Chapter 4 A Visit From My Parents

• Somehow, news of the incident reached my mother's ears. A long quite passed before she finally made a phone call back.
• After briefly asking after me, she started condemning my grandmother for making a big fuss about the matter, arguing that it would make it difficult for me to get married in the future.
• Forced to keep her temper in check, my grandmother suppressed her anger and said, “Your daughter is about to start middle school. No matter how much you neglect her, you should buy her a few sets of clothes at the very least. The harvest of the crops isn't good this year, so I don't have any extra money on hand.”
• In all her life, she had been unyielding. Whenever she fought with my father, she would always shout in her frustration, “Even if I starve to death, I won't ask you for a single penny.”
• Therefore, her tone was beyond awkward when she asked my mother for money.
• As soon as my mother heard that, she blew up. “Money? I have no money! Your son is so useless, the money he earns can't even cover the rent. Skyler is also about to start middle school, and you know how expensive the tuition fees are in the city.”
• Skyler Stanton was my brother who was a year younger. Ever since he was born, our parents had raised him by their side.
• My name was Tiffany Stanton. From my birth to that very day, I had only seen them a handful of times.
• Skyler was like a bird in the sky, with our parents wishing nothing more than for him to soar all the higher.
• On the contrary, I was an unwanted surprise they could not abort, and they wished for me to be docile and obedient.
• But Mom, I'm your biological child too. You have no idea how much I envy Skyler though he always grumbles about having to attend extracurricular activity every week and being forced to learn guitar despite not liking it at all. Thankfully, I still have Grandma. She raised me from a helpless infant who couldn't even lift her head to a clean and beautiful young girl. It's okay that Mom likes Skyler more. Even the lack of a father didn't matter. Grandma is enough for me.
• Three years of middle school flew past. Before I knew it, the high school admission test was around the corner.
• One day, I suddenly realized that I had grown taller than my grandmother.
• My grandmother, who had always spoken in a harsh and loud voice, had become gentler over the years.
• I excitedly wanted to measure my height against hers, upon which she looked at me kindly. “With age, one tends to hunch, so you're certainly taller, Tiff.”
• For the past three years, life remained the same for her, and she tended to her two acres of land.
• The only difference was she could no longer hoist a sack filled with crops onto her shoulder. During the busy farming season, I would always go with her to the fields to help.
• In the village, many of her age had already stopped farming. If all the labor force in a family had gone out to seek employment elsewhere, their land would either be leased out or left fallow.
• The weather grew increasingly hotter. As we hauled a cart around, looking for a place to sun-dry the aged crops, a few elderly women came out of the recreation room with coffees in hand and chatted with her.
• When the sun reached its zenith, they returned to the air-conditioned recreation room with their cups in hand. Conversely, my grandmother repeatedly turned the grains over with a rake under the scorching sun.
• Before returning to school, I glanced back over my shoulder. The frail figure of my grandmother cast a long and narrow shadow under the sunlight. Suddenly, my eyes stung painfully.
• This is all because of me. Were it not for funding my education, Grandma's pension would have been sufficient to cover her basic expenses even if my parents failed to send any money home.
• Even as the high school admission test drew near, I was bogged down by worry and once again found myself zoning out during class.
• The teacher summoned me to the office and asked me what had been going on with me lately when that was a time I could ill afford to let my guard down for even a moment.
• I hung my head, answering with a touch of humiliation, “Even if I get accepted into high school, I don't quite plan on attending.”
• The teacher was immediately flustered, her voice going up a notch. “Why? Your grades are the best among your peers, and the teachers have high hopes for you.”
• Seeing the tears shimmering in my eyes, the teacher did not press further. With a pat on my shoulder, she told me to return to the classroom.
• When I returned home from school, the usually serene and quiet old house was bustling with activity.
• I gazed at the familiar yet strange figure and cautiously called out, “Mom?”
• She turned around, murmuring an acknowledgment somewhat indifferently.
• My father, on the other hand, was much more enthusiastic. He came over and tousled my hair. “Tiff, you've grown so tall.”
• I nervously clutched at the straps of my bag. It must have been nearly five years now. I've almost forgotten what they look like.
• Grandma was bustling about in the kitchen. I put my bag down and went over to lend her a hand. Leaning close, I asked in a whisper, “Grandma, why are Mom and Dad back?”
• Grandma shook her head, her hands deftly moving from side to side. Before long, a beautifully crafted ravioli took shape.
• Skyler entered the kitchen. He wore clean sneakers and a branded shirt, looking out of place in the cramped and greasy-smelling space.
• “You're my sister, Tiffany?” A head taller than me, he scrutinized me with an unfamiliar look in his eyes.
• I felt uncomfortable under his gaze and nudged him away with my arm. “Dinner will be ready soon. Why don't you wait outside?”
• Coincidentally, my mother walked in. Upon seeing that, she quickly pulled Skyler behind her and reprimanded me sternly, “Why did you push your brother?”
• I glanced at her in bewilderment. “The kitchen is too crowded, so I asked him to wait outside.”
• Skyler tugged at the hem of her shirt. “Tiffany didn't push me.”
• My mother shot him a frustrated glare. “Stop defending someone who picked on you. And what are you doing in the kitchen? You're going to reek of grease.”
• I lowered my head and prepared ravioli silently, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall.
• “Alright, go out first. I want to have a few words with your grandma.”
• She shoved me away with her hip, her face a mask of distaste as she picked up a ravioli wrap.
• I was worried she would bully my grandmother, so I took out my homework and started working on it by the doorway.
• After a few minutes of silence, my mother finally started, “After Tiff's high school admission test, we're thinking of taking her with us.”
• My grandmother's voice was calm and devoid of any discernible emotion. “Where to?”
• “Once Skyler starts high school, I plan on staying in Xatbridge to accompany him. At that time, we'll have one less person bringing in the dough at home. We plan to have Tiff go to Grivoria with her father to work. When she has put her brother through school and helped fix up our house, we can then start looking for a suitable match for her.”
• The tip of my pen stilled, leaving a stain on the paper.
• From within the house, my grandmother's weathered yet resolute voice rang out. “No way. Her teachers at school told me she's a promising student.”
• While lamenting about their financial struggles, my mother sternly threatened, “We're not making much money, and Skyler will need to get married in the future. What good will it do even if she excels in her studies when she's a mere slip of a girl? Does she want to attend high school? In her dreams! I won't pay a single penny.”
• My grandmother's voice was laced with anger, “I was the one who kept her alive with eggs. I didn't raise her all these years for you. Have you fulfilled the slightest of your responsibilities as her mother all these years? If you won't pay for her education, I will. Leave immediately after eating. I won't let you take Tiff away.”