The neighbors standing there also silently looked away, and no one dared to utter a sound.
"So you've come back now, is it... because you want to sever ties with us?" Liu Xiuqin suddenly raised her head, her voice filled with despair.
“It’s over a long time ago,” Du Jianshan said coldly. “When you sent me to jail, this family was gone. I’m back now just to make things clear to you—don’t come looking for me again, and don’t try to take my name. If you want to support Li Fuqiang, you’ll have to do it yourself. Don’t expect me to be your sucker again.”
"But...but you are my son..." Liu Xiuqin rushed over, trying to grab him, "I gave birth to you, I raised you..."
"Raise me?" Du Jianshan shook off her hand. "You gave birth to me, that's true, but when have you ever raised me? When I was a child, I was delirious with fever, and it was Aunt Lin next door who fed me porridge spoonful by spoonful; when I couldn't afford my school tuition, it was Accountant Li who secretly helped me raise the money; when I cut wheat barefoot, my hands and feet were bleeding from sores, where were you? You were cooking, washing clothes, and preparing study materials for Li Fuqiang!"
Liu Xiuqin cried until she was almost in tears, then covered her face and collapsed to the ground.
"Stop crying." Du Jianshan sighed, his eyes devoid of any warmth. "You should save your tears for Li Fuqiang. My heart is dead."
After saying that, he turned and left, his steps steady and resolute.
Outside the door, Old Li from the village muttered under his breath, "Ah... what a pity. This child used to be so sensible, hunting, working, and filial. Even after coming back from prison, he never complained about anyone. Now he has truly broken his mother's heart."
"That's right," Aunt Big Foot sighed. "The Liu family's affair should have been settled long ago. With such favoritism, how could they not have gotten into trouble?"
Some people wanted to persuade them, and some wanted to stop them, but no one dared to speak up.
This tearing apart of family ties is like the moment when ice cracks in the mountains; no amount of thick snow can cover the chill that surges from the depths of one's heart.
...
Du Jianshan walked out of the old house; it was already dusk. He didn't turn back, but simply lowered his head and squeezed the deer tendon bag in his arms.
Inside were the pheasant skins, rabbit fur, and two wolf skins he had caught in the mountains over the past few days.
He had to hurry and deliver the goods to the supply and marketing cooperative to exchange for grain coupons; otherwise, the batch of cloth coupons that the team was supposed to exchange for would be given to other families.
Just as I reached the edge of the threshing ground, a voice suddenly called out from behind:
"See the mountain!"
It's Old Qin, the village party secretary.
"Your mother... sigh, I won't say whether she's good or bad, I just want to ask one question: do you really not acknowledge her anymore?"
Du Jianshan didn't even turn his head. "She hasn't recognized me for a long time. I'm just returning it to her as before."
Old Qin was silent for a few seconds. "Are you still going hunting tomorrow morning? A cadre came to town and said he wanted to set up a 'mountain goods team' to organize a group of capable people to go into the mountains to hunt, catch pheasants, and collect medicinal herbs to exchange for supplies in the city. I called your name."
Du Jianshan paused, then slowly turned around: "As long as I don't take the blame for someone else, I'll go."
"Great!" Old Qin slapped his thigh. "We'll meet at the threshing ground at five o'clock tomorrow morning. I'll save you a spot."
Du Jianshan nodded and said in a low voice, "Thanks."
He carried his heavy hunting gear bag and continued walking into the twilight.
"So you're sending me to jail!" Du Jianshan took a sudden step forward, his eyes piercing her face like knives. "A child who's only fifteen, how can you bear to do that?"
"I...I..." Liu Xiuqin staggered back a step, hugging her chest with both hands. The pain on her face did not look like remorse, but rather like fear that her son would suddenly lose control.
“If you tell me the truth now, I might still give you some face because you’re my mother.” Du Jianshan enunciated each word clearly. “But if you continue to be stubborn and play the victim, then don’t blame me for not having any hope left.”
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