Chapter 18

Yang Bufan: 【Did you two beat up that guy yesterday?】
A minute later.
Wen Junjie: 【Not yesterday】
Message recalled.
Wen Junjie: 【We didn’t beat anyone】
Cui Tingxi felt a bit of despair at Feizai’s intelligence level. Didn’t bother covering. Asked: 【What did the bank say? What did that person do?】
Yang Bufan: 【He came to apologize. And the bank told me he’s been fired】
Cui Tingxi thought about it. A bit strange. But also relaxed.
Yang Bufan sent a red envelope. Added: 【Today’s a good day. Dad wants you two to order dishes. Come for dinner tonight】
Cui Tingxi: 【Can’t make it. At Uncle’s】
Yang Bufan: 【!!! Banquet at Hongmen】
Wen Junjie: 【Need backup? @Yang Bufan I’ll drive the forklift to Yangyang Alley, go together?】
Cui Tingxi couldn’t help laughing. Said she could handle it. Sent a few stickers. Her attention returned to the kung fu table.
Just now, Uncle, cousin, and several men were smoking and drinking tea in the yard. Cigarette butts everywhere. As soon as she entered, her cousin told her to sweep.
Cui Tingxi sat down. Asked if the 120,000 online loan he borrowed was paid off. Still gambling? If not, why were creditors still calling?
Cousin’s face went red, white, purple. The others all clammed up.
Cui Tingxi drank tea. Tapped her phone twice. Played a loud Chaoshan‑accented video: Children who love gambling must be removed from the clan register. Otherwise they harm elders above, descendants below. The whole clan’s fortune will be destroyed by their gambling. This isn’t superstition. It has scientific basis…
With every sentence, she watched her cousin’s expression. Saw shock, color change, anxiety, shame, wanting to flee. Victory surged.
Not enough. She added fuel, asked innocently: “Sixth Uncle, you’ve seen a lot. Is what the video says true? Does gambling destroy clan fortune? No wonder Uncle’s business hasn’t been good lately. Is he being affected?”
“Uncle, speak. You’re an elder. Why aren’t you talking? My clinic’s not doing well now. Am I being affected by Cousin?”
“Better remove Cousin from the register quickly. How will we live?”
She kept pressing.
The kung fu table, just boiling with activity, now fell silent. Only Cui Tingxi’s crisp sunflower seed cracking.
She liked this quiet moment. They were awkward, shut up. She was satisfied.
On the other hand, why could any man order any woman present to do things?
The women were all busy in the kitchen. He sat here like a boss, giving orders.
A piece of shit who borrowed online loans, useless. Exploited his parents, fine. But also arrogantly bullied other women. What was he?
If not for face, Cui Tingxi really wanted to spit a thick glob of phlegm at him.
By dinner, the elders seemed to have recovered. Started speaking up for him. Said he’d at least settled down. A prodigal son returned was worth gold. Had future potential.
Cui Tingxi hadn’t meant to cause trouble. Until Mom also chimed in. Words pointing at her.
Cousin heard the hint. Hurried: “Xizi, don’t laugh at me being down now. But back in the day, when I made 3,000 a month, gave Mom 2,000, kept 1,000 for living. Did that for two years. You should learn to be grateful. Don’t be like a pixiu, only taking, never giving. Parents raised you. Not easy. Some things they can’t say directly. You read so much. Don’t you understand? Especially girls, should be more considerate of parents.”
Cui Tingxi asked: “2,000 a month?”
“Yeah!”
“That’s too little. You should sell blood. Give 5,000 a month. But even 5,000, you can’t pay back the online loan hole they filled for you. Ge, be honest. How much do you still owe? Say it. Let the elders think of a way! Uncles are all here. That bit of money, what is it?”
The smoking elders quickly coughed tactically. Mom scolded her for being unreasonable, smiled apologetically, smoothed things over.
Aunt, silent for a long time, finally spoke: “Don’t worry about your brother. Your mom’s mainly worried about your future now.”
Everyone chimed in.
“Houmei Village has a boy. Looks okay. Over 170 cm. Rich. Doesn’t mind you were born in a broken month. Just a bit older. I think it’s suitable.”
“How old?”
“Forties. Under fifty. Several properties in Shantou. These days, age isn’t a problem. As long as the person’s good.”
“If age isn’t a problem, introduce Zhou Granny to him. Only 95. Good person, knows how to care for people. Plus these days technology’s advanced. Paralysis isn’t a problem.”
Cui Tingxi finished, couldn’t help laughing loudly. Everyone else was silent. Braised goose fragrance spiraled up. The room echoed with her alone, wild laughter. Like she was crazy.
“Hey! Why aren’t you laughing?” She asked.
Uncle slammed down his chopsticks heavily. Drank tea sullenly. Eyes fixed on Cui Tingxi. Said viciously: “What are you laughing at! Shut up! If you don’t get married, later your parents’ money, your clinic, all go to your brother.”
Others also chimed in: “Right. There’s no tradition of girls inheriting businesses. This shop should go to the male heir. Girls can’t show their faces doing these things.”
“Right. Xizi, don’t blame the elders for being harsh. You’re getting older. Should find a good family. Why don’t you give the clinic to your brother? He’ll give you dividends. You can relax. You’ve been at it so long, haven’t made anything of it.”
“Girls don’t need to bear such pressure. Your main task now is to carry on the family line…”
……
Cui Tingxi looked at Mom. She had her arms crossed, a slightly smug, oppressive smile.
So today’s banquet was for this.
Cui Tingxi wasn’t disappointed, wasn’t sad. Just curious: what kind of person would join with outsiders, use this kind of depriving, punishing siege to force her daughter?
She’d grown up immersed in the fear and hatred her parents created. Gradually became someone very good at creating hatred and fear.
Fine. They started it.
“I won’t get married.”
“Why? You’re okay with your parents having no descendants? You know your brother…”
“Because I don’t like cheating.”
Everyone looked at each other.
“Everyone here, several of you have cheated after marriage, right? Sleep with people outside every day. One, then two, then three. Three done, even if impotent, buy Viagra, go out, also visit prostitutes… I personally don’t like cheating. So I won’t get married.”
Her gaze swept over. Paused on each face. They all looked away, couldn’t meet her eyes.
This was sincere. You’re in a cesspool. Everyone around is similar shit. Pick any turd, still shit.
Did she have to choose?
Plus she was puzzled: all this talk of love, was it real?
She was born with the ability to hate.
Forget everyone here. Even her nephew in fifth grade, borrowed 10 yuan, still hasn’t paid back. She could hate him forever.
Several middle‑aged men were furious. But thought: if they lost it, they’d fall into her trap, become a joke. So they were furious, then were furious. Pretended not to understand.
Only Cousin slammed the table, stood: “You’re lawless! These are all your elders. Don’t go too far!”
Cui Tingxi smiled: “Which part’s too far? Ge, if you buy Viagra, come to me. Why sneak around? Family won’t cheat you. Am I going to tell everyone?”
Aunt quickly pulled Cousin down, pressed him into his chair, covered his mouth.
Xizi had been wild since she was little. Crazy. Dared say anything. But the older generation still had face.
Cui Tingxi added: “The clinic is my life. Whoever wants to take my clinic wants my life. If they want my life, even if it’s mutual destruction, I’ll take a few with me.”
She stood, took several big pieces of braised goose, some vegetables. Bowl couldn’t hold it. Poured onto a plate, piled high.
Cui Tingxi said: “You can’t eat watching me. Me too. I’m leaving.”
A group of middle‑aged men watched her walk out calmly with her plate. Didn’t try to stop her. Had nothing to say. These years, this kind of fight happened often. Who could do anything about her?
Just pushed open the yard gate to leave. Mom called from behind.
“Had enough? How did I raise such an ungrateful white‑eyed wolf? You’ve shamed me.” Mom said.
Cui Tingxi went straight to the point: “Is it because I’m your biological child that you treat me like this?”
“What do you mean I treat you? If I weren’t doing this for you, you could go to heaven for all I care! I’m telling you, lawlessness has limits.”
Cui Tingxi said: “Yaozu was adopted. You bought him a car, a house, fully supported him. His birth parents came looking, he immediately packed up, went north with them to enjoy life. If they hadn’t found out he was disabled, didn’t want him, deliberately mistreated him, would he have come back? Now you use my marriage, say I don’t listen. Isn’t that just an excuse to give him the shop, please him, tie him down? I’m really puzzled. I’m a healthy, living person. Can’t compare to your ungrateful disabled adopted son?”
Mom raised her hand, furious. Cui Tingxi stuck out her face. “Come on, hit. Why not? You should’ve aborted me. Better than being born into your family to suffer.”
“When children don’t get along, it’s usually the parents’ fault. If Yaozu and I end up trying to kill each other, that’s all on you and the old man.”
Mom trembled with anger. Pointed at Cui Tingxi. Tears before words: “I gave birth to you, raised you. Was that wrong?”
She seemed beaten to the ground by her daughter’s sharp words. As her daughter spat one harsh sentence after another, her soul was pummeled, couldn’t get up.
Cui Tingxi laughed coldly: “Dare to do it, but can’t handle the truth? Let me tell you, Mom. This shop, even if it closes tomorrow, it can only close in my hands. Anyone who wants to take it—remember, the next day is when I drive a dump truck and run over your son. If you want his dog life, you decide. Thanks.”
“He’s also a child of this family. And disabled. If I don’t favor him, how will he live? They say older sisters are like mothers. You’re a sister, have hands and feet. I don’t expect you to make money to support him. Just give in. What’s wrong? You’ve grown wings. Less and less respect for parents!”
Mom dragged out her voice. Tears streaming. Bent over in pain.
“Yeah right. He’s disabled. Even just disabled, still higher than me, a woman. Since you know I can make money, have grown wings, shouldn’t you speak to me more politely?”
“Honestly, this son‑preference narrative really bores and annoys me. Really. Don’t provoke me. Don’t call these relatives to provoke me. I won’t let you have your way. Go tell them: whoever pushes me, I’ll dig up whose ancestral graves. When it brings bad luck, cuts off the line, don’t blame me.”
Cui Tingxi felt it was pointless: “Sun’s too big. I’m going back. Honestly, Mom, you’re pitiful. Don’t contact me unless necessary. I’m afraid you’ll be contagious.”
“You’re as heartless as your dad.” Mom said.
“Then why’d you marry him? You can only blame yourself.”
Her parents had her after marriage. Because of difficult birth, lost ability to have more. Adopted a disabled son. But Dad always thought he needed a biological son. Plus the disability. Divorced, found someone else.
But the remarriage also didn’t produce children.
Haha.
Cui Tingxi left. Left Mom crying, frozen in place. The only audience gone, she had to stop the tears.
After this vent, the anxiety of recent days also dissipated.
Cui Tingxi walked eating from her bowl. Swore she’d make something of herself in this lifetime. Not for anything else. To distance herself from these people in every way.
—
That day. Clear sky, white clouds in clusters.
Jiang Qishen’s watch was left at Yang Bufan’s. Was going to get it. But Yang Bufan said she was heading out, could bring the watch to the village entrance.
So Jiang Qishen waited here. One minute, five minutes, eight minutes, ten minutes…
Those twelve minutes passed especially slowly. Jiang Qishen stood by the car, crushed a dogtail grass with his shoe tip. Grass seeds all flew away. Finally Yang Bufan arrived.
Yang Bufan didn’t come alone.
She walked in the middle of a rumbling, round, stinky flock. Hair like an untrimmed greenbelt. Eye‑poking.
Expression laughing. But strides big. On the country path, walked like overseas war wolves evacuating citizens.
A wanderer’s bag on her shoulder. Long whip in hand. Like a rapper going to the market to beg.