“You—what nonsense are you talking?” These words were practically spat out through gritted teeth by Yang Jianjun.
Yet Zhao Ran still wore a look of bewilderment: “Did I say something wrong again? I’m sorry, I won’t say it anymore. You’ve told me several times that you’d only let me go to the city with you if I fixed my habit of saying the wrong things. I’m just too stupid; I never learn.”
Yang Jianjun retorted in disbelief, “When did I ever say that?”
Zhao Ran looked heartbroken: “You… right, you never said it. You never said you’d take me to the city. You’ve never said it at all. Don’t worry, I won’t go to the city. I won’t embarrass you.”
Yang Jianjun was furious, finally managing only one sentence: “Shut up! I’ve already paid your medical bills. Get out of here now!”
Zhao Ran hurriedly gathered her things, ready to leave with Yang Jianjun, when Wang Kun walked in with two police officers.
“Comrade Zhao, regarding the theft you reported earlier at the hospital, we’ve conducted a thorough investigation. According to the hospital nurses’ accounts, the money in your pocket was taken by your husband, Factory Director Yang Jianjun. This doesn’t constitute theft.”
Zhao Ran looked incredulous: “You… you took the money from my pocket? Why?”
Yang Jianjun hadn’t expected to face another issue right after the previous one. His disgust for Zhao Ran had reached its peak, and his voice unconsciously rose several notches:
“What else could it be? You were holding onto the bankbook. If I didn’t take the money, what was I supposed to spend?”
By now, Yang Jianjun had lost his composure. Five days had passed, and he’d completely forgotten that this was a topic he absolutely couldn’t bring up with Zhao Ran.
The moment he finished speaking, Yang Jianjun sensed trouble. Sure enough, in the next second, Zhao Ran couldn’t hold back:
“We’ve been married for six years. Before, you were a regiment commander; now, you’re a factory director. Every month, you only leave ten yuan at home and take eight of it back. Even if you secretly deposit fifty yuan into the bankbook each month without telling me, where does the rest of the money go?”
Provoked by the surrounding strange looks and hushed conversations, Yang Jianjun grew increasingly agitated and finally raised his voice:
“Money, money, money—is that all you care about? Do I not need money for food, drink, and daily expenses while working outside? Do I not need money for social engagements? Besides, I earned this money. Do I have to report to you every time I spend it? If we can live like this, fine. If not, let’s get a divorce!”
Hearing this, Zhao Ran shed her previously pitiful demeanor. Her eyes once again took on the cold indifference that made Yang Jianjun somewhat wary. With just one look, she snapped him back to his senses.
“I…”
Zhao Ran cut him off: “You’re angry? Why are you angry? For six years, as a husband and the father of three children, you haven’t spent money on us, and I’ve never questioned you once.
Just because I took the bankbook, you decided to take all the money I had, leaving me unable to be discharged from the hospital, making me anxious and embarrassed here. You wanted everyone in the hospital to laugh at me, to see me in a panic.
You wanted to use this to make me realize on my own that I’m just a clueless country woman from the village, that outside the village, I can’t take a single step without help, right?”
Hearing Zhao Ran’s words, the police officers who had initially held some reservations about her for reporting the theft couldn’t help but turn their gazes toward Yang Jianjun.
To be honest, after the investigation results came out, they also felt somewhat displeased with Zhao Ran, because both incidents ultimately turned out to be domestic matters between the couple.
There really was no need to mobilize police personnel for a round of investigations.
But now, thinking back, if Zhao Ran hadn’t sought their help back then, what would she have done? Imagining the situation Zhao Ran described—if their own family members were detained in the hospital lobby due to unpaid medical bills, pointed at and gossiped about by everyone—they would feel terrible too.
If they hadn’t intervened, Yang Jianjun probably wouldn’t have agreed to see Zhao Ran so easily. The worst outcome would have been Zhao Ran being sent to the police station.
It was also Zhao Ran’s own boldness; if she were an ordinary woman, she would surely have broken down, right?
Not only the police officers, but even others around them looked at Yang Jianjun with disdain. This man appeared respectable on the surface, yet he was capable of such inhuman actions.
“I didn’t, don’t overthink it. I was just busy and urgently needed money. I originally planned to come earlier, but I got too caught up and forgot.”
In matters like this, naturally, he would argue his case. But no matter how reasonable his explanation sounded, the outcome was exactly as Zhao Ran had described.
Even if he genuinely forgot due to busyness, he still didn’t deserve forgiveness.
Of course, now that he was the one making a fool of himself, that was another matter altogether.
After learning that Yang Jianjun harbored murderous intentions toward her, Zhao Ran began considering divorce. But now was not the right time. Besides, she wasn’t sure whether her crossing over was temporary or permanent.
If it was only temporary, she had no right to make decisions on behalf of the original owner.
For now, the priority was to leave this place. Even if she truly confirmed she couldn’t return, she needed to first gain the ability to survive on her own.
“Thank you, officers. I’m truly grateful for your help. If it weren’t for people like you solving problems for us ordinary folks, I would have been utterly lost today.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s our duty. If there’s a problem, seek the police. Comrade Zhao, you did the right thing. Since both incidents were misunderstandings, please sign here, and we’ll close the case upon returning.”
Zhao Ran quickly signed and politely said, “Alright, alright. I’ve really troubled you.”
After seeing off the police officers, Zhao Ran picked up her belongings and prepared to leave. Just as she was about to go, she suddenly remembered something and reached out toward Yang Jianjun:
“Return my watch and ID card.”
In front of so many people, Yang Jianjun couldn’t say much and hurriedly handed over the items.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the two left the inpatient department one after the other.
As soon as they left, the crowd continued discussing with lingering interest.
“I know this Director Yang—he’s the director of Furong Meishi Chang. I heard he’s even a retired soldier. Who would have thought he could do such a thing?”
“People change.”
“A director, with a salary of at least a hundred forty or fifty—didn’t you hear what his wife said? He gives her ten yuan a month and takes eight back.”
“Hahaha, I know. His wife made sure everyone heard, repeating it several times.”
“Speaking of his wife, she’s quite something. If this happened to anyone else—whether from the countryside or an ordinary person—they’d be frantic with worry. But she resolved it so effortlessly and even made Director Yang suffer such a loss.”
“But they’ve already made such a scene—can they really go on living like this?”
“Exactly, after all this, aren’t they even thinking about divorce?”
“Divorce? What divorce? She’s just a woman—what would she do if she got divorced?”
“Director Yang lost so much face because of her. He was so upset earlier that he even mentioned wanting a divorce.”
“He definitely won’t divorce her. Haven’t you heard they have three children? If he divorces her, where would he find a nanny for just two yuan a month?”