I brought my parents back to our hometown to celebrate Grandma's seventieth birthday.

At the party, in front of a crowd, my cousin David Stone—who had just been released from prison less than a year ago—decided it was the perfect moment to introduce his former cellmate as a prospective match for me.

With a grandiose air, David said, "Anna, Vincent's family is well-off and he usually doesn't bother with ordinary women. He thinks you're an exception. How about you two date for a couple of months and then get married?"

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Who do you think you are?"

——

At my parents' insistence, I drove them back to our hometown to celebrate my Grandma Amanda Stone's seventieth birthday.

As we entered the village, my parents, sitting nervously in the backseat, kept reminding me, "Anna, your Grandma is so old now. This is her first big birthday celebration. For today, please try to keep your cool and don't lose your temper.

"If you really can't hold it in, remember—use words if you can, use your hands if you must, but avoid using any tools, alright?"

I gave them a sideways glance and reluctantly agreed, "Alright."

In our rural village, when there was a celebration, pretty much everyone in town showed up to help out.

So, my grandpa Dylan Stone and Amanda's house was bustling with activity.

There were so many guests that the courtyard couldn't hold them all, so they set up a tent outside with rain covers.

The place was packed to the brim.

When the time came to start the feast, I noticed my parents visibly relax.

But their relief was short-lived.

Barely a moment after picking up my fork, things took a turn.

David walked in with a bald man. The man had a cigarette in hand, spat a thick wad of phlegm onto the ground, and took his place next to me.

David, puffing out a smoke ring, announced, "Anna, I heard from Uncle that you're still single? This is my good buddy Vincent Bullock. He comes from a well-off family and is interested in you. If you two hit it off, you could be married by the end of the year."

I politely asked, "Mr. Bullock, how old are you this year?"

"He's thirty-five, right in the prime of manhood. You're almost thirty yourself, right? I told Vincent. He doesn't mind your age."

My parents were getting increasingly anxious.

I nodded and asked, "He's at a good age and his family is well-off, but he's still single and hasn't been married before? May I ask why?"

My parents were practically frantic now, desperately signaling David.

David, however, ignored them completely and proudly said, "He was held back by his time in prison. We met there, shared the same cell, and he's a really great guy."

The guests exchanged uneasy glances.

Noticing the disapproval, David huffed and, in a condescending tone, said to me, "With Vincent's conditions, if he hadn't been held up by his prison time, do you really think someone like you would even get a chance? Anna, don't bite the hand that feeds you."

I couldn't hold back my disbelief. "Who do you think you are?"

David narrowed his eyes. "What did you just say?"

Vincent beside him scowled as well.

Sandra Stone, David's sister, was the first to react. "Anna, what's your problem? My brother is just trying to help! If we weren't family, why would we even bother with you? You're not appreciating the favor!"

I rolled my eyes. "If he's such a catch, why don't you marry him? I'm clearly not good enough."

My aunt Emma Stone chimed in loudly, "Anna, let me tell you something. At your age, dragging your feet on marriage is a huge mistake. Once a woman hits thirty, it's tough to find a match. If we weren't family, who would even care about your situation? Don't mistake kindness for stupidity!"

My uncle Jack Stone also stood up, adopting a stern tone. "Anna, Daivd's friend comes from a great family. You really can't afford to wait any longer. Look at your age—year after year, and still no prospects. People in the village are laughing about it."

I cut him off sharply. "If you're so idle, why not go deal with the manure at the village entrance instead of bothering us? If he's such a catch, why isn't Sandra marrying him? Isn't she just three months younger than me?"

Sandra shrieked, "Anna, are you out of your mind? My brother is trying to set you up, and you drag me into this? I wouldn't marry a criminal with a record!"

Vincent shot her a gloomy look.

My parents edged closer to me, shrinking like two frightened quail.

The guests paused, forks mid-air, glancing between our family and David's.

Dylan and Amanda had two sons: my dad, Ben Stone, and my uncle.

They had always shown favoritism, which only grew worse over time.

My parents, always the pushovers, were like punching bags for them.

To use a modern phrase, messing with my parents was like kicking a cushion.

After my uncle and dad got married, they split the family assets.

Our home had only a few old pieces of furniture, some sacks of grain, and a few plots of land. We lived in three crumbling mud-brick rooms.

My parents worked hard to make ends meet.

One morning, we got new chairs, but by the afternoon, Dylan had come over, sat in them, and took them when he left.

This sort of thing happened repeatedly.

Two years after the split, while Jack's family had David, my mom had me.

Dylan and Amanda increasingly favored my uncle's family, claiming David was to carry on the Stone family legacy.

During busy farming seasons, they'd make my parents work in their fields, not even providing a meal. They were told to go home for meals before returning to work.

My parents bore this mistreatment in silence, never daring to speak out or fight back.

I had to stand up for us.

I became sharper with my words and excelled in my studies.

While David failed to get into high school, I secured a spot at the county's top high school. Dylan and Amanda came to our house, complaining to my parents that all the education in the world wouldn't matter because I'd end up leaving for someone else's family anyway.

I chased them off with a broom.

After being chased away, they became even more determined to keep me from studying.

"What's the use of good grades? She's got no filial piety and dared to hit her grandparents. She's sure to be a ingrate!"

David and Sandra came by to mock me.

"What's the point of going to a top high school? You'll still end up working in a factory!"

I threw a basin of wash water at them, drenching them completely.

They left cursing, soaked and furious.

After graduating from a top high school, I went on to attend a prestigious university.

My parents' standing in the village gradually improved.

No one dared to deliberately mistreat them anymore.

Once I started earning money during college and bought a house in the city within three years of graduation, Jack's family couldn't hide their envy and jealousy.

They would regularly make passive-aggressive comments in front of my parents.

"No matter how much money she makes, she's still just a girl! Once she's married, her earnings will be for her husband's family, and it won't have anything to do with you two."

Emma would also casually mention to my mom, Alice Stone, how our family had no sons and how we were considered outcasts in the village.

This made Alice so upset that she cried.

After hearing this, I decided it was time to move my parents into my new house.

Initially, I hadn't insisted on it because they preferred rural life, were accustomed to the village community, and were intimidated by city life.

But after Jack's family's nasty comments, I made up my mind.

Since I got into that top high school, I'd been the one calling the shots in our family. Once I made a decision, my parents wouldn't oppose it.

Even though I found them both low-stress, low-wage jobs just to keep them occupied, they still wanted to return to the village during holidays to chat with the locals.

For instance, with Amanda's big birthday coming up, I felt it was unnecessary for us to go back, given that Amanda had never had a kind word for us.

But my parents were concerned that not attending might lead to gossip.

I let them have this small victory, knowing I'd always have their backs.

During the drive back to the village, we all agreed that I would rein in my temper.

Seeing me confront Jack's family in front of everyone, my parents, anxious and flustered, said nothing.

Alice whispered, "Why do you have to provoke her like this…"

Once I bought the house in the city, everyone in the village realized I was doing well financially.

Though they claimed that no matter how successful I became, I'd still be considered part of my husband's family once married, which was useless.

In reality, many were eager to take advantage. Jack's family even tried setting me up with several suitors, all of whom I turned down without hesitation.

As long as I wasn't interested, no one was going to get anything from me.

That was partly why I agreed to bring my parents back to the village.

I was ready for whatever came.

David clenched his fists, glaring at me. "What a thankless child! If you weren't my cousin, I wouldn't have introduced Vincent to you!"

Emma pretended to wipe away nonexistent tears and told my mother, Alice, "Alice, look at Anna. How can she talk like this? We're only trying to help her with her life!"

Jack addressed the villagers with a pained expression, "Look at how this girl, now that she's made some money, has become so disdainful of us poor country relatives. She's forgotten all about family ties!"

My parents were sweating bullets, unable to articulate their frustration.

As relatives began to look at me with disapproval and whisper about how I had become distant and money-focused, I knew I had to stay strong.

I saw it was almost time.

Stepping to the center of the stage, I pulled out a wireless microphone from my bag and grinned. "Well, folks, I may not have many merits, but I do know how to show gratitude! David introduced me to his friend from prison, and I've got to thank him properly! Today, we're celebrating my Grandma's 70th birthday. I've even brought in a band from the city to liven things up for everyone!"