Chapter 85 - 85: The End of Affection

Translator: 549690339

“Ten years, living in that rotten thatched hut for ten years, with our family starving yet not dying, and frequently facing insult and abuse. That’s all 1 saw.” Qiao Xiaomai spoke, her eyes narrowing into a resentful glare as she directed them at Sun Junyan.

Yes, even though it was not her who lived in that body for the past ten years, the memories of the original owner’s painful days now sparked rage in her heart.

The flame grew more potent, eventually transforming into hatred.

“We’re feeding our uncle’s schooling with our family’s blood and sweat. If you wish to support him, go ahead, but I, Qiao Xiaomai, refuse. Look at your legs, think of our mother, and tell me how many peaceful days have we lived before you softened and thought about helping our uncle?”

“He wouldn’t be unable to study just because of this six hundred wen. He could save it easily by dressing in fewer silk clothes and entertaining his schoolmates less.”

She did not bother to hide the resentment in her tone, her face also adorned with a look of anger.

Qiao Changshun was taken aback.

He opened his mouth, attempting to say something. However, the scenes of the past ten years that kept flashing in his mind couldn’t lend any support to his faltering words.

He raised his hand to rub his face, then closed his mouth again.

He had no rebuttal to what Qiao Xiaomai had said.

“You insolent child, is this how you talk to your father?!” Seeing how begrudgingly lenient Qiao Changshun was and how easily he was persuaded by Qiao Xiaomai, Sun’s fury reignited, and she wanted to lash out again.

“No matter what I say, from now on, 1 will only contribute fifty wen per month.” Qiao Xiaomai switched her gaze to Sun Junyan, her burning anger instantly shifting to a cold smirk. “Uncle, you’ve been living off our family’s blood for ten years, dressed comfortably and eating delicately. Have you ever contemplated how this family of four is living?”

“It’s commendable that you’re ambitious and want to pass the Imperial Examination, but stepping on your older brother’s sacrifices to climb up? I’m really contemplating whether to ask your teacher in the academy if this was something they taught.”

Sun Junyan’s face darkened instantly, looking disgustingly hideous as if he had swallowed a dead rat. Qiao Xiaomai’s sharp and piercing words felt like a sword, ruthlessly stabbing him.

However, looking at Qiao Xiaomai, he sneered, “What can a country girl like you understand.”

Qiao Xiaomai chuckled, her smirk fading to disdain, “Yes, I don’t understand, but I know how to be a person. Even if you’ve shown the slightest kindness to my family, I wouldn’t have denied the fifty copper coins each month.”

“I’ve said before, this fifty wen is what I borrowed from you all. If I achieve anything in the future, I will return it, and repay you all.”

“Sure— who can’t say pretty words? I don’t look at what you’ve said; I only look at what you’ve done.” The disdain on Qiao Xiaomai’s face intensified, “Don’t think that just because you’ve read a few books, you can fool others. Nobody is a fool. If my parents showed no resistance before, it was because they truly cared about you as their brother and devotedly respected Grandma.”

“But you think they’re foolish and treat them recklessly. Uncle, our family’s feelings toward you have reached their limit.”

The affection, the respect, and the sentiment had long exhausted.

These words made Sun Junyan pressed his lips together, his face turning even grimmer.

There was a lump of anger in his chest that he couldn’t spit out or swallow.

Even though he knew that out of all his brothers, Qiao Changshun was the most honest and affectionate towards him, what use was mere affection?

He needed to study, sit for the Imperial Examination, and make a name for himself.

Each year, the Bailu Academy required tuition fees of ten taels of silver, an enormous amount for the Qiao Family. According to the inheritance agreement, Qiao Qinghe and Sun needed to give ten taels of silver sufficient to cover his expenses.

And that was only under his most frugal circumstances..