Chapter 102: The Captain Wants to Sever Ties with Brother Liu

Back at the brigade captain’s home, the captain’s daughter-in-law had once conspired with Chu Ling to stir up trouble, only to be exposed on the spot by Lin Xiaodou.

The brigade captain and his wife were furious, and they immediately declared that their son must divorce his wife.

The next morning, the captain even issued a divorce certificate and had his wife and daughter take it to the town clinic for processing.

But at that time, the criminal gang had just abducted Han Guoqiang and Chu Ling at the clinic, throwing everyone into panic.

Those two days were hectic for the captain as well, so the matter of the divorce was put on hold for the moment.

Later, when Han Guoqiang and Chu Ling were found and sent to the county hospital to recover, the captain hurried back to the town clinic. The first words he said to his son were:

“Did your mother give you the divorce certificate? It’s morning now, so hurry up and take it to the street office to get it handled!”

Outside the ward, Brother Liu looked haggard and tormented.

“Dad, I’m not divorcing my wife. Please, you and Mom stop forcing me.”

The brigade captain, Liu’s father, glared at him. “Forcing you? Wasn’t it your wife who forced us first? She made such an ugly scene that your sister nearly lost her innocence, and you still defend her. Do you even have a conscience?”

Brother Liu said, “I’m sorry, Dad. My wife knows she was wrong. She said she’ll change.”

“Change my ass. With the way she is, you expect her to change?”

Liu’s father continued, “Where is the divorce certificate? I’m coming with you to the street office right now!”

Brother Liu panicked. “Dad, I already tore up the divorce certificate. I’m not getting divorced!”

Liu’s father felt a knot in his chest, his anger making his ribs rise and fall sharply.

“If you won’t divorce, then don’t come back to the Liu family. Your mother and I don’t have a son as stupid as you!”

Brother Liu’s voice was hoarse. “Then I won’t be. I’ll stay with my wife and child.”

“What do you mean by that?” Liu’s mother, who had rushed over in haste, heard this and immediately ran up.

“Don’t tell me that for the sake of your wife, you’re even throwing away your parents!”

“Mom, I never said that. You’re the one saying it.”

As he spoke, Brother Liu turned his head away.

That attitude spoke for itself.

Liu’s mother’s eyes instantly reddened. She rushed forward, grabbed his collar, and began to cry and berate him.

“You ungrateful thing! I worked myself to the bone raising you, and this is how you repay me? You’re breaking my heart!”

The commotion was so loud that many onlookers gathered around.

After hearing that Brother Liu would abandon his parents for his wife, many began to grumble in disapproval.

“My goodness, what kind of son did they raise? Turning on his own family for an outsider like this—it’s shameful!”

“And that daughter-in-law is no good either, stirring up discord between husband and parents. She’s full of rotten intentions!”

At last, the eldest daughter-in-law, who had been hiding in the ward, could no longer hold back.

She came out, belly protruding, and said pitifully:

“Don’t talk nonsense. I didn’t do anything. I’m carrying the Liu family’s child, and it was my in-laws who first refused to accept me!”

The moment those words fell, everyone’s expression changed.

She was pregnant, and yet her in-laws were so heartless they would not even accept their future first grandson?

“Oh, my stomach hurts.” The eldest daughter-in-law rolled her eyes and suddenly clutched her belly, crying out.

Brother Liu hurried over to support her. “Wife, why did you get out of bed? The doctor said you need to rest properly.”

The eldest daughter-in-law pretended to wipe away tears. “I wanted to rest properly too, but Dad and Mom kept arguing with you right outside the door...”

The weak are always in the right, and the tide quickly turned.

The crowd once again aimed their criticism at Liu’s father and mother.

“These in-laws are too cruel. Their daughter-in-law is pregnant—that’s a good thing. How can they still drive her away?”

“Exactly. If my daughter-in-law were pregnant, I’d practically be worshipping her, serving her good food and drink every day.”

“Who would have thought these two looked so kind, yet behave so foolishly? How can they even be parents?”

...

Liu’s father and mother were left speechless, so angry they almost smoked.

They couldn’t possibly explain, one by one, the “fine deeds” their daughter-in-law had done.

That would disgrace the entire Liu family.

Seeing everyone side with her, the eldest daughter-in-law’s face gleamed with satisfaction.

Hmph. Those old geezers think they can fight her? They were still too green.

And Liu Jianjun was truly useless, unable even to handle his own parents.

If she had not played this hand, how could the in-laws ever have yielded?

She simply had to pressure them a little.

Yesterday, her parents and younger brother from her natal family had come to see her at the hospital.

Her father had slapped her as soon as he arrived, scolding her for making a mess of things without even consulting anyone.

Because the bride’s side was furious over her foolish elder brother being beaten, they were unwilling to sit down and negotiate.

Now they had only one demand: the natal family had to produce eight hundred yuan in bride price at once, and then the girl could be married over.

They no longer wanted the three major wedding items, but where was she supposed to find eight hundred yuan?

The family savings added up to barely over four hundred. They had borrowed everywhere already; where on earth could they borrow another three hundred or so?

It was simply impossible.

The bride’s side had also said they would give her younger brother half a month.

If the money still could not be raised by then, the twins in her belly would have to be aborted.

Her parents were now in a panic, and had specifically rushed over yesterday to discuss the matter with her.

Her father had said, “Fen, your father can only rely on you now. Go and beg Jianjun again, and ask your in-laws.

Your father-in-law is the brigade captain of Blackstone Village. He has wide connections, so he must have more ways to borrow money.

If you still can’t find any, in a few days all the brigades will start distributing grain. Have your father-in-law divert a little from that, and the problem will be solved.”

Her mother said, “Yes. Anyway, if it’s just a little grain diverted, no one will notice. You must make this happen.

Otherwise your younger brother won’t be able to marry, and I won’t be able to hold my two grandsons. Then you’ll be the sinner of the Huang family, and when I die, I still won’t be able to rest in peace!”

At the memory of this, a determined gleam flashed in the eldest daughter-in-law’s eyes.

For her natal family, and so her mother would not resent her, she had to come up with her younger brother’s bride price no matter what!

At the ward entrance, seeing so many people condemning his parents, Brother Liu also felt terrible.

“I’m sorry. This is our family matter. Everyone, please disperse.”

Having said that, Brother Liu helped his wife back into the room, and Liu’s father and mother followed them in.

Brother Liu locked the door, and just as he turned around to apologize, a slap came flying at him.

Smack!

Brother Liu froze, not yet reacting.

Then a second, heavy slap landed on his right cheek.

Liu’s father stared at him with bloodshot eyes and said decisively:

“Liu Jianjun, these two slaps are what you owe us as a son.

From this day on, you are no longer my son. I, Liu Zhenghe, am severing all father-son ties with you!”

“Dad!”

Brother Liu’s face turned deathly pale in an instant.

Liu’s father glared at him. “Don’t call me Dad. I don’t have a son like you!

The moment your wife incited so many people to accuse your mother and me, and you stood by in silence, I already considered you dead.”

Brother Liu’s knees went weak, and he nearly fell to the ground.

Liu’s father put an arm around the tearful Liu’s mother and sighed.

“Wife, let’s go. Such an unfilial son is better off gone.”

Then the two of them prepared to leave.

“What do you mean? You’re really severing ties with Liu Jianjun?”

The eldest daughter-in-law was utterly dumbfounded.

Just moments ago, she had been confidently planning to use the child to hold the in-laws in check.

She never expected them to pull a severing-ties act instead.

Were they putting on a show for her on purpose?

“I’ll say this right now: if you dare step out of this ward today, I’ll abort the child immediately!”

Heh. Who was afraid of whom?

She refused to believe they would truly give up their son and grandson.

“Then abort it!” The heartbroken Liu’s mother, upon hearing this, was so enraged she nearly jumped up.

“I’m going to get a doctor right now and have that child in your belly removed! I’ll watch the whole thing myself!”

With that, Liu’s mother stormed out.

The eldest daughter-in-law stared after her and collapsed into the chair, frightened stiff.

This old woman... was she serious?