Chapter 3: The Old Woman Can Say ‘Divorce’ Just Like That

“Stop playing dead! Mother is ill; you need to get up and cook. Moreover, it’s been two days, and the rice harvest isn’t finished. This afternoon, we’ll have your relatives from your mother’s side come over to help!” He Mingjie said with a sullen expression.

With the loss of his brother, He Mingjie wasn’t in a good mood, but it wasn’t out of sorrow for his brother. He was more concerned about the fact that there would be no more financial support for his studies.

For the past two years, he had relied on his elder brother’s stipends; otherwise, the family could hardly scrape enough money for him to study and take exams.

He had just passed the first round of the entrance exam and was waiting for the following year’s imperial examination in hopes of obtaining a scholar’s title and marrying a good wife. But now their financial lifeline had suddenly been cut off.

The meager harvest from the fields could hardly support his ambitions, and his sister-in-law’s dowry had been spent. Everything related to studying required money—what was he going to do in the future?

Wen Yunhe half-leaned against the bed, casting him a cold glance filled with disdain and mocking contempt, her eyes sharp as knives.

“Not… doing it!” Two hoarse words came out of her throat, firm and decisive.

That old witch feigning illness? Just half an hour ago, she was scolding people with a strong voice, and now she pretended to be sick just to torment her.

To ask someone who had just attempted to hang herself to cook and harvest rice, and also summon her maternal relatives to help—how shameless could the He family be?

He Mingjie was momentarily taken aback by her fierce gaze. For a brief moment, he felt as though his sister-in-law was a vengeful spirit from a tale.

His younger sister, He Mingyu, who was listening by the door, quickly ran to their mother to report.

“Mother, that woman said she wouldn’t cook, and she’s not going to take care of the rice harvest either! She even yelled at second brother!”

When Wang heard this, her face visibly darkened, her brows furrowing as if she could crush a mosquito.

She slapped the edge of the bed, then quickly got up, her movements surprisingly nimble.

She had simply been pretending to lie in bed acting sick; in reality, she was quite well.

“Little whore, how dare she defy me! I’m still alive!”

With that, she bolted out.

He Mingjie quickly grasped the situation. He had let this seemingly frail sister-in-law intimidate him with just a glance! How infuriating!

“You ignorant woman! Your mother-in-law is sick, and as a daughter-in-law, you should serve her. As the eldest sister-in-law, you ought to take responsibility for household matters. You utterly unfilial and unjust person, the He family cannot tolerate you!

Though my brother has passed, do you know that I can also divorce you in his stead!” He Mingjie shouted angrily.

In essence, he was trying to shift all responsibilities onto this hardworking sister-in-law. How ridiculous! A grown man who spent his days feasting and playing, yet he expected a weak woman to bear the weight of the family’s burdens—isn’t that a huge loss of face?

This was a tactic he frequently employed—using the threat of divorce to intimidate Wen Yunhe. In the past, whenever he hinted at it, she would be terrified, obeying his every command.

On one hand, the original owner subconsciously respected educated men and felt a sense of awe towards them.

On the other hand, she had grown up as childhood sweethearts with He Mingzhang; they had once shared a passionate romance.

After overcoming various hardships to marry into the family, she had no intention of being divorced or abandoned by the He family. She was eagerly waiting for He Mingzhang to return triumphantly so that they could lead a good life together.

During this era, if a woman was divorced by her in-laws, it was a very grave matter—the entire family would be shamed, and her sisters would find it difficult to marry due to the stigma, facing hardships from their in-laws.

With younger siblings still at home, she couldn’t selfishly pursue her own comfort and let them suffer.

Therefore, this was also one reason why the original owner had such a submissive temperament.

“What a joke! You think you can just say ‘divorce’ and it will happen? As a Wen family woman, I have served my in-laws with all my heart, and the whole village knows it. The authorities will not take your word alone!” Wen Yunhe retorted resolutely.

Don’t think she didn’t know; in the Dae Shun dynasty, divorces had to be reported to the authorities. The government would investigate and confirm that the woman had committed one of the seven reasons for divorce before allowing it. It wasn’t as simple as a piece of divorce paper as portrayed on television.

This was something her younger brother, who had studied while growing up, had told the original owner. Now it was useful knowledge because while the original owner feared the He family, she was not afraid.

She wanted to leave the He family, but she absolutely refused to be unjustly cast aside. The only way forward was divorce, and she wanted a formal notice of it.

This was also a way to fulfill the original owner’s wishes. As a person from another timeline, she could overlook such details, but the original owner genuinely cared about her family and was afraid that her being discarded would make life difficult for her younger siblings.

“The old woman says she can just divorce you! You’re unfilial to your mother-in-law and have no children. Just those two reasons should suffice for your divorce!

Still not getting up to cook? Are you waiting for the old lady to come and serve you?” Wang shouted, pointing her finger at Wen Yunhe’s nose.

Just then, Wen Yunqing returned from the fields, having heard about her sister’s suicide attempt. She hadn’t even entered the house yet, barefooted with her pants rolled up, rushing over to check on her sister. On the way, she encountered several aunts coming to visit.

As soon as they entered the courtyard, they overheard Wang’s loud scolding.

The aunts exchanged awkward glances, feeling uncomfortable.

Wen Yunqing’s previously normal complexion darkened instantly, her face turning as dark as the bottom of a pot. A surge of inexplicable anger seemed to flood her heart, spreading rapidly like a burst dam.

Clenching her fists so tightly that her knuckles began to turn white from the effort, she barely held back her emotions.

Usually, her elder sister would only share good news, but how could she not know that there wasn’t a single decent person in the He family? They were all selfish and heartless.

With her brother-in-law dead and her sister grieving to the point of attempting suicide, how could they still say such shameless things?

He hated that he couldn’t grow up faster, hated his bad luck, and most of all, hated how the He family bullied people so ruthlessly.

“Aunt, please tread lightly. Since my elder sister married into your family, she has worked tirelessly day and night, handling all matters inside and outside the household, supporting her younger brother and sisters, and caring for the two elders. She has never committed any transgression.

The aunts here can confirm this, and I believe the authorities will not let you slander her unreasonably.

Moreover, the claim about having no children is utterly baseless. Everyone knows that my elder sister and brother-in-law were called to serve in the military on the day they got married. If there were no offspring, where would they come from? Aunt, why must you be so aggressive and impose unreasonable demands?” Wen Yunqing yelled, doing her best to suppress her anger.

The youth’s blood surged; he had already subtly hinted to his elder sister that if the He family pushed her too far, she could return home—he could do extra work to support them all if needed.

Unfortunately, his elder sister always told him he was too young and didn’t understand many things.

Seeing his elder sister suffering in the He family like this left him no option but to take a stand.

Wen Yunhe heard her brother’s voice resonating through the house—a youthful tone, still breaking but full of strength, asserting itself.

The original owner had such a sensible and understanding younger brother who knew how to protect his sister, and her heart warmed at the thought. Perhaps having numerous younger siblings wouldn’t be so bad after all; she suddenly felt a glimmer of hope for the future.

With that thought in mind, she quickly formulated a plan. While no one was looking, she murmured inwardly: “Powder.”

Instantly, the face powder from her makeup table in the courtyard appeared in her hand.

Rushing against time, she hastily applied a disheveled look to herself. Since the original owner already looked pale, a layer of powder made her complexion even more ghastly. With her hair let down, she could easily step into the role of a ghost.

This exaggerated look, however, was just what she needed to make a dramatic entrance, hoping to sway the narrative and the emotions in this heated confrontation.