Hitting Her Own Mother
Zhang Zhaocai said as he took out the medicinal wine given by Lingdang, rubbed it evenly in his palm, and was about to apply it to himself. But seeing Zhao's condition seemed worse than his own, he sighed and went in front of Zhao to apply the medicine to her wound.
Zhao just smiled foolishly, seemingly very happy that Zhang Zhaocai was close to her.
After Zhang Zhaocai finished applying the medicinal wine to Zhao, the bottle given by Lingdang was empty. He then rubbed the remaining medicine from his palm onto his own face, cleaned the bottle, and put it back into his bosom.
Two people, one big and one small, one a madman, the other a pitiful person, just sat by the river silently facing each other.
Zhao kept calling out Su Shimao's name to Zhang Zhaocai. At first, Zhang Zhaocai corrected her, but later he was too lazy to argue since Zhao was too foolish to understand anyway.
"Shimao, go to school tomorrow." Zhao counted on her fingers, muttering with her head tilted, then took something out from her bosom and placed it into Zhang Zhaocai's arms.
Zhang Zhaocai was stunned for a moment. When he opened it, it was actually a schoolbag!
Zhang Zhaocai had seen this schoolbag before; it was used by Su Shimao in the past. Now it had several patches but was washed very clean, not at all like something taken from a dirty person like Zhao.
"Make a new schoolbag for my Shimao, so he can go to school." Zhao pointed at the schoolbag, smiling foolishly.
Zhang Zhaocai was stunned for a moment. When he opened it, it was actually a schoolbag!
"Is this for me?" Zhang Zhaocai sniffed.
Zhang Zhaocai hugged the schoolbag in his arms, his eyes welling up with emotion.
If his mother were here, she would be very happy that he was going to school and would definitely sew him a schoolbag too.
Thinking that Su Shimao was already dead, and since the schoolbag was given by Zhao, and he needed a schoolbag anyway, Zhang Zhaocai accepted it and said to Zhao, "Thank you. I'll carry this schoolbag to school and study hard."
"Shimao, you're really good. Mom is happy," Zhao grinned broadly, her eyes full of happiness.
Zhang Zhaocai hugged the schoolbag, looking at the crazy and foolish Zhao, suddenly feeling warmth in his heart.
But soon after, he heard Su Meixiang's voice behind him.
Su Meixiang came up with a cold face, grabbed Zhao, and slapped her, scolding, "You old crazy woman, why do you keep running around? Why don't you just fall into the river and drown!"
While saying this, Su Meixiang pushed Zhao towards the river.
Zhao seemed extremely afraid of Su Meixiang, covering her head with both hands and crying out, "I won't dare anymore, don't hit me, mom, don't hit me!"
Su Meixiang looked even more disgusted, pinched Zhao a few times, and scolded, "Who is your mom? Don't call me that! You're just trying to harm me and shorten my life, aren't you!"
Zhao cried tears streaming down from the pain. Seeing this, Zhang Zhaocai got furious like a little bull and suddenly charged forward, using his head to push Su Meixiang away.
Su Meixiang was caught off guard, got pushed on her butt, and sat on the ground.
Zhang Zhaocai quickly pulled Zhao away from the riverbank. Zhao was very scared and started crying loudly.
"Don't cry, don't be afraid anymore. She's your daughter, not your mother!" Zhang Zhaocai said.
Su Meixiang sat on the ground, glaring venomously at Zhang Zhaocai with her one eye, "You brat, who told you to meddle in my family's affairs? Get lost!"
"You unfilial wretch, hitting your own mother, you're not even human!" Zhang Zhaocai was so angry that his eyes turned red.
Su Meixiang spat and got up from the ground, came over, and grabbed Zhang Zhaocai, saying, "How dare you scold me? What do you think you are? When your father beat your mother, you didn't hesitate to join in and even handed your father the stick!"