Chapter 126 I Won't Let You Go
The three characters “Shen Guizhi” were neatly printed in the name column of the household registration.
She stared at the name for a long time, her lips moving slightly as if she wanted to say something.
Despite it being a joyous occasion, Shen Guizhi suddenly covered her mouth, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably.
She looked down at the copy of the divorce agreement in her hand, her fingertips tracing the words "voluntary dissolution of the marriage," and tears silently streamed down her face, dripping onto the paper.
"Mom! You're finally free!"
Shen Guizhi suddenly raised her head, her voice choked with emotion yet tinged with laughter.
She hugged her mother tightly, her voice trembling, and said, "No one will bully you anymore, and no one will make you cry again!"
"I like the name 'Shen Guizhi'!"
She sniffed hard.
"It sounds powerful, like the name of an independent woman!"
"I like it too!"
She said softly, then looked up at her sister and mother.
"From today onwards, the three of us are one family, and no one needs to tell us what to call us or what to do!"
Shen Cuifen took her two daughters' hands, holding one in her left hand and the other in her right, and held them tightly to her side.
Sunlight shone on the three people, casting three intertwined shadows.
"You two silly children, why are you crying?"
She smiled and patted the backs of their hands.
"Leave the tears to the past. From now on, we're going to start a new life, and we have to move forward with a smile! Life will get better day by day, and no one can put us down anymore."
The two sisters burst into laughter through their tears, nodding vigorously even before the tears on their faces had dried.
They looked at each other, then at their mother.
"Let's go, let's go, the sun will be high in the sky soon."
Shen Cuifen said with a smile, urging her family to set off while brushing the dust off her clothes.
"Let's have a good celebration as a family today! I'll steam two trays of jujube cakes and cook a pot of egg noodles. Let's have a lively family reunion dinner!"
After picking up Lu Guizhi, the group boarded the creaking carriage.
We strolled leisurely back to Daqiao Village along the country dirt road.
The wheels rolled over the gravel, making a clattering sound.
They had just arrived at their doorstep, before the carriage had even come to a complete stop.
Then they heard Lu Shuixian's wailing and howling coming from inside the house.
"Oh dear! What happened? You're screaming like a pig being slaughtered!"
Song Qiaoying was hanging clothes to dry at the entrance of her yard.
Hearing the noise, he immediately tilted his head and looked into the Lu family's courtyard, a smile involuntarily creeping onto his lips.
Shen Cuifen waved her hand, her tone indifferent.
"Who knows what they're up to now! They're so used to acting that they feel uncomfortable if they don't let out a few shouts every day."
As she spoke, she got out of the car, patted her skirt, and walked towards her own yard.
"Why don't we go in and take a look? It's none of our business anyway."
Several people responded and got off the bus, hurrying inside.
Shen Guizhi and Shen Guizhen exchanged a glance, a hint of disdain flashing between their brows.
They've seen Lu Shuixian's tactics far too many times.
I had just stepped into the yard and hadn't even had time to stand still.
Then they heard Lu Shuixian's heart-wrenching cries coming from Yang Juanhua's flower shop.
"You can't leave! What will I do if you're gone? I can't live without you!"
Shen Cuifen rolled her eyes and muttered to herself.
Yang Juanhua is probably putting on an act again, most likely to gain sympathy.
Could it be that he was unhappy because he didn't get a good deal in the housing allocation, and that's why he wanted to commit suicide?
But when we discussed room allocation last night, everyone followed the rules, and I didn't see her throw a tantrum.
Why did you suddenly become so dramatic this morning?
Besides, Lu Weidong hasn't come back yet.
Just now, when they were riding back in a horse-drawn carriage, they ran into him on the way, slowly swaying along on that old bicycle.
I don't know what's wrong with this guy. It's such a short distance, but it took them half a day to get home.
He was still dawdling on the road, it was hard to tell whether he was genuinely busy or deliberately avoiding leisure.
But he can't worry about that right now.
The crying in the yard grew louder and louder, and the neighbors started peeking in.
Shen Cuifen frowned and walked towards Yang Juanhua's room.
If something really happened, shouldn't Yang Juanhua wait for her son to come back before making any trouble?
What urgent matter could a lonely old woman have that would make the whole courtyard know about it?
Besides, she usually only dared to speak after Lu Qiming came home, so why did she suddenly take her own life today?
The whole thing was strange from beginning to end.
Hearing hurried footsteps outside the door, Lu Shuixian, who was inside the house, jumped up immediately.
She was already furious, and as soon as she heard the noise, she immediately knew that Shen Cuifen had returned.
Before she could even see who it was, she stormed out of the house in a rage.
Upon seeing Shen Cuifen and her two children standing at the door, Lu Shuixian didn't even have time to process it. Without saying a word, she pounced on them like a mad dog, her hair flying everywhere.
"Shen Cuifen! Where have you been? My mother has already hanged herself and you still dare to wander around outside! You jinx, your heart is more venomous than a snake!"
Shen Cuifen frowned, her brows instantly furrowing into a deep frown, and her expression turned cold.
"Lu Shuixian, are you itching for a beating again? Have you forgotten how it felt to be force-fed excrement last time? Want to do it again?"
"What does your mother hanging herself have to do with me? Whether she lives or dies, whether she's sick or injured, it's none of my business anymore! If you keep yelling like that, believe me, I'll slap you right here and now and beat you so badly you'll be crawling on the floor looking for your teeth!"
She remembers everything from her past life clearly.
Yang Juanhua did indeed die in her bed.
The body was not discovered until the next morning; its face was bruised and swollen, and its tongue was sticking out.
But it wasn't suicide at all.
She was strangled to death by Lu Qiming with his shoelaces!
He wanted to steal the old man's life savings of several dozen silver dollars and a gold ring.
Lu Shuixian was jolted awake by Shen Cuifen's remark about "pouring out sewage".
She was so angry that she gritted her teeth, her cheeks twitching.
"Who else is to blame but you? You're her daughter-in-law, it's your duty to take care of her! In this village, which family doesn't have a daughter-in-law who takes care of them in their old age and sees them off in their final days? But you just pack your bags and leave, leaving us with this mess!"
Shen Cuifen sneered, a mocking smile curving her lips.
She slowly shrugged, her expression calm.
"I'm sorry, I'm not her daughter-in-law anymore."
After she finished speaking, she took out a neatly folded divorce certificate from her pocket.
"Open your eyes and look! I've cut all ties with the Lu family. It's been stamped by the Civil Affairs Bureau and filed with the court. It's all written in black and white! Whether your mother lives or dies has absolutely nothing to do with me! Don't try to pressure me with your old rules. I won't fall for that."
Lu Shuixian froze, her pupils dilating suddenly.
Her eyes widened as she stared intently at the small red booklet, her lips trembling slightly.
"Impossible! Someone like you, how could you possibly leave my brother? How could he possibly let you go?"
Her voice changed, filled with disbelief.
"If you really divorce me, then Guizhen..."
Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly met Shen Cuifen's icy gaze.
"Guizhen? Of course she's with me!"
Shen Cuifen interrupted coldly, her tone resolute.
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