Before dropping me off at school, my aunt Brenda brought my cousin Brad to our house, their arrogance practically radiating. “What’s the point of a girl going to school anyway? You might as well marry her off to my family. We’ll give you a full twenty thousand dollars for the bride price.” Everyone tried to convince my mom to marry me off, but she insisted on sending me to school. I was gone for five years, and my mom endured five years of mockery. They’d say it would all benefit some other family in the end, that after five years, she still hadn’t turned into a golden phoenix. Until I came to take my mom away. During the holidays, I drove her back in a luxury car. My mom, decked out in designer clothes and a pigeon-egg diamond ring, was absolutely beaming. “Isn’t this diamond ring dazzling? My daughter bought it for me! Surely no one else’s daughter bought them a massive diamond ring like this, right? *Right*?” My mom’s name was Elara. It was pretty obvious she was the child her parents never really cared for from the start. When my mom was little, she was beautiful, sweet, and well-behaved. A couple, both teachers in the city, wanted to adopt a daughter. My grandparents were initially planning to give my mom away, hoping to get a good price for her. But my mom was smart even as a child. On the day she was supposed to be sent away, she cried and fussed endlessly. The couple couldn’t calm her down, got annoyed, and brought her back. My grandparents grit their teeth and returned a duck and twenty dollars they’d received. “You worthless drain! You don’t have a fortunate bone in your body!” Grandpa was furious, gnashing his teeth. My mom later told me that Grandpa had even considered suffocating her that day. But Grandma got pregnant again. Grandpa said, “Don’t give her away yet. She can help take care of Dustin.” Yes, Dustin. My uncle wasn’t even born yet, but my grandparents had already asked the most educated person in the village to pick out his name. They placed all their hopes on this unborn boy. That’s how my mom survived. But unfortunately, Grandma’s second child was also a girl. After a lot of trouble, my other two aunts were given away by my grandparents. Finally, four years later, Grandma gave birth to my uncle. And my mom, at a very young age, took on the entire family’s burden. Her primary task was to take good care of my uncle. Not only that, she had to work the fields, helping my grandparents lighten their load. She also had to help my grandparents with their homemade fried pastries business. Because of all this, my mom didn’t even finish elementary school before she came home to work the farm. Later, the pastry business didn’t work out, so my grandparents opened a small general store in their house. My mom still just helped out at home. She hadn’t had an education; the most advanced math she knew was making change at the store. But my uncle was different. He was my grandparents’ darling, their precious treasure. Whatever he wished for, he got. My grandparents even *begged* him to study. Though my uncle’s grades were always at the bottom, and he even repeated elementary school twice. Yet, Grandma still believed that my uncle was the family’s only hope. My mom yearned to learn. Sometimes, she would secretly flip through my uncle’s textbooks. But Grandma discovered her. Grandpa grabbed a rope and tied my mom to the persimmon tree in the yard. “Stealing! I’ll teach you to steal! How dare you touch your brother’s things?!” My mom cried until she fainted, saying she knew she was wrong. My grandparents felt the lesson wasn’t enough and left her tied up all night before letting her down. My mom almost died that night. Life went on like that. My grandparents remained biased, but my mom was already content. At least she hadn’t been sold off, she thought.
My mom was twenty when my uncle was sixteen. He had already dropped out of school three years prior. My grandparents had arranged a marriage for him, but they didn’t have enough for the bride price. The family put their heads together and turned their gaze to my mom, who had always been their live-in laborer. They found a match for my mom. It was an older widower from the neighboring village, known for being a good-for-nothing. Rumor had it he’d dabbled in some shady business and had a bit of money. My mom refused. She would rather stay home her entire life and serve her parents. But my mom wasn’t allowed to refuse. They didn’t even hold a wedding; my mom was simply packed up and sent to the neighboring village. My grandparents took the money, immediately forgot about my mom, and lavishly arranged my uncle’s marriage. My mom tried to come home. But even the neighboring village was dozens of miles away. Plus, the old widower knew my mom’s intentions and kept a tight watch on her. In the three years my mom was married, she never returned home once. In the second year, my mom got pregnant and gave birth to me. My mom became a mother in such a bewildering way. Because I was sickly and a girl. The old widower would often beat my mom and me. In my childhood memories, I couldn’t clearly see the old widower’s face. But I could always see my mom carefully shielding me, a gentle, indescribable look in her eyes. “Iris, Mom’s right here.” I felt for my mom, but my mom felt even more for me. She raised me until I was five, and finally, fate seemed to open its eyes. The old widower got drunk, fell into the river, and drowned. My mom took me to handle his funeral in the village, and then we were sent back to my grandparents’ house. “Mom, Dad, Iris and I talked it over. We want to stay here.” At that time, Aunt Brenda was six months pregnant and needed care. My mom had worked as a nanny and done farm labor, and my uncle was working out of town. Grandma could finally enjoy some comfort. “Well, that’s just wonderful! Staying is the best thing you could do!” Grandma smiled broadly and slapped her thigh. She immediately ordered my mom, “Elara, hurry up and make dinner.” “And Iris, quick, go to the fields and pick some vegetables for your cousin.” Yes, my name was Iris. Or rather, that’s what my mom called me. I was a girl. The old widower had said there was no need to name me since I’d just get married off anyway. Everyone else just called me “the burden.” Only my mom, on one trip back from the market. She carefully pulled out a plastic ring, wrapped in three layers, and placed it in my palm. “I saw other kids like these toys. Everyone else has them, so you should too.” “Little one, Mom’s going to give you a name.” “How about Iris? What do you think?” I was so young then, I just felt my mom was very happy. I held the plastic ring, babbling out a response. “…Mom, Mom.” My mom froze for a second, then smiled even sweeter than the candy she’d secretly slipped me.
Grandma’s general store had been closed for a long time. My mom and I lived in the woodshed outside Grandma’s house. A five-year-old could vaguely tell the difference between good and bad. I could clearly feel that Grandpa and Grandma didn’t really like my mom or me. Yet, I noticed my mom’s smile growing wider. It was the feeling of being home, of stability. My mom was happy, and I was happy too, so I was willing to call them Grandpa and Grandma. But they didn’t treat my mom or me like people. Early in the morning, still twilight, my mom would have to get up and cook for the whole family. After taking my cousin to school, she also had to take care of my pregnant aunt Brenda. And of course, my mom had to look after the family’s fields. Going to market to sell vegetables and fruits also fell to my mom. My mom went to the market eagerly every day, then returned just as eagerly with a gift for me. Sometimes she would carefully count out how much money she’d made that day, then teach me how to use an abacus. “Iris, even if you don’t learn anything else, you *must* learn this.” “Once you learn this, you can make a lot of money.” “Really?” I looked at Mom with admiration, and she nodded seriously. “Then I’ll definitely spend all my money on you, Mom.” Sometimes she would buy me a few candies or pastries. But most of the time, these things were intercepted by my sharp-eyed aunt Brenda. And then given entirely to my cousin to eat. Later, my mom learned to wrap the pastries in three or four layers, stuff them into her clothes, and bring them back to me. I was little then, and I only cared about eating the always warm pastries. Sometimes, she would tell me about the books she’d seen at the county library. She didn’t recognize the words, but she was slowly learning. I could see the light sparkling in my mom’s eyes when she described these things. It was a different feeling from when she was at home. At those moments, she glowed. My mom would never know. That very early on, her resilience had inspired her daughter. I opened my mouth and asked my mom if I could go to school. My mom paused, her eyes suddenly shining. “That’s right, Iris! How could I forget to send you to school?” “Your mom regrets not finishing elementary school and not being able to teach you.” “But don’t worry, Mom will make sure you get an education.” I nodded firmly. There was only one elementary school in the village, and the age regulations weren’t very strict. Sometimes during busy farming seasons, parents would even send their four-year-olds to school. But my mom and I overlooked one crucial problem. I didn’t have a birth certificate. Because I was a girl, the old widower had immediately turned cold. He couldn’t even be bothered to give me a name, so how could he register my birth? So, even now, I was an unregistered person. I could only audit classes; I couldn’t officially enroll. My mom was so anxious she stopped going to the market. She spent every day in the village asking how to get my birth certificate. Finally, she got an answer: she needed to take proof to the county office to process it. My mom didn’t say another word and immediately rushed to the county.
As my mom became more focused on my affairs, she became less attentive to Aunt Brenda and Grandma. Actually, in my opinion, she was still attentive. It was just that compared to before, my mom had shifted her focus to me. Grandma treated my mom like a slave, and my mom just gritted her teeth and bore it. But Grandma couldn’t stand that my mom still wanted to support me in going to school. “Elara, what’s the point of a girl reading so many books? She’ll just get married off eventually anyway.” Aunt Brenda, munching on sunflower seeds, chimed in from her bed. “Exactly, Big Sister. It’s enough for Brad to go to school. Sending a girl is just a waste.” “With that spare money, you might as well use it to honor Mom and Dad.” My mom had been obedient her whole life. But she could take being bullied herself; she couldn’t stand to see her daughter suffer. She immediately straightened her back. “Mom, Brenda, you just don’t understand.” “I never had an education, you see. I want my Iris to read more, so she’ll suffer less in the future.” “Besides, the country now requires children to go to school; it’s ‘compulsory education’!” “And it’s free, it doesn’t cost money.” Seeing that they couldn’t argue with my mom, the two of them scoffed disdainfully. “Just because you’ve been to the county a few times, you’re a scholar now?” “I don’t care what nonsense you’re spouting. You won’t get a single penny from this family for it.” “And besides, Iris is living in this house, so she’ll definitely have to do her share of chores!” Grandma’s words were so clear that even my mom, as naive as she was, understood. They still wanted another free laborer. My mom was on the verge of dropping the chores she was doing. “No way!” “Iris isn’t well; she can’t do chores.” “Besides, she has to go to school, so these things won’t fall to her.” Aunt Brenda patted Grandma’s shoulder, feigning comfort, her sarcastic tone perfectly executed. “Oh, Mom, don’t talk about Big Sister like that.” “Iris is Big Sister’s darling, you know. She’s going to get her birth certificate soon. Why would we have any say?” “Big Sister got married, and she’s just different now. Her tongue is so sharp, talking about the country and the world. Iris is delicate, you see.” Grandma, hearing this, threw her sunflower seeds away in a fit of rage. “Elara, are you a donkey-brain?! Why would you get a birth certificate for a useless burden like her?!” “Just find someone to give her away, and you could get a few hundred dollars!” “You’re getting her a birth certificate, and it won’t cost money?!” “It won’t cost money!” My mom, enraged, slammed the clothes she was washing back into the basin. “I’m telling you again, my daughter’s name is Iris, Iris Chen! And I *will* get her a birth certificate!” “I don’t care if you agree or not. My daughter will not only get a birth certificate, but she’ll also go to college and make a fortune!” The two of them were scared silent by my mom’s sudden burst of assertiveness. My mom, seething with anger, went to the elementary school to pick me up.
My mom picked me up from school, and the atmosphere at home was unusually weird. Grandma snorted when she saw my mom return, her nose practically turned up in the air. My mom shielded me, not even glancing at Grandma. Opening the door to our room, my mom froze in the doorway. This room used to be the woodshed, quite spacious. After my mom came back, she’d cleaned it up thoroughly. She even learned to lay bricks herself, building a small enclosure in the northwest corner specifically for firewood. The rest of the space was where my mom and I lived. But now, the room was haphazardly piled with firewood, some even thrown directly onto the bed. I stood frozen, not knowing what to do. Seeing my expression, Grandma sneered. “Elara, this afternoon someone contacted me about sending Iris away, and I’ve made arrangements.” “You take Iris to meet them, see if they’re satisfied.” I didn’t understand who Grandma meant by “meet them.” But I could visibly see my mom’s body sway. I stepped in front of my mom. “My mom isn’t going!” Grandma’s eyes instantly widened. She grabbed a wooden stick, ready to strike me. “You worthless burden! Who said you could speak here?!” Before she could hit me, my mom blocked me. I distinctly heard a dull thud. It was the sound of a stick, thicker than my arm, hitting my mom’s back. It was as if I saw countless past instances of the old widower throwing chairs and stools at us. Grandma paused, then scoffed with disdain. “Still so sentimental, huh? You’re just going to get married off anyway eventually.” “Elara, I’m a mother too, so I’ll give you some advice.” “Go with me to meet them in a bit, ask for a good price, and we can all be one happy family, right?” Aunt Brenda, leaning against the door frame, watching the show, giggled in agreement. “That’s right, Big Sister. Why get upset with the family over such a small thing?” “You’ve delayed things for so long because of you. Just give a quick answer. Mom’s waiting for dinner.” Grandma nodded in satisfaction. “Exactly. Because you didn’t work this afternoon, there’s no food in the house now.” “You’re going to let Brad starve after school? Get up quickly, go meet them!” My mom didn’t say a word, just turned me around and felt me up and down, her head down. “Iris, you weren’t hit, were you?” Tears welling up, I shook my head. “Mom, *you* got hit.” This was the first time I’d seen my mom treated like this in her own family. And the first time I witnessed such heart-wrenching malice. In that moment, I finally understood how forced my mom’s smiles were when she returned to Grandma’s house. My mom forced a smile. “Mom’s fine, it doesn’t hurt.” “Elara!” My mom ignored Grandma. Grandma’s face grew as long as a donkey’s. “What do you want?! I found such a good family for this worthless burden, and you’re still not satisfied?!” “Don’t you forget where you’re living right now?!” “Yes, I got married, so I’m like spilled water. I shouldn’t be living here.” My mom gritted her teeth and stood up straight. “But Mom, I never said anything before, but that doesn’t mean I don’t understand.” “You want to send Iris away, isn’t it because that family is offering a lot of money, and you want to use it to support Dustin and his baby?” Grandma’s face turned red, exposed. “You, you…” “Since you said it, from today onwards, Iris and I won’t be living here.” “And, I also have a share in the family’s house and land. You didn’t give it to me when I got married; I want it now.” My mom immediately took me inside to pack our things, and I helped too. Only Grandma was absolutely livid. “Elara, you ingrate! Have you lost your mind?!” “What share? What share of yours? This is all for Dustin and Brad!” “I’ve fed and housed you for so many years. I haven’t even asked you for elder care money, and you’re asking *me* for money first?” “I’m telling you now, either you get rid of this burden, or you get out!” My mom desperately held back her tears, silently packing our things.
Aunt Brenda cracked sunflower seeds, laughing sarcastically. “Serves her right!” Cousin Brad poked his head out from inside, hearing the commotion. When my mom had first picked him up from school, he’d affectionately called her Auntie. Now, he held small pebbles in his hand, throwing them one after another at my mom’s back. “Serves her right!” I glared at him, and Brad seemed to get energized. “What are you glaring at, you worthless burden! Get out of my house!” He threw a pebble at me. Aunt Brenda and Grandma happily clapped. “Good boy! That’s the spirit!” I immediately scurried out, picked up a small rock from the yard, and threw it at his head. My strength was too small, though, and it didn’t hurt him. But Grandma and Aunt Brenda immediately grew frantic. “You worthless drain, are you out of control?!” “Get over here! I’m going to send you away today, no matter what!” Grandma grabbed my arm, trying to pull me over. I turned and clung to my mom’s leg, holding on tightly. “Mom, I don’t want to go! I want to stay with you!” Grandma, enraged, was about to pick up the stick again. My mom blocked me. “You can hit me, but you can’t touch my daughter!” “If you two cause any more trouble, I’ll take you all down with me!” “Fine, you win!” Grandma huffily threw the stick aside. She gave my mom a cold look. “Fine, you want to leave, then get out. I won’t stop you. From now on, don’t ever step foot in this house again.” With that, she turned and left. “Big Sister, some things, once said, aren’t good for family harmony.” “You should apologize to Mom soon, or else you’ll suffer for it later.” With that, Aunt Brenda dragged Brad away, chuckling. Leaving my mom to pack our things. I secretly took my mom’s hand. “Mom, Iris is here too.” “Okay, Iris, be a good girl.” My mom wiped the plastic ring that had fallen to the ground, then placed it in my palm. As my mom packed, Grandma and Aunt Brenda kept chatting inside. Their loud laughter occasionally drifted out from within. “…She’s been a worthless drain since she was little…” “…Her daughter’s not much better, still a money pit…” They still thought my mom was just talking tough. Their voices showed no restraint. Clearly, they intended for my mom to hear them. My mom listened in silence. Until she finished packing, my mom told me to wait outside with the luggage. She turned and went back inside. I peeked my head in curiously. I watched my mom open the chicken coop, the duck coop, and the pigsty, then, without a word, she herded all the livestock out of the door. I quickly moved aside, then watched my mom rush into the kitchen. My mom grabbed a basket of eggs and forcefully smashed them onto Aunt Brenda’s face, who was the first to emerge. Then Grandma, and finally my cousin Brad. Brad got the most eggs smashed on him. My mom laughed wildly as she smashed the eggs. “Serves you right, serves you right!” The house was in chaos, but my mom wasn’t finished. She grabbed a shovel and scooped pig manure, flinging it directly into every room. Until the neighbors heard the commotion and rushed over. My mom immediately dropped the shovel and shrieked, fleeing in a panic. “Help! My mom thinks I’m bad at chores and wants to sell my daughter!” “If I don’t let her, she’s kicking me out of the house!” Grandma and Aunt Brenda didn’t even have time to explain. The neighbors held their noses and pointed fingers at them. “I see Elara working hard from dawn till dusk every day, and they still want to kick her out.” “Yeah, who doesn’t know this family is heartless? They sold off three of their own daughters back then!” “This little girl is only five, so cute. How could her grandmother be so cruel?” “Serves them right, this family will get their comeuppance eventually!” The neighbors’ accusations made Grandma and Aunt Brenda unable to lift their heads. Soon after, our door was shut. My mom took me and left Grandma’s house, heading straight for the county seat. My mom spent all her money and bought a house near an elementary school. At that time, the concept of a “school district” hadn’t been fully recognized, but my mom just wanted it to be convenient for me to go to school later. It was my mom’s first time living outside the countryside. But she had grit and vitality. She quickly adapted to this new world. Using her past experience managing the small store at our house, she applied for a cashier position at a supermarket.
At the same time, my mom didn’t give up on fighting for her share of the family assets. Though it was just a few acres of land and some other insignificant items, my mom stood her ground. My mom said, “What’s ours is ours. We won’t give anyone a single cent!” My mom was fierce, staying up all night flipping through relevant legal texts. My uncle heard about the property division but still didn’t come home to support my aunt or grandma. Grandpa had already passed away. The remaining two women ultimately couldn’t outmaneuver my mom. My mom used the weapon of the law to protect herself and ultimately achieved a great victory. I still remember, that day was a rare sunny one. My mom wore makeup for the first time in her life, and high heels for the first time in her life. She wore the first new outfit she’d bought that year — she had originally planned to save it for the holidays. She took my schoolbag, her voice very casual. “Iris, the holidays are coming soon. Mom will take you to buy a new outfit.” That day, my mom spent all her money on me. We didn’t go home until she had spent all the money she had brought with her. My mom wasn’t used to high heels. Halfway home, she just took them off and walked on the cold ground. I followed suit and took off my shoes too. My mom quickly tried to stop me. “Iris, please don’t live as struggling a life as your mom.” I shook my head firmly. “Mom, you’re amazing. You’re the best in the world.” “I’ll be just as amazing as you.” My mom paused, then laughed heartily, tapping my head. Soon, I entered middle school. My mom thrived in the county town. I heard from a relative in the village that Aunt Brenda’s second pregnancy didn’t make it. They said it was because my cousin Brad was mischievous and started playing with pesticides. He accidentally got some in the cooking pot, and Grandma didn’t notice. After the whole family ate, they all rolled their eyes and started foaming at the mouth. If a neighbor hadn’t happened to visit Grandma’s house, they might have all just laid there until the next morning. Later, everyone was rescued, but the baby in Aunt Brenda’s belly couldn’t be saved. My uncle rushed back when he heard the news. He slapped Aunt Brenda right there in the hospital and started screaming at Grandma. But he didn’t say a single word of blame to his own son. My uncle spent a lot of money because of this incident. After returning home, he stayed in his hometown and didn’t go back to working out of town. Soon after, I started middle school, and the school was even further from home. My mom frowned, wanting to rent a new house near the school to be with me. But she didn’t need to worry. The real estate market exploded. The house we’d bought next to the elementary school was now considered a prime school district property. My mom didn’t hesitate; she sold it at a high price and bought a new house near my middle school. My mom seized the opportunity and entered the real estate industry. After work, she would pick me up from school, then study with me until ten at night. Sometimes, when I woke up in the middle of the night for water, I’d see my mom burning the midnight oil, reading related books. She was adept at seizing opportunities and successfully carved out a place for herself in the real estate industry. My mom was busy and tired, but she still insisted on picking me up from school. In middle school, I started to blossom, and my grades were exceptional. One day after school, my mom hadn’t arrived yet. Some punk kid with dyed hair blocked my way near the school, running his hand through his hair and telling me he liked me. Before I could even speak, the next second, my mom appeared beside him, glaring with a deathly stare. “What did you just say to my daughter? Say it again?” The punk kid was so scared he ran away. That night, my mom used the excuse of bringing me a late-night snack and milk to check on me. She asked me five times if I had any thoughts about dating. I said no. “Mom, don’t worry, all I want to do right now is be with you.” My mom contentedly rubbed my head and told me to go to bed early. A week later, I heard that an entire food street near the school had been bought out and was being renovated. After that, the food street, which had been plagued by various hooligans for years, no longer saw a single one. Later, I found out that my mom had bought out the entire street. Just to protect her daughter’s growth.
My high school was in a secluded area, and my mom moved us there again. In Grandma’s eyes, this meant we weren’t doing well. She had more than once spread rumors in the village that my mom was a worthless drain, a lowly person who wasn’t destined for a good life. My senior year of high school, Aunt Brenda suddenly showed up at our house with my cousin Brad. Aunt Brenda, radiating arrogance, plopped herself onto my mom’s carefully chosen sofa. “Big Sister, you haven’t been doing so well all these years, have you?” “Look at your place, how many square feet is this? The monthly rent must cost you two a fortune, right?” My mom’s face went cold as she tried to shoo them away. “What? Did someone steal your crap, making you so hungry you came all the way here?” Aunt Brenda’s face darkened with anger at my mom’s words. She calmed herself down before continuing. “Big Sister, look at you, doing such a lowly job, working so hard for so little money a month?” “Iris’s schooling must cost a lot, right? And the child’s food, clothes, and everything else—it all costs money.” “You don’t need to worry about our family matters.” My mom didn’t want to bother with her and simply told them to leave. Aunt Brenda’s mouth curled into a cold smile; only then did she reveal her true purpose. “Big Sister, I’ll be honest with you. Brad has taken a liking to his cousin.” “See, the two kids are about the same age, and Iris can barely match Brad. Our mom also agrees to this marriage.” “I’ve come to discuss the marriage of the two children with you.” “Who do you think you are?!” My mom’s voice suddenly rose. “My Iris is one in a million, a truly good girl. How dare you even think such a thing?” “Your son, with his rotten character, dropped out of school, became a hoodlum. Even a dog passing by wouldn’t look at him. And he dares to dream of marrying my precious girl?” “I’m telling you, Brenda, because I’m in a good mood today, you get out of my house right now.” “If you ever show your face in front of my daughter again, I’ll make sure you die without knowing how!” My mom’s words fired off like a machine gun, spewing insults. Aunt Brenda’s face turned green then pale, before she picked up the water glass on the table and smashed it to the ground. “Elara, what is your attitude?!” Aunt Brenda shrieked, drawing out the curious gazes of the neighbors. “What do you think you are? My son taking a liking to your daughter is *her* blessing!” “My Brad is handsome and tall; the girls chasing him could line up from one end of the village to the other!” “Your daughter is just like you, a worthless burden! If my Brad hadn’t taken a liking to her, do you think *I* would even look at her?” Aunt Brenda got more and more worked up, spitting saliva as she spoke. Brad was not to be outdone, his burly figure blocking our doorway. “Auntie, I’ll be upfront with you too.” “Grandma has already agreed to this marriage, so your opinion isn’t that important.” “What’s the use of a girl going to school anyway? My family will give twenty thousand dollars for the bride price. Cousin is only worth that much.” “Auntie, I trust you can see the bigger picture. You should be sensible and not make a fuss.” My mom let out a short, angry laugh. “Twenty thousand dollars? That wouldn’t even be enough to buy pocket change for a street bum.” “Ugly as a monkey, with a pointy nose and cheeks. How dare you think you’re worthy of my Iris?” “Why don’t I recommend a plastic surgery clinic? If you mention my name, you’ll even get an eight percent discount.” “Elara!” “Auntie!” “What are you yelling for?! Your Auntie is right here!” My mom stood with her hands on her hips, her aura not weak in the slightest. “I’m telling you, Brenda, don’t you dare try to scheme against my Iris again.” “You and your son, get as far away as you can.” Aunt Brenda and Brad were driven away in a rage.
When my mom picked me up from school and we got home, the house was already tidied up. My mom didn’t mention the incident to me. I guess she was afraid of disturbing my studies, but I still found out. My mom couldn’t hide her emotions, and I could feel the annoyance in her eyes. I found an excuse and went to the security office to ask for the surveillance footage. I watched, cold-faced, the entire process of my aunt and cousin throwing their tantrum. They really were asking for trouble. I privately contacted my mom’s assistant and, after some investigation, learned that. My cousin had recently been expelled for assaulting a classmate, and his reputation was completely ruined. But the girl, due to concerns about her own reputation, didn’t want to escalate things. So, she didn’t report it to the police. Brad had just narrowly escaped, not getting arrested. But Aunt Brenda and Grandma were still spreading rumors around the village. “What? That little hussy seduced my Brad and ruined him!” “That girl clearly looked like a slut, she’s probably been with who knows how many guys, and she dares to falsely accuse my Brad!” “My Brad is dashing and dignified, who wouldn’t praise him?” The villagers just watched them spew nonsense, secretly criticizing them afterwards. But the girl’s reputation was thoroughly destroyed. Although Aunt Brenda said these things, it was clear she was desperate. If things continued this way, Brad would eventually not even be able to find a wife. The family circled back around and thought of me again. My mom also knew the inside story and didn’t want to make a big fuss. After all, if the matter escalated, it would once again harm that girl. Of course, the most crucial thing was that my mom didn’t want to disturb my studies. My mom kept this matter hidden, not even revealing my school address. She planned to deal with it slowly. But Aunt Brenda and her bunch were shameless. They actually came to our apartment complex while I was away, hanging banners slandering my mom as an ungrateful wretch. They claimed Grandma had worked hard to raise her, but she hadn’t returned home in over a decade. And that Grandma wanted to see her granddaughter, but my mom prevented it. People in our complex weren’t familiar with my family. Within two days, people in the complex started pointing fingers at my mom, calling her an ungrateful wretch. I was seething. I had my mom’s assistant subtly hint to Aunt Brenda that I was at a certain school and was willing to meet them. I wanted them to find a reason to come find me. On Monday during flag raising, I was, as usual, preparing to speak at the broadcast station as a representative. Just then, Aunt Brenda and my cousin burst into the school. They called out my name, frantically saying my grandmother had an accident and wanted me to come home to see her one last time. Thanks to my mom buying another street near the school, the security guards all knew me. The two were let into the school, grabbing anyone they could to ask. “Where’s Iris?” Their expressions were too fierce. The student they grabbed was startled and stammeringly pointed them in the right direction. When they found me, I was practicing my speech. No one was in the broadcast station. The two of them rushed in without a word. I cautiously took a step back, and instinctively pressed the record and broadcast buttons. Aunt Brenda, however, broke into a wide, plastered smile. “Iris, your grandmother has been missing you so much lately. She asked me to bring you home to see her.” “Come home quickly with your auntie. Your auntie will take you to see your grandmother.” What a ridiculous excuse. I’d sooner believe the world was ending than believe Grandma missed me. But Aunt Brenda clearly didn’t think so. She even forced what she considered a gentle smile. “Iris, why don’t you come back to the old house with your auntie to see your grandmother?” “We specifically came to find you based on your hint. You can’t back out now, can you?” “I don’t know what you’re talking about?” I said, my face cold, pulling my phone from my pocket. Just as I was about to dial, Brad grabbed my wrist. His grip was strong, making my wrist ache. “Cousin, just go back and see her. The old lady is getting on in years; who knows if she’ll live to see you go to college.” “Since you reached out to us, it means you want to go back and see the old lady, doesn’t it?” Brad said, a fake smile playing on his lips. “Brad, let go of my dirty hand!” I gritted my teeth and said. “Brad, don’t scare the child. We just found Iris with such difficulty.” “Iris was the one who gave us this address. She definitely won’t back out, right, Iris?” Aunt Brenda said from the side. Aunt Brenda moved to grab me. I struggled, but the strength difference between us was too great. I couldn’t break free from Brad’s grip. I directly slapped Brad across the face.
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