Chapter 246 Farce
The mother and son were overjoyed when they heard Gao Huiqin agree to let them drop out of school.
The old woman scrambled to her feet, brushing the dirt off her clothes, and kept yelling, "Get out! Get out now! You should have gone home long ago! Look at any other daughter-in-law like you, neglecting your in-laws and children, running off to study? If I had known you were such a ne'er-of-the-home person, I shouldn't have let you in the first place!"
The man on the ground stopped struggling. After the security guard let go, he got up reluctantly and said to Gao Huiqin in a muffled voice, "Then hurry up and pack your things and come home with me."
He deeply regretted that he shouldn't have softened his heart and agreed to let her take the college entrance exam. Now, the village is full of gossip, saying that he can't control his wife and has lost all face.
He and his mother are only thinking about bringing the person back right now; as for Gao Huiqin's future and dreams, they are worthless in their eyes.
Nan Zhiyi and Shan Xiaoyan felt a pang of anger when they heard that Gao Huiqin really wanted to drop out of school.
Shan Xiaoyan blurted out, "Huiqin! You can't..."
At this moment, Teacher Li took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her anger, thinking of persuading the mother and son to leave first: "Well, withdrawing from school is not something that can be done with just a few words; it requires formal procedures. You should go back to the hotel first, and after I finish processing Gao Huiqin's withdrawal procedures, she can come to you."
The mother and son were skeptical. The old woman muttered, "Why don't we just pack our bags and leave? What procedures do we need? Are you trying to fool us?"
They were also afraid that Gao Huiqin would hide again as soon as she entered the school.
Gao Huiqin patted her son's head and then gently patted her daughter's back. She said to her husband and mother-in-law, "Withdrawing from school requires some paperwork. I'll go and move my luggage out while I'm at it... You two take the children to the hotel and wait for me."
She took out the last few dollars and a few grain coupons from her pocket, stuffed them into her son's hand, and whispered, "Take your sister to buy some food first."
She had just heard her son's stomach growling with hunger, and guessed that the mother and son were in a hurry to cause trouble and hadn't fed the child.
Thinking about all this, she felt utterly dejected. She decided to drop out of school, at least... at least she could stay by her children's side and prevent them from going hungry and fearful again.
Seeing Gao Huiqin's genuine concern for her children, the mother and children began to grumble and scold her, saying, "If only you had been this sensible earlier!" as they pulled their two children, who kept turning back to look at their mother with tears in their eyes, and walked towards the street.
Before the child had taken two steps, the old woman snatched the money from his hand.
Gao Huiqin raised her hand, then, with tears in her eyes, silently lowered it...
As the farce subsided, the crowd gradually dispersed.
Teacher Li rubbed her temples wearily and said to Gao Huiqin, "Let's go back to the office first."
Nan Zhiyi, Shan Xiaoyan, and Yang Mei followed silently behind.
As they walked, Teacher Li patiently advised, "Gao Huiqin, please reconsider dropping out! You worked so hard to get into university, how can you just give up like that? If you persevere, you'll have a bright future! The school can try to help coordinate things for your family's difficulties..."
Gao Huiqin could only wipe away her tears; she truly didn't know what to do...
Nan Zhiyi also gently advised, "Huiqin, your studies are a major event that will affect your entire life. Don't make a decision that you'll regret because of a momentary impulse."
Shan Xiaoyan was exasperated. She was seething with anger, and her tone was sharp: "We spoke up for you so much just now because we felt you shouldn't compromise with this kind of unreasonable behavior! You shouldn't give up your future! How come you're the one who backed down first? It's really... infuriating!"
Yang Mei silently handed Gao Huiqin a handkerchief from behind, "Huiqin, there's still a way..."
Gao Huiqin took the handkerchief, wiping away her tears, and choked out, "Teacher Li, Yang Mei, Zhiyi, Xiaoyan, thank you... thank you so much... but if I don't go back, they'll keep coming and causing trouble, it'll never end, and they'll take it out on the children... I... how can I bear to see the children suffer..."
As a mother, Nan Zhiyi completely understands her heartache for her child. But as a mature woman, she is even more aware of the importance of women having a bright future.
“Huiqin, I understand that you feel sorry for the children. But that’s precisely why you need to persevere. Only when you stand on your own two feet and have the knowledge and skills will you be able to better protect the children and give them a better life in the future. If you drop out of school now and go back, can you guarantee that they will stop beating and scolding the children?”
Shan Xiaoyan chimed in, "Exactly! Let them make a scene! You'll just stay at the school and not go out. They can't possibly barge in, can they? They'll get tired of making a scene after a few times and naturally quiet down! Besides... that child is still their own flesh and blood, they wouldn't... really mistreat him to death, would they?"
When she said her last sentence, she seemed inexplicably lacking in confidence.
Gao Huiqin shook her head in despair, tears streaming down her face: "You don't understand them... They will become more and more greedy. If I don't drop out of school, they..." She choked up and couldn't continue.
Listening to their conversation, Teacher Li slowed her pace, her brow furrowed: "Drop-out is no small matter. Gao Huiqin, think it over calmly. At least... let me report the situation to the department leaders before we discuss it further?"
Yesterday he even arranged for the family to stay at a nearby hotel, thinking the matter was resolved smoothly, but unexpectedly they came to cause trouble again today...
He felt incredibly exhausted, not only dealing with this thorny family dispute, but also worrying that the other family might cause trouble again and disrupt the school's order, and he also had to think about how to report to his superiors.
Shan Xiaoyan exclaimed excitedly, "What are we still considering? We can't back out! Absolutely not!"
Nan Zhiyi also looked at Gao Huiqin, "Huiqin, your studies are what you rely on for your livelihood, you can't give up."
After walking for a while, Yang Mei suddenly whispered, "Huiqin, they're pressuring you like this, they don't care about you at all, haven't you... haven't you thought about... divorce?"
In Yang Mei's view, her husband's family was so awful, devoid of any affection or respect, that continuing to be bound together would only bring her pain.
Why stay in such a marriage? Wouldn't a divorce end everything?
They have no reason to cause trouble anymore...
Yang Mei spoke slowly, but her idea was so profound that it stunned everyone.
Nan Zhiyi herself was in a military marriage and never considered resolving the issue through divorce...
Teacher Li and Shan Xiaoyan, bound by traditional ideas, were naturally inclined to advise reconciliation rather than separation, and never considered this possibility at all.
However, Gao Huiqin, who was in despair, suddenly raised her tearful eyes.
So... there was another way to go...
divorce...
She has already experienced a larger and broader world.
She was unwilling to give up the light she had now and return to the darkness of her hellish family...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com