Witty Wife, Better Life-Chapter 595 - 585

After Li Hongjun returned home to recuperate, Shen Yunfang feared that the children, being careless, might bump into Li Hongjun’s wounds during their summer break, so she sent the two kids to daycare regardless, allowing herself to stay home from school and care for her husband full-time.

As for old man Li, Shen Yunfang didn’t need to worry about him anymore, because Qiu Shuping and Li Hongqi had finally been sentenced.

Among the four of them, Li Hongqi received the heaviest sentence; he was considered the mastermind, with the fraudulently acquires sum amounting to more than five hundred yuan—a substantial amount at that time—thus he was sentenced to five years in prison.

Qiu Shuping was deemed a principal participant, since she was the one who had gone crying, so she received the second-harshest punishment after Li Hongqi, sentenced to two years and six months in prison.

Zheng Guilin and her mother were considered accessories with lesser complicity, and during the confession, Zheng’s mother had shifted most of the blame onto Qiu Shuping, resulting in both mother and daughter ultimately being sentenced to one year in prison each.

Although Zheng’s mother received a lighter sentence than Qiu Shuping, she wasn’t as fortunate in other respects. Even if Qiu Shuping’s husband was a country bumpkin, when faced with such an event, he stood by her without abandoning her. Old man Li made repeated efforts to find ways to get his daughter-in-law and son out of prison and although he ultimately failed, it was a matter of capability; his intentions were clear. However, Zheng’s mother encountered a scoundrel: upon receiving the news and arriving at the Capital, Zheng’s father learned of the whole situation and decisively filed for divorce, insisting on drawing a clear line between him and the Zheng mother and daughter.

Naturally, Zheng’s mother cried and made a scene, refusing to agree, but such matters can’t be resolved by refusal alone. Once Zheng’s father submitted the divorce application, the organization immediately approved his request.

So, half a month after Zheng’s mother was arrested, Zheng’s father came to the Capital, successfully divorced her, and immediately cut ties with both mother and daughter. The next day, he took the train back home to continue as his modest office director.

By the time the official sentence was announced in August, Li Hongqi’s face was gloomy, Qiu Shuping was cursing loudly, Zheng Guilin was in tears, and Zheng’s mother was expressionless.

That evening, old man Li and Li Hongxing went to Li Hongjun’s home, and as a daughter-in-law, Shen Yunfang was of course hospitable, preparing four dishes for the three men. Knowing they were in low spirits, she kindly heated a pot of wine for them.

If Qiu Shuping had been there, she would definitely have burst out cursing: damn it, I just got locked up today, and here you are at home feasting and drinking as if it’s a celebration?

In fact, Shen Yunfang did harbor such feelings; for the next two and a half years, she would enjoy peaceful days and couldn’t help but be happy.

However, as they ate, when old man Li began to cry uncontrollably, as a daughter-in-law, Shen Yunfang started to frown.

"Come on, Pangpang, Manman, you’ve eaten enough, right? Join Mom to watch TV." Not wanting her children to see this spectacle, Shen Yunfang quickly pulled the two, who were still diligently scooping rice with their little spoons, away from the table. She left the dining area to the three men—they could do whatever they pleased.

Li Hongjun, looking a bit under the weather, said, "Dad, things have already come to this point, and it does no good to be sad or distressed. You’re going to frighten the children this way."

Old Man Li had been drinking a bit and couldn’t control the oppression in his heart any longer, so how could he listen to what his son was saying? He was just drowning his sorrows with alcohol, which only brought him more sorrow.

"Hongjun, your mother is really going to suffer," Old Man Li said, and, as he spoke, he wiped his nose on the ground. At the end, he even rubbed his hand on the sole of his shoe, "Just thinking about us enjoying good food and drink out here, while your mother inside is choking on bran and vegetables, my heart feels like it’s flipping over with discomfort."

Neither of the Li Hongjun brothers said anything. Their own mother was out of line, forgoing a good life for mischief, and ended up geting herself thrown into jail; who could they blame? If anyone truly had to be blamed, it would be Li Hongqi. If it weren’t for Li Hongqi’s discontent, wanting this and that, this year’s incident simply would not have happened. Even if Qiu Shuping was unreasonable, she wouldn’t have the audacity to go out and scam people for money. So, in the end, it still all came down to the sins of Old Man Li and his wife who always hoped their youngest son would make something of himself and bring them a better life. Now, look, that son has taken his mom to jail instead.

Seeing his old father crying like a child, Li Hongjun couldn’t help but offer some comfort, "Dad, stop crying. Maybe it’s not entirely bad for mom to go to jail and get reformed; indeed, her temperament really needs to change."

Old Man Li hadn’t expected his son to say something like that. He was slightly stunned and after a while replied, "Hongjun, I know you’re capable, but remember, no matter how capable you are, you are still a member of the Li Family, and your mother will always be your mother." He felt that his son had forgotten his roots.

"Dad, I know, I’ve never said I would disown my mother. After I got married, all the things my mother did under Li Hongqi’s instigation... Dad, you tell me with your conscience, did my mother do right?" Li Hongjun clearly understood he was a son of the Li Family, so even if Qiu Shuping, his mother, wasn’t good, there was nothing he could do, and he couldn’t just ignore her.

Now it was Old Man Li’s turn to be silent. What could he say? Although he was a bit muddled, he wasn’t incapable of discerning right from wrong; he also knew that his wife had done some things that were over the line, but he always thought that they were all family, and any losses or gains wouldn’t go to outsiders. Why couldn’t everyone just take a step back for harmony’s sake?

"Hongjun, your mother did wrong, but she is still your mother, what can we do!" As Old Man Li spoke, he started to cry uncontrollably.

The sight of his father crying made Li Hongxing’s eyes sting, and he too began wiping away tears alongside his father.

Li Hongjun sighed, "I know, I know. Dad, things are already like this; we have to think positively. I hope that through this, my mother can change her ways." Qiu Shuping and Li Hongqi being sent to jail also had an impact on him; having a mother convicted of fraud would make his future path much harder.

But since he could not choose where he came from, he could only adapt, with no power to change it.

"Besides, it’s not a long sentence she’s been given — just two and a half years. As long as she reforms well in there, she might even be able to come out earlier. Dad, you don’t need to worry. Just wait at home for my mother to return," Li Hongjun sincerely hoped his mother would truly reform and start afresh, which would be better for everyone concerned.

"No matter what, things are settled now. You and I have been out for over a month, and there’s a heap of things to take care of at home. I reckon we should head back tomorrow. From now on, you’ll need to take more care of your mother here," Old Man Li said, wiping his face as he spoke.

Qiu Shuping and Li Hongqi were detained in different jails. Li Hongqi would be sent to the far northwest, while Qiu Shuping was near the Capital. Li Hongjun could look after her here.freēwēbηovel.c૦m