Chapter 22: Venting the Original’s Anger

Seeing the situation turning against him, the original’s father scratched his head and bravely said, “Qingyan, we indeed have something to discuss. Since you accompanied the army, your husband hasn’t sent any money back home. Your in-laws sent us to ask you to persuade your husband to send more money so that we can get by. Besides, your younger brother is of marriageable age now; with the dowry and housing expenses, the family really can’t manage. Given your better situation here, you should help out a bit.”

Yang Qingyan felt a surge of anger rise within her. She stared hard at the two hypocritical faces before her and coldly replied, “Help out? On what grounds do you think I would help you? You have treated me like a beast of burden since I was a child. Are you not aware of the terrible things you did? For just 300 yuan in dowry, you sold me off to the Mu family, drugged me, and plotted against me. Isn’t that enough? Moreover, whether Mu Nanhe sends money or not is his business. You can do whatever you want, but I won’t assist you.”

The original’s father’s face turned pale then red with anger. Before they came, the in-laws had suggested that if Yang Qingyan didn’t comply, they should cause a scene at the army base to embarrass her, thus forcing her to compromise. With this thought in mind, the original’s father gritted his teeth and declared, “If you don’t give us money, we’ll go to the army and report it to the leaders, to let everyone see how a daughter can neglect her parents!”

But Yang Qingyan was undaunted; instead, she stepped forward, her gaze sharp and fierce. “Go ahead! I want to see how you’ll reveal the story of drugging me and selling me off. You’ll be the ones embarrassed! If the army leaders find out about the despicable things you did for a dowry, belittling a soldier, you can expect to face some serious consequences, possibly even jail time!”

The original’s father was completely panicked now. They had expected Yang Qingyan to be concerned about her reputation and to relent, but they never anticipated her to be so resolute. The two of them exchanged glances, unsure of what to do next.

Just then, Mu Nanhe walked steadily into the house. As soon as he approached the door, he could hear the tense atmosphere inside, and his expression darkened. He quickly entered the room, casting a cold glare at the original’s parents. His voice was as chilling as ice in winter: “Tell them, I’ve already transferred the pension money to them, and I’ve sent considerable amounts over the years; it’s more than enough to get by. Don’t come to disturb us, or I will calculate this debt.”

There was a profound coldness in Mu Nanhe’s eyes; he had long harbored resentment toward his family. Growing up in that house, he had never felt warmth. His family had never cared for him, only for his brother. Even during tough times when food was scarce, he was forced to shoulder numerous burdens, often exhausted to the point of being unable to stand. To fill his belly, he could only venture into the mountains to hunt, navigating dangers and adversity, which ultimately honed his skills. When the chance to enlist arose, he seized it quietly, escaping that cold, loveless home and carving out his own path in the military.

Upon hearing Mu Nanhe’s words, the original’s father trembled slightly. They knew very well the current status and abilities of Mu Nanhe, realizing he was not just making threats. They were hesitant to argue further, looking into the cold depths of his eyes, and swallowed their words.

Seeing that threats and complaints were ineffective, the original’s father turned his gaze to the exquisite gifts on the table, mustering the nerve to say, “If you don’t give us money, at least let us take something with us. We’ve traveled a long way, and we did spend some money on transportation.” His tone implied that Yang Qingyan owed them a great debt of gratitude.

Yang Qingyan found this laughable. Her chest heaved in anger as she took a deep breath, suppressing her fury. Without saying a word, she picked up one of the gifts and threw it at their feet with a whoosh. Then she pulled out 20 yuan from her pocket and hurled it at them too. “Here, take this as your compensation for coming all this way. From now on, don’t ever come looking for me again. The moment you sold me to the Mu family, you lost your right to be my parents.” Her voice shook slightly with emotion, her eyes filled with resoluteness. The original’s father fumbled to catch the items and money, his face flushed with confusion.

They stood there unable to comprehend how Yang Qingyan had become so firm and unyielding, so different from the easily bullied and compliant girl they had known. Now, with their threats ineffective, they could only grab the “spoils” and retreat like two defeated cocks, hurriedly escaping the house.

The door slammed shut behind them with a resounding bang, acting like a dam that momentarily shut out all disturbances. Yang Qingyan felt a deep weariness wash over her, as if all her strength had been drawn out in an instant. She swayed slightly, her back pressing heavily against the cold wall.

Mu Nanhe had been observing her every move. As soon as he noticed, he quickly took a step forward, his strong arm supporting her solidly. He furrowed his brow slightly, his eyes filled with concern as he spoke softly yet firmly, “Don’t let them get to you; people like that aren’t worth your health.”

Yang Qingyan looked up, still harboring traces of the anger and a faint hint of confusion in her eyes. With a self-deprecating tone, she murmured, “Don’t you think I’m ruthless? I’ve completely disavowed my biological parents.” Mu Nanhe gently shook his head, his gaze deep yet warm. He slowly replied, “I’ve had my comrades investigate what happened over the years. I know exactly how they treated you. They don’t deserve to be your parents. You should treat them as such; don’t let their actions trouble you.”

Yang Qingyan’s heart trembled suddenly, as if a warm current had shattered the ice, slowly flowing through her heart. She gazed at Mu Nanhe, her eyes filled with gratitude and warmth. It turned out he had been quietly watching over her, understanding her inner struggles and pain. This understanding felt incredibly precious amidst the coldness surrounding them.

After a moment of silence, Yang Qingyan seemed to remember something and asked softly, “Why did you reduce the money you were sending them?” Mu Nanhe sighed lightly, pulling her to sit down in a chair. A hint of nostalgic sadness surfaced in his expression as he began to recount, “You know, my childhood was truly hard to bear. Since I can remember, anything good to eat or use at home was always reserved for my younger brother. I could only watch from the sidelines and didn’t dare to touch anything. When it came to meal times, I often went hungry; as soon as the food was served, my brother would sweep the majority away, leaving me to scavenge on scraps.”

He paused briefly, a shadow of sadness crossing his gaze as he continued, “All the household chores fell on me—washing clothes, cooking, cleaning the yard—these menial tasks came day after day, leaving my young hands callused. During the busy farming season, I had to start working in the fields before dawn and was often so tired I couldn’t straighten my back. When I got home, I still had to look after my brother, and any slip-up would earn me a beating.”

He continued, voice trembling slightly as he recalled the painful years, “Later on, when I couldn’t stand the hunger any longer, I had no choice but to go up the mountain to hunt. The mountains were fraught with dangers; one time, while chasing a wild rabbit, I fell into a trap set by hunters, and my leg was pierced and bleeding. I yelled for help, but no one came to my rescue. In the end, I gritted my teeth, enduring the pain, and made a simple tool with branches and vines, crawling my way out. When I got home, the wound had become infected and festered, and they just applied some herbal ointment and pushed me back to work.”

Yang Qingyan’s eyes turned red as she instinctively reached out her hand and gently grasped Mu Nanhe’s, her voice steadfast and resolute, “From now on, I’m here for you.” Just a few simple words felt as powerful as a solemn vow, weaving a warm and resilient net within that small room, binding the two of them closely together. Mu Nanhe grasped her hand in return, applying a gentle pressure that felt like a response, or perhaps a promise.