“When I was ten, I could earn five work points a day! By fourteen, I was earning seven or eight work points, just like the aunties in the production brigade! That was more than enough to support myself! After work, I would do most of the housework when I got home! For more than ten years, I have never had a full meal or worn a decent piece of clothing! During festivals, my family would get a piece of meat, but I wouldn’t even get a sip of meat broth!”
“Your two nephews got married and had babies. I took care of them during their postpartum period! I slept on the floor in their room every day. I was the one who washed the diapers when the babies cried, and I also had to massage your nephews' wives' feet and wash their blood-stained underwear! After the babies were a month old, they cried all night, and I was the one who held and soothed them all night long. The next day, I still had to go to work in the fields!”
“You claim to be my biological parents, but every year when you go back home, you see me suffering and tormented. Have you ever cared about me? You haven’t! Not only that, but you also said in front of the whole family that I was born to work and could be ordered around at will! As long as I don’t die from exhaustion, you can work me to death! These are your exact words, aren’t they?”
At this point, those around him showed expressions of pity.
In today's world, although great men say that men and women are equal, the preference for sons over daughters is actually very common, especially in rural areas.
However, it is truly rare to see someone who doesn't treat their own daughter like a human being.
Shen Yue'e retorted angrily, "You were born of us, so your life belongs to us! Your father and I work in the city, and you stay in the countryside to take care of our parents—that's only right!"
Xu Ningyan wasn't angry: "Yes! I'll fulfill my filial duty for you! You gave birth to me and raised me for three years. I've worked for you for thirteen years to fulfill my filial duty. That should repay your kindness, right? Not to mention, I've also returned my life to you!"
"Do you know why I separated from my family and severed ties with my relatives? Because my own sister-in-law pushed me into the river, and she ran away! Not only did she run away, but she didn't tell anyone either! Luckily, a kind person rescued me downstream! I had a high fever for three days and three nights at home, and I almost burned to death, but no one cared about me! I survived because I was lucky! I struggled to stay alive! I didn't go to the police or the Revolutionary Committee to report that your whole family were murderers, that you stood by and watched me die, and that you were protecting murderers! I'm already repaying the debt of life!"
"So when I woke up, I demanded a separation from the family and a break from kinship! What did I do wrong? You don't care about my life, but I love and cherish myself!"
In the crowd nearby, someone couldn't help but mutter, "That girl is right! Being born into such a family is truly a curse! Are they just waiting to be killed again?"
"How can there be such heartless parents in this world? They're still their own flesh and blood—"
"Although there are no parents who are always wrong, this really can't be blamed on the daughter. But her aunt is a terrible person! How could she harm her own niece?"
...
Being pointed at and gossiped about by so many strangers, who implied that the couple was too heartless and unfit to be parents, was unbearable.
Xu Yinlai and Shen Yue'e were filled with shame and indignation. If those eyes could kill, Xu Ningyan would probably have died hundreds of times over.
"Fine, very well! We didn't want an ungrateful wretch like you! If we had known this would happen, we shouldn't have given birth to you! Sever ties then! I refuse to believe that a little girl like you can get away with leaving the family!"
"You yourself wanted to separate from your family and sever ties with us! Remember what you said today, even if you have to beg for food and can't survive, don't come looking for us!" Shen Yue'e said fiercely through gritted teeth.
"You regret giving birth to me, but do you think I wanted to be born into your womb? Don't worry, even if I have to beg for food, I'll avoid your house!" Xu Ningyan retorted without backing down an inch.
"You, you—" Xu Yinlai's hand trembled as he pointed at Xu Ningyan, unable to speak.
Xu Ningyan sneered twice and turned to enter the department store.
Buying things is the priority; who wants to deal with them?
Before he could even take a step, he heard a sarcastic voice: "Director Ma, isn't this Foreman Xu, the one who just got promoted to machine repair team leader? Tsk tsk, your factory really needs to work on the ideological education of its employees. Someone who has abandoned his daughter for over ten years must have moral flaws! It's worrying. If he treats his own flesh and blood like this, how can he wholeheartedly serve the factory and the people?"
Xu Ningyan's eyes lit up as she looked into the crowd.
Not only Xu Ningyan, but everyone watching also turned their heads and stared at one spot.
Two middle-aged men wearing thin Zhongshan suits came into view.
One of them had a stern face, while the other had a smile on his face.
Upon hearing these words, Xu Yinlai and Shen Yue'e turned pale instantly.
As the two middle-aged men walked inside, the onlookers involuntarily made way for them.
They were allowed to walk up to Xu Yinlai and his wife.
When Xu Yin saw the newcomer, her legs almost went weak. She stammered as she greeted the stern-faced middle-aged man, "Director Ma, you, you let me explain—"
Factory Director Ma was quite shrewd; his expression betrayed no emotion.
She looked up and sized up Xu Ningyan. She was thin and small, and her clothes were too short, revealing her wrists and ankles. She was pitifully thin.
His clothes were patched upon patched, and he had a pair of big, stubborn, and wary eyes looking over.
Then he thought about it again. He had met Xu Yinlai's two sons a few times. They were tall and big, wearing the most fashionable green military uniforms and watches. He had even seen them taking people out to restaurants.
Compared to this, I really feel sorry for this girl.
The initial dissatisfaction with Xu Ningyan dissipated somewhat.
His gaze towards Xu Yinlai and his wife was sharp and authoritative: "I heard everything you just said. Can you say this girl isn't your daughter? That she wasn't telling the truth? If you say she's lying, I'll immediately send someone to your hometown to investigate—"
Xu Yinlai had his excuses on the tip of his tongue, but when he heard that he had to go back to his hometown for investigation, he immediately shut his mouth.
Hesitantly, he looked at Director Ma and said, "Director Ma, well, although that's how it is, we had our reasons back then. At that time, I was the only one working, and my salary wasn't enough to support five people, so we sent the child to the countryside."
"We've neglected her a bit over the years, but that's because of her bad temper! Look at her, exposing the elders' shortcomings in front of so many people—who would like that? Although we haven't given our hometown any money to support her, we did agree that we'd be responsible for my younger sister's education, and the family would be responsible for this girl's food and her future marriage, so—"
Before he could finish speaking, someone who had gathered around to listen to the commotion suddenly spoke up: "I know about this. Squad Leader Xu has a little girl who goes there often; she says she's his younger sister! She's so pampered! She goes to high school in our county and stays at Xu's house for two days every Friday. Squad Leader Xu's wife adores this little sister-in-law; when she goes, she cuts meat to cook for her sister and even buys her new clothes—"
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