“Li Yonggang, you…”
The one who struck Liu Cheng was Li Yonggang, who had hurriedly requested leave from his unit and rushed back. He was also Li Wenjing’s Big Brother.
“Get the hell out of my house right now! Our Li family was blind to choose a piece of trash like you for Wenjing!”
Li Wenjing stepped forward too. “Liu Cheng, we grew up together. We’ve known each other for so many years. If you want to dump me and climb the social ladder, you could at least tell me clearly. Don’t put on this fake act—it’s pointless. If you’re still a man, then act like one. This cowardly behavior of yours, daring to do it but not own up to it, is disgusting. It makes me sick just looking at you!”
If it had been only Li Wenjing, Liu Cheng might have argued back a little. But now the rest of the Li family had heard him too, and he felt too ashamed to show his face. He could only tuck his tail between his legs and slink away.
“Jingjing, a man like Liu Cheng isn’t worth your tears or your heartache. He’s no good!”
“Big Brother, I’m not upset at all. Really. I should thank him for showing me what he’s really like so early.”
Li Yonggang gazed fondly at the Little Sister he had cherished since she was little. It was as if she had been forced to grow up overnight.
Unlike in her previous life, when she had been overwhelmed by fear and unease, Li Wenjing was calm this time. She slept especially well that night, too.
Early the next morning, Li Yonggang helped carry Li Wenjing’s luggage, preparing to see her off.
“Big Brother, wait!”
In front of the whole family, Li Wenjing opened her backpack and let them inspect everything inside.
“Dad, Mom, this is the last time I’ll call you that. It’s all clothes in here. Oh, and there’s also a photo of me with Big Brother, Second Brother, and Third Brother. I haven’t brought anything else. Of course, if you think I’m not allowed to take this photo either, I’ll take it out!”
Li Yonggang paid no attention to the looks on Li Jianguo and Wang Jinju’s faces. He shoved all the clothes Li Wenjing had taken out back into her backpack in one go, including the group photo.
“I’m in that photo, so my permission is enough. Keep it. You don’t need anyone else’s opinion!”
The front door opened. Li Yongsheng came in, supporting a girl, with Li Yongqiang following behind, carrying luggage.
“Yueyue, my poor child! You’ve suffered so much!”
Wang Jinju hadn’t even finished speaking before she rushed over to Li Yuerong and pulled her into a tight embrace, sobbing.
Li Yuerong hugged her back and gently comforted her.
It was a perfect display of what true mother-daughter love looked like.
Li Yonggang glanced at them, then tugged at Li Wenjing, who stood alone off to one side.
“Little Sister, let’s go. I’ll see you off!”
Li Wenjing looked at Li Yuerong. Li Yuerong happened to look over at the same moment, and their eyes met without warning. Xiaobai was perfectly calm. Good. So was Li Wenjing. She hoped the two of them would never cross paths again in this life!
“Mom, is that Older Sister Jingjing?”
Wang Jinju patted the back of Li Yuerong’s hand. “Yueyue, don’t concern yourself with anything else. You’ve been on the train for so long, you must be tired. Go upstairs and rest.”
“Mom is right. You have brothers, but no older sister—and certainly no Little Sister. As for me, I’m just someone the Li family threw out.”
Li Wenjing thought to herself, I hope we never meet again in this life.
She wouldn’t pursue what Li Yuerong had done to her in her previous life. She would consider it repayment for the sixteen years Li Jianguo and Wang Jinju had raised her.
She also hoped that Li Jianguo and Wang Jinju would live safe, healthy, and happy lives.
And her brothers…
All three of them had doted on her before. But now that she’d been driven out, only Big Brother had come to see her off. Second Brother and Third Brother only had eyes for their real Little Sister now…
…
Li Yonggang wanted to buy a ticket and personally escort Li Wenjing to the countryside in the Northeast.
But Li Wenjing refused. She was going back as an educated youth and only wanted Li Yonggang to see her as far as the train station.
Li Yonggang complained, baffled. “Can’t the Li family afford to support one Li Wenjing? Do they really have to send you off to the countryside?”
“Big Brother, this isn’t my home anymore. Mom and Dad have found Li Yuerong. Besides, Li Yuerong has always been in poor health. If something happens to her because of me, no one could take responsibility. It’s better for everyone if I leave!”
Li Yonggang said, “Little Sister, I’ve heard that life in the countryside is extremely hard. Lots of educated youths who go down to the countryside want to return to the city, but can’t.”
“You grew up in the city and have never done farm work. You won’t adapt easily! I don’t know what your biological parents are like, either. They got you registered as an educated youth. If they treat you well, then accept them. But if that family turns out to be no good, don’t acknowledge them. Stay far away. You’re an educated youth, and as long as you refuse to acknowledge them, they can’t do anything to you!”
Of the whole Li family, only Li Yonggang truly treated her as his Little Sister and thought about her future.
In her previous life, after she was sold into the mountains, Li Yonggang was the only one who eventually followed the clues and found her.
Though by then she had been reduced to her last breath, at least he had taken her body out of the mountains.
So Li Yonggang was still her Big Brother in this life.
“I understand, Big Brother. You don’t have to keep worrying about me. Besides, you should be looking after Li Yuerong now. She’s your real Little Sister, after all. I’m not.”
After saying that, Li Wenjing lowered her head sadly.
She had said it on purpose. Li Yuerong had always said things like that in her previous life, so Li Wenjing had learned a little of that white-lotus talk herself.
Even ordinary families grew attached to a kitten or puppy they raised. Why had Li Jianguo and Wang Jinju felt nothing for her?
Was it really just because she wasn’t related to them by blood?
“You silly girl, what nonsense are you talking about? I, Li Yonggang, don’t care whether we’re related by blood. All I know is that you, Li Wenjing, grew up with me as my little sister. If you’ve been my little sister for even one day, then you’ll be my little sister for the rest of my life!”
Li Wenjing’s eyes filled with tears. This time, she was genuinely touched. She wasn’t pretending.
“Big Brother, I’ll always acknowledge you as my brother, too. You’ll always be my Big Brother!”
Li Yonggang patted Li Wenjing’s head. He didn’t know what to say to comfort this Little Sister, so he said nothing more.
Before long, they arrived at the train station. Li Wenjing picked up her luggage and said to Li Yonggang, “Big Brother, go on back. I can manage on my own!”
“So you really don’t want me to take you all the way there?”
“Big Brother, you have your own responsibilities, and I’ve grown up. I have to learn to do things on my own, don’t I?”
She was afraid Big Brother would accompany her to the village where her biological parents lived. The conditions there were too poor; seeing them would upset him.