On a cold winter day in 2014, Xiao Liang and his grandmother in Foshan City, Guangdong Province, were packing up their belongings, and the home was filled with the silence and sadness of Lao Liang's death.
Lao Liang, Xiao Liang's father, an ordinary and hard-working man, his sudden death brought deep grief to the family.
However, this grief was soon replaced by another, more complex emotion – confusion and shock.
In the process of sorting out the inheritance, an unfamiliar face appears in the lives of Xiao Liang and Grandma, breaking their peace.
This woman, who calls herself Ms. Chen, claims that she is Lao Liang's legal wife, a statement that is like a bolt from the blue, and Xiao Liang and his grandmother feel incredible.
In a quiet neighborhood in Foshan City, Guangdong Province, Xiaoliang and his grandmother live a simple and comfortable life.
Xiao Liang, a hard-working college student, is always looking forward to the future, while Grandma is a typical housewife whose attentiveness and patience are the solid backing of the family.
Every evening, when the sun sets over the kitchen, Xiao Liang and his grandmother prepare dinner together, and the warmth and intimacy of that moment is the most precious moment of their day.
However, on a gloomy afternoon in February 2014, this tranquility was ruthlessly shattered.
That day, Xiao Liang went home as usual, but as soon as he entered the door, he found his grandmother sitting on the sofa, her face pale, and her eyes were red and swollen. Grandma is holding a yellowed ** in her hand, which is the ** of Xiao Liang's father, Lao Liang.
Grandma, Daddy he ......Xiao Liang's voice choked, and his heart was full of uneasiness and fear.
Grandma turned her head, with tears in her eyes, and nodded sadly, "Your father, he died." The voice was faint, but it was like a hammer hitting the heart of the trabecular.
At that moment, Xiao Liang felt that the sky was spinning, and the whole world seemed to collapse in an instant.
He and his grandmother hugged each other tightly and let the tears flow freely.
They can't believe this fact, they can't accept this harsh reality.
In the next few days, some relatives came to the house, and they silently sorted out Lao Liang's relics.
Lao Liang's death was a huge blow to Xiao Liang and his grandmother, and their lives seemed to have lost their color.
However, an even bigger storm is yet to come.
Soon after Lao Liang's death, Xiao Liang and his grandmother began to sort out the inheritance.
Xiao Liang's heart is heavy, and every time he looks at an item left by his father, it is like reliving memories with his father.
And grandma silently cleaned up, tears sliding from the corners of her eyes from time to time.
Their home, once full of laughter and laughter, is now silent and sad.
Just then, a strange woman walked into their lives.
She identified herself as Ms. Chen and claimed to be Lao Liang's wife. Xiao Liang and Grandma were extremely shocked by this.
The appearance of this woman was like a thunderbolt from the sky, destroying their already fragile peace.
Xiao Liang stared at Ms. Chen, his face full of disbelief: "Stepmother? When did my dad get married? His voice was filled with doubt and confusion.
Ms. Chen calmly replied, "We got married when he was sick. ”
Ms. Yu, a neighbor next to her, has been following the dynamics of this family, and she also joined the conversation: "When Lao Liang was sick, I didn't see him with other women. Her words seemed to add strength to Xiao Liang and Grandma's suspicions.
Grandma looked at Ms. Chen angrily: "How can you show up at this time and ask for the division of property?" ”
Ms. Chen replied firmly: "I am his legal wife, and this is my right." ”
Xiao Liang felt a wave of dizziness, and he couldn't accept the facts in front of him. His father, a man he thought he knew, had a side he didn't know at all. He began to wonder if it was really what Ms. Chen had claimed.
Xiao Liang decided to check his father's medical records and other relevant documents, hoping to find some clues.
He spent several days, rummaging through his father's personal papers and hospital records, but did not seem to find any information about Ms. Chen.
During this time, Ms. Chen's attitude became more and more intransigent, and she constantly demanded the division of the estate.
Xiao Liang and Grandma felt more pressure than ever. They know that this dispute may not end so easily.
Xiao Liang sat in the living room of the house, with his father's ** and letters stacked in front of him.
His father's voice and smile echoed in his mind, but these warm memories were now disrupted by Ms. Chen's presence. He was confused and upset because he could not understand this act of his father.
It's been seven or eight years since my father and mother divorced, and I have never stopped him from finding happiness again. Xiao Liang said to his grandmother, his voice with a hint of helplessness and confusion.
Grandma sighed and whispered, "Yes, Lao Liang has always been a free person, and we all hope that he can find happiness." ”
Xiao Liang frowned and continued: "Because of this, the marriage between my father and Ms. Chen seems very strange. If he really fell in love with someone else, there was no reason to hide it from us. ”
He recalled his father's habits, Lao Liang was a cheerful and kind person, he had a very good relationship with the neighbors in the community, and people often came to sit at the house. But even so, Xiao Liang had never heard of Ms. Chen.
Even if Lao Liang and the tenant get along day and night, they have feelings for each other, which is reasonable. Xiao Liang said to his grandmother, trying to make sense of it all logically.
But why did he hide it from everyone and secretly marry Ms. Chen? Grandma's brow furrowed, and her voice was full of doubt.
Xiao Liang was silent for a while, and then said slowly, "This is exactly what I find strange. If they were really married, why didn't they even have a small wedding, without any witnesses from friends and relatives? ”
These questions shrouded Xiao Liang and Grandma like a fog.
Just as Xiao Liang was deep in thought, he remembered the informed communication record issued by the hospital on February 8.
That record clearly states that Lao Liang received hospice care** and his life is short.
This communication record is undoubtedly telling the family that Lao Liang's condition is already very serious.
How could Ms. Chen choose to marry a dying person at this time? Xiao Liang said to the grandmother sitting next to him, with a hint of choked in his voice.
Grandma shook her head, her eyes full of doubts: "All this is too strange, we all know Lao Liang's condition, he has no ability to get married at all." ”
Xiao Liang stood up and began pacing around the room. "You know, at that time, my father was critically ill, and he didn't have the energy to deal with marriage at all. ”
His mind is full of questions and reasoning, trying to figure out the logic behind this.
If it was really Dad's wishes, why had he never heard of Ms. Chen before? Why was such a decision suddenly made at the end of his life? ”
Grandma sighed, her eyes revealing deep helplessness: "It was all too sudden, and we were completely caught off guard. ”
These doubts bothered Xiao Liang and her grandmother very much.
They began to wonder if there was some secret behind it.
Xiao Liang decides to investigate the matter deeply, and he wants to find out the truth, even if it may reveal some unwanted facts.
In the process of searching for the truth, Xiao Liang constantly reviewed the trajectory of his father's life, trying to find some clues in it.
He interviewed Lao Liang's friends and colleagues, and even went to the hospital to inquire about Lao Liang's condition and the process.
Every detail, every piece of information, he didn't let go.
At the same time, Ms. Chen's battle for Lao Liang's inheritance became more and more aggressive, and she not only claimed ownership of the property left by Lao Liang, but also began to take more radical measures to gain an advantage.
One day, Xiao Liang was shocked to find that Ms. Chen had taken over a small building belonging to Lao Liang without authorization and began to collect rent. What's more, she locked the door, as if to take full control of the building.
Xiao Liang hurriedly went to Ms. Chen to theorize. "Ms. Chen, there is no legal basis for you to do this! He stood in front of the building and banged angrily on the door.
However, no matter how much he knocked on the door, there was no response from inside. Ms. Chan did not seem to intend to confront Xiao Liang and was unwilling to explain her actions.
Faced with this situation, Xiao Liang had no choice but to call the police.
But when the police came, they didn't do much. They just asked a few words and left.
And once the police were gone, Ms. Chen closed the door again as if nothing had happened.
Ms. Chen's actions made Xiao Liang feel extremely angry. But he hadn't recovered from the blow yet, and what happened next made him even angrier.
According to Xiao Liang, the house he lived in with his grandmother was originally her grandmother's property.
But Ms. Chen mistakenly thought that the house was also one of Lao Liang's properties.
Therefore, she applied to the relevant authorities to try to include this house in the distribution of the inheritance as well.
Xiao Liang couldn't believe that this was happening. "She even wants our house! Xiao Liang said angrily while discussing the matter with his grandmother.
Grandma also felt helpless and worried: "What should we do? This house is my life's savings. ”
Xiao Liang realizes that they are not just facing a property dispute, but also a struggle about family and justice.
He decided to take more aggressive measures to protect his and his grandmother's rights.
For this purpose, Xiao Liang began to gather all the evidence and documents that might support them, including the property certificate, Lao Liang's will, and other legal documents of their family.
He also contacted legal counsel and was prepared to deal with possible legal disputes.
After many consultations, but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement, the two sides decided to take legal means to solve the problem.
In order to defend their respective rights and interests, they have hired lawyers and are ready to start heated arguments in court.
In the courtroom, the tension was almost palpable. Xiao Liang and Grandma sat on the side, their faces full of anxiety and worry.
Ms. Chen, on the other side, appeared calm and confident, her lawyer sorting through the documents and making final preparations.
Xiao Liang's lawyer spoke first, his voice firm: "Ms. Chen's proposed marriage relationship lacks reliable evidence, and we strongly question whether this so-called marriage is real." ”
Ms. Chen's lawyer retorted: "We have provided sufficient evidence, including marriage certificates and photos of both parties, to prove that their marriage is genuine and legal. ”
Xiao Liang clenched his fists and became emotional: "During Dad's illness, I was taking care of him. You're not there at all! ”
Ms. Chen calmly responded: "I know it's hard for you to accept, but Lao Liang and I got married before he got sick, and I have a reason not to be in the hospital." ”
Xiao Liang quickly retorted: "Then why did you never show up during his illness?" ”
Immediately afterwards, Xiao Liang showed the judge his evidence, including hospital bills and detailed records of his father's care. "All of this proves that when I was taking care of my father, Ms. Chen did not show up. ”
Ms. Chen's lawyer said that Ms. Chen has her own work and life and cannot always be by Lao Liang's side, but this does not affect the legality of their marriage.
Xiao Liang and Grandma nervously awaited the judge's ruling.
As the judge slowly flipped through the papers, the time seemed unusually long.
Eventually, the judge looked up and looked across the courtroom, fixed on Xiao Liang and his grandmother.
According to the evidence and investigation, the marriage between Lao Liang and Ms. Chen was valid. The judge slowly read out the verdict.
Xiao Liang and Grandma looked at each other, their faces full of shock and disbelief.
Grandma's eyes were filled with tears, while Xiao Liang pursed her lips tightly, his eyes full of anger and disappointment.
Xiao Liang's lawyer gently patted him on the shoulder, trying to comfort him, but Xiao Liang obviously couldn't accept the result. He stood up, gave Ms. Chen a deep look, and then turned to leave the courtroom.
Grandma slowly stood up, her steps heavy.
As she left the courtroom, she glanced back, the place where she had sought justice and truth, and now it had left her with more questions and loss.
Xiao Liang and his grandmother walked out of the courthouse together, and the gray sky was outside.
Xiao Liang clasped his grandmother's hand, and they depended on each other for their lives, facing an unknowable future.