Zhou Shaowei felt a headache coming on just listening to everything being said.
His wife, Sun Yun, stepped forward. “Second Sister, since you’re talking about compensating Big Sister, we should settle our matter as well.”
Zhou Xiangping froze. “What matter do we have?”
Sun Yun widened her eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re going back on your word? When our parents passed away, you promised in front of everyone that you would support your nephew through college. He’s only in his first year of high school now, and you already want to stop? How are Mom and Dad supposed to rest in peace?”
Zhou Xiangping was stunned. “I… I’ve been paying for his tuition and living expenses all these years. It’s not even next semester yet—what money are you asking for now?”
Sun Yun didn’t bother with small talk. “Second Sister, I’m a straightforward person. I don’t like beating around the bush, so I’ll just say it. Xiaoliang’s divorce has already blown up because of you—even ending up in court. You’ve fallen out with everyone, and no one is going to give you money anymore. So I want you to pay all my son’s education expenses in one go. That way, there won’t be any trouble later, and we won’t end up with nothing.”
Zhou Xiangping looked at her younger brother, who used to be warm and respectful toward her, then at her sister-in-law, now confidently demanding money. “That’s your son. Why should I raise him?”
“Second Sister, that’s not right,” Sun Yun said with a cold laugh. “You made that promise in front of the dead—your words should count. If you hadn’t promised to support his education, we wouldn’t have sent him to a private high school in the city. I wouldn’t have stayed home to take care of him either—I would’ve gone out to work and earn money long ago. My losses should be your responsibility.”
Zhou Shaowei nodded. “Exactly, Second Sister. It’s not that much—thirty thousand a year. Two more years of high school plus four years of college, that’s six years in total, one hundred eighty thousand. Just pay it all at once, and we won’t bother you again.”
At that moment, Zhou Xiangping felt completely hopeless. The family that once seemed warm and united now looked like a pack of monsters, mouths wide open, ready to swallow her whole—the kind that wouldn’t even leave bones behind.
She dropped to the ground, arms spread wide. “I don’t have any money. Just this worthless life. If you want it, then beat me to death.”
When their parents passed away one after another, the only people they worried about were their son and grandson. They gave all their savings to them and, even in their final moments, held their daughters’ hands, urging them again and again to support their younger brother and nephew.
Back then, Zhou Xiangping had looked at her older sister, Zhou Xianglian, who only cried without saying a word. She thought her sister was too grief-stricken to speak, so she quickly agreed.
She never expected that Zhou Xianglian had never truly agreed at all.
Only she had taken their parents’ words to heart, allowing her brother’s family to drain her all these years. Meanwhile, Zhou Xianglian raised her own children well. They had stable, good lives—her son settled in the city, got married, and had children; her daughter married into a wealthy family and gave birth to two sons. She truly had a blessed life.
And yet, even someone like her had taken a considerable amount of money from Zhou Xiangping.
The more Zhou Xiangping thought about it, the more she laughed. “Hahaha, Zhou Xianglian, you’re selfish. You didn’t even honor our parents’ last wishes—you only cared about yourself. Heaven sees everything. That’s why the punishment fell on Duan Zhibin. Hahaha! His good job, his high income—all gone! Just wait, your daughter is next!”
Zhou Xianglian stepped forward and slapped her hard across the face. “This isn’t over!”
Zhou Shaowei and Sun Yun exchanged a glance. They both knew that getting money today was no longer realistic—but their hearts had already turned ruthless.
If there’s a way to settle things when you have money, there’s also a way when you don’t.
Zhou Xianglian and Zhou Shaowei kicked open Zhang Jun’s front door. Lin Jiajia clutched her son and shrank into the corner. “W-what are you doing?”
Zhou Shaowei said nothing. He glanced around the living room, filled with belongings, then took out his phone and called people over.
Not to be outdone, Zhou Xianglian immediately called her husband and told him to bring a truck.
Everything that had been moved out of Zhang Liang’s house was taken away by Zhou Xianglian and Zhou Shaowei’s people. Even valuable items that originally belonged to Zhang Jun’s household—like the TV, refrigerator, and computer—were removed.
And that wasn’t all. They also took over three old houses in their hometown and several acres of land that belonged to Zhou Xianglian’s family.
Shaking all over, Lin Jiajia called Zhang Jun. But by the time he returned, it was already too late.
Zhou Xiangping cried and wailed, trying to gain her son’s sympathy, hoping he would stand up for her. Lin Jiajia nudged Cola, urging him to cling to his father’s leg and cry.
“Jun, Mom keeps making promises outside, giving away Xiaoliang’s money to your aunt and uncle. She never thinks about her own family. Now even our money is gone—how are we supposed to live like this?”
Zhou Xiangping tried to hit Lin Jiajia while crying, but Zhang Jun pushed her away. “Mom, have you had enough? If you hadn’t hit Zhao Panpan and forced her into divorce, we wouldn’t be in this mess! Because of that incident—even the police got involved—we lost the case. The lawyer used the police report to prove domestic violence. You’re both foolish and cruel!”
Zhou Xiangping stared at her eldest son, who had always been on her side. Without Zhao Panpan in the house, how had everything become so unfamiliar?
The anger Zhang Jun had been holding in for days finally erupted. “What are you still making a scene for in my house? Do you want to push me into divorce too? Do you want me to lose my wife and child as well? How did I end up with a mother like you?”
Zhou Xianglian was driven out of the house by Zhang Jun.
She had no money and nowhere to go. She couldn’t stay with her eldest son, her younger son had no home, her own family had turned against her, and even her sisters were full of schemes.
She hadn’t even managed to keep the three old houses her late husband left behind.
Only then did she realize—she truly had nowhere left to go.
When a once happy family suddenly falls apart, it’s usually because the one who has always been at a disadvantage finally refuses to keep losing.
Zhou Xiangping used to be that person. Then Zhao Panpan came along and took her place.
Zhao Panpan could earn money, had a gentle nature, and loved Zhang Liang. Because of that love, she was willing to tolerate things and take losses here and there, as long as the family remained harmonious.
Now that Zhao Panpan was no longer willing to be taken advantage of, she left. And just like that, everyone turned their anger toward Zhou Xiangping.
Zhou Xiangping didn’t have the ability to hold everyone together, so she became like a ball, kicked around from all sides.
As long as she had money, people still treated her with some respect.
Without money, she lost her last bit of value.
Being driven out by her own son—it was only a matter of time.
Zhou Xiangping stood by the small river flowing under the bridge, a new determination in her eyes.
“As long as I have money, they’ll treat me like before.”
“When I have money, Xiaojun will respect me again, and Lin Jiajia will have to serve me!”
“When I have money, Shaowei and Sun Yun will respect me, and Big Sister will apologize to me!”
“Yes… I’ll go earn money. I’ll earn a lot of money—so much that they’ll all look at me differently!”