Han Aimin’s eyes widened in anger when he heard that. The woman who used to be so timid she could barely utter a word after being beaten with a stick now had quite the sharp tongue.
“Han Aimin, first of all, I’m the child’s mother. Stopping someone from beating my child is self-defense. Second, if you want to talk about the law, then I’ll have my lawyer speak to you. My son is covered in injuries. I will sue you for child abuse.”
Su Cheng knew perfectly well that the law at this time was still far from comprehensive. Parents beating their own children was considered commonplace. Even if the police were called, they would probably do little more than give Han Aimin and the widow a verbal warning. Neither of them would actually face any serious consequences.
“Su Qianqian, I’ve never heard of a parent getting thrown in jail just for hitting their own child,” Han Aimin said, clearly unconvinced.
“Hmph. That’s because no one ever reported it. Once someone takes the matter to court and there’s evidence, the offender can absolutely be punished. Xiao Chen is a citizen of this country, and he is protected by the law.”
“Enough nonsense. Han Aimin, I’m here to take Xiao Chen away.”
Su Cheng handed him the agreement she had hastily written up.
“Sign this. It’s a severance agreement. Since you’re unwilling to feed or clothe your own child, I’ll raise him from now on. You won’t have to spend a single cent.”
“No! Han Zichen is my son, my own flesh and blood. I’m not giving him to you.”
Su Cheng sneered.
“Then we’ll settle it in court. Han Aimin, if we go to court, you will lose without a doubt. The injuries all over the child’s body are evidence that you abused him. I, on the other hand, have the financial means to give him a better life and a better education. Tell me, how do you think the court will rule?”
“I’ve raised him for eleven years! You give me ten thousand yuan!”
Su Cheng was so angry she almost laughed.
“Han Aimin, you actually have the nerve to say you raised him? The child is eleven. When I was still in the village, you did nothing but loaf around and never gave me a single cent. When I left, he was already five. In these past six years, how much money have you actually spent on him? What have you fed him? Look into your own conscience.”
“Hmph, I almost forgot. You don’t have a conscience. You only have a black heart.”
“Xiao Chen is your biological son, yet you let your mistress torment him like this. I really want to slap you into the ground.”
Su Cheng was trembling with rage. Perhaps it was because of the lingering emotions left behind by the original owner’s body, but her heart was in turmoil.
If she were still in the cultivation world, she would have killed this piece of trash with a single strike of her sword.
But she couldn’t do that here.
Even using a Bad Luck Talisman had to be done carefully. She could only use it when someone intended to harm her. Using it against an ordinary person without cause would bring karmic consequences.
Han Aimin was beginning to feel guilty, and his confidence faltered.
“If you won’t give me ten thousand, then five thousand. Not a cent less. Otherwise, you’re not taking him anywhere. Without my permission, just try and see if you can get that little brat out of Kaoshan Village.”
The Han family was one of the largest clans in Kaoshan Village. Most of the villagers were surnamed Han and were related to one another in one way or another.
If Su Cheng took the child away without their approval, it could cause endless trouble later.
She looked up at the village chief.
The village chief immediately spoke earnestly.
“Aimin, you’re going too far. No matter what, he’s your own child. How can you treat him like this? Now that Su Qianqian wants to take him and raise him herself, isn’t that a good thing? Your family isn’t exactly well-off, and you don’t even want to raise him.”
“Who says I don’t want to raise him? If I didn’t raise him, how would he have grown this big?”
The village chief pretended to sigh.
“Come on, Aimin. There’s no point saying things like that. Everyone in the village knows what kind of life this child has been living in your home. If this matter went to court, you’d probably end up in prison.”
The village chief knew Han Aimin had already suffered during his previous stint of labor reform. He was certain the man was terrified of going to prison.
Sure enough, fear flashed across Han Aimin’s eyes.
A few years ago, he had been sent to a labor camp, and that place had been hell on earth. Just thinking about being locked up again made his body tremble.
The villagers looked at him with contempt.
He was a father who had stood by and watched while his own child was abused by his stepmother.
Su Cheng sneered inwardly when she saw the fear on his face.
If it weren’t for Xiao Chen, why would she waste her time going back and forth with this man?
The child’s heart still hoped that his parents wouldn’t become enemies. Otherwise, she had countless ways to make Han Aimin disappear without leaving a trace—and without incurring any karma.
Han Zichen watched his father demand money from his mother, and his heart filled with sadness.
Ever since his grandmother had gone to live with his eldest uncle’s family, he hadn’t had a single proper meal.
This was his father.
His father had never hugged him or shown him any affection. When his stepmother beat him, his father pretended not to see. When he was denied food, his father ignored it.
Other children’s fathers carried them on their shoulders, played with them, took them bathing, and brought them to the pond to catch fish.
But his father had always treated him as though he didn’t exist.
Why did his father treat him this way?
What had he done wrong?
Tears streamed silently down Han Zichen’s face.
Su Cheng noticed him crying and immediately walked over. She gently took his hand and rubbed his back.
“Xiao Chen, don’t be sad. Mom will take you to buy new clothes, get you plenty of good food, and send you to school. All right?”
“Mm.”
Han Zichen nodded softly and leaned into Su Cheng’s arms.
Su Cheng turned her head and looked at Han Aimin. Her gaze was cold and sharp as a blade.
“Han Aimin, I heard people around Dongshan often accidentally fall off the cliffs and disappear without a trace. And sometimes people drink too much and end up falling into the river and drowning.”
“I wonder which way you’ll end up dying…”
Han Aimin stared at the strange, terrifying look in Su Cheng’s eyes.
Her words sent chills down his spine.
He had heard that wealthy people could spend thousands of yuan to have someone killed.
His voice trembled.
“Fine! Fine! Just give me a thousand yuan. A thousand is enough.”
“Deal.”
Su Cheng gave one of her bodyguards a look, and he immediately brought over the agreement.
“Sign it. And swear that from this day forward, you will never ask Han Zichen for a single cent, under any circumstances or by any means. Otherwise, may you be struck by lightning and die without descendants.”
Han Aimin took the agreement.
The contents were clearly written:
Han Aimin has failed to fulfill his responsibilities as a father and, together with his second wife, has repeatedly abused Han Zichen. Today, Han Zichen will pay Han Aimin 1,000 yuan in exchange for severing their father-son relationship. From this day forward, Han Aimin will no longer be responsible for Han Zichen’s tuition or living expenses, and Han Zichen will not be responsible for providing Han Aimin with any financial support.
Han Zichen’s fingerprint was already on the document.
Han Aimin glanced at Su Cheng reluctantly, then signed his name and pressed his fingerprint onto the agreement.
He raised one hand and held up four fingers.
“I, Han Aimin, swear that from this day forward, I will never ask Han Zichen for a single cent in any way. Otherwise, may I be struck by lightning and die without descendants!”
Su Cheng casually pointed into the air.
The Heavenly Dao Oath was sealed.
“Are you satisfied now?”
Han Aimin glared at Su Cheng, snatched the 1,000 yuan the bodyguard handed him, and turned around to leave without even looking at Han Zichen.
Han Zichen watched his father walk away without sparing him a single glance.
The brightness in his dark eyes faded.
Su Cheng gently stroked his head, her heart aching for him.
“Xiao Chen, let’s go get your things.”
“Okay.”
Han Zichen obediently let one of the bodyguards carry him.
He thought about it carefully.
There really wasn’t much for him to take.
He had always lived in the woodshed. There was only one bowl in there, but it was still intact. He had found it in the mountains and thought it was pretty. He liked it.
That was the only thing he wanted to take with him.