Chapter 115 Paralyzed Qin Li'an Released from Prison
"Wearing a cheongsam?" the person said. "I've never seen you wear one before."
"A resounding victory! A resounding victory!" said the plump woman, her forehead beaded with sweat. She carried a water cup filled with herbal tea, which she had specially brewed for Zhang Xiaohu.
That person didn't say much. It's normal for students and parents to be nervous about the college entrance exam.
When Zhang Xiaohu came out, Fatty's legs were still shaking a little.
"Mom," Zhang Xiaohu greeted his mother.
The plump woman smiled, not daring to say anything else for fear of saying the wrong thing, and handed the herbal tea to Zhang Xiaohu.
On the day the college entrance exam ended, when Zhang Xiaohu came out of the exam hall, Fatty Sister fainted. Fortunately, Zhang Chenghai was nearby and helped her up. When Fatty Sister woke up, she found herself in the hospital.
Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Chenghai were both nearby. The fat woman seemed a little dazed, "College entrance exam, college entrance exam!"
"The college entrance exam is over," Zhang Chenghai said. "You forgot, you fainted when Xiaohu walked out of the exam hall."
Zhang Chenghai specially accompanied Fatty Sister to wait for Zhang Xiaohu, as he was planning to go home and cook a delicious meal. However, Fatty Sister fainted.
"I...I fainted?" the fat woman asked.
“Yes, you fainted,” Zhang Chenghai said.
"Mom, I've finished the college entrance exam," Zhang Xiaohu said. "This isn't a dream, so don't worry about me not finishing the exam."
Fatty Sister was indeed wondering if Zhang Xiaohu had finished the college entrance examination. She was worried that he hadn't. These days, Fatty Sister was on edge. She would dream that Zhang Xiaohu hadn't brought a pen to the examination room, and then she would dream that Zhang Xiaohu had encountered other problems, such as being sick and unable to take the exam.
Fatty Sister woke up from nightmares several times. She wasn't this nervous when Zhang Xiaohu took the high school entrance exam.
"I'm fine," said the plump woman. "We don't need to stay at the hospital, let's go home."
"We'll go back after the IV drip is finished," Zhang Chenghai said.
It was two days later when Song Fenglan learned that her sister-in-law had fainted. Qin Zihang called Zhang Xiaohu, and Zhang Xiaohu told her.
It was only then that Zhang Xiaohu learned that Qin Zihang hadn't taken the college entrance exam; he had been admitted to Capital University of Aeronautics and Astronautics through a special admission program. Zhang Xiaohu was extremely envious of Qin Zihang; Qin Zihang was just too amazing.
"I never expected that Sister-in-law Pang would faint from nervousness." In Song Fenglan's eyes, Sister-in-law Pang had always been a person who could handle things well, and she always did things steadily and reliably.
"The college entrance exam is a matter of one's entire life, and it's possible to faint from it," Qin Yizhou said. "Before Zihang was admitted to your school through the recommendation program, didn't you keep a close eye on him? You looked at his grades and saw if he could get a high score on the college entrance exam."
“Before everything settles down, we need to keep an eye on things,” Song Fenglan said. “You’re right, the college entrance exam is a life-changing event, so we can’t afford to be careless. The most important thing is that Zihang can go to university; that’s more important than anything else.”
"Mom, I majored in your college," Qin Zihang said.
"I know, I know," Song Fenglan said. "Study hard, you have a lot of room for growth in the future."
It wasn't that Song Fenglan was arrogant, but rather that her son truly had a talent in this area. Qin Zihang had been influenced by this from a young age; Song Fenglan had taught him a great deal, which explained Qin Zihang's extensive knowledge.
"Do you want to go on a trip?" Song Fenglan asked. "I want to go on a trip before school starts."
"Where are you going on vacation? To the South City?" Qin Zihang asked.
“If you want to go to the South City, that’s fine too,” Song Fenglan said. “Just be careful.”
Song Fenglan did not forbid her son from leaving Nancheng. He could go to other cities, and even if he wanted to go abroad, that would be fine.
"Let me think about it," Qin Zihang said.
"Do you need to think about it some more?" Song Fenglan asked.
"Actually, I think Nancheng is alright, but I don't see many people there. I played there when I was a kid," Qin Zihang said. "If I go there, I'll only stay for a few days and then come back."
"It's up to you. Go if you want, or go somewhere else if you don't," Song Fenglan said. "Also, if you don't want to go out and just stay at home, that's fine too. Don't say later that you didn't have a graduation trip."
"I won't say, I won't say," Qin Zihang said. "There are high school graduates and college graduates too."
“Your maternal grandmother asked you if you wanted to have a graduation banquet,” Song Fenglan said. “I said I’d rather not. It’s enough for the family to have a meal together. There’s no need for a banquet.”
Firstly, Song Fenglan doesn't like to show off, and secondly, going to university isn't anything to get excited about. It all depends on whether Qin Zihang studies well; if he doesn't, then it's all for nothing.
“I don’t want to have a graduation banquet,” Qin Zihang said. “I guess my classmates will have theirs, and I’ll go to theirs. They took the college entrance exam, so they must feel it even more. Mom, you know what? I even went there on the day the college entrance exam ended. They were so happy that they tore up all their books.”
Qin Zihang didn't tear up his books; he kept them at home. Although he might not need his high school books in the future, Qin Zihang thought it was good to keep them. Looking back later, he might think he was too immature back then.
“If you’ve torn it up, so be it,” Song Fenglan said. “When you get to university, the knowledge will be much deeper, and you’ll even find that some of the calculation methods you used to use have changed. University is not high school; there are many more difficult subjects.”
"Mmm." Qin Zihang nodded vigorously. He had a capable mother, and he had already studied some university-level material. Qin Zihang felt it was alright, not particularly difficult, but when he encountered some real problems, he felt they were still a bit challenging, and his mother could solve them instantly. After his mother solved them, Qin Zihang suddenly realized, "Is that even possible?"
When Fatty Sister learned that Qin Zihang had been recommended to Capital University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, she was stunned.
“Your Aunt Fenglan never told me,” said the plump woman.
"They didn't tell you that you were so nervous that you fainted when I finished my college entrance exam. If they had told you, wouldn't you have been even more nervous?" Zhang Xiaohu said. "Zihang's grades have always been excellent. It's perfectly normal for him to be admitted without taking the entrance exam."
“That’s perfectly normal,” the plump woman nodded. “They have a good family tradition.”
“My little brother Zihang started learning university-level knowledge very early on,” Zhang Xiaohu said. “He knows what he wants to do in the future, and his aunt has also been guiding him. Someone like him is much more capable than many of us.”
Zhang Xiaohu now felt that there were already many differences between them, even though they hadn't graduated from university yet. Zhang Xiaohu wished he could be as capable as Qin Zihang, but he couldn't; he wasn't that capable, so he didn't even consider following the same path as Qin Zihang.
If Zhang Xiaohu were to follow the same path as Qin Zihang, Song Fenglan might lend him a hand, but the difference in talent would make it very difficult for Zhang Xiaohu. Qin Zihang is more talented in the relevant field, so naturally, Qin Zihang will have an easier time climbing the ranks. What will Zhang Xiaohu think then?
When Zhang Xiaohu was considering his major, he took this into account. He couldn't always rely on Qin Zihang's mother, nor could he depend on Qin Zihang for help. Zhang Xiaohu thought that he still needed to work hard himself and study a major that was easier for him to learn, rather than having to follow Qin Zihang.
“Mom.” Zhang Xiaohu looked at his fat sister-in-law.
"What's wrong?" the plump woman asked, puzzled.
"Brother Zihang said... said..." Zhang Xiaohu said a little embarrassedly.
“Speak,” said the plump woman.
“My brother Zihang said we can buy a house in the capital,” Zhang Xiaohu said. “He said if I want to stay in the capital in the future, I can buy a house sooner, since the current rooms aren’t very expensive.”
"Buy a house?" the chubby woman asked in surprise.
“Yes,” Zhang Xiaohu said. “He said his parents have bought several houses, so he can focus on his research without worrying about money. The rent will be enough for them to live on.”
"What are you thinking?" the plump woman asked.
“Me? I haven’t earned any money yet,” Zhang Xiaohu said. “Unless I go to university and then I work hard. Right now, I don’t have money to buy a house. My brother is already at the age to date and get married. What will happen to him if I take the money to buy a house?”
“Your brother has his own salary,” the plump woman said. “He’s saved up quite a bit of money over the years, but… you’re buying a house in the capital…”
Sister-in-law Pang wasn't entirely sure, but since Qin Zihang said so, he was probably right. If they gritted their teeth and bought a house in the capital, that would be great.
Prices are skyrocketing these days, making even the plump woman anxious. Some people worry that their wages aren't enough to cover groceries, and they wish prices were lower.
“Ask your father how much money he has,” said the plump woman. “It’s a good opportunity, we really can’t miss it.”
“Mom…” Zhang Xiaohu looked at his fat sister-in-law.
"It's not for you," the plump woman said, "it's for your Aunt Fenglan. Your Aunt Fenglan has always been very knowledgeable about these things; she's never done anything wrong. The capital city isn't an ordinary place. If you go to university there and want to stay, it's best to buy a house. House prices are higher now than before."
Yes.
"It's considerably more expensive," Zhang Xiaohu had heard from others.
When Zhang Wen returned home, his wife, Pang, told him about buying a house in the capital. After Zhang Wen got married, he could apply for housing and wouldn't have to worry about not having a place to live. However, if Zhang Xiaohu used the money to buy a house in the capital, and Zhang Wen stayed in the southern part of the city, he wouldn't have benefited.
“Mom, if you’re going to buy it, then buy it now,” Zhang Wen said. “The reform and opening-up policy won’t change. Prices for many things have been liberalized. In the future, house prices will also change rapidly. Buying one will be a sure win.”
Zhang Wen was young and not old-fashioned. Zhang Wen didn't think Qin Zihang was wrong; after all, Qin Zihang was very knowledgeable in the capital.
“Whether you sell the house in the capital or live in it yourself, it’s a good deal,” Zhang Wen said. “Of course, if you buy a house in the south, the prices there will definitely rise. But if we’re talking about a good deal, the capital is definitely more worthwhile.”
“You’re in the south of the city,” the plump woman said.
“What’s the big deal? Your house is still in the south of the city, isn’t it?” Zhang Wen said. “If Xiao Hu is in the capital, you and Dad can just give me your house, that’s fine.”
"Don't you think it's unfair?" the fat woman asked.
“There is no absolute fairness in this world,” Zhang Wen said. “If you’ve made up your mind, you can call the capital. The sooner you decide, the cheaper the housing prices might be.”
"Yes, that's true," said the plump woman. "I'll discuss it with your father in the next couple of days."
Sister-in-law Pang thought that if they were to go to the capital, it would probably be when they sent Zhang Xiaohu to university there, and then they would consider whether to buy a house. They had saved some money over the years, but not a lot, and it wouldn't be appropriate to use all of Zhang Wen's salary to buy a house in the capital.
The day of Qin Li'an's release from prison arrived quickly. Qin Yizhou's family couldn't possibly pick him up, so it was only Qin's mother and Tian Keshu who went to pick him up.
Outside the prison, Qin's mother gave Tian Keshu a cold shoulder.
"The reason Li'an has become like this is all your fault for not taking good care of him," Qin's mother said. "You used to..."
“Your son and I have been divorced for many years, and Li’an grew up with you,” Tian Keshu said. “He refused to study, and I was the one who paid for his education. You didn’t do anything about it, so how can you blame me?”
Tian Keshu was unwilling to admit that it was her fault. "He's in this state now, shouldn't you think of something?"
"..." Qin's mother remained silent.
“He needs to have a job,” Tian Keshu said.
Qin's mother wondered if Qin Li'an would be willing to work. Qin Li'an's record was tainted with the fact that he had sexually assaulted underage girls. The thought gave Qin's mother a headache; neither her husband nor her son cared.
For the past three years, Brother Qin has tried to get his mother to pay more attention to You Yun's youngest son. However, his mother is very stubborn. She feels that if she cares about You Yun's youngest son, no one will care about her precious eldest grandson in the future.
Qin's mother had been a devout Buddhist, but she had nightmares every night, dreaming of her unborn great-grandson who was choking her and trying to kill her. It wasn't that she absolutely didn't want Gu Qian to have the child; it was simply that Qin Li'an was still young, and the relationship between Qin Li'an and Gu Qian was never legitimate. After Gu Qian left the capital, Qin's mother breathed a sigh of relief. She had even come to tell Qin Li'an that Gu Qian was no longer in the capital, reassuring him and assuring him that they would never allow Qin Li'an and Gu Qian to actually be together.
The Gu family is so poor, Qin's mother cannot let her precious grandson marry Gu Qian. If Qin Li'an really marries Gu Qian, he will be dragged down by the Gu family for the rest of his life and will never be able to live a good life.
“You have to find him a good job,” Tian Keshu said. “If you don’t, he… I will come looking for you.”
"You don't need to worry about that. As long as I have food to eat, he will have food to eat too," Qin's mother said.
Regardless of whether Qin Li'an had a job or not, Qin's mother was determined not to let him go hungry.
Qin Li'an didn't come out for a long time. Qin's mother and Tian Keshu stood outside the prison, and they started arguing. Qin's mother was even pushed by Tian Keshu. Qin's mother couldn't get up at that moment. She had been sick a lot in the past three years, and her physical condition was not as good as before. The push made her feel very uncomfortable.
"Stop pretending, get up," Tian Keshu said.
Qin Li'an witnessed this scene when he was released from prison. Qin Li'an had undergone reform and labor in prison; he didn't want to stay there—prison life was too harsh—and had to come out. Qin Li'an had initially thought that since his grandmother doted on him so much, he could manage in the future.
To everyone's surprise, when Qin Li'an came out, he saw that his mother had been pushed down.
By the time Qin Yizhou found out, his mother was hospitalized. She was paralyzed in her lower limbs and could no longer walk. The doctor said it was unlikely she would recover. Qin Yizhou went to the hospital, but he didn't go to see his mother. His mother had long said she didn't want to see him. She wouldn't let him into the Qin family home, and if she saw him outside, she would pretend not to see him.
Qin Yizhou came over, of course, not to pay for medical expenses.
Qin's elder brother is responsible for his mother's care and medical expenses. This whole ordeal will likely incur significant medical costs for Qin's mother.
You Yun felt extremely distressed about the medical expenses. Qin's mother had been sick many times in the past three years, but at least it wasn't a serious illness, and Qin's mother could still help with some daily tasks. But now, Qin's mother was paralyzed on one side, and they couldn't rely on her to do anything anymore. They would even have to take Qin's mother to the hospital for treatment.
You Yun didn't want to let Qin's older brother ask Qin Yizhou for medical expenses. When the family property was divided, Qin Yizhou received less, and Qin's older brother had a written agreement with Qin Yizhou. You Yun had previously stated that she acknowledged the written agreement Qin's older brother had made with Qin Yizhou, and that she wouldn't deny it just because she wasn't married to Qin's older brother at the time.
Fortunately, Brother Qin got a job in a private company, where he earns more money than he would have in the public sector. Father Qin is doing well with his medical expenses being largely covered by insurance, but Mother Qin's situation is much worse.
"How is Mom now?" Qin Yizhou asked his older brother Qin as he stood in the hospital corridor.
"His lower body is paralyzed," Brother Qin said.
"I heard that Qin Li'an was pushed by his own mother. What do you plan to do?" Qin Yizhou asked.
"I..." Brother Qin had a headache. He never expected that Tian Keshu would push Qin's mother.
“This is intentional assault,” Qin Yizhou said. “She has to take responsibility.”
“She has to take responsibility.” You Yun walked over. She couldn’t make Qin Yizhou and his wife pay for the medical expenses, but could she not make Tian Keshu pay for them?
Although Qin's mother was in poor health to begin with, she wasn't paralyzed on one side before; she could walk and do some things. Now that she's in this state, the family's expenses have increased.
You Yun wished she could send Qin's mother directly to Tian Keshu's place so that Tian Keshu could take care of her. But Tian Keshu had no intention of actually taking care of Qin's mother; she was now afraid and went to her parents' home to discuss what to do.
"Are you out of your mind? How old is she? You pushed her? You've made something bad happen to her." Tian's mother couldn't believe her ears. Tian Keshu had actually pushed Qin's mother into a state of partial paralysis.
"I don't know how that happened?" Tian Keshu covered her face with her hands.
"You don't know? Before, you had a fight with Song Fenglan's cousin, and even went to the police station. In the end, you divorced your husband. Have you forgotten?" Tian's mother thought her daughter would be more restrained, but she never expected her daughter to do something like this at this time.
"I...I really don't know, it's just...suddenly, my mind went blank," Tian Keshu said. "If I had known it would turn out like this, I definitely wouldn't have pushed him. It's her, she's blaming me for not taking good care of Li'an, for making Li'an like that. It's not me, Li'an grew up in their family, how can she blame me? I...I just explained, and then, that's it."
Tian Keshu was truly terrified; Qin's mother being paralyzed from the waist down was no small matter.
"Mom, I don't want to go to jail!" Tian Keshu held her mother's hand tightly.
“If you don’t want to go to jail, you have to pay compensation,” Mother Tian said. “Does the Qin family lack money?”
“No, they can’t put me in jail. I’m Li’an’s biological mother. If they put me in jail, Li’an will be unhappy,” Tian Keshu said.
"Would Qin Li'an be unhappy?" Mother Tian didn't think Qin Li'an would be unhappy; she only felt that Qin Li'an was happy to have asked his own mother for help.
"Mom, what should I do?" Tian Keshu asked.
“If she recovers after lying in bed for a while, that’s fine. But if she doesn’t, she’ll definitely hold a grudge against you,” said Mother Tian. “Go find Li’an and have him talk to his grandmother. His grandmother dotes on him so much, he’ll definitely be able to put in a good word for her.”
Now, Qin's mother is extremely angry. She has no feeling in her lower body and cannot move; she can even feel the problem herself. Qin's mother dotes on Qin Li'an because her own interests haven't been harmed. She's been sick several times, but she's not paralyzed. But this time, Qin's mother is paralyzed. How could she not hold a grudge against Tian Keshu?
Qin Li'an himself has been to prison, so whether Tian Keshu goes to prison or not will not affect Qin Li'an.
Qin's mother was very angry in the hospital room, and she was cursing and swearing.
"It's all Tian Keshu's fault, she's no good."
"You must put her in jail, put her in jail, don't let her go!"
"She pushed me, she's trying to kill me."
...
Qin's mother was speaking loudly, and the nurses could only ask the family members to calm her down and tell her not to speak so loudly. There were other patients in the hospital who needed to rest, and Qin's mother was disturbing them.
When Qin Yizhou told Song Fenglan about Qin's mother, Song Fenglan didn't know what to say. Qin Zihang had just taken the train south to Nancheng the day before. While Qin Zihang was away from the capital, the child was happily playing outside, and then this happened to Qin's mother.
"Is it serious? Should we bring Zihang back?" Song Fenglan asked.
"It won't kill her, but she'll be paralyzed from the waist down." Qin Yizhou sighed. "She ran into Qin Li'an's biological mother at the prison gate, and the two got into an argument. Tian Keshu pushed her."
"..." Song Fenglan's lips twitched slightly.
It's worth noting that Qin's mother once thought Tian Keshu was a good daughter-in-law; this reversal of fortune is truly devastating.
"Now that your mother is in this state, are you just letting the perpetrators get away with it?" Song Fenglan asked.
“Even if Mom reports Tian Keshu for arguing with her, Tian Keshu will only be locked up for a while and will be released soon,” Qin Yizhou said. “You know how much Mom loves Li’an, she might calm down quickly and not let Tian Keshu go to jail.”
"She's half-paralyzed, how can she calm down?" Song Fenglan was stunned.
"Not necessarily," Qin Yizhou said. "Mom dotes on Qin Li'an too much."
“Zihang is still on the train. Should we tell him when he arrives in Nancheng?” Song Fenglan asked.
"No need," Qin Yizhou said. "Let him have fun. I'll go check on Mom, you don't need to go. Mom's in a bad mood right now, she can't tell right from wrong, if you go there you might get into trouble, and she might take her anger out on you."
"Aren't you afraid she'll take her anger out on you?" Song Fenglan asked again.
"I didn't go to her; I stayed outside the ward," Qin Yizhou said. "Mom doesn't want to see me, so I won't go in. I'll take the things over there and have Dad and the others bring them in. I'll have someone make some soup, and I'll go over again tomorrow."
"Okay." Song Fenglan nodded. "Since you said not to tell Zihang, then we won't."
"Mom and Tian Keshu both went to pick up Qin Li'an, what's there to argue about?"
"I don't know," Qin Yizhou said. "They didn't explain it very clearly, and I don't know what exactly happened. Maybe they were blaming each other, and when they got carried away talking about it, then the rest of the story happened."
“It’s possible,” Song Fenglan said. “It would be very distressing for a perfectly healthy person to be paralyzed from the waist down.”
Song Fenglan had no sympathy for Qin's mother. Qin's mother spoiled Qin Li'an too much. He was so old and still causing trouble for others. She didn't know how to take good care of her health.
Qin Li'an is now somewhat afraid to see his mother; he never expected things to turn out this way. Qin Li'an originally planned to live a good life; he didn't want to stay in the prison cell any longer. Life in the prison was unbearable; he was bullied and beaten by his fellow inmates, and they certainly wouldn't pamper him.
A little boy is so bad, and he even raped an underage woman. Some of the men happened to have daughters at home, so their attitude towards Qin Li'an was even worse.
After going to jail, Qin Li'an underwent a significant change. He found the events terrifying; things like groping and other such acts were relatively mild compared to what he'd experienced. When Qin Li'an complained to the prison guards, he was met with even more vicious bullying, which made him much quieter. When Qin Li'an told people about his uncle, how powerful he was, they would say, "If your uncle was that powerful, would you even be in jail?"
Others didn't believe Qin Li'an had such a powerful uncle; they all thought Qin Li'an was bragging.
In the prison cell, Qin Li'an experienced the feeling of being helpless and desperate. His family couldn't help him, and he said he was having a bad time inside. His family couldn't find a way to get him out quickly.
"Dad." Qin Li'an stood beside his father; the two of them were still in the hospital.
“Go back first. Your grandma has prepared a room for you, the one you had before you went to prison,” Brother Qin said. “Your grandma has been so good to you, so don’t cause her any more trouble in the future.”
"Hmm..." Qin Li'an felt that because of his mother's actions, it was even more difficult for him to stay in this house.
Qin Li'an had decided to live a good life, thinking that as long as he didn't commit crimes, he could live comfortably with the help of his doting grandmother. But then his own mother pulled this stunt on him. Qin Li'an was filled with hatred. How could his mother do such a thing? Did she even know that he could only rely on his grandmother now in the Qin family?
None of those people cared about him; only his grandmother did.
Qin Li'an was heartbroken; everything that had happened today had disrupted his plans. He worried that his mother would hold a grudge against him and that he wouldn't be able to get more.
The next day, Tian's mother took Tian Keshu to visit Qin's mother. If Qin's mother hadn't been paralyzed from the waist down, Tian's mother wouldn't have wanted to come. Tian's mother didn't want Tian Keshu to go to jail; after all, Tian Keshu was her biological daughter, and she felt she had to make the trip.
"Grandma Li'an," Tian's mother addressed Qin's mother directly, as she used to call her "mother-in-law." Since the two families were no longer related by marriage, a different form of address was necessary. "How are you feeling?"
"Tian Keshu!" Qin's mother wanted to get up and tear Tian Keshu's face off, but she could only move her upper body.
"Don't get agitated, don't get agitated, Grandma Li'an. Ke Shu knows she was wrong; she was just too concerned about Li'an, and that's how the mistake happened," said Mother Tian. "What did the doctor say? Will she get better? Does she need to rest?"
Tian Keshu took out an envelope containing money, more than two hundred yuan.
Qin's mother didn't care about the money at all; all she wanted was to be able to move her legs again. But now, with her legs in this state, and considering her advanced age—over sixty—how could she possibly want to be confined to a wheelchair?
"Good? How can it be good? The doctor said it's very difficult to treat." Qin's mother gritted her teeth. "You think you can just give me a little bit of money and call it a day? Let me tell you, no way. I'm going to sue your daughter."
"There aren't many people at the gate over there, are there?" Tian's mother said. "To file a lawsuit, you need evidence, and you need witnesses. Grandma Li'an, do you want Li'an to be your witness? Do you want him to personally take his mother to jail?"
There weren't many people around the prison. Tian's mother had already asked Tian Keshu, and there were no prison guards or other passersby at the time. When Tian Keshu and Qin's mother started arguing, no one stepped forward to mediate. If anyone was to testify, it would only be Qin Li'an.
“Li’an just got out of prison. You’re asking him to testify? Will anyone listen to him?” Mother Tian said. “If he really testifies for you, what will people say about him? Will they say he betrayed his own family? Will they say he’s been to prison, and his mother was also in prison? Will he still be able to get married?”
Mother Tian said these things on purpose, trying to force Mother Qin to stop caring about these matters.
Qin's mother was heartbroken and nearly fainted from anger. She had always cared deeply for Qin Li'an, but now that she was in this state, her feelings for him were all mixed up. If Tian Keshu really went to jail, what would happen to Qin Li'an?
"You don't just want to contribute this little bit of money, do you?" You Yun walked over and picked up the envelope that was on the bed.
The envelope had just been pushed away by Qin's mother, but Tian Keshu picked it up and placed it on the hospital bed.
"Idiot, is that an insult?" You Yun asked again.
"Tian Keshu!" Qin's mother became even angrier after learning the amount of money in the envelope.
"I have no money," Tian Keshu said. "I don't even have a job, I..."
“Everyone’s salary is higher now, more than two hundred yuan, hehe.” You Yun thought that she wasn’t completely ignorant, and Tian Keshu was deliberately using this method to mock Qin’s mother. “Mom, this amount of money is not enough. If it’s not five or eight thousand, this matter cannot be put on hold.”
“You’re asking for the moon!” Tian Keshu said.
“Mom is paralyzed now, she’ll be confined to a wheelchair from now on. If she wants to go out in the sun, she’ll need someone to push her. If you really think about it, this money isn’t enough,” You Yun said. “If we hire someone to take care of Mom, it’ll cost a couple hundred yuan a month, which adds up to two or three thousand a year. Mom was in pretty good health before, she could have lived for several more years or even ten. If you really think about it that way, it would be fair if you paid her thirty or fifty thousand yuan.”
You Yun thought that Tian Keshu's push had caused her great losses.
"I misspoke just now. You have to pay at least 30,000 yuan. Without 30,000 yuan, this matter cannot be closed," You Yun said. "Tian Keshu, don't think you can save this money by taking care of Mom yourself. If you do that, won't your current husband think you've reconciled with your ex-husband?"
"Did you get it?"
"Are you crazy? So much?" Tian Keshu never expected You Yun to calculate money like that.
“She’s right,” Qin’s mother said. “Either you give me the money, or you go to jail.”
“You have to pay money even if you go to jail; you can’t not pay,” You Yun said.
Mother Tian glanced at You Yun and thought that You Yun was sharp-tongued and very talkative.
"But we don't have that much money," said Mother Tian. "If we really had that much money, we would have given it to them."
“Give me a portion first, and then I’ll pay you monthly. You should sign a written agreement.” You Yun figured that Qin’s mother was unlikely to actually let Tian Keshu go to jail, so she had to find a way to get Tian Keshu to pay more money.
That bastard Qin Li'an, he doesn't even dare to show his face in front of Qin's mother anymore.
You Yun thought that Qin Li'an was just like Tian Keshu, a person who was already corrupt at the root, and no matter how others tried to save him, it would be useless and he couldn't be saved.
After Song Fenglan learned about Tian Keshu's affair with Qin's mother from Qin Yizhou, she realized that Tian Keshu had settled the matter by paying compensation. Indeed, Qin's mother still felt very sorry for Qin Li'an.
Actually, this wasn't just Qin's mother's decision. Qin's father and older brother also felt that since Qin Li'an had finally been released from prison, Tian Keshu shouldn't be sent back as well. If that happened, would any girl be willing to marry Qin Li'an in the future?
Previously, Qin's mother always told Qin Yizhou and Song Fenglan not to dwell on those things and that Qin Zihang should be understanding of Qin Li'an. But now, Qin's father and eldest brother are asking Qin's mother to be more understanding of Qin Li'an. They can't really let Qin Li'an stay at home forever; he still needs to have a wife and children later on.
“Your mother is really patient. If it were me, I would have gone crazy,” Song Fenglan said. “She’s half-paralyzed and can’t do many things. She can’t even sunbathe properly. Why doesn’t she make a fuss?”
“Mom is somewhat afraid of Dad, and also afraid of my eldest brother,” Qin Yizhou said. “Mom can’t earn money, Dad has a lot of pension, and my eldest brother also earns money to support the family, so she has no choice but to give in.”
This time, Qin's mother was particularly angry. Qin Yizhou went over several times and each time he heard her cursing and swearing. Qin Yizhou didn't go in. He firmly remembered that his mother didn't want to see him, so he didn't want to go in and make his own mother even more upset.
“Mom does care about Li’an after all,” Qin Yizhou said. “Her legs are already in that state, so we can only try to minimize the damage.”
"..." Song Fenglan really didn't know what to say.
"The Tian family said that Tian Keshu should go and take care of Mom, but my sister-in-law wouldn't allow it," Qin Yizhou said. "Tian Keshu and my brother are already divorced. It's not right for Tian Keshu to keep hanging around in front of my brother."
When Tian Keshu's husband learned that she had to pay Qin's mother a large sum of money, he sat in the living room with a cold face.
"Consider it a gift for Li'an," Tian Keshu said. "I owe this child..."
“I don’t think you owe Qin Li’an anything, it’s your own fault for being so careless!” Weng Guoqiang said. “If you want to pay compensation, go find the money yourself.”
"Can't you give me some?" Tian Keshu asked.
"No," Weng Guoqiang said, "We're getting a divorce!"
Weng Guoqiang was afraid that Tian Keshu would do something else, that she might be working with Qin's mother to set a trap, and that these people were trying to give the money in his hands to Qin Li'an. That wouldn't do. Weng Guoqiang wanted to leave the money to his two sons; only his own sons were entitled to those things. Who did Qin Li'an think he was?
"Divorce?" Tian Keshu asked in surprise.
“Yes, divorce,” Weng Guoqiang said. He had wanted a divorce since Tian Keshu started giving Qin Li'an three yuan a week. Later, when Qin Li'an went to jail, Tian Keshu no longer had to give him so much money, and Weng Guoqiang gave up on the idea.
Now, the Qin family is demanding compensation from Tian Keshu, which is unbearable for Weng Guoqiang. A few hundred yuan would be fine, but the amount is tens of thousands.
How could Weng Guoqiang not suspect Tian Keshu's motives? Tian Keshu just wanted to get money from him.
“You didn’t give me a child, so I’ll give you five hundred yuan. It’ll be a way of making up for all the years of friendship we’ve had,” Weng Guoqiang said. “We’ll get a divorce tomorrow.”
By this time, Qin Zihang had arrived in Nancheng and went to Zhang Xiaohu's house. Zhang Xiaohu and Qin Zihang shared a room; the plump woman had specially set up an extra cot so that the two young men could sleep comfortably.
Qin Zihang had already told Zhang Xiaohu when he came to Nancheng, and Zhang Xiaohu invited Qin Zihang to stay at his home. Qin Zihang didn't stand on ceremony with Zhang Xiaohu and accepted.
During the meal, the chubby woman asked about buying a house, "Your mother has bought several houses?"
"Yes, that's right. We bought a courtyard house and some other houses," Qin Zihang said. "My parents said that when buying a house, we must clarify the property rights, including the land ownership. We can't afford any problems. They said that prices are soaring now, food is expensive, and in the future, houses will also be expensive, and rents will rise. If you want to develop your career in the capital, if you have the money, you can buy a house first, even if it's small or in a remote location, it doesn't matter."
"A location that's a bit out of the way?" the chubby woman asked, puzzled. "Does that mean it's quite far from the school?"
“It may be a bit far, but the capital will develop faster in the future. Who knows, places that are a bit out of the way will become part of the city center,” Qin Zihang said. “My mom said she doesn’t know how to do business, so she bought a house while the prices were still relatively low. My mom has some shares in my uncle’s company, and she also has a salary, so she has some money. My dad is much poorer; he has less money than my mom.”
When Qin Zihang talked about his father, he sounded a little disgusted. Of course, this disgust wasn't real dislike, but rather a sign of close family ties.
"My dad said he would give his salary to my mom to manage, but my mom said he should manage it himself," Qin Zihang said with a smile. "The little money my dad has is gone in a flash."
After all, Qin Yizhou's job didn't offer any lucrative opportunities, and he wasn't involved in any corruption, so where would he get the money? Song Fenglan's family lived a relatively comfortable life, so they spent more money. Fortunately, Song Fenglan was capable, and the people protecting her were arranged by the relevant departments, without Song Fenglan having to pay them. They even provided her with personal assistants and the like.
“My dad often says that he sometimes feels superfluous,” Qin Zihang said. “I told him that he was both useless and superfluous. My dad glared at me and said that without him, there would be no me. He’s superfluous, so I’m superfluous too, extremely superfluous.”
Qin Zihang often glared at his father. "My dad said that my mom doesn't give him the joy of hiding money from his family, and he's unhappy that my mom doesn't let him hand over his salary and that his salary is in his own hands."
"Your parents still have such a good relationship," the plump woman remarked.
Meanwhile, Gao Xiuxiu learned that Qin Zihang had gone to Fatty's house. She whispered to another neighbor next door, "Didn't Zhang Xiaohu say before that Song Fenglan's house was very nice? They also said that Song Fenglan was very rich. How come Qin Zihang is staying at Zhang Xiaohu's house?"
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