Chapter 462
Before Su Xiaoxiao’s cousins could respond, they heard her crisp refusal.
“Hongni is much older than them and she’s a girl, so she can’t play with them.”
Such an excuse was obviously flimsy, and though Huo Xiaojing and Shan Xinyun didn’t understand why she had such strong animosity towards a little child, it was always safer to side with their own people when unclear about the situation. They immediately smiled and said, “Hongni, we’re really sorry, but our kids are a little shy around strangers. If you tell us what toys you like, we’ll bring them to you.”
He Hongni never expected that they would be so dismissive, especially during the New Year. The polite smile on her face nearly faltered. However, in front of unfamiliar elders, she didn’t dare to say anything, and could only watch the four little kids playing together.
But instead of inviting her to join, they all rushed to hug Su Xiaoxiao and, puffing up their cheeks, turned to He Hongni with defiant glares. “Pretty auntie’s ours! We won’t give it to you!”
“Hit! Hit the bad person!” Little Jingyun climbed up on Su Xiaoxiao and stood tall, shaking her tiny fist at He Hongni with a fierce, arrogant expression.
He Hongni’s face reddened with anger, and she could only turn away, pouting, trying to hide the tears that were threatening to spill.
Several adults exchanged awkward glances, feeling a little guilty as they watched the scene unfold. They thought it wasn’t great to argue with a child over such trivial matters.
However, He Xingzhi simply shook his head, signaling them not to worry about his sister. His response made the Gu family even more perplexed.
While Jiang Yexun was out getting food, Su Xiaoxiao’s uncle quietly followed him. Once they were far enough away and no one could overhear them, he lowered his voice and asked, “What’s going on with your friend’s sister? Why are you all arguing with a little girl?”
Jiang Yexun fell silent for a moment, but eventually he explained everything about He Hongni.
Gu Jianhua’s eyes widened in shock. “That child has ties to the spy ring? If she keeps going down this path, won’t she ruin the whole family?”
“Don’t worry, the necessary steps have been taken—investigations have been carried out and arrests made. It’s just that she has a stubborn nature and won’t change easily. Just don’t let the kids interact with her too much,” Jiang Yexun reassured him, his voice firm.
Despite this, Gu Jianhua still felt uneasy. These days, anyone connected to spies was bound to be a problem, and who knew what else that child might be involved in.
Gu Jianhua’s anxiety grew, and he decided to keep a close eye on his grandchildren, making sure they stayed away from He Hongni.
Meanwhile, He Hongni was completely unaware that others saw her as a troublemaker. She was still sulking over the one-dollar red envelope Aunt Guo had given her.
How stingy!
They lived in such a big house, yet they gave her only a single dollar. Didn’t they feel any guilt?
Especially Su Xiaoxiao’s relatives—each one was older than her, but no one gave her a red envelope. They were all so cheap!
He Hongni’s heart boiled with resentment, but she didn’t dare to cause a scene. She picked up a doll and sat down in a corner, chewing on the food in silence.
There were chocolates in the fruit box, and she kept her eyes on them, greedily eating them.
Everyone noticed but said nothing, trying to ignore her behavior as best as they could.
He Xingzhi shot her several stern glares, but didn’t dare reprimand her too harshly, afraid of causing trouble for himself during the festive season.
Still, he thought to himself, once they returned, he would buy a box of chocolates at the Friendship Store and send it to Brother Ye as a gift.
By noon, Jiang Yexun and Aunt Guo specifically invited He Xingzhi to stay for lunch. The table was laden with dishes that tasted even better than those in a state-owned restaurant. With everyone gathered together in such a warm, lively atmosphere, He Xingzhi finally felt a bit of the New Year spirit, his eyes a little moist from the emotions.
Just as he was about to savor the moment, he heard his sister’s voice.
“Sister, when will you return to the brigade after the New Year? We won’t be going back until February or March.” He Hongni asked, her tone feigning curiosity.
But the upward tilt of her voice clearly carried a hint of bragging.
Most of the adults around the table could pick up on her subtle implication and immediately frowned.
But Shan Xinyun, who had no time for subtlety, simply smiled and replied, “We won’t be going back after the New Year.”
“Why can you stay in Shanghai?” He Hongni asked, her voice now tinged with impatience.
Her tone had turned harsher, but Shan Xinyun just frowned and patiently explained, “We have jobs in the city now, so we can stay here.”
“Why should you be allowed to stay in the city while we have to return to the countryside?” He Hongni’s grip on her chopsticks tightened in anger, her jealousy palpable.
But Shan Xinyun, ever the calm one, didn’t rise to the bait and simply shook her head. “We went to the countryside as part of the national initiative, and now we have the chance to stay in the city. It’s just how things worked out.”
He Hongni’s face twisted with frustration. She couldn’t accept it. Why should she, a city girl, be sent back to the countryside while others could stay in Shanghai?
The anger boiling inside her made her lose her appetite, and she shoved her food aside.
After lunch, He Xingzhi took He Hongni by the hand and they bid their farewells to everyone with a smile.
Once they were outside the small building, He Xingzhi immediately quickened his pace, and He Hongni hurried to keep up with him.
When they finally reached their own home, He Hongni looked up at her brother, feigning innocence.
“Brother, why is it that after so many years, they couldn’t bring anyone back from the countryside, but now that you and Brother Ye are here, they got work opportunities for at least two people? I think it must be Brother Ye’s idea. Why don’t you ask Brother Ye to help you find a job too? You have money, you could even buy a job! Staying in Shanghai is much better than going back to the countryside.”
He Hongni rambled on, oblivious to the deepening frown on He Xingzhi’s face.
Once she finished speaking, there was a sudden, sharp slap across her face.
He Xingzhi had struck with full force.
He Hongni staggered and collapsed onto the floor, blood seeping from her mouth and nose, and a tooth knocked loose.
“You hit me… you actually hit me!” He Hongni cried, clutching her swollen face, her voice full of disbelief.
He Xingzhi ignored her cries and pulled her into the living room. He grabbed a feather duster from the corner, ripped off her outer cotton jacket, and began to lash her with it.
“I’ve told you countless times to accept your fate and behave properly. Stop causing trouble! Today you deliberately finished all the chocolates, don’t tell me you didn’t mean to do it. I don’t believe those who raised you didn’t teach you about basic manners!”
He Xingzhi’s strikes grew more forceful, and He Hongni, who had previously tried to avoid punishment, now could only curl up on the floor, wailing in pain.
But instead of being subdued, her defiance only grew.
“Why should they get to stay in the city and I have to go back to the countryside? What’s wrong with wanting to stay in the city?”
“Of course, it’s wrong! You’ve forgotten your roots! They’re city people who only went to the countryside in response to the national call. You, however, were abducted as a child. Your roots are in the countryside, whether you accept it or not. Going back there is called returning to your roots.”
He Xingzhi continued to lash out in frustration, each word hitting home.
He Hongni couldn’t understand. Why was she, a perfectly good city girl, suddenly treated as if she were a country bumpkin?
But the intense pain from the beating finally broke her resolve. She cried out, “Brother, I’m sorry! I really know I was wrong!”
But He Xingzhi didn’t stop.
He had tried reasoning with her for too long, and it had been useless. Now, it was time for the punishment.
After all, there was an old saying in their countryside: “A filial son is made under the rod.”
If it came to it, he would take care of her for life. If something happened, he would give his own life to make things right.
But he could no longer let her continue down the wrong path.