Chapter 70

Chapter 26: A Reunion Brings Joy

Fang Fang was enduring the cold ridicule of her family, feeling so wronged that she was almost in tears.

That day, she had left early in the morning, taking a bus to Lianshui, then a minibus to Fenglin Town, and finally walking for several miles on rural roads before finally arriving home, a journey that took her a full six hours.

When she returned home, the family had already finished lunch. No one greeted her warmly, nor did anyone offer to cook for her.

Fang Fang, trying to hold back her tears, took out a large bag of gifts and distributed them to everyone.

Fang Fang had six siblings. Apart from the third son who died at the age of seven or eight, the rest were raised by Fang Youde and his wife.

Each adult in the family received a gift, and they were initially quite warm in their reception. Her eldest sister, Fang Mei, even cooked a bowl of noodles for her.

However, the previous afternoon, Fang Zhen's eldest son, Fang Hongjun, had gotten into a fight after drinking in town and was arrested by the police.

The Fang family was in an uproar, with everyone crying and wailing. Fang Zhen's wife, Niu Baihua, cried all day, lamenting her hard fate and the poverty of the Fang family.

After crying for a while, she started cursing, blaming the police, the people who fought with her son, and her husband for being useless. Eventually, she blamed Fang Fang, and Fang Zhen, influenced by her, also began to criticize Fang Fang.

Fang Mei, who was married in the same village, was a simple farmer and could only pretend not to see her brother's and sister-in-law's behavior.

Fang Xing, the fifth sibling, was a very honest person. Although he disapproved of his elder brother and sister-in-law's actions, he did not dare to say anything.

Fang Hua, the sixth sibling, had a straightforward personality and immediately said, "It's not right to blame my sister for not raising her son well." For saying this, he was severely scolded by Niu Baihua, and he did not dare to retort.

Fang Fang tried to reason, "Now is not the time to blame others. The most urgent thing is to go and see what's happening and try to get him out. It will definitely cost money, so Brother, you should take more money with you. I have a few hundred yuan, you can use it."

Fang Zhen agreed and took the money to the town police station.

After much inquiry, he only learned that the case was serious and that Fang Hongjun had been transferred to the city police station. Fang Zhen was stunned. The town police station had not even processed the case, and it was already transferred to the city police station?

What serious crime had he committed?

He bribed a local police officer with 200 yuan and, after much persuasion, finally learned the reason.

It turned out that during the drinking, Fang Hongjun had a verbal altercation with a young man. The young man was very aggressive and hit Fang Hongjun, who, in anger, fought back.

Fang Zhen asked, "Is the other person dead?"

"Dead?" The police officer shook his head. "If he were dead, your family would be in big trouble! In fact, the injuries he sustained were not as severe as those of your son. There were three men on the other side, and only two on your son's side. Your son was the one who suffered more."

Fang Zhen, looking worried, asked, "Then why was my son arrested?"

The police officer, smoking one cigarette after another, said with a superior air, "Do you really not understand, or are you just pretending?"

Fang Zhen bowed and smiled, "I really don't understand. Could you please enlighten me, Brother?"

The police officer lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "That young man is the son of a city police leader! Our current chief is his uncle! He came to Fenglin to visit relatives, and who would have thought he would get into a fight? Your son was just unlucky. The police leader has ordered a severe punishment for the assailant. Two officers came this morning and took your son away."

Fang Zhen, in a panic, said, "What should I do? Should I go see your chief and ask for his help?"

"The chief is not someone you can see just like that. He's busy! Besides, he's the uncle of the victim. Do you really think he will help you? Go back! There's nothing you can do. Whatever the higher-ups decide, that's what will happen." The police officer waved his hand, telling Fang Zhen not to waste his efforts.

"Will he be sentenced? Sentenced to prison?" Fang Zhen was truly frightened. "A fight doesn't need to be this severe, does it?"

"Severe? It depends on who you are, hehe! If you were a higher official, would he dare to treat you like this?" The police officer threw away his cigarette, and Fang Zhen immediately took out another one and offered it to him, lighting it for him.

Fang Zhen, though anxious, returned home. Upon returning, he was so agitated that he started cursing everyone.

Then, the couple took turns cursing, and eventually, their curses were directed at Fang Fang. Li Yi happened to hear this.

Seeing Li Yi burst in, Fang Fang quickly went forward and held his hand, saying, "Yi'er, come, meet your grandparents and your aunts and uncles."

Li Yi did not speak but coldly observed the people in the room.

Fang Fang, knowing her son's thoughts, scolded, "Yi'er, why aren't you listening to me!"

Li Yi, seeing his mother's angry face and thinking about the wrongs she had endured, frowned and said, "Mom, let's go! There's no need to come to such a heartless family again!"

Everyone in the room looked angry but did not speak, as Li Yi's words were not wrong.

A little girl, curious, asked Li Yi, "Are you Li Yi? I heard you're in college. How can you be so impolite?"

Li Yi, seeing her standing with Fang Qian, smiled and said, "You must be Fang Hongyan."

Fang Hongyan, chest out, said, "Yes, I am!"

Li Yi smiled, "Sure, you're a child and weren't even born then. I wasn't talking about you."

The other adults looked even more displeased.

Fang Fang, holding his hand, said, "Come, meet your grandparents!"

Li Yi, though unwilling, was pulled by his mother and had to go forward.

Fang Youde, seeing Li Yi, was surprised. He clearly did not expect his grandson, who was once no bigger than a rabbit, to have grown so tall.

Li Yi, seeing Fang Youde's kind face, his eyes full of wrinkles and yellowish, with tears in the corners, was moved and called, "Grandpa!"

Fang Youde responded loudly, extending his hand, which was as dry as old tree bark, and held Li Yi, examining him closely, saying, "Good! Good! Good!" Li Yi felt his hand, which was all bones and had little flesh, but was very strong, gripping him tightly.

A sense of family affection welled up in Li Yi, and he called out again, "Grandpa, you're good!" He then handed the gifts he had bought to the old man.

Sitting next to Fang Youde was his grandmother, Tian Dongying, who had insisted on expelling Fang Fang from the family. Seeing Li Yi grown up, she sighed, "Xiao Si, you've suffered so much!" Fang Fang, hearing her mother's words, knew she had finally forgiven her, and tears welled up in her eyes as she impulsively hugged Tian Dongying and cried.

Fang Youde sternly said, "From today on, Xiao Si is part of our family. Anyone who says a bad word about her will not be tolerated!" He then swept his gaze over everyone present, and those who met his eyes lowered their heads, not daring to speak, thus acknowledging his words.

Fang Youde said to Li Yi, "Your grandmother insisted on expelling you from the family, and I didn't stand up for you. I always feel guilty about it. You and your mother must have suffered a lot over the years."

Li Yi, seeing the situation, knew that if he insisted on leaving, it would be too inconsiderate, so he respectfully replied, "A little hardship is nothing. It's mainly my mother who has suffered a lot."

Fang Youde sighed, "Ah! It's good to be back! It's good to be back."

Fang Hongyan ran over, opened the bag, and rummaged through it, saying, "Fang Qian said you brought chocolate. Where is it? I want to eat it!"

Li Yi smiled, "There are many candies. Take them out and share them with everyone. Don't forget Fang Qian; without her, I wouldn't have found this place!" Fang Qian's face turned red.

Fang Fang then took Li Yi to meet the other elders, and they all said sorry and acknowledged the hardships she had endured. The family, which had been like enemies, became more harmonious because of Li Yi's presence.

The cold atmosphere gradually warmed up, and the family laughed and talked, with the grandparents, who had not smiled in years, finally showing rare smiles.

Li Yi's heart also felt warm and cozy.

Indeed:

After twenty years of estrangement, a reunion brings joy.

Suddenly, they heard Niu Baihua, her voice drawn out, wailing, "My poor child! I don't know what kind of suffering he's enduring in the jail!"