You Were Made to Be Cannon Fodder, but Ended Up a Winner in Life?

Chapter 15: Humble Love 15:

But the next second, the light in Zhang Ya’s eyes dimmed. The call wasn’t from Chen Nuo, as she had hoped, but from her family.

“Mom, what is it? If this is about 10,000 yuan, you’ll have to wait a few more days! Can’t you stop pestering me?!”

Struggling to get up from the ground, Zhang Ya redirected all her frustration at the security guards to Wang Fengxia, who had called.

Before she started dating Chen Nuo, Zhang Ya never dared to speak to Wang Fengxia like this—not out of respect, but out of fear. She had been beaten often since childhood. But ever since she got together with Chen Nuo, she became bolder because she knew her whole family depended on her.

So now, Zhang Ya’s tone was particularly harsh.

“Why are you speaking to me like this! I didn’t call you for that money,” Wang Fengxia said with a sour expression, but she restrained herself, remembering why the whole family was in the provincial capital. She thought about the 5-million-yuan city apartment, and her temper subsided.

“Then why are you calling me? Say it quickly. I’m busy!” Zhang Ya said impatiently.

“Your father, your brother, and I have arrived in the provincial capital. We’re at the train station entrance now. Come pick us up.” Wang Fengxia said directly.

Hearing this, Zhang Ya froze, nearly jumping out of her skin.

“Why are you here in the city?! Who told you to come?!”

Her face darkened. She had never wanted her family to come to the provincial capital because it would constantly remind her of her poor background.

“Why can’t we come? My daughter lives here, so I can come too! Get to the train station now!” Wang Fengxia hung up right after saying this, her face sour with anger.

“This daughter of mine is getting too full of herself! Just wait till I see her. I’ll beat some sense into her!” Wang Fengxia said, eyes blazing.

“Mom, don’t get angry. Remember why we’re here,” Zhang Xiaobao, her brother, said, pulling her arm to calm her. His own eyes flashed with a dark fire of anger.

Since the call had been on speaker, he had heard Zhang Ya’s dissatisfaction and disdain about their visit. As the spoiled child of the family, this made Zhang Xiaobao furious, though he managed to contain himself.

“Don’t worry, Mom knows. But your sister’s really gotten too big for her britches.” Wang Fengxia said, scowling.

“Fine, Mom, but don’t show it when she gets here. I still want us to get a few apartments from the city.” Zhang Xiaobao said. When he mentioned the apartments, his eyes lit up with greed and ambition.

Standing nearby, both Wang Fengxia and Zhang Laohan’s eyes mirrored the same greedy desire.

Each apartment was worth at least 5 million yuan. They could never earn that much money in a lifetime.

Even though Chen Nuo was a “fool” who had given them a lot over the years, getting 5 million would take ages.

“At the very least, we’ll demand seven or eight apartments. It’s a blessing for him to be with my daughter!” Zhang Laohan declared.

“Exactly! No fewer than seven or eight apartments! And the dowry must be huge. That fool’s family is clearly wealthy!” Wang Fengxia added, her greed showing plainly on her face.

With that, they stopped talking and turned their attention to the stream of people coming and going at the train station.

Seeing everyone around them dressed so finely, they felt out of place, self-conscious.

Over the years, though Chen Nuo had sent them a lot of money, much of it had been squandered on gambling by their son. They still had some money, but instead of buying clothes, they had spent it on gold and similar items.

So, while Wang Fengxia and Zhang Laohan wore tattered clothes, they were adorned with gold jewelry.

“We’ll be city folks soon,” Wang Fengxia thought as she scanned the well-dressed crowd, feeling both envy and pride.

Standing nearby, Zhang Xiaobao glanced at his parents’ shabby clothing and their self-conscious behavior, a look of disdain crossing his face.

He stepped away, putting some distance between himself and his parents.

“Son, why are you standing so far away? Come here, stand with us,” Wang Fengxia called, oblivious, waving him over. With so many people around, she wanted her son by her side.

“Don’t call me!” Zhang Xiaobao snapped, his face darkening as he noticed the curious stares of passersby. Realizing he might have overreacted, he quickly added, “I’m just going to buy some cigarettes. Don’t wander off.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

…

Standing where she was, Zhang Ya listened to the dial tone in her ear, her face twisting with frustration.

“Why did they have to come to the city and embarrass me?!” she muttered angrily. Raising her hand, she flagged down a taxi.

“To the train station,” she instructed, settling into the back seat.

Their arrival wasn’t all bad; at least she wouldn’t have to walk anymore. Plus, she’d have a place to stay tonight.

Looking at it from that angle, it wasn’t so terrible, she thought.

Completely broke, with no access to Chen Nuo’s home, she could use this as an opportunity.

She cast a disdainful glance around the taxi’s interior, clearly dissatisfied.

After a ten-minute ride, the taxi pulled up to the train station.

Before she even stepped out, Zhang Ya spotted her parents.

She immediately wanted to pretend she didn’t know them.

Wang Fengxia and Zhang Laohan’s attire and appearance loudly declared their rural background.

Their clothes were tattered, their skin sunburnt and cracked.

They stood out starkly against the well-dressed city dwellers passing by.