Zhang Baoxiang’s face grew increasingly troubled as she listened to her husband.
"No matter what, we’re still their elders. Did you hear what Wenhui said? Does he treat me like an elder?" she fumed, anger rising at the thought.
Ye Bingkun looked coldly at Zhang Baoxiang. "All these years, have you ever acted like an elder?"
Seeing her husband’s attitude, Zhang Baoxiang retorted, "Is that my fault? We’re both their aunts, but look how differently they treat Shi Jingfang compared to me. Are you blind?"
Ye Bingkun saw it was pointless to continue arguing. "Whenever something happens, you always blame others first. You’re simply unreasonable."
With that, he got up and walked outside.
Seeing him about to leave, Zhang Baoxiang cried out, "With such a huge issue at home, where do you think you’re going?"
Without turning his head, Ye Bingkun threw back, "I’m going out for some fresh air."
Angered, Zhang Baoxiang threw the enamel lid in her hand. "Is the air in this house not good enough for you? You have to go out for more..."
Then, she cursed softly toward the door, "I bet you’re thinking about that slut again."
With that said, she covered her face and began to sob quietly.
Suddenly, the bedroom door was flung open. "Crying is useless! It’s because you couldn’t hold onto Dad’s heart. He never cares for us children, and he never stands on our side. Now he’s forced me to return the spot in the cultural troupe, leaving me no choice but to go to the countryside. Are you happy now?"
Zhang Baoxiang looked at her eldest daughter yelling at her, a mix of complex emotions stirring within. Her husband resented her, her sisters-in-law looked down on her, even the younger members of the extended family didn’t respect her, and now her own daughter treated her this way.
She sat there numbly, her face pale. "How can you speak to your mother like that?"
Ye Wenjuan stared at her as if looking at an enemy. "Then how should I speak? Why is it that Eldest Uncle’s and Second Uncle’s families are so harmonious? My cousins can joke and play around with their parents, even act spoiled and get away with it. And us? Every day we have to walk on eggshells around you. Dad always has a stern face, and this home has never been filled with laughter. Cousin Wenhui from Eldest Uncle’s family joined the army right after graduation, Cousin Wenhao also got a government job right after graduation, and even Cousin Wenze from Second Uncle’s family went straight to a newspaper office after graduating. Look at me! I’m the eldest in our immediate family. Did you or Dad ever consider my future? Even the path I found for myself was blocked by you. Why am I your daughter?"
Zhang Baoxiang hadn’t expected her daughter to harbor such deep resentment. "Wenjuan, don’t be . Mom has thought it through. If you don’t have a job, we can arrange a blind date. Yes, Mom will go to your grandfather right away and ask him to talk to your great-uncle. You’ve always wanted to join the army’s cultural troupe, haven’t you? We’ll find you a military officer, and then Wen Yue and Wenhui will be so envious and jealous of you."
Ye Wenjuan turned and went back into her room, slamming the door shut with a BANG.
The sound startled Zhang Baoxiang. For a long while, she couldn’t figure out what she had said wrong to upset her eldest daughter again. Discover more novels at NoveI[F]ire.net
Ye Wenjuan’s thoughts unwittingly turned to the man she yearned for, a sharp pain clenching her heart.
He didn’t like her. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t get any closer to him.
That was why she wanted to join the cultural troupe—to be closer to him. She hoped he would see she was different, hoped that one day his gaze would linger on her.