He couldn't borrow the money, but life had to go on. The old man could only sigh helplessly as he watched the knocking and banging coming from his neighbors' houses.
Huang Minghao, who hadn't appeared for a week, suddenly showed up on this day. He looked haggard, had dark circles under his eyes, and was in a very bad state. Even from a distance, you could smell the strong smell of alcohol on him. When Jiang Shuya saw him, she frowned. She had no intention of paying attention to him anymore, nor did she want to know the reason why he was not at home, and she didn't want to get entangled with an alcoholic.
Ignoring the old man's nagging, he pondered for a moment and, after feeding Tangtang for the past few days, decided to harden his heart and wean her.
She was packing a few clothes, thinking she would stay with her sister for three days. She found a canvas bag in the bedroom and was about to pack when Huang Minghao appeared outside the door, sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed. She glanced at his sleepy eyes but didn't stop what she was doing. She continued to fold the clothes in her hands and put them into the bag.
At this moment, Huang Minghao's expression was complicated, and his eyes were hesitant. After thinking for a moment, he said in a deep voice, "This is my last time going to sea. I don't plan to go back next time. I will stay at home from now on because I still have my year-end bonus to receive. I have to work until March next year. I won't leave again after I come back."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuya said softly, "You can decide for yourself; you don't need to tell me." Huang Minghao stood up, walked to her, took her hand, and whispered to his lips, "I know I've neglected you since I came back. Don't be angry with me. It's been too long since I've seen the elders and brothers who grew up with me. From now on, I'll try my best to stay by your side and the child when I come back, and I won't go anywhere else." As he spoke, he raised his hand to stroke her cheek, pulled her into his arms, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and greedily inhaled the fragrance from her neck and shoulders.
Jiang Shuya took a step back and nudged him, saying, "You need to rest. Tangtang needs to be weaned. Tell me when you're sober."
Huang Minghao refused to let go, holding her even tighter. He shook his head and kept exhaling. Jiang Shuya pushed him away in annoyance. The smell of alcohol on him made her want to vomit. The smell was too pungent and unbearable. She couldn't stand it.
Huang Minghao, who had been pushed away, looked at her in disbelief, his eyes somewhat glazed over. He chuckled and became flippant: "When did you become so reserved? Didn't you used to like me hugging you, touching you, and kissing you...?"
Jiang Shuya picked up the canvas bag that had fallen to the ground and said angrily, "Shut up! I haven't liked you for a long time, and I don't want you to touch me. The way you are now makes me want to vomit."
The next moment, Huang Minghao's bloodshot eyes flashed with anger. He raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face. He grabbed her neck and pressed closer, his face full of rage: "Are you getting too big for your britches? Talking to me like that. Looks like I have to teach you a lesson today."
The hand gripping her neck tightened, making it hard for her to breathe and unable to scream. In an instant, she was pinned firmly against the cabinet by a force that made her gasp for air, almost suffocating. In a daze, a voice told her that she couldn't die like this, and to hold on.
In a brief moment of lucidity, on her deathbed, she kicked him again with all her might. He cried out in pain, then his eyes hardened, and he slapped her forehead with his other hand, causing her head to slam against the cabinet. This action instantly made her head buzz, and the pain in the back of her head left her no time to think. Her hands were quickly held down by him, rendering her unable to move.
Just as she was about to give up, a cry came from the stairs. It was Tangtang's voice. Her heart-wrenching cries broke the silence. Looking over, she saw the old man holding Tangtang standing outside the door. Tangtang stared wide-eyed in terror at the two people in the bedroom, bewildered and lost. Suddenly, she stopped crying.
Upon seeing this, the old man shouted, "What are you doing? Stop it!"
Huang Minghao subconsciously let go of Jiang Shuya and waved to the old man as if nothing had happened. At this moment, her face was burning with pain, and she didn't have time to think. She went forward, picked up Tangtang, and walked downstairs.
Holding Tangtang, she made her way to a secluded spot, found a chair by a willow tree, sat down, calmed herself, took a deep breath, and adjusted Tangtang into a comfortable position. Tears streamed down her face. A moment later, a figure approached her, handing her a pack of tissues. Looking up, she saw Sun Qi. She wondered how he had gotten there. Looking around, she realized she had somehow ended up by the river in someone's backyard.
Sun Qi thought her younger brother Sun Xu was playing in the backyard, so she went out to find him and bring him home. When she opened the door, she saw Jiang Shuya sitting alone under the willow tree, staring blankly at the water. She thought she was tired from holding Tangtang, so she ran over to greet her. But then she realized something was wrong and saw that Jiang Shuya was crying.
Jiang Shuya waved her hand at Sun Qi, ignoring his curiosity, and her voice became hoarse: "Thank you, but no need."
Seeing that half of her face was red with obvious five-finger marks and a bruise on her neck and forehead, Sun Qi asked urgently, "Sister-in-law, who bullied you? Tell me and I'll go find him."
"No need, I bumped into it by accident." After saying that, she picked up Tangtang and walked back, sighing inwardly at how easily she had become at lying. But she didn't want anyone to see her in such a disheveled state, because no one could help her.
Halfway there, she saw the old man coming towards her. When he saw her approaching, he anxiously explained, "I've already scolded him. He promised me he'd never dare lay a hand on you again. If his grandfather finds out, he'll definitely not let him off the hook. Let's go home."
Jiang Shuya remained silent, knowing that they were indeed father and son, their actions and words were exactly the same; as the saying goes, "It's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature."
After arriving home, I reluctantly handed Tangtang over to my mother-in-law, went into the bedroom to express my breast milk and put it into a bottle. I explained some things about making formula and precautions for introducing complementary foods, then picked up my bag and camera and rode my bike to my younger sister Jiang Shuting's place.
Before going to her sister's house, she went to the supermarket to buy some masks. Wearing the masks, she lied to her sister, saying that she was wearing them because of a recent skin allergy. In reality, she didn't want her sister to worry. Fortunately, Shuting was a person who didn't ask questions and didn't suspect anything. She was busy with her own things and didn't ask any more questions. At night, the sisters slept in the same bed. She would only take off her mask after the lights were turned off.
Shuting was about to turn on the desk lamp to read when Jiang Shuya stopped her, saying warmly, "Why don't you know how to rest for a moment? It's so late, go to sleep early, don't you care about your health!"
Jiang Shuting was taken aback: "I usually go to bed very late, and I can't fall asleep without reading. I remember you also loved reading, but you've given it up all these years?"
“I’m just like you! I never stay up late to read; I only focus my energy during the day,” Jiang Shuya said irritably.
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