Chapter 3The Final Prescription

Growing up, the phrase I heard most was "Money-loser."

When I was six, I tiptoed to hang clothes and accidentally tore Caleb's shirt.

Mom grabbed a belt and whipped my calves until they were swollen for two weeks.

On my eighth birthday, there was a small bowl of braised pork, oily and shiny.

While they talked, I quickly snatched the smallest piece.

Before I could swallow, a slap landed.

Mom dragged me by the hair to the yard.

"Starving ghost! Daring to steal brother's meat?"

Her spit sprayed on my face.

That night, I was stripped of pants, kneeling on a washboard.

Caleb squatted in front of me with his bowl.

He threw a half-eaten piece of meat on the ground, stomping it into the mud.

"Money-loser, only fit to eat this."

Later I got into the best high school in the county.

Dad smoked, saying after a long time: "Girls, what's the use of studying? Go work early, save tuition for your brother."

My homeroom teacher came, banging the table: "It's a waste if this kid doesn't study. I'll figure out the tuition."

Only then did I barely step into high school.

I spent all free time washing dishes in the back of a small restaurant. Half the money earned had to be handed over as "food money."

What about Caleb?

Grades a mess, fighting, parents called to school. Mom smiled apologetically there, came back and gave me a cold face:

"It's all you! Bad example! If you weren't so useless, would your brother be bad?"

Dad raised his hand to hit.

That slap landed solidly on my face.

I washed his socks, cleaned his room. He caused trouble, I got scolded.

Meat in his bowl, leftover soup in mine.

He could act spoiled for new sneakers. I got scolded for "being insensible" just asking for a textbook.

"You're the big sister, yield to your brother."

"Brother is the only male, the family depends on him."

"Girl, studying is useless, you'll belong to another family."

高考 scores came out, I was second in the county in science.

Dad said: "What's the use? Money-loser! Marrying early for a bridal price is the right way!"

At night, I overheard them discussing.

"Old Man Miller, over fifty, wife died, willing to pay $18,000."

"$18,000! Enough for a down payment for son in the city!"

"Just a bit old..."

"Older men know how to care! The girl read too many books, heart went wild, marry her off quick!"

I went cold all over, got up in the dark, and ran.

When the bus started, I had only one thought:

Run.

Run out even if I die.

Never come back.