Zhuang Xiangqiao bit her lower lip nervously. "Keke, you'll forget what I said once you leave the house, okay?" After seeing Du Ke nod carefully, Zhuang Xiangqiao recounted some of the news she had heard. After listening, Du Ke sat on the sofa in a daze. "So, Jiang Jiang will never come back?"
Even though he despised his sister's silence and pettiness, Du Ke still felt a little uncomfortable when he heard that she would probably be settled in the countryside forever and might never see her again. After all, she had grown up with him, and he still remembered that she would always follow him obediently when he laughed, calling him "Sister, Sister" over and over again.
But Du Ke couldn't remember when the relationship between the two sisters became worse and worse. Maybe it was because her parents thought she was sweet-mouthed and well-behaved, or because she would be scolded every time she got into trouble with the other sister, even if it wasn't the other sister's fault. Or maybe it was because of the gossip from her grandmother and aunt, or the ridicule from the neighbors, "He's not her younger brother, why do you take care of him so much?" In the repeated jokes and ridicule, Du Ke became more and more disgusted with such an introverted and timid person, and distanced herself from her until she no longer followed her and no longer approached her.
To be honest, when Du Jiang said that he would go to the countryside, Du Ke was relieved, but when the other party really left, Du Ke was sad. She attributed this complicated emotion to guilt, for the oppression, ridicule, and neglect of the past ten years, and also for her selfishness at this moment.
But when he thought of Sun Hongsheng, whom he was about to marry, Du Ke hardened his heart again. He had chosen his own path and he had not forced him. Even if he did not go to the countryside in his place, Sun Hongsheng would find a way.
As this thought came to mind, Du Ke's guilt faded a lot, and he immediately said, "Mom, I'll pay for it. The pocket money and New Year's money you've given me over the years is about 700 or 800 yuan. I'll give 500 yuan to Jiang Jiang, and you don't have to pay for it."
"What, five hundred?" Zhuang Xiangqiao was a little shocked. "That's so much! No, no, I'll pay for it. You're getting married soon, so you have to buy two new sets of clothes. And you should buy some for Hongsheng too. Men love that. Besides, your dad and I have saved a lot from our salaries, so just forget about it."
"How can that be? Jiang Jiang has really made me suffer this time. If I don't do this, I will feel uneasy."
Upon hearing Du Ke's words, Zhuang Xiangqiao knew what she was thinking. Moreover, once Du Ke made up her mind, it would be impossible to stop her. So she nodded and said, "Okay, but you don't have to pay 500. Just 300 will be enough. Your father and I will pay the rest. After all, you're getting married soon, so you have to have some extra money. The Sun family is a wealthy family, and they need money to visit relatives. Even if you don't have to pay, it's better to have money in hand."
Zhuang Xiangqiao's words made Du Ke hesitate. Seeing this, Zhuang Xiangqiao continued, "Take the money as your dowry. I'll also get you some bedding, a bicycle, and other things. After deducting the money I gave to Jiang Jiang, you'll have 400 left. I'll give you another 200 as a dowry. The Sun family gave 1,000 for the engagement. Although we can't compare to that, we can't fall too far behind. Otherwise, if you marry into the family, people will see through you. You are my first child. Your father and I love you the most. So, just do as I say."
This time, Du Ke did not refuse, but snuggled into Zhuang Xiangqiao's arms, "Mom, you are so kind."
Zhuang Xiangqiao looked at Du Ke, who was nestled between her waist and abdomen. She reached out and gently stroked his long black hair. The smoothness under her palm made her a little dazed, but then she collected her thoughts and said, "As long as you are well, Mommy is happy. That's enough. Mommy will go cook."
After dinner, Zhuang Xiangqiao took the family passbook to the bank and withdrew half of their savings. She left two hundred for living expenses and used the remaining money together with the three hundred contributed by Du Ke to make up a total of one thousand and sent it to Du Jiang. The reply was written by Du Ke. In addition to what Zhuang Xiangqiao said orally, he also added some of his own words. When sealing the envelope, the mother and daughter also put in a few national food coupons and sugar coupons. They also packed a few old clothes that Du Ke didn't want and sent them to the post office along with the letter.
After sending the letter, Zhuang Xiangqiao was a little uneasy all afternoon. When she returned home in the evening, Du Ke and Du's father had not returned home yet. Zhuang Xiangqiao was the only one in the empty living room. She picked up the family photo on the corner table and curled up on the sofa to look at it carefully. It was a photo taken a few years ago. Although it was protected by a frame, it was still a little yellowed.
In the photo, Du's father and Zhuang Xiangqiao are sitting on stools, while Du Ke and Du Liangcai are standing behind them, with their hands affectionately resting on their children's shoulders. As for Du Jiang, she is standing beside Du Ke, with her hands folded awkwardly on her legs. The distance between her and Du Ke is wide enough to fit a fist, and she looks so out of place that it seems like she will be out of the frame in the next second.
Seeing this photo, Zhuang Xiangqiao felt a little sad. It was not that she did not love her child. After all, she gave birth to the child after ten months of pregnancy. It was just that she was under too much pressure at that time, from her mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and even her husband who turned a blind eye, as if giving birth to a child was her own business, not to mention that she had finally raised her eldest daughter and sent her to kindergarten, but now she had to start her own journey of raising a child all over again. In fact, Du Jiang was very well-behaved when she was a child. She lay in bed without crying or making a fuss, but those rumors were too noisy, especially the words from her mother-in-law and sister-in-law who added fuel to the fire, saying that girls were of no use and she should quickly give birth to a son. And the so-called words before pregnancy, "We will help you raise the child regardless of the boy or girl" were gone. Two years passed until she gave birth to Du Liang. Her life finally got better and her husband stood on her side.
So every time she saw Du Jiang, she would recall her most difficult days, and even take out the painful memories on a child who knew nothing. It was obviously not the child's fault, but at that time she seemed to be blinded by greed and blamed the child for not being a girl.
Now, the person is thousands of miles away, and I am afraid I will never see him again in this life. Zhuang Xiangqiao was crying like rain, but she didn't dare to cry out loud. She could only bite the back of her hand tightly until red teeth marks appeared on the back of her hand and even blood oozed out.
Lying in bed at night, looking at her father Du sleeping beside her, Zhuang Xiangqiao felt a little hatred. She raised her hand and then dropped it. She hated her father Du for turning a blind eye all those years, and she hated her own incompetence and cowardice even more. Because she did not dare to resist, she put everything on a child. Maybe it was a good thing that Du Jiang was gone, Zhuang Xiangqiao thought.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com