When Wang Ermei returned to her hometown, Old Mrs. Zhao had her running around like a headless chicken. The house hadn't been lived in for years, and cleaning it was a real chore.
Pots, pans, rice, and oil all needed tending to. The grain they brought back wasn't much, and after a week, they ran out of rice.
"Mom, we're out of rice. I'll go to town to buy some. You stay and watch Xiao Bao, okay?"
"Alright, you go."
The old woman thought that since she hadn't caused any trouble for a week, her mind must be settled.
She would surely live a quiet life, waiting for her son to be released from prison. However, after Wang Ermei left, she hadn't returned even as the sky grew dark.
The old woman grew anxious and found a few young men from the neighborhood. She entrusted her grandson to the old lady next door for the night, and a group of them went out to search with flashlights.
They searched everywhere but couldn't find her. Old Mrs. Zhao was so angry she cried for several days. No one could stop her, and they could only let her be.
After returning home, the old woman stayed with her precious grandson, cursing Wang Ermei every day.
Wang Ermei had met a middle-aged man on a messaging app and started an online romance. She was easily tricked into leaving by a few words from him and ran away.
As soon as the two met, the man was arrested by the police. It turned out he was a human trafficker.
It took her half a day to get out of the police station after giving her statement. She dared not return to her hometown.
She didn't have the key to the house in the county, and the money she had wasn't enough to even rent a small motel.
She could only make do for the night under a bridge. The nights in City B were truly freezing, and stomping her feet to keep warm was useless.
Soon, she couldn't feel anything. Before she could freeze to death, she was devoured by a pack of wild dogs.
Old Mrs. Zhao was already old, and her health was declining day by day. She was frail, and several times she coughed up blood while scolding.
When the neighbors heard the child crying incessantly and no one taking care of him, they finally came to knock on the door.
Looking in through the window, they discovered the person lying on the ground, motionless, and immediately called the police.
Finally, a few neighbors dug a hole and hastily buried her, just as she had hastily buried the original owner.
No relatives or friends were willing to adopt the child, so he was sent to a welfare institute, which was considered a relatively good outcome.
When Chunyan received the news, she was stunned. However, she didn't feel any sadness. She recognized Wang Ermei through the surveillance footage and confirmed her death.
Teacher Li accompanied her to transfer her household registration. The following days passed very peacefully.
She was admitted to the best high school in the county and later attended a normal university. She wanted to be a good teacher and help children like she used to be.
Every step of her life was taken steadily. After she was successfully admitted to university, Jun Jiuli left this plane.
...
After five years in prison, Zhao Bei had lost a lot of weight.
His wife and mother were gone. As for his daughter, Zhao Chunyan, he had never thought of her.
He went to the orphanage to see his son. The child did not recognize him, and that unfamiliar gaze pained him.
He couldn't sleep at home that night, tossing and turning. He thought for a long time. It might be better for his son to be taken back and cared for by him rather than staying at the orphanage.
He couldn't find a job now and was out of touch with society. He was even afraid to go out and could only hide at home, drinking heavily every day.
He felt his body was breaking down. He transferred the house to his son and soon drank himself to death.
...
When Shen Jianjia woke up, she felt as if the whole world had abandoned her. She was now 25 years old, but her memories and knowledge were stuck at the age of 12.
She couldn't understand anything and couldn't do anything. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Shen, had also had another child.
She subconsciously fought for attention with the child, feeling that the whole family owed her.
At first, Mr. and Mrs. Shen, feeling pity for her, would tolerate her. But as time went on, they only felt annoyed.
Mr. Shen: "Can you stop making trouble? If you keep making trouble, get out of this house. The family provides you with food and drink, and you're still not satisfied with how you're being raised. What more do you want?"
Mrs. Shen: "How can you be so selfish? You keep pestering Qianqian every day. She's just a child. How much money has this family spent on you in the hospital? You're not even satisfied with buying her some toys. What is it you want from me?"
Shen Jianjia: "It's not like that, it's not like that. You are my father and mother, and I don't know any Qianqian. She's an outsider, she's a slut who's here to steal my things."
Mr. Shen's veins bulged with anger, and he slapped her hard across the face. This triggered Shen Jianjia's dark memories, and she couldn't help but tremble.
"Dad, you hit me, you actually hit me."
She covered her swollen red face and cried miserably, her eyes filled with hatred.
"I hit you because you deserve it. Qianqian is not an outsider. Qianqian is your sister, and she is also a master of this house."
"I don't admit it, I don't admit it. I am your beloved daughter, and this family's little princess can only be me."
Mrs. Shen: "You don't need to admit it. Qianqian is the child of your father and me."
"Why? Why? How could you have her without my permission? Why didn't you abort her? You are truly malicious. You don't love me anymore, so you let her steal my things."
"What nonsense are you talking about? Why should your permission be needed? Shen Jianjia, you think highly of yourself. When has Qianqian ever stolen anything from you? Don't think I don't know. You're the one bullying Qianqian. You'd better behave yourself."
"I don't care. From now on, this family either has me or her, but not both of us."
After saying that, she widened her eyes and stared intently at the actions of Mr. and Mrs. Shen.
Mrs. Shen took a deep breath and said, "You should leave. You are already an adult and very opinionated. Qianqian is still young and needs us."
Shen Jianjia was filled with disbelief, but she still took her suitcase and left in a huff.
Without any education, she could only work as a waitress. Her pay was 1800, with room and board included. Having been accustomed to being a young lady, she couldn't endure such hardship, but she was unwilling to go home, so she had to endure it.
When she was studying, social youth was popular. Now, she directly found a hooligan to be her boyfriend.
Mr. and Mrs. Shen disagreed, but she insisted on marrying him. She stole the household registration book and got married without any betrothal gifts, jewelry, or a wedding house.
As a result, the man gambled, smoked, and drank, but he was useless at doing housework, earning money, or doting on his wife. Before marriage, he was willing to coax her, but after marriage, if she didn't listen, he would resort to violence.
Mr. and Mrs. Shen advised her to divorce, but she refused to do so, claiming to be deeply in love. She said that being hit was a sign of affection and that the rest of her life was very difficult.