Zhao Erhua, startled by the commotion outside, hid under the bed. The Tang family ignored her, smashed things, and left.
They discovered one door that wouldn't open, knowing Zhao Daming was hiding inside, so they worked together to force it open.
Zhao Daming, having learned his lesson in prison, found it difficult to fight against these burly men.
He immediately knelt down and begged the Tang family for forgiveness, "I'm sorry, I truly didn't mean to back then.
I just pushed him lightly, I really didn't know the consequences would be so severe. I listened to my sister and thought Comrade Tang was slandering her.
I didn't expect my sister to lie to me. Please forgive me. I have truly reformed myself over these years.
Every day in prison, I regretted my actions. I pray for Comrade Tang, hoping he is living well on the other side.
I'm sorry, truly sorry, please forgive me."
"Hmph, sounds sweet as pie," the father of the Tang family sneered before delivering a punch to Zhao Daming. Knowing he couldn't escape the beating, Zhao Daming curled into a ball, instinctively rolling to dodge.
This was the experience he had gained from years of being beaten. Once the Tang family had vented their anger, they left, and the onlookers dispersed.
Zhao Wuming carried the unconscious Zhao Daming on his back, while Zhao Sanhua supported Wu Guihua. The family headed to the clinic.
Zhao Daming woke up before they even reached the clinic. After getting his injuries treated and returning home, the family discussed moving.
The Tang family had broken many of the landlord's belongings, and they had to pay for them. Most of their own items were damaged beyond repair and had to be thrown away.
Carrying their meager possessions, the family left the area and rented a small bungalow far from the Tang family's residence.
Wuming and Sanhua needed to attend school, while Wu Guihua, having fallen and injured her backside, was confined to bed for days.
Through Zhao Daming's deliberate actions, Zhao Erhua was forced out of the house. Unfamiliar with the surroundings, she was as jumpy as a startled bird at the gaze of strangers.
Wandering around the neighborhood, she gradually got further and further away. When blisters formed on her feet and she couldn't see any familiar streets, she stopped by the roadside and wept inconsolably.
Wu Guihua soon discovered her second daughter was missing. She and Zhao Daming split up to search, and Zhao Daming found Zhao Erhua first.
He dragged her to a secluded spot and began to beat her, venting his anger. Even after she passed out, he wasn't satisfied.
He grabbed and left many marks on Zhao Erhua's body before carrying her home. Wu Guihua was like a headless fly, rushing around in distress.
As darkness fell, she returned home dejected, desperately hoping Zhao Daming would find Zhao Erhua.
Upon seeing Zhao Erhua with her head wrapped in weeds, her clothes tattered and covered in dust, and her face bruised and swollen from the beating,
Wu Guihua's heart skipped a beat. She rushed forward, embraced her eldest daughter, and wept uncontrollably, telling Zhao Daming to fetch hot water to wash Zhao Erhua.
When Wu Guihua noticed the bruises, she cried even harder.
The awakened Zhao Erhua could only look at Zhao Daming fearfully, unable to utter that she had been beaten by him.
"Oh, my Erhua, your life is so hard! What will happen in the future? It's my fault, I should have watched you more closely."
"Mom, please don't cry. You're injured, it wasn't on purpose. I believe second sister won't blame you."
Zhao Erhua could only sob, not even daring to cry out in pain.
...
"Mom, I want to get married. I can't just muddle through life like this."
"Okay, Mom supports you."
Zhao Daming lowered his head and smiled bitterly.
"Mom, but with my current situation, what family would be willing to marry their daughter to me?"
"Don't worry, you find a job first. As long as a person can earn money, they can find any kind of wife."
"Mom, do you think I haven't tried? I've been running around these days, my lips are worn out from talking. But as soon as they hear about my situation, they don't want me, and they look at me with those strange eyes.
Mom, I can never be a normal person in this life. Mom, do you also look down on me? Are you planning to rely on Erming in the future?"
Zhao Daming stared intently at Wu Guihua, as if trying to see through her.
"Daming, how can you think that? How could Mom look down on you? You are the flesh and blood from Mom's body.
I'll go ask Erming if he can find you a job. If not, Mom will beg Sanming, he's in our city."
"Mom, I don't want to be looked down upon anymore, nor do I want my younger brothers to despise me."
"Mom knows you're sensitive. Mom will go beg myself."
"Mom, if you go beg for a job for me, with my abilities, what can I do? What good girl would be willing to marry someone like me? Unless it's someone divorced with children."
"Our family will pay a higher bride price, and Mom will definitely find you someone remarried. Don't overthink it, you're no worse than anyone else."
"Mom, thank you. Without you, I really don't know what I would do."
"Good child, Mom can do anything for you."
Zhao Siming's ambition had long been worn away by life. The busyness of his work left him no time to study. All his certificates were with Wu Guihua, making escape impossible.
High school knowledge cannot be self-taught, except for geniuses, and Zhao Siming was clearly not one of them.
Without a teacher's guidance and unable to find correct answers, he gradually gave up on studying because the material only caused him distress.
Over the years, apart from saving 5,000 yuan, he gained nothing. Now working in a factory, the shrewd Wu Guihua had already set her sights on him.
So, after speaking with Zhao Daming, Wu Guihua went straight to the factory where Zhao Siming worked.
"Zhao Siming, someone is looking for you."
Zhao Siming, about to go to sleep, got up and turned to leave when he saw Wu Guihua, but she held onto him tightly.
People passing by looked at them in surprise. Some acquaintances asked questions.
"I am Zhao Siming's mother, I need to talk to him about something."
"Hello, Auntie."
"Hello, thank you for taking care of our Siming."
"When you're away from home, everyone looks out for each other."