291: The Pot Calling the Kettle Black

"What? You want me to dig out my own eye for her?" Wu Jiaojiao was shocked, immediately panicking. "If I lose an eye, can I still see? No, this won't do!"

Su Tong stopped eating and looked at Wu Jiaojiao with her one good eye, full of vulnerability and hurt.

"Tongtong, are you still hungry?" Su Hanyan glanced back at Su Tong. "If you're not, go play with the neighbor's sister."

Su Tong put down her chopsticks and obediently went out.

Su Hanyan stood up, closed the door, and continued, "You don't need to lose your eye, just one cornea. Your eye will still be in your socket, but you won't be able to see out of it."

"How is that acceptable?" Wu Jiaojiao became agitated. "Su Hanyan, what kind of idea is this? How could you think of such a vicious method to take my cornea? If the doctor said it could be treated, then just get a cornea from the hospital!"

"How could the hospital have one? Unless someone is willing to donate! It's a part of the human body. If you, the mother, are unwilling to donate to your own child, why would anyone else be willing?" Su Hanyan said coldly.

"No, I can't..." Wu Jiaojiao waved her hand. "Is there no other way besides this?"

"This is the only way."

The table fell into a collective silence.

After a long while, Wu Jiaojiao said, "I'm still so young. If I give my cornea to Tongtong, what about the rest of my life? Mom and Dad are old. Can they donate one?"

"Sister-in-law!" Su Jingrui shouted sternly. "How can you be so selfish? Dad needs to work to support the family! How can he work with only one eye? Mom is already so old, she might not get back up in the rest of her life, she's already miserable enough. And you want to make her unable to see?"

"She can't get out of bed anyway, so her eyes aren't of much use. It would be better to give them to Tongtong..."

"Selfish! You're truly selfish!" Wei Guiqin was furious, never expecting her eldest daughter-in-law to be so heartless. "I've been too good to you!"

"Mom, this is the pot calling the kettle black! We're both equally bad, neither of us should laugh at the other!" Wu Jiaojiao retorted.

"Enough!" Su Dajiang slapped the table. "Let me think about it."

"Dad, do you really need to think about this?" Su Jingrui was anxious. He turned to Su Jingheng, questioning, "Big brother, this is a problem caused by you and your wife. Why should Dad take responsibility?"

"Third brother, I also need to support the family..." Su Jingheng sighed.

"Dad, you don't need to worry about this!" Su Hanyan said. "I understand how you feel, but this shouldn't be your responsibility. This is a problem caused by Su Jingheng and Wu Jiaojiao. They should handle it themselves!"

"Su Hanyan, aren't you overstepping your bounds?" Wu Jiaojiao, of course, didn't want to donate her cornea. "Dad is willing, so why are you interfering?"

"To deal with someone as shameless as you, it takes someone like me who oversteps their bounds," Su Hanyan raised her eyebrows at her. "Either you donate the cornea or Su Jingheng does. If you don't agree, then sorry, I'll go report you right now! Let's see if you can keep the child in your belly!"

Wu Jiaojiao's face changed dramatically upon hearing this. "Sister-in-law, aren't you being too ruthless? That's your unborn nephew, a life!"

[tongtong is a child, a whole ass conscious organic being that is alive compared to that fetus in ur belly. can u be fr rn? prefer the one that's already here on this earth for god's sake]

292: Two Choices

"Are you saying that we should sacrifice Su Tong for him?" Su Hanyan smiled and said, "Just because she's a girl, she has to make way for the second child that shouldn't even be born? Just because she's a girl, she deserves to be unlucky, and her life has to be ruined? You don't care about her, but I do! You have two choices: One, you give your cornea to Su Tong, and I'll pretend I don't know about the child in your belly. Two, I report you. Choose!"

"You... how can I choose? Even if I agree to give my cornea, I can't go to the hospital for surgery now, can I?" Wu Jiaojiao was on the verge of tears.

"No problem. You can wait until the child is born and then donate the cornea," Su Hanyan smiled. "I'm not afraid you won't donate it by then."

"This is such a big deal, I need to think about it..." Wu Jiaojiao's mind was in chaos, and she couldn't make a decision.

"It's alright, you can discuss it," Su Hanyan picked up her bowl and said, "Once you've made up your mind, write a note for me."

This meal was unpleasant for the whole family.

Especially for Wu Jiaojiao, who didn't even know what she ate, the food tasted like wax.

After everyone finished dinner, Su Tong came back with tear stains on her face.

"Tongtong, did the neighbor's sister bully you?" Su Hanyan asked, squatting down to look at her.

"No. Auntie, I'm hungry," she said softly.

"Then come and eat."

"Okay."

After dinner, Su Hanyan was about to leave, but Su Tong clung to her, not letting go. Her one eye was full of tears, making her look pitiful.

"I want to sleep with Auntie..." she pleaded.

"Tongtong, be good. Your auntie has to go to work tomorrow!" Su Dajiang patted Tongtong's head. "Sleep with Grandpa and Grandma."

Tongtong didn't say anything, just lowered her head and silently cried.

Seeing how pitiful the child was, Su Hanyan couldn't bear to refuse.

"Alright, let's go. You can stay at Auntie's house for a couple of days," Su Hanyan agreed.

"But what about your work?"

"I'll take leave. Seeing her in this state, it's good for her to come with me to relax."

Since his daughter insisted, Su Dajiang had no choice but to agree. "Then thank you! Her parents are really..."

"Dad, just take care of yourself."

"Got it." Seeing that it was late, Su Dajiang said, "Let your third brother take you. The security outside isn't good, and it's too dangerous for just the two of you."

"No problem," Su Jingrui agreed readily.

The taxi drove into the alley and stopped in front of the house.

Su Jingrui watched them enter the courtyard before leaving. As soon as they entered Su Hanyan's small yard, Su Tong hugged Su Hanyan and started crying.

"Auntie, do my parents really not want me anymore? I heard them say they must send me away! If I don't go, the future brother can't stay..."

"They wouldn't dare," Su Hanyan comforted her, "Don't worry, your parents won't send you away!"

"Auntie, be my mom." Su Tong was hurt. From a young age, she heard her parents talking about having a little brother, and she knew that once he was born, her parents wouldn't love her anymore.

A child unloved by their parents is like a wild weed.

"Don't cry, Tongtong," Su Hanyan wiped her tears. "Believe me, I will make sure you have a happy life."

"Okay."

As they were talking in the yard, someone knocked on the door.

Before Su Hanyan could ask, the person spoke first, "Yanyan, it's me! Jin Chen!"

293: Unconditional Trust

Su Hanyan opened the door and saw Jin Chen standing outside. He was wearing a shirt and trousers, with a light khaki coat draped over one arm and a bag full of fruits and snacks in the other.

"Why are you here so late?" Hanyan smiled.

"Missed you, isn't that allowed?" Jin Chen said, putting his arm around her shoulders as they walked into the courtyard. "You count how many days we haven't seen each other."

Hanyan looked up at him and laughed, "I thought you were here to scold me!"

"Scold you?" Jin Chen tilted his head at her. "What did you do that would make me scold you?"

"Didn't Yan Jia tell you?" Su Hanyan was puzzled. "That's not like her!"

"Mm?" He hummed softly, the sound pleasant to the ear.

"I... I beat up the child of your childhood friend's sister and then kicked Yan Jia into the water..." Su Hanyan said while watching his expression.

Jin Chen recalled Yan Jia mentioning a shrew who kicked her into the water. So it was Su Hanyan she was talking about.

"Aren't you two close?" Jin Chen asked.

"Well..." Su Hanyan awkwardly laughed. "If you don't know me well, don't you at least know your Yan Jia? She grew up with you... You must be aware of her character, right?"

Jin Chen chuckled, "Good job."

"Mm?" This time Su Hanyan was surprised. She raised her hand to feel his forehead. "You don't have a fever, right? Are you sure you're not talking nonsense?"

"Nope. Good job." He repeated.

"Aren't you going to ask why?" Su Hanyan's eyes widened.

"What's there to ask?" Jin Chen looked down at her. "Tell me, between my girlfriend's words and an outsider's words, whom should I trust more?"

"Who should you trust more?" Su Hanyan mischievously threw the question back at him.

"Of course, you."

Su Hanyan lowered her head with a smile. A small wave of happiness and sweetness surged in her heart. He might not even know the real situation but had declared his unconditional trust in her.

Wouldn't anyone feel comfortable with this?

"Thank you. But I can explain today's events..." Su Hanyan decided it was best to clarify things to avoid future misunderstandings.

She preferred to solve current issues promptly.

"No need to explain. That kid deserved a beating; I wanted to hit him a long time ago. As for Yan Jia, I'll just say this: kicking her into the water was the right thing to do." Jin Chen smiled. "I'm well aware of their behavior."

Su Hanyan's eyes widened in surprise: "It's a good thing it's just the two of us here. If someone else heard, they'd say you're biased towards me."

"Even if others were here, I'd say the same. They deserved it; that's a fact! You did nothing wrong!" Jin Chen's tone was calm, but it conveyed a sense of righteousness.

Su Hanyan laughed, "Thank you for trusting me."

"You're welcome. If you really want to thank me, could you make me a cup of tea? Waiting for you today got me a bit worked up," Jin Chen patted his chest.

"Sure." Su Hanyan linked her arm with his as they walked into the courtyard. "Actually, I had something to do today; otherwise, I wouldn't have come back so late."

"What was it? Can you tell me?" Jin Chen glanced at her, then looked ahead and saw the little girl standing in the middle of the courtyard. His steps faltered slightly.

294: An Interesting Soul

Su Tong waited in the courtyard for her aunt. When she saw her and the doctor from earlier in the day coming in together, her eyes focused on their intertwined hands, and she blinked as if realizing something.

"Hello, Uncle!" she called out sweetly.

Su Hanyan almost tripped over herself upon hearing this: "What did you call him?"

"Uncle," Su Tong said seriously. "Whoever Auntie likes is Uncle!"

"Tong Tong, it's not like that. Let Auntie explain to you..."

Before Su Hanyan could finish, Jin Chen let go of her hand and walked over to Su Tong, ruffling her hair gently.

"Mm, that sounds nice. Tong Tong is such a good girl!" He smiled lightly, clearly in a good mood.

Su Hanyan laughed, "Dr. Jin, are you still feeling hot-headed?"

"Not at all. That call was like a refreshing spring, making me feel very comfortable," Jin Chen smiled back at her.

Seeing the smiles on the faces of both Jin Chen and Su Tong, Su Hanyan couldn't help but smile as well.

Su Tong's address of "Uncle" made Su Hanyan realize something clearly. Although Su Tong was young, she was much more mature than she had imagined.

She was sensitive and observant for her age, which was why she addressed Jin Chen as "Uncle."

Such a child had no sense of security, a situation caused by her selfish and peculiar parents.

Jin Chen handed the snacks and fruits he bought to Su Tong. "Eat whatever you like."

Su Tong sat on a small stool in the courtyard, obediently eating the snacks without causing any trouble for her aunt.

"Why is she here with you?" Jin Chen asked.

"She wants to be with me," Su Hanyan sat down, rubbing her hands together, staring ahead unconsciously. "Her situation is complicated... My family's situation is a mess; it's hard to explain quickly."

"Tell me as much as you can."

"Are you sure you want to listen? It's very complicated and messy!" Su Hanyan asked.

"I want to listen. In the future, your family and my family will become one. There's no harm in understanding ahead of time, right?" he replied.

Su Hanyan smiled at him, "You want to marry me so soon?"

"Mm, I think about it every day," Jin Chen looked at her seriously.

"Really? Mr. Jin, you don't know me well enough yet! Also, I don't know enough about your family either. We need time to understand each other deeply!" she said.

"Okay, I'll give you time," Jin Chen said.

He didn't need any more time; he believed she was his destined one. Being with her made him feel healthy, happy, and the world seemed bright and beautiful.

He saw hope.

Beyond physical feelings, he admired her talent and personal charm. She was genuine, sometimes carefree, sometimes sweet and delicate.

He knew that inside her lived an interesting soul. He was sure she had more fascinating and beautiful sides that he had yet to see.

"In that case, let me tell you about Tong Tong's situation," Su Hanyan didn't hide anything from Jin Chen and started explaining the mess in her family.

As she described Su Tong's situation, Jin Chen frowned deeply.

Finally, she finished explaining and let out a long breath. "So, that's it. She'll stay with me for a while."

"And after that, what will you do?" Jin Chen asked.

295: The Best Choice

"Let's talk about it later. For now, I have to take care of her for a while. I probably won't be able to go to work temporarily..." Su Hanyan said helplessly.

Jin Chen was silent for a few seconds before he said, "If you are willing, I can find someone to help you take care of the child."

"Is it reliable?" Su Hanyan thought for a moment but decided to refuse. "Forget it, I don't trust anyone with this child. I'd better take care of her myself."

"Why?"

"Because her heart has been... hurt," Su Hanyan's eyes looked at Su Tong, who was quietly eating.

"Jin Ling," Jin Chen mentioned the name. "My cousin. She got divorced a while ago and has been in a bad mood ever since. The family wanted her to remarry and introduced several good matches, but she refused to meet them."

Su Hanyan seemed to understand what he was getting at and kept her eyes on him, waiting for him to continue.

"The family was puzzled as to why she wouldn't accept such good prospects. Eventually, she told the truth. She can't have children anymore; she'll never be able to bear children in this lifetime." Jin Chen's eyes were cool, filled with regret. "She was ruined by that man, completely destroyed!"

"Do your family members know about Jin Ling's situation? I mean, everything..." Su Hanyan asked.

"Yes."

"That's good." Su Hanyan sighed in relief. "Such a heavy secret is a burden on her heart. If everyone knows, they will be more careful not to touch her sore spot in the future."

"After learning she couldn't have children, almost no one came to propose anymore," Jin Chen laughed sarcastically. "Is marriage just about having children these days?"

"Not entirely," Su Hanyan smiled. "Children are the crystallization of love between two people, a continuation of life. Some people choose not to have children, but... it seems to be quite rare."

Jin Chen nodded slightly.

"So what are you suggesting?" she asked.

"Jin Ling loves children. She's been cooped up at home these days. If you are willing, you could let Jin Ling help you take care of Tong Tong," Jin Chen suggested.

"Well..." Su Hanyan hesitated, "Okay. Let's have Jin Ling come over tomorrow and see if Tong Tong can accept her, and if Jin Ling can accept Tong Tong. If they get along well, there shouldn't be any problem."

"Good." Jin Chen stood up, "Then it's settled. I'll have Jin Ling come over tomorrow, and you can discuss it with Tong Tong tonight."

"Mm."

"Well, I should go. It's getting late; you should get some rest," Jin Chen checked his watch and prepared to leave.

Seeing Jin Chen was about to go, Tong Tong waved her little hand at him, "Goodbye, Uncle!"

"Goodbye!" Jin Chen smiled lightly.

"Tong Tong, you should call him Uncle now," Su Hanyan corrected.

"But..."

"It's fine," Jin Chen smiled at Su Hanyan. "It's only a matter of time. Sooner or later, she can't escape calling me that!"

"Hmph," Su Hanyan snorted playfully, "I haven't said I would marry you yet. Don't get ahead of yourself!"

"Sooner or later."

As Jin Chen was about to leave, Su Hanyan saw him out.

The night was deep, and the old alley was silent, with only a streetlamp casting a faint yellow light in the distance.