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墨書 Inktalez
When they arrived at Lin Lin's house, Lin Lin's mom was out visiting and had not yet returned.
"Tell me the truth, kid! Where did you spend the money?" Guo An's father asked kindly.
"Uncle! How could I not?" Wen Sheng replied, looking somewhat troubled.
"Did you buy something for a girl?" Lin Lin guessed.
Wen Sheng fell silent, unable to respond.
Wen Xin nestled beside Wen Sheng, absentmindedly twirling her hair that fell by her ear, while Guo An stood by, lost in thought.
"Since that's the case, I won't ask anymore! But you know your family situation; spending over a hundred isn't something your dad will take lightly!" Guo An's father sighed. "If you're interested in that girl, I can help you with an introduction!"
"Forget it!" Wen Sheng forced a smile.
"You should at least consider it; it's time to think about relationships. But your home is just too chaotic. It won't be easy!" Guo An's father spoke earnestly.
"I know that!" Wen Sheng replied quietly.
"My brother will definitely marry a beautiful wife!" Wen Xin chimed in.
"Wen Xin, you still don't understand. When you grow up, you'll get it! If it meant swapping you for a wife for your brother, would you be okay with that?" Guo An's father probed Wen Xin.
Wen Xin lowered her head and remained silent.
"I absolutely disagree with that! Uncle, let's talk about this later! What are you trying to do with Wen Xin? I would never trade her for a wife!" Wen Sheng declared firmly.
Wen Xin looked at Wen Sheng with her big, watery eyes. Although she didn't fully understand their conversation, she felt that Er Ge treated her well. She had heard that a marriage exchange meant giving oneself to someone else while their daughter would marry her brother. But would there be happiness in that?
What exactly did happiness look like? Wen Xin couldn't comprehend it. She watched as other fathers joyfully played with their daughters, and she felt envious. Her own father had never carried her out of the house; was it because she was an adopted child? During the New Year, when her mother bought fabric to make her a new dress, she still had to endure her father's scolding. Even though Er Ge was his biological son, he hadn’t been happy all these years. What was happiness? Wen Xin nestled against Er Ge, her eyes reflecting confusion.
"Alright, let’s not dwell on this issue anymore. It’s just that Wen Hao is blocking the way ahead; it’s not easy for you," Guo An's Father continued. "Try to think positively; things will get better!"
Will things really get better? How long would they have to wait? Would there be an end to this? Would her brother improve? Would her father ever love her like other fathers loved their children? She didn’t know. Who would pay the price for these mistakes?
Wen Sheng fell silent, lost in thought.
"Brother! Wen Xin is hungry!" Wen Xin tugged at Wen Sheng's shirt.
Wen Sheng snapped back to reality, confused. "Uncle! We need to go home for dinner; Wen Xin is hungry!"
"Why don’t you eat at our house?" Guo An's Father took Wen Xin's hand. "Lin Lin, go cook something delicious for your sister!" He then instructed Lin Lin.
"No, we’re going home!" Wen Sheng insisted, holding Wen Xin's hand.
Wen Xin hesitated to leave; she wanted to eat something good at Lin Lin's house. She glanced at her brother but remained silent, following him home.
"Mom! Make some food! Wen Xin is hungry!" Wen Sheng called out to their mother.
"All you think about is eating! You little liar!" Wen Sheng's Father glared at Wen Xin while smoking.
Wen Xin was so frightened that she didn’t dare say anything and felt wronged as she approached her mother and held her hand.
"The child is hungry! Even if you're angry, you still have to let them eat!" Wen Sheng's Mother said softly.
“There's not much work to do, yet you eat plenty! And school? Look at other people's daughters, they don't go to school and can do everything at home!” Wen Sheng's Father nagged.
“Just let her finish fifth grade! The child can't even recognize characters; she's like a blind person staring! What can she do? What child doesn't go to school? What else will you have her do?” Wen Sheng's Mother complained.
“I don't know how to do anything; you all plant and harvest the crops!” Wen Sheng's Father retorted.
“What else can you do besides farming? Guo An's Father can build a house and earn a good amount in a year! What can you do? You just know how to play mahjong and drink with those weirdos! Working at the Wood Factory for a year won't earn you much! If you could learn something, would we be in such a hurry at home?” Wen Sheng's Mother lamented.
“I won’t learn anything; I’m fine as I am! During the New Year, I won’t let them go to school; they’ll go out and work for me!” Wen Sheng's Father angrily turned and went back into the house.
“I'll go start the fire!” Wen Xin said, pulling her mother’s hand.
“Don’t be afraid; your dad is just angry! Mommy will cook; aren’t you hungry?” Her mother gently stroked Wen Xin's face.
“Mm!” Wen Xin nodded, snuggling up to her mother.
Before long, the meal was ready, and Wen Xin thoughtfully brought it to her father. Wen Sheng's Father shot her a glare that nearly made her spill the food. He hurriedly took the bowl from her hands, saying, “Look at what use you are! You can't even carry a bowl!”
Seeing the steaming hot food burn Wen Xin's hands red, Wen Xin's Mother couldn't hold back any longer: “Why are you always taking your anger out on the child? It's already great that she brought it to you! When have you ever brought food to your mother?” She then took Wen Xin's hand and blew on it. “Did it hurt? Be careful, sweetheart!”
Wen Xin didn't dare speak, nodding with a face full of grievance.
“You're spoiling her; if I get angry, I'll take it out on both of you!” Wen Sheng's Father warned fiercely.
Wen Sheng's Mother said nothing as she turned and led Wen Xin away.
Wen Xin went over to serve her grandmother next. Grandma was also quite upset, sitting on the bed and panting. When she saw Wen Xin come in with the bowl, she hurriedly took it from her. “Be careful not to burn yourself! From now on, let your brother serve me; he should be doing this for me too!”
Wen Xin smiled gently, "Grandma, it's only right for me to bring you something to eat!"
"Wen Xin is so sensible, much better than your two brothers, especially better than your father!" Wen Sheng's Grandmother praised as she stroked Wen Xin's head.
Wen Xin's face turned slightly red, and she smiled shyly. Sweetly, she said, "Grandma is so nice! I'll go eat now and then keep you company!" With that, Wen Xin turned and returned to the kitchen, where she sat on a stool with her mother and Wen Sheng to eat.
"Can you tell me the truth, Mom? Where did you spend the money? You know the family is in a tight spot!" Wen Sheng's Mother asked while eating.
"Er Ge seems to have bought something for a girl, Mom!" Wen Xin whispered.
"Oh! That's nothing! It's about time your brother got close to someone!" her mother sighed.
After finishing their meal, her mother went back inside to talk to Wen Sheng's Father. "Do you think we should ask someone to help with a marriage proposal for Wen Sheng? He doesn't seem interested!"
"What? A marriage proposal through someone else! I'm not going; it's supposed to be initiated by them. Besides, even if someone comes forward for him, I can't agree! If Wen Sheng gets married first, what will happen to the eldest? How can we let that happen? It's against the rules!" Wen Sheng's Father shook his head.
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