Ruan Jiaojiao bit her lip as she sat in the embrace of her eldest brother, Ruan Hao, her gaze vacant. Although she had been resolute just a moment ago, she now hesitated, uncertain if what she had done was right, especially since Ruan Wei was crying so heartbreakingly.
The Ruanlin Family matriarch stood face to face with Ruan Jiandang and said, "If you truly want a divorce, harden your heart and sue her. Don’t even go far back, just mention the car she bought for Liao Laifu this year and the meat she brought back, easily worth two hundred yuan. Go to the police station and accuse her, force the Liao Family to return the money, and if they can’t pay, divorce her!"
The people of the Liao Family were greedy and money-oriented; asking them for money would undoubtedly be harder than flaying a layer of their skin.
If they refused to pay, it would force Liao Zhaoji to pursue a divorce.
Regardless of whether Liao Zhaoji was willing to divorce, if the Liao Family insisted on pushing her to divorce for such a meager benefit, she didn’t believe that she wouldn’t see through the true nature of her family.
However, Liao Zhaoji had always been twisted since childhood.
She had restrained herself a bit in the past because everyone was poor, but in recent days, as life had improved and thrived, her warped character nurtured by the Liao Family had been fully revealed.
This woman was a lost cause; keeping her would drag even the greatest of fortunes to ruin.
Upon hearing this, Ruan Jiandang said nothing for a long time. His wife, with whom he had spent so many years, had changed so suddenly in the time that they were apart that he couldn’t understand why she had changed so dramatically.
He felt disillusioned, yet a faint hope lingered.
Just like Ruan Wei, he didn’t want to see their happy family fall apart, no matter how resolute he appeared on the surface.
But after the matriarch spoke her piece, he knew he truly had no way back.
He stood there with a slightly grim expression and remained silent, the Ruanlin Family matriarch was in no hurry for an immediate answer, she knew her sons well and knew exactly how to handle each one.
The eldest son was decisive; once he set his mind on something, he was as firm as iron. That’s why Shu Jiao still hadn’t come back; he decided to go out and look for her. Regardless of the outcome, this journey was him making peace with himself, refusing to let things drag on.
But Ruan Jiandang, indecisive and willing to settle, often didn’t want to take things too far, not realizing that some people, some matters, simply couldn’t be accommodated.
That Liao Zhaoji would never change her ways.
Ruan Jiandang was silent for a long time.
Finally, he closed his eyes and nodded, "Okay, after the farm work is busy, I’ll go to the police."
"Go tomorrow!" the Ruanlin Family matriarch glared at him.
"Okay!" Ruan Jiandang replied hoarsely.
The Ruan Family’s lunch today was eaten in heavy silence. Ruan Jiaojiao looked around at everyone, but in the end, she too didn’t speak. In the afternoon, the Ruan Family rested for a while before returning to work in the fields, though Ruan Jiaojiao didn’t join them this time, staying back with Ruan Jie and Xiu Xi for company.
Ruan Jiaojiao sat on the threshold of her home’s backyard, staring blankly as a lamb followed its mother sheep grazing on the tender grass.
Next to her, Xiu Xi gently took her hand.
She turned to glance at him.
Ruan Jie also watched the sheep and the lamb with downcast eyes, lost in thought.
Ruan Jiaojiao moved slightly closer to him; he heard the movement, looked up, and patted her little head, "What’s wrong?"
"Brother," Ruan Jiaojiao called out.
She had suspected that the consciousness of the original host might still be present, which was why every time the word "mom" was mentioned, her emotions would surge uncontrollably, a reaction she couldn’t restrain.