My Alleged Husband

Chapter 284 - 264: Repay Enmity with Virtue (1)

"Grandfather, actually I don’t quite understand what you mean. I just want to know, if according to you, we shouldn’t complain about anyone because the heavens are fair, we shouldn’t complain about the injustices the heavens have done to us, let alone the injustices humanity has done to us, but Grandfather, do you know? Many things can’t be resolved simply by not complaining!"

"Then tell me, what are these things you’re talking about?"

"Grandfather, to be honest, even though my mom and dad chose to abandon me, I never thought about complaining about them. I feel that, no matter how much they hurt me, it’s understandable, especially after hearing that girl in my dreams advising me over and over again, I became even more convinced of my beliefs. But what I really don’t understand is why the final outcome turned out this way. Grandfather, he has hurt me so many times, even if they are my parents, I can no longer choose to repay evil with kindness, because that’s really difficult for me. Time after time, I abandoned my principles for their sake; time after time, I cleaned up their messes. Yet, far from being grateful, they repeatedly harmed my lifelong happiness. Grandfather, do you think this is fair to me as a grandson?" Zhang Yichen asked.

Old Master Zhang didn’t know how to answer his grandson. No matter how he responded, he would inevitably hurt one side or the other, which wasn’t the outcome he wanted to see. But what choice should he make to prevent the two people he loved most from being hurt by his actions?

"Child, you also know that all these years, you’ve understood everything, but you chose to remain silent. Grandfather understands your suffering, but many things aren’t as simple as you imagine. This world is cruel, you don’t harm others, but others will harm you. But will this cycle of harm really lead to good results?"

"Grandfather, then tell me, what should I do to prevent either of them from getting hurt?"

"Child, these things aren’t useful just because Grandfather says them; you have to take action yourself. Just like you said, all these years, you’ve always repaid evil with kindness. You’ve forgotten so many acts of repaying evil with kindness—would you fall short by just this one or two times? Time after time, you’ve managed to get through tough spots on your own, so why can’t you get through this one?"

"Grandpa, it’s not that I don’t want to get through this tough time and let it go from my heart, but I really can’t do it anymore. Don’t you know what my parents have done? Everyone has eyes; can’t they see and talk? Grandpa, please consider my feelings for once. I am truly exhausted, and this won’t lead to any good outcome for either of us! You all think that because I lost my memory, I should forget everything that happened before. But have you ever thought that I haven’t completely lost my memories and that I may have a chance to recover them? I am already gradually remembering, but why are all the memories flooding back to me ones of my biological parents hurting the woman I love? Grandpa, do you know how much those images hurt me? I thought that by losing my memories, I could avoid searching for them and reliving the pain my parents caused me. But fate is so unfair; it still lets me slowly regain those memories, which is why I face such a huge blow. Grandpa, I know that every time you lecture me, you hope that I will become a kind and righteous gentleman. I have always strived towards the goals you set for me. Grandpa, I’m begging you, sometimes please try to see things from my perspective too! If they could harm their son’s lifelong happiness for their selfish interests, then what wouldn’t they do? With each hurtful act, should I just endure and sneak through life, tolerating the pain they’ve caused me? Can’t I stand up and fight back? Grandpa, I’m human, not wood. They’ve hurt me, and I can feel the pain, I know what it is to be sad. But still, I chose not to speak because ’a harmonious family leads to prosperity in everything.’ But in their eyes, it’s different. They only care about their own needs, their own benefits. They are willing to pay any price for it, even if it’s their lives!"

Old Master Zhang heard his grandson say such words, and he knew that he had inadvertently made things worse. But he didn’t do it on purpose. How could he resolve the hatred between them?

"Child, when have I not considered things from your perspective? Once, twice, three times, I’ve always been concerned about your safety. But you? Are you grateful to me at all? Just as you say you are human, you can feel, you know what it is to be heartbroken—don’t you think I feel the same? Often you feel that your parents have never considered things from your angle, but have you ever thought about why they do what they do? They want you to live a good life, child. No matter when, please don’t hate your parents, because they haven’t done anything wrong. Their love for you is genuine; they just expressed it in the wrong way. I’ve not only said this once; I’ve said it two, three, four times. I don’t know if you’ve taken it to heart, but I understand. Whatever I’ve said to you, you always keep it in your mind, but you just choose to act or not to act. You don’t know whether you should follow my advice or listen to my words..."

Zhang Yichen felt a bit awkward. He had never seen his grandpa shed a tear, but just then, he saw a glistening tear fall from his grandpa’s eye. He knew that his grandpa was crying out of sadness for him, and he felt somewhat unable to forgive himself for his mistakes.

Now that he thought back on it, he realized that there were many things he had done against his grandpa’s wishes and had not followed his advice, which had led to the situation they were in today.

"Grandpa, thank you for your guidance. I understand everything now. Harsh advice can be good for action. If it weren’t for your repeated guidance, I wouldn’t have achieved what I have today. Grandpa, I stick to what I’ve said: since it’s already happened, I will let it go. I won’t mention it again because that would be no different from reopening our wounds. I don’t want such things to come between us, grandfather and grandson. Let’s live a happy and joyful life as a family from now on!"