Chapter 296: Chapter 294: Persuasion, the Black Kid

“Ah, you look, you look, now you know to find your sister. When your sister first disappeared, I begged at your door, and you didn’t lift a finger! You heartless creature, how can you repay me for raising… giving birth to you and raising you?!”

Zhou Xiuying seemed crazy, cursing furiously, she raised her hand and slapped Wang Liansheng across the face—a sharp smack!

Wang Liansheng didn’t expect her to suddenly hit him, didn’t even have time to dodge, and took a solid slap.

He quietly watched the old woman in front of him, his face devoid of any emotion: “You have hit and scolded, yet I still have only one thing to say: I will help find Wang Lianxiang, but I can’t guarantee the results.”

“You heartless…” Zhou Xiuying wanted to raise her hand again, but was stopped by Qu Cui who rushed over and grabbed her.

Several strong women rushed up, along with Aunt Qu Cui, they pulled Zhou Xiuying away from Wang Liansheng, holding and dragging her back.

A hint of reluctance flashed in Wang Liansheng’s eyes, and he turned his head away: “Aunt, I’m sorry for troubling you.”

Qu Cui looked at Wang Liansheng’s swollen half of the face, as if she saw the little boy who was beaten due to his siblings again. He was clearly the most outstanding and smartest child at home but was not favored by his parents, often scolded and beaten, not given meals. Every time Qu Cui saw him, she’d bring him to her home, wash him, and make something for him to eat.

Qu Cui felt heartbroken, raising a hand to pat Wang Liansheng’s arm, reassuring him: “It’s getting late, you’d better hurry back. Don’t worry about home, we have your uncle here.”

When he was hit earlier it didn’t hurt much, but his aunt’s words suddenly brought a surge of sorrow to Wang Liansheng, his eyes reddening slightly as he nodded, turning around and striding away.

In the car, the driver noticed Wang Liansheng’s mood but didn’t say much, and Wang Liansheng wasn’t in the mood for a chat either. They traveled in silence back home, only near Huicheng did Wang Liansheng speak: “My sister was kidnapped, my mother is heartbroken and a bit confused.”

The driver nodded in understanding, comforting him: “Group leader Wang, try to be optimistic. Isn’t there a severe crackdown on crime now? We’ll definitely find your sister, and then the old lady will naturally be okay.”

Wang Liansheng nodded without saying much.

What could he say, could he say his mother treated him well as a child?

To tell others, it seems that having his parents supply and educate him was already very good. Even Wang Liansheng himself couldn’t understand why, despite his parents’ dislike for him, they still provided for his education. Was it just because he had a good brain and was material for study?

This question troubled him for a long time, impossible to figure out.

And precisely because of this, even though his parents treated him poorly, he was initially willing to be filial to them. Even after his reversal and learning about the troubles, he still acknowledged those parents.

Every time he sent festival gifts to his uncle’s house, they were particularly generous. His uncle and aunt never clarified it, but each time they would give a portion to the second family, considering it fulfilled his filial piety.

But why?

Wang Lianhua sold Wang Lianxiang, the evidence was conclusive, and she was sentenced. How come the old lady only blamed him? As if he was the source of all misfortune.

He couldn’t understand, but he didn’t want to show it in front of the children.

Before reaching home, Wang Liansheng adjusted his mood, happily bringing back specialties given by his great uncle and aunt.

His sister-in-law was cooking in the kitchen and greeted with a smile: “Liansheng, you’re back?”

“Yes!” Wang Liansheng managed to respond and was immediately surrounded by a group of children.

Seeing the brothers Hong Ming and Hong Liang, Wang Liansheng remembered that it was Saturday, and his second brother’s three boys were also here. A big group of kids, boys and girls, seven or eight of them, calling him dad, fourth uncle, brother-in-law… It was as lively as entering Huaguo Mountain.

Wang Liansheng, enfolded into the house by the children, handed out fried peanuts and sweet potato snacks to them for self-distribution, thus escaping from the overly enthusiastic children.

Xiaoyu and Hongling helped bring other things to the kitchen or storeroom, while Wang Liansheng washed his hands, changed his outer coat, and went into the kitchen to help with dinner preparation.

“When is big brother coming over?” Wang Liansheng asked.

“Your big brother can’t come, he has an indoor decoration job, and he has to go for a meal with them. He said getting that job means there’s no need to idle between the end of the year and the thawing period after the new year.” His sister-in-law said as she busily placed dishes into bowls, her face brimming with joy.

In Huicheng, winter freeze lasts almost three months, and construction sites outside cannot operate once frozen; they can only pause until spring. Indoor decoration doesn’t have this limitation. So, getting an indoor job means the team of old buddies has work and can earn more for a prosperous year.

The steaming kitchen, with dim lights, his sister-in-law busy cooking missed noticing the marks on Wang Liansheng’s face until they entered the main room. Only under the big lights did she discover her child’s fourth uncle’s face seemed somewhat swollen.

She thought she was seeing things, made no noise, and scrutinized carefully before confirming his face indeed wasn’t right.

Zhao Erni, seeming carefree but actually keenly perceptive, said nothing after noticing something amiss and waited for her husband to return, quietly telling Wang Lianqi.

By the time Wang Lianqi came back, the marks on Wang Liansheng’s face were no longer noticeable, and he didn’t mention it in front of the kids to avoid ruining the atmosphere.

However, the next day, he specifically rode his motorcycle back and then learned the whole story from his parents.

He immediately got angry, stood up, and walked away. Wang Futang and Qu Cui tried to stop him but couldn’t.

In recent years, out leading a construction team, Wang Lianqi had seen many leaders and experienced numerous situation, giving him different composure and insight.

He didn’t go to quarrel with Second Aunt, but directly found Second Uncle, confronted him outside at the main gate, and spoke off the record: “Do you still see Liansheng as a child? He’s now someone who directly reports to senior leaders in the district, clearly on a path for further promotion to department-level cadre. Are you trying to give him a bad name by letting Second Aunt do that?

And what does this matter have to do with Liansheng anyway? Wasn’t it all Lianhua’s doing? If you hadn’t let Lianxiang go along with you, would this have happened? This commotion you’re causing, what does it serve apart from estranging Liansheng more from you? Don’t you want to consider your later years? When you’re old and immobile, bedridden and hospitalized, and you depend on these few at home? Hmph, depending on them, if you’re sick, it’s probably just waiting for death, maybe not even a mouthful of food.”

“I don’t rely on these few, you mean that dark-skinned kid?” Wang Guizhang suddenly muttered a bit, but his voice was too low to be clearly heard by Wang Lianqi.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep