Chapter 59: Let It Go, Xiaobao Version

No matter how stubborn someone might be, is there really anyone in this world who doesn’t yearn to be loved?

Whether poor or wealthy, beautiful or plain, smart or simple-minded, being loved is itself a kind of uplifting force that can transcend boundaries and barriers.

Love is an all-powerful aura—it pierces through every societal rule, allowing even someone who seems worthless to enjoy a sense of self-contained happiness.

And the most primal, unconditional love one can receive—doesn’t it come from family?

As long as one can still feel their parents’ love, they will always have a deep-seated confidence to face the world. Things may not be perfect, but they won’t fall apart entirely.

Cheng Simin had once consoled herself with this thought. She was her parents’ child, and no matter what happened, her parents must still love her.

If they hadn’t prioritized her needs while she was growing up, it was because they had their own way of living. If they hadn’t invested much in her education, it was because they didn’t understand how crucial the college entrance exam was for a child’s future.

Even when they belittled her, using guilt and threats to control her, it was because they themselves were raised under similar oppressive conditions—they didn’t know better ways to express love, like encouragement or affirmation.

It didn’t matter if they favored her younger sister more. After all, she was the older one; she’d already monopolized their affection for the first decade or so—that was enough.

What difference did favoritism make? Blood ties wouldn’t harm her.

As long as she didn’t dwell on negativity, she could still claim some satisfaction—she was still a child cherished by her parents.

So Cheng Simin refrained from voicing those obvious, hurtful accusations. She didn’t ask Chen Xiaofen whether arranging these blind dates was about securing the shop’s future livelihood. She also didn’t question which mattered more to Chen Xiaofen—her daughter’s happiness or something else.

Instead, Cheng Simin simply refused to continue chatting casually. With firm resolve, she said, “I’m not meeting them,” and stood up to push Chen Xiaofen out of the bedroom.

But Chen Xiaofen lingered, holding onto the photos, clearly surprised that Cheng Simin would refuse.

“Why not meet? Are you too picky? None of them good enough for you?”

“The first guy might not be tall, but the second young man looks great—he’s just a bit darker-skinned, which is healthy. Or are you picky about education? These days, everyone has a degree—it’s not worth much. A diploma doesn’t mean he’ll earn more than him.”

Here it came again—that feeling that even her parents thought she wasn’t worthy. Cheng Simin grew infuriated, regretting her momentary softness in coming home early for the New Year. She shouldn’t have deluded herself into thinking her mother would rely on her strength.

Yanking Chen Xiaofen off the bed, she sneered bitterly: “How can you praise such people? One is barely five feet tall, and the other dropped out after middle school. You’re introducing me to rejects! So what if there are lots of college graduates? Degrees losing value doesn’t change anything—I worked my ass off to get into X University, a 211 school!”

“Countless people dream of getting in but can’t.”

“Do you think I went to university just to marry dwarfs and illiterates?”

The angrier Cheng Simin became, the louder she shouted, defiantly flaunting her achievements. Her parents looked down on her, but she insisted on plastering gold medals across her face.

“Do you even know what I do in Jicheng? I work at a listed company with limitless prospects! In a few years, I’ll be earning hundreds of thousands annually. Why are you setting me up with losers?”

“And don’t forget—I’m still young. I’m not considering blind dates at all. But if I were, I’d choose talented individuals who could build a life with me in big cities. Do you think I’d return to this dump? Stay here and arrange jobs for me? Am I supposed to leave Jicheng and come back to the village to marry and raise kids? Do you think I’ve lost my mind?”

Her stomach empty, Cheng Simin unleashed a torrent of words. Chen Xiaofen stared at her, stunned. Finally, she asked anxiously, “You’re not planning to come back?”

“Nope. Not coming back.”

“But… didn’t you say your job was exhausting, that people treated you poorly? And that housing prices were outrageous—your annual salary couldn’t even buy a toilet in those places.”

“I thought… I thought you’d save some money over a few years and then return… Banshan is your hometown, our roots…”

Rebellion surged within Cheng Simin. She hated her mother so much her teeth itched. Deliberately opposing her, she snapped: “I was just saying things offhandedly—you actually believed me! What home? ‘A noble family stays rooted, while the poor wander.’ Any place where I can make money is my home!”

Just as Cheng Simin opened the door, little Xiaobao, who had been eavesdropping outside, hopped away on one foot and ran back to the sofa. Meanwhile, Cheng Wei emerged from the bathroom, reaching into the cardboard box for a bottle of baijiu. Glancing at Cheng Simin and Chen Xiaofen inside the room, he awkwardly withdrew his hand.

Pretending nothing was amiss, he opened the fridge instead, took out a plate of lamb liver, and returned to the TV. Chewing loudly, he forced a conciliatory smile toward his wife. “What are you two talking about, closing the door like that?”

“Nothing important. Just the blind date thing. Minmin says she’s feeling unwell—we should tell the matchmaker to postpone until after the New Year.” Chen Xiaofen stepped out of her daughter’s room, pinching Cheng Simin’s arm as she passed, signaling her to play along with the lie.

Cheng Wei snorted dismissively, turning back to the TV. “She’s being overly dramatic. What’s wrong with her? Acting like she’s so precious. Tomorrow, she should go meet the matchmaker immediately. After the New Year? Does she think the suitor will wait around forever? Miss this chance, and it’s gone.”

With that, Cheng Wei glanced disdainfully at Cheng Simin’s bare face and quilted pajamas. He commanded sharply: “Tomorrow, put on some makeup, wear lipstick, and dress nicely. Look at yourself—no femininity at all. Even village women dress better than you.”

How ironic it was to hear Cheng Wei talk about makeup, lipstick, and dresses. Throughout his life, he’d never paid attention to Cheng Simin’s details—what grade she was in, her birthday, whether her hair was long or short—he always forgot.

Yet now, his tone carried authority, reminiscent of when he used to instruct Cheng Simin and Chen Xiaofen to prepare vegetables for sale.

Only this time, Cheng Simin had become the vegetable bundle.

Her lips felt glued shut, requiring immense effort to pry open. When she spoke, the taste of blood filled her mouth.

“I’m not unwell. I just refuse to go on blind dates for the sake of your lousy shop.”

“What did you say?”

“You heard me. I warned you earlier—buying property without ownership rights would cause problems. Since you decided to buy it, you need to accept the worst-case scenario. Don’t treat me like a dish to serve. Don’t even think about it! Even if I met these two guys, I’d tell them not to help you!”

“Are you fucking insane? This isn’t just about you—it’s about the whole family! If you fail out there, you’ll still come crawling back to us for support.”

Cheng Wei stormed toward the bedroom, pointing angrily at Cheng Simin. Chen Xiaofen blocked the doorway, fearing escalation. She waved frantically at Cheng Simin, signaling her to stay quiet, while addressing her husband: “We’re a family. Don’t take it too seriously. Minmin gets carsick, and she’s probably running a fever, talking nonsense. Just ignore her provocations.”

Cheng Wei stared at the patch of missing hair on Chen Xiaofen’s scalp, guilt flickering briefly in his eyes. Huffing heavily through his nostrils, he eventually sat back down on the couch, resuming his meal of lamb liver.

At this point, the ever-present listener, Cheng Jiabao (Xiaobao), chimed in.

Dressed in the Elsa princess dress Cheng Simin had bought her, wearing a plastic crown, she mimicked the animated character’s style, singing: “No fever, no fever, Sister isn’t sick.”

“Divorce him, divorce him, Sister told Mom to divorce you.”

After only two lines, Xiaobao noticed the three adults staring at her intently. Thrilled by the sudden spotlight, she climbed onto the sofa in her shoes, hopping gleefully. Like a performer basking in stage lights, she clapped her hands, twirled her skirt, and proudly declared to Cheng Wei: “Hmph! The three of us don’t want you anymore. Sister said she’ll take me to Jicheng for elementary school. We’ll live together—drink yourself silly alone. Drink yourself to death!”

For nearly a minute, the air froze. Aside from Xiaobao’s innocent babbling, the three adults stared wide-eyed, silent.

Cheng Wei was the first to speak. Strangely calm, perhaps due to shock, he didn’t explode in anger or turn red-faced as usual. Instead, he rose quietly, his expression dark and menacing. Ignoring Chen Xiaofen’s gaze, he walked straight to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of baijiu.

Twisting off the cap, he didn’t bother with a glass, taking a large swig directly from the bottle.

After wetting his throat, he returned to the couch, his eyes fixed unmoving on the TV. In a tone dripping with scorn and cruelty, he said: “Xiaobao is my biological daughter. What gives you the right to take her away? Your mother won’t follow you either, do you know why?”

Chen Xiaofen’s face paled dramatically. She shouted loudly: “Cheng Wei!”

But Cheng Wei was determined to punish both her and Cheng Simin. He wanted to crush these traitors utterly, so he pressed on, finishing his sentence.

“If I’d known raising you would amount to nothing, I never should’ve picked you up back then. You should’ve frozen to death in that cesspool.”

“We three are blood relatives—we belong together. You waltz into my house, trying to sow division. What exactly are you?”