- 7 hours ago
My Savage Farmer Step-Dad
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Short filmTranscript
00:00old farmer next door. My dad said that before he left for the army. The old farmer had a bad
00:05leg,
00:05but he was a savage man. People said he even killed his first wife. He was strong enough to
00:11knock out a bull with one punch. For my mom, marrying him was a death sentence. Three years
00:17later, the news came that my dad was dead. Right away, my grandma sold my mom to the monster for
00:23$2,000. The day we heard the news of dad's death, it was December, right after a blizzard.
00:30My mom was feeding the cattle barefoot. Grandmother never allowed her to wear shoes.
00:35She said a bitch like her didn't deserve them. I often went to the woods to gather branches for
00:40warmth, but my uncle would always snatch them away for his fireplace. No matter how we begged,
00:46it was useless. Grandmother would beat us and curse us for days. I felt sorry for mom and tried to
00:52help
00:52her feed the cows. Baby, go play over there. The sun is out. It's warmer there. My shoes were torn
00:58and
00:59falling apart. The sun was our only source of heat. After feeding the cows, we went back to
01:04the cabin. Grandmother was already waiting, fuming with rage. What took you so long? Were you out
01:10looking for other men again? She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. The army sent word. Jason is
01:17dead. Ever since he married you, my son was cursed by your bad luck. She didn't look sad about her
01:22son's
01:23death at all. There had to be a secret behind this. Now that he's gone, get out of this house.
01:29Don't stay here and ruin the Hudson family name. She looked at us with disgust and kept grumbling.
01:35Luckily, my son sold you to Rick before he left. Otherwise, we would have lost so much money feeding
01:40you two. My mom didn't fight back. She just picked up her coat and held my hand tight. Mom, at
01:47least let me
01:47take the child with me. Grandmother looked me up and down. She had a wicked look in her eyes.
01:53That depends on if that old farmer pays more. A girl her age could fetch $2,000 at the town.
02:04She's worth much more than you. My mom gripped my hand even harder. We both knew the truth. As soon
02:11as she marries Rick, grandmother will sell me away. It was the day we were driven to Rick's ranch.
02:17The legendary monster was there, chopping wood. Each swing of his axe was terrifying. One of his legs
02:24was broken and propped on a wooden stool. He looked strange and menacing. A huge scar ran from his left
02:29eye down to his mouth. It looked like his face was split in two. I hid behind my mom, trembling.
02:36Rick looked at us coldly.
02:37You're forcing this woman on me for $500? Now you want $2,000 more?
02:43He clearly didn't want my mom. And he definitely didn't want a burden like me.
02:47My son Jason saved your life in that blizzard. Now that he's gone, you should be grateful to take
02:52her. This girl will be your daughter. It's a blessing. $2,000 is a bargain for you.
02:57$2,000 was a lot of money. It could buy so many seeds. I knew I wasn't worth that much.
03:03Rick glanced at grandmother, but said nothing. People said he was a man of few words, but one
03:08look from him could scare anyone to death. Grandmother shoved my mom forward. My mom's
03:14thin body almost hit the ground. She pulled me along and knelt down instantly.
03:18Rick, my child eats very little. She can feed the cows and collect firewood. Please give us a way to
03:25live. His eyes were sharp, judging me. Call him dad. I looked at Rick and that terrifying scar.
03:34Dad. Rick froze. His scar looked even more twisted. Grandmother kicked me hard in the back.
03:40Your father just died and you're already calling him dad. Just like your mother, a traitor to the
03:46family. She kept kicking me over and over. I lay on the ground, motionless. I didn't fight back or
03:52scream. I knew if she had her fun, she would eventually stop. Mom crawled over to save me,
03:58but grandmother slapped her across the face. This was life in the Hudson house. Mom couldn't save me
04:04and she couldn't save herself. Suddenly, Rick threw a roll of cash at grandmother's feet.
04:10And enough! This girl belongs to my family now. Grandmother took the money and tried to leave,
04:16but Rick stopped her. He demanded she sign the guardianship transfer agreement. Grandmother
04:21refused. Rick snatched the money back instantly. No signature, no money. In the end, she gave in
04:27for the cash. Mom and I officially became part of Rick's family. Mom folded our two ragged coats by
04:33the cow shed. She started working right away. She wanted to be useful. She thought hard work would
04:39keep us from being beaten. Rick's cabin was simple. Three rooms and a living area. Only one bedroom had a
04:45bed. The other rooms were empty. Mom took me to the cow shed. It was kept very clean. Mom found
04:52some wooden boards to make me a bed. I will sleep here tonight. Don't be afraid, baby. I spread hay
04:58over the boards. I'm not scared, Mom. It was the same back at the Hudson Ranch. When Dad was home,
05:05he said I was in the way. He always kicked me out to the cow shed. The Hudson shed was
05:10much filthier.
05:11There were rats and snakes everywhere. Freezing in winter and boiling in summer. I survived all
05:17those years. Mom hugged me tightly. It's my fault I couldn't keep your father's heart.
05:25Dad was always talking to Mom. I knew there was a secret behind all this. Mom, why did Dad want
05:31you
05:31to marry Rick? Before, Dad never let her leave the ranch. He never let her look at anyone and lie.
05:36Why? Grandmother always cursed her for flirting with outsiders. Why the sudden rush to marry her
05:42off? Mom's bitter laugh was muffled in her chest. Her voice was barely a whisper.
05:48Because only Rick had this much money and... She didn't finish the sentence, but I knew.
05:54Dad sent Mom here to die. Dad decided to sell Mom for money before he even left. He wasn't coming
06:00back,
06:00and he didn't want Mom to survive. He wanted to cut off her every means of escape.
06:04Even as a child, I could see their plot. It was so obvious that all the neighbors were talking about
06:09it. A moment later, Rick came back. He ignored us. He carried a pile of wooden boards into the house.
06:15The sound of his heavy hammering echoed, hitting our hearts. Mom stood outside, hesitant. She wanted
06:21to ask where the flour and beef were so she could cook, but she didn't dare. After a while,
06:26Rick came out. He saw us standing there like statues and frowned.
06:29Something wrong? His voice was gruff. I wanted to shrink back, but it was just me and Mom. If I
06:35backed down, she would be all alone. I stood my ground and held her hand tight. Rick noticed my
06:41move and his brow twitched. Mom asked hesitantly. I wanted to ask about dinner. Please give me the
06:49ingredients so I can cook. Rick frowned again, looking at us with confusion. He pointed toward the
06:57kitchen. In there. And the key? Rick's frown deepened. He walked over and kicked the door
07:04open. Then he looked back at us. I felt like he was asking if we were stupid. There was no
07:09lock,
07:09so why would there be a key? But things were different at the Hudson Ranch. The Hudson kitchen
07:13was always locked. Even the flour, beef, and butter were kept in locked cabinets. Mom cooked every meal,
07:19but grandmother decided every gram of food. She would put the exact amount on the counter and watch Mom
07:25cook. If a single grain of flour was dropped, she would scream for hours. She called Mom a money
07:30waster and called us starving ghosts. All you do is eat! You're useless! She was afraid we would
07:37steal food. Mom led me into the kitchen. Seeing the flour, beef, and butter sitting there made her
07:42hesitate. She looked at Rick, but he had already gone back outside. Mom didn't dare touch the food.
07:47She was afraid that if she messed up, Rick would beat her, just like grandmother did. She was afraid of
07:52being accused of stealing. Mom made dinner with trembling hands. She put the food on the table,
07:57but we stood in the yard, not daring to move. Rick came back carrying two large wooden crates.
08:03He put them into the empty, unused room. He saw the food and then saw us standing outside.
08:09His frown deepened. He sat down at the table and called us inside in a gravelly voice. While he ate,
08:16he grunted,
08:16Not enough. Make more tomorrow. He ate quickly, finishing half and leaving the rest for us.
08:21Then he stood there, chopping wood while watching us eat. We didn't dare to eat much,
08:27but I soon noticed something strange. When I took big bites, he focused on his work. The moment I put
08:33down my fork, he would stare at me and frown. Did he want us to eat more? We finished the
08:38meal in fear,
08:39waiting for the beatings to start. But Rick didn't yell or hit us. He just put away his axe and
08:45spoke.
08:47Wash up and go to sleep. It's been a long day.
08:51After Rick finished, Mom took me to wash up. We hadn't used hot water in three years.
08:56She kept muttering as she washed, her face full of nerves. I must get clean. Then he won't hate me.
09:02The hot water hit my back and I felt warm instantly. I never knew a bath could feel this good.
09:08At the
09:09Hudson Ranch, this was a heaven I couldn't even imagine. After the bath, I headed to the cow shed to
09:14sleep.
09:14Mom pulled me aside. Cover your ears. No matter what you hear, don't come out.
09:20Just pretend you're asleep. Okay? I nodded hard. I understood. Back then, Dad would come home drunk
09:27and beat me in the shed. He called me a waste of money and a curse. He blamed me for
09:31his gambling losses.
09:32One time, he almost killed me. Mom had to grab an axe to fight him off just to save me.
09:37Now,
09:38looking at Rick, he was much stronger than Dad. He could probably kill me with one kick. But he
09:43wasn't drunk and he wasn't angry. He picked me up like a little chick and carried me into the empty
09:47room. Mom was already waiting there. The room wasn't empty anymore. There was a wide wooden bed inside.
09:53It was piled with old but clean quilts and two sets of warm clothes. Rick set me down and turned
09:59to leave. He went back to his own room and closed the door. Soon, I heard him snoring. I never
10:04thought
10:05I'd get to sleep inside a house again. That night, we slept restlessly, but it was so warm. I curled
10:11up
10:11in my quilt and whispered, Mom, it's so warm. I had never felt this warm in winter before. My stomach
10:18was
10:18full and my heart felt safe. For the first time, I felt like I was actually alive. Mom stroked my
10:24hair. Baby, you called him Dad today. Call him that tomorrow and every day after. I nodded. Okay.
10:33Rick was already much better to me than my real father. After that, Mom slowly started making more
10:38food. She was careful, adding just a little more each time. It took days for her to figure out Rick's
10:44temper and appetite. He ate a lot, as much as Mom and me combined, but he never told us we
10:49couldn't
10:49eat. In fact, if we ate too little, he would frown. He went hunting in the mountains around the ranch.
10:54He sold the big one in town, but sometimes he brought back rabbits or pheasants for Mom to stew.
10:59He only ate half and left the rest for us. In my whole life, I had only tasted meat three
11:04times.
11:05This was the fourth. The meat tasted so good. No wonder Grandmother and my uncle loved it so much.
11:10Mom saw how happy I was and gave me extra. I ate so much that I didn't notice the pain
11:14until
11:15midnight. I was rolling on the bed in agony. Mom rubbed my stomach, but nothing worked. She gave
11:20me hot water, but I threw it up instantly. I felt like I was dying. Rick burst into the room.
11:26He
11:26wrapped me in a quilt and hoisted me onto his shoulder. He started running. Mom stumbled along
11:31behind him, too scared to say a word. He ran all the way to the town doctor's house. He kicked
11:36the door
11:37open. The doctor's family was terrified. They started to complain, but one look at Rick's face
11:42silenced them. The doctor checked me with a stethoscope. He asked what I had eaten.
11:47It's indigestion. She ate too much. She's been malnourished for years. Her body can't handle this
11:53much meat all at once. I'll give her something to throw it up. He poured something into my mouth.
11:58I vomited everything out. The room smelled awful. The doctor's wife grumbled in the corner.
12:03Clearly, she's never had anything good in her life. She doesn't have the luck to enjoy
12:08good food. Rick looked up and gave her a death stare. She scurried back into her room, terrified.
12:13I felt so ashamed. I got sick just from eating meat. Maybe grandmother was right. Maybe I was
12:19just a starving ghost who didn't deserve anything. Rick carried me back home. On the way, he asked
12:25in a low voice. Have you never had meat before? I thought he was judging me. This was only my
12:31fourth
12:31time. Before, I only ever had a bite. At the Hudson's, they wouldn't even give us the leftover
12:37broth. I truly had never had anything good. He gave a low grunt. You'll get used to it if you
12:43eat it more
12:43often. I was sick and could only eat rice porridge for a few days. Rick bought some supplements from
12:49town. Those were expensive things I had never seen before. I ate rice porridge with nutrient powder
12:55every meal. It was even better than what my mom ate when I was born. Rick watched me eat every
13:01day.
13:01Once my face looked healthy again, he stopped worrying. He went to fix the doctor's fence.
13:06Then he dragged the doctor back to check my heartbeat. Only after the doctor said I was fine did he
13:11let him
13:12go. He said he was going deep into the mountains to hunt. He wanted to catch something big. He would
13:17be
13:17gone for days and asked mom to pack some food. Mom mixed butter and brown sugar into the dough.
13:22The flatbread smelled delicious as she baked it. She also gave him thick insoles and a winter hat she
13:28had made. Rick took the food and looked at the gifts. He looked at her and his eyes softened.
13:35Christmas is coming soon. I'll buy you gifts once I sell the big game. Think about what you want.
13:41Mom and I stood at the ranch gate to see him off. Watching his limping figure, I couldn't help but
13:46shout. Dad, come back soon! Rick's body stiffened for a second. He didn't look back, but he waved his hand.
13:52Go inside. It's cold out here. We waited for five days, but he didn't come back.
13:59That night, the weather turned even colder. On the fifth day, snow began to fall from the sky.
14:06Mom looked at the darkening sky, then at me. She pointed to the food in the kitchen.
14:12She told me to take care of myself and fix something to eat if I got hungry.
14:18I'm going to find him. I'll be back soon. She put on thick clothes, strapped a dagger to herself,
14:25and took a flashlight. I was too worried to stay, so I hid a small curved knife on myself.
14:31I followed closely behind her. Where you go, I go, Mom. We're going to bring Dad home.
14:36In my heart, Rick was my father. He was a thousand times better than my real father.
14:42Mom sighed. If something really happened to him, you wouldn't survive alone. Let's go. Together.
14:48We held hands and walked deep into the mountains. Before, we only gathered firewood at the edge of
14:54the woods. People said there were wolves, wild boars, and man-eating black bears deep inside.
15:00But, as long as I was with Mom, and thinking that Dad was waiting for us, I wasn't scared
15:07at all. Heavy snow fell from the sky. It was only afternoon, but it was already completely
15:13dark. The path through the woods was extremely hard to walk. Stepped deep and shallow, sometimes
15:20falling into deep holes made of fallen leaves. Mom pulled me out and used a stick to check
15:26the path ahead. Before long, heavy footsteps came from ahead. Mom pulled out her dagger,
15:33and I gripped my curved knife tightly. We stared ahead, terrified and alert. In that moment,
15:40I thought, even if I die, I want to die with Mom. The footsteps grew closer. A tall, limping
15:47figure appeared. He was dragging a huge black bear, walking with difficulty with every step.
15:53We both froze. Dad! I let go of Mom's hand and rushed over suddenly. I hugged his leg tightly
16:01and looked up at him. The black bear fell heavily to the ground. What are you doing here? He looked
16:07at us, completely shocked. He reached out to pick me up, but he was clearly exhausted, trying
16:13several times but failing. I held tightly to his thigh. Dad, we came to take you home. Mom rushed
16:19over as well. Rick, you've been gone for five days, and it started snowing. She didn't dare
16:27say she was worried. Back then, when my biological father didn't come home for days, Mom went to
16:34look for him too. I was afraid something happened to you. But my father just slapped her across
16:39the face. Something happened. What could happen to a man like me? It's because you cursed me
16:44all day that I'm so unlucky! After that, Mom never dared to show her worry again. He wasn't
16:50a good husband, a good father, or even a good person. But Rick just looked at Mom and quirked
16:57his lips. He tried to smile, but maybe he hadn't smiled in years and forgot how. He gave us an
17:03explanation.
17:04This game was too big. That's why I'm late. He hoisted the black bear back up and told us to
17:11go
17:11home. Go back and start the fire. I'll be home soon. That bear was massive. He must have dragged it
17:19for so long that he was completely exhausted. Yet, he didn't demand our help. He wanted to carry the
17:26burden himself. Mom saw how tired he was and hesitated. She didn't want to disobey, but she
17:33desperately wanted to help. I ran forward and grabbed the bear's leg. Dad, we're going back
17:39with you. I didn't have much strength and the bear's fur felt terrifying. It was so huge that it
17:47looked fierce even in death. Mom found her courage and ran over too. We'll help you. It took all our
17:55strength to drag the black bear home. The snow on the ground was thick now. The ranch was pitch black
18:01and the trail was empty. We finally made it back. The giant bear lay in the snow looking even more
18:08fierce. But I wasn't afraid. I circled it a few times and ran back to Rick. I leaned against his
18:16leg
18:16and looked up. Dad, you're amazing. You actually killed a black bear. Rick was too tired to move,
18:23but he reached out. He gently patted my head. Yeah. His hand was large, rough, and heavy. But when he
18:32touched me, it was light and warm. Jason's hands were big too, but they weren't rough. He rarely did any
18:40real
18:40work. Jason wasn't even that strong. When he got into trouble in town, he would just curl up and take
18:46the hits. But when he hit me and mom, he was very strong. His blows made my head ring every
18:53time.
18:54In this place, many men slapped their wives and children. I used to think all fathers and husbands
19:00were like that. I didn't know someone could be different. The next morning, before dawn, Rick borrowed
19:07a tractor. He woke us up to go to town and sell the bear. He knew exactly where to go.
19:14He stopped
19:14at a grand luxury house. A butler came out and greeted him warmly. They hugged and talked like old
19:22friends. I realized then that dad could be so full of life. He could actually talk this much. Mom and
19:29I
19:30stayed back, staring at the fancy gates. We didn't dare step forward. Dad pointed at us. The
19:37butler looked us over and pulled out a small coin purse. Here, child, take this. I was too scared
19:44to take it, but he pressed it into my hand. Dad nodded, so I finally accepted it. Thank you. There
19:52was a silver coin inside. I immediately put the coin in dad's hand. Dad, this is for you. The butler
20:02froze for a second, then burst out laughing. Rick, you have a sweet daughter. You're a lucky man. He
20:09handed me a big apple. The coin is for your dad. If this is for you, keep it for yourself.
20:18Merry Christmas
20:18to your family. The butler bought the bear and invited dad for a drink. Won't you come in for a
20:24drink? Rick waved him off and refused. No, thank you. We need to buy things for Christmas. The black
20:32bear sold for a lot of money. Dad took us to the streets. First, he bought a lot of candy.
20:38He put
20:39them into three red socks. I took one out and put it in my mouth, carefully. I peeled another one
20:46for
20:46mom. Mom didn't dare to eat and looked at dad. She wanted to save it for me, but dad stopped
20:53her.
20:54Too much sugar makes kids sick. We don't want to see the doctor again. Mom remembered my stomach ache
21:01and didn't give me more. So mom finally opened her mouth and ate the candy. Dad then took us to
21:09buy
21:10meat, flour, and butter. He even bought spices for cooking. Finally, we went to a clothing store for
21:17new coats. Mom waved her hands and said no. Our old coats are still good. I said no, too. The
21:27old
21:27quilts and coats dad gave us were already warm and clean. That was good enough for me. I had never
21:34worn such nice clothes in my life. But dad insisted on buying new ones. I bought old ones because I
21:43was
21:43broke. Now we have money. In the end, we bought fabric and cotton instead of finished coats. I can
21:51sew quickly. They'll be ready before Christmas. She still didn't want to spend too much. She picked
21:57out a plaid fabric for dad and held it up to him. Rick, this pattern looks good on you. It
22:04was the
22:04first time they were so close. I think I saw dad's face turn red. Dad lifted me up and set
22:13me on his
22:13shoulders. I could see so far away. I laughed out loud. It was my first time being up this high.
22:21Mom was worried and kept checking dad's leg. She was afraid he would get too tired.
22:27After a while, dad bought me some toys. He also bought hair clips and brooches for me and mom.
22:34Brother, your wife and daughter are beautiful. These brooches from the city suit them perfectly.
22:39Both dad and mom blushed at the same time. On the way back, we sat on the tractor. I hugged
22:45my red
22:46socks tightly. This was the happiest day of my life. As we passed the Hudson Ranch, I saw grandmother.
22:52She was feeding the cows in the yard. My uncle was lounging under the eaves in the sun. He still
22:59had no job and no wife. He just ate, drank, and wasted his life. After selling us to Rick, he
23:05had
23:05that money. Now he worked even less. He said he was preparing for a blind date. Grandmother always called
23:11us lazy. But I never dared to say that my uncle was the laziest one. I gripped my red socks
23:17and
23:18stared at them. Grandmother and my uncle noticed us. Their eyes widened in disbelief. Then their faces
23:24turned into a hateful scowl. Grandmother was cursing at us. Dad stopped the tractor. He threw a stone and
23:33hit my uncle right on the head. My uncle jumped up in pain. Who did that? Dad threw another stone
23:40into
23:41grandmother's water basin. They are my wife and daughter now. You insult them again, you're dealing
23:48with me. He looked terrifying. Even with a limp, he stood like a mountain. Grandmother and my uncle were
23:55bullies who feared the strong. They were furious but didn't dare say a word. Mom gripped my hand. Her
24:03eyes turned red. As we drove away, I looked back. I could still see their hateful glares. I suddenly
24:11felt brave. I waved my red socks and made a face at them. I had a real dad now. They
24:18could never bully
24:19us again. Back home, mom started decorating the tree and making apple pie. Dad spent his time fixing
24:26everything in the house. He gathered wood and never stayed idle. He brought back more pheasants and
24:32rabbits. Eat more meat, then your stomach won't hurt anymore. I wanted to follow him into the mountains,
24:39but he refused. Kids stay home and play. I tried to help mom, but she sent me away too. Your
24:47dad wants you
24:47to play. Go on. You haven't had a chance to be a kid yet. At the Hudson Ranch, I never
24:53had time to
24:54play. Now that I could, I didn't know how. I walked along the path with some candy. I saved them
25:01carefully, not wanting to eat them. But then I ran into some mean kids from a nearby farm. They swarmed
25:08me and grabbed my candy. You're a brat born from that limp farmer. Your grandmother said so. It must be
25:14true. A bitch and her brat. No wonder her husband just died and she remarried already. I fought back
25:34warm. My candy was gone. Even my new hair clip was missing. They laughed and ran off with my sweets.
25:42I sat in the mud and cried. Grandmother and my uncle stood nearby, watching with wicked smiles.
25:49You deserve this. We should have sold them to the town tavern back then. I screamed at them. I am
25:56not
25:56a brat. You are the bad people. You are evil. I was so small back then. My mom had already
26:04had a child.
26:05The tavern would never pay that much for us. They thought I was too young to understand. But I had
26:10overheard their conversation. They were the truly wicked ones. They wanted to leave us at the ranch.
26:16They wanted to watch Rick beat us to death. But they never expected this. Dad never hit us.
26:22He never tortured us even for a second. He treated us so well. They couldn't stand it. So they spread
26:30rumors behind our backs. They framed us everywhere. Clearly, they are the real monsters.
26:37I lost the hair clip and candy Dad bought me. I was too ashamed to go home. I lingered near
26:42the gate
26:43hesitating. Dad came down from the mountain. He saw me covered in mud and blood. He dropped his
26:49pheasants in shock. I had never seen him so angry. Who did this? I trembled in fear. I'm sorry. I'm
26:57so
26:57sorry. He panicked, trying to wipe the mud off my face. Tell Dad. Who hit you? His hands were rough,
27:06but they calmed my racing heart. I stuttered through the whole story. The more I spoke, the darker his face
27:13became. He took me back and left me with Mom. Then he grabbed his axe to head out. Rick. Mom
27:20pulled
27:20him back and shook her head. Dad thought for a moment. He dropped the axe and grabbed a wooden
27:27club instead. That day, the parents of those bullies all got a beating. If you can't teach your kids,
27:34I won't hit them. I'll hit you instead. Those grown men were chased like rabbits
27:42by a man with a limp. Dad moved slowly but steadily. He caught up to them and struck them down.
27:50The men wailed in pain. Everyone in the ranch came out to watch. Then Dad went to the Hudson Ranch.
27:57He gave my uncle a brutal beating. My uncle screamed and begged for mercy. He promised he
28:04would never do it again. I won't do it again. I promise. Dad turned to the crowd of onlookers.
28:09If you have something to say, say it to my face. No one dared to speak. They all waved their
28:14hands
28:14and shook their heads. We all know what the Hudsons are like. Just go live your life. Look
28:19at how happy your family is now. Dad dropped the club. He patted my head and led me home.
28:28Have you lived this long without a name? I shook my head. Grandmother called me a brat.
28:35Mom only called me baby. Dad pulled me close and looked at the stars.
28:39From now on, your name is Stella. Shine like a star and have a bright future ahead.
28:48For the first time, I had a real name. Stella Cooper. I have my own name now.
28:53I smiled at Mom. Dad smiled too and patted my head. I finally have a daughter of my own.
29:01That night, Mom talked to me. Stella, you're a big girl now. Starting tomorrow, you sleep
29:09on your own, okay? If I sleep alone, where will Mom sleep? I thought about it and nodded hard.
29:15Okay, Mom. You and Dad have a baby brother or sister soon. I'll play with them.
29:21This time, I really wanted a sibling. A sibling just like Dad would be wonderful.
29:27The next morning, Dad woke me up early.
29:30Stella, was I cool when I handled those bad guys yesterday?
29:34I nodded vigorously.
29:35So cool!
29:36If you want to protect yourself, you want to rely on more forever. You have to rely on yourself. Do
29:43you want like me strong?
29:44I nodded again.
29:46Yes.
29:47I wanted to be strong like him. I wanted to protect my parents and my future siblings. I wanted to
29:53hunt bears and earn lots of money.
29:56Dad looked proud. He made me run 50 laps around our ranch cabin. By the end, I could barely stand.
30:03He gritted his teeth and wouldn't let me stop. Mom looked pained, but she didn't say a word. She just
30:10made extra food and added two fried eggs for me.
30:14After running, there was weight training. Dad brought sandbags from the ranch warehouse. They felt like a thousand pounds on
30:21my arms.
30:23After a day of training, my hands and feet were covered in blisters. Mom washed my feet and popped the
30:29blisters for me.
30:30Stella, train hard. Your dad is doing this for your own good.
30:36I know, Mom.
30:38Most ranch families only teach girls to gather wood, wash clothes, and cook.
30:43Who would ever teach a girl how to be strong? I understood how much Dad cared for me.
30:48That night, Mom moved into Dad's room. I heard them talking for a bit before the lights went out.
30:54My body ached all over, but I slept peacefully.
30:57The next morning, Dad woke up late.
31:00I had already finished 30 laps when he came out.
31:03His eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep.
31:06All day long, Dad and Mom were blushing.
31:09They kept stealing glances at each other.
31:11Why hide it? Just look if you want to.
31:14Grown-ups are so strange.
31:16We had a perfect Christmas.
31:18Dad used the bear money to expand the ranch.
31:20He bought two dairy cows and a few beef cattle.
31:23When we weren't farming, we were managing the ranch.
31:26During the off-season, we went hunting.
31:29Dad started taking me into the mountains.
31:31He taught me how to track animals and read their droppings.
31:34He showed me how to avoid bears and wolves.
31:37He taught me to set traps and use a hunting rifle.
31:40He even showed me how to knock someone out with minimal force
31:43and how to spot poisonous plants in the woods.
31:46I was weak, so my progress was slow.
31:48But Dad was always patient.
31:50Our family was happy.
31:52But the rumors never truly stopped.
31:54Most of them came from the Hudsons.
31:56Rick's fault he's a cripple.
31:58That person pretends to be arrogant and married a cripple.
32:03So what if Jason was handsome?
32:05His only talents were hitting us, gambling and drinking.
32:09I started staring at Dad's leg.
32:12Dad noticed and tried to walk slower to hide his limp.
32:15Sometimes he would lean on the ranch fence for support.
32:20Your dad is so good to you, Stella.
32:24Don't be heartless.
32:25Don't look down on him like others.
32:27Mom thought I was becoming ungrateful.
32:30Her eyes turned red with anger, but she couldn't bring herself to hit me.
32:33I quickly grabbed her hand to explain.
32:36Mom, I don't look down on Dad.
32:37I feel bad for him.
32:39I want to study medicine.
32:41I want to fix his leg.
32:43I didn't care that he limped.
32:45I didn't care about the scar on his face.
32:47I just hated seeing him unable to sleep when it rained.
32:51I hated that hunting was harder for him than others.
32:55Mom understood my thoughts, but she was worried.
32:57There were no medical schools in town.
33:00Besides, I was only a six-year-old girl.
33:02Dad overheard us from outside the cabin.
33:05He stayed silent for two days.
33:07He just sat on the porch, staring at the mountains.
33:10Two days later, he took me back to the city.
33:13We found the butler who bought the black bear.
33:15Dad asked him for a favor.
33:17The man looked at me carefully.
33:19He patted Dad's shoulder and agreed happily.
33:22If she wants to learn, she can start as an assistant in the pharmacy.
33:28Stella, studying medicine is very hard.
33:31You have to memorize names, mix medicine, and care for the sick.
33:36People might yell at you or even hit you.
33:39Can you handle it?
33:41I slapped my chest and spoke loudly.
33:43I can.
33:44I'll fix my dad's leg and earn lots of money.
33:48I'll take care of my parents and my future siblings.
33:52The man burst out laughing and nudged Dad's arm.
33:55Rick, your daughter is so sweet.
33:58Is the next one already on the way?
34:00Dad's face turned bright red instantly.
34:03He waved his hands quickly.
34:04It's still too early for that!
34:07I lived at the pharmacy in town, doing odd jobs.
34:10I tried my best to learn everything about medicine.
34:13I only went home to the ranch once every two weeks.
34:16I brought the sandbags Dad gave me to the pharmacy.
34:19No matter how busy I was, I found time to train.
34:22Mom hated leaving me alone in town.
34:25She held my hand and wouldn't let go when she dropped me off.
34:28With red eyes, she told me to eat well and not overwork.
34:31Come home if anyone treats you badly.
34:34She said.
34:35I waved and smiled to comfort her.
34:38Don't worry, Mom.
34:39I can take care of myself.
34:41When I learn everything, I'll fix Dad's leg.
34:44Mom laughed through her tears and wiped them away.
34:47All right, I'll be waiting.
34:49I'll make your favorite snacks for when you come home.
34:52The doctor at the pharmacy was an old friend of the butler's.
34:55He was kind to patients, but very strict with apprentices.
34:58If we forgot a drug's name, he yelled.
35:01If we missed a detail in a patient's record, he yelled.
35:04If we took blood pressure incorrectly, he yelled.
35:07Sometimes he made us copy drug names as punishment for being slow.
35:11The other students felt mistreated.
35:13Before long, they all went home crying and never came back.
35:16But I wasn't afraid.
35:18What was this little bit of hardship?
35:20Compared to Grandmother's beatings or Jason's violence, this was nothing.
35:24I was already used to it.
35:26Besides, I knew the doctor wanted me to grow fast.
35:29Just like Dad wanted me to be strong.
35:31The doctor was strict, but he never treated us poorly.
35:34He made plenty of food for us every day.
35:37Sometimes he even gave us nutrient powder.
35:39I might not be the smartest, but I know who is truly kind.
35:42I kept training the way Dad taught me.
35:44I ran 5 kilometers with weights every morning and night.
35:47I grew stronger, and my movements became faster.
35:50The doctor started teaching me massage techniques.
35:53At first, I practiced on him.
35:55Slowly, I began helping the elderly patients ease their pain.
35:58The doctor worked so hard with his patients in medicine.
36:01I massaged him to help him relax.
36:03He started smiling at me more.
36:05He even taught me about heat and cold therapy.
36:07He said these skills would really help my dad.
36:10When I went home every two weeks, the first thing I did was massage Dad's leg.
36:14I rubbed the stiff muscles from his knee to his ankle.
36:18Then I used the heat therapy the doctor taught me.
36:21At first, Dad refused.
36:22He thought it was awkward for a man to have his legs rubbed.
36:25I had to beg him for a long time before he finally agreed.
36:29After the massage, he stood up and took a few steps.
36:32His eyes lit up and turned a bit red.
36:34Stella is so smart.
36:37My leg feels much better now.
36:39Mom saw this and asked me to teach her, too.
36:42When you're away, I can do it for him.
36:44He worked so hard on the ranch and in the mountains.
36:47I taught them both step by step.
36:50I laughed and said,
36:51When I'm not here, you two can massage each other.
36:54That way, you'll both feel better.
36:56Both their faces turned bright red instantly.
36:58They glanced at each other and quickly looked down.
37:01Mom gave me a little pinch for talking nonsense.
37:03They are so strange.
37:05What is there to be embarrassed about?
37:06I studied in the city for five years.
37:09My medical knowledge and physical strength grew fast.
37:12I went from a skinny little girl to a strong, healthy teenager.
37:16The fear in my eyes was gone, replaced by confidence.
37:20During this time, Mom and Dad never had another child.
37:24Rumors started spreading around the ranch.
37:26Most of them came from the Hudson's.
37:28They claimed Dad couldn't have children.
37:30It must be Rick's fault!
37:31He's disabled.
37:32He probably doesn't even have the strength to father a child.
37:35Maybe that's why his first first wife fought with him before she died.
37:38I overheard some workers gossiping when I returned home.
37:41I clenched my fists, ready to fight them.
37:43But Mom grabbed my hand and stepped forward.
37:45She raised her voice so everyone could hear.
37:47It's my fault!
37:49I was abused at the Hudson's and it ruined my health!
37:51It has nothing to do with my husband, Rick!
37:54Stop your lies!
37:55Dad was healthy, but Mom was right.
37:58Years of hunger, heavy labor, and beatings had left her scarred.
38:02She had been taking medicine for five years, but nothing happened.
38:05Mom was anxious and often sat by the creek staring into space.
38:09Sometimes I caught her wiping away tears.
38:12Dad was always there to comfort her.
38:14Raising Stella is enough.
38:16She's smart and capable.
38:19She's worth more than ten sons.
38:22With her around, we have nothing to worry about.
38:31But right then, my biological father, Jason, suddenly returned.
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