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“I won’t agree to this!”
“Has this family not sacrificed enough for her?”
“For over a decade, whenever there was even half a sack of surplus grain in this house, the little sister-in-law would come sniffing it out like a hawk and sweep it away, claiming it was to support her husband’s studies!”
“And what’s more? My son had to give up his education for her husband’s sake!”
“And the result? Her husband did pass the exam and became a scholar, but he turned around and divorced her!”
“Our ten-plus years of sacrifices were all for nothing, completely wasted. All the promises of repayment have vanished into thin air! And worse, it cost my Xu’er his future!”
“Letting her stay in this house is nothing but a knife stabbing straight into my heart!”
In Qinghe Village, the tearful wails of Ye family’s eldest daughter-in-law, Du Shi, echoed through the low, shabby thatched house.
Old Man Ye, Old Lady Ye, along with the members of the first and second households, all sat in silence.
Just behind a thin wall, Ye Caiping lay on the bed.
By now, she was awake. Letting out a sharp hiss of pain, she touched her throbbing forehead—and immediately broke down.
She had transmigrated.
And worse, she had become a woman freshly divorced and sent back to her maiden home.
Ye Caiping, 29 years old. Though originally an orphan, she had built her fortune from scratch and risen to become a young female entrepreneur.
She had clearly achieved financial freedom and successfully turned her life around, yet somehow, she had made the headlines—
Headline: Shocking! 29-Year-Old Young Female Entrepreneur Dies in a Sewer Accident!
Damn it, this is such a pathetic and disgraceful way to die!
Now, this body is also 29 years old, but had married early.
Her husband, Li Zhiyuan, was a scholar.
In order to support his education, not only did the original owner drain the entire Li family’s savings, but she also went as far as to extort from her maiden family!
Whenever there was even half a sack of surplus grain at her maiden home, the original owner would sniff it out, and if anyone dared to speak up, she would arrogantly retort:
“I’m not taking this food for nothing. Once my husband, Li Zhiyuan, passes the imperial exam and becomes a high-ranking official, you’ll all see the benefits for my parents and siblings!”
“What? You say the money should be saved for Xuan’er’s education? But my husband, Li Zhiyuan, says Xuan’er is simply not cut out for studying! It’s better to give up on that idea and stop wasting both money and time.”
“Big sister-in-law, why are you glaring at me? I’m just speaking the truth. If Xuan’er wants to study, then let him! But what does it have to do with me, a mere aunt? How could I interfere with my maiden family’s nephew’s education?”
“But Xuan’er is still young, so the family’s money should be focused on supporting my husband first. My husband is a tongsheng (student), and he will surely pass the exam next year! Once he becomes a scholar, he will take care of Xuan’er and show great respect to my parents and brothers, tenfold and hundredfold.”
Although the original owner was a daughter, she was spoiled from a young age. Whatever she wanted, her parents and two older brothers would always provide.
Since her son-in-law was studying, they naturally supported him.
But their grandson, Ye Xuan, also wanted to study. Under the insistence and loud protests of the eldest daughter-in-law, Du Shi, Ye Xuan was also sent to school.
However, supporting both their studies at the same time was truly straining the family’s resources!
The Ye family managed for three years, but eventually, they couldn’t keep up with the strain.
After the original owner cried, caused a scene, and threatened to hang herself, along with her promise that “he’ll pass the exam next year,” they finally managed to convince them to stop Ye Xuan’s education and only support Li Zhiyuan.
But year after year, for a full fourteen years, Li Zhiyuan still had no name on the exam lists.
Just as everyone was about to give up hope, Li Zhiyuan suddenly passed the exam!
The original owner was so excited that she ran to tell all their relatives and friends, proudly flaunting that she was now a scholar’s wife. But before she could even finish her rounds, Li Zhiyuan slapped her with a divorce letter:
“Ye Shi, you’ve been married to me for fourteen years, but you’ve only borne two daughters, leaving the Li family without heirs. I’ve tolerated that. But what I cannot tolerate is you beating my mother! If I let this slide, I would be no better than a beast! Take this divorce letter and get out! From this moment on, you are no longer a wife of the Li family!”
“No, my husband! I didn’t beat my mother-in-law! I really didn’t! Mother’s leg was broken when she fell down the stairs… I tried to help her, but suddenly she grabbed my hand and accused me of pushing her… Husband, I was so filial! I even knelt to wash her feet—how could I ever hurt her? Please, believe me!”
When facing her maiden family, the original owner was domineering and assertive, but when facing her in-laws, she was like a sycophant—submissive and groveling.
Yet, the divorce letter still landed on her face, cold and unfeeling.
When the Ye family found out, they were furious and gathered the clan and relatives to support the original owner, demanding an explanation.
Li’s mother-in-law, the elderly matriarch of the family, lay on the ground clutching her broken leg and tearfully scolded the original owner, accusing her of being lazy and deceitful, claiming that she had physically abused her. The broken leg, she insisted, was irrefutable proof.
Two neighbors also testified, claiming to have seen the original owner chasing and hitting Li’s mother-in-law, even pushing her to the ground. They also accused her of failing to produce a son, causing the Li family’s lineage to be cut off.
No matter how you looked at it, the original owner was guilty, and divorce was inevitable!
Unable to bear the blow, the original owner pointed at Li Zhiyuan and cried out, “Husband, how can you treat me like this? If you truly want to divorce me, I’ll die in front of you!”
Saying that, she charged toward the wall, headfirst.
The original owner thought Li Zhiyuan would stop her, but he didn’t even give her a glance. By the time he wanted to intervene, it was too late! In the end, she got what she wanted… thud!
Looking at the memories flashing in her mind, Ye Caiping couldn’t help but twitch the corner of her mouth.
What kind of logic was that? The man had already divorced her—of course, he didn’t care whether she lived or died! To try and threaten him with suicide was utterly futile.
After the collision, the Li family refused to let the original owner back into their house.
Her parents, fearing the situation would worsen, had no choice but to quietly take her away from the Li family’s home.
The eldest daughter-in-law of Ye’s family, Du Shi, had long despised this younger sister-in-law who had drained their family’s savings and ruined her son’s education with her reckless actions.
Now, hearing that her sister-in-law had been divorced and was planning to stay at their house, Du Shi was struck like a bolt of lightning!
All the sacrifices made for her son’s future, all the money and effort spent, had been in vain! And now, they would have to live with this “exquisite” sister-in-law and be subjected to her domineering ways!
Under the double blow, Du Shi finally erupted, and this time, she made a scene.
Note:
Characters
Places:
Qinghe Village: FL’s Village
Li Family Village
Great Zhou Dynasty
Love the character sheet 🙂