Chapter 24

Ruan Cuizhi had been busy for a day or two, but the next morning, she didn’t sleep much. She got up before dawn, probably feeling that she was causing trouble for her family by coming back home. So she got up early to feed the pigs and chickens, washed the dirty clothes, and even cooked breakfast.

By the time Ruan Zhigao, Liu Xinghua, Ruan Xi, and Ruan Jie got up, she had already taken care of all the household chores. So, the three of them had nothing to do; they only washed up and called Ruan Zhigao to have breakfast directly.

Ruan Jie asked if they should call Ruan Changsheng.

Ruan Zhigao thought he must be exhausted these past few days, so he didn’t let Ruan Jie call him and let him continue sleeping.

Because of this, Liu Xinghua said to Ruan Cuizhi at the breakfast table, “I asked you to stay at home, not to serve us. Haven’t you served enough over there? If you’re tired, sleep more. Don’t find things to do and take on everything.”

Ruan Cuizhi smiled, “I’m used to it. I feel uncomfortable if I don’t do something.”

Ruan Zhigao looked at her and said, “Don’t do anything today. Just rest at home for a few days.”

Ruan Cuizhi said, “That’s not possible. I still have to go to the production team to work.”

Even if she stayed for a day, she didn’t want to eat for free.

Liu Xinghua rolled her eyes, “If you dare to go, I’ll turn against you.”

Having suffered at her in-laws’ house and walked such a long way back, she hadn’t slept much, and now she was washing clothes, feeding pigs, and cooking. If she went to the production team to work, it would be like they brought her back to suffer more.

Seeing Liu Xinghua’s serious expression, Ruan Cuizhi smiled and said, “Okay, I’ll rest for a couple of days.”

As the younger generation who couldn’t get a word in, Ruan Xi and Ruan Jie ate their breakfast silently. After eating, they went out with Ruan Zhigao.

As usual, Ruan Zhigao went to organize the members for work, Ruan Xi went to the old tailor’s house to practice drawing, and Ruan Jie went to gather firewood and cut pig grass with the village girls. If they finished the household chores, they would also help with the production team.

After breakfast, Liu Xinghua didn’t let Ruan Cuizhi do any more work and sent her to sleep.

Ruan Cuizhi, finally able to relax, was indeed exhausted and fell asleep shortly after lying down.

Unlike the young Ruan Changsheng, who could recover quickly after a nap, Ruan Cuizhi needed two days of rest to recover from her fatigue. Once she regained her energy, she insisted on going to work with the production team.

Ruan Changsheng had brought Ruan Cuizhi back home overnight, and she didn’t bring her children. It was clear to everyone that there was a problem, so many people gossiped about her.

In the paddy fields, the women were weeding. One of them, close to Sun Xiaohui, asked with bright eyes, “Hey, why did your sister-in-law suddenly come back? Did her in-laws bully her?”

Sun Xiaohui replied, “Oh, it’s nothing serious. Her husband just hit her a few times. The girls in the Ruan family are so delicate that they can’t be touched. They made such a fuss bringing her back, you’d think something big happened.”

Holding a handful of muddy grass, the woman straightened up to rest for a while, “Her husband came over a few times before. He seemed quite honest, not like someone who would hit her. Why would he hit her?”

Sun Xiaohui also stood up to rest, “It’s probably her own doing. Would someone hit her for no reason? Why didn’t he come to hit me? Let me tell you, the two old ones in my family spoil the girls, holding them in their hands, just pampering them!”

Another woman asked, “So, does this mean she’s not planning to go back and is waiting for her in-laws to come and get her?”

Sun Xiaohui laughed, “I heard she’s planning to get a divorce.”

“Divorce?” The women who heard this stopped their work and turned to look.

This was surprising news. They had never heard of anyone getting a divorce after getting married.

Sun Xiaohui said, “That’s what I heard. Who knows if it’s true? Life in town is better than in the mountains. Would she really give it up? And she has four children. If she really does this, people will drown her in spit.”

The woman said, “Maybe she’s just trying to scare her in-laws.”

Sun Xiaohui said, “Do you think people are scared of her? If it were my daughter, I’d beat her to death for acting like this. Running back to her parents’ house after a few hits from her husband, causing trouble for her family. I’d send her back in the middle of the night to apologize. Only our old folks would do something like this, not helping to calm things down but stirring the pot, making Xiao Wu blow things up. The Ruan family’s daughters are all precious; whoever marries them is unlucky.”

As they spoke, they saw Ruan Cuizhi approaching from a distance. Sun Xiaohui and the other women exchanged glances and quickly fell silent.

Ruan Cuizhi worked with the production team for two days. The first day was relatively normal. Everyone greeted her politely, chatted a bit, and mentioned how many years it had been since they last saw her. But by the second day, things started to feel strange.

Ruan Cuizhi could feel that many of the women in the production team were watching her closely. Their looks were odd, and their greetings were dry. After greeting her, they would turn and whisper to each other.

She hadn’t been back for many years and had become estranged from the people in the production team. Many of them were women who had married into the village from other places, so she didn’t know them. Even though she felt something was off, she couldn’t find the right person to ask why.

Logically, her returning to her parents’ home alone definitely meant something was wrong. But being mistreated by her in-laws, arguing with her husband, and returning to her parent’s home was normal and shouldn’t have made people look at her that way. She was puzzled but couldn’t figure out why, so she just focused on her work.

In recent years, Liu Xinghua has aged and had back problems, so she rarely goes to work on the production team. She mostly stays home, doing laundry, cooking, cleaning the chicken and pig pens, and tending to the vegetable garden.

There were older women in the village who couldn’t do much work. They often gathered with their sewing baskets, making baskets and doing needlework, chatting to pass the time.

After her nap today, Liu Xinghua got up and started sewing. Soon, Grandma Zhao and Grandma Li came over with their sewing baskets. They brought their own stools, sat down, and picked up their half-finished shoe soles.

The three of them chatted, and Grandma Zhao and Grandma Li exchanged several glances. Then, as if reaching a consensus, they both cleared their throats.

After clearing her throat, Grandma Zhao looked at Liu Xinghua and asked, “I heard… Cuizhi is getting a divorce from Liu Xiong?”

Hearing this, Liu Xinghua’s hand paused, and she looked up at Grandma Zhao, “Who said that?”

Grandma Li replied, “Who said it? It’s all over the team. Everyone knows. If you didn’t say it, then it must have come from your family. The rumors are unpleasant. Are you and Secretary Ruan really letting Cuizhi get a divorce? They’ve been married for over ten years and have four children.”

Liu Xinghua placed her sewing hand on her thigh, a frown forming on her forehead.

The talk about divorce was just a casual mention by Ruan Xi the night Ruan Cuizhi returned. Because they thought Ruan Xi made some sense and wasn’t just talking nonsense, Liu Xinghua and Ruan Zhigao didn’t refute her, but they also didn’t agree to let Ruan Cuizhi get a divorce. So, how did the talk about divorce spread? Could it be that Ruan Xi and Ruan Jie went out and talked about it?

Liu Xinghua, feeling puzzled, gave a few perfunctory responses to Grandma Zhao and Grandma Li.

That evening, when the whole family was home and sitting down to eat, she brought up the topic. She directly asked Ruan Xi and Ruan Jie first, “Did you go out and say your third aunt is getting a divorce?”

Ruan Xi and Ruan Jie were both stunned and then shook their heads.

Ruan Xi swallowed her food and said, “You and Grandpa didn’t agree to this suggestion, so why would I go out and talk about it? Besides, with so many people gossiping, even if it were decided, divorce isn’t something to brag about. Why would I go out and talk about it?”

Even if Ruan Cuizhi did get a divorce, she wouldn’t go out and talk about it. If she really got divorced, it would be her third aunt’s scar, and she wouldn’t touch it.

Liu Xinghua then looked at Ruan Changsheng, “Did you say it?”

Ruan Changsheng was speechless, “Why would I go out and gossip about my third sister?”

Liu Xinghua thought about it and agreed. They were all family, each considering Ruan Cuizhi’s well-being and wanting the best for her. Why would they gossip and give people something to talk about? She wouldn’t say it, and Ruan Zhigao certainly wouldn’t.

Listening to this, Ruan Cuizhi understood why the women on the production team had been looking at her strangely and whispering behind her back these past two days. So, everyone was talking about her getting a divorce?

As she was thinking about this, Liu Xinghua suddenly slammed her chopsticks on the table. The loud sound startled not only Ruan Cuizhi but everyone else as well.

Ruan Jie asked softly, “Grandma, what’s going on?”

Liu Xinghua didn’t answer Ruan Jie. She stood up and walked outside, shouting towards the main house, “Sun Xiaohui! Get out here!”

Sun Xiaohui’s family was also eating. Hearing the loud shout, Sun Xiaohui’s chopsticks shook.

Ruan Changgui asked her, “What’s going on now?”

Sun Xiaohui, looking down, replied weakly, “Who knows who upset her this time.”

Ruan Changgui glanced at her, stood up, and went to the door, looking at Liu Xinghua, “Mom, what’s wrong now?”

Liu Xinghua pointed at him, “Call Sun Xiaohui out here!”

Ruan Changgui turned to look at Sun Xiaohui, who reluctantly put down her chopsticks and moved to stand beside him.

Ruan Yuejin and Ruan Yuehua, seeing Sun Xiaohui get up, also stood up and followed.

Sun Xiaohui looked at Liu Xinghua outside. Behind Liu Xinghua stood Ruan Zhigao, Ruan Changsheng, Ruan Cuizhi, and the two girls, Ruan Xi and Ruan Jie. The scene looked intimidating as if they were there to accuse her. She cleared her throat and asked Liu Xinghua, “What’s going on?”

Liu Xinghua glared at her, “Was it you who spread the rumor that Cuizhi is getting a divorce? Was it you?”

As she spoke, she moved to hit Sun Xiaohui, cursing, “I’ll tear your filthy mouth apart today!”

Sun Xiaohui, frightened, hid behind Ruan Changgui, denying, “I don’t know what you’re talking about! How would I know if Cuizhi is getting a divorce? I don’t even know why she came back. How could I say anything?”

Ruan Changgui stopped Liu Xinghua and defended Sun Xiaohui, “Mom, you must be wrong about Xiaohui. We didn’t hear your private conversation, so how could we spread it? If someone did say it, it must be someone who knew.”

Liu Xinghua, unable to hit Sun Xiaohui, turned to Ruan Changgui, “You’re protecting her, aren’t you?”

Ruan Changgui replied, “I’m not protecting her; she really didn’t say it.”

Liu Xinghua, still angry, wanted to hit Sun Xiaohui again.

Ruan Cuizhi came up and pulled her back, “Let it go, Mom. Let’s go back and eat.”

Without evidence, it was unreasonable to make a fuss. Liu Xinghua stood there, suppressing her anger for a moment, then turned and went back to the side room with a dark face.

The others followed her inside, now understanding why Liu Xinghua had asked who spread the rumor about Ruan Cuizhi’s divorce. Apparently, the news had already spread in the village.

Liu Xinghua sat down and took a couple of bites of porridge, still saying, “It must be Sun Xiaohui!”

Ruan Cuizhi said, “Let them talk. It won’t hurt me.”

The more she had feared being laughed at before, the more indifferent she was now. After all, the facade of a harmonious family she had maintained for over a decade had already shattered, so nothing else mattered.

Seeing Ruan Cuizhi’s attitude, Ruan Changsheng added, “Since it’s already spread, we might as well go through with the divorce.”

Ruan Zhigao looked at him, “You say it so easily. What about the four children if they really get divorced? If they don’t, people will talk for a while and then stop. But if they do, they’ll point fingers at your third sister for the rest of her life! We don’t care; we’re almost in the grave. But can your third sister handle it?”

Ruan Xi stirred the porridge in her bowl and suddenly said, “So, just let Liu Xiong beat her for the rest of her life?”

Ruan Zhigao looked at Ruan Xi again, “What do you mean, let him beat her for the rest of her life? If he dares to touch my daughter again, there will be consequences! Liu Xiong must change this habit!”

Ruan Xi looked at Ruan Zhigao, “I’ll bet you, Liu Xiong won’t change. This has become a normal part of his life. The only way to make him change is if Third Aunt can overpower him. As long as he can’t beat her, he’ll stop. But is that possible?”

Ruan Zhigao looked at Ruan Cuizhi and couldn’t say a word. Not to mention overpowering Liu Xiong, Ruan Cuizhi couldn’t even be a little fierce. After a moment, he said, “Let your fifth uncle deal with him.”

Ruan Xi said, “Fifth Uncle already dealt with him this time. When Liu Xiong comes to take Third Aunt back, you’ll see if it worked. Of course, because of this lesson, he’ll behave for a while, but he won’t change.”

Liu Xinghua, feeling frustrated, said, “Forget it, let’s talk about it later.”

Ruan Cuizhi, holding her bowl and looking down, remained silent.

That night, after washing up and lying in bed with Ruan Xi and Ruan Jie, she suddenly said, “It’s been years, Xiao Xi, you’ve grown up.”

Ruan Xi blinked in the dark, “Just a little more understanding.”

She seemed to think Ruan Xi was suitable to talk about this and asked, “Do you really think your uncle won’t change?”

Ruan Xi knew that nothing had happened yet, and what she said was just a possibility – a possibility that shattered hope, which people didn’t like to hear. She didn’t want to keep repeating herself, so she asked Ruan Cuizhi, “Third Aunt, what difference would it make if he changed?”

The question stunned Ruan Cuizhi.

Ruan Xi sighed softly, “Is your only requirement for a husband that he doesn’t hit you? When two people live together, walking through life hand in hand, don’t they need to care for each other and be considerate? Only you know how he treats you, how your life is. Even if he stops this terrible habit, does that make him a good person, not a scumbag?”

Ruan Cuizhi lay in the darkness, silent for a long time.

After a moment of silence, Ruan Xi continued, “When you encounter a scumbag, isn’t the best way to find a way to stay away from him? Why waste time and energy hoping he will change, entangling yourself with him, wasting your life? Just because you’re married and have children, no matter how bad or painful life is, does a woman have to resign herself to fate?”

Ruan Cuizhi remained silent, and Ruan Xi didn’t continue, knowing her words were out of step with the times. She cleared her mind and soon fell asleep, hearing Ruan Jie already asleep beside her.

Ruan Cuizhi lay on the other side of the bed, unable to sleep for a long time.

Despite sleeping late, Ruan Cuizhi still got up early the next morning. After breakfast, she put on her backpack and hat, ready to join the production team for work. But as she was about to leave, Liu Xinghua stopped her and said, “Don’t go out these days. Stay at home and do some needlework with me. We don’t need the work points you earn.”

Ruan Cuizhi knew Liu Xinghua meant well, fearing she would be pointed at and whispered about if she went out. People would look at her with those eyes and say unpleasant things behind her back. But she didn’t care and said, “Mom, I can’t stay idle at home. It’s fine. I’ll just pretend I don’t see it. They won’t say anything to my face, and I won’t hear it. Even if I do, it won’t hurt me.”

She used to endure for the sake of appearances, wanting people to think she was doing well. Previously, she thought that compared to being beaten occasionally at the Liu family and swallowing all the bitterness herself, what she couldn’t accept more was gossip. Before experiencing it, she was afraid of people gossiping behind her back, afraid of what others would say. Now that it had actually happened, it didn’t feel as bad. She even suddenly realized that the dignity she had worked so hard to maintain was only self-deception. Now, as long as her family didn’t think she was disgraceful, she didn’t care what others said.

She cared about her family, so she said to Liu Xinghua, “I’m sorry, Mom, for causing you so much trouble by coming back. You have to take care of my food and lodging, and now the villagers are gossiping because of me.”

Liu Xinghua glared at her, “I don’t care what others say. If anyone dares to talk nonsense in front of me, I’ll tear their mouth apart! If you ever say you’re causing trouble again, I’ll really get angry.”

Ruan Cuizhi smiled, “Okay, I won’t say it anymore.”

But she didn’t listen to Liu Xinghua and stayed at home; she still went out to be among people. She couldn’t let herself be idle. Helping with more work at home made her feel more comfortable.

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Tianfeng Commune, Liu Family.

Because Ruan Cuizhi had gone back to her parents’ home, Liu Xiong’s mother and father moved in with her. Liu Xiong’s mother came mainly to do the laundry, cook, and help take care of Little Tiger. The three girls were old enough not to need much attention and could help with chores. But even taking care of just Little Tiger was exhausting for her. After all, a four or five-year-old child is at the age where they are most disobedient, playing with everything they see, causing trouble everywhere, and requiring a lot of attention. Her old arms and legs couldn’t keep up with taking care of the whole family, and after a few days, she was worn out.

Seeing that Liu Xiong’s injuries had healed quite a bit, she urged him to go to the mountains to bring Ruan Cuizhi back.

Liu Xiong refused, saying, “If she comes back on her own, I won’t hold it against her. But if you want me to go to the mountains to get her, that’s not happening! Her brother came over and beat me like this, and you expect me to go and bring her back? Is that possible?”

“I won’t even ask her to kneel and apologize; that’s already letting her off easy!”

“If she has the guts to stay at her parents’ house forever, let’s see if people don’t scold her to death!”

His mother was angry, “If you don’t go get her, you can manage this house yourself. I’m not doing it anymore. There are so many things to do inside and outside the house. Do you expect me to do everything? If you don’t go, I’m washing my hands off!”

Liu Xiong was stubborn, “Dani and Erni are old enough. What needs managing? Let Sanni take care of Little Tiger, and Dani and Erni can handle the household chores. Without Ruan Cuizhi, the earth won’t stop turning!”

His furious mother wanted to hit him: “Liu Xiong, you just keep acting like this!”

Dani is twelve, Erni is ten, and Sanni is seven. They are still children. While they can help with chores, managing an entire household is beyond them, and the house would likely fall into disarray. They don’t know how to run a household, and school is starting soon, so they need to attend classes.

Liu Xiong’s mother thought about it and decided that she had to push him, so she packed up and moved out angrily.

That very evening, after she moved out, Dani and Erni were cooking in the kitchen and accidentally set fire to a pile of dry straw behind the stove. The fire spread quickly, burning down most of the kitchen before the neighbors came to put it out.

When Liu Xiong returned and saw the mess, he was so angry he nearly passed out.

Dani and Erni, crying, said to him, “Dad, let’s go get Mom back.”

Liu Xiong, furious, said, “Get her back? Your mom is dead!”

“She can either come back on her own or not at all!”

As the end of August approached, there were signs of autumn in the mountains.

Ruan Cuizhi had been at her parents’ home for seven or eight days. Initially, she felt uneasy, thinking she was causing trouble for her family because of the village gossip. But the longer she stayed, the less burdened she felt. Every day, she thought about her four children, wondering if they were doing well and if they had enough to eat and sleep. She felt guilty for leaving them behind, but other than that, she didn’t have many attachments.

Life in the mountains is slow. With her parents around, a protective brother, and two busy and adorable nieces, she felt a harmonious and joyful atmosphere of family togetherness she hadn’t felt in a long time. Because of her parents’ unconditional protection, she felt more at ease at her parents’ home. Since getting married, she hadn’t felt this relaxed and secure.

Liu Xiong hadn’t come to get her, and Liu Xinghua said, “It’s good he hasn’t come. If he does, I’ll kick him out!”

If he had come earlier, it would have shown that he knew he was wrong and had some sincerity and attitude. But not showing up for so long—what does that mean? It’s clear to everyone. He’s trampling on Ruan Cuizhi’s dignity and the dignity of the entire Ruan family. Even if he comes later, it’s likely because he can’t manage without her, wanting to take Ruan Cuizhi back to serve him and the four children!

Can such a man be expected to change his habit of beating his wife?

Ruan Zhigao was also extremely angry with Liu Xiong, gritting his teeth and cursing, “Damn him! Even if Cuizhi stays at her parents’ home for the rest of her life, she won’t go back to the Liu family to suffer that bastard’s abuse!”