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Upon hearing Su Zhi’s direct inquiry, Zhao Daliang had no choice but to raise his head. He found Su Zhi sternly gazing at him, with three children and Liu Siniang all staring as well. Liu Siniang, no longer crying, fixed her unwavering gaze on him. If it weren’t for her occasional blink, he might have mistaken her for a statue. This made him feel quite uncomfortable. Just then, he sensed someone pulling him, and a fragrance wafted into his nostrils. Turning, he saw Zhang Qingniang, her painted face and allure contrasting starkly with Liu Siniang’s plain appearance, immediately easing his unease.
“Younger sister, I understand your sympathy for Siniang, but having no descendants is a great failure. I have no choice either. In Qingniang’s family, there is a rule against becoming concubines or secondary wives. She can only be the legitimate primary wife. Therefore, we have to inconvenience Siniang. As Mother said earlier, even if she becomes a concubine, we won’t mistreat her. It’s better than being divorced and mocked by others,” Zhao Daliang explained.
As Zhao Daliang spoke, he felt somewhat justified in his reasoning.
Su Zhi silently cursed the man, considering him a scoundrel. She had lost all hope in Zhao Daliang, finding him even more despicable than Shen Youfu. Shen Youfu, for lacking sons, married a secondary wife but at least kept his dignity by not demoting his lawful wife to a concubine. Zhao Daliang, on the other hand, seemed the worst of the lot!
“Liu Siniang, what are you planning to do?” Su Zhi inquired. Deep down, she hoped Liu Siniang would choose to divorce. This household couldn’t be endured any longer. Having already suffered abuse as the primary wife, faced with the prospect of becoming a concubine, she would likely be subjected to even more servitude. Previously, despite being mistreated, she was known outside as someone’s wife. If she became a concubine, she would lose that dignity. Rural folks might tolerate wealthy men’s concubines, but they would never respect concubines from similar rural backgrounds.
Su Zhi held Liu Siniang’s hand tightly, hoping she would find courage. She knew Liu Siniang was sensible; otherwise, she wouldn’t have shown kindness when Su Zhi was still considered a jinx. Their interactions had revealed this. Despite her seeming fragility, Liu Siniang possessed a hidden strength, evident in how she endured the abuse in the Zhao household while maintaining her character. She stayed not out of weakness but out of a commitment to her marital vows.
“Liu Siniang, you need to think about yourself. Your future lies ahead,” Su Zhi subtly hinted, hoping Liu Siniang would not remain bound by this marriage. She believed that with a little push, Liu Siniang would rise above the situation. She even thought about saving some money secretly, considering the possibility of being driven out by the Zhao family. Since Liu Siniang had once contemplated preparing for a departure, leaving the Zhao household was not an impossible feat.
Looking at Su Zhi then back at the Zhao family, Liu Siniang spoke slowly, “I want to leave.”
At that moment, Su Zhi felt like she had seen a ray of sunshine through the dark clouds in the sky. She sensed that Liu Siniang was truly determined.
“Liu Siniang, what did you say?” Zhao Daliang heard Liu Siniang’s words but seemed a bit puzzled, as if he didn’t quite grasp the situation and wanted to confirm, suspecting it couldn’t be as he imagined.
Liu Siniang gazed at Zhao Daliang, recalling how her life would transform with his return accompanied by another woman. The years of suffering she endured were immense. Initially, she endured silently, believing that endurance would eventually lead to better days. Like other women enduring hardships in their in-laws’ households, she thought she would overcome it. However, as time passed, Zhao Daliang’s behavior worsened, and his mother constantly insulted her by calling her an infertile hen. Remembering how her mother faced similar ridicule for having only one daughter, she understood the risks of not bearing children. After losing money once, she started saving secretly and prepared for the possibility of being expelled.
When Zhao Daliang brought the woman home, Liu Siniang anticipated this outcome. Despite feeling some discomfort, she mostly felt relieved at the prospect of leaving the household. She expected a divorce letter, but the Zhao family’s decision to demote her to a concubine ignited her sense of injustice and anger. She could accept being divorced for not bearing children or even Zhao taking a secondary wife, but becoming a concubine from a wife was intolerable.
Fueled by anger, Liu Siniang resisted, leading to a push that caused her to bump her head. While Su Zhi worried about Liu Siniang, the latter had already accepted that divorce was inevitable. She felt conflicted due to her three years of marriage but, upon hearing the Zhao family’s despicable words and Zhao Daliang’s attitude, she finally spoke up.
“I’m saying, I want a divorce,” Liu Siniang looked at Zhao Daliang and reiterated.
“Since you’ve found a better wife, I’ll grant you that wish. The Zhao family doesn’t need to demote me to a concubine for the sake of your righteousness. I’ll voluntarily leave the household,” she declared.
Aunt Li, Zhao Xiaohua, and Zhang Qingniang were surprised by Liu Siniang’s decision. In their eyes, she was a weak and powerless woman who could only survive with the Zhao family’s support. They believed she should be grateful for their willingness to keep her and serve them well. Her desire to leave exceeded their expectations.
“Sister-in-law, did you hit your head and get knocked out? If you leave our family, where will you go? Your family won’t take you back. Do you plan to beg for food everywhere? A divorced woman will be drowned in others’ spit soon. Think it through and don’t do something foolish!” Zhao Xiaohua tried to sound concerned, but her true motives were apparent. She knew the household heavily relied on Liu Siniang’s labor over the past three years. Without her, they would have to bear the burden of the village chores, potentially roughening their delicate hands and toiling in the fields.
Liu Siniang declared, “I have my hands and feet. I won’t resort to begging. Let others say what they want. Even the women in city brothels aren’t drowned in spit; a divorced woman like me won’t meet such a fate. I want a divorce. If I’m forced to become a concubine, then I truly can’t show my face in the village anymore.”
“Mother, husband, we can’t let Sister leave. If she goes, I’ll never find peace again. It’s all my fault. The moment I met husband, we couldn’t part ways. I heard Sister was gentle, but she couldn’t accept me. I suffer so. Sister, you have a kind heart. Please stay, and I’ll treat you like a real sister. Due to our family’s traditions, I must apologize to you, but I promise to never let you suffer,” passionately pleaded Zhang Qingniang.
Observing Zhang Qingniang, Su Zhi wondered if she had misinterpreted things. Had she seen a hint of hostility in Zhang Qingniang’s eyes? Even if Liu Siniang desired to leave, her words weren’t unreasonable. What right did a woman who stole someone’s rightful place have to be indignant? Wasn’t it typical for mistresses to desire the wife’s position? Why, then, did they want to keep Liu Siniang? Was it for additional labor in the household or for the sake of their supposed righteousness?
Seeing Zhang Qingniang’s continued pleading demeanor, Su Zhi brushed off her earlier suspicion, thinking she might have been mistaken.
Liu Siniang ignored Zhang Qingniang and stated firmly, “Your family has traditions that forbid concubinage or secondary wives. Would my deceased parents want to see me demoted from a wife to a concubine? You need not say more. Since you favor Zhao Daliang, he is now your husband. I won’t compete with you. I only wish to have no further ties with you.”
Su Zhi quietly exclaimed internally, acknowledging Liu Siniang’s unexpected assertiveness. While typically gentle, she had endured hardships to maintain family harmony. However, faced with unbearable circumstances, she shed her usual meekness, revealing a hidden strength. Su Zhi found Liu Siniang’s resolute stance admirable and reassuring.
Zhao Daliang gazed at Liu Siniang, realizing he held no emotional attachment to his wife. He had never been content with her appearance – thin, unassuming, lacking feminine allure, with a sallow complexion. Moreover, the frequent separations and negative remarks from his mother and sister about her character had eroded any remaining fondness. Initially considering keeping her as a concubine out of pity and for household labor, he was taken aback by her request for divorce. Zhao Daliang felt a tinge of anger, thinking that she was ungrateful and didn’t appreciate their efforts to accommodate her.
Zhao Daliang, feeling at a loss for words, was unsure how to respond. Aunt. Li, on the other hand, erupted with accusations.
“Alright, Liu Siniang, you shameless woman! Are you so eager to leave because you have a lover outside?! If you’re in such a rush to find him, then go! Tell me, who is he?! If you don’t confess, you won’t be leaving here!” Aunt Li bellowed.
“You’re talking nonsense!” Liu Siniang, infuriated by the accusations, sat up abruptly but became dizzy, causing her to falter. Fortunately, Su Zhi was there to catch her fall.