You Were Made to Be Cannon Fodder, but Ended Up a Winner in Life?

Chapter 16: Humble Love 16:

“Ma’am, we’re here. The fare is 23 yuan,” the taxi driver said, prompting Zhang Ya to grit her teeth. If she had any money on her, she would’ve walked away without paying. But now…

“Wait here. I’ll pay you in a moment—I still need your car later,” Zhang Ya said, preparing to get out of the car.

But the driver quickly grabbed her arm.

“Trying to skip the fare?”

His tone was hostile, and his eyes showed nothing but disdain. He had noticed her distasteful glances at his taxi multiple times during the ride but had held back his temper. Now, she wanted to leave without paying? No chance.

“If you want to continue using the car later, that’s separate. First, settle this fare.” He said, tightening his grip on her arm.

“Let go of me!” Zhang Ya snapped, recoiling from the touch of his rough hand.

“Are you going to pay up or not? If not, I’ll call the police! You walk around acting rich, but you can’t even pay 23 yuan?” the driver mocked, pulling out his phone to make a call.

“Who said I wouldn’t pay? Don’t call the police—I’ll leave my bag here. It’s an LV bag, worth a lot,” Zhang Ya said, swallowing her pride as she pointed to the designer bag slung over her shoulder.

“An LV bag? Who knows if it’s real? You look fancy but can’t pay for a ride,” the driver scoffed. He recognized the brand but doubted its authenticity, given that this woman, who couldn’t even pay a small fare, would have anything genuine.

“How dare you!” Zhang Ya’s face turned red with fury at the insinuation. She prided herself on her status and would never carry a fake bag.

“Enough nonsense. Either pay up or move aside,” the driver said impatiently.

“I told you—I’ll leave my bag and use the car again later!” Zhang Ya insisted, feeling increasingly humiliated. Since meeting Chen Nuo, she hadn’t faced such disgrace.

“What would I do with your bag? I need money… Don’t tell me you don’t even have 23 yuan?” the driver said, peering at her with suspicion. In an instant, he saw the embarrassment and guilt in her eyes.

Disgust washed over him.

“You don’t have the money? Then why take a taxi? You look like you’ve got it all, but you’re just a fraud!” he sneered, throwing in a curse.

Zhang Ya’s face flushed deeply with shame and rage. It had been a long time since anyone had dared speak to her like that. Since she started dating Chen Nuo, people had treated her with respect and deference. But now, even a taxi driver dared to insult her.

“Enough! I’m calling the police. What a waste of time!” The driver prepared to make the call.

“No! Please don’t call the police!” Zhang Ya pleaded, gritting her teeth.

“I’ll leave my phone. It’s the latest iPhone—surely you can believe that’s real!” She reluctantly placed her phone in his hands.

“How can I be sure? You can’t even pay a fare. How do I know it’s not stolen?” the driver sneered again but examined the phone.

“See? It’s genuine!” Zhang Ya pressed, suppressing her growing rage as the driver’s rough hands handled her phone.

“It does seem real. Fine, get out of the car,” he said dismissively, waving her away. Zhang Ya stormed out, fighting back the urge to lash out.

“Pathetic pretender!” the driver spat, lowering the window and hurling one last insult as she stepped away.

Zhang Ya’s body stiffened, but she forced herself to keep walking without turning back.

…

“Daughter, over here!”

Spotting Zhang Ya, Wang Fengxia, who had been huddling with self-consciousness, waved excitedly and called out loudly. Instantly, many passersby turned to look at Zhang Ya. Seeing her dressed in luxury clothing and designer brands, they paused, their expressions quickly shifting to disapproval.

Her parents’ clothes were ragged, while she appeared dressed to the nines.

“Why are you shouting?!” Zhang Ya snapped as she approached her mother, her face reddening with embarrassment from the disapproving stares.

“After all the money I’ve sent, you still dress like this in the city? Have you no shame?!” she hissed, lowering her voice in disgust.

“What’s wrong with my clothes? Do they embarrass you? Let me tell you something—I’m still your mother, no matter what I wear!” Wang Fengxia shot back, fury blazing. She wasn’t expecting such a scolding from her daughter and couldn’t hold back her temper. Her voice, used to shouting from constant village quarrels, was loud.

The crowd’s judgmental gaze on Zhang Ya only grew sharper.

“I’m so pitiful… I thought coming to see my daughter in the city would bring joy, but she’s ashamed of me and her father’s clothes. I’d rather be dead!” Wang Fengxia cried, sitting down dramatically on the ground and weeping.

“Get up right now!” Zhang Ya demanded, feeling the heat of everyone’s eyes on her. She tried to pull her mother up.

“Don’t touch me! Your father and I raised you, scrimped and saved to put you through college, thinking we’d finally be able to enjoy life. Now you treat us with disgust! I don’t want to live anymore!” Wang Fengxia wailed, pounding the ground with her hands for dramatic effect.