The cold wind blew a snowflake into the room.
"We have raised you for so many years in vain. Get out and reflect on yourself! Come back home when you realize your mistake! Otherwise, we'll disown you."
Reid stood between our parents and echoed, "I have been calling you sister for so long in vain! Come back home when you can afford me a house! Otherwise, I'll disown you!"
They slammed the door shut!
They probably thought I had gone far away, and I heard my dad's scared voice from inside the room.
"Was I being too harsh? What if she really doesn't come back?"
My mother insisted, "It's impossible. We have brainwashed her for so many years. She will definitely realize her mistake!"
Yes, they had been brainwashing me for so long.
When I was six years old, they pointed to Lillian, our next-door neighbor, who was working in the field, and said, "Our family never favors boys over girls. Hazel, you are different from other girls. We are reluctant to let you work in the field. We'll sell everything to support your education!"
But they always complained about their own back pain and leg pain, making me voluntarily do hard labor.
When I was sixteen, they used the same trick again. So, I had to study hard for the SAT while working part-time.
I couldn't earn enough living expenses and suffered from severe malnutrition.
When I was eighteen, I became the first student in the village to be admitted to a top university.
They didn't contribute a penny, but gained a good reputation and were praised by the villagers.
Then my parents took the moral high ground. "We are getting older, and your younger brother has not been able to support himself. We don't expect much from you. We just want you to pay his tuition."
The first time I walked out of the village, I was amazed by the tall buildings in the city and felt grateful for my parents' support over the years.
I did whatever they said.
Reid's tuition was not high, and I paid it on my own.
My gratitude and generosity only increased their greed for money. They wanted more and more money from me.
In the first year of my work, my conceited parents urged me to build a new house for them in the village.
I agreed.
In my second year of work, I took out a loan to buy a flat, but they looked displeased.
They said Reid didn't have any property under his name, so why should I get myself a flat?
They argued with me for three years because I bought myself a flat.