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Short filmTranscript
00:00Sold my mom to the old farmer next door. My dad said that before he left for the army.
00:05The old farmer had a bad leg, but he was a savage man. People said he even killed his first
00:10wife.
00:11He was strong enough to knock out a bull with one punch. For my mom, marrying him was a death
00:17sentence. Three years later, the news came that my dad was dead. Right away, my grandma sold my mom
00:23to the monster for $2,000. The day we heard the news of dad's death, it was December, right after
00:30a blizzard. My mom was feeding the cattle barefoot. Grandmother never allowed her to wear shoes. She
00:36said a bitch like her didn't deserve them. I often went to the woods to gather branches for warmth,
00:42but my uncle would always snatch them away for his fireplace. No matter how we begged, it was useless.
00:48Grandmother would beat us and curse us for days. I felt sorry for mom and tried to help her feed
00:54the cows. Baby, go play over there. The sun is out. It's warmer there. My shoes were torn and falling
01:00apart. The sun was our only source of heat. After feeding the cows, we went back to the cabin.
01:06Grandmother was already waiting, fuming with rage. What took you so long? Were you out looking for
01:12other men again? She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. The army sent word. Jason is dead. Ever
01:19since he married you, my son was cursed by your bad luck. She didn't look sad about her son's death
01:24at all. There had to be a secret behind this. Now that he's gone, get out of this house. Don't
01:30stay
01:31here and ruin the Hudson family name. She looked at us with disgust and kept grumbling. Luckily, my son
01:37sold you to Rick before he left. Otherwise, we would have lost so much money feeding you two.
01:43My mom didn't fight back. She just picked up her coat and held my hand tight. Mom, at least let
01:48me
01:49take the child with me. Grandmother looked me up and down. She had a wicked look in her eyes. That
01:54depends
01:55on if that old farmer pays more. A girl her age could fetch $2,000 at the town. She's worth
02:06much more
02:07than you. My mom gripped my hand even harder. We both knew the truth. As soon as she marries Rick,
02:14grandmother will sell me away. It was the day we were driven to Rick's ranch. The legendary monster
02:19was there, chopping wood. Each swing of his axe was terrifying. One of his legs was broken and
02:26propped on a wooden stool. He looked strange and menacing. A huge scar ran from his left eye down
02:31to his mouth. It looked like his face was split in two. I hid behind my mom, trembling. Rick looked
02:37at us coldly. You're forcing this woman on me for $500? Now you want $2,000 more? He clearly didn't
02:45want
02:45my mom, and he definitely didn't want a burden like me. My son Jason saved your life in that
02:50blizzard. Now that he's gone, you should be grateful to take her. This girl will be your
02:54daughter. It's a blessing. $2,000 is a bargain for you. $2,000 was a lot of money. It could
03:01buy so
03:01many seeds. I knew I wasn't worth that much. Rick glanced at grandmother but said nothing. People said
03:08he was a man of few words, but one look from him could scare anyone to death. Grandmother shoved my
03:13mom
03:13forward. My mom's thin body almost hit the ground. She pulled me along and knelt down instantly.
03:19Rick, my child eats very little. She can feed the cows and collect firewood. Please give us a way to
03:26live. His eyes were sharp, judging me. Call him dad. I looked at Rick and that terrifying scar.
03:35Dad. Rick froze. His scar looked even more twisted. Grandmother kicked me hard in the back.
03:41Your father just died and you're already calling him dad. Just like your mother, a traitor to the
03:48family. She kept kicking me over and over. I lay on the ground, motionless. I didn't fight back or
03:53scream. I knew if she had her fun, she would eventually stop. Mom crawled over to save me,
03:59but grandmother slapped her across the face. This was life in the Hudson house. Mom couldn't save me,
04:05and she couldn't save herself. Suddenly, Rick threw a roll of cash at grandmother's feet.
04:11And enough! This girl belongs to my family now. Grandmother took the money and tried to leave,
04:17but Rick stopped her. He demanded she sign the guardianship transfer agreement.
04:22Grandmother refused. Rick snatched the money back instantly. No signature, no money. In the end,
04:28she gave in for the cash. Mom and I officially became part of Rick's family. Mom folded our two ragged
04:34coats by the cow shed. She started working right away. She wanted to be useful. She thought hard
04:40work would keep us from being beaten. Rick's cabin was simple. Three rooms and a living area. Only one
04:46bedroom had a bed. The other rooms were empty. Mom took me to the cow shed. It was kept very
04:52clean.
04:52Mom found some wooden boards to make me a bed. I will sleep here tonight. Don't be afraid, baby.
04:58I spread hay over the boards. I'm not scared, Mom. It was the same back at the Hudson Ranch. When
05:06Dad was
05:06home, he said I was in the way. He always kicked me out to the cow shed. The Hudson shed
05:11was much
05:11filthier. There were rats and snakes everywhere, freezing in winter and boiling in summer. I survived
05:18all those years. Mom hugged me tightly. It's my fault I couldn't keep your father's heart. Dad was
05:27always hearted to Mom. I knew there was a secret behind all this. Mom, why did Dad want you to
05:32marry Rick? Before, Dad never let her leave the ranch. He never let her look at anyone and lie.
05:38Grandmother always cursed her for flirting with outsiders. Why the sudden rush to marry her off?
05:44Mom's bitter laugh was muffled in her chest. Her voice was barely a whisper.
05:49Because only Rick had this much money. She didn't finish the sentence, but I knew.
05:55Dad sent Mom here to die. Dad decided to sell Mom for money before he even left. He wasn't coming
06:01back, and he didn't want Mom to survive. He wanted to cut off her every means of escape. Even as
06:06a child,
06:07I could see their plot. It was so obvious that all the neighbors were talking about it.
06:11A moment later, Rick came back. He ignored us. He carried a pile of wooden boards into the house.
06:17The sound of his heavy hammering echoed, hitting our hearts. Mom stood outside, hesitant. She wanted
06:22to ask where the flour and beef were so she could cook, but she didn't dare. After a while, Rick
06:27came
06:27out. He saw us standing there like statues and frowned. Something wrong? His voice was gruff. I wanted to
06:33shrink back, but it was just me and Mom. If I backed down, she would be all alone. I stood
06:39my ground and
06:40held her hand tight. Rick noticed my move, and his brow twitched. Mom asked hesitantly,
06:46I wanted to ask about dinner. Please give me the ingredients so I can cook.
06:54Rick frowned again, looking at us with confusion. He pointed toward the kitchen.
06:59In there.
07:00And the key?
07:03Rick's frown deepened. He walked over and kicked the door open. Then he looked back at us.
07:07I felt like he was asking if we were stupid. There was no lock, so why would there be a
07:11key? But things were different at the Hudson Ranch. The Hudson Kitchen was always locked.
07:16Even the flour, beef, and butter were kept in locked cabinets. Mom cooked every meal, but
07:21grandmother decided every gram of food. She would put the exact amount on the counter and
07:26watch Mom cook. If a single grain of flour was dropped, she would scream for hours. She
07:31called Mom a money waster and called us starving ghosts.
07:33All you do is eat! You're useless!
07:37She was afraid we would steal food. Mom led me into the kitchen. Seeing the flour, beef,
07:42and butter sitting there made her hesitate. She looked at Rick, but he had already gone
07:46back outside. Mom didn't dare touch the food. She was afraid that if she messed up, Rick would
07:50beat her, just like grandmother did. She was afraid of being accused of stealing.
07:54Mom made dinner with trembling hands. She put the food on the table, but we stood in the yard,
07:59not daring to move. Rick came back carrying two large wooden crates. He put them into the empty,
08:06unused room. He saw the food, and then saw us standing outside. His frown deepened. He sat down
08:13at the table and called us inside in a gravelly voice. While he ate, he grunted,
08:17Not enough. Make more tomorrow.
08:19He ate quickly, finishing half and leaving the rest for us. Then he stood there, chopping wood
08:25while watching us eat. We didn't dare to eat much, but I soon noticed something strange.
08:30When I took big bites, he focused on his work. The moment I put down my fork, he would stare
08:35at me and frown. Did he want us to eat more? We finished the meal in fear, waiting for the
08:41beatings to start. But Rick didn't yell or hit us. He just put away his axe and spoke.
08:49Wash up and go to sleep. It's been a long day.
08:52After Rick finished, Mom took me to wash up. We hadn't used hot water in three years.
08:57She kept muttering as she washed, her face full of nerves.
09:00I must get clean. Then he won't hate me.
09:03The hot water hit my back, and I felt warm instantly. I never knew a bath could feel this
09:09good. At the Hudson Ranch, this was a heaven I couldn't even imagine. After the bath, I headed
09:14to the cow shed to sleep. Mom pulled me aside.
09:17Cover your ears. No matter what you hear, don't come out. Just pretend you're asleep.
09:23Okay?
09:24I nodded hard. I understood.
09:26Back then, Dad would come home drunk and beat me in the shed. He called me a waste of money
09:31and a curse. He blamed me for his gambling losses. One time, he almost killed me. Mom
09:36had to grab an axe to fight him off just to save me. Now, looking at Rick, he was much
09:40stronger
09:41than Dad. He could probably kill me with one kick. But he wasn't drunk, and he wasn't angry.
09:45He picked me up like a little chick and carried me into the empty room. Mom was already waiting
09:50there. The room wasn't empty anymore. There was a wide wooden bed inside. It was piled
09:55with old but clean quilts and two sets of warm clothes. Rick set me down and turned to leave.
10:01He went back to his own room and closed the door. Soon, I heard him snoring. I never thought
10:06I'd get to sleep inside a house again. That night, we slept restlessly, but it was so warm.
10:11I curled up in my quilt and whispered, Mom, it's so warm. I had never felt this warm in
10:17winter before. My stomach was full and my heart felt safe. For the first time, I felt
10:23like I was actually alive. Mom stroked my hair. Baby, you called him Dad today. Call
10:29him that tomorrow and every day after. I nodded. Okay. Rick was already much better to me than
10:36my real father. After that, Mom slowly started making more food. She was careful, adding just
10:42a little more each time. It took days for her to figure out Rick's temper and appetite.
10:46He ate a lot, as much as Mom and me combined, but he never told us we couldn't eat. In
10:51fact,
10:52if we ate too little, he would frown. He went hunting in the mountains around the ranch.
10:56He sold the big one in town, but sometimes he brought back rabbits or pheasants for Mom
11:00to stew. He only ate half and left the rest for us. In my whole life, I had only tasted
11:05meat three times. This was the fourth. The meat tasted so good. No wonder Grandmother
11:09and my uncle loved it so much. Mom saw how happy I was and gave me extra. I ate so
11:14much
11:14that I didn't notice the pain until midnight. I was rolling on the bed in agony. Mom rubbed
11:19my stomach, but nothing worked. She gave me hot water, but I threw it up instantly. I felt
11:24like I was dying. Rick burst into the room. He wrapped me in a quilt and hoisted me onto
11:29his shoulder. He started running. Mom stumbled along behind him, too scared to say a word.
11:35He ran all the way to the town doctor's house. He took the door open. The doctor's family
11:40was terrified. They started to complain, but one look at Rick's face silenced them. The
11:45doctor checked me with a stethoscope. He asked what I had eaten.
11:48It's indigestion. She ate too much. She's been malnourished for years. Her body can't handle
11:54this much meat all at once. I'll give her something to throw it up.
11:57He poured something into my mouth. I vomited everything out. The room smelled awful. The
12:03doctor's wife grumbled in the corner. Clearly she's never had anything good in her life.
12:07She doesn't have the luck to enjoy good food. Rick looked up and gave her a death stare.
12:12She scurried back into her room, terrified. I felt so ashamed. I got sick just from eating
12:17meat. Maybe grandmother was right. Maybe I was just a starving ghost who didn't deserve
12:22anything. Rick carried me back home. On the way, he asked in a low voice.
12:27Have you never had meat before? I thought he was judging me.
12:30This was only my fourth time before I only ever had a bite.
12:36At the Hudson's, they wouldn't even give us the leftover broth. I truly had never had anything good.
12:41He gave a low grunt. You'll get used to it if you eat it more often.
12:45I was sick and could only eat rice porridge for a few days. Rick bought some supplements
12:50from town. Those were expensive things I had never seen before. I ate rice porridge with
12:56nutrient powder every meal. It was even better than what my mom ate when I was born. Rick watched
13:01me eat every day. Once my face looked healthy again, he stopped worrying. He went to fix the
13:07doctor's fence. Then he dragged the doctor back to check my heartbeat. Only after the doctor said I
13:12was fine did he let him go. He said he was going deep into the mountains to hunt. He wanted
13:17to
13:17catch something big. He would be gone for days and asked mom to pack some food. Mom mixed butter and
13:22brown sugar into the dough. The flatbread smelled delicious as she baked it. She also gave him thick
13:28insoles and a winter hat she had made. Rick took the food and looked at the gifts. He looked at
13:34her
13:34and his eyes softened. Christmas is coming soon. I'll buy you gifts once I sell the big game.
13:40Think about what you want. Mom and I stood at the ranch gate to see him off. Watching his limping
13:46figure, I couldn't help but shout, Dad, come back soon! Rick's body stiffened for a second.
13:51He didn't look back, but he waved his hand. Go inside. It's cold out here. We waited for five days,
13:57but he didn't come back. That night, the weather turned even colder. On the fifth day, snow began to fall
14:06from the sky. Mom looked at the darkening sky, then at me. She pointed to the food in the kitchen.
14:13She told me to take care of myself and fix something to eat if I got hungry.
14:19I'm going to find him. I'll be back soon. She put on thick clothes, strapped a dagger to herself,
14:26and took a flashlight. I was too worried to stay, so I hid a small curved knife on myself.
14:33I followed closely behind her. Where you go, I go, Mom. We're going to bring Dad home.
14:37In my heart, Rick was my father. He was a thousand times better than my real father. Mom sighed.
14:45If something really happened to him, you wouldn't survive alone. Let's go. Together.
14:49We held hands and walked deep into the mountains. Before, we only gathered firewood at the edge of
14:56the woods. People said there were wolves, wild boars, and man-eating black bears deep inside.
15:02But as long as I was with Mom and thinking that Dad was waiting for us, I wasn't scared at
15:08all.
15:09Heavy snow fell from the sky. It was only afternoon, but it was already completely dark.
15:15The path through the woods was extremely hard to walk. Stepped deep and shallow, sometimes falling
15:21into deep holes made of fallen leaves. Mom pulled me out and used a stick to check the path ahead.
15:28Before long, heavy footsteps came from ahead. Mom pulled out her dagger, and I gripped my curved
15:36knife tightly. We stared ahead, terrified and alert. In that moment, I thought, even if I die,
15:43I want to die with Mom. The footsteps grew closer. A tall, limping figure appeared. He was dragging a
15:51huge black bear, walking with difficulty with every step. We both froze. I let go of Mom's hand and
15:59rushed over suddenly. I hugged his leg tightly and looked up at him. The black bear fell heavily to
16:05the ground. He looked at us, completely shocked. He reached out to pick me up, but he was clearly
16:13exhausted, trying several times but failing. I held tightly to his thigh. Dad, we came to take you
16:20home. Mom rushed over as well. Rick, you've been gone for five days, and it started snowing. She didn't
16:28dare say she was worried. Back then, when my biological father didn't come home for days, Mom went to look
16:35for him, too. I was afraid something happened to you. But my father just slapped her across the face.
16:42Something happened? What could happen to a man like me? It's because you curse me all day that I'm so
16:47unlucky. After that, Mom never dared to show her worry again. He wasn't a good husband, a good father,
16:54or even a good person. But Rick just looked at Mom and quirked his lips. He tried to smile, but
17:00maybe he
17:01hadn't smiled in years and forgot how. He gave us an explanation. This game was too big. That's why I'm
17:07late. He hoisted the black bear back up and told us to go home. Go back and start the fire.
17:15I'll be
17:16home soon. That bear was massive. He must have dragged it for so long that he was completely exhausted.
17:24Yet, he didn't demand our help. He wanted to carry the burden himself. Mom saw how tired he was and
17:31hesitated. She didn't want to disobey, but she desperately wanted to help. I ran forward and
17:38grabbed the bear's leg. Dad, we're going back with you. I didn't have much strength and the bear's fur
17:45felt terrifying. It was so huge that it looked fierce even in death. Mom found her courage and
17:52ran over, too. We'll help you. It took all our strength to drag the black bear home. The snow on
18:00the
18:00ground was thick now. The ranch was pitch black and the trail was empty. We finally made it back.
18:07The giant bear lay in the snow, looking even more fierce. But I wasn't afraid. I circled it a few
18:14times and ran back to Rick. I leaned against his leg and looked up. Dad, you're amazing.
18:20You actually killed a black bear. Rick was too tired to move, but he reached out. He gently patted my
18:27head. Yeah. His hand was large, rough, and heavy. But when he touched me, it was light and warm.
18:36Jason's hands were big, too, but they weren't rough. He rarely did any real work. Jason wasn't even that
18:43strong. When he got into trouble in town, he would just curl up and take the hits. But when he
18:50hit me
18:50and mom, he was very strong. His blows made my head ring every time. In this place, many men slap
18:57their
18:58wives and children. I used to think all fathers and husbands were like that. I didn't know someone
19:04could be different. The next morning, before dawn, Rick borrowed a tractor. He woke us up to go to
19:11town and sell the bear. He knew exactly where to go. He stopped at a grand luxury house. A butler
19:19came
19:19out and greeted him warmly. They hugged and talked like old friends. I realized then that dad could be
19:26so full of life. He could actually talk this much. Mom and I stayed back, staring at the fancy gates.
19:34We didn't dare step forward. Dad pointed at us. The butler looked us over and pulled out a small
19:40coin purse. Here, child. Take this. I was too scared to take it, but he pressed it into my hand.
19:48Dad nodded,
19:50so I finally accepted it. Thank you. There was a silver coin inside. I immediately put the coin in
19:57dad's hand. Dad, this is for you. The butler froze for a second, then burst out laughing. Rick, you have
20:07a sweet daughter. You're a lucky man. He handed me a big apple. The coin is for your dad, but
20:15this is for
20:16you. Keep it for yourself. Merry Christmas to your family. The butler bought the bear and invited dad
20:23for a drink. Won't you come in for a drink? Rick waved him off and refused. No, thank you. We
20:30need
20:30to buy things for Christmas. The black bear sold for a lot of money. Dad took us to the streets.
20:37First,
20:38he bought a lot of candy. He put them into three red socks. I took one out and put it
20:44in my mouth
20:44carefully. I peeled another one for mom. Mom didn't dare to eat and looked at dad. She wanted
20:52to save it for me, but dad stopped her. Too much sugar makes kids sick. We don't want to see
20:59the
20:59doctor again. Mom remembered my stomach ache and didn't give me more. So mom finally opened her
21:06mouth and ate the candy. Dad then took us to buy meat, flour, and butter. He even bought spices for
21:15cooking. Finally, we went to a clothing store for new coats. Mom waved her hands and said no.
21:23Our old coats are still good. I said no, too. The old quilts and coats dad gave us were already
21:31warm
21:31and clean. That was good enough for me. I had never worn such nice clothes in my life. But dad
21:39insisted
21:40on buying new ones. I bought old ones because I was broke. Now we have money. In the end, we
21:48bought
21:48fabric and cotton instead of finished coats. I can sew quickly. They'll be ready before Christmas.
21:55She still didn't want to spend too much. She picked out a plaid fabric for dad and held it
22:01up to him. Rick, this pattern looks good on you. It was the first time they were so close. I
22:08think I
22:08saw dad's face turn red. Dad lifted me up and set me on his shoulders. I could see so far
22:17away. I laughed
22:19out loud. It was my first time being up this high. Mom was worried and kept checking dad's leg. She
22:26was
22:26afraid he would get too tired. After a while, dad bought me some toys. He also bought hair clips and
22:33brooches for me and mom. Brother, your wife and daughter are beautiful. These brooches from the
22:39city suit them perfectly. Both dad and mom blushed at the same time. On the way back, we sat on
22:45the
22:45tractor. I hugged my red socks tightly. This was the happiest day of my life. As we passed the Hudson
22:52ranch, I saw grandmother. She was feeding the cows in the yard. My uncle was lounging under the eaves
22:59in the sun. He still had no job and no wife. He just ate, drank, and wasted his life. After
23:05selling
23:06us to Rick, he had that money. Now he worked even less. He said he was preparing for a blind
23:11date.
23:11Grandmother always called us lazy, but I never dared to say that my uncle was the laziest one.
23:17I gripped my red socks and stared at them. Grandmother and my uncle noticed us. Their
23:22eyes widened in disbelief. Then, their faces turned into a hateful scowl.
23:27You two shrewd!
23:29Grandmother was cursing at us. Dad stopped the tractor. He threw a stone and hit my uncle right
23:35on the head. My uncle jumped up in pain. Who did that? Dad threw another stone into grandmother's
23:42water basin. They are my wife and daughter now. If you insult them again, you're dealing
23:49with me. He looked terrifying. Even with a limp, he stood like a mountain. Grandmother and my uncle
23:56were bullies who feared the strong. They were furious, but didn't dare say a word. Mom gripped
24:03my hand. Her eyes turned red. As we drove away, I looked back. I could still see their hateful
24:10glares. I suddenly felt brave. I waved my red socks and made a face at them. I had a real
24:18dad now. They could never bully us again. Back home, Mom started decorating the tree and making
24:25apple pie. Dad spent his time fixing everything in the house. He gathered wood and never stayed
24:31idle. He brought back more pheasants and rabbits. Eat more meat, then your stomach won't hurt
24:38anymore. I wanted to follow him into the mountains, but he refused. Kids stay home and play. I tried
24:44to help Mom, but she sent me away too. Your dad wants you to play. Go on, you haven't had
24:51a chance
24:51to be a kid yet. At the Hudson Ranch, I never had time to play. Now that I could, I
24:57didn't
24:57know how. I walked along the path with some candy. I saved them carefully, not wanting to
25:04eat them. But then, I ran into some mean kids from a nearby farm. They swarmed me and grabbed
25:10my candy. You're a brat born from that limp farmer. Your grandmother said so. It must
25:15be true. A bitch and her brat. No wonder her husband just died and she remarried already.
25:21I fought back with all my might. That's not true. Grandmother kicked us out. My mom isn't
25:27a bitch and I'm not a brat. But I was too small. I couldn't beat them. My clothes were torn.
25:35My candy was gone. Even my new hair clip was missing. They laughed and ran off with my sweets.
25:43I sat in the mud and cried. Grandmother and my uncle stood nearby, watching with wicked
25:49smiles. You deserve this. We should have sold them to the town tavern back then. I screamed
25:56at them. I am not a brat. You are the bad people. You are evil. I was so small back
26:04then.
26:04My mom had already had a child. The tavern would never pay that much for us. They thought
26:09I was too young to understand. But I had overheard their conversation. They were the truly wicked
26:14ones. They wanted to leave us at the ranch. They wanted to watch Rick beat us to death.
26:20But they never expected this. Dad never hit us. He never tortured us even for a second.
26:27He treated us so well. They couldn't stand it. So they spread rumors behind our backs.
26:33They framed us everywhere. Clearly, they are the real monsters.
26:38I lost the hair clip and candy Dad bought me. I was too ashamed to go home. I lingered near
26:43the gate, hesitating. Dad came down from the mountain. He saw me covered in mud and blood.
26:49He dropped his pheasants in shock. I had never seen him so angry.
26:54Who did this?
26:55I trembled in fear. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
27:00He panicked, trying to wipe the mud off my face.
27:03Tell Dad. Who hit you?
27:06His hands were rough, but they calmed my racing heart. I stuttered through the whole story.
27:11The more I spoke, the darker his face became.
27:15He took me back and left me with Mom. Then he grabbed his axe to head out.
27:20Rick!
27:21Mom pulled him back and shook her head. Dad thought for a moment. He dropped the axe and
27:27grabbed a wooden club instead. That day, the parents of those bullies all got a dream.
27:33If you can't teach your kids, I won't hit them. I'll hit you instead.
27:38Those grown men were chased like rabbits by a man with a limp. Dad moved slowly but steadily. He
27:49caught up to them and struck them down. The men wailed in pain. Everyone in the ranch came out to
27:56watch. Then Dad went to the Hudson Ranch. He gave my uncle a brutal beating. My uncle screamed and
28:03begged for mercy. He promised he would never do it again. I won't do it again! I promise!
28:08Dad turned to the crowd of onlookers. If you have something to say, say it to my face.
28:13No one dared to speak. They all waved their hands and shook their heads.
28:17We all know what the Hudsons are like. Just go live your life. Look at how happy your family is
28:21now.
28:22Dad dropped the club. He patted my head and led me home.
28:29Have you lived this long without a name?
28:32I shook my head. Grandmother called me a brat. Mom only called me baby. Dad pulled me close and looked
28:40at the stars. From now on, your name is Stella. Shine like a star and have a bright future ahead.
28:49For the first time, I had a real name. Stella Cooper, I have my own name now.
28:55I smiled at Mom. Dad smiled too and patted my head. I finally have a daughter of my own.
29:03That night, Mom talked to me. Stella, you're a big girl now. Starting tomorrow, you sleep on your own,
29:11okay? If I sleep alone, where will Mom sleep? I thought about it and nodded hard. Okay, Mom,
29:18you and Dad have a baby brother or sister soon. I'll play with them. This time, I really wanted a
29:24sibling. A sibling just like Dad would be wonderful. The next morning, Dad woke me up early.
29:31Stella, was I cool when I handled those bad guys yesterday? I nodded vigorously. So cool!
29:37If you want to protect yourself, you want to rely on more forever. You have to rely on yourself.
29:44Do you want like me strong? I nodded again. Yes. I wanted to be strong like him. I wanted to
29:51protect my parents and my future siblings. I wanted to hunt bears and earn lots of money. Dad looked
29:57proud. He made me run 50 laps around our ranch cabin. By the end, I could barely stand. He gritted
30:05his
30:05teeth and wouldn't let me stop. Mom looked pained, but she didn't say a word. She just made extra food
30:12and added two fried eggs for me. After running, there was weight training. Dad brought sandbags from
30:19the ranch warehouse. They felt like a thousand pounds on my arms. After a day of training, my hands and
30:26feet
30:26were covered in blisters. Mom washed my feet and popped the blisters for me. Stella, train hard.
30:34Your dad is doing this for your own good. I know, Mom. Most ranch families only teach girls to gather
30:42wood, wash clothes, and cook. Who would ever teach a girl how to be strong? I understood how much Dad
30:48cared
30:48for me. That night, Mom moved into Dad's room. I heard them talking for a bit before the lights went
30:54out. My body ached all over, but I slept peacefully. The next morning, Dad woke up late. I had already
31:02finished 30 laps when he came out. His eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep. All day long, Dad and
31:09Mom were blushing. They kept stealing glances at each other. Why hide it? Just look if you want to.
31:16Grownups are so strange. We had a perfect Christmas. Dad used the bear money to expand the ranch. He
31:22bought two dairy cows and a few beef cattle. When we weren't farming, we were managing the ranch.
31:27During the off-season, we went hunting. Dad started taking me into the mountains. He taught me how to
31:33track animals and read their droppings. He showed me how to avoid bears and wolves. He taught me to set
31:39traps and use a hunting rifle. He even showed me how to knock someone out with minimal force.
31:44And how to spot poisonous plants in the woods. I was weak, so my progress was slow. But Dad was
31:50always patient. Our family was happy. But the rumors never truly stopped. Most of them came from the
31:57Hudson's. Rick's fault he's a cripple. That person pretends to be arrogant and married a cripple.
32:04So what if Jason was handsome? His only talents were hitting us, gambling and drinking.
32:10I started staring at Dad's leg. Dad noticed and tried to walk slower to hide his limp.
32:16Sometimes he would lean on the ranch fence for support.
32:21Your dad is so good to you, Stella. Don't be heartless. Don't look down on him like others.
32:29Mom thought I was becoming ungrateful. Her eyes turned red with anger. But she couldn't bring
32:33herself to hit me. I quickly grabbed her hand to explain. Mom, I don't look down on Dad. I feel
32:39bad
32:39for him. I want to study medicine. I want to fix his leg. I didn't care that he limped. I
32:46didn't care
32:47about the scar on his face. I just hated seeing him unable to sleep when it rained. I hated that
32:53hunting
32:53was harder for him than others. Mom understood my thoughts, but she was worried. There were no
32:59medical schools in town. Besides, I was only a six-year-old girl. Dad overheard us from outside
33:05the cabin. He stayed silent for two days. He just sat on the porch, staring at the mountains.
33:12Two days later, he took me back to the city. We found the butler who bought the black bear. Dad
33:17asked
33:17him for a favor. The man looked at me carefully. He patted Dad's shoulder and agreed happily.
33:23If she wants to learn, she can start as an assistant in the pharmacy.
33:29Stella, studying medicine is very hard. You have to memorize names, mix medicine,
33:35and care for the sick. People might yell at you or even hit you. Can you handle it?
33:42I slapped my chest and spoke loudly. I can. I'll fix my dad's leg and earn lots of money.
33:49I'll take care of my parents and my future siblings. The man burst out laughing and nudged Dad's arm.
33:56Rick, your daughter is so sweet. Is the next one already on the way? Dad's face turned bright red
34:03instantly. He waved his hands quickly. It's still too early for that. I lived at the pharmacy in town,
34:10doing odd jobs. I tried my best to learn everything about medicine. I only went home to the ranch once
34:16every two weeks. I brought the sandbags Dad gave me to the pharmacy. No matter how busy I was,
34:22I found time to train. Mom hated leaving me alone in town. She held my hand and wouldn't let go
34:28when
34:28she dropped me off. With red eyes, she told me to eat well and not overwork. Come home if anyone
34:34treats
34:34you badly, she said. I waved and smiled to comfort her. Don't worry, Mom. I can take care of myself.
34:42When I learn everything, I'll fix Dad's leg. Mom laughed through her tears and wiped them away.
34:49All right, I'll be waiting. I'll make your favorite snacks for when you come home.
34:53The doctor at the pharmacy was an old friend of the butler's. He was kind to patients but very strict
34:58with apprentices. If we forgot a drug's name, he yelled. If we missed a detail in a patient's record,
35:04he yelled. If we took blood pressure incorrectly, he yelled. Sometimes he made us copy drug names as
35:10punishment for being slow. The other students felt mistreated. Before long, they all went home crying
35:16and never came back. But I wasn't afraid. What was this little bit of hardship? Compared to Grandmother's
35:23beatings or Jason's violence, this was nothing. I was already used to it. Besides,
35:28I knew the doctor wanted me to grow fast, just like Dad wanted me to be strong. The doctor was
35:33strict,
35:34but he never treated us poorly. He made plenty of food for us every day. Sometimes he even gave us
35:39nutrient powder. I might not be the smartest, but I know who was truly kind. I kept training the way
35:44Dad
35:45taught me. I ran five kilometers with weights every morning and night. I grew stronger and my movements
35:50became faster. The doctor started teaching me massage techniques. At first, I practiced on him. Slowly,
35:56I began helping the elderly patients ease their pain. The doctor worked so hard with his patients
36:01in medicine. I massaged him to help him relax. He started smiling at me more. He even taught me
36:07about heat and cold therapy. He said these skills would really help my Dad. When I went home every
36:12two weeks, the first thing I did was massage Dad's leg. I rubbed the stiff muscles from his knee to
36:18his
36:18ankle. Then I used the heat therapy the doctor taught me. At first, Dad refused. He thought it was
36:24awkward for a man to have his legs rubbed. I had to beg him for a long time before he
36:29finally agreed.
36:30After the massage, he stood up and took a few steps. His eyes lit up and turned a bit red.
36:36Stella is so smart. My leg feels much better now. Mom saw this and asked me to teach her too.
36:43When you're away, I can do it for him. He worked so hard on the ranch and in the mountains.
36:49I taught them both step by step. I laughed and said,
36:53When I'm not here, you two can massage each other. That way, you'll both feel better.
36:57Both their faces turned bright red instantly. They glanced at each other and quickly looked down.
37:02Mom gave me a little pinch for talking nonsense. They are so strange. What is there to be embarrassed
37:07about?
37:08I studied in the city for five years. My medical knowledge and physical strength grew fast.
37:13I went from a skinny little girl to a strong, healthy teenager. The fear in my eyes was gone,
37:20replaced by confidence. During this time, Mom and Dad never had another child. Rumors started
37:26spreading around the ranch. Most of them came from the Hudson's. They claimed Dad couldn't have children.
37:31Rick's fault. He's disabled. He probably doesn't even have the strength of father a child. Maybe
37:36that's why his first first wife fought with him before she died. I overheard some workers gossiping
37:41when I returned home. I clenched my fists, ready to fight them. But Mom grabbed my hand and stepped
37:46forward. She raised her voice so everyone could hear. It's my fault! I was abused at the Hudson's and
37:52it ruined my health! It has nothing to do with my husband, Rick! Stop your lies!
37:57Dad was healthy, but Mom was right. Years of hunger, heavy labor, and beatings had left her scarred.
38:03She had been taking medicine for five years, but nothing happened. Mom was anxious and often sat by
38:09the creek staring into space. Sometimes I caught her wiping away tears. Dad was always there to comfort her.
38:15Raising Stella is enough. She's smart and capable. She's worth more than 10 sons.
38:24With her around, we have nothing to worry about.
38:32But right then, my biological father, Jason, suddenly returned.
38:36Your picture will only get dissolved in the morning.
38:36Bye!
38:37Yeah!