Chapter 27: Apology Impossible
Chu Qiao strolled on the street. The night wind was blowing in Beijinzhou. Because it was the capital of Beidou Country, it was well governed and there was no garbage to be seen in the whole city.
Chu Qiao instinctively looked around. The thin outdoor clothes could not keep out the cold. She shivered involuntarily and hugged her arms across her chest.
Wandering around like this is not a solution. The parents of this body live in a small alley called Niujiaoxiang.
Chu Qiao had a strong sense of direction. Following his memory, he walked from the main road into a small alley. After twisting and turning, he finally saw an alley only one meter wide. There was a big blue sign in the alley with the three black characters "Niu Jiao Alley" on it, which were already mottled and unrecognizable.
There is always some dirty side in the depths of the city. Several women in revealing clothes stood under the only street light in the alley, looking at the opposite sex who occasionally passed by with seductive eyes.
Chu Qiao squeezed past sideways.
Deep in Niu Jiao Alley, Chu Qiao saw an old wooden door. With a creak, the door opened a crack, but it could not be pushed open anymore. A wooden stick was stuck in the door from the inside.
Chu Qiao knocked on the door and a woman came to open it. She looked to be in her fifties. Her eyes were as big as Chu Qiao's, but her skin was dry and cracked, and there were several wrinkles across her forehead.
The woman looked at Chu Qiao, her eyes widening in shock. Her lips began to tremble. She pulled her into her arms and choked, saying, "It's good to be alive, it's good to be alive."
The woman's name is Chen Chunhan, Chu Qiao's mother.
"Who's coming?"
A powerful voice came from inside the house.
There was no response, and the person in the room came out. He was a capable man in his fifties.
When he saw Chu Qiao, the man was stunned at first, and then the wrinkles on his face seemed to relax.
After a while, he said, "Where have you been these days? We all thought you..."
Chu Qiao couldn't explain everything to them, so he simply said, "Mom and Dad, I was floating in the sea for a few days and was rescued by fishermen. I'm fine now."
Shen Chunhan circled around Chu Qiao, looking at her carefully, and the first thing he saw was the gauze on Chu Qiao's hand.
"Injured?"
"It's just a minor injury, it's okay." Chu Qiao was being teased obediently.
In their previous lives as orphans in the Guard, the planet chose them because they had no ties and were ready to sacrifice for the planet's interests at any time.
This is the first time I have been treated with care by my elders.
Shen Chunhan pulled Chu Qiao to sit at the dining table and stroked Chu Qiao's hair: "You must have suffered a lot. Mom will make you something delicious."
The table was filled with leftover food for the two of them.
Chu Qiao pointed at the dish on the table and said, "No need to cook, this will do."
Chen Chunhan trotted over and collected the plates swiftly.
"Don't eat these, mom will make you something delicious."
Chu Qiao raised the corners of his mouth, and a smiling face was imprinted in the light.
Chen Chunhan was efficient. When the old-fashioned clock on the wall struck half an hour, she brought out a plate of dumplings.
"Come on, hurry up while it's hot. I'll get you your favorite shrimp paste."
When Chu Qiao heard the word "shrimp", she, who had just returned from the sea, immediately felt a fishy smell coming up as a conditioned reflex.
"Mom, mom, I want to dip it in vinegar today."
"Okay, I'll get it for you."
Chu Qiao wolfed down a plate of dumplings.
After eating, I still touched my mouth with a feeling of satisfaction.
His father, Chu Zheng, had been watching from the side, his lips curled up from time to time. After Chu Qiao finished his meal, Chu Zheng suddenly slapped his head and said, "Have you contacted Zhang Zhuo when you got back? Remember to call him."
Chu Qiao casually replied, "I went to his house, he slept with someone else, and we broke up."
Chu Zheng suddenly became excited: "What did you say? Break up?"
Chu Qiao frowned, a question mark almost written on his face.
"Go now, apologize to him, and beg him not to break up with you."
Chu Qiao opened his eyes wide and glanced at his mother. His mother, who had just been so intimate with him, nodded, agreeing with his father's idea.
"My dear daughter, go quickly and don't make your father angry. Zhang Zhuo is a good man. After all, we are marrying above our station."
Chu Qiao thought about the live broadcasts where there were always comments saying that she was showing off, was immoral, and didn't do what a woman should do.
Now I finally understand a little bit. Although this world looks modern, it is actually similar to the feudal society when it comes to issues between men and women.
"If I don't go, he will cheat on me and ask me to apologize?" Chu Qiao sat upright on the chair with his back straight.
Chu Zheng raised his eyebrows, and slapped the table with a "bang", causing the plates and bowls on the table to buzz.
"Zhang Zhuo is so well-off. Marrying him means you'll have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of your life. What else do you want?"
Chu Qiao opened his mouth to explain, but closed it again. Talking to them about equality and freedom was like telling women in feudal society not to bind their feet. They would be regarded as fools.
How can a woman who has reached an interstellar civilization be allowed to return to a semi-feudal society and become a climbing trumpet creeper?
Chu Qiao snorted contemptuously. She couldn't stand it.
Chu Zheng's dark face and furrowed brows showed his dissatisfaction and confusion. How could the good girl become like this?
"Are you going or not?"
Chu Qiao raised his head, his eyes firm: "Dad, I really don't want to go."
"You..." Chu Zheng's palm was about to fall.
Chen Chunhan rushed over and stood in front of Chu Qiao, and the slap landed hard on his mother's back.
Chu Qiao suddenly became angry at this moment.
Even though he only had memories of Shen Chunhan and didn't have many feelings for her, the warmth she showed him as soon as he entered the door still made Chu Qiao feel a warmth he had never felt before.
Chu Qiao helped Shen Chunhan sit down, and Shen Chunhan wiped away her tears.
"Cry, cry, cry! All you do is cry. Look at what you've done to your daughter."
Chu Qiao stood in front of his mother and said, "Dad, this has nothing to do with my mom. If you have any problems, come to me."
"If you don't apologize today, don't even enter this house."
Chu Zheng said this while pulling Chu Qiao's collar and walked out.
Chu Qiao did not resist and let Chu Zheng push her out the door.
"When you two get back together, come home."
Chu Qiao sat at the door of his house. The mottled door was closed tightly, and the roar of his father scolding his mother came from inside.
She smiled bitterly as the noise inside grew louder.
"Bang——" Only the sound of the plate breaking was heard, echoing in the air.
Chu Qiao clenched his fists and knocked on the door.
There was no intention of opening the door.
Chu Qiao said loudly: "Dad, I'm going to apologize now. I won't be home tonight. I live over there."
The noise inside gradually subsided. After a while, Shen Chunhan came out with tears still on her face. She brought a thick down jacket to Chu Qiao.
"Don't blame your father, he also wants you to marry someone better."
Chu Qiao said nothing, put on his clothes silently, and walked out of the alley.
Chu Qiao had no home to return to and suddenly felt that the world was full of sadness. Of course, she could not really apologize to that scumbag.
Chu Qiao opened his mobile banking app to check his balance. He bought plane tickets, meals, and a cell phone, leaving him with 10,000 Beidou coins.
No matter what, I have to find a place to live.
Chu Qiao went around and around and found a hotel near her home. The hotel was dirty and they actually asked her for 500 Beidou coins. Chu Qiao felt distressed and fell asleep on the bed.
I plan to sleep until the house is handed over and get my money back.
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