“We can’t afford the heavy legal fees right now,” Cen Mengqing said. “We’ve already taken out a mortgage for everything possible, yet we’re still wondering how to survive from now on.”
“So…” Cen Mengqing took a deep, long breath and exhaled slowly. “If you wish to come out, you have to sit out your full sentence. I’ve asked around. As long as you behave well, there’s a chance for early parole.”
The only uncertainty was if Han Zhuoling would allow that.
But at least, this could give Xia Yixin hope to sustain her for the rest of her sentence.
“You make it sound simple!” Xia Yixin broke down, totally and utterly.
Hearing Cen Mengqing’s words made her realize that any hope was gone.
Her family’s really bankrupt; no one could help her now.
“Even if you’re broke, you’re still outside, free!” Xia Yixin shouted in desperation. “Unlike me—forced to stay in this sh*thole and getting beaten up every day! Look at me! Look at me now!”
Xia Yixin pointed at the scars on her face, screaming in agitation while spittle flew everywhere.
“How do you want me to endure anything more? I’ll die if I stay here any longer!” Xia Yixin yelled. “Do you want to see me die in here?”
Cen Mengqing’s eyes reddened when she heard Xia Yixin’s words—her heart ultimately ached for her daughter.
“But what can we do? Even if you shout at me, I still can’t save you!” Cen Mengqing wiped her tears away. “You have a three-year sentence.”
With Han Zhuoling around, Xia Yixin unsurprisingly got the heaviest sentence.
“Three years will pass quickly in the blink of an eye,” Cen Mengqing said. “Look how fast every other year went past us.”
“You’re outside and free, living comfortably. Obviously, you’d feel as if time passes by quickly!” Xia Yixin gritted out, “But I’m in here, in a living hell, and every day feels like a year. How could I possibly feel as if time will pass in a blink?”
How she wished time would fly by within a single blink.
Yet things never were as she wished.
Every day’s a pain from the moment she opened her eyes until bedtime. Only at nightfall would she then feel as if she’d finally endured another day.
That’s right, every day was a test of her endurance!
The prison warden went over to remind them that visitation time was up.
Cen Mengqing stood up, sighing. “Yixin, no one will coddle and put up with your temper in here. Your temper has to be reined in. Otherwise, you’ll be getting the short end of the stick.
“I can imagine how you got those scars. You must have been acting high and mighty, offending others. In here, you’ve got to grovel. This isn’t a place for your tantrums.” Cen Mengqing continued, “To stay here more comfortably from now on, admit your wrongs when you’re wrong, and grovel when you need to.
“Doesn’t matter if you’re out there or in here. If you’re not able to oppose the other party, you can only lower your head. That’s how it should be when you’re dealing with Shi Xiaoya too. When you got arrested back then, the lawyer had advised you to settle out of court and apologize to Shi Xiaoya. But you refused and stuck to resisting her. And what’s the result? You ended up in here.”
“Had you lowered your head back then, Shi Xiaoya might not have forgiven you, but you likely wouldn’t be in this situation now.” Cen Mengqing took a long and meaningful glance at Xia Yixin. “So, for your own good, to survive better, you’ve got to change your temper. We’re outside, we can’t help you.”
