Although Zhao Erhua was foolish, she still sensitively felt that the person in front of her was dangerous and instinctively shrank back.
"Sister Er, what are you afraid of? You still remember me, right? My whole life has been ruined in your hands."
Zhao Daming stared at his sister with venomous eyes. She had become a fool and knew nothing; what satisfaction would he get from taking revenge?
"Ah~wu~"
Zhao Erhua hugged the doll in her arms and slowly moved, not wanting to stay with Zhao Daming any longer.
Zhao Daming reached out and grabbed Zhao Erhua's shoulders, his fingers unconsciously tightening.
Zhao Erhua's tears streamed down her face from the pain, but she dared not cry out loud. She looked extremely pitiful.
"Hahaha, that's good."
He released her and pulled her wrist, slowly dragging her out of the room and to the dining table.
Zhao Erhua kept her head down, her body trembling non-stop.
Zhao Daming's face was filled with concern. He thoughtfully poured her hot water and patted her back to comfort her.
"How did it get like this? My poor sister."
Hearing this, Wu Guihua, who was busy, also felt a pang in her heart. Her hoarse voice said:
"If I had known earlier, I shouldn't have agreed to let her take this job. This child's entire life is ruined.
I'd rather support her my whole life than have her sacrifice her happiness for a few bucks. She's also foolish, not telling us when she found a boyfriend."
Listening to Wu Guihua's rambling, Zhao Daming clenched his fists, his face flushing red, veins bulging on his forehead.
He thought about how his own life had also been ruined. He began to hate everyone in the family equally.
"How is Er Ming doing? Yueyue sends you money, she must be doing very well out there."
"Her? She relies entirely on herself. You know Mom isn't very capable; the money for her college education was all borrowed from relatives by herself."
"If Mom hadn't guaranteed it, those relatives wouldn't have lent the money."
"Hahaha, how could I have that ability? We haven't been in touch for so many years. If your second brother hadn't been successful and gotten into a good university, would they have acknowledged us poor relatives?"
Zhao Daming forced a laugh, tears continuously streaming down his face. He quickly wiped them away, unnoticed.
"Second brother is truly amazing, a big shot now. Unlike me, a convict; I'll never get anywhere in this life."
"Daming, don't be so self-deprecating and discouraged. If we work diligently, we'll surely get ahead."
"Mom, I'm already 31. My reputation is bad, and I have no special skills. My life will be like this. As long as you don't dislike me, it's fine."
"Silly child, how could Mom dislike you? You are always Mom's son. It's all in the past; we need to look forward. Don't bring up those sad things again."
"Okay, I won't mention them."
Zhao Daming thought that for her, it was a sad thing, but for him, it was ten years of torment and a lifelong scar.
The family sat down to eat. Wu Guihua kept serving food to Zhao Daming and Zhao Erhua, while the two younger ones actively livened up the atmosphere.
Before they finished eating, shouting erupted from outside.
"Zhao Daming, get out here, you little bastard! We have no enmity with your son, and he's so young. How could you be so heartless?"
Aunt Tang arrived with a crowd, and many people in the courtyard came out to join the excitement.
"Oh my, is that Zhao's eldest son back?"
"I think so, it's about time."
"Sister Tang has aged so much over the years. Sigh, it's all karma."
"That's her own son. If it were me, I'd go crazy too, probably wishing to chop Zhao's eldest son to death."
"You thing worse than an animal! Instead of properly disciplining your shameless, thieving sister, you blame my son. Why is my life so hard? Wuwuwu~"
Zhao Daming didn't know what to do. After hesitating for a long time, he prepared to stand up and apologize to Aunt Tang. Wu Guihua grabbed his hand.
"Daming, don't go out. Mom will handle her. If you go out, who knows what she might do. We'll move in a few days, leave this place."
Zhao Daming nodded and obediently returned to his familiar room, closing the door.
Wu Guihua opened the door. "Sister, my Daming isn't back. He didn't do it on purpose, and he's been atoning for his sins in prison all these years. Please let him go."
"If I let him go, who will let me go? Can my son come back? You are also a mother, how can you say such a thing?"
"Sigh, we are all pitiable."
"I think the Tang family is more pitiable. Ten years can't replace a lifetime. Zhao Daming is alive and well, but Tang's boy is gone just like that."
"Sigh, it's such a sin."
Wu Guihua was rendered speechless by her words, standing by the door in a daze.
Aunt Tang stepped forward and pushed her aside. "Move aside. Every wrong has its source, and every debt has its owner."
Wu Guihua fell to the ground. After reacting, she grabbed Aunt Tang's leg.
"Sister, I beg you, give my family a way to live. Daming knows he was wrong, and he has been punished. If you do this, you're pushing me to death."
"You are pushing me! He killed my son!"
Aunt Tang's shout was exceptionally loud, quieting the entire courtyard. Everyone looked at her with sympathy.
The Tang family members following behind were all wiping away tears. They could never forget the child who lost his life so young.
Zhao Daming had already received legal punishment, and they couldn't do anything to him.
However, coming to make a scene to vent Aunt Tang's anger and to see Zhao Daming's attitude might make them feel a little better.
After a brief silence, Wu Guihua said the sentence she should have least said today.
"What are you doing like this? Hitting my son for a bit will bring your son back to life?"
Aunt Tang was further provoked by her words and became even more frenzied, kicking Wu Guihua, who was at her feet, without regard.
After kicking her to the ground, she straddled her and frantically swung her hands at her face, occasionally pulling at her sparse hair.
The onlookers all looked at Wu Guihua with hatred, and no one stepped forward to break them up. The other Tang family members rushed into the house and began smashing things.
Sanhua was so scared by the scene that she cried, and hearing the commotion of the old mother being beaten outside the door, she quickly pulled her brother and ran outside.
Sanhua immediately knelt at Aunt Tang's feet and reached out to pull Aunt Tang's leg.
"Auntie, stop hitting, please stop hitting. My mom knows she was wrong, wuwuwu~"
Wuming was already taller than Aunt Tang, but he knew this was his family's fault. In front of the Tang family, they would always be inferior.
So, he stepped forward and separated them, shielding Wu Guihua.
"Auntie, hit me. My mom is old, just hit me to vent your anger. I'm still young and can take a beating."
Aunt Tang punched Wuming's back repeatedly. After a few punches, she collapsed on the ground, crying uncontrollably.
Her son, her son! He was the same age as the child in front of her when he died.
Sanhua let go, afraid to step forward again. She knew Aunt Tang was in immense pain right now, and anything she said would be like stabbing her with a knife.
Wuming helped Wu Guihua up and supported her to sit in a corner of the yard. He was afraid his mother would say something else provocative.
Wu Guihua was not lightly thrown down; her backside was numb, and her head was still a little dizzy. Aunt Tang's blows were superficial and didn't have much impact.
She tightly held Zhao Wuming's hand. "Son, you don't need to worry about Mom. Quickly go inside and help your older brother."
"I'm not going. This was all caused by big brother. The Tang family won't stop until they've beaten big brother."
Wu Guihua angrily hit him. "I've doted on you for nothing all these years. That's your own brother. How can you be so unfair?"
"Mom, as a person, you need to be reasonable and have a conscience."