Chapter 453: Cutting Ties

Chapter 453 Cutting Family Ties

When Hai Yan said this, her mother didn’t feel a shred of shame—just shock that her formerly dutiful daughter had become like this.

But the real kicker was, this daughter was no longer under her control.

"Hai Yan, you’d really let your own parents starve?"

This time, Hai Yan was unusually firm. "I can give you money, but you have to go to the village chief and write a family renunciation document for me."

Her mother was stunned—this wasn’t the reaction she’d anticipated.

"What’s this? You were desperate for money to save your son—now you’re balking?"

Hai Yan shot a sidelong glare at her frazzled mother.

Her mother gritted her teeth. "Fine. You win."

"Your say-so isn’t enough. Go home and bring my father too."

Hai Yan said coldly, "Listen good. Even if you don’t write this letter, you can forget about squeezing another dime out of me in the future."

Hai Yan’s mother’s eyes shifted slyly. "If we sign the family renunciation document, how much will you give us?"

Hai Yan replied, "That’s not for you to decide. We’ll hash it out with the chief."

After some consideration, Hai Yan’s mother decided to go home and discuss it with her husband.

......

Ye Xiaoxiao caught wind of the Yu family drama at the clinic.

"Guess what? Yu Dahai landed in jail—again."

"I also heard his mother went to Hai Yan for money."

"Exactly. Now it’s come to this: Hai Yan’s making them sign a family renunciation document with her parents."

They were all military wives from the compound, accompanying their children for vaccinations or IV drips.

Killing time, the women traded gossip.

Ye Xiaoxiao did a double take when she heard the news.

"Does a family renunciation document actually work?" she asked.

"Well, it’s not legally binding, but once it’s signed, the village’ll stop judging Hai Yan."

"I think Hai Yan should get the Women’s Association involved. She shouldn’t give them a single cent."

The military wives were all quick to rally, concerned about Hai Yan’s situation.

"But from what I’ve seen, our local Women’s Association’s pretty much toothless."

Ye Xiaoxiao had also considered the Women’s Association before, but the area had been too isolated. The association had only been established in recent years, and its members were mostly local busybodies with limited influence.

Even if they wanted to help, they often were powerless.

"Whether it’s useful or not, she should still get them involved. That family renunciation document shouldn’t be drafted on her parents’ terms."

"In my opinion, Hai Yan has already made a very difficult decision."

"Yeah, we all know Hai Yan well. We can't just stand by when she's in trouble."

These military wives were all kind-hearted and were fired up as they talked.

"Once the kids finish their IVs, I’ll gather a few people from the Women’s Association to go support her."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "Alright, I’ll go too."

She wasn’t overthinking it—she simply couldn’t stand that leeches of a family bullying a woman.

So once their work at the clinic was done, Ye Xiaoxiao and a group of women headed straight to the island’s village office.

Hai Yan and her parents had already been sitting there for a long time.

They demanded 20,000 yuan upfront—an amount even the richest islander couldn’t scrape together, let alone Hai Yan.

"Hai Yan, you owe your life to your parents. How can you just casually cut them off?"

The village chief still hoped Hai Yan could reconcile with her parents.

Hai Yan said nothing.

"Chief, I’ve made up my mind. There’s no need to persuade me. No way I’m giving twenty thousand—five hundred at most."

"Five hundred?!"

Hai Yan’s mother stood up. "No way! I don’t believe you only have five hundred."

*Cough, cough, cough.*

The commotion at the door interrupted the conversation inside. The head of the Women’s Association, Ms. Huang, had been dragged along too.

"You can’t just demand whatever amount you want based on how much she has. Ask yourselves how Hai Yan’s treated you all these years—she’s bent over backwards for you.

But you can’t keep taking advantage of her kindness and pushing your luck."

"Director Huang, you’re here too?"

"Yes. As Hai Yan just said, five hundred is already a lot.

You know how long it takes folks here to save five hundred?"

Though Hai Yan’s parents knew this was true, they refused to believe she had so little money.

"What about the little store?" Hai Yan’s mother grumbled.

"That store is the only place on the island selling daily necessities. You can’t lay claim to it—it’s something Hai Yan built herself. What does it have to do with you?"

Before they could get another word in, the village chief stood up in opposition.

Hai Yan was firm, and her parents were itching for cash.

"A thousand, minimum—or no deal."

Hai Yan’s father banged the table, digging in his heels.

Hai Yan: "Seven hundred, take it or leave it. And if this cutoff papers isn’t signed, you get nothing from me."

Director Huang: "This standoff isn't helping anyone. Old Yu, don't push your luck. Seven hundred bucks from Hai Yan is plenty."

After haggling back and forth, with Director Huang and the village head mediating, Hai Yan's parents finally agreed to accept the seven hundred yuan.

From then on, they could no longer use their parental relationship to pressure Hai Yan for money.

And Hai Yan would no longer be responsible for supporting them in their old age.

The village head and Director Huang acted as witnesses and signed their names on the cutting-ties document.

There were four copies of the cutting-ties document, each held by a different party.

Holding her copy, tears streamed down Hai Yan's face.

After leaving the village office, Ye Xiaoxiao and several military wives sat on the large rocks outside.

"Hai Yan, did everything work out?"

"Hai Yan, are you alright? How much did you end up giving them?"

Hai Yan was moved by the kindness from these military wives, though she couldn't understand why strangers could show her such warmth while her own parents had only ever hurt her.

Hai Yan's parents walked out shortly after, shot her a dirty look, and left without a word.

"Thank you all for caring about me, and for bringing Director Huang here."

Director Huang: "Hai Yan, I wish I could've done more to help you today."

In truth, Director Huang’s presence today was already a big step forward.

Normally, nobody usually bothers to call her in.

"Director Huang, don’t say that. You stood up for me just now."

Director Huang sighed. "I hope I can help more people in the future."

Meanwhile, Hai Yan’s parents immediately took the money to the police station.

Deep down, they knew their son was a good-for-nothing, but they still believed a family needs a son.

Only when they arrived did they realize their son was no longer there.

The station chief made it clear that Yu Dahai wasn’t getting off scot-free this time—he would definitely spend a few years in prison.

Hai Yan’s mother tried to throw a tantrum but was promptly shown the door.

"Now what are we supposed to do? We’ve lost both our daughter and son."

Hai Yan’s father replied, "This is what your coddling got us. At least we still have some money left—we won't be out on the street."