Three villages, over three thousand villagers, returned home with grim faces.
When their children asked what happened, the villagers recounted the meeting's content and the homework assigned.
The children said, "Good riddance! Thought being a parent was all that great? We'll be parents ourselves someday."
The villagers tried to grab their children, "You little brats, you're villagers too! Come back and write your reflections!"
The children dodged, making faces, "Who are you kidding? We've studied the law. You only have the right to participate in village meetings after you turn eighteen. So, all the villagers Li Cunzhang mentioned are eighteen and above. If you dare make us write, you'll get an extra penalty."
The villagers, also parents, were speechless. They really wanted to swap identities with their children, but could they?
...
A few days later, the court pronounced its verdict: Lin Enhu was sentenced to nine years in prison.
Lin Enhu's mother was sentenced to three years.
Lin Hua'er, on behalf of her father, applied for a divorce from Lin Enhu's mother and for the revocation of her guardianship over Lin Man and Lin Wan. This was also approved.
According to the divorce agreement, Lin Enhu's mother did not have to pay child support for Lin Man and Lin Wan, but she also did not receive a single cent of Lin Er Lai's property.
Lin Er Lai, having recovered somewhat after treatment, could now speak simple words, albeit one word at a time.
He firmly refused to let Lin Enhu's mother take any of his money, wishing instead for her to pay with her life. He also disagreed with the sentences of nine years for Lin Enhu and three years for his mother.
Lin Hua'er had no intention of helping her father appeal. She was pregnant, and asking a pregnant woman to run around everywhere was incredibly selfish of her father.
Chen Fu, who had been busy helping, took his wife's arm and said, "You and Duo'er have done your duty. Let's go home."
Lin Duo'er quickly followed her elder sister and brother-in-law.
"Come back, come back," Lin Er Lai shouted from the doorway of the hospital room.
Lin Hua'er stopped and looked back at the pitiful old man on the hospital bed, "I am already married. Duo'er is still a minor. If you are dissatisfied with me and Duo'er, you can sue us, and let the court decide your final outcome."
Lin Er Lai raised his stiff arm, trying to summon his two indifferent daughters, "No, you and Duo go home. It's all yours, you two raise me together."
Lin Hua'er shook her head, "Thank you, but we don't need to."
The three of them still left, and Lin Er Lai's tears flowed uncontrollably.
Lin Guangde sighed, "You have completely broken the hearts of your children."
Lin Er Lai did not understand, "I made a mistake again?"
"Yes!" Lin Guangde nodded. "You want Hua'er and Duo'er not only to support you but also to support two minors, and finally to share your property equally with the two minors. Why should they?"
"When Hua'er and Duo'er were even younger than Lin Man and Lin Wan, you abandoned them. Why do you think money can buy back family affection? Who wants it?"
"I'll go back and see how the village plans to arrange things for you. Hua'er and Duo'er want a peaceful life, they don't want to be entangled with you."
Lin Guangde hired a caregiver for Lin Er Lai and then left the hospital.
Lin Wan, with her arm in a sling, came from orthopedics to see her father. "Dad, where are my elder sisters?"
Lin Er Lai shook his head.
Lin Wan's eyes widened, "They left? What about my sister and me? Sister can't get out of bed and still needs to be fed."
"Get lost!" Lin Er Lai roared.
Lin Wan retreated in fear.
A nurse ran over to stop the patient from making loud noises and advised him that anger was not conducive to his health.
Lin Er Lai was so angry he was panting.
The patient in the next bed, seeing Lin Er Lai's pitiful state, explained to the nurse the reason for his eldest daughter's departure and told her what he had heard about the Lin family.
He also told Lin Wan, "I heard that your elder sisters were given to your uncle to raise when they were even younger than you."
"Your father is currently worried about how to manage in the future. How can you sisters expect your elder sisters to help you?"
"You only broke your arm, you're not incapable of taking care of yourself and your sister."
"How can you just say that your elder sisters are wrong?"
"I think it's right that your eldest sister isn't taking over your family's mess. You don't seem like an easy person to deal with."
"At such a young age, being so calculating is really annoying."
"Your eldest sister is pregnant, and yet she worked hard and worried tirelessly for your father and you sisters, not eating or sleeping well."
"But these were all the evil deeds done by your own brother and mother. Your elder sisters have already done enough for you."
"You should act with a clear conscience, and don't learn from your brother and your mother."
Lin Wan shook her head, "I didn't, I..."
The patient in the next bed waved his hand, "Don't explain to me. Your father can finally move and speak. Don't anger him again, or if he has another stroke, it will be more severe than before."
"Just think about how you are going to take care of two people. An eight-year-old girl is not that young."
"There is always a reason for pitiful people. What goes around comes around."
After this lengthy speech, the patients and their families in the ward fell silent.
Lin Er Lai also calmed his anger and lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.
Lin Wan turned and left the hospital room.
...
Li Zhengguo was reviewing the villagers' reflection papers when Lin Guangde came to ask how to settle Lin Er Lai.
Li Zhengguo was also worried.
Lin Er Lai had four daughters. Except for Lin Hua'er, the eldest daughter who was already married, the other three were minors.
With Lin Duo'er's temperament, she was simply incapable of supporting a family.
While the two were discussing, a police officer arrived at the village office.
The police officer was there to inquire how the village committee planned to arrange for Lin Man and Lin Wan.
This was because Lin Wan had gone to the county public security bureau to report a case, claiming that Li Zhengguo had caused her to break her arm.
She further alleged that Li Zhengguo refused to pay her medical expenses, did not send anyone to care for her, and had evaded responsibility by leaving her directly at the hospital.
Li Zhengguo had cooperated with the county public security bureau in arresting Lin Enhu, so the county public security bureau was unlikely to file a case for Lin Wan.
They had sent someone from the town police station to ask the Kusanli Village Committee what their plans were for the two girls, Lin Man and Lin Wan.
"Damn it!"
Lin Guangde slapped the table and stood up, "I'm going to see Er Lai."
Li Zhengguo let Lin Guangde go. The village committee still needed to discuss the arrangement for Lin Man and Lin Wan with Lin Er Lai.
He explained to the police officer that the village committee was currently discussing the subsequent arrangements.
The police officer urged the village committee to make arrangements as soon as possible, noting that Lin Wan's crying and screaming when reporting the case had caused quite a stir.
Through the police officer's explanation, Li Zhengguo learned that Chen Fu had taken Lin Hua'er and Lin Duo'er away and had not found a caregiver for Lin Man.
After seeing the police officer out, he called Chen Fu.
Chen Fu was at the hospital.
As soon as they had left the hospital entrance, Lin Hua'er's stomach began to ache.
He hastily carried Lin Hua'er back to the hospital.
Lin Hua'er had a threatened miscarriage and needed to be hospitalized for preservation.
He and Lin Duo'er were taking care of Lin Hua'er.
Li Zhengguo berated his nephew fiercely, then told him to stay at the hospital and not run around, promising to send Li Min to take care of his daughter-in-law.
He asked Chen Fu to arrange for Lin Duo'er to go and look after Lin Wan, who was everywhere playing the victim.
After hanging up the phone, Chen Fu told his wife what Lin Wan had done.
Lin Hua'er sighed, "It seems we have no choice but to take charge. Lin Man is alright, but Lin Wan is as calculating as her mother. I find her annoying."