After Zhang Miao's father became paralyzed, Zhang Guifen called him "paralyzed man" repeatedly, showing no respect whatsoever. Every time, it felt like she was stabbing his heart with a knife. So, at this point, Zhang's father felt even more disgusted with his sister's attitude.
He said to Zhang Guifen, "Since I became paralyzed, I've seen everyone's true colors. You're my own sister, but have you ever done what a sister should do? Besides mocking me for being paralyzed, having no son, and being unable to make ends meet, you even said that no one would inherit this property. What have you done? As my sister, when I was injured, did you ever cook me a meal or bring me a bowl of soup? You're definitely not as good as outsiders. While outsiders, when Zhang Miao was about to drop out of school, gave her the family's secret recipe to help her earn money. They not only let Zhang Miao go to school but also supported our household expenses. Now they're even helping us open a snack bar in the city. They're not outsiders. In my heart, they're family. I don't care about blood ties anymore. You can leave. I find you annoying."
Zhang Guifen was a little stunned by her elder brother's words. This was the first time he had spoken to her like this since he became paralyzed.
She looked at Zhang's father and said, "Brother, what do you mean? Do you really believe that outsiders can help you? They're just saying nice things. Don't be fooled. I think these people are all liars."
Mr. Zhang laughed: "What in our family could possibly be fooled? Although I am crippled, my heart is not broken, unlike you, who is always thinking about crooked ways."
Zhang Guifen was feeling resentful. She glanced sideways and saw the things that Kangshao Huakai and the others had bought. She could always complain about them, but when it came to good things, she had to grab them for herself.
Her eyes lit up as she walked over: "Brother, you're selling your New Year's goods way too early, and there's so much of it! And why is there fabric too? I need to make some clothes, so I'll take this fabric." She reached out to grab it.
Hua Kai stopped Zhang Guifen directly: "What are you doing? I bought this."
Zhang Guifen said, "If you bought it, then it must have been bought for my brother's family. If you gave it to my brother's family, then I can take it."
Hua Kai pressed down on the item: "If I were to give it to you, I might as well throw it away. Anyway, you're not going to take it today." After saying that, Hua Kai turned to Zhang Miao and said: "Zhang Miao, be more assertive. I can't help you forever, even if I help you for a while. Otherwise, if all the money your family earns is taken away by others, wouldn't all my efforts have been in vain?"
Zhang Miao used to be hesitant to go against her aunt, mainly because her relatives said she was a "little girl" who couldn't shoulder any responsibility.
But her feelings are different now than before. Especially when Hua Qingyi spoke up for her just now, she made up her mind that she couldn't let Hua Qingyi look down on her.
At this moment, Zhang Miao went over, snatched the fabric, and hugged it to her chest, saying to Zhang Guifen, "Auntie, this was bought for my family by my classmate. We still need it, so we can't give it to you. If there's nothing else, you can leave now. Don't make my dad angry here. We have guests, and we have to entertain them."
Zhang Guifen blinked at Zhang Miao. She couldn't deal with others, but Zhang Miao was someone she had raised under her thumb. At this moment, all the resentment in Zhang Guifen's heart rose up.
She raised her arm and slapped Zhang Miao across the face, saying, "I'll beat you to death, you little brat."
Before Zhang Guifen's arm could fall, Hua Kai reached out and grabbed Zhang Guifen's arm: "What kind of society is this? You still hit people?"
Hua Qingyi and Hua Kai attacked at the same time. Since he didn't know kung fu, his instinct was not to block Zhang Guifen, but to pull Zhang Miao to his side.
As their hands clasped together, Hua Qingyi, holding Zhang Miao's soft little hand, suddenly felt a strange sensation in his heart.
Zhang Miao blushed as Hua Qingyi pulled her along. She already liked Hua Qingyi, and now that they were so close, her heart was pounding.
Fortunately, everyone's attention was on Hua Kai and Zhang Guifen at this time, and no one paid attention to Hua Qingyi and Zhang Miao.
Zhang Guifen's wrist was being gripped so tightly by Hua Kai that it felt like it was about to break. She grimaced and yelled, "How dare you run wild in our village? Aren't you afraid you won't be able to leave?"
Hua Kai smiled and looked at Zhang Guifen: "I doubt anyone in the village would say anything good about your character. And who do you think you are? Do you think you can command the whole village? You only have two sons. Even if you had three sons, they wouldn't be a match for me. Let me tell you, I'm only letting you off the hook today because you're Zhang Miao's aunt. Otherwise, I would have beaten you to a pulp."
Zhang Guifen was scared this time, and of course, she was in pain. She looked at her brother crying and said, "Brother, aren't you going to help me?"
Zhang's father suddenly laughed, a very happy laugh: "If I could move, I would want to go over and kick you a couple of times. You have nothing better to do than run to your mother's village all day long, stirring up trouble for your brother and sister-in-law's family. Don't you deserve a beating? Get out of here."
Zhang Guifen suddenly felt that her brother's family had changed. She pointed at these people and said, "You wait here, I'm going to find my mother." Then she ran out.
After Zhang Guifen left, Hua Kai looked at Zhang's father apologetically: "Uncle, are you alright?"
Mr. Zhang shook his head: "It's alright. My mother may not like to meddle, but she's not stupid. My sister really deserves a beating."
Looking at Hua Kai after regaining her composure, Zhang's mother said, "You're really amazing, child. We've always been at a loss with having a little sister."
Hua Kai smiled and said, "Because she is your relative, there are some things you can't do too harshly, but I'm fine. Anyway, I have no relationship with her, so I only care about right and wrong."
Mr. Zhang sighed, "To be honest, I really want to leave too, to leave this village. The longer I'm sick, the clearer I see people's true colors."
Zhang Miao looked at her father on the kang (a heated brick bed) and said, "Dad, believe me, I will make sure that you and Mom will never be looked down upon again."
Mr. Zhang said, “I believe you. I used to think that I was inferior because we didn’t have a son. But I don’t think that way anymore. All children are family, boys and girls are all our children. As long as you grow up well and are successful in the future, that’s enough.”
When Zhang Miao heard his father say this, he suddenly felt a pang of sadness. His parents had been good to him all these years, but they were always unhappy because they didn't have a son. He himself sometimes felt depressed, wondering why he wasn't a boy.
Now she suddenly had a change of heart. She said to her father, "Dad, Huakai said that city girls can also take care of their parents in their old age."
Mr. Zhang smiled and said, "No need. If the child is successful and needs to go far away, would I stop him from leaving? I'm satisfied as long as you are all doing well."
Mother Zhang said, "We can't say for sure what will happen in the future. Let's just try our best to live a good life. But I might have to be called over by my sister-in-law again in a while. Today has really caused Hua Kai and the others a lot of trouble."
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