The man frowned, watching her rapidly departing figure; the wind tossed her long, dark hair.
The pale yellow dress accentuated her slender figure, and her fair arms were dazzlingly white, like a ray of light brightening the surrounding drab landscape.
He turned away indifferently and walked into the next room, saying, "Dad, I don't have time to waste here with you. I came back today to take you to the county town to recuperate."
Wen Xiaojian lay in the yellowed, patched mosquito net, his legs dangling in the air. His dark face was faintly tinged with ashen, and he said weakly:
“I’m not going. Your aunt and sister are still at home. What will happen to them if I go? They can’t do without me.”
Mentioning the mother and daughter, the man turned away impatiently and said, "Fine, then let them serve you. I'm going back to the factory."
Seeing that he was about to leave, Wen Xiaojian suddenly raised his voice in anger:
"Wen Zhaoye, are you trying to drive your father to his death?"
His voice pierced through the copper and iron walls, reaching Wen Jiaojiao's ears in the small kitchen outside the door.
Her face was smeared with wood ash, and she paused in her action of blowing on the bottom of the pot while working the bellows with one hand, bending over and puffing out her cheeks.
Wen Zhaoye?
I've never even heard of him, and I didn't offend him, yet he still gives me attitude. Why should I bother?
Just then, a low, cold voice sounded from outside the door:
"Is the water ready?"
Looking at his utterly disgusted gaze, which seemed to freeze someone to death, Wen Jiaojiao felt a surge of anger rising within her.
She tossed aside the fire-starting tools, stood up, and walked out, saying irritably:
"Look how lazy you are. You can't even boil water yourself? I haven't even had time to wash my own clothes yet. If you keep looking at me like that, I'll gouge your eyes out."
Wen Zhaoye frowned, but fortunately he already knew she wasn't a good person, so he didn't take it to heart.
He picked up the aluminum ladle covered in mottled black stains from the stove and scooped up some warm water.
Xu Cuifen has offended many people recently, and given her father's fierce protectiveness of his wife, he might just get out of bed and fight back.
He knew this very well, and ultimately stayed because of Wen Xiaojian's hard work in raising him.
Xu Cuifen had been trying to matchmake her daughter with Wen Zhaoye for several years.
But Wen Jiaojiao was blinded by that orphan hoodlum from the county town.
Now that she's home, her mind is starting to wander again.
After all, Wen Zhaoye was young but had already opened a car repair shop in the county town. In recent years, the country has encouraged individual businesses, and his Chenxuan Garment Factory has also become quite successful.
If such a perfect man marries someone else and finds a capable wife who manages the money, he'll have a hard time getting a single penny from her.
Xu Cuifen rolled out the noodles, glanced at the man's tall back, and thought he was a perfect match for her daughter.
"Zhaoye, you're not getting any younger. Do you have a girl you like in the county town?"
Wen Zhaoye easily lifted a bucket of warm water with one arm, his arm bulging with strong, taut lines. He let out a sneer and walked out.
"What? Your daughter has already slunk back, and you still haven't given up?"
Xu Cuifen was someone who couldn't hold her temper, but considering that Wen Zhaoye gave her father thirty yuan a month for living expenses, she managed to suppress her anger and said:
"What are you talking about? My Jiaojiao only spent two years at her distant aunt's house. Don't listen to people's rumors."
Back then, Wen Jiaojiao packed up all her valuables overnight and left the village with Xu Dajun.
It just so happened that the villagers saw it, and just like that, Xu Cuifen, for the sake of her daughter's reputation, made up such a ridiculous reason that even a dog would shake its head at.
Wen Zhaoye paused, glancing at the girl carrying a washbasin as she walked out. Her waist, encased in a floral dress, was so slender it seemed one could easily pinch it.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, turned his head, and glanced at them, saying:
"That's true, after two years away from home, your belly still looks like you've never given birth. You have time to waste arguing with me."
"We should take her to the clinic for a thorough checkup, and while we're at it, get her brain checked too. She seems even more ill since she came back."
Wen Jiaojiao turned around and went into the house in anger, complaining:
"Dad, did you hear what he said? My brother bullied Mom and me, and he even gave me a long face. Who is he trying to fool? I'm so angry, I feel terrible all over."
Upon hearing this, Wen Zhaoye's lips curled into a sinister smile:
A dead face?
Be content. I came back to break your legs and then slowly kill you.
Since marrying Xu Cuifen, this was the first time Wen Xiaojian had heard her call him "Dad." He already felt a deep affection for her, extending to her family and friends.
Now he was overjoyed, and his eyes crinkled with laughter as he said:
"Zhaoye, how can you talk to your sister like that? Jiaojiao isn't fully recovered yet, and you're just sitting at home doing nothing. Why don't you do some chores and go wash your sister's clothes?"
Wen Jiaojiao received a reply and walked out the door, raising her eyebrows slightly at the man with a cold and embarrassed expression.
Her smile was extremely malicious, maintaining her sweet and charming personality, as she deliberately retaliated:
"Thank you for your hard work, bro. After you take a shower, could you wash my clothes too?"
A washbasin was placed in front of him. Wen Zhaoye kicked it away with a sullen face, scattering his clothes all over the floor, revealing the black lace panties and underwear underneath.
His handsome face flushed crimson with shame, but his eyes burned with the fury of humiliation. His dark gaze fixed on the figure picking up her clothes, suddenly filled with fear. He looked down at her and said:
"They took things and money from my home that were worth at least 1,500 to 1,000 yuan."
Look at him now, wearing tattered clothes. He probably came back from a shopping spree. But those were all earned by me, bit by bit. You have to pay me back."
After Xu Cuifen got married, the gold earrings she had obtained from Wen Xiaojian were all stolen. But since her daughter came back, she hasn't dared to mention a word about the past.
Naturally, she didn't want others to talk about her daughter, so she forced an awkward smile and tried to ease the tension:
"Oh, Zhaoye, we're all family, what's with all this talk about paying back or not paying back? Why are you bringing this up?"
Wen Zhaoye pressed the tip of his tongue against his back teeth and scoffed:
"Family? Sure, I've been staying at your house recently. Business at the factory has been quite busy, so it wouldn't be a problem for her to cover for me for a while, would it?"
Wen Xiaojian, who was inside the house, chimed in:
“The factory is busy, just hire two more people. Your sister was immature before, but she has changed now.”
"Yes, he's changed, he's become even lazier." Wen Zhaoye said sarcastically, "You suffered for two years outside, and now you're back home enjoying your old man's blessings, huh?"
Wen Xiaojian refused to say:
"Jiaojiao is so hardworking. She even served me dinner last night. She's not feeling well right now, so you can do more work without exhausting yourself."
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