The Pain of the Original Family

I hissed the words with almost all my strength.

I wondered why in the world the parents wouldn't wish their child well.

“Let me explain...”

Maybe my voice was too loud, Father and Bruce came over.

Father was even angrier than me when he saw this scene.

"How can you talk to your mom like this? It's just an offer letter from twenty years ago. Did it hurt you?"

Bruce echoed.

"That's right, sis. You didn't go to that university, but you're doing well. Maybe this is your fate. If you had gone to college, you probably wouldn't have been as good at making money as you are now. Mom and Dad just helped you in that way."

"Do you know how much I have suffered all these years? I have competed for positions with many college students when I only have a high school education. Do you know how much more I'm paying? I can't figure out why you guys hid my notice when I obviously got in?"

After a long silence, my mother said, "You are a girl and you have a younger brother. We can't let both of you work outside. We don't have that much savings. Besides, isn't it better for you, a girl, to stay by your parents' side?"

I was a bit dazed by her words.

My parents had worked in public institutions their whole lives, and they had some positions.

I couldn't figure out how these two people could have such thoughts.

The doorbell rang outside, it should be the relatives arriving.

The scene was too embarrassing and there was no need to meet these relatives.

I went back to my room.

Soon, the laughter of relatives, parents, and my younger brother came from outside.

It was expected that unpleasant talk would soon come.

"David, did Tracy bring a boyfriend back this year? She's already thirty. Why is she still being picky?"

"That's right. What's the use of making so much money? A girl's money will eventually belong to her husband."

"I think Tracy has become weird because she doesn't have a partner. She doesn’t even come out to chat with us."

"Yeah. David, what kind of work does Tracy do outside? How can she make so much money? I heard that the girl next door to our street, from the Zick family, is..."

He was interrupted before he could finish his sentence.

"My old colleague's family has a son. I can introduce him to Tracy. He has a bakery nearby and it seems to be doing well. He's capable and honest, and he does the best business of all the bakeries in the neighbourhood. But, he's divorced and has an eight-year-old son. Men who have been married know how to take care of others!"

Actually, such conversations occurred every year.

They had been introducing the man who owned a steamed bun shop to me since I was 20 years old when he wasn't married.

As I got older, it got worse.

It was just that in previous years I thought that I rarely went back home and Christmas was a time for reunion, I shouldn't get upset with my elders!

But today, because of the incident with the offer letter, when I heard these words again, I felt like there was a fire burning in my heart.

I pushed open the door.

“Uncles and aunties, I don't need you to worry about my affairs. Just take care of your own children and yourselves. Also, your daughters are not married either. Since the son of the bakery owner is a good match, why don’t you let your daughters marry him?”

The air seemed still, and the chattering women suddenly fell silent.

Father suddenly stood up from the sofa, "Is it your turn to speak now? Do you have any manners?"

"Dad, would a well-mannered person hide his child’s college offer letter?"

I saw veins bulge on my father's neck.

"Can’t I, as your father, say anything about you? If you don’t want to stay here, then get out!"

"Fine, I'll get out."