Witty Wife, Better Life-Chapter 826 - 816 What Did Our Dad Go Do

The next afternoon, Shen Yunfang drove Li Hongjun to the train station. Upon arriving, Li Hongjun took his work permit to buy a ticket, and luckily, he managed to secure a sleeper berth.

"You should stop by Big Brother’s place first when you get back and find out what’s really going on before you do anything impulsive that’s beneath you," Shen Yunfang advised with a hint of worry.

"I know, didn’t you already call sister-in-law?" Li Hongjun responded with a bit of helplessness. It wasn’t his first time returning to his hometown, so why was his wife so worried this time?

"Yeah, and remember, if there’s anything, discuss it with others instead of brooding over it by yourself. Also, I’ve tucked three thousand yuan in the inner pocket of your wallet; keep it safe, and don’t skimp while you’re away," Shen Yunfang felt like she had truly become a nagging mother. She had never worried this much, even when Li Hongjun was out on missions.

Sure enough, some folks back home were inherently less reliable than certain enemy spies.

"Yeah, I’ll be fine. But you, with so many kids here, don’t wear yourself out. If they return home and I’m not back yet, just send them to the farm to toughen up," Li Hongjun instructed.

The children were only scheduled to attend military training for a month, and half of that time had already passed. Li Hongjun wasn’t sure if he could return within the next half month; if not, his wife would have all the hardship.

"Don’t worry about things at home, I can take care of them. You just need to take care of yourself. Always remember you have a whole family relying on you for support, so don’t get upset over people who don’t appreciate what you do," Shen Yunfang knew that he was probably going to spend money and still end up in a thankless situation, but as a filial child, even knowing the outcome, he still had to go back and help the elders with their problems.

After exchanging a few more words, Li Hongjun realized it was time to go. He picked up the luggage his wife had packed for him and, holding his train ticket, entered the ticket check.

Shen Yunfang didn’t turn and get back into the car until Li Hongjun was out of sight, hoping her mother-in-law had been sufficiently scared by her trip to the police station to make the following matters more manageable. If she wasn’t scared, it would probably be difficult for Li Hongjun when he got back.

When Li Hongjun finally arrived at Taoshu Village on the third day at noon after getting off the train and taking the bus, the first thing he did was run into a neighbor.

"Hongjun is back, coming to see your mom, aren’t you?"

"Yeah," was all Li Hongjun could do but smile in acknowledgment.

"My, your mom sure is a tough one to deal with. Hongjun, come over to your uncle’s house when you have time," the neighbor said, giving him a sympathetic look before walking away with hands behind the back.

"I’ll come over when I get the chance, Uncle," Li Hongjun replied, chatting briefly with a few acquaintances before hurrying home.

Upon reaching his house, Li Hongjun found that his father wasn’t home, only the Zheng family mother and daughter were there. He frowned and headed straight to his elder brother’s house next door.

"Is Big Brother home? I’m back," he called out as he pushed the gate open.

Li Hongxing and his wife were both at home. Hearing the yell in the courtyard, they were surprised, "Isn’t that Hongjun’s voice? Hongjun is back."

Li Hongxing, nudged by his wife, got off the kang belatedly, fumbling with his shoes as he went out to greet his brother.

"You’re back," the two brothers met, and Li Hongxing, at a loss for words, could only offer a dry remark.

"Yeah, brother, I’m back," Li Hongjun responded.

"You two brothers, stop chatting outside. It’s hot out there. Hurry up and come inside to cool off," Wang Dan had also come down from the fields and was busy pouring some cool boiled water.

Once Li Hongjun sat on the kang bed, the first thing he asked was, "Big brother, where’s our dad? Why is there no one at home? Is he still at the police station?"

"Hongjun, have Erdan and Sandan been behaving alright on your side? They haven’t been causing you trouble, have they?" Wang Dan also immediately inquired about her own children.

"Sister-in-law, Erdan and Sandan are both doing well. But with so many kids this time, we really didn’t have the space at home, so I sent them to the barracks to train with the new recruits," Li Hongjun knew Wang Dan was worried about the children, so he briefly updated her on their situation, "Goudan is also doing well; he manages to come home for a meal every week. Don’t worry about him."

"I’m not worried with you two looking after them. Oh right, you just asked about our dad, didn’t you. Dad isn’t at the police station. If he’s not at home now, he’s probably gone to the Xue Family," Wang Dan answered Li Hongjun’s question.

Li Hongjun frowned upon hearing this. His own mother was still at the police station, and yet his father had actually gone to the Xue Family. What was he doing there?

Wang Dan was watching his expression. Seeing him frown, she said, "Hongjun, not to speak ill of my father-in-law as his daughter-in-law, but the way dad handled this situation was really not great."

"Sister-in-law, tell me properly what exactly happened with dad and mom." Although the letter had mentioned the general situation, it wasn’t detailed, and Li Hongjun wanted to know the specifics.

"Sigh, what else could it be? It’s all about the money," she replied.

Wang Dan then recounted the specific details of the event to Li Hongjun.

It turned out that everything had started over money. Qiu Shuping had called Li Hongjun, spending five yuan, but she never managed to scrounge up that amount, as she really had no source of income, unless she borrowed it.

Therefore, during that period, Qiu Shuping took every chance to quarrel with old man Li, using it as an excuse to vent her anger. How could she not be upset when her husband had started keeping an eye out for other women during the two years she wasn’t home? Even though nothing happened in the end, it still got under her skin.

Later on, however, Qiu Shuping learned from a good sister of hers that old man Li’s claims of having to repay debts were all lies. When old man Li and Li Hongxing had gone to the Capital, they hadn’t borrowed money from anyone.

After finding out the truth, Qiu Shuping exploded. She got home and latched onto old man Li, insisting that he reveal where the money had gone. The old couple came to blows over the money, drawing a crowd to witness the spectacle. Old man Li would rather take a beating than divulge where the money had gone. Eventually, someone from the crowd watching the drama dropped a hint, wondering if the money hadn’t all gone to Xue Suqin.

That comment was like dropping a droplet of water into a pot of oil. Qiu Shuping completely lost it, running on her tiny feet to the Xue Family to settle the score with that "old vixen."

She had always thought that her old man was the one taking advantage, but to her surprise, he had seriously turned over their household money to another woman, and that was something she could not accept.

When Qiu Shuping entered the Xue Family home, she didn’t think twice before seizing Mrs. Xue and beating her mercilessly, all the while cursing that Mrs. Xue was a widow who couldn’t stay put, flirting around and causing old man Li to spend money on her. If her own household was suffering, then no one else would have it any better; they would be ruined together.

Caught off guard by the altercation, Mrs. Xue was dumbfounded and could only cry pitifully.

What the crowd saw when they caught up was exactly this scene.

"You have no idea. The old man looked so distressed while that Xue Suqin was crying, he almost couldn’t help but take her in his arms, afraid she would melt," Wang Dan, who was among the onlookers, related the scene with relish.

"Stop talking nonsense. My dad isn’t like what you’re saying," Li Hongxing still wanted to save his old man’s face.

"What’s the matter, if your dad did something, he shouldn’t be talked about? Or are you planning to follow in his footsteps? Just so you know, I don’t buy that act your mom puts on. If you dare to start messing around outside like your dad, acting all clever, I’ll be the first to break your legs," Wang Dan glanced at her husband with a face full of warning.