“Why? Isn’t it better that you’re alive? Why can’t anyone else know?” Mu’s mother was even more confused.
“I…” Mu Jingmei suddenly didn’t know how to explain herself.
After she was sent to the dam construction site, she couldn’t stand the intense labor day after day, so she found an opportunity to sneak away. Who could have guessed that the dam would collapse not long after she fled, bringing a large number of people to the area?
Afraid that someone would discover she had run away without permission, she had tried to return amid the chaos. But the people there were guarding the site so strictly that she couldn’t find an opportunity.
Even now, plenty of people were still looking for her. She had spent her days hiding from place to place, terrified that she would be caught and sent back.
At first, she had assumed that with so many people involved, no one would make much of her disappearance. Who could have known that the dam would collapse and attract so much attention, leaving her trapped in an impossible situation?
More importantly, she had injured Yang Dafu before leaving. He was probably eager to kill her by now, so she could not go back under any circumstances.
But she couldn’t tell Mu’s mother any of that.
“Mom, I have my reasons. Please don’t ask anymore,” Mu Jingmei said anxiously.
“Jingmei, you…”
Mu’s mother wanted to press her for an explanation, but Mu Jingmei interrupted her again.
“Mom, I heard that because of the dam collapse, everyone from the brigade who went to help with the construction received a large compensation payment?”
“I believe that’s what happened.” Mu’s mother nodded.
Wu Zhenggui had come to their house and told them about it.
At the time, however, Mu Jingmei’s body had not yet been found, and the police could not issue a death certificate. As a result, the compensation had to be put on hold.
They had said that once her body was found—or once the legally required period for a missing person had passed and a death certificate could be issued—the money would be paid to them.
But Mu’s mother had never cared about the compensation. All she wanted was for Mu Jingmei to be alive and well.
She had sent Wu Zhenggui away after hearing only a few words, never imagining that Mu Jingmei had somehow learned about the matter.
“How much compensation was I supposed to receive?” Mu Jingmei asked, growing even more agitated.
“None.” Mu’s mother shook her head.
“None? How is that possible? I was on the list of people sent to build the dam too.” Mu Jingmei’s voice rose.
“But you’re only missing. Your body hasn’t been found, and the police suspect that you’re still alive. Naturally, they can’t give us the compensation,” Mu’s mother explained.
“How can this be?”
Mu Jingmei felt as if she were going mad.
She had risked being discovered to sneak into the hospital, all so she could get her share of the compensation from Mu’s mother, leave this place, and never return.
But now Mu’s mother was telling her there was no money. How was she supposed to leave?
“Jingmei, you’re alive and well now. Stop thinking about the compensation. Being alive is worth more than anything,” Mu’s mother said, staring intently at her.
“What do you know?” Mu Jingmei shouted angrily.
Mu’s mother froze where she stood, staring blankly at her. It took her a long time to recover.
“Mom, I didn’t mean to yell. It’s just that I’m in desperate need of money. Do you have any? Give it all to me.” Mu Jingmei held out her hand.
Tears still clung to Mu’s mother’s eyes, but they slowly faded as she stared at her without blinking.
“Jingmei, tell me—what do you need the money for? You’re clearly alive, so why have you refused to show yourself all this time? You want to… run away?”
By then, Mu’s mother had already calmed down from her earlier emotions.
Seeing that her mother had seen through her intentions, Mu Jingmei no longer bothered to hide them. She nodded.
“Yes. I want to leave while I have the chance. We’ve always been branded as people sent down for reeducation. No matter where we go, no one will ever truly respect us. I don’t want to live like a rat in the streets for another day. Give me some money. I’m leaving this place and starting a new life.” Mu Jingmei enunciated every word.
As Mu’s mother listened, her grip on Mu Jingmei’s hand slowly loosened. Not a trace of warmth remained in her eyes.
“Jingmei, we were sent down here for reeducation. What you’re doing is desertion. If the organization finds out, you’ll receive severe punishment. It might even bring trouble down on the entire family.”
“Do you want to stand by and watch me die?” Mu Jingmei knew her mother would start nagging the moment she found out.
“How could I ever watch you die? Now that you’ve come back, you should go straight to the organization and explain everything. Perhaps they won’t punish you too severely…” Mu’s mother had not finished speaking when Mu Jingmei cut her off.
“Are you really my mother? You actually want me to walk right into their hands? If I go back, I’ll definitely be punished again!”
“But you made a mistake. It’s only right that you be punished…” Mu’s mother still tried to persuade her.
“What do you mean, it’s only right? What mistake did I make? The reason I’ve ended up in this state is because of you and Dad dragging me down. If you two had behaved yourselves and not acted like capitalists, why would I have ended up in this godforsaken place?”
Mu’s mother was rendered speechless by Mu Jingmei’s accusations. She could only stare at her with a pale face.
“This is all your fault. Now hurry up and hand over every cent you have. I’m leaving right away!” Mu Jingmei was afraid someone would discover her and had no patience to placate her mother. All she wanted was to get the money and leave as soon as possible.
“I don’t have any money.”
Mu’s mother finally found her voice.
But it was hoarse, and her eyes were filled with disappointment.
She truly should never have held out any hope for this daughter of hers.
“How can you not have any money? Doesn’t the village distribute dividends every month? Dad is still the village accountant, and he earns full work points every day. There’s no way you two could have nothing. Did you give all the money to my brother?” Mu Jingmei’s features twisted when she heard that her mother had no money.
“He doesn’t need my money. I spent it all on my illness. In fact, I’ve had to rely on them to help support me,” Mu’s mother said calmly.
The expression on Mu Jingmei’s face froze.
“Jingmei, since you managed to find your way to the hospital, you should know that I’m sick. But from the moment you arrived until now, you haven’t asked me once how I’m doing. You’ve only been focused on asking me for money. Jingmei, how did you become like this?”
Mu’s mother felt as if a piece of her heart had been torn out.
The pain made it difficult for her even to breathe.
“You look perfectly fine now. Anyone can see it’s nothing serious. But if you don’t give me money, something really will happen to me. Mom, I’m your own daughter. Do you really want to watch me die?” Mu Jingmei grabbed her mother’s hand and looked at her desperately.
“My brother must have money. Go ask him for some, then give it to me.”
