Chapter 27: I’m Getting a Divorce, Are You Satisfied Now?

“In-laws?”

Huo Aihua was dumbfounded.

Shen Anan, standing nearby, turned pale.

In-laws? Who else could it be?

Her mother had gone to the Huo family to cause a scene!

Catching sight of Shen Anan’s face, Huo Rufeng immediately understood and took her hand.

It was ice-cold, devoid of warmth.

“It’s alright.”

His voice was soft, yet imbued with immense strength.

Shen Anan looked at him, her anxiety lessening.

But her hands trembled uncontrollably.

Her worst fear had come true.

They had only reached the street corner when they heard shouting coming from the Huo family’s doorway.

Insults like “ungrateful wretch” and “heartless” echoed through the air.

Shen Anan was the first to push through the crowd.

“You…”

Seeing Shen Anan return, Liu Cailan’s eyes gleamed as she rushed forward.

“You wicked girl! If I hadn’t come to the Huo family to make a fuss, were you planning to hide forever?!”

Shen Anan gritted her teeth.

“Go back!”

Unfortunately, Liu Cailan wouldn’t listen.

She was Shen Anan’s mother!

“Go back and do what?! You don’t understand! I’m here to fight for justice for you, Mom is doing this for your own good!”

Then, she began to wail to the onlookers.

“Look at her! My daughter doesn’t understand a parent’s sacrifices!”

As she finished speaking, a middle-aged man pushing a young man in a wheelchair approached.

Before she could figure out who they were, someone in the crowd shouted, “Hey! Look! Your in-laws and son-in-law are here!”

Hearing this, Liu Cailan froze.

In-laws and… son-in-law?!

This man in the wheelchair, unable to even walk, was the man Shen Anan married?

Wasn’t he just a wounded officer? No one said he was disabled!

An idea struck her.

That meant even more betrothal gifts!

“Everyone, look! My daughter married a cripple!

What kind of family are you? My daughter might not know, but I do! You just want her to take care of this cripple!

Even so, you didn’t give a single cent as a betrothal gift, you’re utterly heartless!”

Every time Liu Cailan uttered the word “cripple,” it pierced Huo Rufeng’s heart.

“Mom, please stop…”

Shen Anan knew this was a sensitive point for Huo Rufeng, something the Huo family avoided discussing.

Yet, in front of so many people, her mother openly called him a cripple!

Tears streamed down her face.

She hated herself!

She hated having such a foster mother, hated dragging Huo Rufeng into this humiliation!

He shouldn’t have to endure this…

The onlookers’ gazes fell upon Huo Rufeng’s legs.

His immobile legs seemed to proclaim him a useless person.

And this man didn’t even give a betrothal gift after marrying his wife!

Unbelievable!

People snickered, some who had bad relations with the Huo family openly pointed at his legs and mocked him.

Huo Rufeng remained expressionless, as if it didn’t concern him.

But his hands, hidden beneath his long-sleeved shirt, were clenched tight.

Huo Aihua couldn’t tolerate his son being humiliated, and angrily retorted, “I never intended not to give Xiao Shen a betrothal gift. I planned to give it at the wedding celebration in half a month!

My son isn’t a cripple; he was injured while serving the country and the people!”

He was heartbroken.

He wished he were the one in the wheelchair, the subject of ridicule and gossip!

Liu Cailan didn’t care, and upon hearing about the betrothal gift, immediately said, “What half a month? Give it now, otherwise, who knows if you’re just pretending!”

Getting the money was the most important thing.

“I can give the money now, but only to my daughter-in-law. As for you, don’t even think about it!”

Huo Aihua panted.

“Give it to Shen Anan? No! If we give it to her, won’t it end up in your Huo family’s pockets?”

Liu Cailan turned to Shen Anan.

“Anan, listen to me, let Mom keep the betrothal gift money. Otherwise, they’ll definitely take it back! With me, this money will be yours!”

She anxiously stared at Shen Anan.

She didn’t believe Shen Anan would trust outsiders more!

Looking at the chaotic scene, at the silent figure in the wheelchair, Shen Anan fought back tears. That was her husband!

For her, he’d even requested to become her live-in housekeeper and married her despite the circumstances. She knew the sacrifices he’d made.

And now, she’d brought him to this.

Her gaze shifted to Uncle Huo.

Uncle Huo’s kindness was undeniable, yet he was arguing over this so-called betrothal gift.

She couldn’t let her mother continue this!

Gritting her teeth, Shen Anan looked at her mother.

“Forget about the betrothal gift. You want to make a scene? You want to make my life miserable?”

She curled her lips.

She actually smiled.

Liu Cailan suddenly felt uneasy.

“I’ll get a divorce immediately, and have nothing to do with the Huo family ever again. Don’t bother the Huo family anymore!”

Boom!

Her words were like a thunderbolt.

The entire scene fell silent.

Everyone, whether onlookers or participants, was stunned.

“What are you saying? Mom didn’t want you to divorce, Mom just wanted to get the betrothal gift for you!”

Liu Cailan said hastily.

If Shen Anan really got a divorce, how could she still ask the Huo family for a betrothal gift?

How would she?

They wouldn’t be related anymore, what reason would she have?

Then how would she get the 130 yuan needed for her son Yaozu’s vocational school tuition?

Shen Anan couldn’t divorce!

Even if she did, she had to get the betrothal gift first!

“Xiao Shen, you…”

Huo Aihua hadn’t expected this from her, he wanted to say something, but Shen Anan had already made her decision.

“Uncle Huo, there’s no need. You, Aunt Yang, and Brother Huo, your kindness to me, I’ll always remember.

I can’t repay kindness with evil, letting my foster mother harass you all!”

Huo Aihua fell silent.

He had underestimated Shen Anan’s family, thinking that even if they caused trouble, he could handle it.

But now, he understood. She was unreasonable and would do anything to get what she wanted!

She could ask for money once, twice, three times. And she’d always have a reason!

She could say his son was a cripple, and they owed her, so they had to pay! Didn’t they pay? She would make a scene!

“What are you doing, Anan! You’re going to make your mother die of anger!”

Liu Cailan’s eyes widened in panic.

She had come to make a scene, and ended up with nothing?

“Isn’t this what you wanted?”

Shen Anan coldly looked at her foster mother.

There was nothing more to say.

Her foster mother had never considered her feelings, so what was the point of saying anything else?

Divorce would end her mother’s attempts to get money, and that was the best outcome.

“No, Anan! You can’t do this! Even if you divorce, you have to get the betrothal gift for the family…”

Liu Cailan pleaded.

But Shen Anan pushed her away.

She opened the door, pushed Huo Rufeng inside, then Uncle Huo, and she was the last to enter, watching her foster mother still complaining to the neighbors, before firmly closing the door.

That night, Yang Qiuju returned from work and learned about the incident, quickly going to discuss it with her husband, only to see him smoking.

Huo Aihua rarely smoked, except for the deaths of his parents and his son’s injury and recovery, this was the third time she’d seen him smoke.

Yang Qiuju didn’t dare speak, the couple sat together in silence, but they understood each other.

Who wanted their children to divorce?

No one!

Meanwhile, in the Chengbei (North City) apartment building, Shen Xiuxiu was overjoyed to hear that Shen Anan had decided to divorce.

Wonderful!

Without a job and divorced, Shen Anan would definitely be sent to the countryside this time!