Cheng Rushan helped Liang Tiefeng take his mother, Liang Laopozi, to the hospital.

Because Cheng Rushan had fixed her up quickly and with skill, the hospital had fewer problems.

However, Liang Laopozi still had to face some punishment.

After all, she was quite old, with multiple fractures that needed technical correction.

Her arms and legs were put in casts, and her fractured and misaligned ankle needed steel pins.

After the surgery, she could barely move and had a catheter inserted.

Liang Laopozi, lying in the hospital bed, needed someone to take care of her.

Previously, Jiang Min would take care of her willingly, but now, due to their ongoing divorce and the presence of Jiang Lin and Jiang Xinglei, Jiang Min refused to help.

All the responsibility fell on Liang Tiefeng.

He wanted to find Jiang Min but also had to care for his mother, feeling overwhelmed and unable to manage both.

He experienced the frustration of being trapped in an uncomfortable situation overnight.

Liang Laopozi hadn’t expected this outcome.

She had spent her life trying to control her husband and son, but now she had made a mistake that led to her current state.

Wrapped like a mummy with a catheter in place, she felt both awkward and in pain. When she woke up, she cried for her grandchildren and demanded that her son bring them back. “If they don’t come back, I won’t live anymore. Why bother saving me?”

Liang Tiefeng was tormented by her demands.

He couldn’t leave her side, but she insisted he find her daughter-in-law and grandchildren.

“You need to apologize to your wife. Kneel before her,” she said, looking at her son’s tired, unshaved face., “You should’ve kept the house safe and made sure your daughter was respectful…”

“Mother, what did you do to make Jiang Min hate you so much?” Liang Tiefeng asked.

He knew Jiang Min well and could usually handle things, but this time she was extremely angry, which could only mean something serious had happened with their daughter.

Liang Laopozi replied, “What did I do? I took care of your children every day at home. Was that wrong? I treated your daughter well, giving her delicious food and letting her eat whatever she wanted…”

At that moment, Cheng Rushan came in and knocked on the door.

Liang Tiefeng got up to greet him and asked about Jiang Min and the children.

Cheng Rushan said, “She wants to take the children and leave here. Do you have any objections?”

Liang Tiefeng replied, “As long as she doesn’t divorce me, I agree she can go to college. But the children… they can’t leave.”

Cheng Rushan raised an eyebrow and glanced at Liang Laopozi in the hospital bed. “Are you sure you can take care of everything?”

Liang Laopozi, still groggy, heard Cheng Rushan’s voice and tried to speak, but could only make faint noises. “If she wants a divorce, let her go. The children should stay with the Liang family. I…”

Liang Tiefeng said with frustration, “Mother, please don’t get involved.”

He turned to Cheng Rushan and asked, “Can you please get Jiang Min to come here? I want to talk to her.”

Cheng Rushan replied, “Sorry. As long as she wants to take the children with her, you don’t have the power or position to stop her. Liang Tiefeng, things are different now. I told you from the beginning, whatever my wife wants to do, I will support her.”

Liang Tiefeng wanted to argue about the children, believing that if they stayed, the bond would remain unbroken.

She could leave, go to college, or do whatever she wanted, but not get a divorce.

He couldn’t bear to lose this connection; it felt like a painful blow to his heart.

“No,” he said, hitting the wall with his fist. “She can’t just take everything away like this.”

Without them, the family would fall apart, and he wondered what the point of his existence would be.

“Liang Tiefeng, act like a man!” Cheng Rushan said, growing impatient.

Liang Tiefeng, unable to meet his gaze, said, “If she insists on divorcing, then at least let the children stay. If she wants to take them to college, then we won’t divorce. Even if you have a way, as long as I insist, the regiment will at least keep the children with me.” Liang Tiefeng hugged his head tightly.

Cheng Rushan said, “Do you want her to completely sever ties with you, leaving no trace of affection? Should I question you about the remains of the martyrs you’ve withheld?”

Liang Tiefeng, holding his head, crouched on the floor and quietly screamed, “I don’t want to lose her and the children!”

“If things go any further, your daughter could be in serious danger,” Cheng Rushan said with his hands in his pockets, coldly stating the fact.

Liang Tiefeng looked up at him in disbelief, “Impossible!”

Cheng Rushan shrugged, “Well, she’s not my daughter.”

Liang Tiefeng rushed into the hospital room, leaning over the bed, “Mother, what did you do to Xiaomeng?”

Liang Laopozi feigned unconsciousness, not making a sound or even groaning in pain.

What had she done?

She just listened to her daughter-in-law, gave the children more food—what was wrong with that?

Were they blaming her and forcing her for such minor issues?

Why not just strangle her directly?

Years ago, when her son didn’t want to marry, she knew he liked Jiang Zhiqing—beautiful, cultured, and loved to sing, with a lovely smile.

Her son was originally in charge of labor for prisoners, but he transferred to work with the educated youth, leading agricultural soldiers and youth in labor.

It was all to get close to her.

She and her son depended on each other; if her son didn’t marry, her family line would end.

Of course, she was anxious to help her son!

What was wrong with that?

Why were they blaming her?

Everyone disliked the young educated youth who had little labor ability.

They said it would be better if female educated youth married young farm workers, settling down to have children.

But if they married among themselves, it wasn’t feasible.

Female educated youth were delicate, and male educated youth weren’t much help with labor.

Their marriage and children would not only mean the female youth couldn’t work but also required more food for an additional child.

The farm didn’t have enough food, and it was difficult.

As people talked more, this became the farm’s rule.

The regiment simply didn’t approve of educated youth marrying each other, adding a burden to the farm.

They were supposed to focus on construction and production, not relationships!

“Alright, I just came to inform you,” Cheng Rushan said as he turned to leave.

He didn’t want to watch a man lose his dignity or see a painful scene of conflict.

It was best if Liang Tiefeng could remain calm.

After all, even though many years had passed, the things Liang Laopozi and Liang Tiefeng had done to Jiang Min were disgraceful.

Furthermore, Liang Laopozi’s harsh treatment of her granddaughter meant Jiang Min could still demand a divorce and leave with Xiaomeng.

However, the final ties might need to be severed, and they would end up blaming and tearing each other apart in front of the police.

Cheng Rushan returned to the regiment dormitory.

Seeing him back, Jiang Lin and Jiang Xinglei approached to ask how things had gone.

They were worried that Liang Tiefeng might make things difficult and refuse to let Jiang Min leave with the children.

Although Cheng Rushan had pressured Liang Tiefeng, he shared Liang Tiefeng’s two conditions with Jiang Min, leaving the final decision up to her.

Jiang Min looked somewhat lost.

Over the past few days, she had thought a lot, feeling as if she had to relive her entire life.

All her dreams, passion, complaints, and anger had vanished in front of her eyes.

She looked at Xiaomeng and Xiaojun—these two children were real and new, not her past self or anyone from her past.

They were the result of her mistakes, and if she continued to be clueless and absent-minded, she would be harming them in this world.

She couldn’t let that happen!

She turned to Jiang Lin and Jiang Xinglei.

Jiang Lin said, “Sister, whatever decision you make, I’ll support you. Whether you leave or stay is up to you. You’re thirty now, and any decision you make will be well-considered. We respect your choice.”

Although Jiang Xinglei didn’t fully understand, he agreed with Jiang Lin’s words.

Jiang Min looked at the children again, then gritted her teeth and said, “I want a divorce.”

Jiang Lin said, “Then go to the regiment to file for divorce.”

Jiang Lin accompanied her to the regiment.

Upon inquiry, they discovered that Jiang Min and Liang Tiefeng didn’t actually have a marriage certificate; they were just registered as a family.

At that time, many people got married this way—without a formal marriage certificate, just holding a banquet for relatives and friends and registering their household together.

Previously, divorcing only required a divorce letter and approval from the department, after which the household registration could be changed.

Now, with the re-establishment of legal procedures, divorces required going through the court.

Without a marriage certificate, they needed to complete additional paperwork to prove the marriage existed before applying for divorce.

This process could take several months and wasn’t easy to complete.

The regiment staff naturally preferred reconciliation over separation.

They had a good relationship with both Liang Tiefeng and Jiang Min, and hearing Jiang Min’s intention to divorce surprised them.

After all, the couple was seen as a model pair in the regiment, with Liang Tiefeng known for being devoted to his wife.

A sudden divorce was like dropping a bomb in the regiment.

However, Jiang Min only mentioned that their feelings were no longer compatible and wanted a divorce, leaving the regiment with no choice.

If Jiang Min had brought this up alone, the regiment would have likely refused to process it, as Liang Tiefeng was an officer.

It would have been almost impossible to get a divorce without proof of wrongdoing on his part.

Even domestic violence would not necessarily result in divorce.

With Cheng Rushan involved and having discussed it with the regiment, the process could proceed.

Jiang Min submitted her application for divorce, but she had to wait for Liang Tiefeng’s signature, the approval process, and then send it to the court for final approval.

It would take time.

Jiang Min said, “Then we’ll wait.”

She had already made up her mind to leave.

Whether it was done immediately or not was no longer important.

She never wanted to live under the same roof as Liang Laopozi again and didn’t even want to see her.

She took out the admission notice and transfer documents for the provincial school, and transferred her household registration and ration documents to the new school in the provincial capital.

Xiaomeng and Xiaojun couldn’t be transferred immediately and would have to rely on Cheng Rushan to help with that later.

Educated youth returning to the city had to get a divorce because the city wouldn’t accept their children’s household registrations.

With the city’s population already high and limited job opportunities and supplies, a large influx of educated youth would increase urban pressure and the number of unemployed, causing instability.

Therefore, cities strictly controlled this.

After spending two days handling these matters, on the third morning, they set off for the county train station, took a train to the city, and then traveled south to the provincial capital.

Xiaomeng was anxious, tightly holding Jiang Min’s hand. “Mom, do you think Grandma will really die?”

Jiang Min said, “Sweetheart, don’t worry about her.”

“But she always says that Xiaojun is her lifeline. If Xiaojun leaves, will she die?”

Xiaojun, leaning against Jiang Lin’s leg, clung tightly to her clothes, afraid of being abandoned.

Jiang Min looked down at Xiaojun. “Do you want to go back and find Grandma?”

Xiaojun, who usually talked about his grandmother frequently, seemed to be deeply affected and was now quiet and subdued.

Jiang Min felt heartbroken for the little one.

Xiaojun shook his head, not saying anything further.

At that moment, Liang Tiefeng rushed in, anxiously searching for them.

Xiaomeng and Xiaojun saw him and immediately called out, “Dad.”

Liang Tiefeng ran over, crouched down, and hugged his daughter and son, his eyes reddening. “Listen to Mom and be good,” he instructed Xiaojun.

Xiaojun pouted, trying not to cry.

Xiaomeng, with tears in her eyes, wiped Liang Tiefeng’s tears and said, “Dad, come back soon.”

Liang Tiefeng kissed her forehead. “Xiaomeng, Dad is wrong, I know I made mistakes.”

Xiaomeng said, “Dad works hard, you’re not wrong. Xiaomeng is at fault.”

Jiang Min pulled Xiaomeng away, “You’ve seen him. You can go now.”

Liang Tiefeng looked up at her.

Even though she wasn’t truly heartless, she was deliberately putting on a cold front.

He knew she was angry with him.

He had never felt such panic before.

He was losing her.

He didn’t want to lose her.

He had tried his best to be good to her, but why couldn’t she let go of her grievances?

Xiaomeng might just be an excuse.

Jiang Min ignored him.

As it was time to check tickets, she led Xiaomeng and Xiaojun to leave.

Liang Tiefeng hugged her tightly from behind, resting his forehead on her head. “Minmin, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…”

Jiang Min bit her lip, unwilling to speak.

He had said “sorry” many times over the years, but now it seemed the most sincere.

Unfortunately, she no longer wanted to soften her heart, forgive, or look back.

Linlin was right—things had changed outside, with the central government starting to reform and open up, and opportunities for both studying and earning money were endless.

Why should she spend the rest of her life trapped in the shadows of the past?