Chapter 21: Shameless and Extreme Relatives 

“Comrade Fu, don’t you want to adopt the children? I can agree to you, don’t let them arrest me.” Zhang Ergou was still afraid of the police station and jail.

He didn’t understand the law, but he knew that once he went in and spent time there, he wouldn’t be able to hold his head up when he came out, and he wouldn’t be able to get any benefits in the village.

Originally, his family had a martyr, so they could get everything.

If he went in and spent time there, he wouldn’t have anything in the future, he wouldn’t even get any grain or pork during the New Year.

Ji Xiaoyue immediately interjected, “Police officer, this is a family matter, we won’t trouble you, we’ll handle it ourselves.”

The two police officers looked at Fu Liye, and when they saw him nod, they said a few words to the village officials and left.

Zhang Ergou saw the police leave and looked at the two children, then at his wife.

His family really didn’t want to raise these two children, but they wanted the compensation money, but they couldn’t say it out loud, “We just want the money, we don’t want to raise the children.”

Zhang Ergou’s wife saw the police leave and started to be unreasonable, “Comrade Fu, you’re a military officer after all, you can’t snatch children from us. Who doesn’t know what you’re thinking about raising children?

Why else would a single man insist on raising other people’s children?

She turned to the village officials and said, “It’s not that we’re unreasonable, he’s a man, and he doesn’t have a wife, how can we rest assured letting a little girl stay with him?

Does he really want to raise children, or does he want to raise a wife, who knows? There are so many immoral things happening outside, we have to consider the children.”

Ji Xiaoyue looked at the shameless couple and sneered, “The police officer hasn’t gone far yet. Should I call him back? You abused the children so badly, Comrade Fu doesn’t really want to raise the children, but you’re sincere?”

She said, and pulled Niuniu and asked her, “Wang Mazhi is old enough to be Niuniu’s grandfather, you sold her to him, is that raising her well?”

Zhang Ergou’s wife was a little guilty and wanted to argue, but the village chief spoke up, “Ergou’s wife, you have a daughter and a son too, you do this kind of thing, aren’t you afraid that your daughter won’t be able to get married and your son won’t be able to find a wife?

Your eldest daughter is sixteen years old, and your second son is fifteen, they’ll be looking for wives in a few years. If you do this, who would dare to step into your house?”

As soon as these words came out, Zhang Ergou’s wife shut up.

The village chief pointed at the two children, “You don’t want to raise them, then give the children to this Comrade Fu.

Do you really think raising children is like raising treasures? You don’t have to take care of the children, you don’t have to feed and clothe them. You want the compensation money but don’t want to raise the children.

Zhang Ergou, those are your brother’s children, you know what kind of person Wang Mazhi is. He died a hero, he died with honor, how can you do this to his children?”

Zhang Ergou’s wife was unhappy when she heard the village chief’s words, “The children’s mother ran away with someone else, and no one thinks it’s shameful, why is it shameful that we don’t raise the children?

If these two children are so desirable, why doesn’t their own mother want them?”

As soon as these words came out, the village officials were angry.

“Zhang Ergou, you’re all worse than pigs and dogs. You don’t want to raise them, then give them to Comrade Fu, you’re just grabbing them for the compensation money. You say such things, do you have any shame?”

“Ergou’s wife, you really have no conscience for saying such things, aren’t you afraid of being struck by lightning?”

The people around couldn’t listen anymore.

Ji Xiaoyue slowly said, “I’m Comrade Fu’s partner. You said he’s single, he has impure thoughts about raising a girl. We’re getting married soon, and we’ll raise the children together.”

Zhang Ergou’s wife snorted, “He didn’t have a wife before, why does he suddenly have a wife? Don’t lie to us.”

Ji Xiaoyue sneered, “With Comrade Fu’s conditions, do you think he can’t find a wife, or he doesn’t want a wife?”

As soon as Ji Xiaoyue said this, the people around chimed in, “That’s right, he’s not only a military officer, he’s also handsome, if he doesn’t have a wife, take a look at my daughter.”

Several aunties around also spoke up, “And mine!”

Ji Xiaoyue continued, “Zhang Ergou, these are your brother’s children. He’s gone now, think about it, are they better off with you or with Comrade Fu?

I heard the children say that day that your brother was raised by you, he’s gone now, you loved him when you were young, now his children, is it really so difficult for them to go to school in the city with Comrade Fu?”

Then, she said to Zhang Ergou’s wife, “In the future, they will have a good future and they can also help you. Life is long, you can’t just look at the present.”

Zhang Ergou looked at the two dirty children and fell silent.

Actually, he couldn’t bear to see his wife beat the children, and he secretly gave them some food.

It’s just that everyone’s life is hard now, and his wife always said that if he hadn’t been busy working at home, he would have been the one to join the army, and he would have been the one living a good life now.

He kept saying this, and over time, he believed it too.

“No, we won’t agree to let him take the children away. He can take the compensation money too.” Zhang Ergou’s wife only cared about the compensation money.

It was twenty-six yuan a month!

Her husband couldn’t even make twenty-six yuan a month.

Fu Liye slowly said, “The village officials are all here today, I’m putting this out there. From now on, Zhang’s family’s compensation money will be kept in the village account.

This money will be used for the two children’s marriage and wedding in the future. I won’t take this money.

I’m adopting these two children because their parents have passed away. If the children’s mother was still alive, I wouldn’t take the children away.”

As soon as he said this, Zhang Ergou couldn’t say anything else.

Zhang Ergou’s wife’s eyes darted around.

As long as he didn’t take the money!

As long as the money was still there, she had plenty of ways to get it later.

“You should have said so earlier. We thought you wanted to raise the children for the compensation money.

Since you don’t want it, then take the children away.” Zhang Ergou’s wife changed her face.

To prove that she really cared about the children, she immediately added, “But it’s not appropriate for a single man to raise other people’s daughters.

We’ll feel at ease if you get married. Are you really going to get married?”

Fu Liye glanced at Ji Xiaoyue and then nodded, “I’ll get married as soon as possible.”

Zhang Ergou’s wife immediately clapped her hands and smiled, “That’s settled then. Okay, okay, there’s nothing else, everyone can go back.

Comrade Fu, we won’t keep you for dinner, you take the children and leave quickly, you have to go back to the city.”

Fu Liye and Ji Xiaoyue didn’t want to waste words with this shameless couple.

Before leaving with the children, Ji Xiaoyue said to her,

“Write a document, sign it and leave it with the village.”

“Okay, let’s go!”