Gu’er looked at these people. It was so easy for them to say, telling the two children to co back. ’If they did, who knew how they would be mistreated?’
’Zheng Zhongshan’s health is already so poor. And they want Xinghua to co back just to be married off by Zheng Daniu?’
’If the two children absolutely had to return, then my aunt couldn’t possibly stay in the Northeast alone.’
"Fine, I’ll listen to Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle, Seventh Uncle, and Brother Fuzi. I don’t want a woman like her anymore. I’ll divorce her, but Zhongshan and Xinghua have to co back."
Zheng Daniu nodded as if he had made up his mind. He had Chang Juhua now, so it wasn’t as if he’d be without a wife. ’If I don’t want her, I don’t want her.’
"Zhongshan and Xinghua are absolutely not coming back! You want them to return just so you can abuse them? Don’t even think about it! I would rather die than let them co back."
Lin Shuying’s tone was utterly resolute.
"If they’re not coming back, this conversation is over."
Zheng Daniu’s eyes widened in a glare.
Li Zhi looked like he was about to step forward and hit soone again, but Gu’er shot him a look and shook her head.
"Just because you say there’s nothing to talk about, that’s it? Do you think the children belong to your family just because their surna is Zheng? Children belong to their parents, not just to you. Once they’re over eighteen, they have the right to decide for themselves. They can choose to live with their father, their mother, or be independent. It’s not your call. Zhongshan is already an adult. If this went to court, the judge would respect his decision. And since he doesn’t want to be with you, he won’t be coming back. So you can give up on that idea. Aren’t you about to have a new son? Why are you so insistent that Zhongshan return? Do you have the money for his dical treatnts and dicine? Then there’s Xinghua. She’s not yet eighteen, and because she’s a girl, the judge must respect her opinion. Custody of daughters is usually granted to the mother. As long as Xinghua says she wants to stay with her mother, she will stay with my aunt. In other words, if we take this to court, you won’t get either of the children. On top of that, you’ll have to pay child support. Half of your family’s assets—the house, everything—will be given to my aunt. And you’ll have to pay for Zhongshan’s wedding and Xinghua’s dowry. If that sounds good to you, then let’s go to court."
Gu’er wasn’t shouting, but her voice was loud enough for everyone to hear as she laid out the situation for Zheng Daniu. She had made a point to learn all this before she ca.
"That Lin Shuying wants my money? In her dreams! She should take a good look at herself and see if she’s even worthy!"
Zheng Daniu spat on the ground. Nothing else she said had registered, only the part about his money being divided. Even though his family didn’t have many valuables, it was all his, and there was no way he was giving half to Lin Shuying.
"Whether we’re dreaming or not is irrelevant," Gu’er said coolly. "What’s relevant is what the judge will say."
"Da Niu, what she’s saying doesn’t sound like a bluff," Zheng Fuzi spoke up again. "How about this: you can let her have Xinghua. Let her take the girl. She’s just a money sink anyway. But not Zhongshan. His surna is Zheng. He must co back."
"Fine," Zheng Daniu said spitefully, ever obedient to Zheng Fuzi. "She can have Xinghua."
"I will never let Zhongshan co back."
Lin Shuying couldn’t possibly let her son co back.
"Then there’s nothing more to talk about! I won’t agree to the divorce!"
Zheng Daniu was furious now.
Seeing the negotiations had broken down, Li Zhi didn’t waste another word and went straight for him again.
Zheng Fuzi and his n tried to move forward, but the line of soldiers blocked them. They couldn’t break through and could only glare helplessly. Normally, the old won and children might have tried to cause a scene, but they were afraid of the soldiers. Since it wasn’t their own family affair, they stayed back.
Even as he was being beaten, Zheng Daniu stubbornly refused to yield.
"Is there no law and order anymore?" Zheng Fuzi shouted, trying to incite the crowd. "This official won’t even stand up for us common people! They’re trying to beat us to death! We can’t survive like this! We’ll go to the city and file a complaint!"
Uncle Qi looked troubled. Just as he was about to speak, Gu’er signaled for Li Zhi and his n to stop.
"You can beat to death, but if Zhongshan doesn’t co back, I won’t agree to a divorce!"
Zheng Daniu shouted, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
’This isn’t working. We can’t actually beat him to death.’ Gu’er frowned. They had to resolve this today.
’What now?’ Gu’er’s gaze fell on Chang Juhua, whose eyes were darting about nervously. An idea struck her. In two quick strides, she was standing before the woman. Chang Juhua flinched, thinking Gu’er was about to hit her again. "I didn’t say anything!" she yelped. "It’s not my fault he’s refusing! Why hit ?"
Gu’er gave her a cold smirk and grabbed her by the collar. She shot a look at Sun Jiaming and Li Zhi, who imdiately moved to her side.
"Zheng Daniu, you want Zhongshan back? Fine," Gu’er said. "But the Zheng Family can only have one son. I won’t let Zhongshan return just to be bullied. You have another little son right here, don’t you? Let take care of that problem for Brother Zhongshan first."
The mont Gu’er finished speaking, Zheng Daniu and the others stared at her in shock. How could such a beautiful woman have such a venomous heart? Was she actually threatening to abort the child in Chang Juhua’s womb?
"You dare!" Zheng Daniu’s eyes were bloodshot, as if he was ready to fight to the death. "You dare touch my child, and I’ll kill you!"
"Go on and try," Gu’er’s expression was icy. "We’ll see what you can do to after I get rid of her child today."
’True, she could never actually harm Chang Juhua’s unborn baby. She wasn’t capable of sothing so wicked. But she could certainly use it as a threat against Zheng Daniu.’
"Zheng Daniu, it’s a fair trade: one son for another. If you want Zhongshan, you can’t have this child. If you want this child, then Zhongshan doesn’t co back. The choice is yours. Furthermore, if you agree to the divorce right now, my aunt won’t ask for a single thing from your house. You won’t have to pay for Zhongshan’s dical bills, his wedding, or Xinghua’s dowry. But if you refuse, we’ll see you in court. Then you’ll be left with no money and no children. We’ll see how you feel then."
Gu’er directed her words at Zheng Daniu, but her hand never left Chang Juhua’s collar. Li Zhi and Sun Jiaming flanked the woman, holding her so she couldn’t struggle free.
"Zheng Daniu, you useless bastard!" Chang Juhua shrieked. "How can you be so stupid? That Zheng Zhongshan only has a couple of years left to live! This is your own flesh and blood in my belly! If anything happens to him, I’ll kill you!"
She was truly terrified, and her legs felt like jelly.
Zheng Daniu hesitated, unsure of what to do.
"Jia Ming, Li Zhi," Gu’er said, her face grim, "I’m going to count to three. If he doesn’t agree, you know what to do. I’ll take full responsibility for the consequences."
"One," Gu’er began to count.
"Zheng Daniu, please! Save our baby!" Chang Juhua started crying. "He’s your son! You can’t abandon him!"
"Two," Gu’er continued, unmoved.
Zheng Daniu’s eyes darted between Chang Juhua, Lin Shuying, and Gu’er. He remained silent.
"Three."
As Gu’er said the word, Li Zhi and Sun Jiaming raised their fists high in the air.
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