1 The War of China.
"Zhang Yi!" Her aunt called
"Yes mom!" she replied
"Go and get out the thrash of the house or you will be beaten very hard." She screamed with an unpleasant look
"Yes, mom, I will sort the thrash!" she replied modestly
Zhang Yi was a young woman aged 25 who is still living with her parents. Her mother Zhang Lan got pregnant of her aged 17. She was forced to drop out of school and take care of herself.
Her mother was a studious student who was born to a polygamous family. Her half-sisters were jealous and drugged her to get her pregnant in a cartel. She did not recall what happened and her family just expelled her from the family calling her a disgrace.
She started selling hotpot in a small workshop to sustain the needs of Zhang Yi and pay her scholarship. Zhang Lan died at age 20 due to depression and her efforts to find the father of Zhang Yi were lost.
Zhang Yi was given to the eldest sister of her mother, Zhang Yue. Her aunt did not like Zhang Yi and thought she was like her mother. No, one except for the half-sisters of Zhang Lan knows that Lan was drugged and raped unconscious.
"Get your food in the kitchen and you will clean the house." She screamed
Every single day of her life, Zhang Yi was maltreated and everyone in the house despised her except the father who often had pity for her and bought her candies. Her Aunt Zhang Yue has prevented her husband to pity her saying his mom was a prostitute and that she was taking care of her. It was rare for the father to give her candies or help but when she received them, she was always grateful.
Zhang Yi was working as a seamstress in a tailoring shop to create dresses and sketches of new dresses for her boss. She loved sewing and all that concerned fashion because she was hoping one day, she could become a fabulous fashion star known all over China and beyond.
...
"Mom! I finished working, I will go for my night lessons." Zhang Yi said humbly to her
Zhang Yi called her aunt, "Mom" because she had accepted to take her as her daughter and was grateful for that. Zhang Yi's mom died when she was only 7 and was obliged to start working to get food and a place to sleep.
"Yes! If you don't come back before 11 pm you will be whipped," she said as she was staring at her magazine
Zhang Yi was well dressed and when she opened the door, she released a sigh of relief.
She was tired and wanted to save enough money to buy her own home and start a family. She was determined to get her degree in tailoring to really begin a carrier. That's why she is working hard even though she is suffering.
"I will walk to the university," she said to herself as she was getting up from the little steps in front of the door
The night was chill and the neighbors were walking back to their homes. She was very fond of her neighbors because they were very kind to her as she was running some errands for them in her free time.
"Goodnight, Miss Wang!" she greeted
"Study well, Zhang Yi darling!" she responded
The lessons were starting in two hours and Zhang Yi did not stop revising her books on tailoring even as she was walking.
She had her two reliable friends who always helped her when she was in trouble. She was taking out her phone to call them.
"Mei Yuan and Mo Lin, hello!" she greeted from her phone
"Hello Yi! are you getting out for the lessons?" they asked
"Yes, Yes!" she replied humming happily
"Is your aunt out, can we go and eat hotpot at Hotty pot restaurant?" they asked
"No, no girls! I will just be staying here at university!" she replied in a calm tone
"Are you sure? Look forward to you." Mei Yuan said
When she looked face to her, she saw her friends at the entrance of the street.
"Surprise! We got you." They said
"Oh! Mei Yuan, Mo Lin you scared me." She said as she rushed to hug them
"We paid for a cab to pick us." Mo Lin said
"Come and economize more to stop walking for school." Mei Yuan said patting Zhang Yi
"My friends are so exigent. Why don't they understand I'm saving to live in an apartment?" She thought feeling helpless
...
Zhang Yi has finished her lessons of night and was heading out for home. She quickly picked a cab to head home.
"See you tomorrow, Yi Yi!" they said
"Don't forget the hotpot is at 4 pm," they screamed
"I won't forget! Be safe," she said
As soon as the cab was leaving her on her street, she quickly ran to reach home. It was almost 11 pm and only five minutes were left before time is up.
"I don't have to be late!" she said as she was running back home.
"As soon as she was near home it was over, time was up and it was exactly 11 pm." She knew she will be punished
She knocked on the door and when it opened she received a slap from her aunt.
"I told you to come before 11 pm and you are late for one minute. Learn how to be organized Zhang Yi, you daughter of a prostitute." her aunt screamed
With tears in her eyes, she raised her voice and spoke sweetly.
"Mom! I ran from all my might to get back home please forgive me!" she said sobbing and speaking sincerely from the bottom of her heart
Her aunt took her hair and flung her to her feet, inside of the house.
"Get to your room you will not have breakfast tomorrow!" she screamed
"Yue! what is going on?" Her uncle called
Her uncle saw Zhang Yi crying and hiding her face with her hand.
"Yue, stop it she is an adult and she is helping you pay the bills can you at least stop treating her like a child? She apologized and said she did her best to get back home early can you stop it?" he screamed at his wife
Her aunt just nodded and went back to her room waving at her husband to get to the room too.
Zhang Yi ran to her room and jumped to her bed crying until her eyes were all red. She held her pillow tightly and continued sobbing. Her aunt always maltreated her. Yet, she was still kind and tried to please her.
She screamed the name of her mother at the window and asked her to help.
The neighbors were aware of the maltreatment of Zhang Yi and they often called the police for them to arrest her aunt, Zhang Yue. But Zhang Yue threatened Zhang Yi not to say anything or she will be chased out from home. Then in front of the police, she will treat her as her own daughter and give her good food, she will even kiss her or pet her. When the police will go and finish asking questions, she will push her away and wash her hands as if she touched thrash.
The police could not arrest Zhang Yue, because they had no proof of maltreatment against her, and Zhang Yi never said anything. She could never talk about her maltreatment to others, not even her best friends.
She was helpless.
Suddenly as she was feeling sleepy, she heard strange sounds.
War was beginning!
...
