When Han Zhiyuan's coffin was being transported to the fields for burial, Song Baogen was riding his electric tricycle to town to buy sacrificial items.
Tomorrow is the 21st day after my mother's death, and the day after tomorrow is the 7th day after my husband's death.
As the tricycle passed the intersection of Hanjiacun Village, Song Baogen saw villagers returning to the village after burying the coffin in the field.
He knows almost everyone in the nearby villages.
After exchanging greetings and chatting for a bit, Song Baogen learned that Han Zhiyuan had died the day before.
When he was young, he had many wives and mistresses, and a large number of children, but when he died, not a single one of them came to visit him.
During his illness, no one came to visit him. The village hired people to take care of him. After his death, the village also paid for his coffin and buried him.
The villagers responsible for burying the coffin discussed these events with sighs of regret.
Song Baogen went to town to buy sacrificial items, and picked up a package from the village office on his way home.
While buying sacrificial items in town, he received a call from the post office saying that a package sent to him by the court had been left at the village office.
Song Baogen was puzzled. Why would the court send him a package?
Upon opening the envelope, I found a court summons inside.
Song Qiuxue sued him, demanding a share of the inheritance left by her parents.
Song Baogen was furious. She didn't even show her face when her parents died, nor did she fulfill her filial duties to them.
As soon as her mother died, she came to her door demanding a share of the inheritance.
After being yelled at and driven away, she actually sued him.
Is the Song family's wealth related to her surname, Tang?
Song Baogen didn't take it seriously and ignored it.
The court called him again later, but he didn't take it seriously.
Two or three months later, just when Song Baogen had completely forgotten about the incident, he received the court's judgment.
Song Qiuxue won the case, and he lost.
The judgment required him to divide his parents' two properties and hundreds of thousands of yuan in savings into four parts, with Song Qiuxue receiving one-quarter.
The reason given was that Song Qiuxue provided information that her household registration was still at her parents' home, and that she, her deceased mother who had not yet had time to cancel her registration, and Song Baogen's family of four were all on the same household registration book.
Although Song Qiuxue recognized the Tang family back then, she never transferred her household registration.
As children, we are all heirs to our parents' estate.
Song Baogen was straightforward and infuriated by Song Qiuxue's actions.
Seeing that her family had fallen on hard times, she reconnected with the Tang family and changed her surname to Tang.
Seeing that the Tang family had fallen on hard times and her own family was doing well, she changed her surname back to Song.
She never cared for her parents while they were alive, but now that they're dead, she's trying to seize their property and even suing them.
How can she have such a face?
Song Baogen had little legal awareness and didn't take the judgment seriously, always believing that the property left by his parents had nothing to do with the Tang family.
Song Qiuxue applied for enforcement.
Song Baogen's bank account was frozen and his pig farm was seized. Only then did Song Baogen realize the seriousness of the situation and wanted to appeal, but the appeal period had already expired.
After this incident, the feud between Song Baogen and Song Qiuxue deepened even further.
There was no contact between the two.
More than 20 years later, a person claiming to be a director from the TV station's "Apology" program called him, saying that he had received a request for help from Ms. Song Qiuxue, who came to apologize to him and ask for his forgiveness.
Upon hearing the name, Song Baogen said he didn't recognize it and then hung up the phone.
After verifying the information, the program's editor confirmed that there was no mistake and called him again. Song Baogen got so angry that he scolded the program's editor and then hung up the phone.
Tao Wei fell ill at the age of fifty and was lying in the hospital.
His youngest son, whom he had with his second wife, was only a few months old.
He was a university teacher who had an affair with one of his female students. When his ex-wife found out, she went to the school and made a scene.
He eventually divorced his ex-wife, and even used some tricks to make her leave with nothing.
Ever since his father-in-law passed away, he has never paid any attention to his ex-wife.
When he divorced his ex-wife, the female student was already pregnant; at that time, the female student had not yet graduated.
By the time of graduation, the female student was already heavily pregnant and attended the ceremony as a teacher's wife, which the school turned a blind eye to.
Not long after they got married, the female student gave birth to his son.
Song Qiuxue was very satisfied with the female student and also doted on her newborn grandson.
Just as the whole family was immersed in the festive atmosphere, Tao Wei suddenly fell ill.
At this time, the female student had just given birth and was still in her postpartum period.
The female student who became the mistress immediately ran away, without even taking the child.
Song Qiuxue contacted her son's ex-wife, trying to persuade her to take care of her son, but the ex-wife flatly refused.
Song Qiuxue had to take care of her several-month-old grandson and her sick son all by herself. The seventy-year-old woman simply didn't have the energy to clean up such a huge mess.
At this moment, she thought of Song Yinhua, Song Baogen, and Song Caixing.
He then contacted the "Apology" program on the provincial television station and asked for their help, saying that he wanted to apologize to his eldest sister, second brother, and fourth sister.
She said she had hurt them when she was young and wanted to apologize to them and ask for their forgiveness before she died.
She told the producers of the local news program that her grandfather and youngest aunt favored boys over girls and, seeing that she was a girl, they stole her away and gave her away to adoptive parents.
Her adoptive parents also favored boys over girls and treated her badly. She got into a university in the provincial capital through her own efforts. When her biological parents saw that she had been admitted to a university in the provincial capital, they came to acknowledge her.
She reunited with her biological parents at that time, which hurt her adoptive parents and caused her adoptive parents' children to develop prejudices against her.
She had always thought of them for decades and wanted to ask for their forgiveness before she died.
The "Apology" segment is broadcast live on both television and the internet.
Song Qiuxue was invited to the stage to tell the host and the audience about her past.
She repeated what she had said to the director.
She was given away by her paternal grandfather and aunt, who both favored sons over daughters, to foster parents who also favored sons.
My adoptive father was a rough and uncultured man who only knew how to lose his temper and beat his wife.
The adoptive mother favored sons over daughters.
She knew that only by getting into a university in the provincial capital could she change her fate, so she worked desperately hard and finally got into a university in the provincial capital.
When her biological parents saw that she had become successful, they came to acknowledge her. She had not had a good life with her adoptive parents, so she reunited with her biological parents.
This also hurt her adoptive parents' feelings, and their children also blamed her.
No matter how she tried to befriend them, they refused to see her or answer her calls.
She said that she values family the most and only wants their forgiveness before she dies.
Her words led everyone present to believe that she had been abused by her adoptive parents when she was a child, which is why her biological parents came to recognize her, and that's why she reunited with them.
Host: "Because your adoptive parents favored boys over girls and treated you badly, your biological parents came to acknowledge you, and you accepted them, which hurt your adoptive parents, is that right?"
Song Qiuxue nodded.
Host: "Because you hurt your adoptive parents' feelings, their children have a problem with you and don't want to talk to you anymore, is that right?"
Song Qiuxue nodded again.
Host: "When you reunited with your biological parents, did you know they abandoned you because you were a girl?"
Song Qiuxue: "I don't know. If I had known, I would never have acknowledged them as family."
Host: "We have roughly understood the ins and outs of this matter. You were abandoned by your biological parents who favored boys over girls at birth, and the family that adopted you also favored boys over girls. You did not have a good life in your adoptive parents' home, so when your biological parents came to recognize you, you recognized them so resolutely, right?"
After receiving Song Qiuxue's affirmation, the host continued, "You were just a child back then, abandoned at birth, which was also very pitiful."
"Later, you got into a university in the provincial capital through your own efforts, which made you proud. It shows that you were an ambitious person when you were young, and you tried hard to get rid of the shackles that made you feel pain. This is commendable."
"This is not your fault."
“I believe that your adoptive parents’ children are also reasonable people. They know your true feelings and will make the right choice.”
Song Qiuxue then said to the host, feeling wronged, "My older sister has always had a problem with me since I was little. I don't know why she dislikes me so much?"
“My second brother and my eldest sister are close. When my second brother saw that my eldest sister didn’t like me, he also distanced himself from me.”
The host asked, "Are you your adoptive parents' eldest daughter? What is your educational background?"
Song Qiuxue: "Graduated from primary school."
Host: "The eldest sister dropped out of school after graduating from elementary school and started working to support her family?"
Song Qiuxue corrected: "I just helped out at home. I was a good student back then."
The host nodded: "In those days, families with many children often had to put in more effort. The eldest sister had to drop out of school to help support the family. You were a good student and very outstanding, so your eldest sister felt resentful?"
"And your second brother has a good relationship with your eldest sister, so your second brother has gradually developed a grudge against you, is that right?"
Song Qiuxue did not answer the host directly, but repeatedly reiterated that she values family ties very much. No matter what happened in the past, even if she was not wrong, she was willing to bow her head and apologize to her adoptive parents' children first.
Host: "We understand how you feel, and we've also contacted your second brother and sister. Now, let's invite them to the stage."
As the music started, the studio door opened, and Song Baogen and Song Caixing walked out.
Host: "Our program's producers really went to great lengths to invite our guest's second brother to our studio."
"The old gentleman got angry as soon as he heard the guest's name and even hung up on our director."
"Finally, through our efforts, our team contacted the old man's youngest son and managed to invite him over."
"Also present was the guest's fourth sister, who is also the youngest daughter of her adoptive parents."
"Now, please take your seats, my esteemed friends."
When Song Qiuxue saw Song Baogen and Song Caixing, she excitedly got up, cried, and went over to hug her second brother and fourth sister.
Song Baogen angrily shook off her hand.
They're not even willing to put on a show of harmony in front of the camera.
After Song Baogen and Song Caixing introduced themselves, the host said, "Our program team had also contacted Sister Song, but she couldn't come for various reasons."
Song Baogen took the microphone handed to him by a staff member and said, "My eldest sister asked me to come on her behalf. My meaning is the same as my eldest sister's."
Host: "Sir, do you know the elderly lady sitting across from you?"
Song Baogen: "Aren't you asking a question you already know the answer to? Didn't she ask you to call me over?"
The host smiled and said, "This is an apology program. Ms. Song Qiuxue asked us to invite you here so that she can apologize to you in person."
"You must have heard her story backstage just now, sir. Do you have anything to say about it?"
Song Baogen blurted out, "She's talking nonsense!"
The audience was stunned.
Host: "Sir, where did you get that idea? Although Ms. Song Qiuxue is not your biological sister, she grew up with you since childhood."
"She can't be entirely blamed for what happened back then. Her adoptive parents favored boys over girls, which is why she reunited with her biological parents. At that time, she didn't know that her biological parents also favored boys and that's why they abandoned her..."
Song Baogen: "Nonsense!"
“My mother favors boys over girls, but it’s not her who’s favored, it’s my older sister and Cai Xing.”
"She's my parents' favorite!"
"To support her college education, she secretly burned my college acceptance letter behind my back!"
The audience erupted in uproar.
Song Qiuxue quickly explained, "I didn't know about this. If I had known, I would have stopped my adoptive parents from burning his college admission letter."
Song Baogen: "You're lying. How come you didn't know? This idea was devised by your aunt and uncle. In order to get your parents to support your schooling, they persuaded my dad to burn my university admission notice."
Song Qiuxue: "You didn't get into university, you only got into a junior college."
The host asked Song Qiuxue, "Guest, didn't you just say you didn't know about burning the admission notice? Then how do you know he was admitted to a junior college, not a university?"
Song Qiuxue: "I found out later."
Song Caixing also had something to say. She took the microphone from Song Baogen and continued, "Host, don't listen to her nonsense. She knows everything. My uncle and his wife are her aunt and uncle. They deliberately tricked me into dropping out of school so that my parents would take out all the money in the house to support her studies."
Host: "How was it deliberately designed to make you drop out of school? Tell us about it."
Song Caixing: "When I was in what grade, my uncle asked my dad to call me and her over and say that we should draw lots to decide who would continue studying and who would drop out of school."
"They even pretended to be kind and said I was young, and that they would take care of me and let me smoke first."
"My uncle had already tampered with the signature."
"The person who draws the first lot, no matter which one she draws, has to drop out of school."
"If I draw first, it means she can continue reading."
Song Qiuxue looked completely innocent: "I don't know anything about these things. These are things that the elders do. I don't know anything about them."
"Caixing, we grew up together, don't you know me?"
"I'm such a kind person, I would never do something like scheming against someone."
Unable to bear it any longer, Song Baogen angrily snatched the microphone from Song Caixing's hand: "A kind person like you wouldn't do something so scheming. Did you hire someone to burn down my sister's orchard? Did you find someone to report my sister's wonton shop, causing it to be shut down?"
The host sensed something was wrong. "Sir, what orchard was burned down? What wonton shop was shut down?"
Song Baogen recounted how she burned down the orchard and caused trouble at the wonton shop, which led to its closure. She also revealed that after Tang Dafei was arrested, she had her lover bribe someone to silence him.
The host was shocked: "So, the guest was in jail for these kinds of things before?"
Song Caixing: "Host, you don't know what she did back then. It's infuriating. Not only did she do those things, she also came back to fight us for the property left by our parents."
“She’s not even a member of our family. She just hasn’t moved her household registration. She never showed up when my parents were alive, but as soon as my mother died, she came to claim the property and even sued my second brother.”
“My parents raised her and supported her through college. When she saw that our family was poor and her biological parents were rich, she cut off all ties with our family. On the night of my second brother’s wedding, she even hired some thugs to try to bully my eldest sister, but they failed.”
"Her grandfather, aunt, and biological parents pretended to catch her in the act, but they ended up catching her fooling around with a few hooligans."
"Host, do you think this is something a human being could do?"
Song Caixing also had a lot of complaints about Song Qiuxue.
Because she sued Song Baogen, Song Baogen's bank accounts and pig farm were seized, forcing him to divide the property left by his parents equally.
Almost all of her parents' savings, minus funeral expenses, were left to her.
Because of Song Qiuxue's outburst, she had no choice but to return a significant portion of that money.
The host asked Song Qiuxue, "Is what your adopted brother and sister said true?"
Song Qiuxue downplayed the issue, saying, "They have a prejudice against me."
Host: "Is what they said true?"
Song Qiuxue seemed not to hear the host's question, got up and ran to Song Baogen and Song Caixing, knelt down and apologized to them.
"Second Brother, Cai Xing, whatever happened in the past, let it go and let's make up."
"I kneel down before you, I apologize to you."
"Please forgive me, okay? Let's pretend it was all my fault in the past."
Song Caixing: "What do you mean by 'we're bad'? You did some terrible things in the past, and decades have passed. Now you come here to apologize to us. I think you're like a weasel offering New Year's greetings to a chicken—you have no good intentions."
Song Qiuxue burst into tears, "Caixing, have you forgotten how we used to play together when we were little? You said your older sister always bossed you around like your mother, and you didn't like her, but you said I was good."
Song Baogen looked at Song Caixing, who quickly explained, "That was all when I was little. My older sister was afraid something would happen to me, so she kept an eye on me. I was young and didn't understand back then, so I didn't like being controlled. I know my older sister was doing it for my own good."
Song Qiuxue cried and said, "Caixing, I've been very good to you too. Have you forgotten that after you got pregnant out of wedlock and went to the provincial capital, it was me who took care of you. Only then did you have a place to stay in the provincial capital and were able to give birth to the child smoothly?"
Song Caixing was extremely annoyed by Song Qiuxue, who always brought up the most sensitive topics.
"Don't even mention it. Back then, my parents asked me to go to the provincial capital to find you, but you thought I was a burden and would give me the cold shoulder all the time."
“I was heavily pregnant at the time, about to give birth, and my rent was due soon. I couldn’t find you anywhere.”
"In the end, I had no choice but to bite the bullet and call my older sister."
"It was my eldest sister who came to the provincial capital and took me to the hospital, which is why I was able to give birth."
"I had a C-section back then. If it weren't for my older sister, I would have died along with my unborn child!"
Song Qiuxue burst into tears, "Caixing, why don't you remember the good things I did for you?"
She reached out and grabbed Song Baogen's hand, "Second Brother, blood is thicker than water..."
Song Caixing: "We are not related by blood!"
Song Qiuxue: "Second brother, have you forgotten that we grew up together? I'm your dearest third sister. We're about the same age. We used to play in the mud together with our bare bottoms when we were little. Have you forgotten all that, second brother...?"
Song Baogen felt a chill run through him. He shook off Song Qiuxue and said, "When you sued me, did you ever think about when we were kids? Twenty years have passed, and now you're coming to the TV station to cause this scene. What exactly do you want?"
Song Qiuxue: "At my age, I just want to ask for your, my elder sister, and Caixing's forgiveness before I die. I don't want to go into the coffin with regrets."
Song Baogen: "Stop acting with me, what exactly are you trying to achieve with this whole thing?"
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