The Kitty Became a Cutie and Was Pampered in the 80s
Chapter 125: Slapping the Face (5)_1

Chapter 125: Chapter 125: Slapping the Face (5)_1

The Ruanlin Family’s matriarch curved her lips slightly, no longer feigning weakness.

She pushed through the crowd, instructed Ruan Jianguo to stay and watch over things here, and then followed her back to the Ruan Family’s home.

The other onlookers, seeing the excitement subside, dispersed as well, though a few particularly nosy ones quietly followed along.

When Ruan Jiaojiao accompanied the matriarch back to the Ruan Family residence, Liao Zhaoji was in the midst of causing a scene with Ruan Jiandang, no, it would be more accurate to say that Liao Zhaoji was having a one-sided outburst, clutching Ruan Jiandang’s crutches, kneeling on the ground, and crying a river of tears.

"My child’s father, I really didn’t do it on purpose, I had no idea my mother would cause a scene today, they didn’t mean any harm... This really has nothing to do with me, how can you blame me..."

"..." Ruan Jiandang.

His downcast eyes were devoid of warmth.

Ruan Jun, Ruan Chi, and Ruan Wei all stood to one side.

Ruan Jiandang ignored Liao Zhaoji, who was weeping and hugging his legs, and instead addressed his three sons, "I’m going to divorce your mother, do you have anything to say?"

"Xiaowei, Xiaojun, Xiaochi, hurry, quickly tell your father that you disagree, without a mother, a stepmother will abuse you!" Hearing this, Liao Zhaoji immediately shouted at the three as if grasping at straws.

Ruan Wei, the youngest, hesitated and seemed like he wanted to go over upon hearing Liao Zhaoji’s plea, but was promptly held back by Ruan Jun standing beside him.

Ruan Jun bore some resemblance to Ruan Jiandang—handsome in appearance, but perhaps due to more education, he possessed a refined and elegant bearing that Ruan Jiandang lacked. His gaze was calm and steady as he looked at Liao Zhaoji and icily mocked, "Mom, we don’t think our current life is any better than one with a stepmother."

In their quarter of the family compound, his was the poorest household—something he had been aware of since childhood. But what he hadn’t expected was that their poverty was a result of his mother’s contributions to her own family.

He didn’t resent her for being dutiful to her parents, but he detested her lack of boundaries—sacrificing the interests of her own family to prop up the bloodsucking Liao Family, especially that uncle of his.

A man in his twenties, who lazed around at home every day, never doing any work, yet dreamt of striking it rich, somehow brimming with unwarranted self-confidence?

Moreover, the thought of Ruan Jiandang lying in the hospital with a broken leg, waiting for money, while his maternal grandparents’ family reveled in meat and flaunted cars, extinguished any illusions or expectations he might have had about his mother.

And what day was it today?

If she could instigate the Liao Family to make such a scene on a day like this, it just showed that at the bottom of her heart, there was no place for the Ruan Family, no place for this home! In her heart, it was the Liao Family that was her true home! And they were nothing!

What was the use of such a mother?

If they encountered a good stepmother, wouldn’t it be far better?

"Exactly, even a stepmother would be better than you!" Ruan Chi, at an age ripe for rebellion, had always despised the Liao Family. Today’s commotion only intensified that feeling, and his words were like knives plunging into Liao Zhaoji’s heart.

She looked at her three sons in disbelief.

She couldn’t fathom that these were the same children she had raised single-handedly!

Ruan Jiandang’s face was etched with complexity. He wanted to divorce Liao Zhaoji but had never intended to sever her contact with the children. He did not expect that their grievances against Liao Zhaoji would be so extensive.

Had this happened suddenly? Or had it always been this way, and he, as their father, had simply failed to notice?

Ruan Jiandang felt a twinge of guilt. He had only ever focused on earning money outside; he felt that as a man, he should work hard outside while leaving the household in the care of Liao Zhaoji. He had never taken notice of their clothing or their meals.