Even if Guan Wenru didn't bring it up now, Hua Xiaoyu knew perfectly well what was going on.
Her fingertips unconsciously fiddled with the bicycle handlebars, her voice light and airy, as if covered by a layer of dust, "Wenru, actually... I've known this perfectly well for a long time."
She looked up, her tears dried, leaving only a numb redness in her eyes. "Zhang Desheng has been talking to his mother about 'wanting a son' for more than a day or two. A couple of years ago, he even mentioned going to the hospital to get a second opinion, but I firmly said no, and his face immediately darkened."
After that, he stopped giving me money, so I knew he was saving up! The mother and son started saving money, maybe… one day they'd find someone else to have a child with.”
"!" Guan Wenru sighed helplessly, handing over a clean handkerchief, her voice softening, "Then why have you been enduring it all this time?"
"Otherwise what? Actually, I don't know how else I can put up with it?" Hua Xiaoyu took the handkerchief, but didn't wipe her face. She just crumpled it into a ball in her hand. "These days, divorced women are so conspicuous!"
If I divorce Zhang Desheng, what will people say about me? Will they say I'm 'not virtuous' or 'can't keep a family'?
My three daughters are still young. How many scornful looks will they have to endure if they live with me? I thought, I'll just bear it one day at a time. As long as he still considers this family, as long as the children have a complete place to live, I'll let it go…”
Guan Wenru couldn't help but interrupt her, her tone filled with exasperation, "But in the end, he hit you, and his mother even tormented the child!"
Sister-in-law, divorce is difficult for women, but no matter how difficult it is, it's still better than watching your children suffer every day and being beaten yourself!
Have you ever thought about this? Zhang Desheng isn't bringing up divorce yet because he's still taking advantage of you!
You can earn money to raise the children, you can be his family's 'free labor,' but once he's saved enough money, once he finds someone who can give him a son, the first person he'll ask for a divorce from will be you. At that point, you'll have nothing left!
Guan Wenru didn't want to advise them to break up, but Hua Xiaoyu had been so good to her all these years. Back when the triplets were still little, Hua Xiaoyu came to her house almost every day to help her out!
Therefore, she hopes that Hua Xiaoyu will have a better life, instead of enduring humiliation like she does now.
If we endure it, we might be able to get away with it eventually, but now... it's clear that we won't get away with it!
Someone like Zhang Desheng will definitely be sought after again!
So she paused, softened her tone, and continued, "Sister-in-law, instead of waiting for him to make it clear, you should think it through now... You need to hold onto the family's food ration books, cloth coupons, and the money you've saved over the years."
If any more injuries are found on the children, we should ask the elderly women in the neighborhood to be witnesses.
If it really comes to that, we have to fight for your and the children's best interests; we can't let them bully us for nothing!
Hua Xiaoyu listened in a daze, then suddenly stopped the car. She covered her face with her hands, her shoulders trembling violently.
The emotions that had been bottled up for so long finally let out!
Guan Wenru stopped beside her, silently keeping her company.
After a long while, Hua Xiaoyu finally put her hand down. The numbness in her eyes had lessened and a little brightened. "Last night, I saw the three children hiding in the corner. Daya was protecting Xiaoya behind her, and her body was trembling like a leaf. My heart felt like it was being torn apart."
She sniffed, her tone suddenly becoming firm, "Wenru, you're right. We can't delay any longer. If we keep dragging this out, the children will be scared out of their wits. As their mother, I can't be so spineless!"
Seeing that she had come to her senses, Guan Wenru raised an eyebrow and patted her arm. "Sister-in-law, if you need any help, I'll always be there! Whether it's finding evidence or reporting the situation to the organization, I'll go with you! The women in the compound are all on your side. If Zhang Desheng dares to act like a scoundrel, we're not afraid of him!"
Looking into Guan Wenru's sincere eyes, Hua Xiaoyu's eyes reddened again. "Wenru, I'm so grateful to you all these years. Thank you!"
"No need to thank me!" Guan Wenru said sincerely. "When I first came to the compound, I didn't know anything. You guys helped me a lot. And my three little rascals are so naughty. I've had to trouble your girls, Da Ya, Er Ya, and Xiao Ya, to keep an eye on them a lot. If anyone should be thanking someone, it's me who should be thanking you!"
Clutching her handkerchief, Hua Xiaoyu felt much of her gloom dissipate. "Let's not talk about these formalities. Anyway, with you here, I'm inexplicably not afraid of anything!"
Guan Wenru made her realize that she was not alone, and that there were so many people behind her who could help her.
She steadied the handlebars, smiled at Guan Wenru, and said, "Come on, Wenru, let's go to work! Let me think this through carefully. I need to make sure I'm doing well from now on, for myself and for the children!"
Guan Wenru smiled and pushed the cart alongside her, saying, "Okay, no matter what you think, sister-in-law, I'm on your side. If you need any help, just say so!"
......
Once at the factory, Guan Wenru processed several documents that morning.
Time flies, and it feels like just yesterday it was lunchtime.
The canteen was filled with the aroma of corn porridge. Workers sat in twos and threes around each other, holding enamel bowls. The crisp sound of chopsticks hitting the rim of the bowls mingled with their laughter, creating a lively atmosphere.
Guan Wenru had just finished getting her food and was about to find a place to sit down when she heard a familiar voice behind her.
"Director Guan, is there an empty seat here? Would you like to sit with me?"
She turned around and saw Ning Yuanfang and Lei Yongkang sitting at a round table not far away.
Guan Wenru smiled and walked over, "What a coincidence, you're quite late today."
As soon as she sat down, Lei Yongkang pushed the jar of pickled vegetables in front of her, saying, "My mother pickled these herself; they're crispier than the ones in the cafeteria. Take some more."
"Thank you! This is exactly what I like." Guan Wenru didn't stand on ceremony and picked up a piece of pickled vegetable with her chopsticks.
The three of them barely spoke during the meal.
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