The wind outside grew stronger, followed by a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder. It grew darker and darker outside, and the rain poured down harder.
Hua Kai asked Hua Qingyang to turn on the lights, and then continued cooking.
Before long, his father, Hua Wanjiang, and his elder brother, Hua Qingyi, returned.
Once inside, Gu Lanyan took all their raincoats and hung them on the clothesline in the kitchen, scolding Hua Wanjiang as she did so: "I told you this morning it was cloudy and I wouldn't let you go up the mountain, but you didn't listen, and now you're all soaked."
As Hua Wanjiang washed his hands, he said, "I thought it wouldn't be too late to come back after it rained, but I didn't expect the rain to come so quickly."
Gu Lanyan said, "I know you just want to make more money, but making money can be deadly."
Hua Wanjiang winked at Hua Kai and the others while replying to Gu Lanyan, "I understand, I won't do it again."
The eldest brother, Hua Qingyi, kept a smile on his face and didn't say much; he was rather introverted.
Looking at her father's kind smile and her elder brother's honest appearance, Hua Kai's heart, which had been frozen in her past life, was completely opened at this moment. It was as if she didn't need to adjust to this family. This was the family and kinship she had always imagined.
She smiled and said to Gu Lanyan, "Mom, my dad and my brother's clothes are wet. Hurry up and find them some change of clothes. I've started cooking the dishes, they'll be ready in a bit."
Gu Lanyan then noticed that Hua Kai had already started cooking: "Why did you cook so quickly? Didn't you say I would cook when I got back? This child has really grown up and become sensible."
"Mom, it's not a big deal. Hurry up and find clothes for Dad and my brother." Hua Kai was overjoyed, a feeling that words couldn't describe.
Gu Lanyan grumbled about how capable the child was, and didn't forget to scold her husband a few times before going to find some clothes.
Hua Wanjiang looked at Hua Kai and said with a smile, "Our Kai Kai is so sensible. Not only is she good at studying, but she can do everything. When Dad saves enough money for you, we'll take the exam again next year. She'll definitely go to high school and then go to university, becoming the first college student in our Cuishan Village."
Hua Kai smiled and nodded: "Yes, Dad, I will definitely get into university in the future."
Gu Lanyan called from inside the house, "I've put your clothes on the kang (heated brick bed), hurry up and come inside to change."
Hua Wanjiang and Hua Qingyi went inside to change their clothes.
Gu Lanyan came out and helped Hua Kai tidy up the kitchen, and then it was time to eat.
It was just a simple farmhouse meal. Since there was no meat, only a little lard, it couldn't be called delicious. But Huakai ate it with great relish because sitting together as a family made her feel happy.
After lunch, the rain gradually subsided. The rain came quickly and went quickly, and the sky began to brighten.
After clearing away the dishes, Hua Kai told her parents about what had happened that day. Because Hua Lin had been wronged, she promised not to let it go. It was just bad weather earlier, otherwise Grandma would have already come over.
Hua Kai and Hua Lin are not related by blood. Hua Lin's father, Hua Wanhe, was brought to the family by his stepmother, Zheng Shuzhen, when she married his grandfather, Hua Zhongzhi. Hua Wanhe was one year younger than his father, Hua Wanjiang, and his name was changed after he came to the Hua family.
Of course, when Hua Kai tells her family about Hua Lin, she can't tell the whole truth. The hidden details of her counterattack can't be known to anyone else except the man she met by chance.
It's not that Huakai doesn't trust her family, but she's afraid they'll worry. Also, these are things that Huakai wouldn't normally do, and if she tells them all, she won't be able to explain herself.
So she told everyone what had happened on the surface, and since it was already confirmed, there was nothing to be afraid of.
However, the family members were still shocked when they heard Huakai tell these things.
Looking at Hua Kai, Hua Wanjiang felt that something was different about his daughter: "Kai Kai, are you alright? Nobody believes Hua Lin's words, right?"
Gu Lanyan was furious when she thought of Hua Lin using this to frame her daughter. This woman's reputation was paramount. She was enraged: "How could Hua Lin be so vicious? She can pin this on our daughter! It's one thing for her to bully us, but this... isn't she trying to kill Kai Kai?" She then touched Hua Kai's head: "Kai Kai, are you alright?"
Hua Kai smiled and shook her head: "Mom, I'm fine. Actually, I have to thank Hua Lin today. I used to be bullied all the time, and I got used to it so I stopped fighting back. But when Hua Lin framed me today, it woke me up. I knew that if I admitted to it, I would be finished. At that moment, it was like my mind suddenly opened up. I immediately understood that the weaker you are, the more others will bully you. I will never be bullied again, and I will not let anyone bully anyone in our family."
Gu Lanyan was so surprised by the blooming flowers that she couldn't close her mouth: "Kaikai, are you really alright? Something seems off about you."
Hua Kai knew she couldn't imitate the original owner at all. It was easy to pretend in front of outsiders by speaking less, but in front of her parents, it was too easy for them to see through her act.
So Huakai can only use today's events to say that she has come to her senses and make her family think that she has changed so much because she was stimulated today.
She said to Gu Lanyan, "Mom, I'm really fine. I've just figured out a lot. Our family hasn't done anything wrong, so why are we always being bullied? We live in a society governed by law now, so why should we be exploited? From today onwards, I don't want to be bullied anymore."
After saying that, she said to Hua Wanjiang, "Dad, we have been filial to Grandpa and Grandma enough. We will give them plenty of money for their old age during the holidays, but they should not take a penny more than they are entitled to. Let them make a fuss if they want. Justice will prevail. We will not feel guilty even if we take it to court."
Hua Wanjiang looked at Hua Kai with horror: "Kai Kai, are you... are you really alright? Why are you suddenly saying all this?"
Hua Kai knew she had gotten too excited earlier. Her family's habits over the years couldn't be changed by a few slogans. But she was confident because she could tell that there were no fools in the family, and that was the best thing.
She said to Hua Wanjiang, "Dad, I'm really fine. It's just that when Hua Lin framed me today, I was suddenly so scared that my mind cleared up. If she had really succeeded in framing me, and if I had admitted it, what kind of person would I be? Would I still have the face to go out in public? I would rather be dead. Perhaps people can only truly realize their mistakes when they are facing life and death. I want to change."
She intends to use this incident to make her change seem natural.
At this moment, the eldest brother, Hua Qingyi, who had been silent all along, spoke up: "Mom and Dad, I think my sister is right. I've thought about it before, why we have to be oppressed all the time, but I've been used to it since I was a child and I never know what to do. But if Hua Lin really ruins my sister's reputation today, I will do everything in my power to make them pay the price."
Hua Kai recalled what she had written in her diary: after the incident, her eldest brother, Hua Qingyi, went to find Hua Lin with a kitchen knife, wanting her to tell the truth. However, he was tied up by her second uncle, Hua Wanhe, and her cousin, Hua Qingsheng, and taken to the township police station, where he was detained for three days.
Later, his father became paralyzed, his mother also became seriously ill, and the family was poor. His eldest brother never married.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
