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Join the ServerThe second time she rebelled against Mother Shi was in her first year of junior high.
When she got her period for the first time, no one had ever taught her about basic physical education, and she was absolutely terrified.
She believed she had contracted some terminal illness because there was so much blood, and bleeding from that specific area felt far too shameful for her to dare tell anyone.
Just as she was shrinking into her seat, utterly panicked and pale with fear.
A gentle, quiet girl took out a sanitary pad and secretly slipped it to her.
“Your pants are stained; did you forget to bring a pad?”
“I have some here, I’ll lend you one first.”
Shi Kezhen accepted the pad in complete confusion, vaguely realizing that the other girl probably knew what was happening to her, and whispered.
“How do you use this?”
The girl was stunned for a moment, then smiled.
“Is this your first time?”
Shi Kezhen had no idea.
“I don’t know… I don’t understand.”
“I’ll teach you.”
The girl pulled her into the restroom and patiently taught her how to use a sanitary pad.
Then she explained in detail what a period was, telling her that every girl went through this, that it wasn’t some major illness, that she didn’t need to scare herself, and that it would pass in a few days.
That was the second time Shi Kezhen had made a friend since coming to Jingzhou.
She was extremely, extremely careful to protect their friendship.
Having a friend felt truly wonderful; she finally had someone she could share secrets with.
Yet, she never dared to speak of anything related to the Shi family.
Once close friends got along well, they would naturally want to hang out together, and this girl was no exception.
The girl always wanted to invite her out on weekends, but she never agreed once, always using the excuse that her family was very strict and didn’t allow her to leave the house except for school.
After the midterm exams, the school held a parent-teacher meeting.
As the parent of both her and Shi Yanzhou, Mother Shi attended the meeting.
What Shi Kezhen hadn’t expected was that the girl’s mother would enthusiastically take the initiative to strike up a conversation with Mother Shi.
“Hello, Kezhen’s mother.”
“Our daughter constantly talks about how close she is with your daughter.”
“She always wants to invite her out on weekends, but Kezhen never agrees, saying her family is very strict…”
The girl’s mother had no ulterior motives; she simply wanted to build a friendly rapport and let Mother Shi know that her own daughter was very well-behaved, so Shi Kezhen could safely befriend her.
Mother Shi appeared calm, talking and laughing with the girl’s mother and the other parents at school in an amicable and harmonious manner.
But that evening, upon returning to the Shi household, Mother Shi summoned Shi Kezhen to face her and gave her a cold-faced scolding.
The reason was exactly the same as before.
“That girl’s mother is obviously low-class.”
“Do not make friends with people who cannot present themselves decently.”
“It disgraces the Shi family.”
“Sever your ties with that girl immediately.”
Shi Kezhen raised her head, looking at Mother Shi.
“No.”
That was the second time she had said “no” to Mother Shi.
Mother Shi looked at her, the corners of her mouth twitching slightly as if she were smiling.
“Fine, do not regret it.”
That time, Mother Shi didn’t lock her up under house arrest.
She targeted the girl’s parents directly.
For the next few days, the girl was constantly absentminded.
Only after asking did Shi Kezhen find out that the girl’s parents had suddenly lost their jobs one after another, and were hitting walls everywhere they looked for work.
The girl was extremely dejected.
“If my parents can’t find work, I might have to return to our hometown to live with them.”
“I won’t be able to go to school with you anymore.”
Shi Kezhen immediately thought of Mother Shi.
Returning to the Shi house after school in the afternoon, she rushed before Mother Shi.
“What happened to her parents—did you do that?”
Mother Shi was sitting on the sofa, flipping through a fashion magazine, and raised her eyes with a freezing cold gaze upon hearing this.
“Are you questioning me?”
“Is this how you speak to your elder?”
“Where are your manners?”
“Is this how I have taught you over the years you’ve spent in the Shi household?”
Shi Kezhen took a deep breath, suppressing the fury in his chest, and asked once more.
This time, she minded her tone, and her attitude was proper.
Mother Shi set down the magazine and spoke slowly.
“I told you that you would regret it.”
At that moment, Shi Kezhen knew that no matter how she struggled, it was useless.
She knelt directly before Mother Shi, her tone sincere and her attitude submissive.
“Mother, I was wrong.”
“I will listen to you; I will listen to everything you say from now on.”
“I will break off my friendship with her tomorrow.”
“Please, I beg you to let her family go.”
The living room fell quiet for a few seconds.
Mother Shi looked down at her, her gaze containing no heartache or reluctance, only an assured composure of “this should have been the case long ago.”
“Do you truly know you were wrong?”
“I really know I was wrong.”
“Remember this.”
Mother Shi stood up, smoothing her skirt.
“This is the very last opportunity I will give you.”
With that, she didn’t look back at Shi Kezhen, who was still kneeling on the floor, and turned to walk away.
The next day, the girl ran happily to Shi Kezhen.
“Kezhen, Kezhen!”
“My parents’ former employers hired them back again!”
“It’s the same positions, and the same pay!”
She laughed so happily; though she didn’t understand why her parents’ lost jobs had suddenly returned, she simply wanted to share this joy with her best friend.
Shi Kezhen smiled faintly.
“That’s wonderful.”
The girl didn’t notice the stiffness in her smile, still chattering on.
“My mom was so happy she cried last night.”
“My dad said he’s taking the whole family out for a great meal this weekend.”
“I finally don’t have to return to our hometown for school…”
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