chapter 11
Perhaps these are the cruellest words in the world.
“Why!” I couldn’t hold it in any longer, tears streaming down my face. “Aren’t I your child too?”
“I have good grades, I work hard, I’ve made it into the top fifty of my grade-why do I have to give way to him?”
“Can’t you be just a little fair?”
“Just because he’s a boy?”
“Do you even deserve to be called parents?”
If, in my previous life, it was because I wasn’t determined enough, or hadn’t worked hard enough-
But now, I’ve changed all of that.
This version of me, shining so brightly-don’t I deserve a second look from them?
My father, enraged and embarrassed, picked up a flashlight and hurled it at me. “Did you stuff all your book learning up your ass? Is this how you talk to me?”
I didn’t dodge.
The flashlight grazed my forehead, leaving a deep bloody scratch.
My father didn’t say a single word of apology, just turned and walked out of the room.
My mother found a dirty rag and pressed it to my wound.
She sighed incessantly. “You know your father’s temper-why go head-to-head with him? He’s already being good to you.”
Is he?
Blood blurred my vision. I let out a bleak laugh. “Mom, he’s a man, so he can’t empathize with me-I get that. But you’re a woman too, why are you also an accomplice?”
“Do you also think only boys are worth nurturing? You’ve seen how hard I’ve worked.”
My mother didn’t dare meet my eyes.
She mumbled, “But Zhaozhao, you’ll get married someday.”
“Your dad and I have to rely on your brother to support us in old age.”
“Every family in the village is like this. For us to send you to high school, we’re already under a lot of pressure. If you keep studying and your brother doesn’t, people in the village will laugh us to death.”
“We raised you all these years-can’t you be a little more considerate of us?”
In my past life, I was far too considerate of you.
Bit by bit, step by step, I gave away my own life.
This time, I will never back down again.
Seeing my grim face, my mother rubbed her hands on her legs nervously. “How about this-let your brother use the money first, and then you can borrow some from Uncle De? He has such a big shop, he should be able to help.”
At that moment, my anger exploded.
“Mom, how can you even say something like that?”
“Even if Uncle De has a hundred million, that’s money he worked hard for. Good people should be thanked, not exploited.”
“Mom, please act like decent parents.”
The next morning, I packed my bags and headed out with my backpack.
My father stood at the door with a pole. “Where are you going?”
“Back to school!”
He raised the pole. “Your brother wants to study and you’re not even bothered? So selfish, only caring about yourself! I’ll beat you to death with this pole!”
Step by step, I walked toward him, eyes sharp and unflinching. “Then do it-beat me to death!”
“If you won’t let me keep studying, it’s no different than killing me. If you insist on blocking my way today, then we’re done for good.”
“When you die, I won’t even cry at your graves.”
My father’s face turned purple with rage, veins bulging on his arms, the pole raised high.
I ignored everything, and kept walking.
The situation was spiraling out of control when Song Mu came out of the house.