Chapter 606
“But if even the eldest son’s family is gone, won’t your father come out of prison and bring his grandchildren to find us?” she asked nervously.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yexun’s expression turned cold. However, Su Xiaoxiao blinked her eyes and said with great certainty, “He won’t be able to get out. There’s bullying in prison too. Once the inmates find out what he’s done and the crimes he’s committed, they’ll definitely look down on him. Given his age, he might not even last ten years; he could be bullied to death in five or six.”
Moreover, with the crackdown coming in a few years, even whistling at a woman on the street could get you a ten-year sentence, and having multiple relationships could lead to a bullet. Given what he had done, regardless of whether the higher-ups would reconsider his sentence, the other inmates in his cell would take it upon themselves to bully him to death, claiming justice.
“You’re right, we don’t need to worry about him anymore,” Jiang Yexun said, his eyes flickering. He decided inwardly that once they found out which prison his father was serving time in, he would spread the word about his father’s deeds and crimes inside. He didn’t want everyone to be deceived by his hypocritical facade.
“We can start packing our things now. As soon as his sentence is announced, we can go get the divorce,” Jiang Yexun said with a smile. Aunt Guo’s face lit up so much that her teeth were almost invisible.
She knew that everything hidden by the Guo family in the mountains had already been safely transferred by her daughter-in-law and son. All that was left was to pack up the things at home. Su Xiaoxiao specifically called home to let them know they would be returning soon and asked them to help collect the packages. Most of the things they needed to take back had already been mailed to Shanghai, while some less portable items were left behind, to be distributed among close friends before they left.
About a week later, the public security officers arrived on bicycles to inform them that Jiang Guoli had been sentenced to a full twenty years in prison due to the extremely negative social impact of his actions.
Peng Jiahui, being a repeat offender, had been executed by firing squad before the public security officers even arrived. The officers came both to notify them and to ask them to prepare some items for Jiang Guoli to use in prison.
Jiang Quankun and Hu Yuezhen, however, refused to pack anything for Jiang Guoli, considering him unlucky and disgraceful.
“Mother, no matter how wrong he was, he’s still your husband. It should be you who goes to deliver these things,” Hu Yuezhen said sarcastically. Aunt Guo frowned and gave her a disdainful look.
But thinking that she indeed had something to say to Jiang Guoli, she nodded to the public security officers, “Then I’ll trouble you to wait a moment while I pack the things.”
The two officers nodded in agreement. Soon, she had packed a small bundle, and the family of three went to the city with the officers.
Upon seeing Aunt Guo and the others, Jiang Guoli immediately stood up, his eyes red and his expression sincere. “Hongxiang! Hongxiang, I know I was wrong! Wait for me; I’ll behave well in prison and try to get my sentence reduced so I can come out sooner.”
However, Aunt Guo just looked at him coldly and said calmly, “Enough. Let’s get a divorce.”
“Divorce? You actually want to divorce me?” Jiang Guoli couldn’t believe his ears. He never expected to hear these words from Aunt Guo’s mouth.
“Yes! I want to divorce you!” Aunt Guo shouted back loudly. “Do you really think I would still endure other people’s ridicule and stay with a shameless old man like you? You are a disgrace to us! And it’s not just me who thinks so; even your eldest son and his wife feel the same way. We’re being kind by even coming to deliver these things. They consider you unlucky and disgraceful and refuse to see you. Moreover, we divided the family the day after you were arrested. You’ll still have a room when you get out, which is more than enough consideration.”
“Impossible! Absolutely impossible! My eldest son wouldn’t treat me like this!” Jiang Guoli trembled and shook his head vigorously. He tried to deceive himself, but deep down, he knew Aunt Guo was telling the truth.
“So you think I’m useless now and want to get rid of me completely? Don’t forget what kind of background you have! If you divorce a poor peasant like me, you and your children will be taken away by the Revolutionary Committee to the farm or the cowshed as bad elements.” Jiang Guoli gritted his teeth and threatened viciously.
Aunt Guo, however, shrugged indifferently. “So what? I don’t care!”
Jiang Guoli’s pupils shrank in shock, and then he looked at Su Xiaoxiao and Jiang Yexun standing nearby with a sense of reluctance.
“Are you just going to let her act so recklessly?” he asked. “Who said my mother is acting recklessly? Divorcing you is the wisest decision she’s ever made,” Jiang Yexun said with evident contempt.
Jiang Guoli still looked hopefully at Su Xiaoxiao. But Su Xiaoxiao smiled brightly and said, “Of course I support my mother’s divorce! A dirty man like you should rot alone by yourself!”
Jiang Guoli was so angry that he panted heavily. After a while, he said resentfully, “You can forget about it. I will never agree to the divorce.”
Jiang Yexun and Aunt Guo’s faces changed slightly. But before Jiang Guoli could feel any satisfaction, Su Xiaoxiao turned to the public security officer and asked politely, “Comrade, I remember there’s a provision for forced divorce if one party commits a crime, right?”
The officer nodded, “You’re correct. You just need to file an application. But your background…”
“It’s fine. We were recognized for our bravery in Shanghai and received an award. They said with this honor, they won’t pursue the background issue from thirty years ago anymore,” Su Xiaoxiao said with a sweet smile.
The public security officer also breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, “Alright, then come with me to fill out the application.”
Jiang Guoli, seeing that the matter was settled, roared in anger, “Guo Hongxiang! Jiang Yexun! You two ungrateful beasts! Don’t think you can get rid of me! I’ll make you regret it, I swear I will make you regret it!”