Chapter 195: Tearing the face

Cheng Jingmo remained expressionless, his gaze cold, “Mother, I have sent a considerable amount of money home over the years. Your life can’t be that hard. It’s only right that I get back the things my biological mother left for me.”

When it came to money, Mu Huanzhen became even greedier.

She didn’t know how much Cheng Jingmo’s monthly salary was, but it must be a lot. Yet he only sent home thirty yuan!

“Jianwa, we receive your money every month, but there are so many people in the family, and that amount isn’t enough to cover the family’s food expenses. Besides, everything costs money.”

Cheng Jingmo said calmly, “Thirty yuan is not a small amount. Most families here don’t even earn thirty yuan a month.”

What he said was true. Mu Huanzhen’s face turned awkward, but she continued, “A few years ago, it was ten or twenty yuan. It’s only been thirty yuan in recent years. Your official position keeps getting higher, and your salary must have increased a lot!”

The implication was that thirty yuan was not enough and should be increased!

Cheng Jingmo said, “That’s all there is. Take it or leave it. I have my own family to support too!”

Upon hearing this, everyone present looked at each other.

Cheng Shuanzhu tried to mediate, “Mother, if there really is a gold bracelet, just give it back to Jianwa. He never saw his biological mother; let him have something to remember her by.”

Actually, he had seen the gold bracelet, but he couldn’t reveal it in front of Cheng Jingmo, so he had to say it this way.

Mu Huanzhen angrily said, “There isn’t one! What gold bracelet?”

Cheng Jingmo said without any emotion, “I call you mother out of respect. It would be ugly for everyone if we break this relationship.”

Mu Huanzhen was so angry that she pounded her chest, “Jianwa, your father picked you up from the mountains and raised you for over ten years. Now that you’ve made something of yourself, is this how you talk to us? Are you trying to disown this family?”

Cheng Jingmo said, “I am grateful to my father for picking me up. But when it comes to raising me, everyone in the village knows how you did it.”

“Jianwa, saying that hurts your father’s feelings!” Mu Huanzhen mentioned Cheng Huazi again, “Back then, everyone’s life was like that, sometimes hungry, sometimes full. People in the village even starved to death. We used all our strength to bring you up.”

Cheng Jingmo let out a bitter smile.

It seemed that today, the truth had to come out.

He said, “I slept in the cowshed. Shuanzhu and the others had buns to eat and clothes to wear, but I had nothing. People pitied me and gave me their old clothes. I caught fish in the reservoir and hunted in the mountains to survive on my own.”

“And you never treated me as part of the family. Everyone in the family has a name starting with ‘Cheng Shu,’ but my name was given by Uncle San at the last minute.”

Everyone’s face darkened.

Cheng Jingmo looked at Cheng Huazi and said, “Father, when I was seven, you took me hunting, and I got lost. You probably didn’t want to raise me and intentionally left me there. It was snowing heavily, and I was frozen stiff. I searched for a day and a night to get back home. I was lucky to survive.”

“I didn’t understand at the time and thought I got lost on my own. Later, when you sold me, I realized you didn’t want me. It was only because the family got into trouble and you listened to Uncle San that you bought me back.”

Cheng Jingmo started listing these events one by one, making everyone in the hall uncomfortable.

Yu Xiangnian, listening from the room, felt a pang of sorrow.

Cheng Jingmo never mentioned these things before. Whenever she asked, he would just casually say, “It’s all in the past.”

He always remembered the little bit of kindness from Cheng Huazi and his wife, burying those painful experiences deep in his heart.

But now, he had to reveal those old wounds one by one.

How much pain must he be feeling inside?!

Cheng Jingmo said, “When I first joined the army, my salary was a bit over ten yuan, and I sent you ten. Later, as my salary gradually increased, I kept increasing the amount I sent you.”

“Not only did I send money every month, but seven years ago, when you sent a telegram saying Shuanzhu needed money to build a house for his wedding, I sent you all the savings I had, which was over a hundred yuan. Three years ago, when Shuanzhu got into trouble and needed compensation, I sent you two hundred yuan. I have kept every remittance slip. I have a clear conscience regarding this family.”

Yu Xiangnian thought to herself, no wonder Cheng Jingmo was so frugal, wearing nothing but the military-issued clothes from head to toe.

It turned out all his money had been sucked away by these vampires!

Cheng Jingmo continued, “When I got married, you sent a telegram saying you wanted to meet my wife. I was very happy at that time, thinking that my contributions to the family would make you value me more.”

“I thought that if you treated my wife well, I could overlook all the past grievances. But when my wife came back this time, you didn’t even make a decent meal for her and made her suffer.”

“My wife is precious, cherished by her family since she was a child. I never even speak harshly to her, but you criticize her for this and that.”

“All these years, I’ve always considered the kindness of you taking me in and giving me a chance to live. I have tried my best to fulfill your demands, never holding grudges. But you think I’m a fool.”

“Enough!” Cheng Huazi couldn’t hide his embarrassment, “It’s just a bracelet. Let your mother look for it in the next few days, and if she finds it, she’ll give it to you!”

Cheng Jingmo said, “Not if she finds it, but she must give it to me! Mother definitely kept it well.”

Before Cheng Jingmo joined the army, he had secretly searched every corner of Cheng Huazi’s room and only found the jade pendant.

Perhaps Mu Huanzhen thought the jade pendant wasn’t as valuable as the gold bracelet, so the pendant was easier to find.

Cheng Huazi’s face turned as dark as a pot bottom, and he said harshly, “Jianwa, ten years in the army and you’ve grown wings!”

Cheng Jingmo maintained his tone, “There’s one more thing. Starting next month, I will no longer send you money. I have repaid your kindness.”

These words caused everyone’s expressions to change!

Cheng Jingmo’s monthly remittances were a significant source of income for the family!

And it was pure income!

Cheng Jingmo only sent money home and did not consume a grain of flour from the household!

Mu Huanzhen began to cry and wail, slapping her thighs.

“Oh my! I raised an ungrateful wolf for so many years! Now that he has succeeded, he doesn’t want to support his parents who raised him!”

“If it weren’t for his father, he would have been eaten by wolves! Now he thinks this family is a burden and wants to abandon us all!”

“Mother, crying and wailing won’t help. I’ve made my decision!”

Cheng Jingmo stood up and said, “Give me the bracelet tomorrow, and we will leave!”

Cheng Jingmo walked out of the hall. As soon as he opened the door to the room, Yu Xiangnian rushed into his arms.

She wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest, “Cheng Jingmo, I will treat you very well from now on.”