Font Size:
Aunt Li watched as Liu Siniang held the divorce letter to her chest, feeling a pang of discomfort. It wasn’t that she was reluctant to part with this daughter-in-law, but rather, she was reluctant to lose this labor without cost. The thought that this daughter-in-law, whom she used to freely scold and beat, would no longer be under her control, filled her with unease. She realized she wouldn’t be able to scold or order her around as before, and that made her feel miserable. Looking at Liu Siniang now was even more displeasing than before.
“You shameless woman, since you’ve been divorced by our Zhao family, you’re no longer a daughter-in-law of ours. Take that divorce letter and leave quickly! You’re even saving us a room!”
Aunt Li immediately started urging Liu Siniang to leave, thinking out of sight, out of mind.
Liu Siniang looked at Aunt Li, thinking that this was the mother-in-law she had served respectfully for three or four years. From initially believing that her diligence and obedience could warm her mother-in-law’s heart, to later feeling desperate and numb, she felt like she had been in a nightmare. Now that the nightmare seemed to be over, she no longer had the patience she once did. She thought to herself that it was time to live for herself.
“Aunt Li, I am not some shameless woman, please don’t call me that again. Also, I didn’t get divorced by your Zhao family; I chose to divorce. I don’t want to stay in this place for another moment, so don’t worry about me wanting to leave. I remember just now when I wanted to go, you were still trying to stop me.”
Liu Siniang looked at Aunt Li, still in a sorry state, with a bloody bandage wrapped around her head, disheveled hair, red eyes, and a pale complexion. She wasn’t speaking loudly, devoid of emotion, yet everyone felt that the way she spoke now was somewhat different from before. People couldn’t help but pity her. They knew she was being pressured by the Zhao family.
Aunt Li was stunned by Liu Siniang’s retort, her eyes widening before she erupted in anger. “You shameless woman! You dare to act so arrogantly right after leaving our Zhao family’s door! I’ll still call you a shameless woman! What can you do to me? Don’t think the Zhao family will let you off the hook; your scandal won’t be hidden! You’re so eager to leave the Zhao family because you want to find someone better! Do you really think you, a withered flower, can attract anyone? They’ll just play around with you. Wait until you face retribution! When you want to come back to serve as a slave in our Zhao family, we won’t take in your worthless self!”
Su Zhi supported Liu Siniang, watching her tremble all over. She felt indignant at Aunt Li’s words, thinking that her mouth was truly filthy.
With a loud bang, everyone present was startled, turning their heads to see what had happened, mouths agape.
It turned out that Li Shi had picked up a hoe from the side. With one swing, she knocked over a shelf nearby, sending everything on it crashing to the ground.
“Aunt Li! If you dare to speak nonsense like this again, I’ll demolish your house today! I’ll beat up any man from your family I see from now on! If you don’t believe me, go ahead and curse again and see!”
Li Shi held the hoe, glaring at Aunt Li in a very intimidating manner.
“You—you—”
Aunt Li retreated several steps in fear, pointing a trembling finger for a while but unable to speak. Despite her boldness, she was actually afraid of strong opposition. She knew Li Shi wouldn’t dare to hit her, but when Li Shi threatened to beat up her family’s men, she realized she had two sons. If Li Shi really did that every day, how could they live? She believed Li Shi was capable of such actions; this was a man who could take on a tiger!
Liu Siniang glanced at Li Shi, then lowered her head, feeling guilty for causing trouble for him.
Su Zhi, however, silently praised Li Shi in her heart, thinking he truly was a great man, worthy of being her husband’s elder brother. He wasn’t afraid of Aunt Li slandering him, nor did he shy away from the situation. It seemed he wouldn’t reject Liu Siniang in the future just because of gossip from others. This was promising for them. How wonderful!
Zhao Daliang frowned at Li Shi and said, “Li Shi, are you planning to vandalize my house?! Even though there have been rumors about you and my wife, I haven’t gone to your house to cause trouble. Yet, you dare to come to my house?”
Li Shi angrily retorted, “Catch the thief and seize the evidence, catch the adulterer and punish both! Liu Siniang and I are innocent. No one in Riverside Village has gossiped about us. It’s only the people from your Zhao family who keep having wild thoughts! I haven’t even accused you of slandering good people! I’m laying it out here today: if your Zhao family dares to spread rumors again, I, Li Shi, will follow through on my words. I’ll beat you every time I see you! If you’re not afraid, report me, let’s meet at the yamen!”
“Zhao Daliang, you just accused us of helping Brother Shitou and Liu Siniang commit adultery. That’s slander,” Shen Zi’an interjected from the side. He was very concerned about this kind of defamation, especially now that he had a family. He didn’t want himself and his family to be slandered like this.
Su Zhi turned to Li Zheng and said, “Li Zheng, you have to be fair to us. We’ve always lived upright lives. Since I married into Riverside Village, I’ve always behaved myself, usually only doing chores with a few sisters-in-law. I never expected them to slander me like this. If we don’t clarify this, who will dare to stay with me in the future?”
Li Qing’s wife was quick-witted. As soon as Su Zhi spoke, her expression changed immediately, and she cursed, “You, Zhao Daliang! Unable to find a reason, you want to demote your wife to a concubine and then try to smear Liu Siniang, even thinking of dragging Sister Su Zhi into this mess. You have to present evidence. Even finding a witness would suffice! Just because you say so, does it make it true? Why don’t you claim that money falls from the sky too? Li Zheng, you need to warn Zhao Daliang about his reckless slander. Otherwise, Riverside Village will lose its rules! Others will follow suit, and there won’t be any peace in Riverside Village!”
“Exactly, Li Zheng. Zhao Daliang should have gained more worldly wisdom outside. But instead of that, he brought back the bad habit of demeaning his wife and learned how to convict people with just his words. That won’t fly in our Riverside Village. Li Zheng, for the sake of our village’s reputation, you must take action. The Rain Worship Festival is coming soon.”
Shugen’s Wife also chimed in, equally angry. Just because Liu Siniang and Su Zhi interacted more closely, and Li Shi and Shen Zi’an were friendly, they were accused of having an affair. Now, women like her who were close to Lu Siniang were under suspicion too!
Zhao Daliang cursed himself for his momentary confusion. Not only did he offend Li Shi, but he also offended Shen Zi’an and his wife. Unfortunately, Su Zhi’s eloquence had stirred up others as well. He looked at the villagers, seeing their disdainful gazes, and thought to himself how foolish he had been just now. What was supposed to be a triumphant return to his hometown had now become a situation where people looked down on him.
Li Zheng was also angry, especially when he heard about the village’s reputation and the upcoming Rain Worship Festival. He felt that the Zhao family had gone too far this time, causing damage to the village’s simple folk customs!
“Enough! Stop arguing! Zhao family, Zhao Daliang, you were wrong this time. Without evidence, don’t tarnish others’ innocence! It’s your Zhao family’s fault to mistreat a good daughter-in-law like Liu Siniang and then try to smear her reputation. It’s simply too much! She could have sued you for demeaning her, but she only sought justice. This matter should have ended here. From now on, you are no longer family. Let bygones be bygones. But if you continue with your malicious words, you’ll only add insult to injury! I’ll say one thing here today: you are not allowed to slander others in the future. If it damages the reputation of our Riverside Village, I won’t let you off!”
Li Zheng scolded the Zhao family members sternly.
Aunt Li felt somewhat aggrieved, but she had been scared by Li Shi’s demeanor earlier, and Li Zheng’s words had also made an impact on her. All she could do was curse silently in her heart.
Zhao Daliang remained silent. He knew today’s events were unfavorable for him. Liu Siniang was no longer a member of the Zhao family. If he continued to speak ambiguously about her, although it would tarnish her reputation, it would also be a disgrace to him because he he wanted to demote his wife to a concubine. However, causing too much trouble wasn’t ideal, especially since he didn’t want relations with the Shen family to deteriorate further.
Seeing that the Zhao family members were silent, Li Zheng turned to Liu Siniang and said, “Liu Siniang, pack up your things.”
Aunt Zhao immediately interjected, “You still want to take things with you? No way!”
“I don’t have much to take, just a few changes of clothes,” Liu Siniang replied softly. She had already put on her shoes and went to the side of the bed to pick up a patched bundle.
The villagers who were watching the commotion felt even more sympathetic towards Liu Siniang upon hearing her words and seeing the patched bundle. They thought the Zhao family members were truly despicable, just dismissing a daughter-in-law who had been married to them for several years with just a shabby bundle.
“Do you want to open it and check? Don’t accuse me later of stealing Zhao family’s belongings,” Liu Siniang said to Aunt Li. She knew her mother-in-law too well. Aunt Li snorted in response, ignoring her remark. Liu Siniang handed the bundle to a woman nearby and asked her to take a few others to inspect it on the side. She still didn’t trust the Zhao family members.
Under the displeased expressions of the Zhao family members, the women went to inspect the bundle on the side, as it contained women’s clothing that couldn’t be seen by men. When they returned from the inspection, their expressions weren’t pleasant. They looked at Liu Siniang with particular sympathy, and their gazes towards Aunt Li and Zhao Daliang were filled with disdain and disgust. They thought this family was too harsh on their daughter-in-law!
Su Zhi now held Liu Siniang in even higher regard, realizing that she was not only skilled and kind-hearted but also quite clever.
Li Qing’s wife helped carry the bundle, while Su Zhi and Shugen’s Wife supported Liu Siniang as they walked out of the door.
They had come in too hurriedly earlier, but as they left, Su Zhi noticed a carriage parked in the Zhao family’s courtyard, with a horse grazing nearby.