Chapter 7

At the same time, my mom didn’t give up on fighting for her share of the family assets.

Though it was just a few acres of land and some other insignificant items, my mom stood her ground.

My mom said,

“What’s ours is ours. We won’t give anyone a single cent!”

My mom was fierce, staying up all night flipping through relevant legal texts.

My uncle heard about the property division but still didn’t come home to support my aunt or grandma.

Grandpa had already passed away.

The remaining two women ultimately couldn’t outmaneuver my mom.

My mom used the weapon of the law to protect herself and ultimately achieved a great victory.

I still remember, that day was a rare sunny one.

My mom wore makeup for the first time in her life, and high heels for the first time in her life.

She wore the first new outfit she’d bought that year — she had originally planned to save it for the holidays.

She took my schoolbag, her voice very casual.

“Iris, the holidays are coming soon. Mom will take you to buy a new outfit.”

That day, my mom spent all her money on me.

We didn’t go home until she had spent all the money she had brought with her.

My mom wasn’t used to high heels. Halfway home, she just took them off and walked on the cold ground.

I followed suit and took off my shoes too.

My mom quickly tried to stop me.

“Iris, please don’t live as struggling a life as your mom.”

I shook my head firmly.

“Mom, you’re amazing. You’re the best in the world.”

“I’ll be just as amazing as you.”

My mom paused, then laughed heartily, tapping my head.

Soon, I entered middle school.

My mom thrived in the county town.

I heard from a relative in the village that Aunt Brenda’s second pregnancy didn’t make it.

They said it was because my cousin Brad was mischievous and started playing with pesticides.

He accidentally got some in the cooking pot, and Grandma didn’t notice.

After the whole family ate, they all rolled their eyes and started foaming at the mouth.

If a neighbor hadn’t happened to visit Grandma’s house, they might have all just laid there until the next morning.

Later, everyone was rescued, but the baby in Aunt Brenda’s belly couldn’t be saved.

My uncle rushed back when he heard the news.

He slapped Aunt Brenda right there in the hospital and started screaming at Grandma.

But he didn’t say a single word of blame to his own son.

My uncle spent a lot of money because of this incident.

After returning home, he stayed in his hometown and didn’t go back to working out of town.

Soon after, I started middle school, and the school was even further from home.

My mom frowned, wanting to rent a new house near the school to be with me.

But she didn’t need to worry. The real estate market exploded.

The house we’d bought next to the elementary school was now considered a prime school district property.

My mom didn’t hesitate; she sold it at a high price and bought a new house near my middle school.

My mom seized the opportunity and entered the real estate industry.

After work, she would pick me up from school, then study with me until ten at night.

Sometimes, when I woke up in the middle of the night for water, I’d see my mom burning the midnight oil, reading related books.

She was adept at seizing opportunities and successfully carved out a place for herself in the real estate industry.

My mom was busy and tired, but she still insisted on picking me up from school.

In middle school, I started to blossom, and my grades were exceptional.

One day after school, my mom hadn’t arrived yet.

Some punk kid with dyed hair blocked my way near the school, running his hand through his hair and telling me he liked me.

Before I could even speak, the next second, my mom appeared beside him, glaring with a deathly stare.

“What did you just say to my daughter? Say it again?”

The punk kid was so scared he ran away.

That night, my mom used the excuse of bringing me a late-night snack and milk to check on me.

She asked me five times if I had any thoughts about dating.

I said no.

“Mom, don’t worry, all I want to do right now is be with you.”

My mom contentedly rubbed my head and told me to go to bed early.

A week later, I heard that an entire food street near the school had been bought out and was being renovated.

After that, the food street, which had been plagued by various hooligans for years, no longer saw a single one.

Later, I found out that my mom had bought out the entire street.

Just to protect her daughter’s growth.