Chapter 679
Chapter 679
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 679
>Chapter Title: Family
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 679: Family
>
>>
>> “What are you standing around for? Hurry up and apologize to your dad. It’s the middle of the night—enough fuss already.”
>
>
>> “Yeah, if he were my son, I’d have strung him up and beaten him by now.”
>
>
>> The incredulous Yang Kid looked around at the boat folk, staring in disbelief at these so-called relatives of his.
>
>
>> In their eyes, Monkey Boy wasn’t even human—just merchandise to be sold!
>
>
>> Yang Kid’s gaze gradually shifted until it landed on his own father, Chi Bai Shui. Bitterness flooded his heart.
>
>
>> It wasn’t just Monkey Boy! His own flesh-and-blood son was the same in his eyes—nothing more than something to trade for silver!
>
>> But just then, Chi Bai Shui saw that Yang Kid hadn’t budged. With all the neighbors watching, he felt his face burning with embarrassment.
>
>
>> He rolled up his sleeves, strode over to Yang Kid, and slapped him hard across the face. “Kneel!”
>
>
>> The sting on his cheek made the bitterness in Yang Kid’s heart fade fast. A nameless rage surged up instead, tightening his scalp.
>
>
>> “I won’t kneel! Why should I? A man like you doesn’t deserve to be a father!” Yang Kid shoved Chi Bai Shui away with both hands and roared at him, fists clenched.
>
>
>> “Damn it! You little rebel!” Enraged, Chi Bai Shui glanced around, snatched up a board studded with nails, and swung it at Yang Kid’s head.
>
>
>> Yang Kid’s mother and his second and third brothers rushed forward, grabbing at him every which way to hold him back.
>
>
>> As the standoff dragged on, Big Sis stepped in to give her father an out.
>
>
>> “Forget it, Dad. No need to sell these three kids. Besides, with all the war and chaos, what’re kids even worth these days? We’ve got enough silver already.”
>
>
>> Hearing that, Chi Bai Shui lowered the board. But his words grew even harsher.
>
>
>> “I’m telling you, Fifth Brat! I’m your father! I’m selling your three brats, no question! You say one more word, and I’ll sell your wife too! A man’s word is his bond—no takebacks!”
>
>
>> At those words, Yang Kid’s look toward Chi Bai Shui changed in an instant. He’d never understood before why Chun Xiaoman had killed her father. Now he got it.
>
>
>> Turns out, there were bad people in families too—and sometimes even worse than outsiders!!
>
>
>> “Enough, Dad. Don’t say that in anger.” Big Sis shot a look at her second and third brothers. They got the hint and hustled their father into the boat cabin.
>
>
>> “Show’s over, folks. Head home. Sorry about this, everyone—keeping you up late over something so trivial.”
>
>
>> After shooing away the boat folk, she walked over to Yang Kid and lectured him like an elder. “What’s wrong with you? We’re all family—can’t you even say a soft word?”
>
>
>> Yang Kid kept his head down, cheeks puffed out, hands clenched and trembling slightly. He’d clearly made up his mind about something.
>
>
>> Seeing his attitude, Big Sis looked helpless. “That’s it for tonight. Third Uncle’s out fishing at sea, so crash on his old boat. We’ll talk come morning.”
>
>
>> With that, Big Sis pointed to a lonely little boat bobbing out on the dark water.
>
>
>> Yang Kid nodded silently and led Monkey Boy and the pale, terrified Zhao Xiumei toward it.
>
>
>> The boat was tiny and rickety, with water seeping into the cabin. Yang Kid sat there, dejected and still as a statue.
>
>
>> “Hubby? What do we do?” Zhao Xiumei trembled as she leaned against him. She was truly scared.
>
>
>> The place brought back memories of the horrors she’d endured in the bandit lair.
>
>
>> “This isn’t our home. They’re not my family! Let’s go home—back to Oxheart Village.”
>
>
>> Zhao Xiumei watched as Yang Kid transformed from statue back to a living boy. Intense longing filled his young face.
>
>
>> “The senior brothers and sisters in Oxheart Village—they’re my real family! Oxheart Village is my real home!”
>
>
>> When he’d been a beggar, starving and freezing, he’d fantasized countless times about what his family might be like, how good they’d be to him.
>
>
>> But now he was fully awake. If they’d really cared that much, they wouldn’t have sold him off in the first place. All his old thoughts had been nothing but wishful thinking!
>
>> “How do we go? The cart and silver are all with Father-in-law.” Zhao Xiumei’s face was full of bitterness.
>
>
>> “If he took them, we’ll take them back. That silver’s ours—why should they just grab it without asking me!”
>
>
>> Yang Kid balled his fists. “The silver’s with Big Sis right now. I’ll lure her out with some excuse later, and you two steal it back, Monkey Boy.”
>
>
>> “With the silver, we can buy a new cart and horse. Once we’ve got it, we sneak off while they’re sleeping and head back to Qingqiu.”
>
>
>> One other thing Yang Kid didn’t say: without the silver, his family wouldn’t join that evil Dharma cult.
>
>
>> “Got it!” Zhao Xiumei let out a huge sigh of relief. She hadn’t been wrong about him after all.
>
>
>> As the two hashed out the details, a voice came from outside the cabin. They clamped their mouths shut.
>
>
>> “Fifth Brat, it’s cold out. I brought blankets for you and your wife.” It was his mother’s voice. A trace of warmth softened Yang Kid’s face. Here, at least, his mom was the only kindness.
>
>
>> He went out and led his mother inside.
>
>> “Oh my, how can anyone live here? It’s leaking everywhere—look how damp it is.” As Yang Kid’s mother fussed, he looked at her gravely. “Mom, I’m leaving. Come with me? I’ll take you to Oxheart Mountain for a good life.”
>
>
>> “What? Fifth Brat, Mom’s ears are bad—can’t hear you. What’d you say?”
>
>
>> Yang Kid pulled his mother out of the cabin and gestured wildly toward the distant shore until she understood.
>
>
>> “Fifth Brat, why leave? I just saw you, and now you’re going?” Tears streamed down his mother’s face as she begged him.
>
>
>> Yang Kid shook his head sadly. He didn’t want to part from his mother either. She was the only one here who truly cared for him.
>
>
>> “Is it because of your dad? We’re family—talk it out.”
>
>
>> No matter how much Yang Kid urged her, she wouldn’t budge and come along. In the end, he just made her promise not to tell his father.
>
>
>> “Alright, I won’t tell your dad. Fifth Brat, once you get there safe, write a letter. And if you pass by again, come visit.”
>
>
>> Watching his mother glance back three steps at a time as she returned to the cabin, Yang Kid spotted lights on the sea—some boat approaching shore. But he had more pressing matters. Under cover of night, he slipped toward his big sister’s boat.
>
>
>> (End of chapter)