Chapter 275 Fake Filial Piety
"I've wanted to move Jiang Guifang's household registration out of the area for a long time."
As Song Yu'an turned the pages, he said calmly, "You've been dragging your feet, saying it's none of my business. Fine, I'm not waiting anymore. I'll do it myself. Dajun, you'll come with me to the police station tomorrow. Cancel what needs to be cancelled, relocate what needs to be relocated. Don't leave a single one behind. Don't delay any longer!"
After saying that, she closed the household registration book, didn't even glance at anyone else, and stuffed the book into the inner pocket of her cotton-padded coat, buttoning it up tightly to protect it.
Then, she gently tugged at Chen Cuifen's arm, gesturing for her to sit down.
Shen Cuifen lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers, her lips trembling slightly, but she remained silent, letting Song Yu'an press her down into the chair.
Zhou Xiuli sat opposite her, a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth revealing a smile that was hard to decipher—it was a mix of sarcasm and pity. She drew out her words: "Yes, Dajun, you have to think about others too. Xiaoshui and you already have your child, and the child can already call people. Shen Cuifen, you can't let someone's child be born without a father, can you? Don't you think that makes sense?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Anguo immediately slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his voice so loud it seemed to shake the roof: "That's right! My brother doesn't even remember who you are anymore, so what are you still doing here? Playing the victim and acting all virtuous all day, is that interesting? Be sensible, take the initiative to file for divorce, don't wait for someone to kick you out!"
Zhou Jianguo sneered, crossed his arms, leaned against the doorframe, and said with disdain, "Feelings can't be forced. My brother doesn't care about you at all, so it's really over. No matter how much you try to hold on, you're just holding onto an empty shell. Look at yourself, and then look at Sister-in-law Xiaoshui—she's gentle, considerate, caring, and can have children. What do you have that compares to her? What makes you think you can?"
"Stop talking!"
Zhou Dajun suddenly stood up from his chair. The movement was so sudden that the chair slid backward, making a screeching sound.
He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white, veins bulging on the back of his hands, and his eyes swept over his younger brothers' faces like knives.
His chest heaved violently, as if a fire was burning inside him, making his throat dry and his heart ache.
Song Yu'an did not back down. Instead, he gripped Shen Cuifen's cold hand even tighter, his gaze calm as water as he looked directly into Zhou Dajun's eyes: "Dajun, don't find it strange. Cuifen has been in this situation since the first day she entered this house. She has never argued or made a fuss, but this is how they treat her. If you don't speak up, no one will speak up for her."
Xiao Shui pouted, her eyes already red. She quickly reached out and tugged at Zhou Dajun's sleeve, her voice choked with sobs: "Dajun, this is our first official visit! You can't turn your back on us now! You have to give our elders some face..."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Dajun felt a tightness in his chest, and his anger was instantly suppressed.
He slowly sat back in his chair, his body stiff as a stone.
He wanted to say something for Shen Cuifen, but the words were swallowed back by a heavy silence.
He knew that nothing he said would make a difference.
This home is no longer a place where he can make the decisions.
His neck was stiff as a rusty iron axle, unable to turn an inch. His gaze was fixed on the cracks in the floor tiles, refusing to look at Song Yu'an and Shen Cuifen.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice low and hoarse: "Perfect timing, I took the day off to come back today anyway. Song Yu'an, let's go to the Civil Affairs Bureau tomorrow and get a divorce."
Zhou Xiuli's eyes darted around, and she secretly reached out and poked Xiaoshui's arm hard under the table, taking the opportunity to interject with a smile: "That's right, Xiaoshui is already three months pregnant, and her belly is starting to show. Giving birth, getting a birth certificate, registering the household, getting vaccinations—all of these require a household registration booklet. Dajun, you can't let the child be born without a proper name, can you? Wouldn't that be a tragedy?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jianguo's face immediately lit up with a smile, as if he had gotten a great deal.
He jumped up from his chair, paced back and forth excitedly, and clapped his hands, saying, "That's great! Since my brother is going to handle the formalities, I'll go too! Tomorrow I'll take Jiang Guifang to the Civil Affairs Bureau, get all the necessary signatures done, and submit all the required documents. My brother's getting divorced, and I'll get divorced too. The three of us will go together and get everything done cleanly and efficiently! It'll save us from all the hassle!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Dajun's head drooped abruptly, as if his entire body had been crushed by an invisible burden.
His fists were clenched tightly at his sides, his knuckles turning bluish-white from excessive force, and veins bulging under his skin, throbbing as if trying to break free of their restraints.
However, despite his trembling body, his throat felt as if it were blocked by a scalding hot stone, causing unbearable burning pain, and he couldn't utter a single word, not even a single word of explanation.
Looking at him like this, Song Yu'an felt a pang of sorrow mixed with deep disappointment.
He suddenly remembered Zhou Dajun when he was young—he was just like that back then, always with his head down, speaking hesitantly, and retreating when faced with problems.
On the surface, they are filial and obedient, always saying "I'll listen to my father" to everyone they meet, but when it comes to crucial moments, they always hesitate and can't make up their own opinions at all.
Aside from being honest and never lying, he's practically a carbon copy of Zhou Nuli in every other way, even down to that cowardly look in his eyes.
He dared not step forward to protect those he wanted to; he kept the words he wanted to say to himself.
All their thoughts were weighed down by the word "face," fearing being talked about and losing face for the family, which ultimately hurt the people they should cherish most.
Such people talk about being filial, but where is their true filial piety reflected?
Song Yu'an used to think that among his four sons, at least one of them wouldn't let him down, and that Zhou Dajun wasn't as snobbish and indifferent as the others.
Even if they are slow to act, at least they are not bad at heart.
But now, seeing him remain silent and yielding in front of his family, and watching Shen Cuifen be humiliated without doing anything, he finally realized that he was wrong.
That little bit of "honesty" is not enough to support or protect a family.
My heart is completely cold.
"Okay, let's get divorced together. We'll get everything done tomorrow, and split the household registration book in half."
Song Yu'an finally spoke, his tone as calm as a stagnant pool, devoid of anger or pleading, only a resolute acceptance of the situation.
He spoke clearly, each word like a knife etched into the air, leaving no room for doubt.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xiuli's eyes lit up, a hint of triumph flashing in them, like a hunter finally catching his prey.
She turned her head to the side, raised an eyebrow at Xiaoshui, and smiled slightly, her expression clearly saying: Watch me, this is going to be a sure thing.
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