Zhaozhao couldn't listen anymore and gently squeezed Zhang Peng's hand.
Then there was a "crack" sound, and the bone broke.
"Ouch!" Zhang Peng screamed hoarsely, his cry of pain instantly piercing the sky.
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