allonlinenovel Chapter 156 The Young Widow 7
Chapter 156 The Young Widow 7
After returning home, Lin Cuilan ignored the dissatisfied looks from Chen Lihong, Chen Jianjun and Chen Jianhua.
Every day, Lin Cuilan would return home exhausted from get off work and plunge into the kitchen, lighting a fire and cooking, the fumes making her cough. Then she'd busily wash clothes, scrubbing her hands until they were red and rough, and tidying up the messy room. But even then, she received no gratitude from her children, only endless arguments and complaints. Today, she resolved to break free from this heavy shackle and live for herself.
Lin Cuilan returned to her room and, as she packed, her thoughts wandered like wild horses, drifting back to the distant past. Images of past and present lives played continuously in her mind like a movie. Those days of toiling day and night for her children seemed like a long, exhausting nightmare.
She remembered how, in her youth, to earn more money to support her children, she worked overtime at work, striving to be an outstanding employee, just to get a promotion and a higher salary. When she got home, she had to care for the children, often unable to sleep at night because of their crying. To ensure they had enough food and clothing, she lived frugally, reluctant to buy new clothes for herself, and carefully calculating how to distribute even a piece of meat so that each child had enough. But as the children grew up, none of them understood her hardships. Thinking of this, she felt a pang of sadness, and her eyes welled up slightly.
Of course, the noise of them packing up inevitably alerted Chen Jianhua and the other two. Chen Lihong, curious and suspicious by nature, was the first to be drawn in. When she saw Lin Cuilan packing something into a bag, her eyes widened instantly, as if she had witnessed something incredible. Her face was filled with surprise and bewilderment, and she blurted out, "Mom, what are you doing?"
Lin Cuilan didn't even raise her head. Her hands kept moving as she continued to methodically organize her clothes. She responded coldly, "Pack your things and prepare to move out. I won't live here anymore. I'll move in with your second sister-in-law."
When Chen Lihong heard this, she jumped up anxiously, her voice shrill and piercing: "Move away? Why move away? Isn't this house ours?"
Lin Cuilan stopped what she was doing and slowly raised her head. Her eyes were calm but revealed a hint of determination. She looked at Chen Lihong and said, "I don't want to have to run around you every day after work, cooking, washing clothes, and cleaning the room, and I don't want to be tired and my back aches. I don't want to hear you quarreling over a little money every day. You can argue until your faces are red and your ears are red, and even fight, completely disregarding family affection. I've had enough of this kind of life. Now Ruanruan and I will move out and live in peace and quiet, out of sight, out of mind."
When Chen Lihong heard this, she immediately refused to do it and yelled at the top of her voice, "No! This is unreasonable! You can't leave! If you leave, who will cook for us? Who will take care of this house? Who will wash our clothes? Why should you follow Lin Ruan and do her laundry, cooking, and housekeeping, taking up all the good days for her? I work so hard every day, and when I come home I can't even have a hot meal. What will I do?"
At this time, Chen Jianjun and Chen Jianhua were also attracted by the noise and hurried over. Chen Jianjun frowned and asked impatiently, "What's going on? Why are you making so much noise? Can't we just have some peace and quiet?" He had just got home from get off work and was already in a bad mood. Hearing the noise only exacerbated his anger.
Chen Lihong seemed to have found a backer, and she told the story again with exaggeration. At the end, she did not forget to glare at Lin Ruan fiercely, as if all the faults were on Lin Ruan.
Upon hearing this, Chen Jianjun chimed in, "Mom, you're so biased! Why should you get Lin Ruan a separate place to live, and what about us? Should we always be squeezed into this tiny, shabby house? This house isn't big to begin with, and the three of us live so crowded together, yet you're thinking about finding a good place for Lin Ruan. You don't even have us in your heart!"
Lin Cuilan took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress the anger that was about to burst out from her heart. She spoke word by word, "Don't think I don't know what you are thinking. Don't you just want to treat me as a free maid and enslave me for life? This house is rented by Ruan Ruan. She loves me and can't bear to see me suffer here, so she is willing to take me to live with her. I am happy to go with her. None of you can interfere! If you continue to make trouble, don't blame me for being rude!"
Lin Cuilan was so excited that she was shaking all over. She pointed at them, her voice unconsciously rising a few degrees, and scolded them: "What have you contributed to this family over the years? You are lazy and gluttonous, and all you do is quarrel and bicker all day long. You have no ambition at all! Every day after school or get off work, you either lie down or wander around, and never lend a hand to help with things around the house. Ruanruan is sensible and obedient. She knows how to care for me and is grateful. I am willing to live with her, and you have no right to interfere!"
Chen Jianjun snorted disapprovingly, "She rented it? Who would believe that? You must be partial to Lin Ruan and secretly gave her money to rent the house. Why should she have all the good things to herself? You just like Lin Ruan and think of her in everything. In your eyes, the rest of us are just like outsiders."
Before Lin Cuilan could open her mouth to refute, Lin Ruan stepped forward, looked directly into Chen Jianjun's eyes without fear, and said seriously and firmly: "The rent money is Jianguo's salary before his death. It is not a personal subsidy from my mother. Believe it or not."
Upon hearing this, Chen Lihong immediately jumped up and said, "Who can prove it? Maybe Mom gave it to you and she's just partial to you! Even if it was, it was my second brother's money, our Chen family's money. What right do you have to use it!"
Chen Jianjun chimed in, "That's right! Once Second Brother left, Mom only had eyes for you, Lin Ruan. We were treated like adopted children, getting scolded every day. Now look, you completely disregard our feelings. You're even moving out to live on your own. Are you planning on severing ties with us?"
Chen Jianhua, who had been silent all this time, blinked and rolled his eyes when he heard this. He then said, "If you insist on following the second son's wife, we can't do anything and can't stop you. But the pension money..." He paused deliberately, a calculating look in his eyes, "We have to discuss this carefully. After all, our lives will be affected if you're not at home."
Before she could finish her words, Lin Cuilan raised her hand in anger and slapped Chen Jianhua on the back with a loud, clear slap. The sound echoed in the silent room. Then came a barrage of scolding: "Bullshit! I worked so hard to raise you, I raised you with all my heart and soul, I provided you with food, clothing, and education. You should take care of me in my old age. No matter who I live with or who I serve, you must pay a penny for my retirement! Otherwise, I will go to your workplace and the police station to report you for being disobedient and unfilial, and let everyone know how you treat your own mother! You are a bunch of heartless people. I have devoted my whole life to you, and all you care about is money!"
Lin Cuilan was trembling with anger. After cursing Chen Jianhua, she pointed at Chen Jianjun and Chen Lihong with a trembling hand, her voice filled with endless disappointment and anger. "Sever ties? You're not even qualified to say that! I've put so much effort into you all these years, and how have you ever repaid me? You're lazy and greedy, not doing your job properly. All you do is quarrel and fight all day long, and you never give me peace of mind! I've worried about you all my life, my hair has turned white, my back has been bent, and this is how you treat me! Have your consciences been eaten by dogs?"
Chen Jianjun stiffened his neck and continued to insist, "What will happen to our family if you're gone? Who will cook for us? Who will clean the house? Are you so cruel as to leave us like that? We're used to you taking care of us, and now that you're gone, we don't know what to do."
Lin Cuilan sneered, her eyes full of disdain: "I've been taking care of you for so many years, and what have I achieved? You're all adults now, and you don't even have the basic ability to take care of yourselves? You still expect me to serve you for the rest of your lives? It's time for you to wake up and stop daydreaming like this!"
Seeing this, Chen Lihong simply sat down on the ground and cried: "You don't care whether we live or die, how are we going to live in the future! If you leave, others will laugh at us! They will say we are unfilial and that we made our mother angry and leave! We can't even raise our heads in front of relatives and friends. Please have pity on us and don't leave, okay?" She cried, wiping her tears with her hands, and her nose was running. She looked very embarrassed.
Lin Cuilan took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, and slowly said, "I'm going to say this today. I've served you for so many years, and I've fulfilled my duties as a mother. Now I don't want to serve you anymore. I've been with Lin Ruan, and no one can say anything wrong about me. If you're not satisfied, go and sue me and see who will speak up for you! For so many years, I've given everything for you, but all I get is your complaints and accusations. I've had enough!"
As she spoke, Lin Cuilan pulled out a file bag from her bag, which contained documents related to the housing allocation. She placed the file bag firmly on the table with a "snap" sound, as if she was bidding farewell to her past life.
"I've divided up the house deeds. Except for Lihong, each of us four will have one. Keep them for yourself. As a mother, I've done my best. The distribution of the house is based on what we agreed on that night, and I'm not partial to anyone. When you get married and have children, I'll come over for dinner if you'd like. If you don't want to, forget it. I won't force you. I just hope you can live a good life and be conscientious and responsible people. Lihong, come here. This is the lease contract for your second sister-in-law's room. Come and sign and put your fingerprints on it. This room will be yours from now on, so you must keep this contract safe."
Chen Lihong looked at the lease contract, tears welling up in her eyes, her heart filled with grievance and resentment. She felt she was the one who suffered the most, not only not getting a share of the property title, but also having to sign this lease contract. But facing Lin Cuilan's unquestionable gaze, she still didn't dare to disobey. She walked over reluctantly, picked up the pen, and signed with a trembling hand, then pressed her fingerprint firmly. As she signed, she muttered to herself, "Why am I so unlucky? I have nothing..."
Chen Jianjun and Chen Jianhua looked at the property deeds on the table, dissatisfaction flashing in their eyes. They exchanged glances, each feeling that the other had received more and they had received less. But remembering Lin Cuilan's thunderous rage just now, they could only dare not speak out, silently putting the property deeds away, their faces filled with reluctance.
Lin Cuilan looked at them, her heart filled with disappointment. She took a deep breath and said slowly, "From today on, we'll each go our separate ways. Don't bother me with those trivial matters anymore. I don't want to see you acting like such useless people anymore. I hope you can live a good life and stop bothering Ruanruan and me."
After saying that, she and Lin Ruan tied the sewing machine to the bicycle together, and each of them carried several large bags of luggage on their backs. Without caring that no one in the house said a word to see them off, they walked out of the house resolutely.
The sunshine outside shone on them, dispelling the haze in their hearts. Lin Ruan looked at Lin Cuilan's expressionless face and comforted her, "Mom, our future will definitely get better and better."
Lin Cuilan looked at Lin Ruan, her eyes full of relief and love, and said softly: "Well, with you by my side, I'm not afraid of anything. Let's look forward, the good days are still to come."
They both owned houses that were slated for demolition, and the steel mill housing complex was still under renovation at the time of her death. Plus, the 55-square-meter house, with four property titles, had no buyers. Let them be locked in this dilapidated house for the rest of their lives.
Lin Cuilan felt incredibly relieved at the thought. A gentle breeze rustled her hair. The old house behind her gradually faded in the sunlight, and ahead lay a new life filled with hope and warmth, waiting for her to embark on. The wildflowers by the roadside swayed in the breeze, as if blessing her; the birds in the trees sang cheerfully, as if cheering her on. With a vision for the future, she stepped forward toward a new life filled with uncertainty, yet incredibly beautiful.