Chapter 390 The Orphanage's Lies: The Handsome Flower Boy 90
On the 15th day after the judgment took effect, on a gloomy morning, several cadres from the street office accompanied the Zhou family of three to Shen Ci's home.
Zhou's father pushed his dilapidated wheelchair, which creaked and groaned incessantly. He carried a cloth bundle that was empty inside; it contained all their current belongings.
The three of them stood outside the blue brick wall, looked up and thought, "This gatehouse is so grand!"
Several branches peeked out from behind the courtyard wall, with tender buds sprouting in early spring. The three of them hesitated to move for a moment.
"Right, right here?" Zhou's mother's voice was dry. What good days had she missed?
I almost gave her a good life.
Old Chen, a street-level official, sighed.
"This is the registered address."
"Let's go, the court officials are waiting inside."
After they knocked, Aunt Li opened the door. She was wearing a clean blue cotton shirt and glanced at them.
"Are you from the Zhou family? President Shen gave instructions, please come in."
Once inside, they discovered that the courtyard was larger than they had imagined, with blue brick paving and spotless clean.
There is a big tree in the courtyard, with stone tables and benches under the tree. The houses are all neat and orderly, with bright glass windows.
Several strings of dried chili peppers and corn hung from the eaves, their red and yellow hues creating a comforting and solid feeling.
Inside the main room, Shen Ci and Lu Jinnian were already waiting.
The court's enforcement judge sat at an eight-immortal table, with case files spread out in front of him.
Shen Ci wore a navy blue sweater today, with her hair tied in a simple bun at the back of her head. Lu Jinnian stood beside his mother, wearing a white shirt and blue pants, looking clean and tidy.
This looks more like a mother and son; you can tell they're a family at a glance.
The air in the room seemed to freeze for a moment when the three of them entered.
Last time at the courthouse, they didn't get a good look at their eldest son and grandson, but today they can finally get a good look at them.
Zhou Weimin's gaze was glued to Lu Jinnian like glue. The young man was tall and straight, and Zhou Weimin vaguely saw his own reflection in his eyes and brows.
But more than anything, it was Shen Ci's delicate features and something bright that he couldn't quite put his finger on.
Anyway, it wasn't that clean and bright.
This child is so good-looking, so good that it makes his heart ache. The child he casually threw away, the child he discarded like trash, has grown up to be so outstanding.
Those two little beasts he had raised as his own children never came to see him even once.
Even if he's an adoptive father, he should at least come and see. He's heartless.
It was the court officials who broke the silence first.
"Comrade Zhou Weimin, according to the judgment No. 80-Min-147 of the Dongcheng District People's Court, you should compensate Lu Jinnian 3,800 yuan."
Upon investigation, it was found that you have no bank deposits and your current residence is rented. Therefore, your existing assets will be used to offset this debt.
The judge read out a list.
A sewing machine, valued at 80 yuan; a bicycle, valued at 60 yuan; a radio, valued at 35 yuan.
A quantity of clothing and bedding for all four seasons, valued at 42 yuan; grain coupons, cloth coupons, and other ration coupons, valued at 28 yuan…
All in all, it adds up to just over two hundred yuan.
The Zhou family has lived here for generations and must have some wealth, but now their property has been confiscated.
"The remaining 3,592 yuan, after consultation with the applicant Shen Ci, is agreed to be repaid in installments using your labor income."
The judge looked at Shen Ci and asked, "Comrade Shen, what do you think?"
Shen Ci nodded.
"Can."
They've copied everything they can, and have nothing left to offer.
Suddenly, Zhou's mother knelt down, not in front of the judge, but in front of Lu Jinnian.
She cried and grabbed the boy's trouser leg.
"Little New Year! Prosperous Year!"
Grandma knows she was wrong! Grandma was foolish for not stopping your dad! But Grandma didn't mean to hurt you!
In those years, Grandma secretly made you little clothes and fed you rice porridge. You can't just stand by and watch our whole family die!
Lu Jinnian took a half step back, dodging her hand. The boy's face was a little pale, but he stood firmly on his feet.
Zhou's father, with tears streaming down his face, said to him.
"Child, blood is thicker than water!"
No matter how much you hate your dad, we will always be your loving grandparents!
Now they have nothing left at home, and the house is going to be taken back. Can you bear to see two elderly people in their sixties homeless?
These two actually started moral blackmailing each other. Shen Ci frowned and was about to speak when she said, "Who cares about your rice porridge? When the child was young, he was at home and had meat to eat."
Zhou Weimin suddenly struggled to get out of his wheelchair and lunged forward, falling to the ground with a thud.
He dragged his crippled leg and crawled two steps toward Lu Jinnian, then looked up, tears streaming down his face.
"Xiao Nian! Dad knows he was wrong! Dad really knows he was wrong!"
Look at Dad, his legs are useless now, he's lost his job, and he's lost his home! Dad's getting his comeuppance!
"Can't you... can't you give Dad a chance to change?"
He pounded his crippled leg and cried his heart out.
"You're my only flesh and blood in this life! As long as you acknowledge me, I'll do anything to make it up to you!"
Everything that belongs to Dad is yours! It's all yours!
The performance was all an act, full of theatrical traces; the whole family of three were all drama queens.
Looking at the disheveled man on the ground, and seeing the obvious mix of regret and scheming in his eyes, Lu Jinnian suddenly felt nauseous.
He recalled Shen Ci's words: for people without self-respect, the cost of apologizing and kneeling is too low.
The judge was taken aback and became serious upon hearing this.
"Comrade Zhou Weimin, please stand up. You are on official business."
Two street officials stepped forward and forcibly helped Zhou Weimin back into his wheelchair. Zhou's mother was still wailing, and Zhou's father was still rambling on about blood ties and family affection.
Lu Jinnian, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke.
"Mom, I'd like to speak to him alone for a few minutes."
Shen Ci looked at her son. The boy's eyes were calm, but something was churning inside.
She hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "It's in the backyard, Aunt Li, you stay with me."
The backyard was smaller than the front yard, with several vegetable patches planted there, and coal briquettes piled up against the wall for the winter.
The early spring wind was still cool, rustling the vegetable leaves.
Li Sao stood far away, but within sight and unable to hear their conversation, ensuring Lu Jinnian's safety.
Lu Jinnian had his back to Zhou Weimin, staring at a weed peeking out from the corner of the wall. After a while, he turned around and looked at the man in the wheelchair.
"Why?" the boy asked. His voice was soft, yet sharp as a knife.
Why did you throw me away?
Zhou Weimin was stunned. He had prepared countless excuses: his predicament, his helplessness, and his reluctance.
But looking into those clear yet stubborn eyes, all those words suddenly stuck in his throat. This was his only son.
His voice was still hoarse, but this time he chose to tell the truth. There were no outsiders here, only him and his son. Perhaps his son would understand him.
"You blocked my way. At that time, the marriage with the Wang family was just one step away from being finalized."
I can't have a child from the countryside.
How cruel, how easy.
Lu Jinnian felt his eyes burning, but he held it back.
Four-year-old Jin Nian has always had a question in her mind: Dad, why don't you want me anymore?
"So, your future is more important than your wife, children, and conscience?" Lu Jinnian pressed.
What's the point of talking about conscience with someone who has no conscience? Humans can't understand the thoughts of animals.
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