Chapter 809: Chapter 607: I’ve Been the Head of My Family Since I Was Twelve (Part 2)

"The things you said today, I’ll pretend I never heard them, and I hope Madam won’t disturb our peaceful mother-and-son life again."

This is the choice most people would make, not just women.

Su Xiaomeng sat on the old fabric sofa, while the woman beside her was stiff.

Fifteen years have passed; a man who has been dead for fifteen years—his reputation, his honor and disgrace, success and failure—are they still worth the living fighting for him?

Appeal...

She’s just an ordinary middle-aged woman, not wealthy, in this society where one’s voice is hardly heard, which lawyer would be willing to overturn such a case for her?

And this points directly to the Beijing Public Security Bureau and the officials who were in charge at the time?

Even if she wants to appeal, then what about the evidence?

How much time and capital does she have to win this lawsuit?

Fifteen years ago, the shadow left behind by her husband will once again invade their lives.

Her son is going to take the college entrance exam next year, which is the greatest opportunity to change the situation of this family.

That’s reality, no matter how many people see her avoidance and want to call her cowardly, she will only evade...

And if you mention the so-called marital affection...

Not many marriages can withstand fifteen years of day and night erosion, three hundred and sixty-five days each year.

Wu Yao hasn’t returned to the mother-and-son’s life. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

One reason is he cannot reclaim his identity and name.

Second... he knows too well this gentle, virtuous yet timid and obedient woman.

Before marrying him, Lu Ping was the daughter of two teacher parents, well-read and uncontroversial.

He appreciated her being a classic beauty, naturally unable to demand her to be tough and strong.

Appealing, overturning the case, sounds incredibly tempting, yet the price to pay behind it is barely perceptible to many at an instant.

But Lu Ping saw it clearly.

"I came to talk to you, naturally not letting you bear excessive costs; the nation’s top lawyer team, all expenses, even evidence collection, I can promise all this to you."

"But what you said about not disturbing your peaceful mother-son life, yes, that’s really impossible."

"Once you initiate an appeal, the old case from fifteen years ago is flipped, you and your son will inevitably face societal skepticism and curiosity."

"And right now, I can’t guarantee you that this case can surely be overturned."

Su Xiaomeng spelled out the pros and cons, without holding much hope for Lu Ping anymore in her heart.

"..."

Lu Ping remained silent sitting there.

Su Xiaomeng closed her eyes; she knew any more words were futile.

Mrs. Wu didn’t even ask her why she believed Wu Yao was innocent...

She knew Lu Ping didn’t want to ask more; Mrs. Wu was probably also afraid, the more clues and reasons, the more shaken she would become.

"Alright, Mrs. Wu, I’m very sorry for coming over and saying all this today, it’s my intrusion."

"Madam, it’s my fault, I know... you must be mocking me inside, clearly concerning my husband, yet I act so indifferent..."

Lu Ping smiled bitterly at the corner of her mouth,

"Especially today, as the one who came to seek me out is you. Compared to you, a woman like me feels even more ashamed."

Su Xiaomeng hurriedly shook her head,

"Mrs. Wu, don’t belittle yourself. I’m different from Mrs. Wu—although my husband is no longer here, behind me, there are still countless people who can support and assist me."

"..."

"Mrs. Wu, these years, raising your son alone to be this big, this well, you must have endured much hardship. Given such family changes, getting through them is already not easy."

Su Xiaomeng held Lu Ping’s hand tightly.

Lu Ping, approaching forty, however, her skin was not well cared for, showing the years of hardship.

"I admire you greatly, such choices aren’t surprising. It’s just..."

Su Xiaomeng pressed her lips, thought, and still said,

"That man after all is your husband; fifteen years cannot erase that. If you still have feelings for your deceased husband now, maybe you could do something. In one’s lifetime, one must do something that even surprises and makes oneself feel proud... at least, that’s how I see it."

Lu Ping looked at Su Xiaomeng...

Her elf-like big eyes smiled at her, making this middle-aged woman’s heart suddenly stir.

At that instant... she was moved by what she said.

Her half-life... since her husband’s death, life has become a stagnant pool, so tranquil it’s monotonous, dull, making it hard to see hope.

The only concern is for her excellent son.

Do something... something surprising and prideful...

Lu Ping’s heart was beating rapidly, more questions almost on her lips, ready to be asked.

Yet she held back...

Largely due to her innate timid nature; ultimately still timid, ultimately the upheaval fifteen years ago pressed down all her courage and impulse.

She cannot bear another failure, cannot bear to do such... big things when her son is facing college exams.

"Thank you."

Su Xiaomeng looked at Lu Ping intensely; she almost felt Lu Ping was about to nod and agree, yet all she said was a distant "Thank you."

"Thank you..."

She repeated it again; for what this thank you was, Su Xiaomeng also couldn’t fully understand.

Sighing, ultimately, it still failed.

"Alright, but there’s one thing I hope Mrs. Wu can agree with me; the matter of my visit today, please keep it confidential and mention it to no one."

Su Xiaomeng stood up and seriously spoke to Lu Ping.

"Regarding this, Madam can be assured, I don’t know many things, but I didn’t ask you either..."

"But I want to ask."

Suddenly, came that youthful and somewhat hoarse voice peculiar to teenagers, yet mature beyond his peers.

Su Xiaomeng startled, turned around, and a tall, slender teenager in a clean white T-shirt, the lower hem in loose jeans, his T-shirt closely fitted revealing that though looking lean, he surprisingly had a strong build.

Wu Yu appeared indoors not long later, and had been leaning against the door wall, listening to his mother and Su Xiaomeng’s conversation.

It wasn’t that this child lacked manners, liked to eavesdrop.

Instead... it concerned his father who disappeared soon after he was born, concerned the father who people doubted as a qualified police officer, who betrayed colleagues, betrayed the people, yet his mother kept the portrait spotless...

Wu Yao’s brother, also his uncle, had visited their mother and son nearly every month all these years.

Uncle regularly assisted and cared for the two of them.

He constantly asked Uncle about his father, and from Wu Rong, he learned his father was lost during a mission; before that mission, his father had been an exemplary detective, a remarkable civil servant.

Why, after fulfilling a mission and dying in duty, did all good fame, achievements, and honors disappear...

As he grew older, doubts accumulated more in his heart.

Hence, his university aspiration was to become a policeman.

Maybe Lu Ping felt his father’s "betrayal of the police" reputation is past, but Wu Yu couldn’t get past this hurdle in his heart.

Every time looking at the clean, spotless portrait, seeing his mother’s eyes filled with longing and hurt when looking at the portrait...

Wu Yu’s urgency to become a policeman grew stronger.

Su Xiaomeng’s arrival, speaking on behalf of his father.

Understanding his mother’s character, Wu Yu was well-aware that his mother’s obedient and timid nature prompted his early maturity and responsibility.

For major decisions at home, Lu Ping always discussed them with Wu Yu, despite others seeing him as a mere sixteen-year-old.

Lu Ping was surprised looking at her son’s serious face...

"Ah Yu, you... when did you get here?"

"From the beginning of your conversation."

"..."

"Miss Su, regarding my father, can I know about it?"

Su Xiaomeng looked at Wu Yu, then Lu Ping... Hmm, somewhat hesitating...

Wu Yu knew what Su Xiaomeng was hesitating about, and directly said,

"Since I turned twelve, our household has been managed by me."

"..."