Moreover, she was the one who struck first; I was merely acting in self-defense, so I have no reason to blame him.
Zhou's mother looked Zhou Mingjie over again, her eyes filled with complex emotions as she looked at the crutches under his arm. "You should live a good life with your wife from now on."
Stop causing trouble. You're married now, so you're an adult and should be more sensible.
This time they broke your leg, next time it might be...
"Why don't you pack your things and come back to the city with us?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Mingjie's eyes grew even colder.
The other three also looked rather grim. How could they be so certain that he had gotten his leg crippled from causing trouble while out and about?
Did something go wrong and burn your mouth?
Zhou Mingjie took a deep drag of his cigarette, the pale blue smoke rings completely enveloping him, making it impossible to see any expression on his face.
All I know is that his voice was cold, “You can go back now. You don’t need to worry about my affairs.”
After all these years of wandering, I haven't starved to death, have I?
Upon hearing this, Zhou's father exploded, "What kind of attitude is this?"
We came all this way to see you, and instead of saying a few kind words, you actually tried to kick us out the door? Have you lost your conscience?
They had heard the word "conscience" from Zhou's father several times today.
Zhou Mingjie, "Just consider me..."
"Alright, alright, stop talking." Seeing that the two were about to start arguing again, Zhou Ma quickly interrupted them.
She spent half the day traveling and then had a fight with that old man. She's exhausted and can't take it anymore.
"Fine, I'll leave. Do you think I'd want to come to this godforsaken place?"
"That good-for-nothing bastard, it would be easier to just kill him." Zhou's father put his hands behind his back, turned around, and resolutely walked towards the door.
Aunt Zhou glanced at Zhou Mingjie and his wife, "Come back and visit often when you have time!"
Zhou Mingjie remained unmoved by these words, but Yang Hongxing nodded.
Aunt Zhou sighed heavily and left in a hurry.
But soon, the sound of the elderly couple arguing could be heard outside the door again.
Su Nianxue was a little worried, "Won't they start fighting again in the street?"
"Probably not, we've had enough today."
They're getting old now and don't have that much energy anymore. They need to take a break, right? Zhou Mingjie's lips curled up slightly, his eyes clearly showing sarcasm.
Yang Hongxing quickly helped him up from the rock, saying, "Go inside and sit down, it's so cold outside."
But once the group entered the house and saw the messy state of things inside, their mood turned somber again.
What kind of people are they? They're so old, how can they still be so impulsive?
Look what they've done to the house! There's barely any room to step.
Yang Hongxing and Su Nianxue silently picked up brooms and tidied up the house before taking their baskets to the kitchen.
Before long, the steaming pot was placed on the table.
As white steam billowed out, the aroma of the pot quickly filled the entire room.
The four of them sat around the table, but none of them seemed to have much of an appetite.
Zhou Mingjie spoke first, "I'm really sorry, I've made you all laugh."
Gu Yanbai and his wife shook their heads in unison, "Every family has its own problems, and there's nothing funny about it."
He asked casually, "Is this why you haven't come home all these years?"
He met Zhou Mingjie when he was just a teenager.
The two of them often spent time together back then, but he never mentioned his parents.
All I knew was that his family lived in the city, and he rarely went home.
"Yes, they argue every day, and they fight at the drop of a hat. There's never a moment of peace at home."
"Our family is the laughingstock of that area." Zhou Mingjie gave a bitter smile.
The three people at the table fell silent. Today, they had all witnessed firsthand the practical skills of Zhou's parents.
Their fighting power is truly impressive. If it were them, they probably wouldn't want to go home either!
Even if I wanted to comfort her, I wouldn't know how to start.
Zhou Mingjie was eager to confide in them at this moment, and before they could react, he continued, "There are three of us siblings in my family."
My eldest brother has been smart since he was a child, and his academic performance was also the best.
He was admitted to a university in another city, and later settled down there, never to return.
My older sister got married early, and later I was the only one left in the family.
They argued every day over trivial matters, and the arguments would escalate into physical fights.
Sometimes we're eating perfectly fine, and suddenly all the bowls and chopsticks on the table fly off the table.
You probably can't imagine that kind of scene, right?
But after they've finished fighting, they'll go back to their lives as if nothing happened.
I really don't understand. Since life has already come to this, why not get a divorce and set each other free?
None of the people at the table touched their chopsticks; the room was silent except for the bubbling sound of the pot.
Zhou Mingjie continued, "Later, my older brother and sister both left home."
I'm all alone at home now; I don't even have anyone to huddle with for warmth anymore.
I disliked going home more and more, and I was always wandering around outside, which made my parents dislike me even more.
Later, when I was older, I came to Qingshui Town by chance and met you all. I was very happy.
Later, I saved up some money and bought this house, settling down here.
I've always felt that marriage is a terrible thing, so..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but everyone at the table understood what he meant.
He grew up in a repressive environment, so his resistance to marriage is understandable.
However, man proposes, God disposes, and by some twist of fate, he still managed to get married.
Yang Hongxing gave him a deep look, then sighed softly. The gloom that had accumulated in her heart these past few days seemed to dissipate with that sigh.
"Let's eat. It won't taste good if it's cooked for too long," she said, breaking the silence in the room.
"Wife, go get a bottle of wine." Zhou Mingjie's eyes flickered slightly.
“But your leg…” Yang Hongxing was a little worried.
Knowing he was in a bad mood, she finally nodded.
After a few drinks, Zhou Mingjie's eyes became somewhat glazed. He said, "Yanbai, do you know?"
I hadn't planned on getting married before.
But now that I'm married, I'm determined not to live like them.
If I have a child, I will never let him be as pitiful as I was when I was a child.
I will... I will... learn to be a..."
Before he could finish speaking, he collapsed onto the table.
Yang Hongxing's eyes flickered slightly, and her expression softened considerably.
After lunch, the group went home to their respective mothers.
When they got back, Gu Yanbai asked, "What's wrong? You haven't said a word for a long time. Were you scared?"
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