Family is the first priority in Chen Nan's heart.
Although Jia Cui is his stepmother, and his two younger sisters have no blood relation to him, he clearly remembers the changes that occurred after Jia Cui brought the two sisters into their home.
It wasn't just about having playmates and two shadow-like followers in his childhood; it was more about the warmth of family.
He didn't remember much from his childhood, but he clearly recalled the scenes of his father taking him to work at the steel plant.
He would be casually left in the factory, staying for half the day, sometimes even wetting his pants without realizing it.
But things changed after Jia Cui came into their lives.
She would care for him, look after him, ask him what he liked to eat, treating him completely as her own son.
He felt the warmth of maternal love from her. Even though Jia Cui's attitude towards him was unfriendly upon his return from prison, Chen Nan wasn't angry. After all, he was the one who had caused the family trouble.
"Hmph, even if you admit your mistake, I won't forgive you unless you can repay the debt. But do you have the ability to do that? Can you earn thirty thousand yuan within a month?" Jia Cui said impatiently. She usually liked Chen Nan's habit of admitting his mistakes bravely.
But now, he directly admitted that everything was his fault, which made it difficult for her to vent her anger.
"Brother?"
A sweet, excited voice came from behind Chen Nan.
Chen Nan turned around, and a tall, naturally beautiful young girl met his gaze.
She was about 1.65 meters tall, with bright eyes and pearly teeth. Her white V-neck T-shirt paired with tight jeans accentuated her graceful figure.
She was like a lotus that emerged from the mud unstained; even in simple attire, her captivating aura was undeniable.
"Xia Zhi, long time no see!" Chen Nan smiled dotingly. Three years had passed, and she had grown even more elegant and poised.
Chen Xia Zhi excitedly threw herself into Chen Nan's embrace, greedily inhaling his scent. Hot tears soaked the front of Chen Nan's clothes, warming his heart.
"Why are you still such a crybaby?" Chen Nan chuckled, ruffling her hair.
Although he had two younger sisters, Chen Xia Zhi was the closest to him.
When he came to this family, Chen Nan was five years old, and Chen Xia Zhi was only two. Their age difference was small, and Chen Nan doted on this sister, spending almost all his pocket money on her.
Therefore, shortly after joining the family, Chen Xia Zhi cried and insisted on sleeping with Chen Nan.
It wasn't until Chen Nan was twelve that Jia Cui forcibly separated them.
At first, Chen Xia Zhi was unwilling and even cried, but it was to no avail until she was spanked.
The reason was that Chen Xia Zhi had said she wanted to marry Chen Nan when she grew up.
"This is tears of joy," Chen Xia Zhi said with a blissful expression.
"How old are you two and still hugging like this? Break it up, quickly. What will the neighbors think if they see this?" Jia Cui said impatiently.
It might have been acceptable if they were biological siblings, but they had no blood relation.
As a mother, she was genuinely afraid that things might escalate.
Chen Xia Zhi pouted, "Let those who want to gossip, gossip. What's wrong with me hugging my brother? If they look at this with lecherous eyes, it means their hearts are impure!"
Chen Nan coughed lightly, understanding his stepmother's concerns. He gently pushed Chen Xia Zhi away, who looked displeased. "I learned some medical skills in prison. I want to examine Dad's legs and see if there's any possibility of recovery."
"Brother knows medicine?"
Not only Chen Xia Zhi but also Chen Shan and Jia Cui showed a flicker of surprise in their eyes.
Chen Nan said, "I apprenticed with an elder in prison. He passed on all his lifetime knowledge to me. It shouldn't be difficult to treat Dad."
"Chen Nan, since when did you pick up the habit of bragging? I'm telling you, it's a sickness and needs treatment!" Jia Cui said expressionlessly.
He was merely a half-baked practitioner who had studied medicine for three years. He might be able to treat minor injuries.
But Chen Shan's legs had missed the optimal treatment window. She had no confidence that Chen Nan could cure her husband.
"Mom, you know my brother's personality better than I do. Does he seem like someone who brags? I believe him. If he says he can cure Dad, he can!" Chen Xia Zhi defended Chen Nan and gave him a sweet smile as encouragement.
Chen Shan also said, "Since our son has this filial intention, let him try."
Even though Chen Shan didn't believe in Chen Nan's medical skills, he couldn't refuse his son's filial piety or resist him like his wife.
Seeing both father and son siding with Chen Nan, Jia Cui's anger intensified. "If he truly had filial piety, he wouldn't have meddled and caused trouble for our family three years ago!"
Chen Shan shook his head, "See, you're bringing up old issues again!"
"Mom, I don't agree with you," Chen Xia Zhi said with determination in her eyes. "You have daughters too, two of them. Have you ever put yourself in our shoes? If Han Lu and I were carried into a car trunk by someone after getting drunk, would you hope someone would step in and meddle?"
"Also, when Dad was beaten while selling goods, did you hope someone would step in and meddle?"
"If everyone had a chivalrous heart like my brother and was willing to act righteously, would there be so many criminals in the world?"
"You..." Jia Cui's face turned ashen, unable to retort.
"Ouch, ah, it hurts, it hurts!"
Chen Shan suddenly cried out in pain, his voice filled with excitement.
"Old man, can you feel your legs?" Jia Cui looked at her husband with immense joy.
Ever since her husband's legs were broken three years ago, they had tried everything.
Even borrowing usurious loans from Zhang Hu to seek medical treatment in the capital yielded no results.
Now, he felt pain, which meant her husband might be able to get out of his wheelchair and stand up again!
"Yes, and the feeling is very clear," Chen Shan said excitedly.
"I knew Brother could cure Dad," Chen Xia Zhi said proudly, her eyes towards Chen Nan filled with admiration and the adoration of a younger sister for her older brother.
"Dad, your condition isn't too severe. Three massages, combined with herbal baths, and you'll be able to walk within a week," Chen Nan said with a faint smile.
"I never expected you to learn such a skill in prison. Perhaps this is what people call a blessing in disguise?" Chen Shan laughed heartily.
Jia Cui also showed surprise in her eyes, not expecting Chen Nan to have such an opportunity.
Chen Nan stopped the massage, his face looking somewhat haggard. Perhaps in his parents' eyes, he had just performed a massage, but he had consumed a significant amount of his vital energy.
Yes, according to Wu Shan's dying words, Chen Nan was the only practitioner among the Outer Eight Sects who possessed vital energy!
The Outer Eight Sects were divided into the Sect of Thieves, the Sect of Gu, the Sect of Mechanisms, the Sect of Tricks, the Sect of Sorcery, the Sect of Orchids, the Sect of Red Handkerchiefs, and the Sect of Life-Snatching.
According to Wu Shan, Chen Nan had reached a realm surpassing the ancestors of the Outer Eight Sects.
Even some astonishing ancestors in the history of the Outer Eight Sects had not reached the Qi Cultivation stage.
Chen Xia Zhi's face bloomed with a smile, "It's a joyous occasion that Brother learned medicine in prison. We must have an extra dish for dinner!"
"Do you have any plans for your return this time?" Jia Cui's gaze softened slightly. Chen Nan's medical skills were miraculous and might offer a way to improve the family's predicament.
Chen Nan said, "I want to open a clinic and earn more money to make life better for the family."
"If you truly cared about this family, you shouldn't have come back!"
With an annoyed voice, Chen Han Lu walked in expressionlessly, showing no regard for their sibling relationship.