"What... What are you doing!" Xiaomei staggered back in fear.
"Xiaomei, yesterday I gambled away our home as well... It won't be long before people from the Sixth Zone come to take this residence, and I'm still in debt for over a thousand Kore..." The man's words struck her like a bolt from the blue.
Xiaomei trembled all over—this was her worst fear! Her only place of refuge was gone.
Why, why did he have to go this far, why did he have to gamble away their last scraps of warmth?
"Xiaomei, help your dad one last time, after this, I won't force you to do anything ever again..." The man approached her like a mangy dog, his tears and snot flowing freely.
"..." Her lips trembled, "Help you with what?"
This man—this man who had always dealt with her using his fists, was now groveling in the dirt, he hung his head down, crying and kissing the tops of her feet, the warmth of his tears made it impossible for her to pull away.
... She couldn't refuse.
