Chapter 236: Back Then
Li Hongying and Li Hongguang’s confrontation was seen by Dai Zhenhua, who was hiding at the entrance of the alley not far away. Because Li Hongying’s voice was high and sharp, she heard the content clearly—cut ties?
"Second sister, I’m your own brother, breaking bones and connected by blood, it’s not something that can be cut off just by saying it." Li Hongguang frowned as he looked at Li Hongying.
"Or is it that now you’re living a good life, have moved to the city, and look down on your poor rural family?"
Li Hongguang’s words made the people around them change their gazes towards Li Hongying and Yi Roujing. Despite wearing city clothes, Li Hongguang was a country bumpkin, while Li Hongying and Yi Roujing dressed like city folks.
"Life is made by oneself; whether you look up to someone is all about whether you can stand on your own." Yi Roujing looked at Li Hongguang and said, "When our family was still with the Lotus Production Team, each year was a family that earned high work points, working hard in the fields."
"If you want food, it’s not without relying on the vast number of farmers. Their work is so great and meaningful that no one would look down on them."
"But your family, what have you done to earn respect? Is it laziness and not working? Is it valuing sons over daughters, even selling daughters to save up money for marrying a wife for the son? Is it selling the nephew during tough years to have enough food? Or calculating the nephew’s marriage to climb higher branches after the nephew got successful?"
Yi Roujing’s series of questions made Li Hongguang’s face turn ashen and stunned the surrounding crowd.
"My mom has already severed ties with the Li Family, with a hand-written severance letter, at the time you sold my husband. My parents held a knife to your neck to make you confess where he was sold to. They took several days by train to finally find him; he was only eight years old then. When he returned, he wasn’t as lively as before—it’s all because of your sins."
Yi Roujing shouted angrily, "When my mom was little, she didn’t have the ability to change things but could only watch helplessly as you harmed my big aunt. But it’s different now. If you come to us again, I’ll fight you until you’re searching for your teeth on the ground, just try it."
Yi Roujing looked down, casually picked up a stone, extended her right hand with a fierce punch, and instantly cracked the stone into several pieces.
This startled Li Hongguang, causing him to step back several paces, his legs weakened as he fell to the ground.
Li Hongying was also frightened by Yi Roujing; she hurriedly reached out to take Yi Roujing’s hands, turning them over and over to check. Her right hand was a little red but otherwise fine, which relieved Li Hongying.
"Roujing, we don’t need to pay attention to people like that. If absolutely necessary, hit him on the body. It’s softer, unlike hitting a stone, which hurts more." Li Hongying said sympathetically.
"Mom knows you’re a good child, considering that he is, after all, an elder. But since we’ve already cut ties, there’s no need to worry. If he bothers us again, just hit him without reasoning." Li Hongying glared at Li Hongguang sharply, then pulled Yi Roujing away.
Li Hongying and Yi Roujing’s aura was so imposing that the surrounding people knew the one sitting on the ground must be the one at fault.
"Oh, I recognize them now. They’re from the Lotus Production Team, I know their family. If they could manage their life, they wouldn’t work in the fields. They have two daughters and a son, with the latter daughter and son being twins. Yet their temperaments are worlds apart; it must be those two."
"Did they really sell the daughters?" Someone keenly asked.
"I’ve heard from my mom. Their eldest daughter, upon turning adult, was directly sold to a hunter from the mountains passing by their door; they were paid a lot. The youngest daughter was similar. When she got married, her family demanded a dowry of a hundred bucks, which was many decades ago."
"Wow—"
...
Li Hongguang was shameless but couldn’t stand being scolded by all those people pointing at his nose, surrounding him, and angrily cursing, "Mind your own business; get lost, all of you!"
Dai Zhenhua, observing the situation unfold, pondering deeply, changed her steps originally headed towards Red Star Lane and instead towards the post office to make a call.
East Province Traffic Department Director’s office, the phone rang, and Dai Chunsheng picked it up.
"Dad."
"Zhenhua." Dai Chunsheng’s stern expression softened instantly, "Have you reached Huaixi County? Was the journey smooth?"
"Yes, just arrived in town, the trip was smooth." After speaking, Dai Zhenhua recounted the incident she had just encountered.
"Dad, that person seems to be mom’s sister and somewhat resembles mom by three to four points. She pulled me and called me elder sister. Dad, I think she might be missing mom." Dai Zhenhua shared her impression.
Dai Chunsheng was silent for a long time before saying, "I understand this now. While you’re at Huaixi County, try to inquire about it. If it turns out true, I’ll then discuss it with your mom. She’s suffered too much, we can’t let her endure even a tiny bit more."
"Dad, I know." Dai Zhenhua replied.
"Even if you investigate, don’t act alone. Go to the Huaixi County Public Security Bureau and find a policeman named Lou Wenjian, help Dad check on him, and then let him assist you." Dai Chunsheng instructed.
"Okay, sure." Dai Zhenhua said and hung up.
Whenever Dai Zhenhua thought of her mother’s resistance and hatred towards her family over the years, it was undeniable that her expression was complex when talking about the sister.
Dad used to say that back then, mom was ready to flee that household, taking her sister along, but it was also her sister who personally brought a bowl of brown sugar water, causing mom to lose consciousness. When she woke up, she was already on a donkey cart heading to the mountains.
It was hatred then, but over the years, Dai Zhenhua knew her mom still missed her sister. After all, she was young back then, perhaps unknown to her, the sugar water was drugged.
Dai Zhenhua had told Mrs. Dai she would arrive on the first, intending to surprise them, but now she’s urgently seeking clarity; after the call, she headed straight for Huaixi County Public Security Bureau.
However, upon learning Lou Wenjian was on leave, Dai Zhenhua felt slightly disappointed.
"What is your relationship with Captain Lou?"
"Captain Lou is an old acquaintance of my dad’s." Dai Zhenhua replied without elaborating.
"Then you should try the residential area behind the county government; Captain Lou lives there."
After expressing her gratitude, Dai Zhenhua went directly to look for the place.
Meanwhile, Yi Roujing and Li Hongying returned home, and Ding Weihuo immediately noticed something was off with Li Hongying. While Yi Roujing was putting away the soy sauce, she explained the street incident to Ding Weihuo, who sighed upon hearing it.
"Your big aunt is a knot in your mom’s heart, unresolved until she sees her in person." Ding Weihuo said with reddened eyes, "Your big aunt realized the family had plans for her, wanting to take your mom to escape."
"Your mom was thirteen at the time. Although she was sensible, she couldn’t match her parents. They deceptively assured her they wouldn’t sell her big aunt and even had her bring over a bowl of red sugar water, claiming there’s no animosity between parents and kids, drinking it to reconcile."