Chapter 17

I was truly astonished.

I immediately objected: “Why should my dad pay for my eldest cousin Dabao’s wedding? He has his own parents.”

Grandma slammed the table: “Shut up! Has all your schooling gone to waste?”

“I’m talking to your parents, what are you interrupting for? You’ll get married sooner or later, so you don’t have a say here.”

My two aunts, Dad’s younger sisters, lived in the city and were fairly well-off.

Grandma kept pressing them, and although they were unwilling, they eventually promised to contribute the money.

So the pressure shifted to Dad.

My eldest aunt stared at Dad: “Dabao is half your son too. As his uncle, you can’t be so heartless, can you?”

“When you’re old and living in the countryside, if you get sick or bullied, won’t you need a few nephews to help out?”

“You’d better think carefully. After all, daughters will eventually marry out.”

Dad didn’t agree right away, but he didn’t refuse outright either.

After the New Year’s Eve dinner, we returned to our own mud-brick house.

I tried to persuade Dad not to believe my eldest aunt’s nonsense.

Even sons don’t necessarily support their parents, let alone nephews.

Dad frowned: “If you were a son, why would I care about all this?”

“If we don’t help, what if the Zheng Family incense really dies out? When your grandpa was dying, he held my hand and talked about this.”

Mom murmured: “Let’s just give five thousand.”

Dad glanced at me: “Let’s give ten thousand. Xiaxia, you’ve been working, you can contribute five thousand!”

At that moment, anger nearly consumed me.

“Where am I supposed to get five thousand? I don’t have any money.”

Dad slammed the table: “Don’t you earn a pretty good salary? You’re not willing to support your family at all?”

“I have to live my own life, and I’m responsible for Qiuqiu’s tuition and living expenses.” I tried hard not to cry. “Dad, I’m still a student. I’m only twenty.”

I wanted to be like my classmates:

Dress up beautifully, go shopping, watch movies, travel, fall in love, and enjoy my youth.

But I had to earn money.

My money was exchanged for youth and happiness.

I could give it to my sister Qiuqiu, to my parents.

But not a single cent would go to my cousin.

Whether the Zheng Family incense continued or not-I didn’t care at all!

I had a huge fight with Dad, and Mom couldn’t stop us, just wiped her tears.

I slammed the door and went to my room. Mom followed me in.

The white light shone on her graying hair as she sighed deeply: “It’s all my fault. If only I’d had a son, your dad wouldn’t be like this…”