RYEY – Chapter 184 The Truth

The couple’s marriage certificate had been registered before Liberation. The characters on it were still written in the traditional style, solemn and elegant. Unfortunately, this piece of paper was now completely void.

The old man casually pulled out his son’s marriage certificate as well, explaining the situation. The staff at the Civil Affairs Bureau looked at this elderly couple with complicated expressions, unable for the moment to fully accept this reality.

“You’ve really made up your minds? Then where’s your son? He has to come in person to handle the procedure.”

The old man nodded, then turned and left without looking back. The old lady stared at his cold, unfeeling back, suddenly not knowing where she should go.

After two days in the hospital, Qiu Min was discharged. But just as she reached the hospital gate, she spotted a familiar figure at her doorway. Worry rose in her heart—her father had come. Could it be…

“Shouhou, my father has always doted on me since I was young, unlike my mother. So, if in a bit…”

“I know. Don’t think too much about it. The child is what matters most.”

“Dad, why are you here? Is something wrong?”

“Qiu Min, how’s the baby in your belly? Is everything alright?”

“It’s fine now. Dad, are you here to see my brother? He’s at the Public Security Bureau, but it should be fine. After all, nothing serious happened to me.”

“I know. I’m not here to talk about that today. Here, take this money.”

The old man handed over a stack of bills. Qiu Min glanced down—two hundred yuan. She was so shocked she nearly jumped.

“Dad, where did you get so much money?”

She knew perfectly well that all the family finances were firmly in her mother’s hands. Normally, if her father could pull even a dime out of his pocket, it was already considered wealthy.

“Dad, Qiu Min’s heavily pregnant. Let’s go back home and talk there.”

Seeing his father-in-law standing there blankly, Shouhou figured something must have happened at home. They just didn’t know what yet.

Qiu Min’s father nodded and followed them back home.

“Dad, sit inside. No one’s been home the last two days, the place is cold. I’ll go light the fire.”

He nodded again and silently trailed after her inside. Sure enough, the house was freezing, but thankfully they were dressed warmly.

Once the fire caught, warmth gradually spread through the room. Seeing his father-in-law still so quiet, Shouhou quickly went to cook rice and prepare dishes. Maybe the old man wasn’t hungry, but his pregnant wife was.

“Qiu Min, there’s something I need to tell you.”

“Dad, just say it.”

Qiu Min had already steeled herself, thinking her father might ask her for money. After all, her eldest brother was the only son in the family. If he wasn’t looked after, who else would be?

“I sold the house.”

“What?”

Qiu Min jumped in shock. The baby in her belly kicked hard, making her cry out in pain as she clutched her stomach.

“What happened? Is the baby alright?”

“It’s fine. This child just seems mischievous.”

“Really, you’re alright? I almost didn’t dare say it.”

“Dad, go on. I’m ready now.”

“Your mother and I divorced. Your brother and his wife are divorcing too. So, I didn’t want the house anymore—I sold it.”

Qiu Min had to take five deep breaths before she managed to digest this bombshell. One hand pressed against her belly, the other rubbed her forehead. Thankfully, she wasn’t sweating.

“Dad, why divorce? After selling the house, where will you live? What about my brother—where will he live? And his two sons, where will they live?”

“I’ll stay in the factory dormitory. I haven’t retired yet, so I can apply for a single bed. If not, I’ll borrow a place outside. As for your brother, he has nothing to do with me. His sons—have even less to do with me.”

Qiu Min’s mind was spinning. She understood each word her father spoke, but put together, the meaning made no sense.

Shouhou, however, understood completely. No wonder his father-in-law had been able to divorce smoothly—he must’ve had leverage against his mother-in-law. As for his brother-in-law, well, the boy didn’t look like his father at all. They’d always assumed he just took after his mother.

“Dad, why don’t you stay here for now? My belly’s so big, I can’t do much. It’s too tiring for Shouhou to manage alone. You could lend a hand.”

The old man nodded. Though this little daughter’s home had only two rooms, he could stay in the outer one. Once the factory dorm application went through, he could move out.

“Dad, does Big Sister know?”

Shouhou worried aloud—what if she wasn’t really Qiu Min’s sister either?

“She knows. I gave her two hundred yuan too, told her to live well and not let her in-laws find out. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be safe.”

“Ah, every family has its difficult sutra to recite. Big Sister has it hard too. Dad, sit down. I’ll fry a few dishes, and you and I can drink a couple cups together—celebrate a little.”

Qiu Min rolled her eyes. Celebrate, for this? But when Shouhou pointed at her belly, she smiled. That was indeed something worth celebrating.

Watching his daughter and son-in-law’s interaction, the old man felt comforted. At least there was one good pair in the family. Otherwise, his whole life would’ve been nothing but a joke.

After the divorce, Qiu Min’s mother had gone straight to the hospital. When Qiu Jianguo saw his mother, the first thing he did was complain of hunger. But how could the old lady care about her son right now? She just sat on the stool by the bed in a daze.

Jianguo was already this old, yet how had the old man found out? Truly, if you don’t want people to know, then don’t do it. But back then, she had been so desperate for a child that she fell for another man’s trap.

And how could she tell Jianguo that? What if the old man threw Jianguo and the two grandsons out as well? Right now, the boys were still at their maternal grandmother’s. Once they learned their mother was arrested and getting divorced, would they be cast out too?

Sorrow overwhelmed her. What had her whole life been for? Day after day, she schemed over food and drink, counting every penny. She wouldn’t even let herself eat a piece of candy.

“Mom, what’s wrong with you? I’m hungry. Go buy me some food.”

She nodded, gave him a long, deep look, then went to the hospital canteen with the lunchbox. Jianguo devoured the fragrant food greedily, not sparing a thought to ask, “Mom, have you eaten yet?”

Watching her son eat so heartily, the old lady took a passbook from her pocket. Inside was a thousand yuan—her life’s savings, every cent she had pinched and saved. She gave it all to her son.

“Mom, how do you have so much money? If you’d taken it out earlier, it would’ve been great. I could’ve had Daying buy a work placement. None of this mess would’ve happened!”

Hearing her son scold her, the old lady gave a bitter smile. Yes… if only she’d given it earlier. But now it was too late.

“Jianguo, I’m going home. Take good care of this money, don’t waste it, understand?”

“Okay, Mom. Be careful on your way back. Oh right, about the divorce, how will that work?”

“Oh, here’s your marriage certificate. The people at the Civil Affairs Bureau said you have to be present in person to process it. You figure it out yourself—you do have two sons, after all.”

Jianguo curled his lip. Sons, sons… what a pain. If not for his mother pushing him back then, he’d never have wanted to have sons.