Chapter 508: Wang Lin, the Far-Sighted

Chapter 508: Wang Lin, the Far-Sighted

Wang Lin's impulsive nature had ruined his promising career. Although he didn't regret his actions, he still felt a twinge of regret whenever he thought about his time in the military. This time, when he returned home, he didn't wear the work clothes that Lu Jiaxin had bought for him. Instead, he wore a set of semi-old clothes and carried a shabby luggage bag.

It was already past four in the afternoon when he arrived in the village, and he hadn't seen anyone on the way.

When he reached home, Wang Lin pushed open the door and saw his younger sister holding a child, crying bitterly on a small stool, while his mother sat beside her, consoling her and wiping away her tears.

Wang Lin's parents had six children in total. Wang Lin was the fourth child, with an older sister and two older brothers, and a younger brother and sister.

Seeing this scene, Wang Lin's joy of returning home instantly vanished, and he asked worriedly, "Mother, little sister, what happened?"

Hearing his voice, Wang Lin's mother was startled at first. But when she turned around and saw him, she was overjoyed. However, thinking about how someone from the village had gone out to work and returned so soon, she became worried. "Fourth child, aren't you supposed to be at work? Why are you back?"

Wang Lin explained, "I haven't been home in two years, so I took a half-month leave from the factory. Mother, what happened to you and little sister?"

He hadn't told his family about him working as Lu Jiaxin's bodyguard. Considering their old age, he didn't want them to worry, so he told them he was working as a security guard at a factory in Pengcheng.

Hearing this, tears welled up in Wang Lin's mother's eyes again. "Your little sister... she has had a hard life."

At these words, Wang Lin's little sister sobbed even more inconsolably.

"Mother, what exactly happened?" Wang Lin asked.

It turned out that Wang Lin's little sister had gone for sterilization the same day she gave birth to her second daughter. The Xiang family wanted a son, but now that she couldn't have any more children, they were forcing her to divorce.

Wang Lin's mother was both angry and resentful. "When they came to propose, they spoke so highly of how they would treat our little sister like their own daughter. But now that she has given birth to a second daughter, the Xiang family, those murderers, are making her do laundry and cook during her postpartum confinement. When she refused, that old hag from the Xiang family scolded her and even incited Xiang Jiang to hit her."

"She didn't get to properly recover during her confinement, and without sufficient breast milk, the child could only drink rice soup. My four-month-old granddaughter is as thin as a kitten."

Wang Lin looked at the child in his little sister's arms and saw that she was indeed small and frail, resembling a two-month-old more than a four-month-old. If it had been the old Wang Lin, he would have rushed to the Xiang family to teach them a lesson upon hearing this. But after spending two years with Lu Jiaxin, he knew that violence not only failed to solve problems but also put himself at a disadvantage.

Seeing his gloomy expression, Wang Lin's little sister quickly stopped crying and pulled their mother to stop her from saying more. "Third brother, I'm fine. Xiang Jiang treats me well and loves both daughters very much. It's just that his parents want a grandson, so they're trying to blame me."

From her expression and gestures, Wang Lin could tell that she was avoiding something. "Little sister, if Xiang Jiang truly cared for you, he wouldn't let his parents treat you this way and drive you out. Don't worry, I won't do anything rash."

Previously, he had broken six of that wild man's ribs and ruined his own prospects. If he went to the Xiang family and beat someone up again, he would surely be arrested by the police. Now, he wouldn't be so impulsive or foolish.

"Little sister, what do you plan to do now?"

Wang Lin's little sister lowered her head. "I'll go back in a couple of days."

"Why go back to that wolf's den? If you return, they will definitely find ways to make things difficult for you, or work you to death, and then abandon the children and remarry."

Wang Lin's little sister understood his implication—he wanted her to get a divorce. However, it was easier said than done. Sobbing, she said, "Third brother, if I get a divorce, where would I go with the children? How would we survive?"

"If you want a divorce, then get one. With so many siblings in the family, you won't be left out in the cold. We won't let you and the children go hungry or homeless," Wang Lin assured her.

Of course, Wang Lin's little sister wanted a divorce. Ever since she gave birth to her second daughter, the Xiang family had burdened her with all the household chores. If she didn't do a good job, they would scold her, and Xiang Jiang would even become violent when he lost his temper. However, when it came to divorce, she lacked the courage. "Third brother, my older brothers both have their own families, and you will probably get married soon too. I can't cause trouble for the family because of me. If I do, I'll be the sinner of the family."

"Moreover, the eldest daughter is already six years old and can help with many chores. If I really get a divorce, I can only take the younger daughter with me. They won't let me take the older one. If I leave her in the Xiang family, who knows how much suffering she will endure."

Wang Lin didn't think it was a difficult problem. "If they don't let you take the eldest daughter, I'll go and beat Xiang Jiang up every few days. After a few beatings, those two old fogies from the Xiang family will definitely agree to let you take her."

Hearing this, Wang Lin's mother grabbed his arm. "Fourth child, no, you must not hit people."

Her son had once been on a promising path, but because of that despicable man, he had lost all his prospects and could only work as a security guard in a factory. Every time she thought about it, she felt like tearing that man apart.

Wang Lin comforted her, "Mother, as long as Brother-in-law Xiang doesn't beat his wife to death, it's considered a domestic issue, and the authorities won't get involved."

This was similar to the Lu family's situation, and it made him realize that these matters were indeed considered domestic issues. As long as he was careful not to cause serious injury and only inflicted physical pain on Xiang Jiang, the police wouldn't arrest him.

Only then did Mother Wang feel slightly relieved. She said, "Fourth Child, if your little sister gets a divorce, she'll have to stay at her parents' home. Such a big decision needs to be discussed with your older brothers. You can't decide this alone."

Wang Lin felt that his mother's words made sense. He would be returning to Hong Kong City in a few days, and if his little sister stayed with their parents after the divorce, his older brother and sister-in-law would have to take care of her and her children. If he made the decision without consulting them, they might feel uncomfortable. As a single mother with young children, she would need their protection to avoid being bullied.

"Alright, then let's discuss this together as siblings."

Mother Wang's expression stiffened, and after a moment, she said, "Just discuss it with your older brothers. Your sister is busy in town, so we won't bother her for now. We can inform her once we've decided."

Wang Lin found it strange that she didn't mention his youngest brother, as his mother usually doted on him the most. Excluding him from such a significant decision seemed odd, and he suspected something was amiss. However, after the past two years of self-improvement, he was no longer the impulsive man he once was, and so he refrained from asking further questions.

Mother Wang stood up and said, "Your father, older brothers, and sisters-in-law are all busy in the fields. I'll go and call them."

After she left the courtyard, Wang Lin spoke softly, "Little Sister, don't be afraid. I'm here for you! I won't let you and the children go hungry or homeless."

Wang Xiaomei was deeply touched.

Wang Lin asked, "Mother, why did you say not to call Fifth Brother?"

Hearing this, Wang Xiaomei's face turned angry, "Fifth Brother is now living with his in-laws. Because his sister-in-law's brother has a daughter, she can't have any more children, so he asked our little nephew, Zhuangzhuang, to change his surname to Wen. When Father and Mother found out, they demanded that he change Zhuangzhuang's surname back. They even said that if he didn't, they wouldn't recognize him as their son. In the spring, Father fell and injured himself while working in the fields. He was hospitalized for over half a month, but Fifth Brother and his wife didn't even bother to visit. Even after Father returned home, they didn't show their faces for over two months."

The eldest son of the Wang family had a son and a daughter. Asking his son to change his surname was almost like disowning him. Wang Lin, having been away from home for many years, didn't pay much attention to whom the children were surnamed after. However, the fact that his brother and sister-in-law didn't even visit their father-in-law in the hospital made them no better than beasts.

Wang Lin coldly said, "Since he doesn't acknowledge our parents, let's just consider him dead!"

After that, Wang Lin rode his bicycle into town and called his eldest sister and brother-in-law back home. By the time he returned, his eldest brother, Wang Dagou, and second brother, along with their wives, had already gathered. Wang Lin greeted them one by one.

When Father Wang saw Wang Lin, his expression softened, "It's cold outside. Let's go inside and talk."

Once everyone was seated, Wang Lin spoke first, "Big Brother, Big Sister-in-law, Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law, Big Sister, Big Brother-in-law, the Xiang family wants a son, but Little Sister had sterilization surgery and can't have any more children. If we don't agree to a divorce, the Xiang family will make her life miserable."

Wang Dagou wanted to speak, but his wife pulled him, stopping him from saying anything.

Wang Erjin's wife had a painful expression, but she knew she had to speak up, "Old Fourth, we also can't bear to see Little Sister being mistreated by the Xiang family. But there's simply no room in the house. Your eldest nephew will be of marriageable age in a few years, and if Little Sister returns home with her divorce, it will be difficult for your eldest nephew to get married. Moreover, she's not registered in this household, so she can't be allocated any fields. What will she and her children eat?"

Wang Dagou's family was fortunate enough to have built four spacious brick houses a few years ago. However, they were already crowded, with Wang Dagou, his wife, their five children, and the two elders all living under one roof. There was simply no room for more people.

After speaking, Wang Erjin's wife looked at Wang Xiaomei with an apologetic expression, "Little Sister, it's not that I, your sister-in-law, am heartless and don't want you to come home. It's just that our situation is difficult, and we have no other choice."

Wang Xiaomei wiped her tears and said, "Second Sister-in-law, I won't get a divorce. I'll take the children back later."

Wang Lin didn't respond to Wang Erjin's wife and instead looked at Wang Dagou, "Big Brother, what do you think?"

Wang Dagou sighed, "Finding a place to live is not a problem. I can help build a couple of mud houses with Second Brother. But the issue is their livelihood. Without any land to cultivate, what will they eat in the future?"

They could support them for a while, but it wasn't realistic to expect them to provide for their sister and her children indefinitely, especially since they had four or five children of their own to care for.

Wang Dagou's wife lowered her head and remained silent. She could help with labor, but she couldn't afford to provide financial support. She couldn't neglect her own children to take care of her sister-in-law and nieces.

Wang Erge (Second Brother Wang) wiped his face and said, "As for what will happen after the divorce, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Wang Erge's wife glared at him fiercely, but in the end, she didn't say anything against the idea. If she opposed the divorce and something happened to their little sister-in-law, both her in-laws and Wang Lin would blame her. Of course, as a woman herself, she also felt pity for her little sister-in-law's situation.

Wang Dajie (First Sister Wang) nudged her husband and then voiced her opinion. "When we build the mud houses, I'll ask my husband and son to come help."

Seeing that her brothers and sister supported the divorce, Wang Lin was satisfied. "Big Brother, Second Brother, Big Sister, as long as you solve the problem of where my little sister and her children will live, you don't need to worry about their livelihood. I'll take care of that!"

"And don't worry, I won't neglect my little sister after I get married. I won't be getting married within the next five years, so let's talk about it after that."

Although he had bought a house, he had no plans to marry anytime soon. After his previous betrayal, he wouldn't leave his future wife at home or in Si Jiu City while he was away. He didn't want to risk being cheated on again. So, if he were to marry, it would only be after he stopped working as a bodyguard.

The room fell silent.

Wang Lin's father, who had been quiet until now, took a few puffs on his pipe. Seeing that his son had a plan, he was very pleased. "Fourth Son, just focus on your job. With me, your big brother, and second brother here, no one will be able to bully them."

Wang Xiaomei (Little Sister Wang) was crying uncontrollably, both touched and guilty.

Once things were settled, Wang Dajie (First Sister-in-Law) spoke up. "It's the Xiang family who wants a son and is forcing your little sister to divorce. We can't just take back her dowry; we should also demand compensation from them. Fourth Brother works hard for his money, and getting compensation will reduce his burden."

In fact, it wouldn't just reduce Wang Lin's burden; it would also mean that their little sister wouldn't have to rely on them for everything.

Wang Lin had always known that his eldest sister-in-law was a thoughtful person. As for her silence earlier, he understood that everyone had their difficulties. "According to national laws, parents have a responsibility to raise and educate their minor children. The Xiang family must not only compensate my little sister, but they also have to provide child support for the two children. Little Sister, if they refuse to pay, then just drag out the divorce. After all, they're the ones in a hurry to remarry, not us."

Wang Erge's wife nodded vigorously. "Yes, we must get the money before the divorce. And if they dare to have a son, we'll go to the police station and report them!"

Wang Dajie was deeply moved. She was the one who wanted this divorce the most. While her parents and brothers might not have known, she was aware that her little sister-in-law had been beaten several times. If this continued, she might be beaten to death.

After the family had discussed everything, they went to the Xiang family the next day to demand an explanation.

At first, the Xiang family not only refused to give any money, but they also wouldn't let them take away the eldest daughter. Following their plan, Wang Lin shouted, "Smash!"

Wang Dagou (First Brother Wang) and Wang Erge, along with their sons, went into the house and started smashing things. Xiang Jiang, who tried to stop them, was beaten up by Wang Lin.

This time, Wang Lin avoided vital areas and controlled his strength. As for Xiang Jiang's parents, Wang Dajie and the others blocked their way, preventing them from entering the house.

The Xiang couple wailed and cried for help, but the neighbors, knowing that they had acted despicably, only watched and didn't offer any assistance. Finally, the village officials came to mediate.

Wang Lin said to the officials, "We're not being unreasonable. It's the Xiang family who wants to torment my little sister to death."

Wang Dajie also shouted, "My little sister-in-law couldn't have children when she married into their family. It was because of the national policy that she got sterilized. Now they want a son, so they're forcing her to divorce. They beat and scold her every day. My little sister-in-law's body doesn't have a single piece of good meat left. Village chief, will you help us judge? Don't they deserve to be beaten, this pack of dogs?"

Upon hearing these words, Wang Lin instantly flew into a rage. He kicked Xiang Jiang, causing him to howl in pain. "You dog! How dare you hit my sister! Xiang Jiang, if you don't want to give compensation and child support, then just divorce. I'll cripple you. Let's see who will marry you then!"

Remembering what Wang Lin had done in the past, the Xiangs worried that he would cripple their son.

With the village officials mediating, the Xiang family not only agreed to let the Wang family take away the eldest daughter but also agreed to give them a thousand yuan. However, they had a request: they would only give the money to Wang Xiaomei after she and Xiang Jiang obtained the divorce certificate.

Wang Lin also had a condition: the Xiang family must write a letter of disownment, severing the father-daughter relationship between Xiang Jiang and his two daughters.

The Xiangs, desperate for a grandson, readily agreed to Wang Lin's condition. Soon after, Xiang Jiang and Wang Xiaomei went to the Civil Affairs Bureau.

After obtaining the divorce certificate, the Xiang family gave the thousand yuan to Wang Xiaomei.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end