Sister 010

The village doctor urged them to send Old Madam Huang to the county hospital immediately, but Huang Minhao found it too troublesome. Instead, he carried her home and dumped her on the bed, planning to wait until morning.

To his shock, the next day, he discovered his mother had become paralyzed.

When the doctor arrived, the diagnosis was clear: the shock had triggered a latent illness, and she would likely never walk again.

Fang Zhaodi politely paid the doctor and saw him out, then turned to assign tasks.

Old Man Huang, who had always lived leisurely, now took over his wife’s chores—and he and Huang Minhao would have to care for the paralyzed woman together.

Yet life in the Huang household remained bleak. Huang Minhao was beaten almost every other day, his body covered in fresh wounds atop old ones. He grew increasingly neurotic and even reported the abuse to the authorities.

But when he heard the same words he had once used to threaten his wife, his blood ran cold.

"Domestic disputes should be resolved through discussion. If that fails, divorce is always an option."

Now, even if he wanted a divorce, Fang Zhaodi refused. She had taken complete control of the Huang family, and even Old Man Huang obeyed her every word.

Huang Minhao was consumed by fear and despair.

What had he done to deserve this? Heaven had no eyes!

He even considered desperate measures, but lacked the courage to act. Then, after another "lesson," Fang Zhaodi suddenly asked if he wanted a divorce.

Huang Minhao nodded frantically.

Fang Zhaodi laid out her demands, even drafting an agreement herself. Seeing the amount she demanded, Huang Minhao felt his heart bleed.

But when she reached for the stick again, he signed and stamped the paper without hesitation.

Fang Zhaodi left with her belongings.

Huang Minhao nearly wept with relief, unaware that worse days lay ahead. With a paralyzed mother, an indifferent father, and most of their wealth gone, his despair deepened when he learned Fang Zhaodi had mortgaged his fishpond—claiming it was for Old Madam Huang’s treatment.

Watching the loan company repossess the pond, Huang Minhao was stunned.

Fang Zhaodi had left in a hurry because Fang Zhiyi claimed to be in trouble and needed money. Having lost all attachment to the Huangs and tired of the endless violence, she followed her brother’s plan and took most of the family’s wealth to the city.

"Sis, you’re finally here!" Fang Zhiyi rubbed his hands eagerly.

Fang Zhaodi frowned at her unreliable brother. She wasn’t the same person anymore—she had grown a spine.

"What did you do this time? Gambling? Or did you hurt someone?"

Fang Zhiyi just grinned and pulled her toward a building behind him.

Fang Zhaodi hesitated. The building looked like a school.

With shameless familiarity, Fang Zhiyi slung an arm around her shoulders. "I may be useless, but I’ve got good instincts. Get a license, open a law firm—there’ll be no shortage of lawsuits in the future..."

A school? Fang Zhaodi shrank back.

She hadn’t heard that word in years.

"But first, we’ve got something to do." Fang Zhiyi pulled out a booklet.

"What is it?"

"Change your name."

Fang Zhaodi never imagined she’d escape the name that shackled her to family duty. Her brother gave her a new one: Fang Nuan.

Under Fang Zhiyi’s smooth talk, Fang Zhaodi—no, Fang Nuan—paid the fees and muddled her way into starting school.

But Fang Zhiyi was shocked to discover his sister was pregnant. The timing checked out.

He ranted for an hour, but Fang Nuan remained calm. She’d thought her weight gain was just from eating and sleeping well. Now, touching her belly, she resolved to raise the child alone.

While the siblings busied themselves, Huang Minhao took action.

He couldn’t stand the stench of Old Madam Huang or the thought of a destitute future. Drunk and desperate, he stormed to the Fang household for answers.

The Fang parents were already frantic over their son’s sudden disappearance. They scowled at Huang Minhao until they learned Fang Zhaodi had left with the money—then their eyes lit up.

But before they could scheme further, Huang Minhao, realizing Fang Zhiyi wasn’t home, unleashed his pent-up rage.

A brawl broke out. Though outnumbered two-to-one, the elderly Fangs only managed a draw against the limping drunk.

The commotion drew the police, and both sides were hauled in for questioning.

Huang Minhao insisted the Fangs had taken subsidies meant for his parents, but the old couple denied it—until they heard their son was involved. Then they clammed up.

Still, they refused to give Huang Minhao a single cent.

From then on, the Huangs and Fangs were sworn enemies. Huang Minhao, often drunk, would demand money, and the Fangs steadfastly refused. Over time, both families became laughingstocks.

Far away, Fang Zhiyi and Fang Nuan knew nothing of this. Fang Zhiyi marveled at his sister’s talent—sharp-minded even while pregnant, she kept pace effortlessly.

Fang Nuan gave birth to a boy, renaming him Fang Xiangyang.

Fang Zhiyi stared at his nephew, fighting the urge to strangle him.

Well, the kid was young. Away from that toxic environment, he could still be taught.

After Fang Nuan graduated, Fang Zhiyi embraced his dream life: mooching off his sister.

Fang Nuan used his money to open a law firm, while Fang Zhiyi babysat Fang Xiangyang, loafed around, and occasionally "accidentally" found her clients.

Old Madam Huang, neglected and uncared for, died early. Old Man Huang and his son grew even more hostile, and Huang Minhao spiraled into alcoholism, drowning his misery in liquor before staggering to the Fangs’ to make a scene.

Years of this wore the Fang parents down.

Then, one day, they all saw the news on TV.

The woman’s face, polished and poised, was both unfamiliar and eerily familiar.

She spoke of her past—ignored, exploited, sold like chattel, trapped in the mud.

"I believe only by becoming strong can we fight injustice."

"Do you hate your family?"

Fang Nuan shook her head. "I have no family... Well, except my brother. Without him, I’d still be in that hell—or dead."

The Fang parents’ expressions twisted with emotion.

Across town, Huang Minhao’s face darkened with greed.