The eve of the storm is always calm.

Dad was informed by the village chief to go to the police station to pick up my younger brother.

It wasn't until the next morning that Dad brought my younger brother back.

As soon as Peter entered the house, he angrily scolded my mother, "It's all your fault. Why didn't you buy me those brand-name shoes?"

"I have nothing to show off in front of them, so I had no choice but to go out and sleep with a prostitute!"

Dad took several puffs of his cigarette before slowly explaining, under Mom's anxious gaze, "He slept with a girl who demanded compensation from our family before she was willing to drop the charges at the police station."

Mom stomped her foot in distress, "This won't do. Peter could go to college and will become an official in the future. How can he go to jail?"

In the end, we compensated the girl with ten thousand dollars, and my little brother finally got to wear the branded shoes he had been longing for.

I was very envious.

Mom said that new clothes and shoes were only worthy of my little brother, and I could wear the ones she no longer wears.

Quickly, it was my birthday.

Mom specially bought chicken in the morning.

Dad also bought a cake from the town.

Mom first took two big chicken legs and put them on Peter's plate, then tore open the chicken breast and put it on my plate, saying, "Monica, eat quickly. This is all lean meat and it's delicious."

She smiled and picked up a chicken wing and put it in her mouth, constantly urging me to eat the chicken breast.

My mom loves me.

She ate only the chicken wings with skin.

Dad was also there, sipping his liquor and saying, "Just eat, what are you looking at!"

Seeing that I still didn't move.

Dad puts down his glass and says, "Eat quickly, finish eating, and go to Gary's house in the next village. Come back tomorrow morning!"

Gary in the next village was an old man who was almost 70 years old.

He liked to stare at me when he was doing farm work.

"Why?"

My little brother rolled his eyes at me and said, "You fool, it's to accompany him to sleep!"

Dad slammed the table in shame and anger, shouting, "Do you know how we get 10,000 dollars for you?"

"If you don't go today, I'll kill you!"

"No!"

"What did you say?"

Mom tried to block me in front, but was pushed down by my father.

"Say it again!"

"No!"

Mom urged me anxiously, "Monica, be obedient and sensible. Just go."