Chapter 307: Human Hearts Are Fickle
Lu Qiaoge hurriedly stepped forward to support Wei Xia, asking, “Are you feeling unwell? How about we take you to the hospital?”
Wei Xia looked ashen, her eyes dull, murmuring in a low voice, “No, I’m not going.”
Sister Qiao patiently asked, “Why not go? Is it because you have no money? Don’t worry, our neighborhood committee has difficulty subsidies, and treatment expenses will be reduced or exempted.”
Wei Xia glanced at Lu Qiaoge and Sister Qiao.
They were neighborhood committee cadres.
Last time when she was deceived into divorcing, these two people were both present.
Wei Xia lowered her head and said in a hoarse voice, “I’m not going. He’s hoping for me to die, so I’ll die for him to see. If I die, with these four children, I want to see if he dares to not care for them?”
Cadre Liu looked serious: “What exactly is the situation? Tell us properly.”
Over there, Aunt Han anxiously said, “The street cadres are all here. If you have any ideas, just say them.”
Wei Xia still didn’t speak.
From the beginning, Lu Qiaoge had noticed that Wei Xia’s personality was actually the same as that of many women nowadays.
Taking the husband as the sky, with no real opinions of her own, after marriage holding onto the idea of being together until the end, the two living together until old age.
But then again, is there a problem with thinking that way?
Who gets married not aiming for a lifetime together?
But human hearts are fickle.
Not to mention if a woman has feelings for a man, once lovesick takes over, she really might not even care about her life.
Even thinking that if she dies, the other party will be sad and in pain.
But little does she know, if you die, he might breathe a sigh of relief, even happily drink a cup of wine to celebrate.
At the same time, no matter what mentality a woman is in, if she doesn’t dare or doesn’t want to cause trouble for the man, she will generally vent her anger on the children.
Even thinking it’s all because of the children that the husband doesn’t like them, otherwise how could he heartlessly not care for them?
Although Lu Qiaoge felt Wei Xia was too useless, Aunt Han had already gone to Director Hu, so this matter had to be resolved.
She and Sister Qiao exchanged a glance; for someone like Wei Xia nowadays, they could only be gentle first and then firm.
For the gentle part, Sister Qiao would handle it; she was good at heart-to-heart talks, liking to use soft words to influence the other party.
Sister Qiao took Wei Xia’s hand and went into the room, with Aunt Han and Lu Qiaoge following behind.
Cadre Liu didn’t go in; after all, men and women are different, not very convenient.
He came along mainly afraid something might happen to the children.
Cadre Liu glanced at the courtyard; there was no firewood for burning.
How did Wei Xia and her four daughters cook?
This area was bungalows, with heated beds inside the houses, using earth stoves, needing to light a fire to eat.
Their neighborhood committee was currently conducting winter residents’ heating statistics work.
The main heating materials were firewood, coal, and honeycomb briquettes.
But now in Wei Xia’s home courtyard, the place for burning firewood was empty.
It was said that Wei Xia’s maternal home had no one left, and at this look, it was almost like a widow with orphans.
Cadre Liu’s brows were still furrowed; the three children had injuries on their hands and arms, not serious but infuriating to see.
Cadre Liu angrily paced around the courtyard, asking the oldest girl, who was only about six or seven years old, “Did you eat breakfast this morning?”
The little girl’s eyes were very big, like black grapes, and upon hearing this, she timidly shook her head, while the little boy beside her hid behind his sister.
Many strangers had come to the home; the three children squatted by the wall root not daring to speak.
This was truly infuriating and heartbreaking.
Cadre Liu shouted to Sister Qiao in the room, “Old Qiao, the three children haven’t eaten yet. I’ll go buy some buns.”
Then he added, “I’ll go to the firewood station and get some timber and coal for you.”
Wei Xia was just about to speak when Sister Qiao said gently, “Old Liu knows people at the firewood station. Let him get some firewood for your home. It’s almost October and the weather will get cold soon. We’re doing statistics work, and a situation like yours will be considered for difficult household.”
Wei Xia just kept her head lowered without speaking.
Sister Qiao continued gently, “I know what you said earlier was just angry words. How could you think that way? If your four children lost their mom, do you know what kind of life they would have? Otherwise, why would the ancients say they’d rather follow a beggar mom than an official dad?”
Wei Xia’s voice was hoarse, as if talking to herself, “I didn’t expect his heart to be so ruthless. We have four children. After so much time, how could there be no feelings?
But he said he didn’t want us and just discarded us. He deceived me. How could he deceive me? He’s not human… How am I supposed to live now?
A few days ago the four children all had colds. I took a week’s leave. When I went back to work, the unit leader told me that because I was absent without reason and took leave, I was dismissed.”
Aunt Han didn’t know about this yet and looked at Wei Xia in shock: “What? The shoe factory actually dismissed you? You’re a formal worker. You didn’t do anything wrong, just took a week’s leave to care for the children. No matter where you say it, you’re in the right. What right does he have to dismiss you? Who is your leader? I’ll go find him!”
Sister Qiao and Lu Qiaoge also exchanged a glance; something was off.
Even if Wei Xia hadn’t taken leave, with four sick children at home, it was excusable.
After all, a woman without a husband raising four children, even the work unit had to consider such actual circumstances, let alone her being a formal worker at the shoe factory.
Wei Xia suddenly raised her head and said, “I went to ask. I clearly asked our workshop director for leave, but he said there was no such thing and that my usual performance was poor. Later I found out the workshop director and Du Wanqing are relatives.”
Du Wanqing, this name was somewhat familiar. Oh, right, she was the white moonlight that Jiang Chusheng mentioned.
Jiang Chusheng divorced Wei Xia for this woman.
Sister Qiao: “Then didn’t you go to your factory director to explain the real situation?”
Wei Xia shook her head and said in a very small voice, “Our factory director has a bad temper, somewhat scary. I didn’t dare go to him. I went to Jiang Chusheng. The children’s illness spent all my salary, and I originally had no savings. I… I really had no choice but to go to Jiang Chusheng.”
Lu Qiaoge noticed Wei Xia’s emotions were still manageable; at least she wasn’t hysterical but clearly recounting the sequence of events to them.
Lu Qiaoge took her hand, thinking to herself, even if you’re blinded by lard now, my energy can clear your mind for you.
Lu Qiaoge’s voice was very gentle and soft: “Sister Wei Xia, don’t worry. Take your time.”
Although Lu Qiaoge’s energy didn’t have much effect on humans, it was still energy.
Just like in some novels: their hands clasped tightly together, as if drawing strength from each other’s palm.
Strength equals energy; this kind of contact could also encourage people.
Wei Xia indeed improved a lot.
Her expression wasn’t so grim anymore, and she said in a low voice, “I went to Du Wanqing, wanting her to talk to the workshop director. I did take leave; I wasn’t absent without reason. But Du Wanqing, she… that… that bitch…”
