Chapter 22: Little Sister, Mom and Dad Still Love Me

Xiang Yu managed to restrain herself, deciding not to cause a scene; besides, she had already eaten in the kitchen.

Xiang Di silently placed a piece of braised pork into her younger sister’s bowl, eating her own meal with a worried expression. Her sister had told her to wait until after dinner to speak, otherwise, she might go hungry. Sensing her older sister’s anxiety, Xiang Yu reciprocated by placing several helpings of vegetables into her bowl, signaling with her eyes that she needed to eat her fill to have the strength to push back later.

Once Xiang Fuqiang and Li Meilan set down their chopsticks, Xiang Yu called out to them, "Mom, Dad, we have something to tell you."

Xiang Yu then recounted everything she had learned after accidentally bumping into a classmate and her mother at the market that day—who happened to be from the same village as Liu Gang—leaving nothing out.

Xiang Fuqiang and Li Meilan were visibly shocked.

Li Meilan glared at Xiang Yu fiercely. "You wretched girl, is everything you said true?"

Xiang Yu nodded. "My sister is here, too; she heard it all."

Xiang Di nodded, tears welling in her eyes, her expression fragile and sorrowful.

Li Meilan slammed her heavy hand onto the table. "That damned matchmaker! How dare she deceive me by hiding the truth?"

Xiang Fuqiang’s face was dark, his voice low. "Call her."

Xiang Di was overjoyed. Under the table, she gripped her sister’s hand, looking at her with excitement. Her eyes seemed to say, "Look, sister, Mom and Dad still love me. They aren't objecting; they can’t bear the thought of marrying me off to a family like that."

Xiang Yu understood her gratitude and happiness, but without hearing her parents explicitly call off the engagement, she remained deeply guarded. She couldn’t believe her parents would break off the union based on this reason alone.

Xiang Fuqiang and his wife took turns berating the matchmaker over the phone, their expressions heated and filled with rage.

The matchmaker on the other end scrambled to apologize and deflect, "I had no idea! I’ll go verify this immediately and call you back in a moment."

Xiang Di remained agitated, wanting to express her gratitude and affection to her parents several times, but Xiang Yu held her back, repeatedly signaling her to stay calm and wait. Conversely, Xiang Yu’s own worries deepened. While her parents appeared to be constantly blaming the matchmaker and the Liu family for the deception, they showed little resolve when it came to actually calling off the engagement.

Twenty minutes later, the matchmaker called back. She spun a web of lies, claiming that most of what the parents had heard was false, and that the reason the Liu family’s son had reached this age without marrying was because he was single-mindedly focused on working to save money, which had delayed his marriage prospects. She only conceded the point about his age.

The matchmaker then piled on praise for Xiang Di, claiming that Liu Gang and his family were very fond of her and were willing to increase the bride price by twenty thousand yuan, insisting that Xiang Di was worth such a high price.

Xiang Fuqiang and his wife exchanged a glance, then excused themselves to another room to continue the call, away from their daughters.

Xiang Yu’s heart sank. Her greedy, selfish, and foolish parents.

Xiang Di was no longer as excited; she suddenly felt a chill. She grabbed her sister, looking at her with pleading eyes, desperate for some positive reassurance that things wouldn't turn out as she feared.

Xiang Yu quickly pulled her sister into the room they shared. In the dim corner, she spoke with icy calm, "With the Liu family raising the bride price, Mom and Dad will likely agree—they might even try to negotiate for more. If Liu Gang were truly innocent, the Liu family wouldn't so easily offer an extra twenty thousand; they would be doing everything they could to clear their name. The fact that they’re just trying to cover it up means it’s all true. Sister, you can’t count on Mom and Dad. You have to be brave yourself."

Xiang Di’s hands and feet went cold, a sense of despair washing over her. "How can I be brave? What can I even do?"

Xiang Yu lowered her voice. "Tomorrow at noon, when Mom and Dad are taking their nap, you run. Use a fertilizer bag to cover your luggage; if you run into anyone you know, tell them you’re going to town to have a quilt made and to buy sesame oil. Then, catch the three o'clock bus. Don't go back to the factory. Go to our provincial capital. Take buses all the way, because train tickets require an ID card. Once you arrive, find one of those street stalls that carve stamps and have them forge an ID card for you."

Xiang Di was stunned. "That’s illegal, isn't it? Won't I get arrested?"

Xiang Yu knew how timid her sister was, so she firmly gripped her hands. "No, not unless you use it for something illegal. If you only use it to find a place to stay and look for work, no one will bother you."

Xiang Di, deeply influenced by her sister’s resolve, nodded.

Xiang Yu continued, "If you’re tired, just make do by resting at a 24-hour KFC or McDonald’s. Don’t worry about the money—buy a little something to eat, and the staff won’t say anything. Because the fake ID will take time to get, you won’t be able to stay in reputable hotels. Once you have it, look for a job at a clothing counter in a large department store—a large, chain brand. Make sure you secure a position that offers a dormitory; it’s safer. Don't worry about the salary; even a probationary position is fine. After I finish my exams, I’ll make an excuse about working a summer job and come find you. That way, even if Mom and Dad call the police, they won’t be able to find you easily."

Given her sister’s appearance, there was no doubt she would be hired. Xiang Di marveled at how much her younger sister knew and how meticulous her thinking was.

"Xiang Di! Xiang Di!" Li Meilan called from outside.

Xiang Di jumped in fright, her heart racing with guilt.