After I left, my parents often told the villagers that with the absence of a worthless daughter like me, their expenses had been cut in half. They said that if only they could have married me off for a dowry, it would have saved them a lot of money. Their words were harsh.

My younger brother failed to get into high school but enrolled in a vocational school in the city. The following year, my father accidentally broke his leg while working, and it took a lot of money in the hospital to heal.

During the time when my father was recuperating, my mother worked in a factory for several months to cover the daily expenses.

Not long after, my grandmother passed away. She had late-stage lung cancer and was beyond saving by the time it was diagnosed. The family had no money for treatment, so she could only wait to die.

As for my grandfather, he went fishing. It rained that day, making the road slippery, and he fell into the river. By the time someone found him, it was too late.

I heard that on the day of my grandfather's burial, my brother didn't show up. He was at an internet café playing games, and my father had to fetch him.

Two years ago, after graduating from the vocational school, my brother became a NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) at home.

Right after graduation, he did try to look for jobs, but if it wasn't the working environment that was unsuitable, it was that the job didn't meet his standards. My parents feared he would suffer, so they let him stay at home.

Both of them went to work to support my brother, but he mixed with a group of street punks. It was said that he even borrowed a large sum of money to court a girl. Now, the creditors are knocking on the door.

I remembered the girl walking beside him that day, wearing designer brands. It seemed all of it was bought with my brother's money.

The village head's expression was exaggerated: "When your parents found out, your brother still blamed them for not having the ability to give him money, so he had to borrow it. They also blamed you for running away, not working or marrying, so they couldn't get any dowry to support your brother."

"I heard it's several hundred thousand. Your parents could work their whole lives and still not pay it off. And your brother is useless, so his life is pretty much over."

I took a deep breath; it indeed was a series of misfortunes, but isn't this all their own doing?

I still went back home once.

My parents were delighted to see me, thinking I had come to give them money.

Standing at the familiar doorway, I didn't step in. I told them, "When you are too old to work, I will send you fifteen hundred yuan a month as support. As for anything else, don't even think about it."

"Don't think letting me go to high school was some great grace. Even if you hadn't let me go to high school, I would have left here. Even if I starved outside, I wouldn't want to stay here."

"Don't flatter yourselves. Everything I have now, I only have myself to thank. If I hadn't left back then, you'd have probably sold me off with a high dowry by now, and I'd have several kids already."

"We owe each other nothing. Don't dream about using me to pay off holes for your precious son. He's a bottomless pit; even if you gave your lives, he wouldn't be satisfied."

After saying this, I turned to leave, but my mother shouted from behind, "Are you really going to watch your brother go to jail? Those people said if he doesn't pay back, they'll sue him!"

I retorted, "So what? It's none of my business. If you want, go sell everything you have to pay off his debt. My support terms are already laid out."

My mom cursed me, "How can you be so heartless!"

I shrugged, showing that I didn't have that thing at all.

No, not with them, anyway. From the beginning, they treated me as a tool.

When I was fifteen, they wanted me to go out and earn money because they heard that high school graduates could make even more. After I graduated, they directly arranged for me to work in a factory, planning to sell me off with a high dowry to buy my brother a car, a house, and finance his wedding.

I ran away from home, working non-stop for six years to support myself. I finally had a somewhat stable life, and now they wanted me to use all my savings to fill my brother's holes.

They were dreaming.

Before leaving, I met an old acquaintance, Le Niu.

She had gotten married in the village and was heavily pregnant, followed by two daughters.

She said, "Star, I really envy you. We attended elementary school together, and now I'm almost a mother of three, worrying about trivial household matters every day. But you're still free and easy, making so much money and living a glamorous life."

I smiled faintly, "It's all a matter of personal choice."

That night, I went back to the apartment I rented with Lu Xinyue.

She excitedly told me, "Some police officers came by and took away those guys who were lingering outside. Was it you who called the police?"

I recounted the events to her, and she frowned, "Why are you still giving them support money? It's annoying."

I poked her forehead, "You're silly. What if they sued me for not providing support? I have to give it. Besides, they did give birth to me, so I can't ignore my conscience."

Lu Xinyue nodded, "Makes sense. Alright, let's not talk about this. Quick, let's discuss the matters related to the dessert shop..."