NOVPUBChapter 180 -180: Scruples (Seven Updates)
Chapter 180 -180: Scruples (Seven Updates)
“Chui Li, come out, or I’ll smash the door. If you think it looks good on you, just stay inside and see who ends up being embarrassed,” the man bellowed, likely not his first time causing a scene. From the window, Bai Xiao saw a neighbor peek out and then quickly withdraw.
It seemed everyone knew what was going on.
“This isn’t a solution, is it? He might just keep this up indefinitely!” Bai Xiao said, looking at Chui Li. This woman didn’t seem weak, yet her ex-husband still had such a hold on her! It was all because she was worried her daughter wouldn’t be well off in someone else’s care.
This made her think of her older sister, Bai Yue. If it hadn’t been for their escape, Bai Yue might not be any better off, hindered by Li Dashan and the old lady from the Li family who hadn’t had time to react or anyone to scheme with them. If someone had meddled back then, her sister might still be toiling for the Li family.
Li Dashan should be having trouble now, right?
She had left them a parting “gift,” after all.
The Li family wanted a comfortable life without considering whether she would agree. They took her sister’s hard-earned money, no problem, she thought of it as money spent on medicine.
“This is only a temporary solution, not a permanent fix. You should resolve this once and for all, drive that man away. Either get your child back to live with you, or harsh as it may sound, just resign yourself to not having a child. After all, the kid is with their biological father, not a stepfather, so it won’t be unbearable. Right now, they’re walking all over you, expecting you to provide for them. Are you okay with that?” Bai Xiao didn’t know what else to say; after all, everyone has to make their own decisions in life regarding what to accept and what to let go of.
Twenty yuan was indeed quite a lot. Although the salary levels in 1985 were decent, raising a child didn’t require twenty yuan. Even though Chui Li was a hospital director, her monthly salary was only around seventy or eighty yuan because those times didn’t pay hospital staff as much as later years did.
An average person earned about fifty to sixty a month. Even if Chui Li was shortsighted, the ex-husband, likely a worker, wouldn’t need twenty a month to support a child, right?
Schooling was compulsory education! Aside from a little spent on books each year, there were hardly any other expenses. There were no after-school classes, and how much could a child eat? Besides, living expenses should be shared by both parents, not just by Chui Li alone.
Chui Li sighed, “I’m just afraid that if I deal with Fan Jiancheng, he might go back and mistreat Xiaofen. That would be too unjust for the child.”
“Your daughter doesn’t know all the sacrifices you’re making,” Bai Xiao advised. “She’s under your care and protection, yet she is completely unaware because in her eyes, all these are expected! Yet, they don’t amount to the affection she feels from her father and grandmother. You should let her see and understand the struggles of life to appreciate what you’ve done for her.”
Chui Li hesitated; she was still afraid of her daughter suffering.
Bai Xiao shook her head and picked up the phone. Chui Li couldn’t keep hiding in her house forever.
“Security department, I’m at the Specialist Building, second floor, apartment 303. There’s a serious disturbance across my apartment that’s disrupting my rest. You’d better come over and take care of it.”
Chui Li startled, fearing Fan Jiancheng would make an even bigger scene once Security showed up. He thrived on public attention.
“Don’t, Bai Xiao, this might not be a good idea. The whole hospital will know about this, which is too embarrassing!” Chui Li struggled to take action.
Bai Xiao sighed, another woman burdened by her reputation, “They’re not ashamed; why should you be? Have you done anything disgracefully? He’s extorting you for money, why should you pay? If you were confident, you should tell Fan Jiancheng he can do whatever he wants; you’re not providing that support anymore. Let him take you to court and see if the court orders you to give twenty yuan.”
She wasn’t sure what else Chui Li was dealing with, but at least she shouldn’t forfeit her own position from the start.
Chui Li gritted her teeth, “I’ll go out and deal with it then. I know I’ve disturbed you.”
“You’re not doing this for me, you’re doing it for yourself. I don’t need to be afraid of disturbing anyone, I can handle him with just one phone call. This isn’t a problem. By acting this way, you’re only emboldening him. Taking a step back might not lead to a vast ocean and sky, but to an abyss, and in the future, your daughter won’t be close to you either. You’ll end up with nothing, having supported his entire family, and die lonely. Think carefully about whether you want to continue like this!” Bai Xiao felt that Chui Li was somewhat delusional; she certainly didn’t need her doing this for her own sake.
Chui Li nodded, “I understand. I’ve already done enough over these years. They live in my house, and every month they even ask me for money. It’s my fault for fostering their greed. I thought I was doing it for Xiaofen’s good! I didn’t want her to suffer, but even the child has been led astray now. I wasn’t thinking clearly!”
Bai Xiao was utterly speechless. To think that such a thing was happening here—an ex-husband actually living in his ex-wife’s house and having the audacity to demand living expenses—it was beyond belief that Chui Li was so muddled.
With this kind of situation, who else would he bully if not her?
Bai Xiao looked at her, realizing she still hadn’t figured it all out, but continuing like this was not the solution. She had to step in; she couldn’t just sit there all night with Dr. Chui Li. She had her own matters to attend to.
Suddenly, she opened the door.
The moment Fan Jiancheng heard someone next door opening a door, he kicked even more aggressively.
“I’ve already called security. If you don’t leave now, you’ll just have to stay with them shortly,” Bai Xiao said bluntly.
Fan Jiancheng, who had been kicking vigorously, suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“What! What did you say?”
Most people don’t want to deal with this kind of trouble. How did such a young girl dare call security?
Indeed, if someone calls security, it’s entirely justified, but usually, people think it’s a domestic matter and don’t want to interfere.
“I’ve been working all day and need my rest. You are here making a huge commotion and seriously disturbing my rest, so I called security. Oh, look, here comes the security staff now. Hello, officers. This is the man who has been furiously kicking the door and causing a disturbance here. Please take him away,” Bai Xiao saw the security staff had already arrived upstairs.
After all, this is the specialist building. Everyone living here is a respected member of the hospital, and security definitely takes it seriously, arriving immediately.
Fan Jiancheng was startled; security really had come.
“Officers, I am Chui Li’s husband! I came to find Chui Li!” At this moment, Chui Li was the best shield for him.
The security staff gave him a look, “Even if you are Director Chui’s husband, you still need to be mindful of others and not disturb their rest.” They were unaware of the situation and could only educate him.
Bai Xiao glared, this man was truly shameless.
“That’s not right, Director Chui’s husband has already divorced her.”
Bai Xiao decisively cut in.
