Chapter 103: Liu Jianjun's Chest Aches

The doctor was quickly summoned by Liu’s mother. After hearing their request, the doctor spoke up, “For an abortion, you’ll need a marriage certificate and supporting documents. Do you have them with you?”

“We’re not going through with it!” Liu’s eldest son stepped forward and addressed the doctor, “Sorry to trouble you, but my mother was just speaking out of anger. My wife is not having an abortion.”

Liu’s mother glared at him, “She was the one who said it herself!”

Sensing the family discord, the doctor said, “Sort things out amongst yourselves first, and bring all the necessary documents if you come back.”

Once the doctor left, Liu’s father turned to his son, “Come home this afternoon. There are things that need to be settled once and for all.” With that, he hurriedly pulled Liu’s mother away.

Liu’s sister-in-law asked anxiously, “What does your father mean? Why does he want you home? He’s not really going to cut you off, is he?”

Liu’s elder brother shook his head, face full of worry. “I don’t know…”

She grew even more anxious. “If your parents really abandon you, what about my brother’s wedding? My family is still waiting for the money!”

He looked at her in shock, his mouth opening and closing as he struggled to speak, “Wife, is your own family all you care about? I’m being thrown out by my parents for your sake, can’t you show me some concern?”

She rolled her eyes. “Why should I care about you? You’re a grown man and still so weak! Useless, that’s what you are.”

He knew his wife rarely had a kind word for him, but her insults still stung. His heart twisted in pain.

There was a moment when he truly regretted it all. But thinking about the child she carried, he forgave everything.

Seeing him lower his head again, she snorted, “I don’t care, but if you can’t handle things at home, I won’t keep this baby, no matter what.”

After all, the child wasn’t his in the first place. If not for her desire to manipulate the Liu family, she wouldn’t have kept the pregnancy this long.

He said nothing, simply took the kettle to fetch hot water. Then he brought her a meal from the canteen before heading home.

All the way there, he was filled with dread.

When he reached the gate and saw the courtyard full of villagers, his heart sank.

He pushed through the crowd just in time to hear someone advising his father:

“Captain, what your son’s wife did has nothing to do with him. Don’t take it out on your boy.”

“That’s right, you only have this one son. If you cut ties, won’t your family line end with him?”

The team captain was furious. “No need to persuade me. I called you all here to witness this today, nothing more!”

Liu’s elder brother had just reached the center and heard this. His legs gave way and he fell to his knees, “Dad…”

“Oh, Jianjun is back… Look how frightened the poor boy is…” The crowd murmured with pity.

Liu Yan’er was not at home, having returned to the county high school yesterday.

Liu’s mother’s eyes were swollen from crying. If not for Lin Xiaodou supporting her, she’d have collapsed already.

Though pained, she made no effort to stop her husband. She supported him in this. But her son was still flesh of her flesh. The thought of severing ties and seeing him only rarely from then on was agony.

“Don’t kneel. Get up,” Liu’s father said, pulling two documents from his pocket, his face grave. “Since you’re here, sign and fingerprint these. From now on, there’s nothing between you and our family. Move your belongings out within a week—whether you stay with your mother-in-law or return to your unit, that’s your choice. Your wife has emptied us of money and grain. We have nothing left to give. That’s that.”

“Dad! Are you really giving up on me?” Liu’s elder brother’s eyes reddened, his voice breaking.

“If you really think of me as your father and care for this family, stop dawdling and sign!” Liu’s father turned away so his son wouldn’t see the tears in his eyes. Despite his disappointment, the pain was deep.

Seeing his father’s resolve, all Liu’s elder brother could do was sign and press his fingerprint with trembling hands.

With all the villagers as witnesses, Liu’s father severed ties with his son.

Everyone watched, sighing at the scene, but there was nothing more they could say.

Liu’s elder brother had no mind to pack his things, and turned straight back toward the township clinic.

On the way, tears streamed down his face.

All his life, he’d believed his parents would forgive him anything.

But today, he realized he was wrong.

In defending his wife against them time and again, he’d exhausted their love and patience, bit by bit.

He’d never noticed, and even hoped they’d compromise once more.

Recalling the utter disappointment in his parents’ faces, his heart felt torn to pieces.

He was the one who had lost the parents who loved him.

Now, all he had left was his wife and the child; he couldn't lose them too.

Dragging his weary, heavy steps, he stumbled into the township clinic.

As he reached the ward door, he heard his mother-in-law’s voice from inside:

“Do you think Jianjun can really handle his parents? He better not mess things up.”

“I doubt it. That brother-in-law of mine is useless, can’t even get his hands on some money,” came his brother-in-law's scornful reply. “Sis, why’d you marry such a worthless man?”

“It wasn’t my choice,” his wife replied with a sigh. “Back then, I wanted to marry Wang Cai from the village, but my parents said his family was too poor and couldn’t offer a dowry, so they wouldn’t let me. In a fit of anger, I jumped into the river and Liu Jianjun happened to save me. His family was better off, so I married him.”

Her mother said, “If only we’d let you marry that Wang Cai boy. Look at him now—manager at the township supply and marketing cooperative, living off state grain!”

Her brother gave a contemptuous laugh. “Mom, don’t even think about it. Wang Cai is a live-in son-in-law—if he hadn’t gotten in with the director’s daughter, how could he be doing so well?”

Her mother insisted, “Doesn’t matter how he did it, the fact is he’s got money now. If he’d helped out just a little, you’d have long since married, and we wouldn’t be worrying like this.”

Her brother fell silent, his face long and sullen.

At the door, Liu Jianjun sighed.

He was about to push open the door when he heard his wife say, “Mom, if Liu Jianjun really is cut off by his family, I’ll just get a divorce. I never liked him anyway.”

A sharp pain stabbed Liu Jianjun’s chest. His hand, poised to push open the door, froze.