novelraw Chapter 139 I Decide to Pursue Comrade Tan Suyun
Chapter 139 I Decide to Pursue Comrade Tan Suyun
Cheng Jinzhu drove to his friend's house, bringing a lot of fresh seafood such as crabs, snails, and clams, all of which had just been cooked.
He invited Tong Yuheng to come and eat, and took over her barbecue duties. Meanwhile, the eldest and second sisters-in-law of the Cheng family also came over and took over the work of Tong Jiahui and Cheng Damei.
"Sister Tong, Big Sister, why don't you go get some seafood and then go for a swim? If you come all this way and don't even go in the water, what kind of trip to the beach is that?"
They were soaking wet, so they dried their hair with towels and took over the grilling. The children also came up to rest, and everyone gathered around to eat seafood.
Despite the large amount of food prepared, there were still many people. Several boys in their early teens ate as much as adults, and the Tong family girls, due to their martial arts training, ate just as much as the boys.
The grilling never stopped, with everyone taking turns. Several basins of seafood, served in large steamers and washbasins, were quickly devoured.
Tong Yuheng ate three crabs and then stopped. He said crabs are considered cooling and girls shouldn't eat too many.
She took over teaching everyone how to swim from Yu Han. Her method was simple and direct: she would lift each person into deep water, let go of them, and have them hold their breath as she taught them. She would watch from the sidelines, ready to pull them out at any moment.
And sure enough, the children quickly learned to swim quite well. The younger girls could float and doggy paddle with perfect form. Only Yu Chen would just wade in the shallows and never venture further in.
"Yu Chen, come here, let your older sister teach you!" Tong Yuheng called him over.
"No need, I don't want to learn anymore!" Fear showed in Yu Chen's eyes.
"Cousin, don't be afraid, I'm very eager to learn!" Xiao Qi ran over and pulled him aside. Yu Xuan then joked and splashed him with water, causing him to accidentally fall into the water.
The shallow water only reached his knees, but he lay in it, thrashing about wildly and erratically, yelling "Ah ah!" as if he had gone mad!
Tong Yuheng immediately rushed over, picked him up, and carried him towards the beach. How could his usually quiet and gentle little cousin be so afraid of water?!
"Yu Chen, it's alright, it's alright! If you don't want to study, then don't study. We're going to get ashore!" Tong Yuheng patted his back, coaxing him.
Yuqi and Yuxuan were terrified; they had never seen their little cousin act like this before. They used to dress him up as a girl, and everyone said he was even more well-behaved and adorable than a girl. So why was he acting like a madman in the water?
"Big sister! Waaah..." Yu Chen cried, the eleven-year-old boy sobbing uncontrollably: "My aunt pushed my head into the water vat, waaaah... she asked me for money from home..."
So that's what happened! Yu Chen is traumatized. He was only eight years old that year when his parents were taken away. He was already lonely and helpless, and those bloodsucking relatives treated him like this!
In fact, his maternal grandparents' shamelessness went far beyond that. They took away the last of their belongings and rice, leaving Yu Chen behind and not caring whether he lived or died.
His aunt secretly went back and questioned him about where the family's money was hidden. She not only beat him but also pushed his head into the water.
It must have been that suffocating feeling of darkness that gave Xiao Yuchen the fear of dying, which became a shadow in his heart. That's why he never put his head in water to wash his hair; he always rinsed it standing up.
His second aunt was even worse; she actually tried to sell him. Luckily, he was clever enough to secretly take the money hidden in the house and escape.
He didn't dare spend any money and could only beg for food from a few kind neighbors. It wasn't until he found his parents and rushed over to them when they were being criticized and denounced that he was able to stay with them.
Fortunately, he had the money he brought with him, which he gave to the farm managers, preventing them from being tortured to death on the farm. That period was like a nightmare for Yu Chen, and he never dared to mention it.
"Damn it, they didn't hit them hard enough. They should have broken all their arms and legs!"
Tong Yuheng decided that he would go to the Yang family again when he had the chance, and teach them a lesson again. He would break the legs of those two wives!
"Cousin, I'm sorry, I just wanted to play with you..." Yuqi felt sorry for her cousin after hearing what he had gone through, and the little girl cried.
"Cousin, I didn't mean it. I'm sorry. We won't bother you anymore..." Yu Xuan apologized as well.
Yu Chen cried for a while, venting his emotions, and then returned to being the gentle and quiet little boy he always was. He had never told anyone about these things, but his older sister's care made him finally speak out about the fear that had been weighing on his heart for years.
"Big sister, I shouldn't be afraid, I should be brave!" In his heart, there was also the obsession that his mother had instilled in him since he was a child: he was the only boy in the Tong family, and he had to be brave and strong to protect his sisters!
"You were very brave. You protected the family's money and used it to help your parents. You're a good boy!" Tong Jiahui, who already knew what had happened, hugged her nephew with heartache.
It's understandable that outsiders plotted against and framed him, but for his own family to kick him when he was down is truly despicable!
"Yu Chen, come and learn from me. I promise I won't be as simple and brutal as your older sister!" Yu Han encouraged her younger cousin with a smile, already planning how to avenge him.
"Yes, you must overcome your fear and let those bad memories stop tormenting you! Don't dwell on why they are your family, yet treat you like hungry wolves. Remember, those who harm you are your enemies, not your family! Don't be sad about it!"
Haha, Yuyao really didn't read those psychology books for nothing. She guided her little cousin like a psychology expert.
"Yes, I'm learning to swim with my fifth sister. It can't be that you all know how but I don't! I'm a man, I have to be brave!"
"Hahaha! Yes, yes, my nephew is the bravest!" Tong Jiahui said.
When the Cheng family learned of Yu Chen's ordeal, the aunts nearly berated the Yang family mercilessly. Cheng Da Mei's three sons were also very fortunate that their four aunts doted on them, unlike Yu Chen's aunt who was so mean!
They all took good care of the little boy, giving him food and playing with him.
Yu Chen was very clever. She gradually overcame her fear and was soon led by her fifth sister to float on the water.
The others surrounded them, praising him incessantly for his talent and how quickly he learned. A bright smile spread across Yu Chen's face, and the shadow in his heart gradually dissipated.
That day at the beach was a very happy one for everyone. Tong Yuheng took out the camera he'd gotten from Qian Chuanzi's house again and took two rolls of film photos for everyone.
Everyone's radiant smiles were captured in time, and the beautiful memories remain in our hearts...
Teacher Yin was very satisfied with Tong Yuyao's performance and reported it to the leaders of the Education Commission. They agreed to let her participate in the competition in the high school group and said that she would be treated the same as others.
The school quickly created an auditor's record for her, and she enrolled in the same class as Linglong and Yuhan in the third year of high school.