Chapter 10: Divorced

The one next door to the Dong family.

Oh! The Dong family is not a good person, and the people living next door are not good either,” Jiang Xinyue said.

Jiang Mingyue thought of yesterday’s encounter and nodded, “Yes, indeed.”

The two sisters chatted as they walked toward the village.

—

At the Dong Family:

After closing the door of Dong’s courtyard, Dong Chengcai stood under the eaves, perplexed by Duan Ping’s decision.

Mom, why do you want to drive Mingyue away?” If he really wanted to find a wife, it should be Jiang Mingyue he desired.

Duan Ping looked at him coldly: “Chengcai, do you know your father has a wild woman outside?”

What does this have to do with Jiang Mingyue?

It doesn’t matter? You can’t be humane. Do you think you are really conservative? Can you live with Jiang Mingyue’s charm? If your father knew there was such a daughter-in-law in his family, he wouldn’t want anything to do with you. Do you think he wouldn’t have any ideas about her?”

Duan Ping had this thought when she first saw Jiang Mingyue but had ignored it until last night.

Dong Jianguo could find women outside, but if he learned that there was such a beautiful girl at home, would he be able to resist?

If you keep her at home, do you want to become your brother’s father someday?”

Duan Ping’s words were not entirely unfounded.

Dong Chengcai lowered his head, a pained expression on his face as he tugged at his hair in frustration.

Okay, you don’t have to feel bad. Jiang Mingyue has been kicked out by us now. With the conditions of the Jiang family and her appearance, she will be a good catch in the future.”

Mom will find you a more suitable person. This duty is given to you by a wife who is not overly attractive.”

Duan Ping tried to comfort her son.

Things had become as they were; even if Dong Chengcai had other ideas, he couldn’t act on them.

With a grim face, he stood up and retreated into the house.

—

In the Village:

As the Jiang sisters entered the village, they caught the attention of some troublemakers. Upon seeing the quilt Jiang Xinyue was carrying, they burst into laughter.

One of them happened to be Aunt Jiang Mingyue.

Aunt Jiang covered her mouth with laughter, “Mingyue, you went to town yesterday, why are you back today? Are you worried about your grandparents and your two younger sisters at home?”

Oh, you are still a filial girl. I come back to visit my family every once in a while. Unlike your cousin, her husband’s family opened a canteen for her to manage. She is extremely busy, and all the gifts for the New Year and holidays are brought back by others.”

Hey, this person is so annoying,” Aunt Jiang said in a mocking tone.

Jiang Xinyue was furious and wanted to confront Aunt Jiang.

Jiang Mingyue held her sister’s arm and looked at her second aunt, smiling slightly.

So my cousin is so busy? No wonder she didn’t come to visit my grandparents during the holidays. I thought she was being unfilial.”

“I didn’t expect that the family was too busy!”

Jiang Mingyue said seriously, nodding before adding, “I just told you that when I was a little girl, my cousin Mei Xin didn’t eat less at her grandparents’ house. She shouldn’t know those two old people after getting married.”

Aunt Jiang’s irritation grew, and she glared at Jiang Mingyue, “Those two old folks have already lived with your first room; they have nothing to do with our second room. Don’t try to take advantage of our second room.”

What the second aunt said, my grandparents raised me as their eldest granddaughter. Is it taking advantage to visit my elders?”

Jiang Mingyue was not timid at all. “Then did the second aunt occupy so much of our family’s land after my parents passed away? Did she commit murder and arson?”

Jiang Mingyue, you’re talking nonsense!

Aunt Jiang was furious.

Jiang Mingyue smirked and looked directly at her second aunt with a faint smile, “Second Aunt, you and Second Uncle shouldn’t always treat people as fools.”

After saying this, she ignored Aunt Jiang’s reaction and pulled Jiang Xinyue toward the edge of the village.

“Sister…”

Jiang Xinyue was still upset, “It’s useless to reason with that shrew. She relies on her many brothers in the Zhao family to bully us.”

“It’s okay.”

Jiang Mingyue reassured her sister, “Now is a society governed by law. It is difficult to use strength in numbers. Only by being reasonable can we navigate the world.”

“Well, what about our family’s land?”

“I will get it back.”

“Okay.”

While they talked, they entered Jiang’s house.

Jiang Manyue was playing with stones in the yard. When she saw her two sisters return together, she immediately stood up.

“Second sister, third sister.”

With Grandpa and Grandma working in the fields, Jiang Manyue was cooking at home.

She was short, so she had to stand on a stool to reach the pot.

Jiang Mingyue noticed the low stool in front of the earthen stove and turned around, touching Jiang Manyue’s face, “Don’t cook in the future, okay?”

Sister, isn’t Manyue’s cooking delicious?

Jiang Manyue’s little face was full of confusion.

Jiang Mingyue shook her head, “You’re very good at cooking, but this stove is too high for you. Let’s wait until you’re taller, and then you can help us cook.”

So what will Man Yue do in the meantime?

Jiang Mingyue paused, realizing there was nothing suitable for Jiang Manyue to do at home.

Suddenly, she heard the chickens clucking from the backyard, and an idea struck her. Jiang Manyue could help with feeding the chickens from now on.

They had eight chickens in the house – six hens and two roosters.

The eggs laid by the hens were sold in town during the market days, providing an important source of income for their family.

Income…

Jiang Mingyue looked at their bare-walled house. While she was taking revenge on the Dong family, she also needed to work hard to make money.

After resting at home, her grandparents returned.

With the rice harvest approaching, they were busy every day tending to the rice and corn in the mountains.

No one dared to take a day off.

Upon seeing their granddaughter home, and hearing that she and the Dong family were divorced (as they hadn’t gotten a marriage certificate, it was considered a divorce), the old couple nodded with tears in their eyes. The old man took out the tobacco he rarely smoked, rolled it up, and took two puffs.

The Dong family bullies people, we won’t go.

Grandpa can still do it. The second girl is at home, and grandpa can support you.”

Grandma Jiang held Jiang Mingyue’s hand, tears in her eyes, “Your grandpa is right. From now on, you stay at home and don’t go anywhere.”

If anyone dares to gossip, I’ll beat them to death.”

They were worried about Jiang Mingyue being gossiped about.

The two old folks truly put their hearts into this.

Jiang Mingyue was touched but firmly believed that she wouldn’t let their concerns dictate her life.

Grandpa, grandma, I understand your worries, but this life is our own, and nothing other people say can affect our lives.”

In the future, I will not only go out, but I will also ensure our family lives well.”

She resolved to do just that.

After changing clothes, putting on a straw hat, and carrying a basket on her back, she took her two sisters to work in the fields.

As they walked down the street, people often glanced at her.

Jiang Mingyue understood what they were thinking, but she didn’t care.

When they turned a corner and reached their field, they spotted a man pulling their rice from a distance along the side of the road.