"Let go of my sister! Don't touch her! Don't touch her! If you dare touch her, I'll kill you! Let go!!"
Xu Minian was so frightened that she cried, but she still clung tightly to Xu Milu's arm and wouldn't let go.
Liu Hongmei went to the kitchen without a word, grabbed a cleaver, and, with red eyes, threatened to kill them. Only then did she manage to intimidate the thugs.
“We will definitely pay back the money, but none of you are allowed to touch my child. You have your pride too. If you dare to touch my child, the three of us will all go to your doorstep and drink poison.”
—The creditors made a fuss several more times until they realized that Xu Haifeng had no intention of getting the money back, and only then did they finally stop.
Liu Hongmei usually speaks gently, but she has a very strong personality. After Xu Haifeng disappeared, she not only took on the responsibility of the family, but also refused all help from others. She gritted her teeth and paid off the debts while supporting her two children's schooling.
At that time, Xu Milu was already in high school. Ningcheng was not a big city, and even the smallest thing could cause a huge uproar. Before her father, Xu Haifeng, ran away, he borrowed a lot of money, saying that he was going to make a comeback in another city. Sex scandals, infidelity, defrauding friends of money, running away... all these elements combined meant that she spent almost all of her three years of high school in a world of rumors and gossip.
"Hey, have you heard? Xu Milu from Class 3, don't let her cheerful demeanor fool you, do you know her dad? Tsk, that conman!"
"...Xu Milu? Of course I know her. I heard her family owes a lot of money. Aren't you her roommate? Be careful, keep your money and stuff safe..."
"Where did the money go on my table? It was right here. Could it be... Ah? Found it? Sigh, I thought it was Xu who took it."
"Stop talking, she heard everything, hahaha... Hey, keep your voice down, she's already pitiful enough. Her dad doesn't want her anymore, and her mom sells steamed buns at the South Gate to pay off debts. I saw her selling steamed buns at the shop the other day, tsk tsk tsk..."
Teenagers are always sensitive and insecure. Although the rumors did not cause her any real harm, Xu Milu always felt inferior to others, as if she had been branded with some shameful mark that could never be washed away.
Even now, she still gets nervous when she hears that someone has lost something, even if it has nothing to do with her.
That bowl of white rice porridge in my memory seems to have become a memory as well; whenever I think of it, my mouth always tastes bitter.
Xu Milu has been consciously trying to stop thinking about this, but it seems to be like a scar that never dries up. It gets torn open every year, and it hurts every year. After a while, she seems to have become numb to the pain.
It's as if Xu Haifeng has been completely cut out of her life, and the empty space is bleeding and never seems to get better.
...
...
"He's worse than a pig or a dog! He leaves his wife and daughters at home while he goes out to have a good time. What kind of logic is that?! His wife is still alive, yet he has affairs with other women without proper matchmaking, and he's racked up a lot of debt, attracting creditors to his door and causing all sorts of trouble. Calling him a beast is an insult to beasts!"
Mo Xuan was so angry that he cursed loudly, but after he finished cursing, he realized that he was cursing Xu Milu's father, and he looked away guiltily.
"Ahem, ahem, what I mean is, why should Madam Xu still acknowledge such an unfaithful and heartless person? She only paid for a coffin, which is enough to fulfill her filial duty and she deserves praise!"
"Senior sister, are you in a lot of pain?"
Chenxiang opened his eyes, his pure eyes brimming with large tears. He pursed his lips, seemingly unsure how to comfort her, and could only gently stroke Xu Milu's head, just as she had done before.
"I'll give you all the snacks and fruits that Lady Yin gave me, and you can play with all the precious things Brother Mo Xuan gave me. Being sad is bad for your health. The books say that the bond between parents and children is predetermined. Some people are born with a strong bond with their parents and can enjoy their parents' company and a harmonious family. Others are born with a weaker bond with their parents, but it doesn't really matter—"
Xu Milu shook her head and forced a smile:
"It's nothing. Senior sister is just wondering whether or not to go see him. Perhaps I no longer care about him, I just want an answer."
How could he do this?
How could he do that?
Shouldn't a father be the one to protect the family from hardship? How can he leave behind a mess of problems without a second thought, abandon his wife and children, and just leave so casually?
She stirred the white porridge in the bowl. The rice grains, cooked until soft, burst open and popped into tiny flowers, releasing a faint aroma that mirrored the tranquility of her heart.
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