Feng Chuxiao first ate, then continued to browse the department store, bought all the things she needed, and then went to Xinhua Bookstore.
She wanted to buy some textbooks and prepare for the National College Entrance Examination in two years. No matter the era, a diploma is important. Of course, if she couldn't pass, it wouldn't matter.
After browsing again until the afternoon, she returned to the Feng family and saw Feng Peng and Feng Likai sitting in the living room.
Seeing her return with bags of things, Feng Likai quickly went to help her, asking with concern, "Carrying so much, are you tired?"
"I'm okay."
Feng Chuxiao put down her things, poured herself a glass of water, and drank it in one gulp. Then she sat on the sofa to rest, waiting for Feng Peng to speak.
As expected, in less than two minutes, Feng Peng spoke, "Chuxiao, your mother said you took the money and went out. Where did you put that money? That's a large sum! You must not lose it."
Feng Chuxiao didn't even look at him, and said lightly, "You don't need to worry about the money. I've naturally put it in a very safe place."
"So you saved it? Where's the passbook? Let me see."
"See what? It has nothing to do with you anymore."
Ma Cuixiang became anxious, "You dead girl, where did you put the money? That's ten thousand yuan!"
"Don't care if it's ten thousand or one yuan, it has nothing to do with you. Where the money is is none of your business." Feng Chuxiao rolled her eyes at Ma Cuixiang.
Feng Likai understood from his parents' intentions that they still wanted the money from Chuxiao. He said impatiently, "Alright, stop talking about the money. You took the money in exchange for Chuxiao's hukou. The deal is done, so don't think about it anymore."
"You..." Ma Cuixiang glared at her eldest son, not understanding why this boy had changed so much, only siding with that broom star.
Feng Peng had no choice but to get to the main point, "Well, Chuxiao, the Educated Youth Office just came to our house. They require that one child from our family must go to the countryside. After much thought, it's most suitable for you to go. After all, you've done farm work and can endure hardship better than Ya."
Feng Chuxiao's gaze grew colder, and Feng Peng couldn't continue.
"Feng Peng, you brought me back from the countryside precisely to go to the countryside in place of Feng Liya, didn't you? Why pretend to be so noble? If you were straightforward, I wouldn't look down on you so much. But you want to put up a virtuous archway after being a prostitute. Should I thank you for that?"
Feng Chuxiao's words were indeed harsh and tore off Feng Peng's fig leaf. Feng Peng's face turned red, then ashen.
"You have no upbringing, how can you speak like that?" Ma Cuixiang scolded.
Feng Chuxiao immediately retorted, "I'm an orphan with no parents, isn't it normal for me to have no upbringing? You are so well-bred, yet you would make your own biological daughter go to the countryside in place of a fake, and do such a shameless thing."
"You broom star! Hurry up and get back to the countryside, and never come back in this life!"
"Don't worry, I won't return to this place, no matter where I go." Feng Chuxiao said lightly.
Then she looked at Feng Likai, "Eldest Brother, please help me draft a letter of severance of kinship, a letter to sever our blood relations. I want to sever ties with these two hypocritical, beastly people."
Feng Likai didn't move but asked seriously, "Chuxiao, this is not a small matter. Have you thought it through?"
Feng Chuxiao nodded. She could see that Feng Peng's social status was likely not low. The higher it was, the less she should be involved with them in the future. If these two were to shamelessly resort to emotional blackmail later, she would be affected by public opinion.
"What about me? You can't sever relations with me, right?" Feng Likai asked.
Feng Chuxiao waved her hand, "I won't sever ties with you. I'll sever ties with those two."
"Alright." Feng Likai no longer hesitated and immediately took out paper and a pen from the drawer.
Feng Peng had no objections. He was afraid that if Feng Chuxiao couldn't survive in the village and came back to pester them, especially since this dead girl wasn't one to suffer in silence.
As a reporter for a newspaper office with several years of writing experience, drafting a letter of severance of kinship was a piece of cake for Feng Likai.
Feng Chuxiao sat aside and watched, sighing at Feng Likai's beautiful handwriting and the rigorous wording of the content, "Eldest Brother, write two copies."
"Okay."
"Chuxiao, can you write your own name?" Feng Likai asked again.
"Of course I can!" Feng Chuxiao replied proudly, "Grandma in the cow shed taught me."
Feng Peng glanced at Feng Chuxiao, thinking she had some redeeming qualities. However, compared to Ya, it was a world of difference.
After all, Ya was raised by them with great care.
Feng Chuxiao took the two drafted letters of severance of kinship, signed her name with a flourish, and pressed her handprint. Then she pushed the letters to Feng Peng, "Sign them quickly."
Feng Peng signed his name without hesitation, had Ma Cuixiang sign as well, and they both pressed their handprints.
Feng Chuxiao kept one copy for herself and gave the other to Feng Likai, "Keep this one safe. You can even use it for publication in the newspaper."
Feng Likai took advantage of the paper and wrote an address for Feng Chuxiao, "This is my unit's address. Write to me when you have time."
This was acceptable. Feng Chuxiao casually put the address Feng Likai gave her into her space.
"Alright, I'm going upstairs to pack my luggage. Make dinner and don't forget to call me."
This time, Feng Chuxiao carried her newly bought items upstairs and began to pack her luggage in earnest.
Not long after she went upstairs, Feng Lichí returned.
He didn't put on a smiling face after entering the house, but awkwardly called out "Mom and Dad."
"Little Chi is back. It's so hot outside, are you thirsty? Come sit down and have some tea." Ma Cuixiang warmly greeted her second son.
She hadn't seen him for a few days and missed him quite a bit. She also knew why her son was angry, so now that he was back, she naturally had to be enthusiastic to ease their mother-son relationship.
"Okay." Feng Lichí was quite cooperative.
After drinking tea, he looked at Ma Cuixiang and asked, "I heard we have a new young girl in the family. Is she my biological sister?"
Before Ma Cuixiang could answer, Feng Likai spoke first, "Yes, Dad and I went to the countryside two days ago to bring her back. However, she's going to the countryside tomorrow, to go in place of Feng Liya."
Feng Lichí's expression changed several times in an instant. Finally, his eyes were filled with sarcasm. He looked at Feng Liya and said, "Where exactly are you so different? To make Mom and Dad abandon their own biological daughter for you, are you a monster?"
Feng Peng and Ma Cuixiang, who had been in a slightly better mood, looked displeased again after hearing Feng Liya's words. Did this youngest son care so much about Ya?
"Little Chi, you won't be going to the countryside either. From now on, get along well with Ya and don't cause any more conflicts over this matter, okay?" Feng Peng pleaded earnestly.
"You found a new scapegoat, so of course you don't need me anymore."
Feng Liya thought of the ten thousand yuan in Feng Chuxiao's hand. Her eyes darted, and she quickly said, "Second Brother, you don't know, Dad gave that... that Chuxiao ten thousand yuan, so she's not at a loss at all."