Ingratitude 08

As she spoke, she noticed the injuries on Chen's Father's face and the scar on Chen's Mother's head.

"Oh dear, that's terrible. Did he hit you? Did you make him pay compensation?" Her words feigned sympathy, but inwardly she was overjoyed. Originally, everyone was equally poor, but your Chen Nian's family was the poorest. Who could have guessed that suddenly a wealthy man would come along to provide for your family? Who could stand to see that?

Out of consideration for being neighbors, Chen Nian's parents couldn't say much. They just managed a few perfunctory replies to send her on her way. But judging by her eager demeanor, she was probably off to spread the news again.

Chen Nian gritted her teeth, her heart filled with hatred for Fang Mingyu. It was all because of him! Her entire future was ruined!

Sure enough, the very next day, her parents suggested she shouldn't attend high school.

"If you want to study, go find another fool like that! If you can find one, that's your skill!" Chen's Father slammed the table, his anger flaring up at the mention. Not only had they failed to get any money from this trip, but they'd also been beaten several times, and the little money they had managed to get was almost all spent.

Tears welled up in Chen Nian's eyes. Her grades were truly excellent. Even her teachers had said she would definitely get into university someday!

It's just that getting into university doesn't specifically screen for moral character.

However, she couldn't win against her parents in the end. So, life gradually returned to how it was before she met Fang Mingyu. In recent years, because of Fang Mingyu, her parents had treated her much better, even calling her "Nian Nian." Although they still favored her younger brother, it was a significant improvement over before. Now, she was back to working odd jobs. Her father had gambled away his job to someone else and was idle all day, her mother didn't work either, meaning the whole family was relying on her to support them.

If it were the old Chen Nian, she would have gritted her teeth and endured it. But now, after receiving an education, having seen the prosperity of the big city, and having stayed in luxury hotels, she was unwilling to accept this fate.

But she had no choice, because she was still just a child.

Back in Fang Zhiyi's hometown, Fang Zhiyi had made a special trip there because Second Brother Fang had secretly gone to Fang Mingyu's house again, only to be told the property had been sold.

"Ah, it's all because of that Chen family," Fang Zhiyi sighed heavily. "They demanded Mingyu pay compensation. Where would he get the money? He had no choice but to sell the house, and then he lost his job too."

Hearing this, Second Brother Fang looked somewhat embarrassed. The relatives with him exchanged glances.

After a hushed discussion among themselves, they actually managed to scrape together some money for Fang Zhiyi.

"Elder Brother, take this money. Give it to Mingyu. Tell him we elders have caused him trouble and we're sorry."

Fang Zhiyi raised an eyebrow. Little Hei beside him puffed out his chest, looking like "See, I told you so."

Fang Zhiyi didn't refuse. He took the money, frowning. "It's too little, though."

They looked at each other. Finally, Second Brother Fang, Fang Xiaoyan, and others went home to fetch more.

"Tell Mingyu to buy the house back! We may not have any great skills, but we do have the ability to earn some spare change."

Fang Zhiyi's gaze swept over them. He nodded and said meaningfully, "Alright, I'll accept this money. Remember, it's not accepted for nothing."

The Fang family relatives didn't take his words to heart. They just sighed for a while after Fang Zhiyi left, then complained a bit more—complaining about other relatives, complaining about Fang Zhiyi, complaining about Fang Mingyu.

Because she was underage, Chen Nian had to work secretly. Because of this, her wages were much lower than others'. But she still dreamed of saving money to leave this place. She had had enough of her family's true colors: a father who only knew how to drink, a mother who would hit and scold her at the drop of a hat, and a younger brother who tormented her.

She noticed something: their neighbor, Auntie Fatty's family, had suddenly come into money.

She saw Auntie Fatty in town, treating her two children to a feast at a fried chicken shop, wearing brand new clothes herself.

Chen Nian was puzzled. Why did they have money?

Once or twice, Chen Nian just watched. But as it happened more often—Auntie Fatty's family even bought a new motorcycle—Chen Nian couldn't sit still anymore. For the first time, she secretly followed Auntie Fatty, tailing her for a whole day but discovering nothing.

Until the day Auntie Fatty went to the post office to collect a money order.

Chen Nian pretended to bump into Auntie Fatty accidentally. When Auntie Fatty saw it was her, a flicker of unease crossed her face. Although she left quickly, Chen Nian had already seen the amount on the money order and the sender's surname.

"Fang."

Chen Nian returned home in a daze. Chen's Mother told her to hand over today's wages, but Chen Nian didn't hear. Her mind was completely occupied by that money order.

Chen's Mother grabbed her hair and threw her to the ground.

The pain made Chen Nian sit up.

"We've been tricked!" she cried out.

Chen's Mother was stunned. Chen's Father, drinking on the doorstep, was also stunned.

Chen Nian recounted what she saw that day. Her parents thought it over. Recently, their next-door neighbors had indeed become much more extravagant. They hadn't thought much of it—after all, people were always lifting themselves out of poverty—they were just too lazy to make the effort themselves. It was easier to pin their hopes on their son and daughter.

"That Auntie Fatty, she egged us on to go find Brother Mingyu, and she badmouthed him in front of us. Actually, she was just jealous!" Chen Nian wasn't stupid; she began to analyze.

"The result is we fell out with Brother Mingyu, and she secretly contacted him. Now Brother Mingyu is supporting their family!"

Chen's Mother shook her head. "Impossible. Fang Mingyu is finished. You saw it yourself."

Chen's Father also nodded. "That kid has nothing left. He's worse off than me!"

Chen Nian kept shaking her head. "No, no, he must have been testing us! He was pretending on purpose! I saw it today. The money order in Auntie Fatty's hand had the surname 'Fang' on it!"

Chen's parents looked at each other, half-believing, half-doubting.

Chen Nian's younger brother thumped his chest. "That's simple! I'll go steal it tonight and have a look!"

Strangely, no one stopped him. Chen Nian's mind was filled with regret, wishing she had pretended for a few more days, while her parents thought it was perfectly natural for their younger son to do this.

So that night, Chen Nian's brother went next door. But following a commotion and screams, he was dragged by Auntie Fatty to the Chen family's doorstep.

"Chen family! Come out and see your son! Stealing right into my house! Are you raising thieves?" Her voice was loud, disturbing several nearby villagers who had already gone to bed, bringing them out to watch.

The Chen family's faces turned pale with shame and anger. But seeing his limping son, Chen's Father couldn't help but step forward to fight. Auntie Fatty simply pinned him down, kicked the already unsteady man to the ground, then sat on him, raised her large hand, and began slapping him in wide arcs. Chen's Mother tried to intervene but was blocked by Auntie Fatty's two sons.

If the neighbors hadn't helped, Chen's Father might have been beaten senseless.

And from that night on, the two families became sworn enemies.