The crowd came like clouds and left like wind. After bidding farewell to Xie Zhong, Zhu Yanyi went to the Guanyin Temple. Xie Zhong did not ask about the result, but from that day on, the Xie family was rarely disturbed. Of course, people still came for medical help or blessings, but it was not as exaggerated as before.
The Zhu family was the same. Zhu Guifu and others heard the news and hurried to find Zhu Shun Yao.
"Shun Yao, is it true that Ani is the Medical Buddha Girl?" Zhu Guifu asked directly.
Zhu Shun Yao nodded. "Everyone saw it, so it is true."
"Do you want to die? How can you let people know this? If people know Ani’s identity, she will be taken away for struggle sessions." Zhu Guifu said bluntly.
Zhu Shun Yao found it amusing. "Father, there are no more struggle sessions now. Besides, the law does not punish the majority. Many people saw it and acknowledged Ani’s identity. Who would dare to struggle against her? Furthermore, the government funded the rebuilding of the Guanyin Temple to boost everyone’s faith, not to struggle against anyone."
Zhu Guifu frowned. "Where is Ani?"
"She is at her grandfather’s house," Zhu Shun Yao said directly. "Father, why do you ask about Ani?"
"Bring her back. It is unreasonable for our Zhu family’s daughter to be raised by the Xie family." Zhu Guifu stated plainly.
Zhu Shun Yao sneered. "Father, please touch your conscience before saying such things. Do you think the Xie family loves helping me raise my daughter? They are doing me a favor. I am a poor boy, and even my house is made of mud and straw. They could not bear for their granddaughter to eat poorly or sleep badly, so they kept her. Why is that not allowed?"
Zhu Guifu’s face changed. "You say all this just to complain that I did not build you a house. You must know, I raised you since you were small, and I spent a lot of effort. Xiang Yao joined the army at eighteen and only returned now; he was not raised by my side. I owe him, so what is wrong with treating him better? Besides, the money is mine. I can give it to whoever I want."
Hearing this, Zhu Shun Yao laughed softly. Indeed, the tongue is soft, and twisted words can be said by anyone. If someone else said this, Zhu Shun Yao would not care. But he never expected his own father to say such things.
"Father, touch your conscience and ask yourself: what did you give me? I started herding cattle and working to support the family from age five. Originally, you would not even let me attend primary school. It was only because Uncle Enfu spoke up that you allowed me to go. Even in primary school, I only attended two days a week. The rest of the time, I had to work, so I had to teach myself. When I graduated from primary school, I passed the entrance exam for middle school and ranked third. The school waived the tuition and only asked for one yuan for books and exam papers. But you refused, saying the family had no money, and made me work. Since then, I stopped going to school. I worked. I once wanted to join the army and even passed the physical examination. But you said, 'There is no one left to work at home, why join the army?' So I stayed. How can you forget all this?"
As he spoke, Zhu Shun Yao looked at Zhu Guifu. He had harbored countless grievances in his heart for a long time, but due to the bond between father and son, he had never voiced them. Family shame should not be spread outside. He had suffered losses and did not wish to speak of them, especially since they had already divided the household. But now, Zhu Guifu was disparaging his wife’s family. He was unhappy. If you did not care for me, did that mean you were not allowed to let others care for me?