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Chapter 495: Chapter 498: Lame Explanation_1
Reluctantly, the Wang Clan shut her mouth, hoping she hadn’t just made things worse.
"Zheng Hong, don’t lower yourself to your mother’s level. She’s always wanted a daughter, but she resented you a bit because she was hurt giving birth to you," Tan Yuancheng said, adopting a very humble posture and sincere tone.
But thinking about his ulterior motives sent chills down people’s spines.
He only wanted to make Tan Zhenghong give in, to get Tan Zhenghong to support him in his old age.
Noticing Qiao Duo’er’s unease, Tan Zhenghong gave her a comforting look; at this moment, his heart was crystal clear.
"I’ve always been the first to rise and the last to sleep. I hunt desperately, and except when the weather is too severe, I almost climb the mountain every day, so your lives can improve and my guilt eases a little."
"But what about you? No matter how much game I bring back, you only complain it’s not enough. When I’m injured or sick, nobody ever asks how I am!"
"Ask yourselves, have you ever treated me like family?"
"I’ve endured these hardships for so many years, I dare say any debt I owed you has been paid off!"
Tan Zhenghong’s emotions became somewhat uncontrollable as he recalled the past.
Qiao Duo’er tugged at the hem of his clothes, fearing Tan Zhenghong might lose his senses.
Tan Zhenghong turned to look at his wife and said softly, "I’m fine, child. It’s all in the past."
Once, his life was only shades of gray, and he even thought he would live in a daze forever.
Until Qiao Duo’er came into his life.
She barged into his life at his lowest and most painful moments, setting bones, washing wounds, cooking meals, giving medicine, while often showing faint sympathy and concern in her eyes.
That was the first time he felt the warmth of affection.
Even now, Qiao Duo’er was his only sunshine; only with her did his life feel alive.
Tan Zhenghong and Qiao Duo’er shared a deep love, while Tan Yuancheng was frantic like a cat clawing at walls.
Qiao Duo’er had gone to great lengths to obtain the Relationship Termination Letter; she certainly wouldn’t back down.
Looking at Tan Zhenghong, it was clear he would prioritize her wishes.
Tan Yuancheng gestured to Tie Niu with folded hands, "Little brother, I beg you to persuade Zheng Hong. He must not be instigated by outsiders. Being unfilial is a grave sin!"
"You don’t need to beat around the bush about my wife. Everything is my decision; it’s got nothing to do with her," Tan Zhenghong said loudly, refusing to allow anyone to slander his wife!
Tan Yuancheng’s face darkened instantly. Wasn’t Tan Zhenghong slapping his face?
However, given the special circumstances today, he could only hastily admit his mistake, "I misspoke in the moment, nothing more."
He quickly made eye signals to Tie Niu, hoping Tie Niu would help persuade.
Tie Niu didn’t speak immediately. Having been the village elder for so many years, he had never encountered such... shameless behavior. 𝒏𝒐𝙫𝙥𝙪𝙗.𝒄𝙤𝙢
If he weren’t the village elder, he could have sent Tan Yuancheng two words directly: serves you right!
But now he had to consider the village’s morals.
If people started to follow this example, using their elders’ mistakes as an excuse not to care for them, and the elderly were left without support, Big Willow Village would surely become a dismal place.
After mulling it over for a while, Tie Niu finally spoke, "I witnessed Ah Hong write the Relationship Termination Letter, and I advised him against it. With that letter in place, he’s under no obligation to take care of the elderly. You should discuss this with your other sons."
Most farmers’ families lead simple lives, and minor squabbles are common. Yet, it’s rare for issues to escalate to the point of writing a Relationship Termination Letter; in all these years, only the Tan Family has done so.
Once this reason is made clear, the vast majority of families can’t follow suit.
