RYEY – Chapter 183 The Old Man and Old Woman Want a Divorce Too

“Jianguo, say something. We spent a lot on medical expenses today, we need to get the money back from your sister.”

At that moment, Qiu Jianguo’s heart gave a violent thump. Qiu Min… At the time, he hadn’t noticed how big his sister’s belly was, so he had yanked her too hard, dragging her to the ground. He didn’t know if the child would survive.

“Ma, hurry and check on Qiu Min, see if the baby in her belly is alright.”

“Check what? That child only exists because of the medicine I got for her to take. Ungrateful wretch.”

“Say that again.”

Suddenly, Shouhou appeared at the ward’s doorway, staring coldly at the older sister-in-law.

The woman had just opened her mouth to curse, but when her eyes landed on the comrades from the Public Security Bureau in their white uniforms, her pupils shrank. She had found a quack doctor—of course she knew whether he had real skill or not.

“So you’re the sister-in-law who tried to harm the child in Qiu Min’s belly? Come with us.”

“Aiyo, my head hurts! That beast hit me with a stick, I’m dizzy, I can’t—ah, I’m going to faint…”

“Doctor, can you check if this woman is really as weak as she claims?”

The doctor walked over with his stethoscope. Seeing the woman’s eyelashes trembling uncontrollably, he sneered. She couldn’t even fake fainting properly—don’t blame him for not helping her.

He pressed hard on her philtrum with his fingernail. The sharp pain nearly made the sister-in-law jump up. The sudden movement really did make her feel a little dizzy.

“That stick hit hard, but your skull is harder. Just some bleeding and a slight concussion. Rest a couple of days and you’ll be fine.”

Hearing the doctor downplay her injury, the woman nearly exploded. She had never seen such a useless doctor—couldn’t even say a few words in her defense.

“Qiu Jianguo, Comrade Hou here came to file a report. He says you, knowing your sister was over six months pregnant, still yanked her hair viciously over a job, causing her to fall to the ground.”

“No, no, no, I didn’t mean to, I… I was just scared.”

“Scared? Scared of what?”

“I… I saw him holding a stick. I thought he was going to kill me, so…”

“So you tried to grab your sister as a human shield? That’s also a form of attempted murder. If you can handle moving, you’ll come with us for questioning.”

“Comrade, Comrade Public Security, it’s all my fault, this useless old man’s fault. I was the one who told my son to go find my daughter. Whatever happens, take it out on me. I’ll bear it all.”

Qiu Min’s mother panicked. She only had one son—how could he be ruined here? She began to blame Qiu Min and her husband. Wasn’t it just a small matter? Why did they have to call the police?

“Doctor, please also examine Qiu Jianguo and see if he can come with us.”

The doctor checked and shook his head. Jianguo’s injuries were clearly worse than his wife’s. Looks like Shouhou had really lost his temper and struck hard.

“Then stay here and recover. But I’m warning you—don’t even think of running. Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, we’ll find you.”

“Yes, yes.”

Jianguo had no fight left in him. He even started blaming his wife. All this over a job? Couldn’t he just go find one himself? Why did she have to covet his sister’s? What kind of person was she?

“Ma, I want to divorce Daying.”

“What, divorce? Why divorce? You already have two children.”

“If she gets arrested and thrown in jail, we’ll be implicated. We might even be sent out west to open wasteland.”

“What—then don’t wait! Hurry, get divorced right away.”

“Ma, go home and find my marriage certificate in my room. Tomorrow I’ll go get the divorce.”

“Alright, I’ll go right now.”

Qiu Min’s mother rushed home, trying to drag her husband along. But Qiu Min’s father shook off her hand. If his son could divorce, so could he.

That old hag had eaten his food, used his things, lived in the house he’d applied for, and still bossed him around. Today’s mess had all started with her, otherwise that stupid daughter-in-law wouldn’t have dared show up.

Back home, Qiu Min’s mother looked for her son’s marriage certificate. Qiu Min’s father went to look for his own.

The next day, Jianguo waited and waited for his parents, but they never showed up. He didn’t dare leave the hospital ward, had no money in his pocket, and his stomach was rumbling—he didn’t know what to do.

At the doors of the Civil Affairs Bureau, the old woman’s heart-wrenching wails drew a crowd. Everyone gathered to see what was going on.

“Damn you, I’ve been married to you for over thirty years, bore you children, served you like some young master, never let my fingers touch spring water, and now in my old age you actually want to divorce me!”

“Could it be this old man has someone outside? Otherwise, why divorce at such an age?”

“I don’t think so. Look at him, he can barely speak. Then look at this old woman—crying, wailing, threatening suicide. Fierce as they come.”

“Probably the old man just couldn’t take it anymore, so he wants a divorce.”

“Comrade, why exactly are you divorcing your wife?”

Finally someone asked. The old woman stopped wailing, also wanting to know what kind of madness her husband was spouting.

“Ah, what misfortune. This damn woman is a troublemaker, instigating our son and daughter-in-law to go demand money and a job from our daughter and her husband. Now both my son and daughter are in the hospital, and my daughter-in-law’s been arrested.”

“What…”

The crowd turned on the old woman, their gazes full of disgust. Especially the young wives who suffered under difficult mothers-in-law—they even spat at her.

“You old fool, what nonsense are you talking? How is it my fault? Wasn’t it Jianguo’s wife who wanted money? Our grandson’s grown and will need a wife too—if we don’t save up, how will that work?”

“A grandson is your son’s responsibility. What does that have to do with your daughter and son-in-law? And your daughter’s heavily pregnant—your son should’ve had restraint! Instead, you all just eye other people’s bowls, refuse to admit your own fault. Divorce! Divorce! This marriage is over!”

The old man suddenly grew stubborn. He dragged the old woman, who was rolling on the ground, straight toward the Civil Affairs Bureau. She, of course, resisted.

Suddenly, the old man whispered something in her ear. Her eyes went wide in shock, staring at the husband she’d lived with for over thirty years.

“You’re really this heartless?”

“It’s not heartless. I just can’t stand you anymore.”

“After divorce, where am I supposed to live?”

“Anywhere but my home. Look, I’ve already packed up your things.”

The old woman turned and saw the big bundle at the Bureau’s entrance. She nearly choked on her own spit. She’d wondered why the old man carried such a big bag and never answered her questions. So this was his plan.

The old woman took a deep breath. Since the truth was laid bare, there was no point clinging anymore. Otherwise, the days ahead would really be nothing but chaos. Turning around, she led the way into the Civil Affairs Bureau.