Xiao Meng and Xiao Jun were frightened and were about to help her when Jiang Lin shouted, “Don’t touch her!”

Unless you know a bit about first aid, you shouldn’t touch an elderly person who has fallen. Touching them could make things worse.

Outside, Cheng Rushan and Liang Tiefeng rushed in. “What’s happening?”

Jiang Lin buried her face in Cheng Rushan’s chest and cried, “Wuwu, I’m so scared, it’s so terrifying, the old lady wants to hang herself…”

Cheng Rushan: “…”

He patted Jiang Lin, telling her to watch the two children and Jiang Min, while he and Liang Tiefeng went in to check.

Old Lady Liang was in a weak state, trembling as she reached out to her son, “Son… Min… Minmin…”

Liang Tiefeng saw her condition and felt both anger and pain. “Mother, why are you doing this again?”

She would always resort to hanging herself or drinking pesticides whenever something happened, just like when his father was alive.

He thought Old Lady Liang was just pretending.

Cheng Rushan had Jiang Xinglei bring a lamp over to check.

He examined her and said to Liang Tiefeng, “She has multiple fractures in her pelvis and arms.”

Old Lady Liang was in so much pain that she was becoming delirious. “Oh… I’m going to die… Xiao Jun, Xiao Meng, Min Min… where are you…”

Jiang Lin held Xiao Jun and Xiao Meng back, “Don’t move the elderly, we have your uncle here.”

The children indeed didn’t dare to move.

Jiang Min came in from outside and stood at the bedroom door, intentionally or unintentionally blocking her way.

Jiang Min then told Jiang Lin and the younger siblings to go back to the scene.

Old Lady Liang continued to cry out in pain, moaning with each breath, “Min Min, Mother… Mother was wrong, Mother will be good to Xiao Meng in the future…”

Jiang Min coldly said, “You’re not wrong, it’s my fault. I didn’t realize how malicious you were for so long. Xiao Meng is also your biological granddaughter. Instead of voicing your grievances with me, you take it out on the child.”

“Min Min, don’t leave, Tie Feng and the children need you… How can we live if you leave…”

Liang Tiefeng looked back at Jiang Min with sorrow and said, “Jiang Min, don’t leave. First, get Mother to the hospital, and then let’s talk things over, okay?”

Jiang Min turned her head to avoid his gaze, unwilling to make contact with him.

Even though Liang Tiefeng wanted to talk to her, with Old Lady Liang’s emergency situation, he was forced to put aside his words.

Cheng Rushan went to find some boards, wooden sticks, and hemp rope.

He used a knife to cut and made an emergency splint for Old Lady Liang. “We need to send her to the hospital.”

Cheng Rushan was confident in his first aid skills, but Old Lady Liang was elderly and prone to complications.

Liang Tiefeng said, “The jeep is unusable. I’ll go to the team office to borrow a horse-drawn cart.”

He had originally thought of asking Jiang Min to borrow the cart, but since she was standing there without offering any help, he felt extremely distressed. .

After ten years of marriage, did she really have no feelings or attachment to him or this family?

At this moment, someone from the village came to inquire about what had happened.

Liang Tiefeng told them that the old lady had fallen and asked them to borrow a horse-drawn cart.

The person went off to do that.

Jiang Min said, “Xiao Meng, go to the team office with Mommy. We won’t be coming back.”

Xiao Meng looked terrified and confused, “Mom, what about Daddy, Grandma, and the little brother?”

Jiang Min closed her eyes in pain, “Mommy and Daddy need to separate.”

“No, no!” Xiao Meng shook her head frantically, “Don’t leave Daddy.”

Xiao Jun cried, “Mom, Mom, I want Mom.” At six years old, in a real crisis, the child could only cry for his mother.

Old Lady Liang still wanted to resist, “No, no, can’t…”

She cried bitterly, pleading for her son to keep them together.

Liang Tiefeng looked back at Jiang Min with a pleading gaze, “With Mother in this condition, you’re still going to leave?”

Jiang Min replied, “Hasn’t she done this enough times already? She just didn’t follow through before.”

Liang Tiefeng said, “Mother didn’t do it on purpose…”

Jiang Lin looked at Jiang Min.

If she compromised this time, there might never be a chance to change things in the future.

Such situations would only repeat themselves and never be resolved.

As long as Liang Laopo was alive, she would use threats of self-harm to control others.

Xiaomeng and Xiaojun were too young to make decisions.

For them, stability was best, even if their grandmother treated Jiang Min poorly.

As long as their parents were together, they wouldn’t want them to separate.

Many people tolerate difficult situations for their children, but does it really help the children?

Adults often marry and have children for their own reasons, even if it leads to divorce or suffering in their marriage—it’s ultimately for themselves, not for the children.

People aren’t as noble as they think they are.

Jiang Lin didn’t want her sister to spend her whole life compromising for the sake of the children.

Even if it’s for the children, if she couldn’t be a strong, independent person and set a good example for her daughter, how could she claim it’s for the kids?

Should children just follow her example?

Jiang Lin said, “Sister, on behalf of our parents, I respect all your choices. You’re not alone, so don’t be afraid of having no way out.”

“You… you daughter, how could you… How could you… ruin a family… You didn’t come to help me, you just watched me… Ah—”

As Cheng Rushan was adjusting Liang Laopo’s bones, he accidentally applied too much pressure, causing her to scream in pain.

Hearing Liang Laopo’s words, Jiang Min, who was initially feeling soft-hearted, immediately became resolute. “Liang Tiefeng, we’re getting a divorce. If you don’t agree, I’ll take Xiaomeng and leave.”

Seeing this, Xiaojun immediately hugged Jiang Min’s leg, crying, “I want Mommy, I want Mommy.”

Jiang Min asked, “Don’t you want to stay with Grandma?”

Xiaojun replied, “If Mommy comes home, I’ll stay with Grandma. If Mommy doesn’t come home, I’ll go with Mommy.”

Liang Laopo was shocked that her beloved eldest grandson would stay with Jiang Min instead of her.

She couldn’t accept it and broke down, struggling desperately.

Unfortunately, her movement worsened her injuries, and she continued to scream in agony.

Liang Tiefeng’s eyes were bloodshot as he said, “Mother, stop making a fuss!”

Jiang Min went to pack clothes for herself and the children, along with some of her personal belongings.

Liang Tiefeng clenched his fists, his veins standing out.

He wanted to stop her.

Cheng Rushan said calmly, “There’s a rib broken here.” He pressed gently, and Old Lady Liang grunted; she no longer had the strength to cry out loudly.

Liang Tiefeng glanced at Cheng Rushan with a wild look in his eyes.

He was at a loss, unable to handle the situation.

If it were up to him, his first instinct would be to stop Jiang Min from leaving.

He saw mockery and coldness in Cheng Rushan’s eyes, but no sympathy.

He understood Cheng Rushan’s meaning: as long as Cheng Rushan was here, he couldn’t use force to keep Jiang Min—unless she agreed to stay willingly.

He had no choice but to stand there obediently, feeling as though his heart was being gnawed by countless ants.

Jiang Min finished packing and said to Jiang Lin and Jiang Xinglei, “I’m sorry for causing trouble. We’ll go buy train tickets now, and you two should head back early.”

Jiang Xinglei was anxious, “Sister, with things like this happening, you’re still not coming with us?”

Jiang Min stood still.

She had promised Liang Tiefeng she wouldn’t go to college, and she wasn’t leaving to go to college now.

Even if she was divorcing him, she wasn’t going to give him any ammunition to criticize her.

She said, “I’m taking the children to stay in the dormitory.”

Cheng Rushan glanced at Jiang Xinglei, “You can drive, right?”

There weren’t many vehicles on the road here.

Jiang Xinglei replied, “I can.”

He wished he could just drive the two sisters and the children back to the provincial capital immediately.

Staying here was too crazy.

Why hadn’t he noticed this sooner?

If he had, he would have taken his sister and the children away long ago.

Cheng Rushan said, “Linlin.”

Jiang Lin turned around, “Hmm?”

“Have you eaten enough? Make sure you’re full before you leave. It’s cold here, and if you’re not full, you’ll get hungrier and colder.”

Jiang Lin replied, “I ate enough earlier.”

Cheng Rushan nodded, “Alright, let’s go.”

Liang Tiefeng was on his knees, unable to look back, afraid he might be unable to stop himself from pulling Jiang Min back.

As he heard Jiang Min leave with the two kids, it felt like all his strength had been drained.

Cheng Rushan glanced at him and said, “First, you tried to repay a favor by saving someone; that’s not what a real man does. Second, you forced a young woman to marry you; that’s enough to be tried in a military court.” He nodded towards Liang Laopo, “And you, you tried to be clever and ended up harming the whole family.”

Liang Tiefeng’s lips moved as if he wanted to explain, but Cheng Rushan’s powerful presence left him unable to utter a word.

Liang Laopo wanted to argue, furious that Cheng Rushan was blaming her son when it was her fault.

If she hadn’t been so self-righteous, the family wouldn’t be in this mess.

But the pain was overwhelming, and she was too weak and disoriented to speak.

Liang Tiefeng asked Cheng Rushan, “What would you do if you were in my place?”

Cheng Rushan smiled, “If I were in your place, I wouldn’t be in this situation at all.”

“What if you were?” Liang Tiefeng insisted.

“I already answered that before,” Cheng Rushan replied.

If she wasn’t willing, no matter how good she was or how much he liked her, he wouldn’t force it.

To him, besides dignity, nothing was worth forcing.

…

Jiang Lin accompanied Jiang Min and the children to the car, reminding Jiang Xinglei to drive carefully. “If you can’t, I’ll drive.”

Jiang Xinglei replied, “Do you think I can’t drive?”

As they left, a cart arrived in the village.

Liang Tiefeng had people lay thick blankets on it, and he and Cheng Rushan lifted Liang Laopo onto the cart.

She was already turning blue from the pain, gasping and moaning.

They headed straight to the county hospital.

Jiang Lin and the others, traveling in a jeep, arrived much faster.

When they reached the team headquarters, Jiang Min planned to help them buy train tickets.

Jiang Lin said, “Sister, Cheng Rushan will arrange the tickets. It will take a few days, and we’ll need to book sleeper berths.”

Jiang Min was worried about not having enough money and planned to wait for Cheng Rushan to handle it.

She gently stroked Xiaomeng’s face, tears falling like a broken string of pearls.

Xiaomeng and Xiaojun were especially quiet now.

Xiaojun clung tightly to his sister’s hand, afraid of being left behind.

Xiaomeng said, “Mom, don’t be mad. Dad is just a rough man, but he does treat you well.”

Jiang Min replied, “Sweetie, don’t say things your grandmother taught you if they upset me, okay? It doesn’t feel good to hear.”

Xiaomeng didn’t know what was right or wrong, but since her mom didn’t like what her grandmother said, she decided not to repeat it.

She didn’t know what else to say.

Xiaojun was even more cautious, remaining very quiet and obedient.

Jiang Xinglei, unable to watch this any longer, said, “Sister, if you want a divorce, you should go back with us. Why stay here after divorcing?”

He didn’t understand much about marriage but knew that even if Jiang Min divorced, staying in the dormitory meant she’d still be at the mercy of Liang Tiefeng.

Jiang Min said, “I don’t want to go back; it would bring shame to my family.”

According to old beliefs, a divorced daughter couldn’t return to her family home.

Not only would she be looked down upon, but she’d also bring bad luck to her family.

Jiang Xinglei responded, “Who cares about that? We don’t care. It’s worse for us to see you suffering here. Our family is doing better, and it would upset our parents if they knew you were struggling outside.”

He pointed at Xiaomeng and Xiaojun. “Look at these two. One is becoming domineering, and the other is overly timid. If things continue like this, it will truly ruin them. It’s bad enough you’re suffering, but if you ruin the children too, won’t you feel guilty?”

Jiang Min was at a loss for words.

Xiaojun huddled in the corner, scared and silent, worried about what would happen without his grandparents around.

Jiang Lin said, “Sister, talking won’t help. You and Liang Tiefeng need to separate and take time to think things over. I know it’s hard to end a marriage, especially after ten years. If it has to end, it should be done cleanly. If not, you need to face it positively and not keep avoiding it.”

She patted Xiaomeng’s head, “Sister, it’s a good thing we noticed this now. If it continues, Xiaomeng might develop anorexia, which could be really serious. If you come back with us to the provincial capital, where the hospitals are better, we can get Xiaomeng checked and treated. A change in environment might help her recover. Staying here, she might not even eat a full bowl of food a day and could end up starving.”

Jiang Min was deeply scared, holding Xiaomeng tightly, and said, “It’s all my fault. I promise I’ll never let you be harmed again.”

She felt deeply guilty for letting her daughter suffer right under her nose.

She wished she could be punished just to make herself feel better.

Originally, Jiang Min was tangled up with thoughts of Liang Tiefeng and Liang Laopo, and she felt guilty about Liang Tiefeng.

But now, looking at the two children, she pushed those tangled emotions aside.

She said firmly, “I want a divorce. I’ll take Xiaomeng and Xiaojun and leave him.”

She had already ruined her own life; she couldn’t let them ruin the children’s lives too.

Jiang Lin responded, “Since you’re determined, we’ll wait for you for three days. After three days, we’ll leave.”

Cutting through the confusion quickly was best; dragging it out would only lead to more complications.

Jiang Min nodded and hugged Jiang Lin, saying, “Thank you, Linlin.”

Jiang Lin patted her, “We’re sisters, we’re family. If you don’t hold a grudge against me for the past, then I’ll do everything I can for your future.”

Seeing Jiang Min still looking a bit down, as if she were on the brink of another major upheaval in her life, Jiang Lin understood how difficult change could be.

She remembered how frightened she was when she first moved from the familiar modern world to Shu Huai Village, though she managed not to show it.

Change was hard, but adapting was key.

She encouraged Jiang Min, “Sister, when you return to the provincial capital, you’ll see that the world outside is really different now. You might not notice the changes while working on the farm every day. But the whole country is focusing on economic development now. Not just the provincial capital, but the entire country and even the world are undergoing huge changes. It’s similar to the shock at the start of the Cultural Revolution, but this time the change is more open and free. We need to be educated and knowledgeable, or we’ll be left behind by the times! Do you think we can afford to miss out on this wave of change just for some fleeting personal feelings?”

They talked a lot about the future, which was full of opportunities and challenges…

Inspired by Jiang Lin’s words, Jiang Xinglei became excited, and Jiang Min’s eyes shone with a new sparkle.

It was a look of hope and anticipation for the future, no longer immersed in current sadness and temporary struggles.