RIRW – Chapter 130

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Zuo Dan leaned against the window, peeking outside. Her eyes widened in surprise, sparkling with the delight of watching a drama unfold.

She had originally come today to drop some hints to her grandparents so they wouldn’t go soft-hearted again later. She also wanted to get some news about the commotion at the slaughterhouse. But she hadn’t expected to catch such a juicy scene herself.

She could see everything clearly from the window, so she didn’t bother going downstairs and putting herself in harm’s way. Instead, she grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds and started snacking as she watched the drama below, glancing at her grandparents whose faces were now red with suppressed anger.

She said with concern, “If only Yiming were here today. I can’t do much now, or I’d go help.”

“Help with what? Just stay out of it!” Grandfather Li turned and stormed off.

Grandmother Li looked after him, but after a moment’s thought, she leaned in to the window and joined in watching as well.

Downstairs, Su Xiaodao was clinging to Guo Caiping, refusing to let go. Guo Caiping’s face was full of disgust and impatience.

She and Li Wenchang had just come back from visiting some education bureau officials, but when they arrived, the officials weren’t home. As soon as the family heard their names, they didn’t even let them in the door.

With no other option, the pair returned together. Just as they stepped through the university gate, they spotted Su Yidao and Su Xiaodao. Guo Caiping tried to hide behind Li Wenchang, hoping to sneak by unnoticed. She almost succeeded—except that Su Xiaodao was her own son. That mother-son bond made it impossible for her to escape his notice.

He had immediately chased after them.

And now, downstairs, he had her in his grasp.

“Mom, why don’t you want me? What did I do wrong? Why don’t you want me?” Su Xiaodao sobbed uncontrollably. He had never imagined that one day, his mother would abandon him. She had always said that their family would stay together forever. So why was she leaving now?

Everyone said she didn’t want him anymore. But he refused to believe it. How could his mother not want him?

As Su Xiaodao wept bitterly, Guo Caiping grew more and more agitated. She had just managed to calm Li Wenchang down and was still dealing with a mess on that end. Now, here came Su Yidao again.

This kind of commotion meant she’d have to spend even more time and effort placating Li Wenchang.

Why couldn’t things just stay quiet for once?

“Let go! What kind of behavior is this? So uncivilized! I’ve raised you for so many years, and you still haven’t changed your crude nature!” Guo Caiping scolded him sharply.

Su Xiaodao froze when she yelled at him, staring at her in shock, too frightened to keep crying.

“Caiping, why are you yelling at Xiaodao?” Su Yidao approached with red eyes. Years of working in a slaughterhouse had given him a menacing aura. Even Li Wenchang instinctively stepped back two paces.

But Su Yidao ignored him completely. His eyes were fixed on Guo Caiping. “Caiping, people are saying you accused me and Liu Cuilui just to get remarried. Is it true?! For him—” he pointed at Li Wenchang—“you divorced me. Is that right?”

“Yidao, it’s not like that. It’s just that we weren’t compatible anymore,” Guo Caiping said with a troubled expression. “We’re already divorced, let’s part peacefully. At the very least, I gave you a son. I don’t owe you anything. Why can’t you just let go?”

“Let go?” Su Yidao pointed to himself, tears brimming in his eyes. “Guo Caiping, you wanted a divorce, you said you didn’t want to be with me anymore, and I agreed. But why did you have to lie? Why did you have to frame me?”

His tears streamed down as he spoke. “How have I treated you all these years? Don’t you know? Whatever Xiaoxue wanted, I gave it to her. I never treated her like an outsider. I always listened to you. How could you be so heartless?”

Guo Caiping’s mouth twisted slightly. “Yidao, that whole thing was a misunderstanding. I made a mistake. I didn’t mean to hurt you. As for us, even though you treated me well, I really didn’t have feelings for you. I couldn’t go on like that.”

“No feelings?” Su Yidao gave a bitter laugh and pointed at her. “What did you say back then? You said your ex-husband didn’t treat you well, that he looked down on you for giving birth to a daughter and divorced you. You used to cook for me every day, saying I was a good man… and now you say you had no feelings for me…”

Guo Caiping’s expression turned green, then purple. She hadn’t expected him to bring up those embarrassing things from the past—especially not in front of Li Wenchang. She turned to him in a panic, “Don’t listen to him. Back then, I had no choice. I just wanted to find a stable home for Xiaoxue.”

Things had already gone this far; there was no room to play nice anymore. She had to choose one side. And she had long made her choice.

Su Yidao’s heart felt like it had been pierced by a blade.

“How pitiful…” Zuo Dan wiped her eyes, then looked toward Grandmother Li.

Grandmother Li’s eyes were red too—though from anger. She had always known Guo Caiping was shameless, but she hadn’t known she could sink even lower.

Seeing Su Yidao still standing there in silence, Zuo Dan nearly wanted to shout down from the window and tell him to stir up more trouble.

Fortunately, Su Yidao didn’t move—but Li Wenchang did. Guo Caiping’s words just now had touched him. She had done many things wrong, but in the end, it had all been for him, and for their child.

Li Wenchang took a deep breath, stepped forward, and said, “Comrade Su Yidao, Caiping and I are truly sorry. But we will not part. If you’re willing, I would like to offer you some compensation.”

“Compensate?” Su Yidao finally reacted. He clenched his fists, glaring at Li Wenchang with murderous intent, and growled, “Compensate for what? With what? I treated her so well all these years, gave so much—do you think a simple word like ‘compensate’ makes it all okay? And my son, Su Xiaodao—abandoned by his own mother—do you think one word of compensation is enough for that too?”

“I can…” Li Wenchang had just started to speak when Su Yidao punched him squarely and sent him tumbling to the ground.

Grandmother Li jumped in fright.

Guo Caiping was also startled. She quickly rushed over to check on Li Wenchang. “Wenchang, are you okay?”

Fortunately, although Su Yidao was rough, he didn’t usually resort to violence lightly. Especially since he still had a son to raise, he knew he couldn’t afford to get into trouble. After that one punch, he didn’t hit again. He just stared fixedly at Li Wenchang. “What can you compensate with? Huh? What?! When Guo Caiping divorced me, she took all the savings we’d built up over the years. Are you planning to compensate me with my own money?”

He still remembered hearing that Guo Caiping had used his money to please another man! Thinking of this, Su Yidao’s fists tightened again.

Li Wenchang, now bleeding from the corner of his mouth and with a swollen face, was slumped on the ground, pale with fear. Hearing Su Yidao’s words, he turned to look at Guo Caiping.

Guo Caiping averted her eyes and remained silent.

Helpless and afraid of another blow from Su Yidao, Li Wenchang said, “I’ll use my own money. Whatever she took from you, she’ll return it. I’ll compensate you from my own funds.”

“Wenchang, how are we going to live then?” Guo Caiping exclaimed.

“We’ll live however we have to! I can support you both!” Li Wenchang said through gritted teeth. At this point, what money was there left to fuss about?

Hearing the two of them discussing how to go on with their lives together, Su Yidao felt another sharp stab in his chest.

“Fine! You want to compensate? Then compensate properly! Let’s settle every single account clearly!”

Just raising Su Xue over the years had cost a considerable amount. She had always been more spoiled and better dressed than Su Xiaodao.

Altogether, raising her over a dozen years had cost over a thousand yuan.

Hearing that figure, even Li Wenchang’s face changed slightly.

And then there was the 300 yuan they’d forked out recently because of Su Xue’s incident. Another bill to pay.

Adding up everything, the total came to about 1,500 yuan.

Su Yidao was speaking out of anger. He felt that since Guo Caiping married him with the intention of making him raise her child, and now she wanted a divorce—and since Li Wenchang kept saying he’d pay—he might as well see how they planned to compensate him.

When Guo Caiping heard the bill being calculated, she exploded, “Su Yidao, you’re shameless! I gave you a son, and you still have the nerve to ask me for money!”

“Mom… please don’t leave me…” Su Xiaodao cried as soon as he heard his mother mention him, desperate and brokenhearted.

Seeing his son in that state, Su Yidao’s eyes turned red. “Guo Caiping, if not for the fact that you gave birth to Xiaodao, I’d be willing to die along with you both today! You never treated him like your son! And you used my money to win over that man—how can you even say something like that?”

Li Wenchang couldn’t bear to hear any more. He looked around—people were still watching, from upstairs and downstairs. He felt utterly humiliated. He, Li Wenchang, had lost all face in just a few days.

He got up from the ground and said to Guo Caiping, “Give the money back to him. Compensate him.”

“Wenchang, it’s over a thousand yuan!” Guo Caiping cried.

Li Wenchang only had about 3,000 yuan total. He’d already spent 600 before, and now he had to give out another 1,500? How were they supposed to live after that? She had even planned to look at houses and buy one soon—she couldn’t live in a rented place forever!

Seeing how she was reluctant to part with money—for another man—made Su Yidao’s teeth itch with anger. Guo Caiping had never been this way for him. Not once had she felt this kind of heartache on his behalf.

He yelled, “Didn’t you just say you’d compensate me? But now that the amount’s big, you’re not willing anymore?”

“Give it to him! Hurry up and give him the money!” Li Wenchang shouted, flustered. He just wanted to end the drama and stop the public humiliation.

Seeing Guo Caiping unmoved, he snapped, “Caiping, what are you waiting for? Give him the money! You caused all this—what more do you want?”

Even though he knew she’d done all these wrongs for him, after all this repeated trouble, he couldn’t help but start to resent her.

Seeing how angry he was, Guo Caiping had no choice but to go and get the money.

She didn’t want someone like Su Yidao stepping into her house.

After a while, she came back out holding a bankbook and 1,500 yuan in cash.

Clenching her teeth, she shoved the money toward Su Yidao. “Su Yidao, we’re compensating you today. From now on, I owe you nothing. Take your son and go. Don’t ever show your face to me again! Li Wenchang and I are the real couple!”

Su Yidao’s hands trembled as he took the money and bankbook. He didn’t even glance at it. His lips quivered before he managed to speak.

“Guo Caiping… I, Su Yidao, really was blind… completely blind!”

He held up the money. “This money—I won’t use a single cent of it. It’s all for Xiaodao. This is what you owe him, Guo Caiping!” And with that, he dragged Su Xiaodao away.

Su Xiaodao struggled, sobbing, “Dad, I don’t want to go. I want Mom.”

“You don’t have a mom anymore! She ran off with another man! From now on, you don’t have a mother!” Su Yidao roared.

Su Xiaodao wailed, “Mom! I want my mom…”

The onlookers, hearing the child cry so heartbreakingly, all wiped their eyes.

The child was too pitiful. The mother was too heartless.

Li Wenchang felt uneasy after hearing that and glanced at Guo Caiping with a complex expression. He didn’t say anything to her and simply walked toward home.

Guo Caiping was just about to follow him when someone called out, “Comrade Guo Caiping, please wait a moment.”

Guo Caiping turned around and, upon seeing who it was, her expression drastically changed.

Li Wenchang also heard it and turned back to take a look. He didn’t recognize the person, but he did see someone in a public security uniform, accompanied by two men who looked like officials.

Manager Jiang looked at Guo Caiping, then at Li Wenchang, and let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, both of them were in one piece, no missing limbs. He had just seen Su Yidao storm off with Su Xiaodao and thought Su Yidao had come seeking revenge.

Thinking about how those old women at the slaughterhouse could pin someone to the ground and beat them, if Su Yidao came in a rage, wouldn’t he have broken someone’s arms or legs? Thankfully, Su Yidao was still rational.

However, upon seeing the wounds on Guo Caiping’s face, Manager Jiang gained a new level of respect for the battle prowess of the slaughterhouse ladies. He decided he’d treat them with more courtesy from now on.

The group walked up to Guo Caiping and Li Wenchang. Manager Jiang said, “Comrade Guo Caiping, this must be Comrade Li Wenchang beside you. Here’s the situation: someone from the slaughterhouse previously wrote a letter reporting Comrades Su Yidao and Liu Cuicui for misconduct. After investigating, we found some suspicious points, so we brought public security officers to further look into the matter.”

The middle-aged public security officer said, “Please cooperate with our investigation.”

Guo Caiping tried to stay calm, but Li Wenchang’s eyes revealed a trace of panic.

The officer noticed and said, “Would it be convenient to talk inside? This isn’t a suitable place to discuss things.”

“Yes, let’s talk inside.” Li Wenchang quickly took the lead and led them in.

As the group left, Zuo Dan felt disappointed—such a good show, and she didn’t get to see the ending!

But still, this drama had been truly spectacular, wave after wave of twists.

Grandmother Li frowned and said, “Why is public security here too?”

Zuo Dan rubbed her belly and said, “If Guo Caiping really falsely accused someone, then it’s slander. That could be serious—legally, it’s a punishable offense.”

“This… this is just…” Grandmother Li was so shocked she didn’t even know what to say. She decided to go into the study and discuss the situation with Old Li.

Zuo Dan didn’t leave; she was worried she might run into Manager Jiang and the others if she went out, so she simply stayed by the window, planning to leave after they were gone.

She felt a little regretful—not being able to see what was going on in Li Wenchang’s house. Hopefully, the public security officers wouldn’t be fooled.

Inside the house, the middle-aged officer was taking Guo Caiping’s statement.

As a seasoned officer, he had a keen eye. Just from observing their facial expressions, he could tell something was off.

He asked a few key questions: “Comrade Guo Caiping, we’ve confirmed that you wrote the letter. You were the one who reported this. We’d like to understand—where did your suspicion that Su Yidao and Liu Cuicui had an improper relationship come from? What’s your basis?”

“They were flirting,” Guo Caiping replied steadily.

“When and where did they flirt? Describe how they did so.”

Guo Caiping hesitated. “Just recently.”

“What exact date and time? This is an important matter—you wouldn’t forget. If you can’t remember, then your claim has no foundation.”

Sweat began to form on Guo Caiping’s forehead. “I think it was December 6th or 7th…”

“Was it the 6th or the 7th? What exact time? Where did this take place?”

“…” Guo Caiping completely lost her composure. Her eyes darted around, lips moved but no words came out.

She looked at the officer in panic. “Comrade officer, I made a mistake. I can’t remember the time clearly. Maybe I just saw something and started to suspect… I made a mistake!”

Manager Jiang was furious. “You just say you made a mistake and think that’s fine? If this had happened in the past, Su Yidao and Liu Cuicui could’ve been ruined—just because of your so-called mistake?!”

The middle-aged officer calmly put down his notebook. “Without any factual basis, your so-called mistake is groundless. Even a mistake must have some basis. In this situation, there’s only one conclusion: you deliberately slandered Comrades Su Yidao and Liu Cuicui to achieve your goal of divorce.”

“I didn’t! I’m being wronged, Comrade Officer! I didn’t!” Guo Caiping cried out anxiously.

The officer didn’t listen to her. He stood up and said seriously, “I think you’ll need to come with us. Some matters require deeper investigation back at the station.”

Manager Jiang completely supported this. Seeing that Guo Caiping still refused to repent and kept dodging responsibility, he was filled with disgust. Someone like her must be punished.

Li Wenchang was terrified. “Comrade officer, is this a mistake?”

The police officer glanced at him. “Comrade, we’re still investigating this matter. If we find that you were also involved, you’ll need to come to the station as well.”

Li Wenchang was so frightened he didn’t dare say another word.

Seeing Manager Jiang and the police taking Guo Caiping away, Zuo Dan finally felt at ease. She quickly ran to the living room to tell her grandparents the news.

Upon hearing it, both grandparents shook their heads and sighed. They thought it wasn’t just Su Yidao who had poor judgment — they had been blind too.

How did they end up bringing home a daughter-in-law like her?

As they were talking, someone knocked on the door. Grandmother Li got up to open it, but when she saw who was outside, she tried to close it right away.

“Mom, something happened to Caiping. The police just took her away. What should we do?” Li Wenchang asked helplessly from outside.

When Grandmother Li heard he was still worried about Guo Caiping, she was so angry her teeth itched. “You’re still worried about Guo Caiping? Don’t you feel even a shred of shame about what she did? This is all because of you two!”

Grandfather Li, hearing this from inside the house and realizing it was Li Wenchang at the door, shouted angrily, “Tell him to get lost! That heartless and shameless scoundrel is not welcome in the Li family!”

Zuo Dan sat nearby, leisurely sipping her tea and sighing dramatically.

“No matter what, Mom and Dad, we can’t let Caiping go to jail,” Li Wenchang pleaded.

Grandmother Li said coldly, “What do you expect us old folks to do? Your father and I won’t help Guo Caiping. She has to face the consequences of her actions!”

“Mom, help me contact Dandan’s fiancé. Doesn’t he work at the military district? He helped get us out of the farm. Maybe he can do something?”

Zuo Dan instantly spat out a mouthful of tea.

Grandmother Li, fuming, slammed the door shut. Even though Li Wenchang continued to knock, she had no intention of opening it again. How could her son be so stupid? He even had the nerve to ask Dandan’s fiancé for help. No one would benefit from getting involved in this kind of mess. The Li family still owed that man a lot and hadn’t even repaid it, and now they were trying to ask for more?

“Dandan, don’t get involved,” Grandmother Li said firmly.

Zuo Dan’s thoughts churned. “I’ll talk to Yiming about it later. He’s still my uncle, after all.”

“You’re not allowed to mention this to Yiming!” Grandfather Li said, agitated. “He’s no longer part of our Li family, and he’s not your uncle!”

Zuo Dan could only nod meekly.

After a while, it became quiet outside. Grandmother Li opened the door slightly to check, and seeing that no one was there anymore, she finally let out a sigh.

Zuo Dan got ready to leave. She’d successfully stirred things up at the Li house and got to watch some drama — she felt quite satisfied.

Worried that Li Wenchang might pester Dandan for help, Grandmother Li decided to personally escort her downstairs.

Just as they got downstairs, they saw a jeep driving in. The vehicle was a bit old, but it was still a car, which caught Zuo Dan’s attention.

The person in the car spotted them and stopped right in front of them.

“Shen Yiming?” Zuo Dan exclaimed in surprise.

Shen Yiming walked over and greeted her grandmother first before helping Dandan. “I came to pick you up.”

Grandmother Li was surprised. “Yiming, what’s with this car?”

“It’s a decommissioned vehicle from the military district. I had someone fix it up for temporary use. I’m paying for the gas myself,” Shen Yiming said with a smile. “Mainly because it’s not convenient for Dandan to ride a bicycle right now, so this is easier.”

“You’re such a considerate kid,” Grandmother Li said with a satisfied smile. Her mood finally lifted a bit. “You two should head home now. Don’t worry so much about us. Dandan needs more rest right now.”

Shen Yiming smiled. “Now that I have a car, it’s easy. I’ll bring Dandan to visit you often.”

Grandmother Li laughed happily. “Good, you two are so filial.”

After helping Dandan into the car, Shen Yiming said goodbye to Grandma before getting in himself. Dandan waved from the car. “Bye-bye, Grandma.”

Grandmother Li waved back with a smile.

After driving out of the university gate, Zuo Dan finally settled into her seat and said excitedly, “Shen Yiming, where did you get this car? Is it really decommissioned? I’m telling you, if it’s truly scrap, I’m not riding in it. A bicycle would be safer.”

Shen Yiming rolled his eyes. “Comrade Zuo Dan, are you doubting your man?”

“So where did the car come from?”

“I rented it,” Shen Yiming explained. “There are plenty of cars in the military district, but they’re rarely used — they guzzle gas. But letting them sit unused also causes problems. So I gave the logistics department an idea: rent them out to military personnel and deduct the rent from their salaries. The rent money can be used to maintain the rest of the vehicles.”

“Seriously?” Zuo Dan’s eyes lit up.

Shen Yiming chuckled. “We’re poor now — even the army is strapped for cash. But even a mosquito is still meat. And since this is only for internal military personnel, it’s not considered profiteering. If you were the logistics department, wouldn’t you be happy to do it?”

“Of course! It brings in income and cuts down on costs. Win-win!” Zuo Dan said cheerfully.

Then she added, “So how long can we keep this car? How’d you come up with the idea?”

“As long as you want. I was originally going to get one myself, but I thought that’d draw too much attention. Things aren’t that stable right now, better to keep a low profile. And since you told me your grandma hopes we’ll study in the capital, I figured we’ll all leave here eventually. No point in buying a car. This way is better.”

Zuo Dan couldn’t help but give him a kiss. What a clever brain he had.

She quickly patted her belly. “Comrade Youyou, better start learning now.”

Shen Yiming smiled and then asked, “Did the police come by today?”

“How did you know?” Zuo Dan asked, surprised. “Someone from the slaughterhouse brought them. I was going to tell you — Guo Caiping was taken away. My uncle even wanted to ask you for help.”

“At first, a young officer was assigned. This wasn’t a major case after all. But later, the chief sent a more experienced team leader.”

Zuo Dan narrowed her eyes. “Comrade Shen Yiming, be honest. How do you know so much?”

“I happened to be chatting at the station when the slaughterhouse folks came looking for someone.”