Chapter 4: The Reason for Partiality

“You’re an ungrateful wretch, a white-eyed wolf that can never be tamed. You never should have been kept here just because...” Mother Fu’s face flushed with anger as she jabbed at Fu Xiaoxiao’s head, but just as the words were about to escape, Fu Minghua cleared his throat, signaling her to stop.

“Because of what?” Fu Xiaoxiao immediately caught the flaw in Mother Fu’s words. By her implication, Fu Xiaoxiao was not their biological child, as if she had been brought home from somewhere else.

Mother Fu, held back by Fu Minghua, fell silent and turned coldly away from Fu Xiaoxiao.

“Say whatever you need to say today. If I truly am not a Fu, just say it plainly.” Most would let it pass, but Fu Xiaoxiao harbored no affection for this family. If she wasn’t truly theirs, it was best to clear the air now.

“You’re overthinking it. Your mother was just furious and spoke nonsense...” Fu Minghua tried to soothe the situation and took out two hundred yuan and some food coupons from the room, intending to hand them to Fu Xiaoxiao.

“What are you giving her? You’ve already given her money, so what will we eat afterward?” Mother Fu frowned at the large sum.

Turning to Fu Xiaoxiao and ignoring Fu Minghua’s protests, she rushed back to her room and threw an iron box at Fu Xiaoxiao.

“You’re right, you’re not my flesh and blood. You’re just someone else’s burden left at our house. Your mother dropped off two hundred yuan and ran away. We took you in out of pity! Now take your things and leave immediately. Don’t ever come back.” Mother Fu’s words stunned Fu Xiaoxiao, who glanced at Fu Minghua.

Seeing his wife had spoken out, Fu Minghua no longer hid the truth.

“That’s right. We feel we’ve done our duty over the years, never shorting you on food or clothing. Now that you’re grown, it’s better to be clear.” Fu Minghua slowly said, taking back the two hundred yuan from Mother Fu and placing it in Fu Xiaoxiao’s hand.

Mother Fu was about to lose her temper, but Fu Minghua shot her a sharp glance, silencing her.

“Your birth mother gave us two hundred yuan back then. Now we return it to you. Let’s call it even.” Fu Minghua’s shameless words made Fu Xiaoxiao smile bitterly.

Two hundred yuan eighteen years ago is hardly the same as two hundred yuan now.

“Fine! From now on, we’re done. Bridges are bridges, roads are roads.” Fu Xiaoxiao agreed, taking the money and food coupons.

A pang of pain struck her chest — surely the original owner’s feelings. No wonder she never had a place in this family. Not being their biological child explained everything.

Hearing Fu Xiaoxiao accept the situation without a fuss, the Fu family breathed a sigh of relief.

Fu Xiaoxiao glanced once more at the home she had lived in for twenty years, picked up her meager belongings and iron box, and without a trace of attachment, stepped out the door.

“Dad, Mom, finally the burden is gone...” Fu Xiaocui’s triumphant laughter echoed from inside the house.

As Fu Xiaoxiao exited, she saw two men standing at the doorway.

One was Lu Feng; the other...

Fu Xiaojun looked at Fu Xiaoxiao with a complicated expression.

“Brother.” Fu Xiaoxiao greeted him calmly.

In this family, only Fu Xiaojun treated her well.

“When you get to the countryside, write to me if anything comes up.” Fu Xiaojun pulled two hundred yuan from his pocket and slipped it into Fu Xiaoxiao’s.

Fu Xiaoxiao looked at him and gently stopped the gesture, shaking her head. “No need. I can’t take your money.”

They were not truly family; she had no reason to accept his help.

Fu Xiaojun pressed his lips, opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out.

He didn’t know what to say to comfort his sister, so he quietly went inside.

The narrow corridor in the old apartment blocked Lu Feng from entering; Fu Xiaojun stood in front of the Fu family door, blocking his path.

Lu Feng, unable to pass, stood outside and listened to everything. When his eyes met Fu Xiaoxiao’s, the gift in his hand suddenly felt like a hot coal.

He no longer wanted to give it to the Fu family.

“Let’s go.” Fu Xiaoxiao was the first to speak, motioning for Lu Feng to head downstairs.

“...Okay.” Lu Feng looked at her, then turned and carried the items downstairs. Fu Xiaoxiao followed behind with her scanty clothes.

The aunties outside the apartment watched curiously as Lu Feng carried things up, then back down, with Fu Xiaoxiao trailing behind.

Fu Xiaoxiao ignored their stares and quietly left the cold place with Lu Feng.

Lu Feng roughly understood why Fu Xiaoxiao was so eager to marry. With a family like that, marriage was the best escape.

He took Fu Xiaoxiao to a guesthouse and booked a room for her. The staff, seeing Lu Feng’s marriage application with Fu Xiaoxiao, allowed them to stay together.

“Sorry for making you see such a scene,” Fu Xiaoxiao said upon entering the room.

“No need to apologize.” Lu Feng pressed his lips. He had planned to bring these gifts to her parents, but now it seemed better to use the money to buy her more clothes.

With so few clothes, she’d freeze at the military camp.

“You rest for a bit. I’ll go return these things.” Lu Feng studied Fu Xiaoxiao for a moment, then left with the items.

Fu Xiaoxiao looked at her pitiful luggage, feeling nothing but disdain for the Fu family, pitying the original owner.

She was like a burden to them, and now that she was cast off to the countryside, the burden was gone.

Lu Feng returned all the luxury gifts and went to the women’s clothing section.

“I’ll take these two sets,” he said, looking at two outfits. Judging by Fu Xiaoxiao’s size, they would fit.

He promptly paid with fabric coupons and cash, then bought her two boxes of snow cream, shoes, new cotton quilts, a basin, towels, toothbrushes—anything he could think of.

Fu Xiaoxiao blinked in surprise at the bags and bundles Lu Feng was carrying.

“Did you rob the mall? So many things!”

Lu Feng chuckled.

“These are all for you. I returned what I bought for your parents. Better to spend the money on you.”

His words warmed Fu Xiaoxiao’s heart.

She never expected to find warmth from a stranger in this world.

“Thank you,” Fu Xiaoxiao said sincerely. She would raise his two children well.

“I’ve already sent in the marriage report. They’re expediting it. Tomorrow, you come back to the base with me. Don’t worry; you married me, so I’m your support now. You can count on me for everything.” Lu Feng looked at Fu Xiaoxiao. Though he couldn’t give her a normal marriage, he would protect her and never let others bully her.

Fu Xiaoxiao smiled and nodded.

Apart from not being able to offer a conventional marriage, Lu Feng was indeed a reliable and steady man to trust.

After putting down the things, Lu Feng left the guesthouse. As he stepped outside, his expression darkened.

The Fu family truly were despicable.