Su Jianguo could no longer hold back.
"Bullshit! Yu Fen is Tie Zhu's legal wife, and they have two children to support. Why shouldn't she have a share?"
"Because she cursed my son to death!"
Zhang's mother shouted hysterically.
"I won't give her a single penny! The child must stay; she's a member of the Zhang family!"
Su Yufen slowly woke up at this moment, and upon hearing her mother-in-law's words, tears streamed down her face.
"Mom...the child is still young and can't be without a mother..."
"Shut up!"
Zhang's mother slapped Su Yufen across the face.
"You jinx, go back to your parents' house!"
Su Jianguo flew into a rage and shoved Zhang's mother away.
"You dare touch my daughter again!"
The scene immediately descended into chaos.
Zhang's relatives rushed forward, and Su Jianguo's three apprentices also stood in front of their master and senior sister to protect them.
Just as a fight was about to break out, the railway bureau leader shouted.
"Stop it, all of you!"
He walked between the two families with a livid face.
"Comrade Zhang Tiezhu died on duty, and the distribution of compensation must be in accordance with the law. His spouse and children are all entitled to their respective shares; this is not something you can refuse to pay."
Zhang's mother plopped down on the ground, slapping her thigh and wailing.
"Oh my God, have you ever seen anything? My son's body is barely cold, and someone's already trying to steal the money he earned by risking his life..."
Su Jianguo sneered and turned to the railway bureau leaders.
"Sir, please be the judge. My daughter was beaten so badly by Zhang Tiezhu over the years that she was covered in bruises. Now that she's dead, they still want to seize the compensation money and won't even let her see her mother. Is there any justice in this world?"
The railway bureau leader nodded.
"Alright, let's hold the funeral tonight. Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, you all come to the railway bureau so we can distribute the compensation in person."
He gave Zhang's mother a meaningful look.
"No one can act recklessly before the law."
As night deepened, the incense and candles in the mourning hall were almost burned out.
Su Jianguo looked at his daughter's haggard face and felt extremely distressed.
"Yufen, why don't you go back and rest first?"
Su Yufen shook her head, her voice hoarse.
"Father, I have to keep vigil for Tiezhu... We were husband and wife after all..."
"What are you guarding!"
Zhang's mother interrupted sharply.
"You are not worthy to touch my son's coffin!"
Just as Su Jianguo was about to explode, Su Yufen grabbed his sleeve.
"Father, forget it... I'll just keep watch outside the mourning hall, it'll be the same..."
Finally, Su Yufen knelt on the muddy ground outside the mourning tent, silently weeping as she faced the coffin.
The next day, after burying Zhang Tiezhu, Su Jianguo took his eldest daughter to the railway bureau.
As for his two grandsons and apprentice, having stayed up all night, Su Jianguo told them to go home and rest.
When Su Jianguo led Su Yufen into the railway bureau office...
Zhang's mother and her three cousins were already seated around the long table, the atmosphere tense and on the verge of conflict.
"Pah, damn jinx!"
As soon as Zhang's mother saw Su Yufen, she shrieked. Today, Su Yufen was dressed in plain white with a white flower pinned to her chest, and her eyes were red and swollen like two walnuts.
"How dare you come asking for money? My son was cursed to death by you!"
Director Wang of the railway bureau frowned and tapped on the table.
"Mrs. Zhang, please watch your words. We're here today to discuss the distribution of compensation, not to argue."
"Negotiation?"
Zhang's mother slammed her hand on the table and stood up abruptly, causing the teacups on the table to jump.
"Why should this jinx give the money my son earned with his life?"
Su Jianguo pressed down on his daughter's trembling shoulders and said in a deep voice.
"My daughter is Zhang Tiezhu's legal wife. According to the Marriage Law and the Inheritance Law, she has the right to inherit her husband's estate, including compensation."
"fart!"
One of Zhang Tiezhu's cousins, who was brought by Zhang's mother, jumped up.
"My cousin's money should belong to my aunt! My aunt went through so much trouble to raise my cousin, and what has this woman done? She hasn't earned a penny in the years she's been married into the family, and she still has the nerve to ask for money?"
Director Wang adjusted his glasses.
"According to regulations, spouses, children, and parents are all first-order heirs. The compensation of two thousand yuan should, in principle, be shared among Zhang Tiezhu's wife, two children, and his elderly mother."
"Shared distribution?"
Zhang's mother's expression immediately changed, and she angrily cursed.
"You wish! That's my son's retirement money left to me. You Su family members are just trying to steal our Zhang family's money!"
Su Jianguo originally didn't want to argue with the old woman, after all, her son had just died.
However, after entering, the old woman kept cursing and swearing, which angered Su Jianguo.
He didn't retort with insults, but calmly said...
"Since Grandma Zhang disagrees, we'll proceed according to legal procedures. By the way, in that case, the two thousand yuan compensation, along with Zhang Tiezhu's savings and the house, should all be included in the estate for distribution."
"house?"
Zhang's mother jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
"You want to take my house?"
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