The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 402: Chapter 402: Coaxing and Deceiving

”Xiao Rui, Shunshun is a year old and still not talking! I remember Minmin was chattering away at that age!” Wu Cuicui asked Han Xiaorui, ”Could it be a speech delay?”

Han Xiaorui turned her head to look at Yang Shunshun, who was playing with her older sisters in her walker. ”Don’t worry yet. She’s still little.”

”Pingping and An’an were probably heavily influenced by me when they were little. The atmosphere at home was very oppressive back then, and my own emotional state wasn’t good.”

Hearing this, Wu Cuicui patted Han Xiaorui on the back. ”You really had it tough back then, stuck with a mother-in-law and husband like that!”

Han Xiaorui smiled and said with a sigh, ”Back then, I couldn’t see past it. I believed love was all you needed. When my man betrayed me, it felt like the sky was falling. I almost ended it all.”

”Looking back now, I feel so stupid! If I’d moved on sooner, maybe Pingping and An’an wouldn’t have been so withdrawn. If they had played and talked with other kids more, maybe they would have been in a better state.”

”Luckily, Uncle Yang, Sister Cuicui, and Brother Jianguo were there to help. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t have made it. The three of us might not even be here today.”

Wu Cuicui quickly said, ”Don’t think about those awful things from the past. Look how well you’re doing now! Let’s just call it sweetness after bitterness!”

”That girl Shunshun loves to laugh; she’s not withdrawn at all. But besides ’Mama,’ she doesn’t say anything else. She’s probably just another lazy little girl.”

Han Xiaorui smiled and nodded. ”Some kids talk early, some talk late! If you’re worried, Expert Wang is coming to the kindergarten this Wednesday. You can take Shunshun for her to take a look.”

”Okay!” Wu Cuicui nodded. ”She’s an expert. If there really is a problem, she’ll be able to spot it early! That bastard Yang Jianming is living it up, and I’m just afraid the consequences of his wicked deeds will fall upon the children.”

”I need to go to the temple another day to burn some incense and donate some money, to pray that our children grow up safe, sound, and healthy.”

Han Xiaorui opened her mouth, wanting to say that the money could be used to help poor families instead.

But since Wu Cuicui believed in Buddhism and karma, spending money for peace of mind was fine too.

Today, Yang Zhigang got drunk, and Yang Jianguo settled his second uncle in the first-floor guest room.

Zhang Xiufang wanted to come over, but Yang Zhigang had locked the door to their house.

It was a happy day; he couldn’t let Zhang Xiufang come out and spoil it.

Because Zhang Xiufang didn’t care about her four granddaughters at all. If she came out, she would just be looking for trouble.

She spent all day eagerly waiting for her son, Yang Jianming, to return from the United States and bring her over. But it had been over half a year now, and aside from one letter he sent when he had the child brought back, there had been no news.

Even so, in Zhang Xiufang’s heart, her son was always the best, the most filial one.

But her son hadn’t written, and she was very worried.

Now that her health had improved a little, she dug out the previous letter from her son and found the address.

She wrote a letter and had the nanny mail it for her.

The nanny told Yang Zhigang, but he didn’t stop her. After all, they were mother and son.

However, Yang Zhigang knew his cold-hearted son. Even if he received the letter, he wouldn’t write back, let alone bring Zhang Xiufang over for treatment.

He let it be.

Yang Zhigang actually wanted a divorce, but Zhang Xiufang would rather die than agree.

After all, Zhang Xiufang wasn’t stupid. Other than Yang Zhigang, who was willing to pay for her medical treatment and hire someone to care for her, her own family certainly wouldn’t.

”If you want to write, then write. But he’s your son; you know what he’s like. He won’t even raise his own children. Do you think he gives a damn about his parents back home?” Yang Zhigang sighed. ”Anyway, just focus on getting better and take care of yourself.”

Zhang Xiufang grew anxious. ”Zhigang, what if you told him I’m dying? Send him a telegram? I miss my son so much.”

Yang Zhigang sneered, ”What’s the point of having a son you have to threaten with death just to get him to come back? In any case, I’m not sending a telegram. I have no expectations for that son. If you’re not going to give up, you can do it yourself.”

Hearing this, Zhang Xiufang had the nanny find a car to take her to the post office, where she sent a telegram to Yang Jianming.

The telegram’s message was explosive.

MOTHER DEAD. RETURN IMMEDIATELY.

Far across the ocean, Yang Jianming was skeptical after receiving the telegram.

He knew his father. Even if the love was gone, he would still take good care of his mother.

His mother was recuperating at home. What kind of accident could have happened?

However, he had a trip to Japan with his wife in a few days anyway, so he could make a stop back home.

Ai Li was a very gentle woman, infatuated with Yang Jianming. She was even learning Chinese to communicate better with him.

When she learned Yang Jianming was taking her back to Hua Country, she was overjoyed and prepared thoroughly.

Two weeks later, Yang Jianming and his wife, Ai Li, appeared in Jinshan Bay.

Zhang Xiufang saw Yang Jianming in a crisp suit and then looked at the blonde-haired, blue-eyed Ai Li, freezing for a moment.

But she quickly recovered when she saw her son approaching, growing very emotional. ”Jianming, you’re finally back! You... you’re finally back... Mom missed you so much.”

Yang Jianming froze. ”Mom, you’re okay?”

Hearing this, Zhang Xiufang was instantly displeased. She slapped at Yang Jianming, but her hand rose high and fell lightly. ”If I hadn’t sent a telegram saying I was dead, would you have come back to see me?”

Yang Jianming gave an awkward laugh. ”Of course I hope you live a long life, Mom.”

”Son, when are you going to take me to the United States for treatment?” Zhang Xiufang looked at her son hopefully. ”I can only get around on a crutch now. Medical care is so advanced in the United States. If I get treated there, I’m sure I’ll make a full recovery.”

Yang Jianming scratched his forehead. ”Mom, I’ve just gotten settled over there and haven’t made much money yet. Please wait a little longer. Once I’ve earned enough, I’ll bring you over for treatment.”

Disappointment filled Zhang Xiufang’s eyes. ”Son, I’m your mother! Look at you, dressed so nicely, and you’ve even married a new wife in the United States. How can you have no money? You don’t want to pay for my treatment, do you? Were you lying to me before?”

”Mom, how could I lie to you? It’s just that you don’t have insurance, and medical care there is really expensive. The money I make isn’t nearly enough,” Yang Jianming explained, which was the truth.

Although Ai Li was wealthy, he couldn’t bring himself to ask her for the money.

Zhang Xiufang gritted her teeth. ”I don’t care, I’m going to the United States for treatment. Roughly how much would it cost?”

”At least one hundred thousand US dollars.” Yang Jianming thought for a moment before saying, ”I’ve only managed to save twenty thousand so far, which isn’t nearly enough. If we run out of money over there, so far from home, what would we do?”

That day at the post office, Zhang Xiufang had specifically asked about the exchange rate. One US Dollar could be exchanged for 3.45 RMB.

However, the amount you could exchange at one time was limited. She figured she’d have to use the black market, where the price would be even higher.

”One hundred thousand US dollars... I have a way,” Zhang Xiufang said, her mind made up.

Yang Jianming was taken aback. ”Mom, where would you get that much money?”

Zhang Xiufang said smugly, ”I’ll get it from your father. When it’s not the off-season for fishing, one trip out to sea can earn him one or two hundred thousand. He has more than enough for a hundred thousand US dollars; he could even come up with two hundred thousand.”