Chapter 353 The matter is settled
If they are forcibly expelled, the seeds of resentment will be sown in their hearts.
Although Zhou Yong was not afraid of them, he knew very well that there were some things that did not need to be hidden.
Zhang Guifang listened to her son-in-law's words and nodded repeatedly. When Zhou Yong finished speaking, she said with emotion: "You still consider things comprehensively."
Zhou Yong smiled, and Li Baotian just listened quietly.
The leeks were picked, and it would take some time to make leek dumplings, so Jiang Yue'e started cooking at half past ten.
Zhang Guifang was standing in front of the chopping board wrapping leek dumplings, Jiang Yue'e was standing in front of the stove frying leek dumplings, and Li Jing'an was also not idle, helping to light the fire.
When it was time to go home from school, Zhou Kexin and her two siblings, who had already returned to Huaixi Village to go to school, returned home playing and laughing.
When Li Jing'an saw his brothers and sisters coming back, he happily ran to greet them.
Sisters Zhou Kexin and Zhou Kerou took Li Jingan's hands, and the three siblings walked into the yard with smiles on their faces.
"You all look so hot, go wash your faces."
There was prepared water for washing face on the washstand, and the four children lined up to wash their hands and faces.
Li Baotian looked at the five brothers and sisters with a smile, and Li Jingan joined in the fun and washed his face and hands.
"Grandpa, what do you want for lunch?"
When they learned that it was leek and potato soup, Zhou Kexin and her three siblings were very happy.
"It's time to eat."
Zhou Yong shouted from the doorway, then turned back to help bring the food to the table.
The family was sitting together laughing and eating lunch when a voice came from the front door: "Uncle, please show some mercy and let our parents go!
If they were to be imprisoned, not only would our future be ruined, but we would all become orphans.
Please have mercy on them, please let them go..."
Everyone paused while eating and looked out the door.
At first glance they didn't see anyone, but when they looked closely they found that they were kneeling in front of the Li family's gate.
Zhang Guifang's face quickly turned dark, Li Baotian put down his chopsticks angrily, Zhou Yong chewed the vegetable box in his mouth unhappily, and the expressions on the five children's faces were very interesting.
The uniform cries for mercy attracted countless people to come and watch. Zhou Yong ate his meal expressionlessly. Zhou Kexin couldn't stand it anymore and wanted to get up and drive them away, but was stopped by Li Baotian.
"Grandpa, are we going to let them keep shouting like this?"
Li Baotian glanced at Zhou Yong who was silent: "Just eat your meal!"
Zhou Kexin pouted and kept silent, while Zhang Guifang sighed softly.
Zhou Yong's eyes were wandering as he quietly drank his potato soup. Seeing this, the others continued eating in silence.
There was a lot of noise at the gate, and many eyes were focused on the Zhou family's children.
There was a lot of discussion among the crowd, with different opinions.
Although most people expressed sympathy, there were still some who held different views and believed that they did not deserve sympathy.
The parents made the mistake first, but the children used moral blackmail on the victim family. If such behavior becomes the norm, the law will be meaningless.
As soon as this villager's words came out, they were agreed by the majority of people, and many people's eyes on the Zhou brothers and sisters gradually changed.
The number of onlookers gradually decreased, and slowly only the brothers and sisters were left at the gate of the Li family.
Zhou Yong saw the whole scene. After finishing his meal, he glanced at the remaining chive boxes on the table and picked them up one by one with chopsticks and put them into a small bowl.
Zhang Guifang was puzzled: "Zhou Yong, what are you doing?"
Zhou Yong glanced at his mother-in-law and said, "Mom, they have been kneeling at the door in the hot sun for more than an hour. They must be thirsty and hungry. I will go and bring them some food and water."
Zhang Guifang showed a dissatisfied look. She was about to speak, but Li Baotian spoke before her husband.
"Dad's going to get you some water."
Zhou Yong nodded with a faint smile in his eyes. Li Baotian got up and went to the kitchen. Zhang Guifang wanted to say something but stopped herself. After thinking for a while, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
Whether it is Zhou Yong or Li Baotian, since they did this, there must be reasons for them to do so.
Zhang Guifang glanced at the small basin of chive dumplings in front of Zhou Yong and said, "Is it enough? If not, there are a few more in the kitchen."
Zhou Yong stood up with a smile: "Mom, I'll get it myself."
Zhou Kexin and her brother looked at their father with confusion in their eyes. Zhou Yong did not explain and went straight to the kitchen.
Li Baotian came to the gate carrying a kettle and Zhou Yong carrying a small bowl of chives.
The faces of several children were red from being sunburned, and beads of sweat the size of beans hung on their foreheads.
Zhou Yong looked at them. The children raised their heads slightly and looked at Zhou Yong. Li Baotian sighed and said, "Are you all thirsty?"
The children didn't reply, but they were all swallowing.
Zhou Yong showed sadness on his face. He squatted down and said, "Are you hungry? The chive dumplings are just out of the pot. Come and eat them!"
Zhou Gang's eldest son's eyes turned red, and he spoke in a hoarse and choked voice: "Uncle, please let my parents go!"
Zhou Yong smiled bitterly and said bluntly: "The fact that your parents kidnapped your younger brother and Ma Yuan cannot be avoided. Even if I choose not to pursue their legal responsibility, the law itself will not let them go.
It is futile for you to seek me out, because I cannot control the law..."
The second child of Zhou Gang's family started crying: "Uncle, I know my parents shouldn't have done that, but now that they are in prison, we really have no way to live."
Zhou Yong sighed: "I understand your difficulties, but you also need to understand my difficulties. Family affection cannot override the law..."
After listening to Zhou Yong's words, Li Baotian said in a deep voice: "As educated and knowledgeable people, you should understand that the emperor is guilty of the same crime as the common people. In the final analysis, it was your parents who broke the law, not us who were relentless towards them..."
The law will not tolerate provocation, and criminals must bear the appropriate legal sanctions. Especially in the current crackdown phase, they committed the crime of kidnapping and the four will face at least three years in prison.
As Li Baotian and Zhou Yong spoke, several children started crying.
Zhou Yong patted Zhou Gang's eldest son on the shoulder and said, "Live well with your brothers and sisters, and stop doing these useless things. If you encounter difficulties in the future, come to me. I will definitely help you if I can..."
"Uncle, thank you for letting bygones be bygones. But I don't know how I can continue to live with my brothers and sisters..."
Zhou Yong sighed softly, with a hint of helplessness and worry between his brows.
He spoke slowly, his voice full of regret: "Your parents' behavior is not only against the law, but also indirectly ruined your future. If it weren't for them, each of you would have had the hope of becoming a college student..."
Even if they fail to get into college, they can still have a similar future.
Now, they can only face the loess, turn their backs to the blue sky, and work hard to make a living.
Before Zhou Yong finished speaking, the faces of several older children suddenly became very interesting. Only then did they gradually realize how hateful their parents were.
As soon as he finished speaking, he paused for a moment and continued, “The situation is a foregone conclusion and cannot be changed.
If you insist on pestering me every day, I can only let nature take its course and leave it to your own devices.
Just before you do these things, you have to eat your fill. After all, you are all growing up, you can’t starve…”
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