Chapter 26

Seeing Liu Xiong, Liu Xinghua and Ruan Jie immediately looked displeased.

Ruan Cuizhi and Ruan Xi heard it inside, but Ruan Xi held Ruan Cuizhi’s hand, and neither of them got up.

Ruan Cuizhi’s eyes wavered when she heard Little Tiger’s voice, especially when he called for his mother. She lowered her head, and her eyes instantly became moist.

Ruan Xi squeezed her hand without saying a word.

Outside, Liu Xinghua and Ruan Jie didn’t speak either. Liu Xinghua continued chopping pig feed, acting as if she didn’t see Liu Xiong or hear him and Little Tiger talking, keeping a cold face and treating him like air.

After chopping for a while, Liu Xinghua got up and closed the door directly. She and Ruan Jie stayed outside, with Liu Xiong and Little Tiger standing in front of them, while Ruan Cuizhi and Ruan Xi were shut inside. She didn’t want Liu Xiong to see Ruan Cuizhi, fearing that Ruan Cuizhi would soften at the sight of Little Tiger and go back with him after a few words.

Liu Xiong didn’t dare go inside. He stood in front of Liu Xinghua, holding Little Tiger’s hand, both looking pitiful. Especially Liu Xiong, whose injuries from Ruan Changsheng’s beating hadn’t fully healed, looked miserable as if he had suffered greatly. Seeing Liu Xinghua’s cold face and silence, he called out again, “Mom.”

Liu Xinghua continued chopping the wild grass and said, “Don’t call me Mom. I don’t have a son named Liu.”

Embarrassed, Liu Xiong quickly nudged Little Tiger.

Little Tiger understood and said, “Grandma, I want to see my mom.”

Liu Xinghua, chopping pig feed, replied bluntly, “Your mom is dead, beaten to death by your dad. Don’t look for her anymore.”

Hearing this, Little Tiger’s lips quivered, and he burst into tears, crying loudly, “Mom!”

Liu Xiong didn’t stop Little Tiger from crying. He even hoped he would cry louder and more pitifully, hoping it would bring Ruan Cuizhi out. When Ruan Cuizhi didn’t come out, he raised his voice and shouted, “Cuizhi, Little Tiger and I are here to take you home.”

Ruan Cuizhi remained seated at the table inside, her head down.

Ruan Xi held her hand, unable to see her expression.

Liu Xinghua saw Liu Xiong calling into the house, clearly knowing Ruan Cuizhi’s soft-hearted nature. He deliberately brought Little Tiger to provoke her, hoping her love for the child would make her relent and go back with him. This man seemed honest but was full of schemes. He hadn’t come to find Ruan Cuizhi for so long, clearly not thinking he was wrong or feeling guilty. Now, he came because life without a wife was too hard, and he had no other choice.

If he genuinely realized his mistake and decided to change, there were many ways to show sincerity and ask for forgiveness. Why bring Little Tiger to cry?

He just wanted to use the easiest way to get Ruan Cuizhi back to serve him and the four children.

Liu Xinghua, hearing this, got angry and slammed the kitchen knife on the cutting board, shouting at Little Tiger, “Cry, cry, cry! Why are you crying? If your dad beat your mom to death, would you cry?”

Little Tiger cried even louder after being yelled at.

Liu Xinghua, unable to contain her anger, stood up and pushed Liu Xiong back, “Get out, get out, get out. Cuizhi won’t go back with you. The children are grown; go home and enjoy your life.”

Stumbling back a few steps, Liu Xiong steadied himself and said, “Mom, I know I was wrong. I’m here to apologize to Cuizhi. If she forgives me and comes back, I’ll do anything for her.”

Liu Xinghua couldn’t help but laugh coldly, “Did your mom teach you to say that?”

Liu Xiong: “…” This old lady!

Liu Xinghua sat back down, picked up the knife, and continued chopping vegetables, “I used to think you were honest, and Cuizhi wouldn’t have a bad life with you. Now I see what you really are. Get out, or when my husband and Xiao Wu come back, they won’t be as nice as me. Don’t think bringing Little Tiger to cry will make Cuizhi return with you. It’s not that easy! Cuizhi won’t go back! Go find a stepmother for your four children!”

Liu Xiong put on a cautious expression, not daring to argue with Liu Xinghua. After all, he was there to take his wife back. He spoke softly, “A married woman staying at her parents’ home all the time, how does that look? Isn’t it a joke?”

Liu Xinghua replied sternly, “The Ruan family isn’t afraid of being laughed at! We can take care of Cuizhi just fine! We married off our good daughter to you, Liu Xiong, not for you to mistreat her! Since you didn’t treat her well, we can’t let her stay with you! She’s been married to you for over ten years, bore you four children, served you well, and you still hit her. Are you even human? I’d say you’re worse than an animal!”

Liu Xiong’s face turned green from Liu Xinghua’s scolding. But on her turf, he didn’t dare lose his temper.

Liu Xinghua finished chopping the pig feed and put aside the knife and cutting board. She struggled to lift the pig feed bowl alone, so Ruan Jie quickly came to help her. As they lifted it and pushed the door open with their elbows, they saw Ruan Cuizhi and Ruan Xi still sitting at the table.

Liu Xinghua signaled Ruan Xi to take Ruan Cuizhi to the room.

Ruan Xi was about to help Ruan Cuizhi up, but before she could, Ruan Cuizhi suddenly pulled her hand away. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, sniffed, and licked her lips.

Liu Xinghua, Ruan Xi, and Ruan Jie didn’t know what she meant, but they saw her stand up. She took the pig feed bowl from Liu Xinghua, walked to the stove, and poured the chopped wild vegetables into the pot. Then she skillfully added water and rice bran. She stirred it with a spoon, and Ruan Jie had already started the fire behind the stove.

Without Liu Xinghua stopping him, Liu Xiong stood outside the door with Little Tiger.

Liu Xinghua didn’t want Ruan Cuizhi to see Liu Xiong and Little Tiger, so she turned to close the door. But just as her hand touched the door, she heard Ruan Cuizhi, with a nasal tone, say, “Take Little Tiger and go back. I won’t go back with you. If you want to handle the paperwork, do it. If not, forget it. I don’t care.”

Liu Xiong frowned, “What do you mean by that?”

Ruan Cuizhi finished stirring the pig feed and covered the pot, “Divorce.”

Hearing this, Liu Xinghua turned to look at Ruan Cuizhi, and Ruan Xi and Ruan Jie also silently watched her.

Liu Xiong’s frown deepened as if he hadn’t heard correctly, and he asked Ruan Cuizhi, “What did you say?”

Ruan Cuizhi, standing straight by the stove, turned to Liu Xiong and said, “I said divorce! Divorce!”

Liu Xiong blurted out, “Nonsense! Who gets divorced after getting married?”

Ruan Cuizhi replied, “Whether we divorce or not doesn’t matter. I’m not going back with you. You should leave.”

Liu Xiong grabbed Little Tiger, who was standing next to him, and said, “So you don’t want your son either? What kind of heartless mother are you? Didn’t you give birth to Dani, Erni, Sanni, and Little Tiger? Are you just going to abandon them?”

Ruan Cuizhi couldn’t hold back her tears and spoke with a choked voice, “Liu Xiong, you know what kind of life I’ve had in your house all these years! I’ve endured you for the children’s sake for so many years, and I’ve had enough! I’ve served your whole family and been beaten by you without saying a word. You know me; once I’ve made up my mind, I won’t change!”

She had no other thoughts before, just wanting to live a good life with him, so she was hard on herself, silently enduring everything without saying a word. Now that she didn’t want to live with him anymore, she could be hard on others too.

Liu Xiong, still angry, was about to speak when he heard, “Brother-in-law is here.”

Liu Xiong turned and saw that Ruan Changgui had returned. He greeted him, “Second Brother, you’re back.”

Ruan Changgui spoke politely, “You’re here to take Cuizhi back?”

Liu Xiong nodded, “To take her home.”

Acting important, Ruan Changgui told Ruan Cuizhi, “Third Sister, that’s enough. Look, Da Xiong has come to take you back himself. Go back and live a good life with him. Look at Little Tiger; don’t you feel sorry for him?”

Before Ruan Cuizhi could speak, Liu Xinghua glared at Ruan Changgui and snapped, “Get lost!”

Ruan Changgui’s expression froze at the scolding. Suddenly, he heard Sun Xiaohui calling him softly from the small kitchen door. He composed himself, politely greeted Liu Xiong, and then turned to his own small kitchen.

Inside the small kitchen, Sun Xiaohui whispered, “Why are you meddling in this?”

Ruan Changgui whispered back, “She’s my sister. Can’t I say a few words to mediate? Liu Xiong came to pick her up, giving her such a face. If she keeps making a scene, what does she want? Does she really want a divorce?”

Sun Xiaohui nodded, her voice even softer, “She said she wants a divorce.”

Ruan Changgui’s eyes widened, “Is she out of her mind?”

Sun Xiaohui frowned, “Shh…”

Ruan Changgui lowered his voice, “Divorced and staying at her parents’ house? Does that make sense? Isn’t she afraid of being gossiped about? What about her four kids? She doesn’t mind losing face, but we do!”

Sun Xiaohui sneered, “Isn’t it your parents who spoiled her? Without their support, would she dare act like this? Xiao Wuzi is also clueless. When the old folks are gone, will he support Ruan Cuizhi?”

Ruan Changgui sat by the stove, tending the fire, “She better not expect me to support her. I can’t afford it.”

Sun Xiaohui snorted, “Why should we support her? Our family didn’t encourage her to divorce. Whoever did should support her. Xiao Wuzi might not care for her after getting married. How long can the old folks protect her? When they’re gone, who will she rely on? When she’s old, who will take care of her? They didn’t consider these issues; they just fanned the flames for her to divorce. The kids are so grown and still make a scene, making us a laughingstock.”

“A woman divorced, can she still be considered a person?”

“Who would respect her?”

Ruan Changgui and Sun Xiaohui were whispering in the small kitchen when Ruan Zhigao and Ruan Changsheng returned. Seeing Liu Xiong, they both wore unfriendly expressions and didn’t even greet him, instead directly telling him to leave: “What are you doing here? You’re not welcome!”

Liu Xiong, blocked by Liu Xinghua at the door, turned to Ruan Zhigao while holding Little Tiger’s hand and said, “Dad.”

Ruan Zhigao sneered, “I’m not your dad, and I couldn’t have fathered someone like you!”

Liu Xiong’s face turned green with embarrassment. Little Tiger, with tears on his face, had stopped crying. His face was covered in mud from the mountain path, and he looked at Ruan Zhigao and called out, “Grandpa.”

Ruan Zhigao glanced at him, said nothing, and went inside.

Ruan Changsheng followed behind, blocking the door himself and letting Liu Xinghua rest inside. He looked at Liu Xiong and said, “My third sister won’t go back with you. Take your son and leave. Don’t pretend to repent and say you’ll change. It’s disgusting for you to say it, and it’s disgusting for us to hear it.”

Liu Xiong had no choice but to humble himself to fetch Ruan Cuizhi. He didn’t want to come and be humiliated, and he even wanted Ruan Cuizhi and Ruan Changsheng to apologize to him, as he had been beaten badly by Ruan Changsheng.

Feeling aggrieved, he thought bringing Little Tiger along and apologizing would soften Ruan Cuizhi’s heart and make her go home with him. After all, this woman usually had a good temper and rarely got angry at home. But who knew this usually mild-tempered woman would be so difficult when she made a fuss?

He had been beaten badly by Ruan Changsheng, and now he was a bit scared of him. He didn’t even dare to speak loudly, suppressing his frustration and speaking humbly, “I was wrong, but didn’t you also hit me?”

Ruan Changsheng raised his eyebrows, “What? Do I need to apologize to you?”

Liu Xiong quickly said, “That’s not what I meant. I mean, I really learned my lesson this time. I won’t dare to do it again. I was indeed a jerk before. As long as Cuizhi comes back with me, I will treat her well from now on.”

Ruan Changsheng stared at him, “What guarantee do you have?”

Liu Xiong raised his hand to speak, but Ruan Cuizhi, who was stirring pig feed, interrupted, “No need for guarantees. I’ve thought a lot over the past ten days. I’m definitely getting a divorce. Whenever you agree, we’ll go through the procedures.”

Hearing Ruan Cuizhi say this again, Liu Xiong couldn’t hold back this time and instinctively shouted, “Ruan Cuizhi! Don’t you dare…”

Seeing Ruan Changsheng’s fierce expression, he instantly realized where he was. This wasn’t his home where he called the shots, so he quickly swallowed the rest of his words. But Ruan Changsheng was already angry. He kicked Liu Xiong in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Standing over him, he glared, “If this wasn’t my house, you would have already hit her, wouldn’t you?!”

Ruan Xi was right. Hitting his wife was ingrained in Liu Xiong’s bones and blood, as normal and necessary as eating and drinking. He couldn’t control himself in front of Ruan Cuizhi. He could hold back once or twice, but not a third time!

He couldn’t even control his temper when he came here to ask Ruan Cuizhi to return. Going back would be even worse. Back at his own place, if he didn’t lose his temper and hit someone, it would be a miracle!

Liu Xiong lay on the ground, clutching his chest and groaning softly. After a moment, he said, “Is this how your family treats people who are in the right?”

Ruan Changsheng kicked him again, saying as he did so: “You know my family is in the right?”

“So what if we don’t let it go?”

“If you know you’re wrong, don’t come here acting like a jerk!”

Little Tiger saw Liu Xiong getting beaten and started crying loudly.

Ruan Changsheng turned and scolded him, “What are you crying for?!”

Little Tiger, startled, had tears streaming down his face but bit his lip and stayed silent.

Sun Xiaohui and Ruan Changgui were peeking out from the small kitchen. Sun Xiaohui frowned and whispered, “I’ve never seen anything like this. Your parents and brother, are they bandits?”

Ruan Changgui couldn’t stand it anymore and wanted to go out and pull Ruan Changsheng away, but Sun Xiaohui grabbed his arm.

Sun Xiaohui frowned and shook her head, “Don’t interfere.”

Ruan Changgui sighed, “Just wait, we’ll be cursed to death!”

Sun Xiaohui said, “Why bother? They won’t curse us.”

Liu Xiong got up from the ground, grabbed Little Tiger, and left, shouting as he walked, “Ruan Cuizhi, if you want a divorce to find another man, forget it! If you have the guts, stay at your parents’ house forever! Let’s see if your brother can support you for life! If you don’t come back, don’t expect to see the kids again!”

After Liu Xiong hurriedly left with Little Tiger, the Ruan family quieted down. The onlookers who had come to watch the commotion gradually dispersed, returning to their homes to feed pigs, cook dinner, and gossip about the Ruan family.

The Ruan family finished feeding the pigs and chickens, prepared dinner, and sat down to eat as the sky darkened outside. After the recent uproar, the atmosphere at home was tense, with only Ruan Changsheng cursing Liu Xiong a few times.

Ruan Cuizhi remained silent. Liu Xinghua watched her for a while before saying, “If you can’t bear the thought of Little Tiger suffering outside tonight, ask Xiao Wuzi to bring him back after dinner.”

Liu Xiong had traveled a long way with Little Tiger, hadn’t even had a drink of water, and had been beaten. It was unlikely he would travel back overnight; he would probably find a place to sleep for the night and leave in the morning.

Ruan Cuizhi shook her head, “He won’t give him up.”

It made sense. Liu Xiong had waited seven or eight years for a son and wouldn’t let the Ruan family take him back. He likely thought Ruan Cuizhi wanted to keep their son and not give him back to the Liu family.

Liu Xiong wouldn’t let Little Tiger suffer, so Liu Xinghua dropped the subject.

After a moment of silence at the table, Ruan Zhigao asked, “Have you thought it through? Do you really want to divorce him?”

Ruan Cuizhi nodded with her chopsticks in her mouth, “I’ve thought it through.”

She had been thinking about this during her ten days at her parents’ house. She had considered everything and didn’t want to return to her old life at the Liu family. The thought of it made her feel suffocated. She hadn’t been sure before, but seeing Liu Xiong bring Little Tiger to find her had made her decision. She was now certain and determined not to go back to that man, even afraid to go back. She didn’t want to live with him anymore or even see his face again.

Ruan Zhigao looked at her face and said, “As long as you’ve thought it through, your mom and I will help you with anything.”

Ruan Xi, holding chopsticks, raised her hand, “Count me in.”

Ruan Changsheng followed, raising his hand, “I’m her brother. I definitely won’t ignore my sister.”

Ruan Jie softly said, “I don’t have much ability, but Third Aunt, can I stay with you?”

Ruan Cuizhi couldn’t hold back and suddenly started crying with her head down.

Liu Xinghua patted her back, “If you want to cry, just let it all out. Don’t keep everything bottled up. If you miss the kids, ask Xiao Wuzi to take you to town to see them. Liu Xiong can’t control living children.”

Ruan Cuizhi nodded while crying, “Okay.”

After Ruan Cuizhi calmed down a bit, Ruan Changsheng asked, “From what Liu said, he doesn’t agree to the divorce. What should we do? Should I tie him up and beat him until he agrees?”

Ruan Cuizhi shook her head, “No, causing a scene in town won’t benefit us. Liu Xiong has two brothers. Before, we were in the right, and you caught them off guard. His parents felt guilty. Now that I’m asking for a divorce, people will see me as the troublemaker, and no one will side with us.”

Liu Xinghua nodded, “That’s true.”

Ruan Changsheng asked, “So what do we do?”

Ruan Cuizhi took a deep breath, “If he doesn’t agree, let it be. I won’t go back to live with him. Whether the paperwork is done or not doesn’t matter to me. Not living with him makes it just a useless piece of paper.”

She didn’t want to get entangled with him over the paperwork. At this point, Liu Xiong wouldn’t agree to the divorce out of pride. Continuing to argue would only cause more trouble, which was unnecessary. For now, she just wanted to get rid of him. The rest could wait until the time was right.

Ruan Cuizhi didn’t let Ruan Changsheng bring Little Tiger back to sleep, and she herself didn’t sleep all night. Not only did she not sleep, but she also got up in the middle of the night to work, washing clothes and scrubbing shoes, staying busy until the rooster crowed.

When Liu Xinghua got up and saw that she had cleaned the house again, done all the necessary chores, and even prepared breakfast, she knew that not doing these things would make Ruan Cuizhi feel worse, so she didn’t say anything and let her be.

When Ruan Xi and Ruan Jie got up, they said nothing either. They washed up and sat down to eat.

After breakfast, Ruan Xi put on her backpack, greeted Liu Xinghua, and left for the old tailor’s house.

Ruan Yuejin left a bit later. Sun Xiaohui grabbed him as he was leaving and said, “Stay away from Xiao Xi, don’t get close to her, and keep your distance. Your third aunt’s scandal is enough for people to talk about for a lifetime.”

Ruan Yuejin nodded, “I understand.” When he left, he ignored Ruan Cuizhi as if she didn’t exist.

Ruan Cuizhi didn’t mind, pretending she had no second brother, sister-in-law, or nephews like Ruan Yuejin and Ruan Yuehua. Since she had decided to take this path, she could endure the cold stares. For her, missing her children was harder to bear than the cold stares. Last night, when Little Tiger came, she couldn’t even hold him.

Ruan Yuejin went to the old tailor’s house to learn a craft, naturally treating Ruan Xi as if she were invisible. Previously, he would occasionally bother Ruan Xi with a few words, but now he doesn’t even look at her. Ruan Xi, on the other hand, enjoys peace and no longer has to listen to his various brainless and chauvinistic remarks. Even the air around her feels fresher.

The old tailor doesn’t like him either and always scolds him whenever they talk, so he doesn’t bother the tailor much. Over the past two days, he has become like air, not bothering Ruan Xi or the tailor at all.

Two days later, at Tianfeng Commune, the sky was overcast.

Liu Xiong returned home with a dirty-faced Little Tiger on his back. As soon as he entered the door, his mother came out to greet him.

His mother craned her neck to look outside, searching for Ruan Cuizhi. Not seeing her, she anxiously asked Liu Xiong, “Where’s Cuizhi?”

Liu Xiong put Little Tiger down, and his father also came closer.

Liu Xiong looked at the two elders, suppressing his anger and trying to stay calm. He said, “She wants to divorce me.”

“Divorce?!” Liu Xiong’s parents exclaimed in unison, their expressions synchronized in disbelief.

Liu Xiong said, “If her brother hadn’t been there, I would have beaten her to death. I would have dragged her back. If she has the guts to stay at her parent’s house for the rest of her life, let’s see if her brother can support and protect her forever. But if she wants to remarry and find another man, that’s not happening! She may not care about losing face or being scolded for being unfaithful, but I still have my pride!”

Liu Xiong’s mother still looked shocked, “Didn’t you do as I said and apologize? I told you to sincerely apologize to her. She’s kind-hearted and soft-tempered; she would definitely come back with you.”

Liu Xiong angrily replied, “Kind-hearted and soft-tempered? We’ve all been fooled by her! How could I not apologize? I went there like a grandson, calling her parents ‘Dad’ and ‘Mom,’ apologizing and promising to treat her well in the future, even humbling myself to say I’d be her servant. But she kept insisting on a divorce. I lost my temper and got beaten up by her brother again.”

Liu Xiong’s mother frowned and shook her head, “Cuizhi isn’t like this. She’s always been the most gentle and easygoing, hardworking and honest, never complaining. How could she suddenly become so unreasonable?”

Liu Xiong said, “I don’t care what she’s thinking. I’m not going to fetch her again. I don’t believe she can stay at her parents’ house forever. When she’s no longer welcome there, she’ll come back on her own, and then I’ll deal with her.”

Liu Xiong’s mother sighed and looked at his father.

Liu Xiong’s father suddenly got angry, “If that’s the case, let her be. I’ve lived my whole life and never heard of anyone getting divorced after getting married. In our commune, has anyone ever divorced? As the saying goes, ‘Marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog.’ A good woman doesn’t marry twice. Once married, you have to live together for life! Divorce! That’s something to be scolded to death for!”

Liu Xiong’s mother sighed, “Cuizhi isn’t like this. It’s normal for couples to argue and fight. How can you end a marriage over such a small thing? She never said anything all these years. You two have always lived well, never arguing or fighting. I always said Cuizhi was the best daughter-in-law. Now she’s slapping me in the face! Is she really so heartless to abandon her three daughters and Little Tiger?”

Liu Xiong pulled Little Tiger in front of his mother, “Ask him. Kids don’t lie.”

Little Tiger burst into tears, “Mom wants a divorce. Mom doesn’t want us anymore.”

Liu Xiong’s mother squatted down, wiping Little Tiger’s tears, “Poor child, stuck with a mother like this.”

She looked at Liu Xiong and said, “We’ve done everything we could. We traveled so far, apologized, and promised to treat her well. If she insists on making a scene and not living peacefully, let her stay at her parents’ house. It’s not easy to stay there. They might tolerate her for ten days or half a month, but not longer. When she comes back, she’ll have no face or dignity left.”

Liu Xiong’s father didn’t want to talk about it anymore, “Forget her, let’s eat.”

Since Liu Xiong’s kitchen was burned and couldn’t be used, they had to eat at his parents’ house, where the three daughters were already waiting.

Liu Xiong didn’t want to mention it anymore either. It just made him angry. He decisively picked up Little Tiger and left.