Chapter 4
The medical staff mobilized to search the entire hospital, but they found no trace of Wu Dahai.
However, under his pillow, they discovered a small note written on a scrap of paper.
A few lines were inscribed...
Meanwhile, at the Lin household, Wu Fan had prepared breakfast and set it on the table, respectfully serving his wife and in-laws.
His father-in-law, Lin Tianlong, said nothing, merely observing him with an inscrutable expression.
On the other hand, his mother-in-law, Hu Xiaoying, reprimanded him: "Wu Fan, now that you're the son-in-law of this family, you must follow the house rules. First, no one is allowed to visit here, especially those poor people from your village. Second, you're responsible for all the household chores, but apart from buying groceries, you're not allowed to leave the house. Third, you must protect Lin Miao and obey all her orders. Understood?"
"Yes, Auntie, understood!" Wu Fan replied, though reluctantly, having no choice but to comply.
"Good. If you understand, go eat somewhere else. I don't want to see you at our table; your miserable and poor appearance disgusts me!" Hu Xiaoying dismissed him with a disdainful wave.
"All right…" Wu Fan quietly retreated to the kitchen.
As he ate, he vowed to himself, I must find a way to make money. I can't keep living as a despised son-in-law. I need to make Taoyuan Village prosperous so that this kind of tragedy never happens to my family again.
At that moment, his old second-hand phone buzzed in his pocket.
"Mom, how's Dad?" he asked urgently, seeing the call was from his mother.
"Fan'er, it's terrible, terrible!" Meng Jiangmei sobbed, "Your father is gone—he's disappeared!"
"What? Gone? What do you mean, he's lost?" Wu Fan's heart skipped a beat, and he stood up abruptly, trembling with worry.
"Yes, he left a note saying he didn't want to be a burden to us anymore, that he was leaving and we shouldn't look for him. He said he'd find a place to die in peace. What do we do now?"
"Mom, don't worry, I'm coming right away!"
Wu Fan hung up and rushed out of the kitchen.
"Stop! Where do you think you're going?" Lin Miao exclaimed as she saw him leave.
"My father is missing; I have to go find him!"
"Idiot! I just reminded you of the house rules: you're not allowed to leave except to buy groceries. Did you forget already? Your father is just a dying man; why are you so worried?" Hu Xiaoying sneered at him disdainfully.
"Auntie, I can accept a lot, but I cannot abandon my father!" Wu Fan retorted before running out.
"That miserable man is going to drive me crazy!" Hu Xiaoying fumed with anger.
"Come on, Mom, you don't really want him as a son-in-law, do you? Once I have a child, we'll kick him out. Why care now?" Lin Miao shrugged indifferently.
Wu Fan arrived at the municipal hospital and found his father's note: I've left; don't look for me—you won't find me. I'm going somewhere to die. Pay back the money the village chief borrowed and return it to those who lent it. It hasn't been easy for them either. If you don't repay it, how will Fan'er ever get married someday?
Wu Fan's tears soaked the note.
He then began searching for his father with his mother.
Finally, with the help of the police, they discovered that his father had left Tianshui City, heading back to their village.
Perhaps he wanted to die where he was born, in his hometown, Wu Fan thought.
He returned to Taoyuan Village with his mother and informed the village chief, Lao Liu, as well as his uncle, Wu Datian.
The entire village mobilized to search for Wu Dahai for three days but ultimately had to give up.
Under his mother's encouragement, Wu Fan returned to the Lin household to resume his life as a despised son-in-law.
Meanwhile, his mother-in-law, Hu Xiaoying, didn't even see him as a son-in-law but rather as a mere servant. At the slightest inconvenience, she didn't hesitate to hit him.
As for Lin Miao, she simply watched with a smile, never intervening. Sometimes, she even hurled insults at him: "Useless! Can't do anything right!"
A month later, on that day, Lin Miao and her parents were out. Wu Fan, having finished his chores, rested on a mat spread on the floor.
Suddenly, a young girl about 1.7 meters tall, with flowing long hair and a sweet, captivating face, entered the room and silently observed him.
"Well, it's you! You're back?" Wu Fan quickly stood up upon seeing her.
It was Lin Yin, his wife's seventeen-year-old younger sister, who rarely stayed at home.
They had only met once, on the wedding day, and she hadn't returned since.
Somewhat hesitantly, Lin Yin asked
him, "Brother-in-law, do you know why my mom and sister treat you so poorly?"