Chapter 25: Shamelessness

The third son was determined to get a piece of meat from his big sister today.

Fenglan looked troubled. “Little brother, this house has been rented out to the government as a dormitory for the militia. The contract has already been signed!”

“Big sister! How can you do this! I’m not refusing to pay rent; do you look down on me, afraid I can’t afford it?” The third son was losing face and was about to blow up!

“Uncle, the house has already been rented out; it’s useless to pressure my mom!” Manman was dissatisfied with her uncle’s attitude towards her mother.

“Big sister, you still say you have no money? Isn’t the rent money still money? Are you afraid I can’t pay you back? Do you look down on me?” The third son shouted, straining his neck!

“The government’s rent is not given directly to me; they issued a deposit slip for Manman, and every year the rent is deposited for her!” This was a suggestion from Wu Zhiqiu. Now that Fenglan was working, it was enough for the two of them to live on. The rent money would be saved for Manman for college or to study abroad in the future!

Of course, Fenglan agreed; she was also afraid that if she was too loose with money, she wouldn’t be able to keep it, and when the time came for Manman to go to college, where would they find the money?

“Uncle, that’s my money; don’t count on it!”

As soon as the third son’s gaze fell on Manman, her cold words came out of her little mouth.

The third son was furious. “Big sister, is this how you teach your child?”

“My mom teaches well; at least I won’t get angry when I can’t borrow money from others! I still have my pride!” Manman pouted, not giving in to her uncle.

“Alright! A little girl dares to look down on me! Big sister, from now on, just pretend I’m not your brother!” The third son stormed off in anger, having gained nothing.

Fenglan shed tears. “Manman, how can you speak to your uncle like that?”

“What should I say? What can I say that would satisfy him? If you give him the money and the house, he’ll be satisfied! Just give it to him!” Manman glared at her mother, grateful that her grandmother was wise; otherwise, all of her dad’s pension would have been given away by her mom today.

“He is your uncle! He is your family!” Fenglan shouted at her daughter.

“Family? Where was he when we were kicked out of our home? Where was he when we were bullied? Where was he when we stood at the armed forces’ gate before dawn? Where was he when my dad’s funeral was held? When there are benefits to gain, he’s family; when there’s nothing to gain, he turns his back, showing no face at all. I don’t want such family! I can’t afford it!”

Tears streamed down Manman’s face as she remembered the dark, cold night when they were thrown out, that feeling of being isolated and helpless!

They slipped and stumbled along the way in the dark. How many times did they fall before they reached their grandmother’s door?

With all that noise, only their grandmother and grandfather, and their second uncle and aunt came out to help them with the fire and cook. The third uncle and aunt didn’t even bother to come out!

It was also their grandmother and grandfather, along with the second uncle, who helped them secure a house and arrange for their dad’s burial!

Their grandmother was afraid that their mom wouldn’t be able to hold onto the money, so she hurriedly helped them buy a house and rent a place!

The kindness of their grandmother, grandfather, and second uncle would never be forgotten by her.

As for the others, maintaining a superficial relationship was enough! She couldn’t afford such family!

Fenglan felt a bit furious at her daughter’s words. No matter what, he was still her brother; she shouldn’t speak like that.

In a moment of anger, she slapped her daughter.

Manman couldn’t believe it; her mom actually hit her for such an unreasonable uncle!

Manman turned and ran away.

Fenglan looked at her hand, feeling some regret! She wanted to chase after her but also felt that she had spoiled her child, which led to Manman being so rude!

So she didn’t chase after her, tidied up a bit, and went to work!

Manman ran out, not knowing where to go.

Her uncle’s family had been sent to the far northwest for re-education through labor, and there were no relatives left on her dad’s side.

Her grandparents were at work, and besides, her grandmother’s family was the one that caused her to be hit; she didn’t want to go there. For a moment, Manman didn’t know where to go!

In the evening, Wu Zhiqiu

Zheng Sheng Li Mancang also entered the courtyard, “Stop crying, what’s going on? Where’s Manman?”

“Mom and Dad, Manman is missing! Wuwu… I don’t want to live anymore!”

“If you want to die, wait a while and then die; first, tell me what happened!” Wu Zhiqiu scolded, knowing that whenever something went wrong, they would just cry.

Others in the courtyard heard the commotion and gathered around.

“Yeah! Fenglan, let’s talk about it first! It’s not going to help you cry when you can’t find the child!” Hu Dalaba said loudly, although it wasn’t quite clear, it was indeed what needed to be said.

“Earlier, the little brother came to my house to borrow money…” Fenglan cried as she explained what had happened that morning.

Wu Zhiqiu trembled with anger, she just knew! She just knew!

“What did Manman say wrong? Why did you hit her? You can’t even get it straight in your head and expect the child to be like you? Just a fool!” Wu Zhiqiu angrily slapped her eldest daughter hard.

Li Mancang’s face also turned pale with anger.

“Little Wu, stop complaining; it’s more important to find the child quickly! It will be dark soon, and it’s dangerous for a little girl to be outside!” Ge Dage quickly advised.

“Yes, hurry up and find her!” Dalaba dragged her husband, Zeng Laixi, to go outside.

“I’ll go look to the south!” she shouted as she walked.

“Then I’ll go north,” Ge Dage also went out.

“We’ll go with Ge Dage,” Zhang Fugui from the front yard followed Ge Dage out.

“Could the child have gone to the abandoned house? Have you checked there?” Sister Liu asked Fenglan.

Fenglan quickly shook her head; she had already checked the homes of Manman’s classmates nearby, but there was no sign of her, so she came back home to see.

She hadn’t checked the abandoned house yet.

Wu Zhiqiu and Li Mancang quickly rode their bicycles over.

The abandoned house was locked, and there was no sign of Manman inside.

Fenglan’s tears hadn’t stopped for a moment!

Wu Zhiqiu pushed this ungrateful daughter aside and said, “Sister Liu, please help me look to the south. I’ll go west.”

“Alright! I’ll get my husband to come with me; you go with Mancang!”

After the neighbors, who had just gotten off work, heard about it, they all voluntarily helped to search.

The third son and Fengchun came home from work and also heard the news.

The third son was scared and broke into a cold sweat; what if Manman got lost? Would the army let her off? Wouldn’t he get shot?

He hurriedly rode his bike out to look for her.

Li Fengchun initially didn’t want to go; she wanted to read more.

But since everyone in the yard was out looking, if she didn’t go, her mom might send her away!

Sighing, feeling resentful towards her sister and Manman, she reluctantly went out!

Everyone looked for Manman until after eight, but they still hadn’t seen any sign of her.

Li Mancang and Wu Zhiqiu returned to the yard, where the neighbors were guessing where the child could have gone!

“Little Li, have the relatives on the child’s dad’s side been found?” Ge Dage asked, his nose running from the cold.

“There are no relatives on the child’s dad’s side!”

“Could the child have gone to her dad’s grave?”

Hu Dalaba suddenly had a bright idea; when she was little, her mother died early, and her father found her a stepmother who brought two kids with her, treating her poorly. All the housework fell on her, and she never got enough to eat, as most of the food was given to the two children her stepmother brought. She felt like a servant in her own home, getting the least to eat while doing the most work.