Chapter 21.1 Separation

The news that Wang Wei, the son of Secretary Wang, had gotten into trouble quickly spread throughout the entire village of Helian.

The villagers of Helian weren’t surprised to hear this.

A doting mother spoils her child.

At the age of twenty, Wang Wei was lazy and idle, spoiled by his mother, who allowed him to steal and cheat in the village, bullying his neighbors. If it weren’t for his father, the secretary, he would have been tied up and beaten long ago.

Now, hearing that he had been arrested by the police, no one felt sorry for him. Instead, they all cheered. Those who had been wronged by Wang Wei even said it would be better if he were shot, as he was a menace to society.

Xie Helan, who had been very proud and arrogant in Helian village, had to keep her head down these days and dare not be arrogant anymore.

To get Wang Wei out of the detention center, Xie Helan gritted her teeth and pawned the gold jewelry that her family had left her, which she had intended to use for Wang Wei’s future marriage. She went everywhere to pull strings, but to no avail.

Wang Wei had committed a crime of hooliganism. Although the Wang family had some influence, the person he had bullied was a young intellectual from the city. When the news got out, the higher-ups wouldn’t let him off easily.

Xie Helan was so worried that she lost ten pounds in three days. She had only this one precious son, and if he were to be shot, she wouldn’t live either!

Wang Xingde also aged several years overnight.

He smoked for a few days, then went to the supply and marketing cooperative in town and bought a few pounds of eggs and tonics to visit Shu Qingyao, who was hospitalized.

He knew that only Shu Qingyao, the victim, could show mercy and let Wang Wei off the hook.

He had no connection with Shu Qingyao, but Shu Qingyao had a good relationship with Xie Hezhang, and Xie Helan was Xie Hezhang’s aunt. With this connection, Shu Qingyao might not push Wang Wei to his death.

However, when Wang Xingde arrived with his bags, he was turned away.

Shu Qingyao wouldn’t see him.

He returned home dejected.

When Xie Helan found out, she cried and wailed, “Old Wang, this little vixen wants our Wang family to die out! Little Wei is the only male heir in our Wang family for three generations. You must not let anything happen to him!”

Wang Xingde smashed a bowl against the wall, his face ashen, and cursed, “It’s all because you spoil him!”

“I spoil him? How could I spoil him if you didn’t allow it? Wang, I tell you, if Little Wei dies, I won’t live either!”

Wang Xingde was so angry that his chest heaved. He smoked, his old face drooping.

He was also worried, he also wanted to shout and scream, he also regretted it.

If he had known that Wang Wei would commit such a crime, he would have broken his legs to force him to work.

If he had something to do, he wouldn’t have only those thoughts in his head.

But now, it was no use thinking about it.

Wang Wei had offended the young lady, and it was impossible not to punish him severely.

Wang Xingde thought for a while and asked, “Where is Xie Hezhang these days?”

“How would I know…” Xie Helan replied subconsciously, but quickly realized and got up from the ground, saying, “I’ll go find him! He has a good relationship with Shu Qingyao, and Wang Wei is his cousin after all. He won’t stand by and watch him die!”

…

Xie Helan found Xie Hezhang packing food for Shu Qingyao at a noodle shop on the street outside the hospital.

“Little He, Little He!” Xie Helan stopped him. “Have you been with Shu Qingyao these days?”

Xie Hezhang glanced at her face, his eyes cold, and walked past her as if he hadn’t seen her.

Xie Helan followed him with a thick face, “You’re delivering food to Shu Qingyao? Well, your father bought her some tonics. You can help and take them in. Just say I want to talk to her for a while.”

Xie Helan handed him the few pounds of eggs and tonics, but Xie Hezhang pushed them aside.

The young man’s expression was cold and disgusted, “Don’t follow me!”

Seeing that he wasn’t buying it, Xie Helan hugged Xie Hezhang’s leg in the hospital lobby and started to make a scene.

“Little He, he’s your brother. How can you bear to watch him die! We’re a family, you have to help him, you have to help him!”

Xie Hezhang was still young and thin-skinned. He couldn’t kick Xie Helan away while she was hugging his leg. The patients and nurses who came and went in the hospital all looked at them, making him blush with anger.

Now she’s talking about family. Back then, she had taken all the inheritance left to him by his grandfather, and she didn’t give him or Xie Xiaoqian any food. If he hadn’t been able to work and earn work points, he would have been starved to death by her!

“Get off me!” he said hoarsely with anger.

“No! If you don’t let me see Shu Qingyao, I won’t let go!”

Xie Hezhang knew that Xie Helan was a shrew. Now, passersby were pointing at them, and his face was as black as coal.

She didn’t care about losing face at all!

Xie Hezhang couldn’t possibly let the Wang family see Shu Qingyao.

But if he didn’t get rid of Xie Helan, Shu Qingyao’s face would be ruined.

Just as he was struggling with Xie Helan, Shu Qingyao, who had been waiting for Xie Hezhang to return, came out of the ward.

Because she had suffered a mental shock, Captain Jin Zhuang had specially given her a week’s sick leave so that she could rest well. He had also helped Xie Hezhang take leave, which was not considered absenteeism, and his work points were still paid daily. This was considered a good treatment for Shu Qingyao.

Shu Qingyao also understood his meaning.

Jin Zhuang hoped that she could be lenient and not report it, so that the matter could be settled quietly.

But Shu Qingyao had other plans.

“Xie Hezhang.”

Shu Qingyao, wearing a hospital gown and with her hair loose, stood in the corridor and called out to Xie Hezhang.

Xie Helan heard the voice, looked up, saw Shu Qingyao, got up from the ground, and cried with a snotty nose, “Shu Qingyao, please spare my son’s life!”

Xie Hezhang walked over, stood in front of Shu Qingyao, and looked at Xie Helan with a hint of vigilance.

Shu Qingyao said calmly, “There are too many people outside. Let’s go into the room and talk.”

Xie Hezhang looked at Shu Qingyao in surprise.

Xie Helan heard Shu Qingyao’s words, her heart filled with joy, and she hurriedly said, “Okay, okay, let’s go into the room, let’s go into the room!”

Shu Qingyao looked at the tonics on the ground, “Bring the things in too.”

…

Xie Helan carried the bags and followed Shu Qingyao into the ward.

She looked at Shu Qingyao’s calm expression and felt inexplicably uneasy.

The ward was small, with only a single bed. There was a small cot next to the bed, which Xie Hezhang had borrowed from the hospital to take care of Shu Qingyao these days.

The window was open for ventilation. On the bedside table was a red thermos, and a white enamel cup was still steaming, exuding the sweet aroma of malted milk.

Shu Qingyao walked over, lay back on the bed, pulled up the covers, and said to Xie Helan, “Close the door first.”

Xie Helan carefully closed the door, looked at Shu Qingyao, and said, “Shu Qingyao…”

“You know what your son did, right?”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Shu Qingyao. My son is still young, he’s just being reckless. You’re a kind person, please forgive him. I’ll take him back and discipline him properly.”

Yao picked up the enamel cup, squinted her eyes, and took a slow sip. “You mean, what he did to me is just going to be forgotten?”

Xie Helan wasn’t stupid. She could tell from Shu Qingyao’s words that there was room for negotiation.

If there was room for negotiation, then everything could be discussed.

“…Shu Qingyao, what do you want?”