Chapter 25

In that instant, sorrow swept over me.

I had always planned for her, hoping she would take fewer detours in life.

In the end, it became: interfering too much.

Qiuqiu also realized she had gone too far, and apologized softly: “Sorry, sis, he really treats me well.”

Netizens all said: respect, best wishes.

But she is my only sister.

Am I really supposed to just watch as her life slides downward?

During that time, my relationship with my sister was tense, almost at the breaking point, and only thanks to Zhou Xiang’s mediation did we not fall out completely.

Our parents were also anxious.

They were helpless, only hoping I could persuade my sister more.

And so it continued until the end of October.

One day, Qiuqiu suddenly called me: “Sis, I broke up with him.”

We had argued fiercely, and Qiuqiu finally wavered a little.

That boyfriend then came up with a trick.

He poked holes in condoms, trying to get my sister accidentally pregnant.

That way, the marriage would be set in stone.

Fortunately, my sister wasn’t completely blinded by love.

That night, she clung to me and sobbed her heart out.

In the early light the next morning, she asked, “Sis, if I start preparing for exams now, is it too late?”

“Of course not!”

After working for two years, I happened to be promoted to deputy section chief due to a big company restructuring.

Urged on by both sets of parents, Zhou Xiang and I held a grand wedding.

All the relatives from the family came.

My mother-in-law gave me plenty of face.

She handed over a betrothal gift of a hundred thousand yuan, and praised me in front of all the guests.

My aunt was so jealous her eyes nearly popped out.

She even asked the waiter if she could pack up a lobster.

Dad’s legs and speech had recovered well. When he handed me over to Zhou Xiang, his eyes turned red.

“Xiaxia hasn’t had it easy growing up. You must take good care of her.”

When Mom left, she gripped my hand and wept.

“Your dad and I were biased in the past, but it was because we had no choice. The family didn’t have the means. Don’t blame us.”

Parental love, in fact, can change.

After their children become adults, they seem to prefer the child who is more successful.

My parents started sending me WeChat messages often, reminding me to dress warmly in the cold, and not to get heatstroke in the hot weather.

They made all sorts of pickled vegetables I like, stuffing my trunk with them every time I went home.

Instead, they weren’t as attentive to my sister as before.

They would also message me, complaining that I rarely contacted them or called home.

Many children away from home become attached to it.

Because they grew up in the love of their grandparents, father, and mother.

Family always holds onto that thread tied to their hearts.

But I’m not like that.

I was always the one abandoned, always ranked last. You never gave me that deep, overwhelming love.

How could you expect me to long for you?

My in-laws treated me decently, and Zhou Xiang treated me especially well.

In this world, I finally had someone who loved me with all their heart.

I had grown up. I didn’t need my parents’ love as much anymore.

I had let it go.

But unable to sever ties, I could only reconcile with my childhood self.

They gave me life, and a little bit of love.

So I’ll give them a little bit of love in return.

I have never liked owing others.

After a heavy rain, the old house collapsed.

Fortunately, the 140-square-meter apartment I had bought in the county was just ready for occupancy.

The location was good-500 meters from the hospital, just across the street from the cultural square.

There were two big supermarkets nearby.

My parents claimed living in the countryside was still more convenient, but inside they were overjoyed.

Everyone praised them for being blessed, having raised two such smart and capable daughters.

My aunt was still scheming, trying to get my parents to lend the apartment to my cousin for his wedding.

These past few years, her grandson had worn her down-she’d aged quickly and no longer had the energy to argue with me like she once did.

Luckily, I didn’t have to say much-my parents refused her this time.

Times have changed. People’s mindsets are starting to shift.

Having many sons is no longer something to show off everywhere.

More sons means a lifetime of toil.

Actually-

Whether you have sons or daughters is not the point.

The point is to love them well.

Give your children enough love, and teach them how to be and how to do things.

When they grow up, they’ll naturally repay that love and show filial piety.

But perhaps only those who have truly experienced it can understand this.

For us, born ordinary and lacking in love, how do we keep from sliding into the mud?

I think-

Only by cherishing ourselves.

Only by never giving up, by biting down and pressing on.

Only by gritting our teeth and making it through.

Even if, after the storm, we can’t see the rainbow.

Looking back, we can still smile and say: “I did my best. I didn’t let a single moment of my youth go to waste.”