Sun Hao couldn't possibly not know that Dong Sanmei was going to work on the island, which is why he asked that question.
Dong Sanmei said, "I just got back. Is she your girlfriend?"
"No, she's the ticket seller on my bus. She came over to talk to me about work-related matters."
Sun Hao paused for a moment and said, "Sanmei, I was wrong before. Can you give me another chance? Let's remarry."
Dong Sanmei said, "You should know my personality. I don't expect my husband to achieve great things, but he cannot have an affair, not even once. If you don't want to hear my harsh words, I hope you won't mention remarriage, because it's impossible for us to be together again in this lifetime."
Having been married for so many years, how could Sun Hao not know his ex-wife's personality? He said, "I take back what I just said. Now, tell me, what brings you here?"
Sun Hao believed that his ex-wife hadn't come to see him to reminisce. After the divorce, she had blocked his phone number. If nothing unexpected happened, she was coming for their son. Otherwise, given her personality, she would never have come to his dormitory to find him.
Dong Sanmei said, "You should know why I'm here. Our son is yours and mine. He deserves a better future and a better life. You can't provide that for him now. Only I, as his mother, can give him a better life. Please give me back custody of our son. I'll give you whatever money you want."
Sun Hao remained silent for a long time, then asked, "Is this decision difficult to make?"
Sun Hao said, "You underestimate me. If you give me even a penny, there's no need to discuss this further. But you also know that I don't have the final say on our son's custody. It's mainly my parents who want their grandson, you understand?"
Dong Sanmei knew all this perfectly well. When she got divorced, her mother-in-law even knelt down before her because of the custody of her son. Otherwise, she wouldn't have given up her right to raise her son so easily.
She said, "You should know that all I want is for my son to have a good education and a bright future. Can you and your parents provide that?"
After thinking for a long time, Sun Hao said, "I'm not a selfish person. How about this, I'll take a day off tomorrow, and you can come home with me. As long as you can convince my parents, I have no objections."
Dong Sanmei stood up and said, "Okay, I'll wait for you at the bus station entrance at eight o'clock tomorrow morning."
"Alright." Sun Hao stood up and said, "Sanmei, we've been husband and wife after all, why don't you stay and keep me company?"
You don't deserve it.
After Dong Sanmei finished speaking, she opened the door and went downstairs.
The next morning at eight o'clock, Dong Sanmei drove to the gate of the city's long-distance bus station. Sun Hao was punctual and stood waiting outside the gate.
Dong Sanmei parked her car next to him, and he opened the door, got in, and sat in the passenger seat.
Dong Sanmei said without ceremony, "Please sit in the back."
Sun Hao didn't want to argue with his ex-wife over such trivial matters, so he got out of the car, opened the back door, and sat in the back. Dong Sanmei started the car and drove towards Sun Hao's hometown.
After driving back to the village, Dong Sanmei, who was very familiar with Sun Hao's house, parked the car directly at the gate, and Sun Hao and she got out of the car together and walked into the house.
Sun Hao's parents are now in their seventies. The elderly couple had always lived alone. After their son divorced, he brought his grandson back from the city, and now the three of them live together.
The elderly couple sat in the yard watching their grandson bask in the sun.
When his mother entered the house, Xiaowei, the son, stood up and ran towards her.
The son is ten years old and doesn't know his parents are divorced. He said, "Mom, why haven't you come back to see me in so long?"
Dong Sanmei affectionately kissed her son's forehead and said, "Xiaowei, go out and play with your dad for a while. I need to talk to your grandparents about something."
The son nodded after hearing this and followed his father toward the gate.
After her son left with her ex-husband, she said, "Dad, Mom, you two should know why I've come back. Can you let me take our son with me?"
Even after the divorce, Dong Sanmei never changed how she addressed the two elderly people; she still called them "Dad" and "Mom."
Sun Hao's father said, "As you know, we have a lot of granddaughters in the Sun family, but only one grandson, Xiaowei. Do you think it's appropriate to take the child away?"
Dong Sanmei said, "Dad, is it wrong for me to want my child to have a good education and a good life? Sun Hao can't give him these things, and neither can you two. Only I, as his mother, have the ability to provide them. It's just a matter of custody. Xiaowei will always be your grandson. I won't change his surname; he will always be surnamed Sun. Every summer and winter vacation, I will have him come back to see you two. Is that alright?"
How could the elderly couple not understand these principles? Since their grandson returned to his hometown eight months ago, his grades have been declining. Rural education simply cannot keep up with urban education, let alone provide children with superior living conditions.
Seeing that the two elderly people remained silent, Dong Sanmei knew they were considering their child's future, so she didn't disturb them. Instead, she moved a stool and sat down in front of them to wait.
After a long pause, the old man said, "You are my grandson's biological mother. Your mother and I have no reason to worry about him living with you. But you must remember, no matter who you marry in the future, you must never change the child's surname. Just like you said, my grandson will always be surnamed Sun."
Dong Sanmei said, "I can guarantee all of that."
The old man said, "Take the child and go. Don't forget, while your mother and I are still alive, let our grandson come back to visit us every summer and winter vacation. After we pass away, just let him come back to see us off."
Dong Sanmei hadn't expected the two elderly people to agree so readily, and the more they did, the more heartbroken she felt. With tears in her eyes, she said, "Don't worry, I will definitely bring the children back to see you often..."
I was going to say that after they passed away, their sons would wear mourning clothes for them, but I felt that would be unlucky, so I didn't continue.
Dong Sanmei took a bank card out of her bag and handed it to the old man, saying, "Dad, there's 100,000 yuan in this card. The PIN is your grandson's birthday. If you think highly of me, Dong Sanmei, please accept the money. This is my way of showing my respect to you both on behalf of your grandson."
The old man took the bank card and said, "If you had just come back to get money, I definitely wouldn't have accepted it. But since you're asking for money now, I'll take it."
Saying that money is given beforehand and saying that money is given afterward are two different concepts. Saying that money is given beforehand means buying a son, while saying that money is given afterward means the transfer of affection between the son and his grandparents. Although they are divorced from their son, they are still his grandparents, and such a kinship relationship can never be severed.
Dong Sanmei stood up, said thank you for your understanding, bowed to the two elderly people, and turned to walk out the door.
As she walked outside the gate, she saw her ex-husband playing with their son. She went up to him and said, "Your parents want you to come back; they have something to say. I'll wait for you outside the gate."
Sun Hao said okay and turned to walk home.
When he returned home, his father said, "Son, your mother and I have thought it through. Sanmei is the child's biological mother, and she will provide the child with better living conditions. Let's give her custody of the child."
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