"Got it! You go sleep quickly! So annoying." Anāan waved her hand impatiently.
"Alright! You should rest early too." Sheng Ning yawned and went back to her room to sleep.
Anāan sat alone on the sofa, her eyes dark as ink showing a trace of contemplation and confusion. She actually wanted to listen to her sisterās advice, even though she knew her sisterās words didnāt make sense and were not as clear as her own judgment. Yet she was willing to listen, perhaps because she had developed a habit of trust over time!
She pondered for a moment, never having considered recognizing the Hai Family or the Shen Family before. She felt her current situation was quite good; she had a father and family, so why should she acknowledge others?
Isnāt this just seeking trouble?
When she witnessed her motherās tragic death, she never thought of seeking out so-called family members.
The collapse of those memories over the years turned out to be the happiest period for her, even the thought of going to the town every day to sell bean sprouts, earning ten yuan a day, felt particularly joyful and fulfilling.
Now... she only felt dull and tasteless.
Anāan understood why her aunt could abandon everything in the city and willingly become an ordinary housewife in the countryside.
*****
The next day, some people couldnāt hold back any longer. The first to visit was Shen Ming, followed closely by Hai Shen. Sheng Ningās house was in the compound, and with so many visitors, the neighbors were nervously avoiding opening their doors carelessly.
"Auntie." Shen Ming respectfully bowed to Shen Luhua, "Grandfather asked me to invite you back."
Shen Luhua replied unhappily, "Where to? If Anāan doesnāt want to go back, why should I?"
"Grandfather said you canāt just use him and then discard him; such things donāt come cheap in this world." Shen Ming said bravely. Last night, the entire family, including uncles and cousins, was harshly reprimanded. He was lucky enough not to be scolded but got tasked with this unpleasant job.
Itās said that Auntie is revered as a deity in the family, and sheās the only one who dares challenge Grandfatherās absolute authority. Previously, he didnāt believe it, but now seeing it with his own eyes, sheās more than just a deity!
The very authoritative Grandfather is now compromised, isnāt he?
If they wanted to leave home, certainly the farther they rolled away the better, preferably never to return.
Shen Luhua sneered, "How did I use him? Speak clearly."
"I...I..." Shen Ming was being stared at by Anāan with her dark eyes, how could he dare mention the using part? He already regretted saying it just now. "Auntie, itās my fault, I misspoke, please donāt hold it against me."
"Iād be surprised if I didnāt hold it against you. Did you want to bully my eldest daughter when she first joined the General Union?" She wouldnāt let go of such a chance to settle accounts.
"No, no, really no."
"Really!" Shen Ming nodded his head like a chicken pecking at grains,
"If not, then go back!"
"Okay..." Shen Ming, after standing up, realized heād been played. His purpose was to invite Auntie and cousin back, not to admit mistakes.
"Auntie, cousin, you should come back with me. We are family; itās been so many years since weāve met. At least, letās have a meal together."
"Then we need someone else to come and ask; you wonāt do." Shen Luhua waved her hand, "Anāan just refused to go back with the old man, if we go back right after you come, wonāt it be disrespecting the old man?"
"Uh... seems reasonable."
"Right! So go back and let the proper person come."