Everyone was born and raised by their parents. She is a mother too. How can she humiliate someone else’s child like this? Isn’t she afraid of being hit by karma?
“Quick. Come in, come in.”
Madam Liu immediately invited Yan Huan in. She stared at Yan Huan’s feet. “Fang, bring a pair of your shoes to Sister Xiao Yan. Both of you should be wearing the same size.”
“Coming.” Liu Fang promptly left to bring the shoes. Before long, she reappeared with a pair of new shoes in her hands. She placed them on the floor and grinned as she looked at Yan Huan.
“Sister Xiao Yan, my elder brother bought me this pair of new shoes. I have barely worn it for a few times. I hear that it’s popular in town. It keeps your feet warm. Try it.”
Yan Huan stared at the sneaker, afraid to touch it. The shoes were new and extremely clean, to the extent that even the bottom of the sole was unspotted.
“Just put it on. It’s alright. I will ask my brother to buy me another pair.” Liu Fang put on a genuine smile, revealing her two cute canines. She was never a scheming girl, but merely an uncomplicated girl next door.
“Thanks.” Yan Huan was touched. Her nose tingled and was slightly snotty and as she tried to swallow back her tears. She put on the shoes and her feet felt warm. Although the pair of shoes were a little too big for her feet, they still fit.
Madam Liu boiled some water before she ordered Liu Fang to bring her clothes for Yan Huan to change. Initially, Yan Huan refused to accept the clothes. However, she put on the clothes at last. She would probably accept it if her clothes were not tattered. Unfortunately, she looked like a beggar right now and she was likely to be ejected from the shops even if she intended to purchase something.
People were often judgemental.
Madam Liu reheated the food for Yan Huan. The Liu family was more well off compared to Changsheng’s family. Their newly constructed house was a result of Liu Fang’s brother, Liu Hao’s hard work. He earned the money after he started to work in a hotel a few years ago. After going through all the hardships, they could finally have a taste of the fruits of their labour.
The money they spent on building the house was all earned by Liu Hao. According to Liu Hao, it was not easy to work in a town as the people there were usually scheming and calculative. He also said that, the naive and innocent villagers would be treated as though they had been sold to slavery. At that time, some of the stubborn youngsters in the village insisted on following Jin Gen to work in the town. Liu Hao’s father was so worried that he even went down the mountain to make a phone call to his son.
Liu Hao said that looking for a job in the town was not easy. There was no such thing as a free lunch. Therefore, he advised them to be more vigilant. If anyone wanted a job, the hotel he was working at was looking for extra pairs of hands. However, they would not be offered more than a few hundred dollars. Besides, it was tough living in the town.
On the other hand, Jin Gen told them that the job offered 3000 dollars per month and would increase to 5000 dollars after a year. If they performed well, the boss would even buy them cars and houses, and they would even get a bonus from the company.
It was an offer that no one would pass up.
However, they seemed to forget that nothing came for free. It was unlikely for one to get such a perfect offer, and it was nearly impossible for them to earn cars and houses without having to work for it.
Any sensible man would never believe it. However, the people of the village were ignorant. They envied and coveted Jin Gen’s ostentatiousness and lifestyle, so much so that a few of them insisted on following Jin Gen to the town in spite of Senior Liu’s advice. Until now, there was no news about them. Meanwhile, Jin Gen’s mother told everyone that they were earning money alongside Jin Gen. She claimed that, in a few years time, they would be living in big houses in the city and would not return to the village.
Yan Huan had not interacted much with the villagers. Therefore, she has only found out today that some of them were actually rational. They knew that things were not as simple as they seemed to be. Those who were convinced had definitely been fooled, whereas the rest, who had been skeptical, might have narrowly escaped from a mischance.
Yan Huan and Liu Fang shared a sheet at night. The Liu family was rather well off. The blanket was new; the furniture, despite the fact that it seemed old, was still in one piece. It is obvious that they were better off than most of the families in the village. They did not have to worry much about their expenses even though they had spent a great amount in building the house. They were still able to eat good food like buns. On the other hand, Changsheng’s family only managed to have food made from corn flour. Although the food satiated their hunger, overconsumption would lead to indigestion.
“Sister Xiao Yan, why do you treat Changsheng’s mother so well even though she maligned you?”
Liu Fang could not figure it out. She placed her hands behind her head and said, “Who said you live in their house for free? Where do they think the firewood comes from? It is you who collects them. You always help the others to cut their hair because you can get dozens of eggs each time, yet those eggs would be sold by Changsheng in the end. Besides, you are the one who cleans the house and cooks for them, still, they inculpate you and force you to leave. I’ve told you that Changsheng’s house isn’t a suitable place to live in and asked you to come over to my place; why didn’t you listen to me? Now, still, they cast you out.”
“They…” Yan Huan lifted her lips as a sense of bitterness spread from her lips to her heart.
“Changsheng saved my life, so I owe it to them. Changsheng’s mother took me in, I am indebted to them for that too.”
Yes, she owes them, so she pays it back.
Although she planned to leave, she never thought of taking all the money with her. Besides, she would help to build the roads and set up the electricity in this village after she returned home.
She has planned everything, but she never expected she would leave Changsheng’s house that way.
“Are you leaving?” Madam Liu was shocked. “Where do you want to go? Don’t worry, rest assured we’ll provide you with shelter and food if you stay here.”
“Aunt Liu, I miss my home.”
Yan Huan lowered her head and looked at her fingers. Her injured finger was slowly getting better. She would probably recover by the time she returned.
She could not live or stay at Liu Fang’s house for long. She understood that if she continued to stay at Liu Fang’s place, it might leave Liu Fang and her family in bewilderment. Jin Gen’s mother was a shrew, while Changsheng’s mother would definitely spread the rumors of her being a thief who stole Changsheng’s money.
She could have stayed in the town, but she was afraid that there was no one around to take care of Changsheng’s mother. Hence she wanted to organize her life before she left, but it seemed unnecessary now.
