1048 Do Not Want Such a Life Anymore



The atmosphere became more and more oppressive, so much so that everyone felt suffocated. Liu Fen had never seen Xia Jun so angry. Even when Xia Guang stubbornly wanted to go to the border back then, it did not become as dramatic as this. She cowered into Xia Yao's arms in fear and did not dare to make a sound.

No one dared to speak up rashly. Currently, Xia Mao was still unwell and the only person in the eldest son's family who could make decisions was Xia Wen. He did not intend to let Zhou Hua off so easily. Qiao Mei had to suffer so much and experience all those grievances, and the He family almost got away with causing the loss of three lives. Zhou Hua played a part in everything that happened and he would not let it go just like that.

When Zhou Hua fled with the money, everyone witnessed how the Xia family had suffered a huge blow. They had to borrow money from almost all their friends and relatives so that they could repay the money to the He family. If not for Qiao Mei, their family would have to endure a lot of suffering and criticism. They could not even imagine how embarrassing it could have turned out for them!

"Third Uncle, don't blame Grandfather for speaking so harshly. He's just feeling angry right now and saying all those words in a fit of anger. We're all family, so how can there be such enmity," Xia Wen said to Xia Guang with his usual smile.

Xia Wen turned to look at Zhou Hua and continued, "Third Aunt-in-law, you should also spare a thought for your children. Think about what will happen to my younger cousins in the future? If you don't hand over the money, we might have to go to the police station to settle this. If that happens, you should know how it will affect my younger cousins who just joined the army or the government service."

"They can live their own lives. I don't care. I don't want to think for them either. I've already said many times that I don't have the money you want. I have already lost it and I don't have it at all," Zhou Hua said stubbornly.

She was ready to even face death calmly. It did not matter even if the Xia family wanted to send her to jail. After living with Xia Guang for so many years, she had had enough!

Xia Guang's job was different from that of Xia Mao and his other siblings. He was always carrying out missions in the army and might be away from home for two to three years at a time.

When they first got married, Zhou Hua had followed Xia Guang around as a military spouse. They had quite a comfortable life and the two of them were very much in love. Later on, when she became pregnant, she returned to her mother's house to rest well during the pregnancy. After the baby was born, she dedicated herself to taking care of the baby. Even after the baby grew up into a toddler, Zhou Hua could not bring herself to revert to living the life of a military spouse with the baby in tow.

Xia Guang was stationed at the border all year round. That region was either scorching hot in the summer or bone-chillingly cold in the winter and the weather was never pleasant. She did not want to bring her young children to suffer there, so she could only stay at home and wait in silence.

This wait lasted for more than 20 years. In the past 20 years, Xia Guang returned home less than 50 times and he even spent most of those time staying over at Xia Jun's house. Zhou Hua even felt as if Xia Guang was not her husband. As time passed, she no longer wanted to take care of her three sons. She maintained a belief that her life would not have been so difficult if not for these three children.

Subconsciously, she felt exceptionally disgusted with these children. However, due to her motherly instincts, she cared for the children as well. As time passed, Zhou Hua's mental health gradually deteriorated under the weight of such complicated emotions.

Her three sons did not have their father around to take care of them since they were young. They also did not know what it felt like to feel the warmth of home. They could only remember feeling a sense of warmth when they visited Xia Jun, where the environment was not so joyless.

"Really? Don't tell me you still think that your brother is taking good care of your money?" Xia Wen asked with a laugh.

Zhou Hua looked at Xia Wen in shock and said with a trembling voice, "Hmph, don't try to trick me with just a few words! This matter has nothing to do with my family. Like I said, I've already lost that sum of money."

"Your younger brother is a seasoned gambler and your sister-in-law is also a person who spends money freely. The two of them face a lot of difficulties and you must have given them a lot of money. You're still stupid enough to believe that your younger brother will keep your money properly. He has long gambled all the money away and has even bought a big house in another city using your money," Xia Wen said.

"Impossible! You must be lying to me! It's absolutely impossible! My brother told me that he would definitely take good care of this money and that he would not spend it!" Zhou Hua said hysterically.