Chapter 2The Freeloader's Folly

Early the next morning, before the sky was even fully light, my aunt started her grand performance at the yard gate.

She brought a small stool, sat at the main gate, crying and complaining: "Folks, come and judge! A nephew leaving his own uncle's family in the snow to die! He wants to wipe out our family line!"

This is the bad thing about the countryside; a tiny incident can spread for ten miles.

In no time, a crowd of villagers gathered at my door to watch the drama.

Everyone was pointing fingers at me.

"This Leo Davis looks polite and educated, how could he be so ruthless?"

"I heard he made money in the big city and now looks down on his poor relatives."

"All that education went to the dogs, doesn't even respect his elders."

Seeing the crowd grow, my uncle became even more energized.

He rolled up his sleeves, revealing a few red, swollen chilblains on the back of his hand, crying bitterly: "Look, everyone! This is the proof! Last night we walked two miles in the snow before we could climb onto a truck. We almost didn't live to see today's sun!"

My parents stood in the yard, so ashamed they couldn't lift their heads.

My dad wanted to explain, but being clumsy with words and unable to get a word in, he stamped his feet in anxiety.

At this moment, the crowd parted, and an old man leaning on a cane walked in.

It was Great-uncle, the most senior elder in the village.

"What's all this noise! It's the New Year, have you no shame!" Great-uncle struck the ground heavily with his cane.

As soon as my aunt saw Great-uncle, she immediately lunged over and hugged his leg: "Great-uncle, you have to stand up for us! This little animal Leo Davis tried to kill our whole family!"

Great-uncle frowned and looked at me: "Leo, you left them halfway on the road?"

I stepped forward, neither humble nor arrogant, took out my phone, pulled up a photo, and handed it to Great-uncle to see.

"Great-uncle, look at this first. This is the inside of the car after they got out."

In the photo, the expensive leather seats were covered in orange peels, sunflower seed shells, and even a few black burn marks from cigarette butts.

"This car isn't mine; my boss lent it to me to drive back. They threw trash everywhere in the car and insisted on smoking. When I said a word of warning, my aunt called me uptight and said as the younger generation, I should serve them. Tell me, who could stand that?" I explained.

The surrounding villagers leaned in to take a look, and the murmurs died down a bit.

"Oh my, that is really out of line, ruining a good car."

"Yeah, you can't wreck someone else's car like that."

Great-uncle glanced at the photo and waved his hand: "What's the big deal? So it got a little dirty? That's your uncle! You're family! Just wash it, isn't that enough? How could you leave your elders halfway on the road over such a trivial matter? That's unfilial!"

I was stunned.

Hearing someone backing her up, my aunt immediately jumped up from the ground, pointed at my nose, and cursed: "Did you hear that? Great-uncle said it! You are the younger generation, you should just take it! A car is a dead object, people are alive! You almost killed us over a broken car, do you have a conscience?"

"Richard Davis!" Great-uncle turned to look at my dad, "Is this the good son you raised? Make him kneel down and apologize to his elders right now!"

Kneel down?

Hearing this, my dad's knees went weak, and he was about to kneel.

All his life, he feared nothing more than being told he failed to teach his son properly, and feared offending the clan elders even more.

"Dad!" I was quick, grabbing my dad's arm and pulling him back up forcefully. "We did nothing wrong, don't kneel!"

My dad trembling took out a bankbook from his chest pocket, his voice shaking: "Brother, Great-uncle, don't be angry. Leo is ignorant, I'll pay, I'll pay... There's three thousand dollars in here, my pension money, take it first..."

Looking at my dad's stooped back, I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my flesh.

He had been submissive his whole life. For the sake of my reputation, he was willing to empty his life savings.

My uncle's eyes lit up, and he reached out to snatch the bankbook.

Slap!

I slapped my uncle's hand away and smoothly shoved the bankbook back into my dad's pocket.

"Not a single cent!" I looked coldly at my uncle. "Forget three thousand, you won't even get three cents!"

My uncle froze for a moment, then flew into a rage out of humiliation.

He looked around, saw a shovel leaning against the wall, grabbed it, and swung it at me: "You're rebelling! If you don't pay up today, I'll beat you to death, you unfilial son!"

The surrounding villagers gasped in shock and backed away.

My parents turned pale with fear. My mom even screamed and rushed over, trying to block me.