Chapter 1
Edward Quan ·
1
For my younger brother Xu Tianci’s twentieth birthday, I bought him a car worth three hundred thousand yuan.
He was grown up now. I’d heard he had a girlfriend.
With marriage no longer so far away, a car seemed the most useful gift.
When I got home, he was sprawled on the sofa playing games.
His eyes lit up at the sight of me.
He jumped up and came running.
“What did you get me?”
I smiled mysteriously and took out a red envelope.
“Open it.”
I had always given him both birthday money and a present.
He had grown used to being spoiled.
He took the envelope eagerly.
The moment he opened it, his face stiffened.
“Two thousand yuan? That’s all you got me?”
He threw it onto the floor, flung himself back onto the sofa and shouted toward the kitchen.
“Mum! Look at what she’s done! She hasn’t even tried to get me a proper present!”
Mum dropped her ladle and stormed out.
“You wretched girl! It’s such an important birthday, and his own sister gives him two thousand? Your second sister works in a factory, and even she bought him an iPhone and a computer!”
Tianci pouted beside her, looking wounded.
Mum kept going.
“You used to give him at least ten thousand. Now he’s twenty, and you give him two? All those years raising you, wasted. An ungrateful, heartless daughter!”
I said nothing.
Something inside me grew cold.
A month before I ordered the car, my company had gone through a crisis.
We had nearly failed to make payroll.
I’d told Mum.
She panicked and launched into a tirade.
“What do you mean, no salaries? The whole family depends on you! And your brother’s mortgage? If it isn’t paid, the bank will take the flat. I don’t care. This month’s money arrives on time, or don’t come home!”
I always set her monthly allowance aside in advance.
I had only wanted a word of comfort.
Don’t work too hard.
Don’t push yourself.
But all she could see now was money.
She looked at me with a coldness I barely recognized, as if I had been born owing her a debt.
I raised my head.
“Even though I give you five thousand every month, and he does nothing but live off us, I’m still the ungrateful one?”
She pointed at me.
“Xu Jingjing, you didn’t spring out of a rock! Where would you be without me? Without your brother, people would have bullied this family into the ground.
“Show some gratitude. Give something back to this family. To your brother.”
He crossed his legs and put in, contemptuously, “Exactly. Everyone’s sister gives them money. You’re the only one who makes such a fuss.”
Mum added meaningfully, “I’m not forcing you. You know what you ought to do.”
I had always thought it natural to contribute when I was earning.
Yet again and again, I was called ungrateful.
Suddenly, I wanted to live up to the accusation.
I spread my hands.
“I’m out of money. The company hasn’t paid me for months.”
Her eyes shifted. She caught my hand.
“No money? Then transfer the whole year’s allowance now. We’ll put your brother’s birthday aside for the moment. You can make up the present later.”
I stared at her, then pulled my hand away and reached for my coat.
She followed.
“One more thing. Your cousin got his girlfriend pregnant. Her family wants two hundred and eighty-eight thousand in bride-price. You know what your uncle’s finances are like. You sisters can split it. When the baby comes, it’ll be grateful to you.”
I turned.
“How much?”
“Two hundred and eighty-eight thousand.”
She counted on her fingers.
“You earn the most, so you pay two hundred and twenty-two thousand. Your eldest sister has a difficult time with her in-laws. She’ll contribute two thousand.
“Your second sister can cover the remaining forty-odd thousand. Factory wages aren’t high, but overtime will do it. I told her to sleep a few hours less.”
She said it as though nothing could be more reasonable.
If I refused now, I might never get out of the house.
“We’ll talk later.”
I left without looking back.
2
A short distance away, I called my friend and asked her to cancel the car order.
Luckily, it was a popular model. We had been waiting for stock.
Before long, she found someone to take over the reservation and refunded my deposit.
The money had barely reached my account when Mum called.
“How’s the money coming? That girlfriend of your cousin’s is a fierce one. Says if she doesn’t get the bride-price in three days, she’ll have an abortion.”
“Then let her. I didn’t get her pregnant. Why tell me?”
“What’s that supposed to mean? You’re not contributing?”
“Of course not. If he has no money, what’s he doing having a relationship? Not having the baby would be a kindness. Anyone born into that family would be unlucky.”
She erupted.
I hung up and blocked her number.
Then came one-minute voice messages, one after another.
[Mum: Xu Jingjing, too big for your boots now? Even a dog I raised would wag its tail. Did you grow up on thin air? I’m so disappointed in you!]
[Mum: You’re paying whether you like it or not! And this year’s allowance too. Transfer it now, or I’ll sue you!]
[Mum: You’ve been selfish and cold since you were little. If I’d known, I’d have strangled you twenty years ago!]
[Mum: Without me and your brother, this family would have been begging in the streets. Now things are better, you turn on us!]
[Mum: I gave birth to you and raised you. You think you can threaten to stop paying? Just try it!]
I listened to every message.
Then I replied.
[Me: The house and money all belong to my brother. Let him cover the expenses. What I’ve sent over the years should repay the cost of raising me. From now on, you get five hundred a month. Thanks for not letting me starve.]
She exploded again.
[Mum: You dare fight your brother over the house?]
[Mum: Who do you think you are, comparing yourself to him? Ungrateful girl!]
She posted screenshots in the family group so everyone could see my “greedy true colors.”
The chat came alive.
[Eldest Aunt: Jingjing, you’re wrong this time. Your mother worked so hard raising you. Don’t be childish.]
[Uncle: Nobody’s asking you to give the bride-price for nothing. When the baby comes, you’ll be its godmother. It won’t forget you when it does well.]
[Youngest Aunt: A daughter who earns should help her family. Or would you rather outsiders benefited?]
[Eldest Aunt: You’re good at making money, but that temper needs work. It’ll hurt you out in the world. Families should help each other. I’d never steer you wrong.]
[Uncle: Exactly. We’re your family. It isn’t only Xiao Hui. Da Jun and Xingwang will need bride-prices too. If you won’t help us, who’s your money for? Outsiders?]
I replied.
[Me: The baby won’t forget me? Or my money?]
[Me: @Eldest Aunt @Youngest Aunt, since we’re all helping, you should contribute to the wedding too. A hundred thousand from each household. Make it a proper celebration.]
[Me: Oh, and Xu Tianci has a girlfriend. Given his intelligence, she’ll probably be pregnant soon too. Better prepare his bride-price while you’re at it. Seventy or eighty thousand each. All the family helping, right?]
[Me: @Eldest Aunt, I hear you’ve saved two hundred thousand for your son. Give it to Xiao Hui. Your son doesn’t even share your surname. Put your own family first.]
[Me: @Youngest Aunt, Xiaofang’s car looks expensive. It should fetch seventy or eighty thousand. I know a dealer. I’ll introduce you. Remember to send Uncle the proceeds. You wouldn’t want to treat him like an outsider.]
[Me: Don’t squeeze everything out of me. Let’s all join in.]
The group went silent for nearly half an hour.
At last, Mum appeared.
[Mum: Xu Jingjing is disrespectful and unfilial. Her punishment starts today. Everyone here is a witness!]
She attached a document.
“Punishment Plan.”
I opened it.
More than twenty densely written conditions.
I would no longer be allowed to eat at the family table.
I had to disclose all my income and savings.
Every month, I must send each relative five thousand yuan. It might be returned if I behaved.
Five full pages.
The last line was bold.
“FAIL TO COMPLY AT YOUR OWN RISK!”
I nearly laughed.
So that was why they’d been silent.
They were working out how to deal with me.
They had lived comfortably for so long that they’d forgotten who paid for it.
One by one, the messages appeared.
[Agreed!]
Mum tagged me.
[Mum: Acknowledge receipt. It’s basic courtesy.]
I curled my lip and typed one word.
“Sure.”