Chapter 178: Chapter 178: It’s My Fault
“Even sever ties with Chuyi, the child, because of adoption?” Uncle Xia stared intently at his sister and asked, word by word.
Mother Xia choked, lifting her eyes slightly, “I, I didn’t…”
Stammering.
Uncle Xia’s chest heaved violently, and finally, he could no longer hold back. He slammed his cane hard onto the ground and shouted loudly, “Foolish!”
The loud noise startled everyone present, causing them to shrink back.
Tears in Mother Xia’s eyes were scared back as she trembled and cried out, “Brother…”
Pitifully.
Seeing her like this, Uncle Xia became even angrier, shaking his head, shaking his head, and then shaking his head again.
Finally, he heaved a heavy sigh.
After sighing, he spoke solemnly, “It was my mistake.”
He began with self-blame.
“It was my mistake. I should not have indulged you.”
For the first time, Uncle Xia felt an immense regret for his indulgence towards Mother Xia over the years.
“Sister, over the years, you favored sons over daughters, always regretting not having given your husband a son, I know.”
“You wept continuously, focusing only on the Xia Family, I know that too.”
“Even when your husband had just died, and you were so distraught that you couldn’t care for the children, I understood.”
Stopping there, Uncle Xia paused as he recalled the days when he, a single man, had helped his sister care for her children.
Fortunately, Chuyi was well-behaved, intelligent, and appreciative.
After glancing at Chuyi affectionately, he continued, “But I always thought that after spending a long time beside you, naturally you would come to love her since Chuyi is your only child.”
“Even though you often acted foolishly, paying more attention to the other Xia children than to Chuyi, I always hoped that the day you came to your senses, you would treat Chuyi well.”
“However, today I realized, I was wrong, terribly wrong!”
Uncle Xia gritted his teeth, unable to help but intensify his tone, “Your heart went with your husband! It truly has no room for your daughter, Chuyi!”
“I…” Being so intensely rebuked by her brother, Mother Xia could do nothing but weep continuously, unable to utter any words in her defense.
Uncle Xia shook his head in deep disappointment and said, “Zhao Chunxiao, you are beyond salvation.”
He called Mother Xia by her name.
“Sister!” Mother Xia exclaimed in shock.
Uncle Xia gestured with his hand, indicating that she need not say more, and he spoke, “Since you’re set on adopting a son, I won’t stop you.”
“However, if you have your ‘son’, in the future, you’ll also have what you consider support.”
“Then, Chuyi and I are in agreement. From now on, I will no longer concern myself with any of your affairs.”
Uncle Xia’s words, neither light nor heavy, resonated like thunder, substantially shaking everyone present.
Especially those from the big room felt a cracking sound in their hearts.
What?
Did Uncle Xia mean that just like Chuyi, if Mother Xia adopted a son, he would sever ties with her?
The people from the big room panicked.
At this moment, Chuyi, standing still, looked at her uncle, unsure of what to say.
She knew best how Uncle Xia felt towards Mother Xia.
Back then, Uncle Xia and Mother Xia had depended on each other for survival and had supported each other to live through to New China.
Softly, she called out, “Uncle…”
A thousand words, all unspoken.
Uncle Xia gently shook his head at her, indicating she need not be sentimental.
“Sister!” Mother Xia called out again, with a voice full of anguish.
This time, Uncle Xia did not relent.
“Two paths, I’ve laid them out here, Sister, choose for yourself.”