Chapter 4

Li Hehua pondered for a moment, then confirmed with the man who was glaring coldly at her, “Are you going to divorce me?”

A flicker of surprise flashed in Zhang Tieshan’s eyes, but he quickly regained his stern composure. He pulled a divorce decree from his robe and slammed it onto the table. “Here’s the divorce decree. Pack your things and leave. Don’t make me throw you out.”

The divorce decree was already prepared—he was truly determined to divorce her.

Staring at the document on the table, Li Hehua frantically considered her options.

Crying and pleading would be futile; it would only make him dislike her more, and besides, she couldn’t bring herself to act so pitifully. Her only hope was to appeal to his softer side and persuade him to reconsider.

It was time to put her acting skills to the test! After a brief mental rehearsal, Li Hehua secretly pinched her thigh. Painful tears welled up in her eyes, making her appear on the verge of weeping.

With her eyes glistening, she spoke in a trembling voice, “I know you hate me now, and you have every right to. It’s all my fault. I used to be such a fool, my mind clouded, which led me to do so many terrible things. I deeply regret it now. I don’t ask for your forgiveness, just a chance to redeem myself. I’ll prove I’ve changed. Please, give me another chance?”

Li Hehua’s words were carefully calculated. On one hand, she hoped to soften Zhang Tieshan’s heart and delay her dismissal. On the other hand, she was preparing for the future. She wasn’t the original Li Hehua, and her future actions would inevitably differ drastically from the original’s, raising suspicions. By confessing her sincere remorse now, she would have a ready explanation for any discrepancies in her behavior later.

Zhang Tieshan was once again astonished by Li Hehua’s words, prompting him to scrutinize her anew.

When he had first returned home and witnessed the chaos she had wrought, he had immediately resolved to throw her out. But the moment he voiced his intention, she had attacked him like a madwoman, punching and kicking wildly. After he subdued her, she had collapsed onto the ground, wailing and thrashing so loudly that the entire village gathered to watch.

As if that weren’t enough, she had seized Shulin while Zhang Tieshan was distracted, threatening to strangle the boy if he dared divorce her. Only Zhang Tieshan’s intervention had saved Shulin from the clutches of this vicious woman.

Furious, he had tossed her outside and ordered her to leave. But the shameless woman had spent the entire night pounding on the door, cursing and shouting until dawn, keeping the entire village awake. When villagers came to complain, he had no choice but to let her back in, giving her two days to pack her belongings and leave.

He had expected Li Hehua to throw a fit when he came to deliver the divorce papers, but to his surprise, she remained calm and even began to express remorse.

However, having already seen her true nature, he didn’t believe a word she said. Her current act was merely a ploy to soften his heart and prevent the divorce.

But he was determined to divorce this woman. Otherwise, he would be betraying his poor mother, younger brother, and son.

Zhang Tieshan gritted his teeth, his words chilling Li Hehua to the bone. “Li Hehua, whether your repentance is genuine or feigned, I’ve already written the divorce papers. Take them. From today onward, we are strangers. What you do with your life is your own affair, none of my concern.”

Li Hehua felt a surge of panic. It seemed this man was truly resolved to divorce her. But she couldn’t afford to be divorced now—she hadn’t even figured things out yet. Where would she go if she left this place? Would she end up homeless?

No, no, I have to find a way to stay. I need to survive this crisis first.

It was clear that her earlier words hadn’t worked. This man didn’t believe her claims of reform. She needed a new approach.

After racking her brain, only one desperate option remained. Fine, what’s face worth now? Survival comes first.

Li Hehua abandoned all pride and stepped forward, grabbing the man’s sleeve. Using the original owner’s tone, she pleaded, “Tieshan, I know you despise me. I wouldn’t dare object if you divorced me—it’s all my fault. But we were husband and wife once. Please, have some mercy and let me stay here for just two more months? That’s all I need. After that, I’ll leave quietly. If I break my word, you can throw me out yourself, okay?”

Two months should be enough for her to find a way to earn some money and rent her own place.

Unfortunately, her words had little effect on Zhang Tieshan. He violently shook off Li Hehua’s hand and glared at her coldly, his eyes sending a shiver down her spine.

Li Hehua met his gaze, swallowed hard, and forced herself to continue, “Tieshan, please believe me! If I’m lying, may I meet a terrible end! Just grant me two months of grace, please? A divorced woman with no money… I need to find a way to survive. Give me two months to earn some money, okay?”

Zhang Tieshan stared at the woman’s pleading face, feeling no sympathy whatsoever. Instead, his disgust deepened.

Money? Earning money to survive? Heh, that’s a joke. This woman pocketed every single penny he sent home over the years, not a single coin reached my family. Now she claims she’s broke? He was generous enough not to demand those funds back, and she still dares to say she has no money?

Zhang Tieshan recalled the state of his family upon his return, his anger reigniting. He desperately wanted to end this woman’s life right then and there. He couldn’t bear to look at her for another two months!

He stood up, unwilling to listen to her excuses any longer, and strode toward the door. “The divorce papers are written. Whether you acknowledge you’re no longer my wife or not, pack your things and leave this house immediately. If you’re still here when I return, I won’t be so polite!”

Seeing Zhang Tieshan about to leave, Li Hehua panicked. She silently repeated the mantra, “A true man knows when to yield,” and, disregarding the humiliation of his repeated rejections, shamelessly chased after him. With a desperate resolve, she threw her arms around his waist from behind, clinging tightly to prevent him from leaving. “Don’t go! Please, just let me stay a little longer. I beg you!”

Zhang Tieshan was taken aback by her sudden embrace, his body stiffening momentarily before he immediately tried to pull away.

Li Hehua felt her hands being twisted painfully, but she clung to him with all her strength, refusing to let go. “Tieshan, if you divorce me, I have nowhere to go! At least give me some time to make arrangements. I promise I won’t overstay my welcome. I’ll even sign a written pledge!”

“Hah! Ridiculous! Aren’t your family members so powerful? Don’t they always have your back? If they care so much about you, why don’t you just go back and live with them? Stop trying to deceive me with these lies!”

Li Hehua froze. She hadn’t realized the original owner of this body actually had family. It seemed they had done something to anger this man, and now he was trying to send her back to them.

Should she return to the original owner’s family?

No, absolutely not. Even if they existed, she couldn’t go. First, she didn’t even know where their home was or how to act around them. Returning would risk exposing her ignorance. Second, if the original owner’s family hadn’t intervened in her situation, they either didn’t care about her or were no better than this man. Third, what kind of treatment could a divorced woman expect in ancient times?

Therefore, Li Hehua couldn’t return to her maternal home unless absolutely necessary. Though life here was difficult, she had at least learned a lot in the past two days. And while Zhang Tieshan clearly loathed her, she could tell he wasn’t a bad person.

Having made up her mind, Li Hehua said, “I won’t go back. Returning home won’t bring me any peace. I’ll find my own place to live. Please, just tolerate me for a little longer.”

Seeing her unwavering refusal to leave, Zhang Tieshan roared, “Let go of me!” He suddenly increased his strength, broke free from her grip, and flung Li Hehua onto the ground.

Li Hehua’s buttocks throbbed with pain, and her palms burned from the rough ground. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she ignored the pain and pleaded again, “Please, let me stay a little longer. I promise to be obedient and cause you no trouble. I’ll cook for you, do chores—anything you want. Just let me stay until I find a place. I’ll leave as soon as I do.”

Zhang Tieshan had only wanted to shake her off, never expecting to throw her to the ground. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to apologize. Seeing her tearful eyes still pleading with him filled him with irritation. Why was this woman so determined to stay longer? Was this some kind of delaying tactic? Regardless, he was divorcing her.

Fine, he thought, for Shulin’s sake, I’ll let her stay a little longer. But if she refuses to leave then, I won’t hesitate to treat her like any other tenant.

Zhang Tieshan took a deep breath, said nothing more, and strode out of the room.

Li Hehua watched his figure disappear through the doorway, uncertain whether he had agreed or not.

It doesn’t matter, she resolved. Whether he agrees or not, I’ll swallow my pride and stay here for now. I’ll endure his scolding until I earn enough money to leave with dignity.

With a sigh, she decided to clean the house again. Perhaps if he saw it spotless, he might show her some leniency and delay throwing her out.

Clenching her teeth against the pain, Li Hehua struggled to her feet, her bulky frame moving with difficulty. She grabbed a washboard and began scrubbing the bedsheets.

After struggling for an hour to wash the bedsheets and pillowcases clean, Li Hehua was hanging them out to dry in the courtyard when Zhang Tieshan returned again. This time, he wasn’t alone. A young boy and a woman in her forties or fifties followed behind him, while he carried a small boy in his arms.

Seeing Li Hehua hanging clothes, Zhang Tieshan strode into the house without acknowledging her, his face grim. This made Li Hehua feel even more uneasy.

The two people who followed Zhang Tieshan inside also noticed her. Their expressions turned sour, and their eyes glared at her with undisguised displeasure. They entered the house without a word, clearly intending to ignore her.

Li Hehua pressed her lips together and finished hanging the laundry. Only then did she wipe her hands and follow them inside.

Inside, the little boy Zhang Tieshan had carried in was sitting at the table, playing with a small cloth ball and paying her no attention. The other three were unpacking their belongings, clearly preparing to settle in.

Li Hehua didn’t know what to do. Offering to help would likely be unwelcome, but doing nothing felt wrong. After a moment’s thought, she decided to go to the kitchen and start cooking.

It was already past noon, and they must be hungry. She would prepare a meal for everyone to share.

However, the kitchen only contained a small amount of brown rice, leaving her with no choice but to make brown rice porridge.

When Li Hehua entered the kitchen, she noticed two extra sacks of grain. She opened them to find a sack of white flour and another of fine white rice.

A surge of delight washed over her. Her mouth, accustomed to days of brown rice porridge, instantly watered. She had never craved white rice and noodles so intensely.

But these supplies weren’t hers, and she couldn’t use them.

After a moment’s thought, Li Hehua turned and left the kitchen. She found Zhang Tieshan in the courtyard, moving supplies. After a brief internal pep talk, she called out to him, “Zhang Tieshan.”

Zhang Tieshan ignored her, not even glancing in her direction.

Li Hehua forced a smile and continued, “I wanted to make lunch. Could I use some of the white flour to make noodles for everyone?”

Zhang Tieshan remained unresponsive, continuing his work.

Disappointed, Li Hehua turned back to making her brown rice porridge.