Chapter 28

Zhou Nan and An JingZhi happened to come out and heard this part. An MeiYun's evasive attitude really made people misunderstand.

In addition, having just learned that the Old Master was preparing to send An MeiYun to the countryside, the guilt towards An ZhiXia at this time was all pressed at the bottom of her heart, and she felt more and more distressed about An MeiYun.

An ZhiXia also didn't expect that Zhou Nan, who had taken good care of her at noon, would turn around and stand on the opposite side with An MeiYun, "ZhiXia, mother knows you've been wronged. Everyone in the family is trying their best to compensate you. MeiYun is also being forced away by you. Isn't that enough? What more do you want? Why don't you say it all at once and parents will try their best to satisfy you?"

An ZhiXia was stunned and lowered her eyes.

She had known for a long time that the affection of 18 years of upbringing and living together every day could not be completely offset just because she was the biological one.

But when it really came to this point, she still couldn't control the disappointment that welled up in her heart.

Looking up, she saw An MeiYun wink playfully at her from behind Zhou Nan.

How ironic.

An ZhiXia felt calmer in an instant.

Perhaps realizing that she was too agitated, Zhou Nan added dejectedly, "ZhiXia, one can't be too greedy or too selfish. MeiYun only has a few days left at home. Mom only hopes that you two can get along peacefully from now on, okay?"

An ZhiXia's mouth curved slightly. "Mom said I was greedy and selfish, but how are you not greedy and selfish?

"The people who got hurt are not you, so you can casually dismiss everything with ‘it's over', never mind, you don't want to think about it so you don't have to, but what right do you have to ask me to be like you? "I can't do it, nor do I want to.

"You pushed the responsibility of driving An MeiYun away onto me, just because you don't want to admit your own ruthlessness.

"You feel guilty for losing me and want to compensate me, but you can't bear to give up the 18 years of mother-daughter affection between you and An MeiYun. How are you not greedy?

"In fact, you are the greediest. I just made you make a choice, but you want everything without taking any responsibility, blaming it all on me forcing you to make a choice. How are you not selfish?"

Zhou Nan was speechless for a long time, staring blankly at An ZhiXia.

She seemed not to have expected that her daughter, who had been silent and introverted since she came back, would be so articulate and leave her with no rebuttal.

Or perhaps it was because she was struck by the truth, so she felt ashamed.

Even An JingZhi's old face reddened.

What the Old Master said was right. Wanting everything often ends up with nothing. Making necessary sacrifices is the only way to minimize losses.

These two daughters can only keep one. Otherwise there will be no peace in this family.

"The Old Master wants MeiYun to be sent down to the countryside. Do you know what being sent down to the countryside means? It means running to the rural areas thousands of miles away to farm the land, not knowing when you can come back." Zhou Nan said woodenly.

"So what?" An ZhiXia asked. "Are you telling me that he is pitiful and needs my sympathy? But it seems you have forgotten that I grew up in the countryside since I was little. I know what life is like in the countryside. Moreover, compared to other people's simple lives, I had to endure an extra torment that did not originally belong to me, yet I still lived like this for so many years, didn't I?"

How could she possibly pity An MeiYun?

Zhou Nan was at a complete loss for words. An MeiYun, however, was very flustered. "Mom, what are you talking about? What going down to the countryside? Dad said he would arrange a job for me to stay in Jincheng, didn't he?"

Afraid that Zhou Nan would not speak, An JingZhi hurriedly said, "Your mother doesn't know what she's talking about. It wasn't your grandfather who wanted to send you to the countryside. It's just that the current situation is such that many children from high-ranking officials' families have also voluntarily signed up to go down to the countryside to support national construction. Our family doesn't have any children who have gone down yet. The leadership at the Thought Reform Committee has been working very tightly recently. Our family can't be too exceptional either, so someone has to go down to countryside."

An MeiYun couldn't help but think of her previous life. Her family had not been greatly affected then either. So after some connections were pulled, she was sent down to the nearby Anle Village. Therefore, she did not feel it was a pity that An ZhiXia had failed and the Gao Family had also collapsed in this life.

Now that the Gao Family was gone, they certainly could not let her go down nearby. It seemed that things were even worse this time, that they wanted to send her far away.

In her previous life, even when she was under the Gao Family's nose, she could still be mistreated. This time, being sent far away, wouldn't she be even more isolated and helpless?

After scheming so much and making preparations two years in advance, she still failed at every step. How could An MeiYun possibly be willing to accept this?

"Dad, you promised to find me a job. You can't go back on it. I don't want to go down to the countryside. I'm scared, Dad..." An MeiYun was really afraid, because the experience from her previous life had left her with deep shadows.

An JingZhi felt bad too, but the Old Master was a man who valued lineage.

MeiYun had occupied 18 years of ZhiXia's life. Now letting her go down to the countryside using the An family's quota was a responsibility she should bear.

Life was not perfect. There must be gains and losses.

At the beginning, the Gao Family only thought of turning their daughter into a city dweller to enjoy riches and glory. They probably didn't expect that, after so many years, the country would come up with a policy to send city folks down to the countryside to support national construction.

An JingZhi said, "MeiYun, you're not the only one who has to go down to the countryside. Your parents won't neglect you either. Compared to other families, you will at least have advantages in food, clothing, and treatment. What are you afraid of?"

"The An family doesn't have just me as a child. You make it sound so nice only because I'm not your birth daughter!" So the past pampering had all disappeared. On the contrary, they were trying every means to get rid of her and push her into the fiery pit. "If it's really as you said, then Fourth Brother and ZhiXia are also the An family's children, aren't they?"

So why should she shoulder this responsibility alone?

"Your Fourth Brother has already prepared to join the army. Joining the army and going down to the countryside to support construction are the same, both contributing to our country. As for ZhiXia..." An JingZhi glanced at An ZhiXia, "ZhiXia's household registration is still in Anle Village. She was originally from the countryside, so of course she doesn't need to go down again."

"Then can I go down nearby, to Anle Village or Grandma's place? Dad, don't send me to such a faraway place alone. I'll really be scared." An MeiYun started begging pitifully.

Although going down nearby was not what she wanted either, it seemed to be the only way now.

As for the person who had insulted her in her previous life, she had already figured out a way to send him for reform early on after her rebirth.

She believed in herself that she would absolutely not be humiliated by anyone this life. Plus with the memories from her previous life and the An family's occasional help, it was only a matter of time before she came back.