Chapter 43 Severing Relationship

Li Wenyan looked troubled, he rubbed his hands and said, “Yuexi, this is not easy. To sever their mother-son relationship, this is a big deal in the village, besides, how could Lu Zhengdong and Liu Cuifang easily agree?”

Lin Yuexi’s eyes were firm, she said softly, “Uncle Li, I don’t want to make things difficult for you. But you’ve seen the suffering I’ve endured in the Lu family all these years. I can’t be bullied by them without any explanation, I have to find a way out for myself and my children. You know my mother-in-law, now that Lu Cheng is paralyzed, they don’t care, but once Lu Cheng recovers, they will force us to give them money to support them, such in-laws are better off without…”

Li Wenyan thought for a moment, nodded, “I’ll go and talk to them, but you need to be prepared, this might not be easy. And if Lu Cheng recovers and wants to support his parents, no one can stop it…”

“Uncle Li, if Lu Cheng recovers and insists on recognizing them, I really can’t do anything about it, but at least during the time Lu Cheng is paralyzed, they won’t ask me for the financial assistance Lu Cheng receives from the army.”

“Third daughter-in-law, you’re right, let’s do this. I’ll go and talk to them…”

“Okay, then I’ll trouble Uncle Li, I’ll wait for your news.” Lin Yuexi bowed slightly, sending Li Wenyan out the door.

That night, Li Wenyan came to Lin Yuexi’s house again.

“Third daughter-in-law, I’ve told Lu Zhengdong and Liu Cuifang what you said, they agreed, but they also have a request…” Li Wenyan sighed.

“Uncle Li, don’t worry, just say it. Anyway, if I can’t meet their request, I won’t agree, and I’ll let the army personnel decide Lu Cheng’s fate…”

“They want you to give them the 200 yuan that Lu Cheng sent back for the New Year, and from then on, sever all ties with you…”

“Okay! That’s really great! Is Lu Cheng really their child? How can parents ask their son’s wife for money when their son is still in the hospital…”

“Third daughter-in-law, I knew you wouldn’t agree. But things have come to this, it’s up to you to agree or not. It’s just that poor Lu Cheng will suffer in the future…” Li Wenyan sighed repeatedly as he spoke.

“Uncle Li, I agree, who said I wouldn’t agree. But words are not enough, we need to put it in writing. Let’s go to the brigade office tomorrow morning to draft an agreement, both parties sign it, how about that?”

“Third daughter-in-law, you’re being generous! Compared to you, Lu Zhengdong and Liu Cuifang are far inferior in character. Third daughter-in-law, don’t worry, if Lu Cheng has a chance to wake up, I will tell him the truth about today…”

“Then thank you, Uncle Li…” Lin Yuexi said.

“Okay, see you at the brigade office tomorrow morning, I’ll definitely help you sort this out.” Li Wenyan breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally, the agreement about Lu Cheng was reached, otherwise, he really wouldn’t know how to explain it to Secretary Zhao of the commune…

The next morning, the sky was a little gray, as if mourning the heavy atmosphere. Lin Yuexi got up early, made breakfast for the children, gave them a few instructions, and then walked towards the brigade office with a determined look.

When Lin Yuexi arrived at the brigade office, Li Wenyan was already waiting there. Soon, Lu Zhengdong and Liu Cuifang also arrived. Liu Cuifang’s eyes still carried that sharp, mean, and greedy look, while Lu Zhengdong lowered his head awkwardly, as if he felt a little ashamed of it all, but more so, he was unwilling to lose the economic benefits that came with his son.

“Everyone is here, let’s begin.” Li Wenyan cleared his throat, breaking the awkward silence.

The drafting of the agreement was not smooth, Lu Zhengdong and his wife kept putting forward unreasonable additional conditions, one moment they said that Lin Yuexi should give them more food from the house, the next moment they said that Lu Cheng’s old belongings should also belong to them.

Lin Yuexi kept her lips tightly pressed together, her eyes revealing determination and anger.

“Enough!” Lin Yuexi finally couldn’t help but slam her hand on the table, “Do you have any conscience at all? Lu Cheng is fighting for the country in the army, and now he’s in this state, not only do you not care, you only think about getting benefits from him. I’ve been working like a horse for this family, have you ever shown me a shred of pity? If you continue like this, believe me, I won’t give you this 200 yuan, you can do whatever you want, anyway, Lu Cheng is just my husband in name only.”

Li Wenyan also said sternly from the side, “Old Lu, Liu Cuifang, don’t go too far. It’s already not easy for Yuexi to raise two children alone, now she has to take care of a comatose, paralyzed patient, as Lu Cheng’s parents, you should think more about your child at this time, instead of only thinking about how much you can gain from him.”

Lu Zhengdong opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but under Li Wenyan’s gaze, he swallowed his words. Liu Cuifang glared fiercely at Lin Yuexi, but she also knew that she couldn’t be too arrogant in this situation.

After some bargaining, the content of the agreement was finally determined. It roughly included Lu Zhengdong and Liu Cuifang giving up their guardianship of Lu Cheng, not interfering with Lin Yuexi’s care and treatment arrangements for Lu Cheng during his paralysis, and also not asking Lin Yuexi for any money or goods; while Lin Yuexi agreed to give the 200 yuan that Lu Cheng sent back to Lu Zhengdong and his wife, and the two parties would sever all ties from then on.

When signing, Lin Yuexi didn’t hesitate at all, she picked up the pen and signed her name neatly. Lu Zhengdong and his wife hesitated a bit, especially Liu Cuifang, she kept muttering, but under Lu Zhengdong’s urging, she reluctantly signed her name.

After signing, Lin Yuexi felt an unprecedented sense of relief, as if the boulder that had been weighing on her heart for years had finally been lifted. She took a deep breath and said to Li Wenyan, “Uncle Li, thank you. This time, I can finally take charge of my own life and my children’s lives.”

Li Wenyan nodded, a look of relief on his face, “Third daughter-in-law, there’s a long way to go, if you have any difficulties, come to me. Although Lu Cheng’s situation is not good now, you have to be strong, believe that things will get better slowly.”

“Uncle Li, I will. Now, please give me the address of the army hospital where Lu Cheng is. I’m going there with the children now…”

“Okay, Yuexi, Lu Cheng has been transferred to the Peking Union Medical College Hospital, go ahead! It’s good to bring the children with you, Lu Cheng has never seen these two children before. Maybe seeing them will wake him up?”

“Uncle Li, thank you for thinking so. You’re right, Lu Cheng will definitely wake up.…” Lin Yuexi said.