Chapter 9: Zhao Pozi Has No Way to Complain

Of course, neither of them dared to spread the story.

First, they were afraid Bai Ruoqiao really wouldn’t give them the antidote.

Second, if word got out, Zhao Laosan would never be able to find a wife again.

Clenching their teeth, the two gave in. Zhao Pozi hurried over to help her son up.

Just then, Zhao Gensheng stepped through the front gate—

Behind him followed a crowd of villagers eager to watch the drama unfold—

And, wearing dark expressions, the village chief and Fang Hanwu.

Zhao Gensheng looked at the door that had clearly been kicked in. His already grim face darkened further.

He stepped into the courtyard and saw the four of them standing off. He opened his mouth to speak—

But Bai Ruoqiao suddenly said,

“Dad, Chief, Captain Fang, you all came just in time. My mother-in-law just said she wanted to split the household.”

Her voice was gentle and soft, yet it made everyone’s expression change.

Zhao Pozi was stunned.

Zhao Gensheng staggered, nearly tripping, and looked toward Zhao Pozi in disbelief.

Zhao Pozi quickly said, “I didn’t—”

Bai Ruoqiao turned and whispered, “The antidote…”

Zhao Pozi’s voice suddenly got stuck in her throat.

Zhao Laosan clung to her arm in panic. “Mom, Mom…”

Zhao Pozi felt like she had swallowed a bitter herb—unable to speak or spit it out, shaking with rage.

The village chief and Fang Hanwu were both surprised by what they heard.

They exchanged glances and walked further into the courtyard.

“You’re splitting the family?”

Zhao Gensheng quickly said, “Impossible. As long as your mother’s alive, there’s no way we’re splitting up. Chief, Captain Fang, that old woman must’ve just been speaking in anger.”

Then he turned toward Zhao Sihai and Bai Ruoqiao, forcing out a twisted smile.

“Sihai, Ruoqiao, your mom was just angry. Don’t take it seriously.”

Bai Ruoqiao blinked innocently.

She turned to Zhao Pozi, looking sweet and harmless.

“Oh? Mom, you were just angry? You didn’t actually want to kick us out with nothing, right?”

The gentler her smile, the more Zhao Laosan trembled in fear.

He had chased Bai Ruoqiao for years, and never realized she could be this terrifying.

Zhao Pozi was breathing heavily, her face red like a pig’s liver from fury.

Looking at Bai Ruoqiao’s pretty, smiling face—

She wanted nothing more than to tear it to pieces.

But it was like being caught by the throat—she had no choice but to swallow this loss.

The surrounding crowd erupted.

So that’s it—they saw Zhao Sihai come back from the army and couldn’t get money out of him, so now they’re trying to kick the family out?

What kind of heartless old woman is this?

When Zhao Pozi remained silent, Zhao Gensheng got anxious.

“Well, say something!” he barked. This old fool isn’t really serious about splitting the family, is she?

Old Fourth wasn’t crippled—if they split the family, how was he going to support the household?

Already furious, Zhao Pozi seized the opportunity to lash out.

She immediately shrieked at him,

“Split the family—we’re splitting it today no matter what! Zhao Gensheng, if you won’t agree, I’ll divorce you!”

Zhao Gensheng was stunned, then his face turned even uglier.

“I—I don’t agree!” he said, panting hard, taking several seconds to get his voice back.

Zhao Pozi’s gaze turned vicious. “Then we’ll divorce. The sons are mine, and I paid for this house, so you can get out!”

Zhao Laosan, on the verge of breaking down, cried out,

“Dad! I want the split! If they stay, I’m leaving this house!”

The onlookers outside now saw this family in a whole new light.

They were the ones who caused trouble, and yet they’re acting like victims?

Poor Zhao Sihai—what kind of nightmare family was he born into?

Zhao Gensheng clutched his chest in anger.

Just then, Fang Hanwu—catching a signal from Zhao Sihai—spoke up.

“If you’re set on splitting the household, then I just so happen to be here as an official witness.”

The village chief nodded. “Let’s sit down inside and discuss it.”

Unfortunately, no one moved.

Zhao Sihai suddenly sighed deeply, face full of disappointment.

“If Mom insists, then… let’s split.” He turned around, went into the house, and came back with a notebook from his canvas bag.

Then he carried out a table and opened the notebook.

“The past things can be left behind. The house can go to Laosan. We’ll just take what we have now and leave.”

Bai Ruoqiao walked over and gently placed her hand on Zhao Sihai’s shoulder, as if to comfort him.

Then she looked over at Zhao Pozi, her voice gentle and calm:

“Yes, all those wages and coupons Hai-ge earned before—we won’t take any of them.”

Though her words said one thing, Zhao Pozi’s eyes said something entirely different.

She almost couldn’t catch her breath.

The people outside let out a collective sigh.

Sihai and his wife really are decent people. It’s a shame the Zhao family doesn’t know how to appreciate their blessings.

Zhao Pozi spoke, her voice trembling, hoarse and grating.

“No. Since we’re splitting up, then we need to make things clear. I don’t want anyone saying I owe you anything!”

Her words were squeezed out from her throat, and the way she looked at Bai Ruoqiao was as though her eyes were laced with poison.

Bai Ruoqiao immediately lowered her head, pretending to be scared.

Zhao Sihai, however, let out a sigh.

“Since Mom insists, let’s start counting from the day I got married.

Over the past four years, I’ve sent home around fourteen or fifteen hundred yuan. As for the ration coupons, I’ve lost track…”

At this point, Bai Ruoqiao also spoke up.

“Hai-ge, there’s no need to be so exact with family. If Mom really feels uneasy about it, just give us 300 yuan and 300 jin of food coupons, and we’ll call it even.

Forget the rest. We’ll treat it as our filial duty to the elders and a contribution to Third Brother’s bride price.”

Though Zhao Pozi was stingy, she knew she hadn’t managed to save much over the years.

Most of it had already been sent back to her maiden family.

Zhao Pozi’s natal family was in Beishi.

But the entire household had issues, so their life wasn’t great.

As the political climate began shifting in recent years—

Her family claimed they might be rehabilitated and wrote asking for a large sum of money.

Zhao Pozi had high hopes of them being cleared and bringing her back to the city.

So she gave generously.

At the moment, she probably had no more than about seven hundred yuan on hand—

All of which was being saved for Zhao Laosan’s wedding.

She had just lost 100 yesterday, and now giving 300 more was barely manageable.

For now, Bai Ruoqiao didn’t want to push her too far.

After all, their family would still need to pass political background checks in the future.

She had to rid herself of this family tumor in a way that was righteous and aboveboard, beyond reproach.

Zhao Pozi clutched at her chest.

She wanted to take back her words, wanted to scream and curse, wanted to throw everything aside.

But the pain from her arm reminded her—she couldn’t.

Her lips trembled as she looked at Bai Ruoqiao’s clear, unflinching eyes.

After a few rough breaths, she hissed through gritted teeth, “Fine. Just like that. Write it!”

Zhao Gensheng looked at Zhao Pozi like she had gone mad.

But Zhao Pozi had always ruled this household.

If he got in the way today, who knew what kind of chaos she would stir up?

Zhao Sihai let out another deep sigh and picked up the pen to start writing.

Outside, people gasped when they heard Zhao Sihai mention wages of over a thousand yuan.

Jealousy and envy took over.

None of them had imagined he earned that much.

And that was just the salary and coupons from the past four years.

They all knew he had served in the army for eight years.

Zhao Sihai read aloud while writing.

Just then, Zhao Xiaohui, who had been hiding in a room, couldn’t take it anymore and rushed out.

“Bu-shi-di, oh-ang-ma bei-ta-men wei-xie-di! (It’s not true—my mom was threatened by them!)”

But her face was bruised and swollen from being beaten by Zhao Pozi, and she had lost two front teeth.

She spoke too fast, and most people couldn’t understand what she said.

But Zhao Pozi’s expression immediately changed.

She spun around and grabbed Zhao Xiaohui by the hair, slapping her several times.

“You little brat, the adults are handling things! You don’t get to talk here! Laosan, drag this disgrace back into the house!”

Zhao Xiaohui’s head was spinning from the beating.

Zhao Laosan, worried she’d ruin everything, quickly used all his strength to drag her back into the house.

Zhao Gensheng had no more strength left. His face gray, he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Zhao Pozi clenched her fists tightly and marched toward the couple.

“What else? Hurry up and write!”

Zhao Sihai pressed his lips together and finally added a line: Five yuan per month in elder support payments.

Then he handed the agreement over to the village chief and team leader.

They read it over and asked Zhao Pozi if she had any further requests.

Her face was dark and twitching, and she ground her teeth.

“No.”

Though both men were surprised at how cooperative she was today,

They didn’t dwell on it and nodded in agreement.