This chapter was meant to prepare for the eventual ending. Consider it an early goodbye.
At this point, I was basically trying to survive in the city. All my writing income combined was barely enough to get by. I paid the rent and utilities (250 + 87 = 337).
My writing income this month was less than 500 yuan. Even with some side income and a little money left over from last month, it was still a drop in the bucket. I had no money last month and borrowed some from a buddy, then paid him back this month.
My family started criticizing me again, but my father understood me. He supported me and gave me enough time to prove myself.
My mother was different. She found every possible way to belittle me, making snide remarks and putting me down. Then came the classic lectures: "I'm only doing this for your own good," or "Look what you've become because I didn't keep you in line."
You have no idea. There was no reasoning with her. Before, my mother only let me keep writing because my books helped with the household expenses. Later, my writing income did get a little low, and she was no longer satisfied, so she told me to go out and get a job. I could understand that.
For various reasons, I later stayed home to write novels again. I had been updating every day without fail, but she kept bad-mouthing me until everyone in the neighborhood knew. Women just couldn't keep anything to themselves...
At home, she criticized me every day. Being yelled at was normal, and there was no shortage of nasty things said.
When you had no money, even your family looked down on you.
Maybe my mother wasn't like this at first. Maybe