My dad also frowned. “Didn’t we choose two
good universities for you? Do you need to go
that far?”
While packing my bags, I replied, “It’s fine. It’ll
prevent my sister from getting stressed later.”
My entire family fell silent.
The air was eerily quiet.
I was familiar with this silence.
Many times, when I unexpectedly came home,
the originally happy family of four would fall silent for a moment.
This time was no different.
Then, Ethan stubbed out his cigarette and
snorted. “No wonder you ran so far. You’re sulking! You’re all grown up, and you’re still acting like a child!”
“Ashley, what do you mean? What does your
choice have to do with your sister?”
My dad expressed his displeasure. “Your
sister is in pain in the hospital, and you’re not
worried? What’s with this sarcasm?”
I remained silent.
My mom interrupted. “Okay, okay, let’s cook.
We’ll send it to Jessica later.”
<
The three of them came back to cook.
Because Jessica was being a spoiled brat and
wanted all three of them to cook their
specialty dishes.
Even Ethan, who knew nothing about cooking,
came back happily, flipping through
cookbooks and fiddling with pigeon soup.
I glanced at them and dragged my luggage to
the airport.
My dad and brother saw me off without a
word.
My mom, wearing an apron, chased after me.
“Should I take you to the airport? What if you
can’t find your way alone?”
I paused, turning to her. “Sure.”
My mom immediately froze, her smile
awkward.
She was busy cooking for Jessica; she
wouldn’t take me.
“Just kidding,” I said self–deprecatingly,
walking away.
My mom visibly relaxed, waving at me. “Be
safe, sweetheart. Come home for winter
break; Mom will miss you!”
She emphasized winter break.
Probably afraid I’d run home often, upsetting
Jessica.
I nodded silently.
Mom, don’t worry, I can stay away forever.
6
Going south alone to study wasn’t difficult.
After landing, I had a strange feeling, as if I
was only truly escaping that small village from
this moment on.
I smiled out the window, “You got this.”
I rented an apartment near Zhongda
University, which was expensive.
But I wasn’t short of money.
Over the past three years, I had saved over
thirty thousand dollars, mostly from red
<
envelopes during holidays.
That money would last me a long time.
It was then that I realized I hadn’t asked my
family for tuition, and they hadn’t offered it
either.
They wouldn’t be stingy with that money; the
only explanation was that they’d forgotten.
Their minds were filled with cooking for
Jessica, forgetting their less important
daughter’s tuition.
Maybe they’d remember it a long time later.
7
During my winter break of freshman year,
while immersed in studying at the library, my
mom finally remembered she hadn’t paid my
tuition.
She called, first asking if I was coming home,
then slapping her forehead.
“Ashley, didn’t I pay your tuition? Oh, my
memory… Do you still have money?”
<
She seemed a little guilty.
Focused on my studies, I said I had money, it
was fine, and hung up.
“Why so rushed? It’s winter break; aren’t you coming home?” my mom asked again.
I said I wasn’t coming back; it was too far. It wasn’t a sulky remark; I genuinely didn’t want to go.
After a semester of college life, I felt reborn, filled with motivation, striving towards the peak of academia, never stopping!
It was an amazing state, something I’d never
experienced in my eighteen years.
