lemonade

The people's court sent a notice that the court session would start three days later. Xu Zheng prepared the materials and came to Tang Qiao's current home.

She rented a house in a local residential area of ​​City H. Tang Qiao took Xu Zheng through the winding alleys. There were two rows of uneven houses, some of which were dilapidated, and the bricks were exposed to the sun and rain. The skin has faded and the green clothes have grown. With the vicissitudes of time, it is incompatible with the clean and brand-new house next to it with wall tiles.

"Is Xiaoheng at home?" Xu Zheng asked behind Tang Qiao.

Tang Qiao said: "Before, until this matter is over... I dare not let him go to school. I am teaching him these days, and I will let him play in the house later." The house she rented was on the second floor , entered the room, Xiao Heng was writing in the living room, he had seen Xu Zheng before, and when he saw Xu Zheng coming, he stood up and said, "Hello, Uncle Xu."

Xiao Heng was originally a very sensible child. After the accident happened, he became more mature and learned to read words and expressions. When he saw a guest coming, he said to himself, "Mom, I'll go into the room first."

"Go to the party." Tang Qiao said, "Sleep when you're tired, and when lunch is ready, mom will call you."

Xiao Heng understood, he went to the second floor, went back to his room, and locked the door softly with a "bang".

Xu Zheng glanced at the back of Xiao Heng going upstairs, and waited until the door was closed before saying, "Xiao Heng should be eight years old."

Tang Qiao nodded: "Well, I'm ten years old. I just passed my tenth birthday two days ago."

"The Law on the Protection of Minors stipulates that when a people's court hears a divorce case involving the custody of minor children, it shall hear the opinions of the minor children who have the ability to express their wishes. The General Provisions of the Civil Law revised in [-] restrict the The age standard has been lowered from ten years old to eight years old." In order to let Tang Qiao understand, Xu Zheng spoke slowly, "Simply put, judges will respect the opinions of minors over eight years old when it comes to custody judgments. .”

"But if you don't want Xiaoheng to appear in court, you don't have to take him." Xu Zheng handed the documents to Tang Qiao and continued, "In this case, we are in a favorable position. Xiang Jingwei's only advantage is also your only advantage." The biggest disadvantage is your financial ability."

Tang Qiao admitted this: "In Xiaoheng's previous life, he could have everything he wanted. In terms of material offerings, I know that I can't compare to Xiang Jingwei anyway. But I won't let Xiaoheng suffer too much. Days, I will make him happy."

Xu Zheng said: "On the day you appear in court, the judge will ask you a lot of questions. Ms. Tang, you must be calm that day, and you must not be led by the nose by Xiang Jingwei or his lawyer. You must be sensible enough to avoid letting the other party find your words. We must also actively look for the other party's loopholes."

He also said some precautions, and Tang Qiao memorized them carefully.

Xu Zheng had almost said: "Then, if there is nothing else, I will leave first."

Tang Qiao got up and wanted to see her off: "Lawyer Xu, the alleys here are winding and difficult to walk. Let me take you out."

"Don't bother me." Xu Zheng said, "Miss Tang, you can stay with Xiaoheng. I have already remembered the way just now, so I can walk by myself, thank you."

Tang Qiao watched Xu Zheng go out of sight, so she closed the door, walked up to the second floor, and found that Xiao Heng had already opened the door.

"Xiaoheng, are you hungry? Mom will cook for you right away." Tang Qiao patted his head and was about to go downstairs again.

Xiao Heng suddenly said: "Mom."

"Ok?"

"I heard what you just said." Xiao Heng's voice was a little hoarse, a little trembling, with a crying tone.

"Xiaoheng..." Tang Qiao hurried back, hugged him, and said, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, after three days, mother will take you out of here...by then...we don't need to hide anymore .”

Xiao Heng sniffed: "Mom, can I go on the day of my court appearance?"

"No." Seeing her parents confront each other in court, Tang Qiao couldn't imagine how much harm this would do to Xiao Heng, and she couldn't let him suffer such harm.

"But," Xiaoheng buried his head in Tang Qiao's shoulder, "but, that's Xiaoheng...the last time I can see...father. Mom, right?"

Tang Qiao patted Xiao Heng's back, weeping uncontrollably.

"This is Xiaoheng...the last time I can see my father...this is my chance, mom, isn't it?" Xiaoheng desperately wanted an answer.

"Mom, I saw that you bought a plane ticket. We are going to a far, far place. I will never see my father again. Xiao Heng likes his mother, and Xiao Heng also likes his father."

Tang Qiao let go of Xiao Heng, wiped away tears with both hands, looked at Xiao Heng, and said: "Xiao Heng, after eight years, when you become an adult, you can come back and freely choose whether to see your father or not, but, but you are too young now , Mom really, really dare not let you see Dad."

I dare not let you see the cold court.

I dare not let you meet my father who is good at deceiving people with sweet words, and I dare not let you meet us who are not gentle, respectful and frugal.

You are young, you will be greatly affected, and after a few years, you may regret it.

Your mother is your shield, no spear can pierce through her to hurt you.

But Xiaoheng said: "Mom, I won't go to court... Xiaoheng just wants to take another look at Dad and say a few words to Dad after it's over and before leaving here. Mom, if Xiaoheng can't see Dad, he will I miss my dad very much.”

Tang Qiao looked at the photo on Xiaoheng's bedside table. It was a family photo of three people. She and Xiang Jingwei were holding Xiaoheng from left to right. brilliant.She cut off the warp and weft with scissors, leaving only her and Xiao Heng.

That was the only thing she took away from Xiang Jingwei's house.

"Mom, mom..." Xiao Heng recalled Tang Qiao's soul.

"Mom, don't cry. If it's true...you can't see Dad, Xiao Heng will obediently listen to Mom and stop making trouble. Mom, don't cry anymore. Xiao Heng knows his mistake. Xiao Heng shouldn't mess with Mom Happy." Xiao Heng wiped away Tang Qiao's tears.

The moment she looked into those restless and clear eyes, Tang Qiao made a decision: "Mom agrees that you will see Dad again."

"Really?" Xiao Heng was stunned, and asked again: "Mom, is it true? Do you really agree for me to see Dad?"

Tang Qiao said: "It's true, mom won't lie to you. But you have to promise mom that you can't go to the court. Mom will ask an uncle to accompany you to wait outside the court. After it's over, you can talk to dad talk, but not for too long, and you can't go with Dad."

Xiaoheng said: "Okay, okay, Xiaoheng promised mom, as long as Xiaoheng sees dad, Xiaoheng will not leave mom."

"Xiao Heng is the most obedient." Tang Qiao hugged Xiao Heng again and let out a long breath.

A group of egrets flew by in the distance, and the children outside were giggling, not knowing their suffering.

Three days later, at nine o'clock in the morning.

People from Tang Qiaofang and Xiang Jingweifang arrived at the court one after another.Xiang Jingwei came earlier, he heard footsteps behind him, and when he looked back, he saw Tang Qiao. Since Tang Qiao took Xiao Heng and left Xiang's house, this was the first meeting between Tang Qiao and Xiang Jingwei in so many days. meet once.

Just one glance, thousands of emotions.

Tang Qiao met his gaze, and calmly walked to the plaintiff's seat, come on, just let the horse come here, today she has nothing to fear.

Xu Zheng had already arrived. Today he was wearing formal clothes and greeted Tang Qiao. When he was saying this, Ren Chuxiang also came.

As soon as Xiang Jingwei saw Ren Chuxiang, he was so angry that he hated his teeth. He said to Lawyer Yang: "This is Ren Chuxiang. He is here to be a witness today."

Lawyer Yang glanced at Ren Chuxiang. She knew that she was fighting a losing battle, but Xiang Jingwei didn't care. Big, no, it should be said that it is very small. The court generally will not hand over the custody of the child to the domestic violence person, but there are exceptions.The issue of the ownership of children's custody depends more on whether it is beneficial to the physical and mental health of the children, to protect their legal rights, and...the wishes of the children.Unfortunately, Tang Qiao hid Xiao Heng, and they couldn't start with Xiao Heng's wishes.

After thinking about it, she found that the only thing Xiang Jingwei could attack Tang Qiao was financial ability, which was her key goal today.

If you can't win, that's okay. For Lawyer Yang, doing things with money does not mean doing things with money.And from her point of view, she doesn't want the custody of the child to fall into the hands of the domestic violence man. On the surface, she helps Xiang Jingwei, but her heart is biased towards the plaintiff. Xiang Jingwei said a few words.

Xiang Jingwei was very irritable. He wanted to smoke, so he could only think about it here. Lawyer Yang said honestly that she was not sure.

He thought it was her lack of ability, and when he wanted to find another lawyer, Lawyer Yang said——In the face of iron and steel evidence, all defenses are powerless, and all she can do is hit a stone with a pebble. Even if he doesn't believe her, he will definitely not find her. A lawyer who can help him turn black and white.

Xiang Jingwei has no other choice. He is in pain every day and night after losing Tang Qiao and Xiao Heng. He urgently needs someone to share his pain. This person cannot be a relative or a friend, so he put all his All the uneasiness and remorse I felt were poured out to Lawyer Yang. It was like taking out garbage, but it was messy, but dirty and smelly stains were left behind, and it was still not clean.

His family education is excellent, except for domestic violence, he has never done anything harmful to nature, and he is always decent. Why would he let such a thing destroy himself?

Xiang Jingwei realized for the first time that he had no way to get Tang Qiao back. It was when he saw the line behind the design drawing that he thought: there is a design drawing, a design drawing where parents and children live together, she Since he really wanted to leave, why did he leave the blueprints at home?He was delighted with his discovery until he saw that line of writing.

[I paid the money for the design for you, I hope you can live a good life alone. 】

There is no signature, the handwriting is familiar, and the sky is falling apart like a thunderbolt.

The second time he realized that Tang Qiao would not come back was on the photo frame in the study, and he found the photo of him alone, neatly cut, with all his hands and feet, smiling brightly at the camera, only There is no one around.

With what emotion did you cut this photo?

Tang Qiao, you are so cruel.

The third time he realized that Tang Qiao would not come back was at the dinner table.Mrs. Wang timidly arranged the bowls and chopsticks for three people. This was his request. The bowls and chopsticks must be there no matter whether people are present or not. The amount of food cooked in the kitchen should not be reduced. Throw it in the trash.

But that day, when Mrs. Wang was turning around to leave, the round hook chain of her coat accidentally caught Tang Qiao's silver chopsticks, and they fell to the ground with a "bang", crisp and clear.

Mrs. Wang was shocked and apologized repeatedly.

After Tang Qiao left, Xiang Jingwei seemed to have thrown away Violence, he didn't get angry, and he didn't ask to pick up the chopsticks, he just let Mrs. Wang go.

He personally cut Tang Qiao's chopsticks and put them back to the original place. The chopsticks were still spotless, but he saw the sarcasm inside. Tang Qiao seemed to tell him again, don't waste your efforts in vain.

Since then, Xiang Jingwei has never asked anyone to set the dishes for the three of them, only him and Xiao Heng.

From the beautiful words to the photo split in half, to the unintentionally dropped chopsticks, Tang Qiao forced him out of his fantasy step by step, reminding him over and over again, open your eyes and see, I left, I will not be there again came back.

Me, and Xiaoheng, we will never come back.

In court, the clerk checks the presence and identities of both parties and other litigation participants who should appear in court, and reports to the presiding judge that the verification is correct and the court can be held normally.

The clerk announces court discipline, and then invites the presiding judge and judges to enter the court.It happened to be 09:30 when the presiding judge announced the formal opening of the trial.

The presiding judge announced the cause of the case and the list of members of the sole or collegial panel, and asked, "Have the parties to the lawsuit applied for the recusal of the judges?"

Neither party applied.

The trial continued, with the plaintiff presenting evidence and the defendant conducting cross-examination.

Tang Qiao got up and began to tell the evidence one by one. According to Xu Zheng's previous guidance, she elaborated around the theme without the slightest sloppiness. She said all the embarrassing things in a calm tone. Her expression was so indifferent that she didn't look like the person involved. .

After Tang Qiao finished speaking, Lawyer Yang began to cross-examine Tang Qiao's statement: "Our side..."

"We don't refute." Xiang Jingwei said this sentence lightly.

Lawyer Yang was stunned, all the preparations looked so ridiculous, and the careless perfunctory she planned just now would be useless: "You..."

Not only Lawyer Yang, Tang Qiao, Ren Chuxiang and the judge were all stunned. Is this person joking?Even Xu Zheng, who had always been calm, was slightly stunned, and turned to look at Xiang Jingwei.

When Tang Qiao made his statement, Xiang Jingwei remembered a strange dream he had the night before.

In fact, it's not surprising to say that it's strange, it's just a dream about things when I was a child.

He stood at the door of the bathroom, staring blankly at his father beating his mother. His father's arms were thick, and he could clearly see the strong muscle lines when he punched his fist. The black fist hit his mother. My mother did not hide, did not Make a sound, not even an angry look on your face.

It was a familiar expression, an expression of resignation, that silent refusal, and finally turned into an invitation, inviting the man next to him to be heavier and lighter.

That dream was so real, he even remembered the painting on the bathroom wall, which was a copy of Van Gogh's "Starry Night", dark and colorful, quiet and turbulent.

In the dream, he didn't do anything, he wept quietly, no one found him standing at the door of the bathroom, no one was furious, and no one was patient.

They only have each other in their eyes, even if he beats her, even if she is beaten.

This dream is the same as his real experience.

Since then, Xiang Jingwei has been obsessed with morbid love, no, maybe it is not morbid, this is a kind of love full of power, about speed, temperature and control, about anger, violence and tenderness.

At the age of 13, he dared not resist his father, dare not provoke his father, dare not offend his father, dare not help his mother, dare not stand beside his mother, stretch out his hand or fist, and say "no" to his father.

This is the beginning of the sins of his life, he is not filial, he is not righteous.He started dreaming, he was too good at hiding.

Xiang Jingwei thought that he could continue to pretend that he didn't know anything, took his father's money, and continued to be a good young man that everyone envied. The angrier he was, the calmer he was on the surface. Everyone who knew him said——Xiang Jingwei Jingwei, he is a very good-tempered person.

Until that day, he was so angry that he couldn't restrain it. He swung his first punch in his life. Ren Chuxiang saw through him, saw through him, kept saying that he would help him, and vowed to keep it secret.

He was shaken. At that time, he was about to get married, and there was a chance to cure this "disease", why didn't he try it?As for Tang Qiao, but also for his future family.

Xiang Jingwei hated the word repeating the same mistakes, and he also hoped that he would not follow his father's path. With the help of Ren Chuxiang, he began to try a new path.

But the medicine was a bit bad. He always felt sleepy after taking it, and couldn't concentrate at work. He thought, if he took half of it, he should be fine, just take it slowly and it will work.

See, this is where the excuses start.Excuses seem to reproduce automatically, and countless children have been born under excuses, all of which have become stumbling blocks on Xiang Jingwei's treatment.

Ren Chuxiang couldn't stand it anymore, they finally quarreled, that's right, the word "final" should be used, this was a predestined result.

As long as one of the doctor and the patient has other not very good thoughts, the disease will rush up and kill you.

Xiang Jingwei was finally defeated by his "father", defeated by the dim warm light in the bathroom, defeated by the evil thoughts that had been imprisoned in his heart for many years, and defeated by his own cowardice.

He beat the woman he loved, just like what his father did back then, it was so disgusting.

There was actually a second half of that dream. He dreamed of Tang Qiao, he was looking at the bathroom, and Tang Qiao was watching him from behind.Then the scene changed, and Xiao Heng was standing at the door of the bathroom, and the animal in the bathroom turned into himself, and the motionless woman was Tang Qiao.

Xiang Jingwei was awakened by cold sweat, covered in cold sweat, he saw Xiao Heng turned into a demon, from an angel to a demon, it only takes one look and a moment.

He was confused. Did he have the second half of the dream that night?Or did he just imagine it in Tang Qiao's plain voice?It was the picture he had imagined at a certain moment, and at this time and this place, it flooded him endlessly over and over again.

Xiang Jingwei feels that he is not clearly ill, and there may be more than one illness.

He felt that there was no need to defend, he said: "We will not refute."

Oh, then the next procedure is, the defendant presents evidence, and the plaintiff conducts cross-examination.

This time Lawyer Yang stopped talking, looked at Xiang Jingwei, and asked with his eyes——do you want to continue?

Xiang Jingwei felt that all this was meaningless, and he raised his forehead: "We have no evidence." It was too slow, and there seemed to be some links in the next step, and he didn't want to continue: "Mediate, we made a mistake, and our side Agree to divorce, and voluntarily give up the custody of the child, after the divorce, the property will be divided in half."

Before announcing the result, both parties are allowed to mediate. The presiding judge asked: "Plaintiff, do you agree to mediation?"

The eyes of the court turned from Xiang Jingwei to Tang Qiao. Tang Qiao was at a loss and asked Xu Zheng, "Is this okay?"

Xu Zheng said: "If you want to sue him for domestic violence, you don't have to accept the mediation. If you don't want to, you can accept the mediation." Xiang Jingwei's condition is already the best result that the judgment can get.

Tang Qiao didn't need to think, she never thought of suing Xiang Jingwei, as long as she could get what she wanted: "We agree to mediate."

Accompanied by judges, both parties completed the mediation.

They tacitly left the people's court one after another.

Entrusted by Tang Qiao, Fu Yue took Xiao Heng to wait near the court after the court session. Xiao Heng played with his fingers on Fu Yue's car without making any noise.

Fu Yue was afraid that Xiao Heng would be bored, so he specially found a childish game for two people to play, you take one shot, I take two...

He thought he would have to wait for a long time, but at 10:30, when he saw Xu Zheng and his party come out, he saw him at a glance, tall and straight like a bamboo, and mature like a pine.

Xu Zheng also saw Fu Yue, the inside and outside of the car were two completely different worlds, Fu Yue's right hand was still clapping on Xiao Heng's left hand, there was innocence on the inside, but there was no innocence on the outside.

Xiao Heng saw Xiang Jingwei, opened the door and ran out of the car.

"Dad! Dad!" Xiao Heng ran over.

Seeing Xiao Heng, Xiang Jingwei also rushed over: "Xiao Heng! Dad is here." He picked up Xiao Heng and spun around in the air twice, "Xiao Heng, Dad misses you so much."

Xiao Heng giggled, he also missed his father very much, he finally saw his father.

Fu Yue also got out of the car and saw Tang Qiao with red eye circles. He walked up to Xu Zheng and felt that the two parties who had just finished the courtroom were a bit strange. He asked, "Did it go well?"

Xu Zheng briefly explained the matter, and Fu Yue suddenly realized, no wonder...

He asked Tang Qiao: "What are your future plans?"

Tang Qiao looked at the father and son who seemed to have an endless conversation, and said, "I'm preparing to take an entrance exam at a music academy in England. When I pass the exam, I'll go there to continue my music studies."

"Then... what about Xiaoheng?"

"Go to England with me. Whenever he wants to come back, I will accompany him back."

What are you doing back here?Come back and let Xiaoheng see Xiang Jingwei?Don't you hate him?Aren't you afraid that Xiang Jingwei will bring Xiao Heng down?

Tang Qiao asked in her heart, and answered in her heart, don't hate, don't be afraid, Xiang Jingwei really loves Xiaoheng, and his love for Xiaoheng is no less than mine.

Xiao Heng said to Xiang Jingwei: "Father, I will leave here with my mother in a few days, do you know?"

Xiang Jingwei didn't say he knew, he didn't say he didn't know, and he didn't fly into a rage to stop him. He suppressed the tears in his eyes, and said with a smile: "Xiaoheng, you must obediently listen to your mother in the future. When you grow up, if you Remember dad, come and see dad."

Xiao Heng nodded vigorously: "Xiao Heng will definitely come back to see Dad, but... Dad, why does Mom have to take Xiao Heng away, why can't our family be together forever, Xiao Heng wants to be with Mom and Dad forever."

Why?For too much.Seeing Xiaoheng's appearance of crying or not, Xiang Jingwei scratched the tip of his nose and said, "Maybe it's to... escape from fate."

These words are too profound, Xiao Heng can't understand: "Father, what is fate?"

"It is what everyone has been following all their lives, and what they have been escaping all their lives...I don't know what."

Tang Qiao came over: "Xiao Heng, have you finished chatting with Dad?"

Xiao Heng immediately grabbed Xiang Jingwei's arm, and said coquettishly: "Mom, can we have another meal with Dad, and eat that Santang hot pot."

Tang Qiao looked at Xiang Jingwei for a few seconds before saying, "OK."

Xiang Jingwei said: "Get in my car first, and I will take you to eat later. I have something else I want to say to Ren Chuxiang." He walked towards Ren Chuxiang who had been watching them silently.

He asked a word: "Doctor Ren, are you still willing...to help me treat it?"

After a long time, with birds chirping and leaves rustling, Xiang Jingwei finally heard Ren Chuxiang's response: "I am willing."

"Xiang Jingwei, I hope this time, you don't give up halfway."

Xiang Jingwei raised a smiling face: "I'll come to you after I finish eating." He turned around and ran towards the car where Tang Qiao and Xiao Heng were, striding forward.

Fu Yue and Xu Zheng watched their car drive away. This is not a happy ending, but it may be a happy ending.

Lawyer Yang didn't leave either. She walked up to Xu Zheng. Today, their lawyers are in vain, but Lawyer Yang has been paying attention to Xu Zheng for a long time. She walked over and asked, "Are you a former graduate student of T University?" ?”

Xu Zheng had no impression of this person, and out of politeness, he replied, "Yes."

Lawyer Yang said, "You two are together, right? Let me treat you, how about going to that coffee shop for a drink?"