As was her usual domineering mother, she sat down in a chair and said, "Over the years, you have all been either in the military or on missions. The only one who has been by my side the whole time is your dear sister."
"Your sister is so sweet, so what if I dote on her? As her older brothers, what's wrong with giving her some money? Even if she wanted the moon, you'd all have to pluck it down for her!"
"Give me my bankbook, then you can go home, eat, and spend some quality time with your daughter. You've been back for so long and haven't even visited her. Tian Tian must be heartbroken!"
"And you old man, you've been ignoring Tian Tian lately too. She's been crying for ages. You've all gone too far!"
"These are the only two precious children in the whole family. You not only spoil them rotten, but you also dare to treat them like this. I won't let them talk to you anymore!"
"Si'er, hurry up and give me the savings book. You haven't taken out your salary for this month yet. Tian Tian has her eye on a dress, and I have to go buy it for her!"
Ruan Shengpeng didn't move at all. His mother slapped his foot, hitting the wound directly, but he was like a puppet, still not moving or making a sound!
Grandpa Ruan couldn't stand it: "You hit his wound!"
"You guys get injured every day anyway, what's a little injury to you! Give me the bankbook now, or I'm not leaving!"
Whoever takes care of the child will love him dearly. When Si'er was born, Grandpa Ruan held a relatively high position and did not need to go on missions often. Seeing that his wife completely neglected Si'er, he often took him with him.
Now, seeing his wife's complete disregard for the children's life and death, he's furious: "Where's my salary? Where's your retirement pension? And what about the salaries of our daughter and son-in-law? Can't you support four people?"
“If that’s the case, I’ll go to my son-in-law’s workplace and ask. His salary is so low that he can’t even support his own family. He might as well go back to farming!”
These words stopped Ruan's mother from throwing a tantrum: "Anyway, the money is useless in his hands, so what's wrong with giving it to your sister to spend?"
“Once they get married and have their own families, they are no longer one family. They should manage their own money. Why should they spend it on others? Why don't you go to your other three sons' homes and take all their money? Do you dare?”
Of course, Mrs. Ruan wouldn't dare. She was very perceptive; just like now, knowing the old man was angry, she immediately stopped throwing a tantrum and instead tried to appeal to his emotions.
"You didn't tell us before you signed Zhizhi up for the rural assignment, causing her a lot of suffering. She finally came back, and none of you even care about her!"
“She deserves to suffer. She’s stuck in a rut. I signed her up to go to the Northwest, but I’ve already made arrangements. She’ll just have to train hard for a few months.”
“She could have taken a civilian job in the military in a year or two, but she doesn’t trust me, and you kept it from me and secretly changed her rural address.”
"Going to someone else's territory without any preparation, it's no wonder you suffered! This is all your and your daughter's fault, who's to blame? Just because you're not doing well, does that mean you have to torment Si'er? What right do you have?"
"Just because he's the older brother and Zhi'er is the younger sister, he should unconditionally dote on his younger sister. But he gave such a nice house to a lowly person to live in. They had an affair without a matchmaker and no shame!"
Ruan Shengpeng sat up: "Yan Yan and I are a legally married couple, recognized by the country. In your eyes, it's just an affair without a matchmaker? What about my dear sister?"
"What's wrong with your sister? What's wrong with your sister? If you dare to slander her, I'll beat you to death!" Mrs. Ruan picked up the enamel mug and was about to smash it when Mr. Ruan snatched it away!
"What did Shengzhi do? Tell me, don't keep everything from me!"
These words silenced the ward instantly. Old Master Ruan said to Ruan Shengpeng, "You speak!"
Ruan's mother winked at Ruan Shengpeng, who shook his head: "There's nothing to say. I'm just guessing. Without concrete evidence, I can't say anything!"
Grandpa Ruan turned to look at Madam Ruan: "Why are you so harsh on Si'er? If Si'er does something wrong, I'll criticize him!"
Ruan's mother avoided her husband's gaze: "Where have I been harsh on him?"
"If you're not harsh on him, what about his wife and children?"
"Didn't I already say? My son is dead, my daughter is Tiantian, and he doesn't even acknowledge his wife?"
"Do you even believe what you're saying? That woman's face looks the same, but her personality is clearly that of someone who likes to delve into things. How could she possibly be the fourth daughter-in-law!"
"What exactly did you do to them?"
"I'll say it again: believe it or not, give me the passbook and I'm leaving!"
Seeing that his wife was unmoved by his words, Old Master Ruan lost his temper: "If you ask him for the bankbook again, I will take back your management rights and take all the money back!"
These words still had a deterrent effect. Ruan's mother glared at Ruan Shengpeng and said, "You unfilial son, I should have strangled you back then!"
After watching the person leave, Old Master Ruan sighed, "I'll have people search everywhere again. It's been too long, and things were chaotic everywhere back then, so it's hard to find them!"
"Do you know who your wife is closest to?"
These words gave Ruan Shengpeng a glimmer of hope. She remembered that Yan Yan had said that Xiao Yan, her roommate, was her best friend and also a doctor at the hospital, I think it was this hospital!
Before he could even speak to his father, Ruan Shengpeng limped out to ask around, going to every department in the hospital before finally getting a glimpse of information from a nurse.
"Dr. Xiao? She divorced her husband more than ten years ago and left Beijing with her child. That husband of hers was a scoundrel; he had a son with another woman."
"Dr. Xiao had barely left when he married someone else and started spreading rumors that the child she brought into the family was his own!"
"That's so inconsiderate! He'll be demoted right away. When we found out, we were all happy for Dr. Xiao!"
The nurse seemed to have found someone to confide in, and kept rambling on and on. Ruan Shengpeng finally waited for her to stop before interrupting, "Do you know where she went?"
"I seem to remember that I helped her send something to a brigade called Houshan Brigade, but it's been too long and I can't remember the address right now!"
These words gave Ruan Shengpeng hope. He was so excited that his hands and feet trembled: "Please think again, which province? Which city? Which commune?"
This question left the nurse completely bewildered: "It's been too long, really too long. I can't remember right now. Maybe I should go back and look for it. Dr. Xiao sent me a letter later, asking me to send her some medicine!"
"I don't think I lost the letter!"
Ruan Shengpeng felt a glimmer of hope. He had a premonition that the two people who disappeared at the same time must be together!
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