Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Sincerity Should Be Reserved for Those Who Treat You Well

“Amazing! Just one bucket of water and he really snapped out of it.”

“Why didn’t we think of this before? We got beaten up by a madman for nothing and couldn’t even complain about it.”

“Well, now we’ve got a way to deal with him in the future.”

“This lunatic is pitiful, too. Luckily, Comrade Gu didn’t look down on him. Look at them—don’t they make a good couple?”

“Hey, you’re right. Just like in the movies: a talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven.”

“Pfft, I say it’s a flower stuck in a pile of cow dung.”

…

The onlookers whispered among themselves.

Gu Qinghuan was overjoyed to see that the spiritual spring water really worked. Now, no matter what happened in the future, she wouldn’t have to worry.

Today, Xu Huai’an’s episode couldn’t have come at a better time—it finally let out some of her pent-up anger.

A bucket of water doused Xu Huai’an’s fury, and under the effect of the spring water, he gradually calmed down inside.

He quickly realized his situation. He didn’t regret anything, but he was worried about implicating Gu Qinghuan, so he pretended to know nothing, putting on a confused face.

No one would bother arguing with someone whose sanity came and went, especially since this was a family matter.

Only Liu Guifang shouted angrily, “You damned lunatic, I won’t let this go!” (Dialect: “You this heaven-damned lunatic, I’ll never forgive you!”)

Xu Mingshan sighed, not wanting others to see his family’s embarrassment. He hurriedly waved his hand at the door. “Don’t you all have work to do? Aren’t you going to earn your work points?”

Seeing that there was no more drama, the crowd slowly dispersed.

Only Lin Xiaomeng lingered. She’d heard Xu Huai’an was cured and immediately felt something was off, so she hurried over to investigate.

The good fortune she’d gotten yesterday had suddenly vanished, and she’d already started to suspect Gu Qinghuan. Now, hearing that Xu Huai’an had recovered, her suspicions only deepened.

After all, all the recent changes seemed to revolve around this woman who should have died long ago.

—

With the crowd gone, it was time for a family talk.

In the main room.

As the family patriarch, Xu Mingshan sat at the head of the table, his face as dark as coal.

Xu Huai’an and Gu Qinghuan stood to one side. Opposite them was Liu Guifang, baring her teeth in anger.

Lin Xiaomeng supported Liu Guifang, standing with her in solidarity, putting on the act of a good daughter-in-law.

The tension in the room was palpable. Liu Guifang couldn’t even be bothered to pretend anymore, glaring at the two as if she wanted to eat them alive.

“Second, what do you have to say for yourself about what happened today?” Xu Mingshan looked at Xu Huai’an.

To be honest, today was a real slap in the face—not just for Liu Guifang, who’d been beaten by her own son.

They’d always told outsiders how well they cared for Xu Huai’an, but after more than a year of “care,” he hadn’t improved at all.

Yet Gu Qinghuan had only looked after him for a few days, and his madness had miraculously gotten much better—he could even work in the fields now.

Soon, there would probably be rumors in the village about them abusing their son.

It was strange—how had his illness suddenly improved?

Xu Huai’an’s face was cold. “Dad, you know exactly what kind of life I’ve had this past year.

Since you’d already given up on me as your son, you shouldn’t interfere in my life anymore.

I don’t owe this family anything.

What Mom did today was truly chilling—she hit my wife and insulted my child. She owes us an apology!”

Xu Mingshan’s old face flushed red. Of course he knew what kind of life Xu Huai’an had led—he’d just pretended to be deaf and blind.

If it hadn’t been for the two children feeding Xu Huai’an with their own rations, he’d probably have been dead and buried by now.

Every day, the family had been scheming how to get rid of the burden that was Xu Huai’an.

They never imagined things would turn around like this.

Now that Xu Huai’an had torn away their last shred of dignity, Xu Mingshan felt thoroughly embarrassed.

But elders are elders—no matter what they do, they’re never wrong. Why should he apologize to the younger generation?

Liu Guifang, screeching curses, rushed forward to hit Xu Huai’an.

“No way, I’ll beat you to death, you bringer of bad luck!” (Dialect: “No way, I’ll beat you to death, you jinx!”)

She’d never suffered like this in her life—not only had she been beaten black and blue, but she’d wet herself in public from fear, losing all face. How could she show herself again?

Xu Huai’an glared at her, his eyes sharp and clear, as if daring her to try.

Liu Guifang froze, her hands suspended in mid-air, not daring to hit or not hit. In the end, she just plopped down on the floor and started wailing.

“I raised this son for nothing! Heaven, why don’t you strike him dead with lightning!” (Dialect)

A year ago, Xu Huai’an would have felt sorry for his mother and willingly accepted any punishment.

But the endless darkness of this past year had turned him into someone immune to family affection. Now, all he felt for them was boundless hatred.

What did it mean to be parents? Did they even deserve to be called that?

He’d been so foolish before.

He’d sent most of his allowance home, barely spending any on himself.

After he left the army, the moment his mother said the family was struggling, he handed over his entire discharge pay.

Liu Guifang, with her constant sob stories, had tricked him out of every last bit of his savings.

You could say that every cent he’d earned in the army had gone to his family.

But when he collapsed and needed their care, what did they do?

They left him in a dark, filthy room to die!

He was clothed in rags, half-starved, utterly wretched.

No one knew how he’d survived those endless nights and days—the neglect and abuse from his family had been the final straw that broke him.

Pain, repression, anxiety, despair.

Those negative emotions were like iron chains, dragging him down, deeper and deeper, until he became a complete madman.

In truth, his illness hadn’t been that serious at first—he’d been lucid most of the time, forced to watch their cruelty with his own eyes, which only deepened his suffering and made his condition worse.

If they’d cared for him, comforted him, maybe he would have had a chance to recover.

But they chose indifference, abandonment, and humiliation.

Now that he’d crawled out of that mud, he was no longer the Xu Huai’an he used to be.

The old Xu Huai’an had been brainwashed since childhood to respect his elders, love his siblings, care for his family, and be filial to his parents.

But now, he was determined to throw all that away—just as they had thrown him away.

From now on, his sincerity would only be reserved for those who truly treated him well."

"Chapter 55: Quarrels, Breakups, and Loving Yourself