...

Jasmine looked down and listened to Eva beside her. She was selling Jasmine like goods.

Eva boasted to Mr. Max. Then she looked at the fat man in front of her and she could not help but laugh.

"I heard that you have a son when you’re old. You are born with good fortune. With our Jasmine, your family is sure to prosper."

Mr. Max happened to be in the 80s or 90s. He seized the opportunity and bought some properties and a few houses in their small town.

After being rich, Mr. Max had already bought a house in the county. Although the housing price in the small city was not expensive, in their eyes, this was already a sky-high mansion.

Mr. Max looked at Jasmine, who was sitting opposite him, and his eyes were shining.

Jasmine was beautiful and smart, which was the best way to improve their family’s IQ.

Mr. Max twirled a large gold ring on his hand slightly, and then he took it off his hand and stuffed it into Eva’s hand.

"She’s a nice girl. I am satisfied with her. Tell me, how many betrothal gifts do you want?"

Mr. Max’s words immediately made Eva excited.

Eva smiled excitedly and said, "We are so familiar with each other. As long as Jasmine gets married and lives a good life, the betrothal gifts will be easy."

As Eva spoke, she held up two fingers.

Mr. Max said, "Forty thousand!"

Marrying a college student with forty thousand was also worth it, although a bit expensive.

After all, it was related to their descendants. If the child would be smart and beautiful as Jasmine, then their family was really...

Eva smiled, "Forty thousand is not a lot. Our Jasmine is worth this price. If you can’t bear it, other people in town are willing. Marrying a college student will not only make you proud, but it will be the only one in our town."

In poorer places, those who thought they were rich tended to have more pride.

Mr. Max was very excited when he heard the ’only one’.

What was so great about university students? Mr. Max was rich, and his son could marry as they wished.

Mr. Max was just about to agree when Jasmine sitting opposite him suddenly said,

"Four hundred thousand... with two apartments in town."

Jasmine who was sitting quietly suddenly looked up. With the low-cut eyeshadow on her face and her explosive hair, she looked a bit non-mainstream.

It was still very popular in their town as if this kind of girl was delicate like a doll.

Mr. Max in front was stunned. Wasn’t it an exorbitant demand?

No one in their town had ever married such an expensive wife.

Eva at the side also exclaimed, "What nonsense are you spouting?"

Jasmine turned to look at Eva in front of her with a cute smile.

"You raised me, and my cousin is already at the age of marriage. How can forty thousand be enough? With a house in town, my cousin can marry a college student in the future."

Jasmine seemed to know Eva very well.

Eva originally wanted a house, but forty thousand was enough for her to buy a house in their town.

"Thank you for taking care of me, I have to dote on aunt and uncle. When I get married, I have to work even harder to help you. I want my cousin to become rich soon, so you will live a good life."

"I am the only college student in this town. Many rich people want to marry me. Moreover, I am so beautiful. There are even more people who want to give me the betrothal gifts. Four hundred thousand and two apartments, not a penny less. I can’t wrong my uncle and aunt."

What Jasmine said sounded so grateful, and she tried to please Eva.

This was clearly Eva’s scheme.

Mr. Max was shocked.

Well, even if it was four hundred thousand, they still wanted two apartments.

Moreover, it was obvious that Eva wanted it.

With his son like this, if Mr. Max died, wouldn’t all of his family property be ruined by Jasmine? What would his son do then?

It was said that the university student had many tricks up his sleeves. Jasmine indeed read a book. She was quite clever.

"No, no, Mr. Max..."

Eva panicked and was to get up, but Mr. Max did not give her any chance.

Mr. Max stood up and pulled up his son. He sneered, "You have a good plan. I want to see who in town can afford four hundred thousand."

Having Jasmine be his daughter-in-law would cost Mr. Max everything. He would

never do it.

"Mr. Max, let’s discuss this again..."

"Aunt, without four hundred thousand and two apartments, it proves that he is not so rich. He always did like this to pretend to be a wealthy man. He can’t even afford four hundred thousand. He is not the richest man in Moonlight City."

Jasmine said gently, but her words hurt Mr. Max.

Mr. Max stopped and turned to look at Jasmine.

Mr. Max thought, ’She is flirtatious and coquettish. She doesn’t look like a decent woman.’

It was said that college students nowadays were in a mess and greedy for vanity.

Mr. Max didn’t want such a college student, even it’s free.

"Well, college students are knowledgeable. We don’t like you. Don’t contact each other in the future."

Mr. Max clearly said to Eva beside Jasmine.

With that, Mr. Max pulled his son and strode away.

"Mr. Max, Mr. Max..."

Eva couldn’t stop Mr. Max.

Eva looked back at Jasmine.

Before Eva could speak, Jasmine had said, "Auntie, don’t worry. There are many rich people in Sun City. Four hundred thousand is just their monthly pocket money. I am so beautiful. When we finish my studies, I will find a richer one to be filial to you."

Eva originally wanted to criticize Jasmine, but after hearing Jasmine’s words, she suddenly stopped.

Eva looked at Jasmine up and down, "It’s a pity we missed Mr. Max. He is the richest person in Moonlight City."

Although Eva was distressed, when she thought of what Jasmine had just said, she felt hopeful.

Eva looked at Jasmine up and down.

Jasmine was the most beautiful and knowledgeable girl in their town. It would be a pity if she married a fool.

Eva then thought about forty thousand she wanted before... It seemed that she was mall-minded.

Jasmine was right. No matter what, Eva had to get two apartments in Moonlight City.

One was for Eva, and the other was for her son to marry.

"Auntie, you also know that there are no rich people in Moonlight City. It was not easy for me to get into Sun City University. How can I ask for just forty thousand

dollars?"

"You’re right. Do you have a goal now? How rich are the rich in Sun City? I don’t want anything from you. I just hope you live a good life in the future and don’t forget how good we are to you."

Eva held Jasmine’s hand and said feelingly.

Jasmine looked down. The long strands of hair obscured the expression on her face.

Jasmine said calmly, "Aunt, don’t worry. I will never forget!"

...

Out of the small restaurant.

Jasmine clenched the luggage in her hand and bit her lip as she looked at the woman beside her, "Eva, can I go to see my mother now?"

She was brought here from A City by her aunt Eva. As soon as they arrived at the town, she was pressed into a hair salon and dressed up. Then she was brought to this small restaurant for a blind date.

There was some hesitation on Eva’s face. She felt suspicious of failing to "sell" Jasmine for a good price.

However, Jasmine looked so obedient and couldn’t have cheated her.

Jasmine probably dared not to lie. Because her mother was controlled by Eva.

With this thought, Eva eased down. She smiled at Jasmine, "Okay, let’s go now. But before we go, I should buy a pack of cigarettes for your uncle first. You know he is an addict. If I didn’t bring cigarettes back, he would be angry with me."

The town was miles away from the village they lived in.

To tell the truth, it was a backwater and her family was very poor.

Every time back, she had to take a car for a long time and sometimes even had to walk on foot for a few hours.

"Well, I have just come back and had not prepared gifts for you, uncle, and my cousin. I’ll buy the cigarettes for uncle."

The town was very small and the goods were cheap, but the gift was enough to make the family happy.

Eva was beaming with a smile as she pulled Jasmine’s hand and said, "I knew you were filial. I don’t have a daughter, but I have raised you as my daughter. How about we go to JL mall?"

The JL mall was just a three-story shopping mall in Whitewater Town.

Compared to those in the big cities, this shopping mall was better than an underground supermarket.

But here in Whiter town, this was a place where only the richest would go.

Jasmine nodded and said obediently, "Alright!"

Eva eagerly pulled Jasmine to the most prosperous place in the town.

No matter the marriage would be successful or not, Eva would not reject Jasmine’s gift.

Jasmine did not resist. She followed Eva with her luggage.

Looking down, she concealed the emotions in her eyes.

Eva said she treats her as her daughter!

It was funny to hear.

After all, what parents in the world would let their daughter grow up in a pigsty?

The night fell.

Jasmine finally followed the woman into the house.

Eva was in the new clothes they bought just now and carrying a dozen of shopping bags, big and small. As soon as they stepped into the yard, Eva grabbed the things from Jasmine’s hand and strode into the main house.

"Eva, my mother..."

Jasmine asked nervously in a low voice. When Eva casually pointed to the shabby little hut in the west of their yard, Jasmine finally revealed a smile.

"Thank you."

With that, Jasmine quickly ran into the house.

Eva watched as Jasmine hurried away and rolled her eyes in disgust.

She secretly cursed Jasmine’s mother to die.

As Jasmine opened the door of the dark and damp hut, a moldy and rancid smell assailed her nostrils.

Inside was pitch black. If it wasn’t for the little noise in the room, no one would have thought that there would be someone living here.

There was a faint sound in the room. Jasmine stood outside the door and her eyes instantly turned red.

The light in the room was lit up.

It was the old-fashioned light bulb so the light was dim.

The entire room could barely be seen clearly.

"Mom..."

When Jasmine saw the woman lying on the ground, she couldn’t help but pounce at her.

The room was full of sundries. In a corner, there was a pile of bricks covered with two worn-out quilts.

A skinny woman curled up on it. It was Jasmine’s mother, Jenny.

Seeing Jasmine, Jenny’s eyes regained some clarity and she desperately grabbed Jasmine’s hand.

"Jasmine, you are back."

"Mom, how can they do this to you?"

The room was full of garbage and waste, and there was a dung bucket in the corner.

There was a broken bowl at the head of the bed. The food inside was black and smelly with a layer of mold on it. No one could tell what was inside.

Jenny held Jasmine’s hand tightly as if she was using all her strength.

"Don’t worry about them. I won’t live for long. The earlier I died, the earlier the weight on your shoulder could be lifted."

Under the woman’s pillow, a mobile phone was secretly hidden.

Jasmine called her every day, but she had not said a single word of what a life she was living.

"They spent my money and lived in our house. How can they let you..."

Jasmine gritted her teeth. Her eyes were swollen and bloodshot.

The air in this broken hut was staler and even colder than outside on this winter day.

"It doesn’t matter. I won’t live for much longer. I’m already happy to see you again."

Jenny held Jasmine’s hands tightly. Whether it was because she was afraid that Jasmine would make a scene with her uncle or afraid that she would leave, it was not that important.

"Mom..."

"Why are you back? Isn’t the final exam coming soon? Mom knows that you are good at studying, but it’s such a long way to come back. Did you ask for leave from school?"

Jasmine hurriedly shook her head, "No, it’s the school holiday. The exam is coming soon, so the school let us relax for two days. I will go back tomorrow."

Hearing her words, Jenny seemed to be relieved. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

She looked at Jasmine and revealed a smile, which looked strange on her haggard face. "Put your heart in studying. Don’t worry about me. I’m fine as long as I have something to eat. When you go abroad and come back with knowledge, my good days will come."

Hearing these, the tears in Jasmine’s eyes instantly gushed out.

In the early years, a flood took their house and her father’s life.

She and her mother were left behind. Then, her uncle and aunt came to join them.

Unfortunately, during the time Jenny worked outside, a car accident took away her legs.

With the compensation for her parents’ accidents, Jasmine struggled to finish middle school.

Soon, her uncle took over their house. She and her mother were too weak. In order to go to school, she could only live with her mother in the pigsty.

Later, she was admitted to Sun City University as the top student in this city.

She could finally escape from here, but her mother was still trapped.

All these years, Jasmine worked hard to rebuild the house.

She thought that if she paid more, her uncle and aunt would treat her mother better.

Now she finally realized that they were too heartless to be grateful.