Chen Qingxiu and Wang Kai had long anticipated that she would make this demand; they weren't surprised at all.
Chen Qingxiu said, "I've said it before: give me five hundred thousand, and I'll change the child's surname to Wang.
"Are you giving it or not?"
"How much? Five hundred thousand?"
Wang Meijuan almost screamed out loud.
"Chen Qingxiu, what a big tone you have!
"It's just a son, isn't it? As if no one else has one. Is your son somehow worth more?
"You really have a lot of nerve!"
Just as the two were about to start arguing again, Wang Hao returned.
He glared at Wang Kai.
"Big brother, do you really have the nerve to come and snatch my money?
"I made it clear to you all the other day. For the past few years, I've been the one taking care of Mom and Dad, and I even give them two thousand a month for living expenses.
"When they were sick with fevers, Lin Wanyi and I were the ones taking care of them. You didn't care at all back then, but now that money is mentioned, you all show up?
"Big brother, I really look down on you."
Wang Kai blushed a little, but he still said,
"No matter what you say, I am a son, and I have the right to a share.
"Besides, Mom has already promised us."
"What?"
Wang Hao turned his head and asked Liu Chunlan, "What did you promise them?"
Before Liu Chunlan could speak, Wang Meijuan quickly chimed in:
"She said that as long as they change the child's surname to Wang, she'll give them five hundred thousand."
Wang Hao was so angry he kicked a chair.
"Mom, did you really agree to this?
"Dad, did you agree too?"
Wang Jianguo just continued smoking, cigarette after cigarette.
Liu Chunlan tried to explain to Wang Hao:
"Son, you have to understand Mom. For so many years, my greatest heartache has been not having an eldest grandson.
"I get mocked by Zhang Cuihua and the others every day. Do you really not know how awful that makes me feel?
"When it comes down to it, it's still Lin Wanyi's fault. If she had just given me a grandson earlier, would I be in such a passive position?"
After saying this, she quietly told Wang Hao,
"Mom doesn't have that much money, only a few tens of thousands. Listen to me, let's just coax them into changing the surname first."
Wang Hao didn't listen. He roared,
"I don't care about your eldest grandson or youngest grandson. Regardless, if you don't give me the money, I absolutely won't let this go.
"Mom, whoever you give the money to can provide for your old age. Furthermore, you have to return all the money I've given you over the past eight years.
"I did the math. Twenty-four thousand a year, that's almost two hundred thousand over eight years, not even counting the times you had headaches and fevers and needed injections and medicine.
"I won't fuss over those extra expenses, but first return this two hundred thousand to me before we talk about dividing any money."
"Son!"
Liu Chunlan felt as if her heart had been pierced by needles.
"I am your mother, isn't it only right for you to give me some living expenses?
"Back when Lin Wanyi was here, even she didn't object. Now you're coming to me asking for the money back?
"This is simply unfilial!"
Wang Hao refused to yield an inch. "If you don't return my money, there's nothing to discuss.
"I'm not your only son, so why should I be the only one contributing?
"Lin Wanyi didn't complain because she's kind, but you can't take our kindness and turn around to bully us with it."
Wang Kai, however, said, "Wang Hao, is this how you conduct yourself? Being filial to your parents is an obligation. Since when do you ask for money back after spending it?
"Stop being unreasonable.
"Mom, give me the five hundred thousand first, and then divide the rest equally among the three of us."
Wang Meijuan grew anxious and shouted,
"Wang Kai, you're a complete idiot! According to what people say online nowadays, a man like you marrying into a woman's family should at least be matched with a governor's daughter.
"With assets starting in the multi-millions! But you foolishly married Chen Qingxiu for just a few hundred thousand, and now you have the nerve to come back and divide the family property.
"What kind of marrying-in is this? What does this even count as?"
Liu Chunlan wasn't stupid either. She said to Wang Hao,
"Your sister is right. But I won't hold it against you now. Just bring my eldest grandson back and change his surname first, and I will give you the money immediately.
"Otherwise, don't even think about taking a single cent from me."
Chen Qingxiu finally couldn't sit still any longer. She stood up and slammed her hand on the table.
"Old woman, don't push your luck. I said, money first."
"Change the surname first!"
"Money first!"
"Change the surname first!"
While the two were arguing until they were red in the face, Wang Meijuan suddenly threw a basin of cold water over Chen Qingxiu.
"Get out of here! You still want five hundred thousand? Didn't you use five hundred thousand to marry Wang Kai back then?
"I just don't understand. You guys are already so rich, why do you still have to come and fight with me?
"I'm the one who needs money the most!
"My son is still in the hospital; he'll never be able to walk normally for the rest of his life.
"My husband wants to divorce me and is demanding the bride price back. Why don't any of you consider me?"
Dripping wet and with her teeth chattering, Chen Qingxiu stomped her feet.
"Shrew! Scoundrel! None of you in the Wang family are any good!
"I'm hiring a lawyer. Just you all wait, I'm going to sue you!"
While they were arguing endlessly, Lin Jiajun and Chen Hui took Lin Wanyi to pick out furniture.
Chen Hui took a liking to a pink princess bed. She asked Lin Wanyi,
"Big sister, do you think Keke would like this?
"I really like it anyway. It's so pretty."
Lin Wanyi waved her hand dismissively. "That's your marital home. Keke and I won't be going there.
"Huizi, just buy whatever you like. Don't worry about me and Keke."
Chen Hui came over and took her hand.
"There are four rooms, sister. That's enough space for you to stay."
Lin Wanyi still refused to go. She currently had around seven hundred thousand on hand, which was enough for a down payment in a slightly more remote area.
Besides, living with Li Suhua was also good; she could take care of Li Suhua.
When her father passed away, she hadn't taken care of him for a single day, which remained a lifelong regret. She was determined to take care of her mother into her old age.
Unable to persuade her, Chen Hui ultimately didn't buy the pink bed.
However, as they continued walking around, Lin Jiajun realized that Lin Wanyi had disappeared.
Chen Hui hadn't seen her either.
They sent messages to Lin Wanyi, but there was no reply. They called her, but no one answered.
Chen Hui thought, "Could she have gone back by herself?"
Lin Jiajun hurriedly called Li Suhua, but no one was home either.
Lin Jiajun grew anxious. "Her mental state hasn't been great lately. We need to find her quickly."
He and Chen Hui searched everywhere to no avail, but then they noticed a dense crowd gathered downstairs.
They hurried down, and from outside the crowd, they could hear Lin Wanyi's voice breaking down.
She was screaming, "Don't come near me, Wang Hao! Stay away!
"Don't follow me, I'm begging you. We're divorced, Wang Hao.
"We are divorced!"
Lin Jiajun pushed through the crowd and went in. Sure enough, he saw Lin Wanyi crouching on the ground, clutching her head with both hands.
She kept yelling, "Go away, Wang Hao! Go away!"
The people around were murmuring among themselves.
"Is this person crazy? Who is Wang Hao? Are any of you Wang Hao?"
"No, and I don't see anyone bothering her either. I think she's lost her mind too."
"Paranoia, maybe?"
Lin Jiajun quickly crouched down and lifted her head.
"Sister, look at me. Sister, sister!
"There is no Wang Hao. Wang Hao isn't here. He's very, very far away.
"Sister, you're divorced. You and Wang Hao are divorced. You don't need to be afraid of him anymore."
Seeing her savior, Lin Wanyi immediately gripped Lin Jiajun's shoulders tightly.
"No, Jiajun, look! In front of you, behind you, look carefully... everyone surrounding us is Wang Hao!"
"He has gone mad. He said he won't get a divorce. He said he regrets it.
"Look, he is still holding up his phone, filming me.
"Stop filming! Don't film me!"
As she spoke, she slapped the phone out of the hands of a bystander who was recording the scene.
"I said stop filming me! Wang Hao, you secretly film me, threaten me, and force me—you are utterly shameless!
"Stop filming, do you hear me?! None of you Wang Haos are allowed to film me!"
The onlookers were completely bewildered, but Lin Jiajun's heart was bleeding.
Only he knew that Lin Wanyi must be suffering from hallucinations brought on by endless days and nights of extreme anxiety.
She was imagining that everyone around her was Wang Hao.
She was sick. She was truly sick.
At that thought, he scooped Lin Wanyi up into his arms and strode toward the hospital.
If she was sick, then she needed to see a doctor!
The doctors would definitely be able to heal her.
