Chapter 15: I Want a Divorce

Chen Manman looked at her father, seeing that he was furious and about to explode, so she spoke up:
“Xiaoli, did Auntie still make Grandma wash clothes with ice water in the middle of winter?”

“Yeah! Manman, I even told my mom, but she refused and hit me!” Chen Xiaoli said boldly, ignoring the hateful glare from Zhao Fang.

Chen Manman looked at the dark-skinned Chen Xiaoli, speechless. Does she even have a brain?

“Uncles, you’ve seen it yourselves! This is how they treat our grandparents. From now on, our family will take care of them, but the suffering Grandpa and Grandma endured can’t go uncompensated! How about this — their family pays Grandpa and Grandma 100 yuan each as compensation for before. If not, I’ll report you to the county police and have you locked up for years!” Chen Manman threatened.

“That sounds reasonable! Before the family split, the old couple worked hard and earned 10 work points, getting quite a bit of grain and money each year. Most of it apparently ended up in Chen’s eldest daughter-in-law’s pockets!” an auntie said from the crowd.

“No way! I’d rather burn that money than give it to that old hag!” Zhao Fang yelled, furious that she was asked to pay 200 yuan. “She’s asking for my life!”

Hearing “compensation,” Chen Jianjun suddenly glared at Chen Manman with hatred, then looked at his second brother Chen Jianguo. Seeing Chen Jianguo didn’t object, his eyes turned even fiercer.

He struck first: “Chen Jianguo! Are you just going to watch your girl bully your brother like this?”

Chen’s father coldly glanced at his eldest brother, “What Manman said is right! That 200 yuan is compensation for our parents! If you don’t pay, bring out Fourth Grandpa to judge this.”

Fourth Grandpa was their great-great-grandfather — Grandpa Chen and Grandma Chen’s great-uncle — the oldest and most respected in the Chen family. When he spoke, no one argued; decisions were final.

Chen Jianjun’s face immediately changed, his eyes bloodshot. “Second brother! Are you really going that far?” If Fourth Grandpa gets involved, their family might be kicked out of Chen Village!

Chen’s father turned away. Chen Manman saw this and said, “It’s not that we’re being ruthless, it’s that you’re leaving Grandpa and Grandma no way to live!”

Chen Jianjun gave Chen Manman a venomous glare as if he wanted to swallow her whole.

After a long pause, Chen Jianjun relented: “Leiluo, go get the 200 yuan from the house!”

Chen Leiluo was shocked: “Dad! How can you do this? If you want to bring out Fourth Grandpa, just do it! We’re not afraid of them!”

“Chen Jianjun! If you dare take it, I’ll divorce you!” Zhao Fang yelled angrily.

Seeing this, Chen Jianjun turned and went inside. Moments later, he came out holding 20 bills of “Great Unity” currency and handed them to Chen Jianguo. “Second brother, take good care of Mom and Dad.” Then he shut the gate.

Inside the courtyard, cries of parents being called echoed pitifully:
“Chen Jianjun! This isn’t over! Divorce!”
“You slut! Divorce if you want!”
“Ah! Chen Jianjun, I’ll kill you!”
“Mom!”

Seeing the gate closed, everyone lost interest and dispersed.

“Dad! From now on, our whole family will always be together to take care of Grandpa and Grandma!” Chen Manman said to her somewhat downcast father, comforting him.

Big brother also spoke: “Yeah! Dad, don’t worry, I’ll take care of you when you’re old! You’ll never go hungry or cold!”

Chen’s father smiled faintly despite his gloom. “You little brat! Know how to talk! You think I’ll be the one to take care of you? I’ve got your brothers and sisters too! If you don’t take care of me, I’ll break your legs!” Saying this, he turned his back and walked inside.

—–

At the Chen family home, Chen’s father stuffed the 200 yuan into Grandma Chen’s hand. “Mom, keep this! Big brother finally did something right.”

Grandma Chen was reluctant, so she looked at her youngest daughter-in-law, “Xiulan, you hold onto this for me.”

“Mom! I don’t want it. This is from Big Brother’s family, so you should keep it,” Chen’s mother refused firmly. She never wanted the money when the family split before, let alone now.

Chen Manman watched the three of them pushing responsibility around and said, “Grandma! If it’s for you, you keep it! Women feel secure with money in hand!” Her teasing tone made everyone in the room laugh heartily.

“All right! We’ll listen to Manman. Having money means no worries!” Grandma Chen accepted the money.

Yao Chunzhi had long prepared the beds in another room — the one Grandpa and Grandma had been staying in. “Grandpa, Grandma, the kang bed is made, let’s get some rest early~”

“All right, bright daughter-in-law.”

Chen Manman suddenly realized she hadn’t brought Grandpa and Grandma’s clothes and luggage! And she had just delivered brown sugar, biscuits, and apples in the afternoon. They’d been so caught up in the fight, she forgot all about it! She wondered if anything would be left tomorrow.

“Grandma! You forgot to bring your things back. I’ll help you get them in the morning!” It was late now. She didn’t want to knock on Big Uncle Chen’s door now — who knew what she’d find!

“All right! You all get some rest too!”

After a whole night of hard work and arguing — which was exhausting — plus a day of labor, everyone was completely wiped out. After quick washups, they fell asleep immediately, unaware that in a corner of the yard stood a brand-new bicycle!

Bicycle: “…Hey! Some manners! I’m so flashy! Can’t you see me?!”

Chen Manman went back inside and saw Dahu and Erhu fast asleep, their little faces rosy and adorable, warming her heart.

She fetched water to wash the two little ones, changed Dahu’s medicine, tucked them in, and went to the backyard to prepare for a shower.

This time Chen Manman was smart — during the day she took out an old-fashioned flashlight from her space, with a silver handle and powered by D batteries.

The flashlight’s light was weak but gave her a lot of comfort in the dark night.

In the backyard, shining the light, she saw Lin Shuhe coming out of the shower room. “I brought your bathwater. Go wash quickly!” Then he turned and left.

Chen Manman was baffled — what had gotten into him today?

Actually, when he returned to the house today and saw the blue sweater knitted on the kang bed — something Chen Manman had mentioned before — Lin Shuhe’s heart was filled with sweetness, thinking she had made it for him.

Chen Manman entered the shower room and indeed saw a big basin of hot water. Not wanting to waste it, she carried the water into her space to soak her feet later.

She took her usual bath and skincare routine and threw the clothes she’d changed in the last two days into the washing machine.

Chen’s parents’ clothes were washed by Chen’s mother; big brother and sister-in-law’s clothes usually by big sister-in-law. The original owner once wanted to wash Lin Shuhe’s clothes, but he never agreed; after every shower, Lin Shuhe washed his own clothes without leaving them for the next day. The kids’ clothes were generally washed by Chen’s mother.

No way — tomorrow, when everyone goes out to work, Chen Manman would stuff their clothes into the space to wash, including Grandpa and Grandma’s.

While thinking this, she kept working her hands — she was weeding and fertilizing in the space’s small courtyard. Before she transmigrated, the strawberries she planted were already flowering.

Chen Manman was very happy. Soon she’d be able to eat big strawberries! She was really looking forward to it. Although the warehouse had strawberries, eating ones she grew herself felt more rewarding!