“‘Sugar-loving mouse’? What kind of nonsense is that? Over the moon my ass! You liar, you promised you’d come back.” Yang Jiabo laughed, but tears streamed down uncontrollably.
He flipped the letter over, searching for the photo, but found nothing. Picking up the envelope, he tapped it against the table a few times until a small photo slipped out. The photo showed Li Wen stood in his military uniform, grinning brightly.
“You do look sharp, just tanned like you polished yourself with shoe wax. Only your teeth stand out, gleaming white. At least your teeth are nice, can’t even see your face clearly. Such a tiny photo...guess even you knew a bigger one would be an eyesore.” Yang Jiabo murmured to the photo.
“Jiajia, are you okay?” Yang Jianjun, hearing his voice, walked in.
“I’m fine. I was just reading Second Cousin's letter and looking at the photo he sent. See how much darker he looks in the green uniform?” Yang Jiabo handed the photo over.
“Very dashing. Really good.” Yang Jianjun praised repeatedly.
“So this is the military’s taste in looks?” Yang Jiabo said, exasperated.
“Jiajia, no one gets everything they want in life, and no one can truly control their own fate. You had good intentions when you helped Xiao Wen enlist. Saving people was his choice, his duty. His life was short, but it was meaningful. If you really feel guilty, then take care of your second uncle and aunt. That’s probably the only thing Xiao Wen would’ve worried about.” Yang Jianjun advised.
“I know. Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll come to terms with it.”
Saying that meant he hadn’t. Yang Jianjun sighed. “Get some rest.”
“Okay.”
Yang Jiabo read Li Wen’s letter several more times, then took a shower and lay in bed. He thought he wouldn’t be able to sleep, but exhaustion finally pulled him under.
In his dream, he saw Li Wen from his past life - right after the car accident, lying in the hospital, wrapped up like a mummy, barely alive. Then, in a flash, he was discharged, burdened with massive compensation and medical fees, his face lined with worry, eyes filled with despair.
The weight crushed him. He couldn’t eat or sleep, wasting away to skin and bones. Though young, he looked a decade older than his peers, his face etched with hardship. To his family, he was a good-for-nothing troublemaker. To outsiders, he was just a crippled pauper.
The next morning, Yang Jiabo woke with the dream still vivid. In his past life, Li Wen had lived, but it was a miserable existence. In this life, Li Wen had died, but he had lived happily, fought hard. Even in death, he was a hero in others’ eyes. Yang Jiabo couldn’t say which outcome was better, but deep down, he still wished Li Wen had lived.
After the funeral, Yang Jiabo seemed to recover, but his heart remained heavy. Eventually, Li Guizhen came to the farm to see him. Yang Jiabo brought her home and poured her a glass of juice.
“Jiajia, are you doing well?” Li Guizhen asked stiffly.
“I’m fine. Can’t you see that?” Yang Jiabo replied calmly. Time was a strange thing - after all these years, he could face her without emotion.
“I’ve missed you, but your dad wouldn’t let me see you.” Li Guizhen complained, as if she’d forgotten everything that had happened.
Yang Jiabo didn’t mince words. “He was protecting me. Afraid you’d trigger me—after all, I’m ‘sick.’”
“It’s been so many years. Why are you both still holding grudges?” Her voice carried guilt and irritation.
Yang Jiabo: “Some things fade with time. Others can never be forgotten. I don’t hate you now, that would only hurt me. After everything that happened, trying to act affectionate now feels like a bad performance. So just say what you came to say. I know you, you never visit without an agenda.”
“Jiajia, life’s been hard for me. My business failed. When I tried working, people said I was too old and uneducated. Your fourth aunt started selling vegetables and does well, but when I asked to join, she said it was too much work for me. Your eldest aunt and the others always blame me. Your eldest uncle looks down on me. After everything I did for them, I feel like such a fool. But your fifth aunt’s been kind, I’m working with her at the production team’s guesthouse now. The pay’s barely enough to get by. Coming home to an empty house, with no one to talk to… I really miss you. I regret everything. I know I was wrong.” Li Guizhen rambled, pouring out her grievances.
“I understand. Supporting you is my responsibility. I’ll give you a monthly allowance based on the minimum wage, plus extra for holidays. If you get sick, I’ll cover the medical bills. When you reach retirement age, I’ll provide a pension based on 30 years of social security contributions. If you ever can’t take care of yourself, I’ll hire someone to help. If you’re lonely, you can remarry, I don’t oppose that. But beyond that, there’s nothing else.” Yang Jiabo laid it all out plainly.
“Jiajia, I can’t bear to be apart from you and your dad. I want to remarry him.” Li Guizhen looked at him hopefully.
“Don’t even think about it. Dad would never agree, and neither would I.” Yang Jiabo scoffed.
“Jiajia, no matter what, I’m your mother. Your dad and I belong together, we’re family. He’s still young, he won’t stay single forever. Once he remarries, you know what they say: ‘A stepmother means a stepfather.’ If his new wife gives him another child, who knows what’ll happen to his assets? I’m doing this for your own good. I’ve changed, I promise.” Li Guizhen pleaded earnestly.
“Enough. I support Dad remarrying, and the assets are none of your concern. More importantly, I trust Dad, not you. So drop the act. The moment you chose Li Mingyi, you lost your place in this family.” Yang Jiabo reminded her coldly.
Li Guizhen abandoned her usual temper for a pitiful act, crying and begging. “Jiajia, I know I was wrong. Please help me. I’m your mother.”
“It’s too late. When you hurt Dad and me without a second thought, you burned that bridge. There’s no undo button in life. Forgiving you is impossible. But since you’re my mother, I’ll give you one last bit of dignity. Find someone else to marry, don’t force this.”
“Is there really no other way?” Li Guizhen asked, barely containing her anger.
“Leave. Don’t make a scene, or I might not even bother with the allowance. Even if you sue me, at most I’ll pay for a month or two under court order.” Yang Jiabo threatened bluntly.
“You heartless brat! Why did I even give birth to you? Treating me like this, don’t think karma won’t come for you. Just wait till your own children do the same!” Li Guizhen snapped, genuinely shocked by his ruthlessness.
“I’m not afraid. I won’t have kids, I’m not fit to raise them. Children don’t get to choose their parents. If I could, I’d never have picked you.” Yang Jiabo stared at her coldly, as if she were a stranger.
“You think I wanted you? I carried you for ten months, and this is what I get? My life is so bitter!” Li Guizhen finally lost control, pointing at him and shrieking.
“Enough, Li Guizhen. This isn’t your home, stop making a scene. You’re not welcome here.” Yang Jianjun, who had been working in the fields, rushed back the moment someone told him she’d arrived.
“I’m making a scene? You didn’t hear what he said! Does he treat me like a mother? He acts like I’m his enemy!” Li Guizhen panted, wiping fake tears.
“Enough with the crocodile tears. You brought this on yourself, don’t blame Jiajia. Don’t come back. You’re not welcome here, and if I have to throw you out, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“I see how it is. You two are the same, cold-blooded and heartless.” Li Guizhen stormed off in a rage.
Yang Jiabo said, “Dad, Mom wants to remarry you. I refused.”
“Good, was that even a life before? I’ve had enough, no matter what, I won’t take her back.” Yang Jianjun felt nothing for her now, only disgust.
“She might come back. I think I’ll go away for a while.” Yang Jiabo had been considering this for some time.
“Where do you want to go? I’ll come with you.” Yang Jianjun was worried.
“No need. The farm still needs someone to manage it. Besides, I’m going to the capital, Wei Jing will be there. Don’t worry.”
