After returning home, Xiao Tingshen told his parents about it: "Mom and Dad, Wenya and I are getting married next month, and we can't ignore this."
Xiao Yaodong sat on the sofa reading the newspaper without looking up.
“What does their family’s business have to do with us?” Liu Yuzhen was annoyed. “Anyway, they’re not married. If she wants to go to the countryside, let her go. It’s not like we’re forcing her to go.”
Tang Wenya is alright looking, but she's very good at pretending.
The last time she came to our house, she clearly wanted to eat an apple, but instead of saying so directly, she asked Xiao Tingshen if he wanted one. Luckily, her son understood her and peeled an apple for her, which she then happily ate.
“Mom, you can’t say that. She’s my fiancée and she has my child…” Xiao Tingshen looked at Xiao Yaodong, got up and sat down next to him. “Dad, this matter is neither a big deal nor a small one. We need to resolve it quickly, otherwise it will affect Wenya and me taking the college entrance exam.”
"What? Is she in the wrong?" Xiao Yaodong continued reading the newspaper.
“It’s not that we’re in the wrong, but Xu Qingning is fixated on Wenya, insisting that she get a medical check-up to prove that the medical records she filed at the educated youth office were fake.” Xiao Tingshen admitted that Jiang Yumei’s actions were unethical, but he could understand them, since no one wants their daughter to go to the countryside to work.
“If it’s true, we’re not afraid to prove it. If it’s false, then we’ll take responsibility.” Xiao Yaodong put down his newspaper, picked up the ceramic mug, and took a sip of water. “Ting Shen, your main task now is to get into university, not to take on all these trivial matters of their family. Once this happens, it will happen countless times.”
He had never approved of his son getting married before going to university.
But since the woman is pregnant, the parents have no choice but to support their son and share the responsibility with him.
But that doesn't mean their family has to help with such things.
"Tingshen, your father is right." Liu Yuzhen agreed, and looked at Tang Wenya with more disdain. "She's not even married into the family yet, and they're already making you do this and that. What will she be like after she's married into the family?"
Xiao Tingshen didn't say another word, and silently left the house, heading to the educated youth office.
He knows his parents; they really don't care when they say they don't care, and no matter how much he begs them, it's no use.
The educated youth office was just a large office with several desks pushed together. Red slogans were written on the walls: "Eat, live, and work with the poor and lower-middle peasants and accept re-education!"
A group of people are having a meeting under the lamp.
Not wanting to disturb him, Xiao Tingshen patiently found a stool and sat down at the door to wait.
After the meeting, Officer Xu came out first and said to Xiao Tingshen, "Tingshen, I know you want to let this go, but this is not easy. We just had a meeting to discuss it. In order to be fair, Tang Wenya must go to the clinic for a physical examination to prove that her medical records at the educated youth office are true and reliable."
"Is it not possible to skip the physical exam?" Xiao Tingshen didn't want to end up like Zhao Jingyu, making everyone aware of his wife's pregnancy; it was too embarrassing.
“Unless Xu Qingning herself is willing to go to the countryside.” Officer Xu looked into Xiao Tingshen’s eyes and said seriously, “You saw it tonight too, Xu Qingning’s mother-in-law will not let her go to the countryside, and according to the investigation, Xu Qingning no longer meets the conditions for going to the countryside.”
"Isn't there any other way?" Xiao Tingshen said calmly, "For example, admit that the medical record is fake, and then apologize to everyone..."
Since pregnancy can be detected through a medical examination anyway, it's better to just admit that the medical records are fake.
At least, we can keep the matter of the child a secret for now.
"It's possible," Officer Xu sighed, "but Tang Wenya will have to accept punishment, such as losing her job assignment and not being recommended for university."
"I understand." Xiao Tingshen walked heavily out of the educated youth office, and did not sleep all night.
As dawn broke, Xiao Tingshen went to find Tang Wenya and told her about the educated youth office's intentions.
"No, why should I admit that the medical record is fake?" Tang Wenya was overjoyed, thinking that Xiao Tingshen would bring her good news, but hearing his words was like a thunderbolt. "Tingshen, do you know that if I admit it, my future will be ruined!"
In this era, everyone strives to be a good young person with impeccable moral character and revolutionary spirit.
In order to avoid being sent to the countryside, she used her connections to fabricate evidence, which, once it gets out, will become a stain on her life.
“But if you go for a checkup, the result will be the same.” Xiao Tingshen tried his best to persuade her, “Are you willing to let everyone in the educated youth office know that you are pregnant?”
"Can't I get pregnant after I've recovered from my illness?" Tang Wenya would rather bear the stigma of being pregnant out of wedlock than admit that her medical records were fake.
Getting pregnant out of wedlock is just a matter of being laughed at by everyone for a while, and that's it.
Xu Qingning is a case in point. She made no attempt to hide her pregnancy, and over time, no one mentioned it anymore.
The fake medical record is not only a stain on her reputation, but it will also implicate her mother and Aunt Lin.
"As long as you admit that the medical records you filed at the educated youth office were fake, and then write a self-criticism, this matter will be over." Xiao Tingshen was somewhat disappointed that Tang Wenya refused to admit to the fake medical records. "Wenya, would I possibly harm you?"
"Of course you wouldn't harm me, you're just protecting your own reputation." Tang Wenya couldn't believe these words came from his mouth, and after a long while, she said, "For you, only by admitting that the medical records are fake can you get away unscathed, because you don't want to bear the reputation of us being pregnant out of wedlock, right?"
She simply couldn't win an argument with Xu Qingning.
They're not stupid.
"Wenya, am I really that worthless in your eyes?" Enraged by having his thoughts exposed, Xiao Tingshen turned and left. "Since that's the case, do whatever you want!"
"Xiao Tingshen, once you're gone, don't come back." Tang Wenya grabbed a ceramic jar and threw it at him, almost hitting his head. With a bang, the ceramic jar crashed to the ground.
Xiao Tingshen left without looking back.
In the next room, Xu Jianguo overheard the entire conversation between the two. He felt a chill run down his spine and sat motionless in his chair, his emotions a complex mix of feelings.
It turns out that what Xu Qingning said from the very beginning was true.
However, he never believed it... He would rather believe Jiang Yumei and Tang Wenya than his own daughter.
Jiang Yumei went to the grain and oil guesthouse and bought some fried dough sticks. She then cooked some corn porridge in the kitchen in the hallway and called the father and daughter to eat.
Xu Jianguo left without a word, his face dark. Let them keep it from him, let's see how long they can keep it from him.
"Xu Jianguo, you didn't even say anything before eating, really!" Jiang Yumei complained, then went into the room and called to Tang Wenya, "Dinner's ready. Mom bought you some fried dough sticks, come out and eat them while they're hot."
“Mom…” Tang Wenya sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes brimming with tears, “Ting Shen just came by. He… he made me admit that the medical record was fake, and he also made me go to the educated youth office to write a self-criticism!”
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