My sister-in-law from Qingdao

"Chen Dong, don't you hate me?" Zhao Yingying looked up at me, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Why should I hate you? I have no right to hate you. Maybe you made a mistake, but as long as you know how to repent, that's the right thing to do. Listen to me, don't stay here."

"Go to Qingdao tomorrow. I'll help you find a job. Once you've earned some money, just give back to your hometown and its people."

Zhao Yingying almost burst into tears and raised her hand to wipe the corner of her eye.

"Chen Dong, I've actually met you before. I visited my aunt's house and saw you as a naive young boy. You were in junior high school then. I never imagined you would be so mature and manly now. I'm very grateful to you."

"You're welcome, it's alright. As long as you know you were wrong, learn to repent, and repay your fellow villagers, that's enough." I raised my voice a bit, but what else could I say? I had to admit that she had done many wrong things, but knowing her mistakes and correcting them made her a good person.

"Chen Dong, thank you. I don't know what I'll do in Qingdao, but with your recommendation, I believe I'll work hard. It's just that my parents still won't accept me. What should I do?"

Indeed, it seems that whether rural people are rich or poor is not that important; reputation and face are extremely important.

Her parents were criticized by the villagers for what she did, and it's normal that they couldn't tolerate her because of their gossip and criticism behind her back.

"If it were me, I wouldn't bother explaining. I'd just go out and work hard, make money, and one day return home in glory, paying off all my debts."

Zhao Yingying subconsciously shook her head: "Chen Dong, to be honest, my parents are old, and they've had a hard life."

If I can't solve this problem and just leave, what will I do if they're gone one day?

I have a high level of education, but my IQ is very low. I don't blame fate or the world for where I am today; I only blame myself.

I was hoping they would forgive me, and then I could happily go out to work, earn lots of money, and pay back all the money I'd swindled from those relatives. That would be enough.

After hearing her words, I couldn't quite describe how I felt, but I knew he had truly repented. It's not easy for anyone, and the most important thing is to admit your mistakes, correct them, and turn back.

"How about this, I'll go to your house with you, and I'll tell you that you've turned over a new leaf, started earning money, and are giving back to your hometown. They'll understand then."

Hearing my words, Zhao Yingying's eyes brightened: "Chen Dong, why are you helping me like this?"

"Actually, I'm not helping you, I'm helping the folks. Don't worry, as long as you change your mind and treat them with sincerity, they will forgive you."

Okay, let's finish burning this incense, then we'll go back to your hometown together.

I don't know why I had such thoughts, or why I treated this girl named Zhao Yingying this way.

Actually, if you think about it carefully, she has had a tough time too. It's really not easy for a girl to be out there alone.

In today's society, college students from rural areas and ordinary people probably face similar experiences.

In universities, whether junior college or university, many people may seem unremarkable and ordinary, but from the moment they enroll, their parents have already arranged jobs for them. Even if they can't inherit their parents' jobs, they can still be placed in related companies.

For example, the power bureau was assigned to the tobacco bureau, the tobacco bureau to the tax bureau, the tax bureau to the land administration bureau, and the land administration bureau to the water resources bureau. They helped each other, taking care of each other, and various behind-the-scenes methods were used to operate and manage the situation.

Even a simple, ordinary job cannot be given to an ordinary person who has no one to rely on.

This society is cruel. The cruelty doesn't lie in the competition, but in the powerful backers, the money, the power, and the shady dealings behind the scenes.

Zhao Yingying is such a person.

She was highly educated and beautiful, but in the end, she became someone else's tool, deceiving ordinary people, her compatriots, and her brothers and sisters.

Therefore, I cannot look down on her with lofty eyes. Because I am not noble to begin with; I am just an extremely ordinary person.

"Chen Dong, every time I go home and see the look in my parents' eyes, I have an urge to die."

It's true. They sold corn, sweet potatoes, wheat, and peanuts to support my schooling. But I lied to them, to my aunt, my uncle, to my relatives, to my friends. Sometimes I really didn't want to live anymore.

After hearing her words, I waved my hand and said, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. It's good to admit your mistakes and correct them."

Life is only once. As long as you don't have regrets, that's enough. Everyone makes mistakes. Go back, sincerely admit your mistakes, make your parents happy, and then pay back the money you owe.

Zhao Yingying nodded solemnly, then looked at me and said, "Chen Dong, can you come home with me?"

"No problem, I'll not only go home with you, I'll also take you to Qingdao and help you find a job."

I say this from the bottom of my heart, not because she is my relative, but because she is also a victim.

We rural folks are simple and kind when we enter society, but the city is full of tricks and scams that leave you no room to defend yourself. If you're not careful, you'll be dragged into a trap.

If I don't help a girl like this, who will?

"Chen Dong, thank you. Really. If I succeed in this life, you will be my benefactor."

I didn't want to say anything more. I helped her burn all the paper on the ground, and then burned the paper I had brought as well, and lit the incense.

We then came together from the cemetery to the highway, and finally went to Zhao Yingying's house.

The car stopped in front of her house, but Zhao Yingying didn't get out. Instead, she looked at me helplessly and asked, "Chen Dong, how am I supposed to get in?"

"Why can't you go in? This is your home, your parents are waiting for you. Go in happily and apologize, and they will forgive you."

Remember this: your parents will always be your parents. They will never mistreat you, and they will always love you, even if you've done something wrong.

Tears streamed down Zhao Yingying's face. She instinctively shook her head slightly, "Chen Dong, can you come in with me?"

"Sure. We're family, after all, it's only right that I go in with you. Let's go, it's alright."

We got off the bus together, and when we reached the big iron gate, she stopped again and looked back at me.

"Chen Dong, I really don't dare to see my parents. I've done so many wrong things, I really don't know how to face them."

Seeing her helpless look, I gave a wry smile: "They are your parents. Do you think the problem will be solved if you just stand at the door and don't go in? Actually, they don't hate you at all. They are just angry that you did something wrong. As long as you sincerely admit your mistake, they will forgive you."

Zhao Yingying gently took my hand.

"Chen Dong, thank you. I know my parents love me, but I did something wrong and I'm afraid to go home. As long as you're with me, I'll have the courage."

After saying that, the girl bit her pink lips and gently pushed open the iron gate.

The moment I pushed open the iron gate, my mind went blank; the yard was a complete mess.

Zhao Yingying's parents knelt there, with several people in floral shirts standing on one side and a man in his thirties sitting on the other side, his eyes filled with malice.