Married A Farmer’s Son And Was Shunned By Bro & Sil | Became $50m Ceo. Acted As Strangers And…
Strangers in the Field
Four years later, I married John. I never contacted my parents or brother during my college years. But when my in-laws said, “We have to at least give them a heads up about the marriage,” we visited my childhood home for the first time in four years right after graduation.
Things were chaotic and it was also planting season, so we couldn’t make the visit until the beginning of summer. My in-laws, my husband, and I all had sunburned, darkened faces from working outside. But my parents and brother openly ridiculed us.
My mother asked, “No offense, but how old are you exactly? You must be quite poor to be working until you’re all dark like this.”
I was mortified. “Please stop, Mom,” I implored in a small voice, but she ignored me.
My brother smirked and said, “Smart people like me make money with intellectual work. If you can only do primitive work, is proof you’re unintelligent.”
I turned pale and the gentle smiles on my in-laws’ faces froze. My husband firmly declared, “With all due respect, we are proud to be farmers.”
My father laughed condescendingly and said to me, “Just to make it clear, you’re a stranger to us from now on. You’re marrying a poor farmer who has to sweat and work hard. We’re going to treat you as if you don’t exist. It’ll be a problem if you come asking us for money. We don’t want to see you anymore.”
The Long Silence
Already being disowned at 18, I knew very well that I was on my own, even without being told so explicitly again. Still, I had tried to maintain the courtesies. The sympathetic looks from my in-laws and John were difficult to bear. On the way home, I quietly wept and resolved to forget about my biological family.
Time flew and before I knew it, 18 years had passed. The emotional wounds had thoroughly healed. I had given birth to two children and my days were busy but fulfilling.
Although I had virtually erased the memories of my parents and my brother, I was informed by a cousin that my brother was getting married. My cousin and I have always been close and we occasionally touched base even after my marriage. At some point, I had sent them rice harvested from our farm and they were pleased with this taste, even becoming a regular purchaser.
Therefore, we maintained a relationship and we enjoyed chatting on the phone about once a month.
“We can meet after a long time at the wedding,” my cousin said.
But I hadn’t heard anything about the marriage from my parents or my brother.
“Well, since we’re estranged, it’s true that there’s no way for me to know,” I said.
“I heard they are building a new duplex. I wonder if it’s completed? Apparently both my parents and my brother and his wife plan to move after the wedding,” my cousin added.
My cousin knew about the estrangement between my parents and me, but they seemed to think that I will attend weddings and funerals. After finishing the phone call with my cousin, impulsively, I dialed my mother’s cell phone number. However, I was met with an automated message saying this number is no longer in use.
I tried calling my father next and again, the same automated message. Had they changed their cell phone numbers? I didn’t know my brother’s number, so I couldn’t call him. With trembling fingers, I dialed the landline for my family home and it connected. My heart pounding, I waited for someone to pick up.
“Hello?” It was my brother who answered.
“Brother, it’s Amy. I heard you’re getting married and moving…”
I hesitated over what to say next, about to offer congratulations, when I was cut off by my brother.
“There’s no need for you to do anything. You, a farmer, are a stranger to me. Don’t call me.”
