A Child Without a Mother Is Like Grass

Zhang Zhaocai, having received permission, struggled hard to climb up from the ground, but because he had been starving for so long, his body was weak. He tried several times but couldn't get up, looking pitiful.

Qin Sanniang and Zhang Zhuzi watched coldly from the sidelines, with no intention of helping him.

Zhang Zhaocai gritted his teeth and tried to get up by himself, when suddenly a figure rushed out from the side and pounced on him.

Zhao Shi was wild and crazy, her hair tangled like a bird's nest, her face so black and dirty that her original skin color was unrecognizable, holding a meatball she had taken from the banquet.

Zhao Shi looked at Zhang Zhaocai and suddenly shoved the meatball into his mouth: "Shimao, eat the meat! Mother gives you meat!"

Then Zhao Shi grabbed Zhang Zhaocai's head and pulled him up like pulling a radish.

Zhang Zhaocai staggered as Zhao Shi pulled him up. She held him tightly in her arms, her face alternating between crying and laughing, shouting: "My dear grandson is already so big, grandma loves you!"

Then she shouted, "Shimao, I packed some dried meat in your schoolbag. Don't tell your grandma, save it for eating slowly at school!"

Zhao Shi was acting mad, hugging Zhang Zhaocai and speaking nonsense. Soon, Su Daqi arrived, looking angry. He grabbed Zhao Shi by the hair and dragged her away, scolding, "Crazy woman, running around mad when you can't see properly! We'll tie you up with a rope next time!"

Soon, Su Daqi dragged Zhao Shi away.

The crowd, seeing no more excitement, continued eating the banquet. Only Zhang Zhaocai, with the dirty-tasting meatball in his mouth given by Zhao Shi's dirty hands, suddenly felt like crying.

Seeing Zhao Shi reminded him of his mother, Tang Shi.

When his mother was alive, she loved him like this, always saving the best food for him.

Although his mother had a bad reputation outside, often quarreling with villagers and liking to take small advantages, to Zhang Zhaocai, Tang Shi loved him deeply and even spoiled him.

Now Zhang Zhaocai deeply regretted not understanding before. When his father beat his mother, he not only didn't stop it, but sometimes cheered and even helped his father beat her.

He regretted how he treated his mother badly before, often yelling and looking down on his poor and ugly mother from his heart.

Now, without his biological mother around, Zhang Zhaocai finally understood the saying: 'Better to follow a beggar mother than an official father; a motherless child is like a blade of grass.'

Now Zhang Zhaocai was even worse than grass.

Seeing Zhang Zhaocai dazed, Qin Sanniang scolded him harshly, 'Useless thing, why are you stunned when I tell you to eat? Can't even eat properly, stupid as a pig!'

Zhang Zhaocai didn't dare to talk back because if he disrespected Qin Sanniang, his father would beat him severely.

Zhang Zhaocai went to the table, but Qin Sanniang, disgusted by his dirtiness, wouldn't let him sit next to her. Aunt Zhu, feeling sorry for him, let Zhang Zhaocai sit beside her.

"Ah, poor child, eat up, eat more," Aunt Zhu sighed as she watched Zhang Zhaocai eat hungrily. She wondered how hungry the child must be to eat so ravenously.

"Mm, thank you, Auntie," Zhang Zhaocai said, his mouth full, still remembering to thank Aunt Zhu.

This thank you left Aunt Zhu stunned.

Because in Aunt Zhu's memory, Zhang Zhaocai was the most troublesome kid in the village, always stealing and causing trouble. Back then, he was the most annoying to everyone and had no manners at all.

Hearing a thank you from Zhang Zhaocai was especially surprising to Aunt Zhu. Looking at this dirty child, she felt Zhang Zhaocai had indeed changed a lot.

The drastic change in circumstances made Zhang Zhaocai realize that others being kind to you is not something owed to you, but something you should cherish.