They didn't know that Xiao Mandong had already talked to Director Lin in order to tie Wang Xiumei and Lu Jianguo together.
The Old Party Secretary found an acquaintance in the commune who could help them get a marriage certificate at the hospital.
The Old Party Secretary also promised to lend Lu Bingshan two hundred yuan. The Brigade Leader had lent him two hundred yuan, and with Lu Hong's one - hundred - yuan betrothal money, they had managed to scrape together five hundred yuan in total.
At dawn, Lu Bingshan let the two girls out. Lu Hong hadn't slept all night. Her eyes were swollen like walnuts, and her disheveled hair stuck to her face. Ma Lanying walked into the room with a half - worn floral dress in her hand. Her eyes were bloodshot. Without saying a word, she silently helped Lu Hong change into the dress.
She had no other choice. Her son's life was the most important thing. She hoped her daughter could understand their difficulties.
Lu Hong's tears had dried up the day before. She secretly vowed that once she stepped out of this house and married into the Zhu family, she would never come back again.
Wang Xiumei seemed much calmer. After a night of struggling, she had figured things out. Anyway, the situation was already like this. If she waited for Lu Jianguo to get out of prison and gave birth to his children, Lu Jianguo would surely treat her better when he came out. Her reputation was completely ruined. If she remarried, she could only marry a widower and raise other people's children. It was better to stay in the Lu family and raise her own child.
Lu Bingshan instructed them sternly with a cold face. Then he put the letter of introduction issued by the Brigade Leader, the household register, and the collected money into his pocket and took Wang Xiumei directly to the village brigade. Lu Hong dawdled along behind them.
The village brigade's radio horn crackled and came on. Wang Xiumei was pushed in front of the microphone. She was crying so hard that she could hardly catch her breath. Intermittently, she admitted her improper relationship with Lu Jianguo in front of the whole village and also acknowledged that the child in her womb was Lu Jianguo's. The early - morning broadcast spread throughout the village. Many people rushed to the brigade headquarters out of curiosity. However, out of respect for the Old Party Secretary and the Brigade Leader, no one said anything harsh. They just whispered among themselves. Wang Xiumei covered her face and squeezed through the crowd to the village entrance.
The Old Party Secretary and Zhu Xiaoliang were already waiting on the ox - cart. Zhu Xiaoliang was wearing a brand - new blue cloth gown, and his hair was neatly combed. He looked gentle and proper. If he didn't walk, he really seemed quite all right.
Zhu Xiaoliang got up voluntarily and greeted Lu Bingshan politely. Previously, they addressed each other as brothers, but suddenly the relationship had changed. Lu Bingshan also felt embarrassed.
The ox - cart swayed slowly towards the commune. The people in it didn't say a word all the way, and the atmosphere was very depressing. They first went to the civil affairs department of the commune. The staff there was very familiar with the Old Party Secretary. Without asking any questions, they directly filled out the forms and stamped the seals.
At the moment when Lu Hong picked up the pen to sign, tears welled up in her eyes and couldn't be held back. With two crisp clicks, the bright red seals were stamped on the two red marriage certificates. Zhu Xiaoliang carefully put the two marriage certificates into his inner pocket. Looking at Lu Hong, he said gently: "Don't worry, I'll treat you well in the future."
Lu Hong remained silent, with her head down, tightly clutching the corner of her clothes.
She knew her life was over. She had once fantasized about marrying a wealthy man, a city - dweller, and even about Zhou Qichuan. Now, she was actually married to a disabled man.
"Liangzi, take Hong girl to buy some cloth and make two sets of clothes when you get home," the Old Party Secretary said.
Lu Hong took a half - step back reluctantly and said hoarsely:
"No... no need." She refused to go. How could she go shopping at the supply and marketing cooperative with a lame man? Didn't she have any sense of shame?
A fleeting look of gloom flashed across Zhu Xiaoliang's eyes, and then he quickly regained his gentle expression: "Dad, Lu Hong is young. She must be shy. Let's forget it. Let's go home first."
"Right, right. You go home first. I'll go to the hospital with them. Later, I'll go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some candies and distribute them to the kids in the village."
Lu Bingshan gave Lu Hong a cold look, hinting for her to behave herself, then helped Zhu Xiaoliang and Lu Hong onto the ox - cart.
The civil affairs assistant from the commune, carrying two blank marriage certificates, a stamp pad, and the official seal, followed them to the hospital.
Outside the hospital ward, two policemen were standing guard. Their director had given instructions the day before. After verifying their identities, they went into the ward with the group.
Lu Jianguo was lying on the hospital bed, looking pale, thinner, and exhausted. Lu Bingshan stepped forward, his voice choking: "Jianguo, Xiumei is pregnant with your child. To give birth, you need a birth certificate, and you also need to register the child's household. Get married to Wang Xiumei today and get the marriage certificate done."
Lu Jianguo was stunned for a moment and looked at Lu Bingshan in confusion. His eyes swept over the two policemen standing behind, and he saw Lu Bingshan gently shaking his head. He swallowed hard and finally just said a single word "Okay".
He really didn't want to marry Wang Xiumei. Looking at her now, all Lu Jianguo felt was hatred in his chest. If it weren't for this woman seducing him, how would he have ended up in this situation?
The civil affairs assistant stepped forward and only then realized that the man on the hospital bed was the one he had gone to handle the divorce for before, the man who had had an improper relationship with a woman.
He quickly filled in the information and asked the two of them to press their fingerprints. The official seal was stamped, and the formalities were completed.
Lu Bingshan stuffed the two marriage certificates into his own pocket at once, told Lu Jianguo to take good care of himself, and then left the ward with the Brigade Leader.
Lu Jianguo closed his eyes. The sound of their leaving footsteps echoed in his ears. Humiliation, despair, anger, and unwillingness all mixed together, blocking his chest and making it hard for him to breathe.
At this moment, Xiao Mandong was sitting in the clinic with Director Qi when she saw the Brigade Leader peeping into the consulting room. Xiao Mandong asked for leave from Director Qi and took them to an open space behind the hospital. At the signal of the Old Party Secretary, Lu Bingshan handed over the two marriage certificates and a bag. Xiao Mandong glanced at the newly - issued marriage certificates, quite satisfied, and counted the money in the cloth bag. There was not a single cent less.
Under the cover of the cloth bag, Xiao Mandong took out a letter of understanding from her space:
"Uncle Brigade Leader, here is the letter of understanding. May I ask if Wang Xiumei has explained to the villagers about the origin of the child?"
"Yes, she explained it on the radio at the brigade this morning. The whole village could hear it. You can rest assured."
Xiao Mandong handed the letter of understanding to the Brigade Leader: "Uncle, I trust you. I'll go back to work now."
After saying that, Xiao Mandong turned around and left. Just as she got back to the hospital, Xiao Zhenyu blocked her way: "Sister, you're really heartless. I'm your younger brother. Don't you know that if I'm detained, I'll have a criminal record. What am I going to do in the future?"
Xiao Mandong didn't want to waste any more words on him and turned to leave, but Xiao Zhenyu blocked her again.
"Sister, Mom wants to talk to you. Come with me. She's our real mom. Don't be so stubborn."
"What? Is your mom homeless after being discharged from the hospital?"
