Chapter 54: Such Resentment

“It’s more than just a temper; compared to before, she’s practically a different person.”

The second brother popped a peanut into his mouth and remarked with a sigh,

“Back then, when Mom and Dad were busy, sometimes we wouldn't even see them all day. We never thought their relationship was that deep. I didn't expect Dad's passing to hit Mom so hard that her whole personality would change so drastically.”

Hearing this, the eldest brother frowned and pondered for a moment. Aside from that, there didn't seem to be any other reason.

“That may be true, but Mom can't keep going on like this, can she? If she keeps acting out like this, our family is going to fall apart. Look at her now—it’s nothing but hitting and cursing; you can't even have a normal conversation with her.

At this age, seeing people come and go is perfectly normal. I haven't seen anyone making such a life-and-death scene. Why is it that when it happens to our Mom, she just can't accept it?”

“Because they were close, I guess,” the second brother replied casually, taking a swig of wine. Aside from affection, what else could it be?

The eldest brother froze, then picked up his glass and gulped it down, choking and coughing.

“Hey, slow down. You're an educated man, at least take small sips,” the second brother said with a look of disapproval. Drinking with someone who didn't know how to savor it was a pure waste.

“It’s fine. My heart is heavy today; it’s better if I drink until I’m numb.”

Zhang Jianguo wiped his mouth, refilled his cup, and downed it again.

Was his parents' relationship good?

He didn't think so. Since they married and had them children, they had lived on the brink of starvation every day, both of them constantly busy just to scrape together a meal.

In his mind, Dad had always been the one who sacrificed the most for the family. His memory was of Dad working from dawn till dusk without rest, rarely even having time to sit down for a conversation.

Even so, life at home remained tight.

Though Mom was also busy with housework, she was constantly nagging about this or complaining about that. She would talk about how hard they worked and how difficult things were; hearing it so often became inexplicably irritating.

As parents, raising children was a natural duty. Wasn't he also wholeheartedly raising his own son and daughter now?

What was there to complain about?

Ultimately, one had to be capable and educated to provide for a family. You couldn't get rich by relying on brute force alone.

This was why he had gritted his teeth to take the college entrance exam. He didn't want to be like his parents—a common worker for life, trading physical strength for a few dozen yuan.

He read the newspapers every day and noticed that among those whose cases were overturned, nine out of ten were scholars who were immediately appointed to important positions.

He wanted to be among the elite, to contribute to the new society. Therefore, when the college entrance exams were reinstated, he was the first to sign up. He studied day and night and finally realized his ambition, becoming part of the first batch of university students.

He brought honor to the family and became the pride of his parents; even a large red flower was hung at the entrance of the residential compound in his honor.

After graduating from university, because of his excellent writing, he was directly assigned to the evening newspaper as an editor. Within just six months, he was enjoying the benefits of company housing.

At the end of the year, his department director was due to retire. If everything went according to plan, even if he didn't get the top position, the deputy position would surely fall to him.

Thus, he intended to devote himself entirely to his work during this period and didn't want anyone to interfere.

Yet, the more he tried to focus, the more chaos erupted at home.

His wife complained every day that no one was cooking or doing laundry for the children. His mother, on the other hand, refused to intervene and wouldn't even let the subject be mentioned, which left him incredibly frustrated.

If he missed this opportunity, there was no telling when the next one would come.

The more Zhang Jianguo thought about it, the more depressed he felt. He slammed his wine cup onto the table and glared at his younger brother.

“Tell me, why is Mom so different from other people's parents? Other parents do everything they can to lighten their children's burdens. Look at our Mom—she won't stop until she's torn this family apart.

I just don't understand. Dad's passing is a fact; it can't be changed. Why can't she look forward? She makes such a scene every day that the house is never at peace—does she think Dad is coming back?

If you ask me, Mom's feelings for Dad were just average. She just can't bear to lose Dad's labor. He was the one bringing in two salaries and taking on side jobs in his spare time.

It's a good thing Dad was capable; otherwise, we siblings might not have even survived.”

As Zhang Jianguo spoke, he downed another cup, his eyes turning red.

“Look at my family—it's about to be ruined by Mom. My sister-in-law has taken the kids to live at her parents' house, and I've been lectured by my in-laws. They said that as a grown man and the eldest son, I can't even protect my own wife and children.

This is the first time someone has pointed a finger at my nose and scolded me. I'm so ashamed I want to find a hole to crawl into. But the culprit behind all this is our own mother, and I can't even do anything to her.”

The second brother was astonished by the resentment and anger in his brother's words.

So, his brother actually held such deep grievances against their mother?

“Brother, you're drunk.”

“I'm not drunk. I'm more sober right now than I've ever been. Mom wants me to pay her back—to pay her for all those years of 'hardship' and for the food and drink the kids consumed. Isn't that ridiculous?

A biological mother wants to settle accounts with her son? If people heard that, wouldn't they laugh their heads off? The ancients said that if parents love their children, they plan for their long-term future. But look at what Mom is doing! If she weren't the same person, I'd suspect she had been swapped for someone else.”

In his fury, Zhang Jianguo slammed his fist on the dining table, causing the wine in his cup to spill over.

The second brother popped a peanut into his mouth and chewed. Looking at his brother's bloodshot eyes, his expression was unreadable.

In his memory, his brother was a good student. Even during the years when education was neglected, it hadn't had much impact. During those years of loud slogans, his brother had followed the times and gone to the countryside for labor; their parents had used their connections to send him to a rural area in the suburbs.

Because it was close, his parents would send supplies every few days, always in large bundles, terrified he would go hungry.

This resulted in a situation where while others were in the fields sweating under the sun with hoes, his brother was often lying on a hillside, leisurely reading a book.

When the policies loosened, his parents used their connections to bring him back to the city. His time as a "sent-down youth" had been quite superficial.

After returning, his brother didn't rush into a job. Instead, he began collecting materials and studying, saying that policies could change at any time and he had to be prepared.

Even though there were no signs of change, his brother buried himself in books all day. At the time, the second brother thought he was just being lazy, but their parents supported him wholeheartedly without a single word of opposition.

When the news of the restored college entrance exams broke, his brother was the first to sign up. After that, aside from eating and sleeping, he was entirely immersed in his books.

As it turned out, he actually passed. The whole family was practically ready to celebrate with gongs and drums.

For the next four years, aside from coming home during summer and winter breaks to be with his sister-in-law, he was at school until graduation. During that time, whenever his sister-in-law had time, she would visit.

Both of his brother's children were raised by their grandmother, to the point where his wife didn't even want to come home during her postpartum recovery period, claiming the two children were too rowdy.

(End of Chapter)