Chapter 4 Divorce

The women of the Li family chatted for a while under the jujube tree, then, looking at the sky, went to prepare dinner.

One of the most difficult things to adapt to when traveling to ancient times is the lack of electricity. At this time of year, if you don't eat while the sun is still shining, you can only work by the dim light of an oil lamp.

Cherish this little bit of light. We need to start preparing around 5:00 PM. Once we're done, we can finish eating before sunset and still have a quarter of an hour to chat.

Before the meal was even prepared, the four young men of the Li family rushed back. They first greeted their grandfather, father, and uncle in the front clinic, and then gathered in the back courtyard to greet their grandmother, mother, aunt, and other relatives.

This behavior has always impressed my second sister-in-law. She feels that reading, writing, and being polite are really beneficial to a person. He is no longer the silly boy he used to be. He seems to have grown up in the blink of an eye.

However, today the four little ones did not tease Little Dewdrop after exchanging greetings, which was somewhat different from usual.

In the past, because the age gap between the brothers was not particularly large and they had grown up together since childhood, only Li Dalang could suppress them with force, so none of them were willing to submit to the other.

Recently, Li San Niang brought Lu Zhu'er to live with the Li family. They were delighted to have such a fair-skinned and adorable little sister who was still very young. Every day after school, they would hold each other's hands and hug each other for a while. Just a few days ago, Li Si Lang, who was only eight years old, even said that he would teach Lu Zhu'er to read.

What was different today was that after the four brothers finished their greetings, they didn't tease Lu Zhu'er as usual, but instead quickly hid in their own rooms, and even seemed to be avoiding Li's mother's gaze.

Looking at her nephews, Li San Niang winked at her mother, a smile playing on her lips, which she then suppressed. She whispered in her mother's ear, "Mother, I'm afraid the nephews have gotten into trouble and are afraid you'll scold them."

"How old are you? You've been a mother for years, and you're still acting strangely with your nephews." In response to Li San Niang's whispered words, Li's mother extended her index finger and pretended to tap Li San Niang's forehead.

In order to get Li's mother to point to her, Li San Niang even pretended to lower her head.

After a while, the four little ones changed out of the scholar's robes they had made for the Dragon Boat Festival last month and came out wearing short browns that were easy to move in. The three older ones went to the backyard and worked together to fetch water and fill the two large water tanks in the kitchen.

Young Li Silang, still too small to carry the full buckets of water, could only stand by, his face glistening with dew, clapping and cheering for his brothers.

The four children had just filled the two vats with water when Father Li and his second brother Li returned to the main hall after seeing off the two young apprentices and putting up the door panels.

Li's father looked at the sky and said to his eldest son, "Let's not wait for your father yet, let's set out the meal."

The weather is getting warmer, let's put the table in the yard, there'll be some breeze and it'll be cooler.

After the dozen or so members of the Li family finished their meal, each of them was enjoying a bowl of mung bean soup in the courtyard when the eldest brother of the Li family finally returned home.

Li Dalang and Li Erlang quickly fetched water for their father to wash his face and hair, while the other handed him a towel to wipe away the water droplets; they were extremely attentive.

The remaining Li Sanlang, Li Silang, and Xiao Luzhu stood in a row and greeted their uncle.

Brother Li simply smiled at the dewdrop, patted Li Sanlang and Li Silang on the head, and then nodded to his son.

Nowadays, even if the brothers in a family are not blood relatives, cousins ​​are very close, let alone the Li family, who have not separated from their parents and have always lived together.

Although Brother Li's situation is somewhat special, the children in the family are not in the same situation. This is because Li's parents taught by example, which is why the family is harmonious and has few conflicts.

Li Daxiong was the son of Li's mother and her ex-husband Sun Datou. Sun Datou was originally a border soldier. Because he was a border resident and his ancestors had Northern Di blood, he was tall from a young age. He joined the army and by chance saved his superior and was promoted.

Later, he married Li's mother, but he died while trying to save his comrades when he was driving out the Turks at the border.

Because of this bond, although Brother Li grew up in the Li family, he did go to the Shangguan family to learn martial arts from Sun Datou's comrades since childhood.

After reaching adulthood, thanks to this affection and his own martial arts skills, he was able to join the Imperial Guard. In addition to guarding the Golden Gate, he also had to patrol and guard the capital day and night.

At this time, Sister-in-law Li had already put the food that had been reserved in the pot on the table.

Everyone waited for Brother Li to finish his meal. Brother Li then explained what had happened during the day. Brother Li took a sip of mung bean soup, and the sweet and soft texture instantly won over his taste buds. He enjoyed another sip before saying to his father, "Father, I have switched shifts with someone, and I can go with them tomorrow."

Mr. Li nodded, indicating that he understood.

Seeing that everyone had almost finished their mung bean soup, Li's father stood up and instructed his second brother, "It's going to rain tonight, so bring the dried herbs back to the side room."

After finishing his sentence, Li's father went back to his room.

That night, it did indeed rain, and quite heavily, with thunder and lightning. But the dewdrop slept soundly, completely unaffected.

Li San Niang lay on the bed, listening to the rain outside and smelling the earthy scent. She closed her eyes and thought of "system." A virtual screen appeared out of thin air in her consciousness space. It was the same interface, still unclickable and gray.

There is only one "unfinished" task: "Successfully separating will grant you a chance to win a big prize."

After reviewing the day's events, Li San Niang hugged Xiao Lu Zhu'er and fell into a deep sleep accompanied by the pattering rain.

The next morning, a light rain was falling, and the air was fresh.

After finishing breakfast, apart from the four little ones who went to the academy, the adults of the Li family and Little Dewdrop gathered in the main hall.

Father Li sat at the head of the table, glanced around at the whole family, and instructed, "Today, the eldest son's wife and the second son's wife will be home with Luzhu."

Your mother has already found the dowry list for Third Sister. She first went to pick up the neighborhood head and your eldest uncle. After settling things at the Wang family, eldest brother, you take your cousin's (Li Lingxiao, the eldest son of Uncle Li) name card and take Third Sister to the Ministry of Revenue to find Li Lingshi to write the official deed.

Erlang, you go and take stock of San Niang's dowry items. First, pack up San Niang's dowry money and give it to her so you can take it to the yamen to pay the deposit and bring Lu Zhu'er home.

Also, the store doesn't need to open before noon today; please put up the "Closed" sign.

Two donkey carts were parked outside the Li family's house; it had been arranged yesterday afternoon.

First, they went to the gate of the ward to pick up Sun Fangzheng, then went to Zhuque Street to pick up Uncle Li. The two donkey carts headed towards Chongye Ward.

Upon arrival, everyone got off the cart and made arrangements with the donkey cart driver to wait by the wall so they could return and move Li San Niang's dowry.

The Wang family's pharmacy was open for business as usual. Li Erxiong stepped forward, gave his name to the shop assistant, and was then invited directly into the main hall at the back of the pharmacy.

Wang's mother-in-law, Wang Dalang, Wang Dasao, and Wang Erlang were all present. Wang Dalang welcomed the Li family and Sun Fangzheng inside, and everyone sat down. A maidservant brought out tea.

No one spoke; silence filled the room.

Li San Niang was still thinking to herself, "This is the negotiation stance, isn't it? Whoever speaks first loses."

Wang Dalang couldn't help himself and spoke first with a fake smile.

“Uncle Li, we’ve been in-laws for so many years. When my father was alive, he and Uncle were very close friends. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have become in-laws.”

Erlang is confused. My sister-in-law is a virtuous woman. Let's talk things out and let this go. I'll take twenty mu of land outside the city from the Wang family's account and put it under my sister-in-law's name. What do you think?

"I've already disciplined Erlang, and he knows he was wrong. He'll definitely treat his younger siblings better from now on. Think about Luzhu'er; it's better to have a complete family. Uncle, what do you think?"

"Ha." Then came the sound of a teacup being slammed heavily onto the table.

Before Li's father could speak, Li's elder brother, who came from a martial arts background, could no longer contain himself and let out a mocking laugh.

“Wang Dalang, when Uncle Wang was seriously ill, my father gave him three old ginseng roots without asking for a single penny. You yourself own a pharmacy, so how could you not know whether those three old ginseng roots are worth twenty acres of land?”

Not to mention that Third Sister was the one who saw her uncle off at his death and observed the mourning period.

Do you think our family wouldn't know how your mother treated Third Sister?

Does Wang Erlang's carefree attitude make it seem like he knows he's wrong?

My family was blind to have chosen such a heartless man for Third Sister.

Has Wang Erlang forgotten how he once poured his heart out to the three of us, father and sons, promising to treat San Niang well?

"So, 'good' means rolling around with your cousin from your maternal family?!"

Li Erxiong was quick-witted and eloquent, and with a barrage of words, he refuted Wang Dalang's sophistry.

Unable to bear Li Erxiong's sharp words, Wang Pomu became enraged and turned her anger towards Li Sanniang, pointing her finger at her and saying, "So what if you, Li Sanniang, observed mourning for my Wang family?"

She gave birth to a little girl after only three years of marriage, and hasn't even given my second son a son. What face does she have to come to my Wang family?

Divorce? Impossible!

My second son wants to divorce you, you little woman who can't bear a son.

Not a single inch of land outside the city will be given to you!

"Dewdrop is a girl, and she's also of the Wang family bloodline. You think you can take her away? Dream on!"

The sound of a teacup shattering on the ground interrupted Granny Wang's high-pitched, almost hysterical shouting.

Looking at the broken teacup and water stains on the ground, Li's mother smiled and said softly to Wang Pomu, who had just been scolding Li San Niang, "Oh dear, my hand slipped."

"Sun Zhaodi, you have a foul mouth, so shut up. You're not only polluting this house, but you're also causing trouble for your eldest son."

Turning her head, she looked at Wang Dalang's dumbfounded expression and said with a gentle smile, "Wang Dalang, your aunt knows you are a good person."

Is it really worth getting so angry and upset over Wang Erlang, that good-for-nothing, carefree, trouble-making brat?

When your father was alive, this was his responsibility. Now that he's gone, you're just an older brother to him.

The sages have long encouraged us commoners to live separately.

How old is Wang Erlang?

"He's a grown man in his early twenties, can you really spend your whole life cleaning up his messes?"

Seeing Wang Dalang deep in thought, Li's mother pressed on, saying, "Your aunt has watched you grow up. You have three sons to worry about. If you don't think about yourself, you should at least think about your children and grandchildren."

Wang Erlang is not an official, yet he dares to have an affair with a widow. Does he not care about the reputation of the Wang family?

If we were to discuss this matter with your neighborhood head, it wouldn't be something that could be easily resolved.

Your family has no other young ladies besides Dewdrop, but your three sons won't be getting married in the future?

"Not going to study anymore? Don't you care about your future?"

As soon as Li's mother finished speaking, Li San Niang immediately followed up: "San Niang, I will call you elder brother one last time. Elder brother, you know my character. I can honestly say that since I married into the Wang family, I have done everything a daughter-in-law should do. I did not give birth to the eldest son for Prince Heng."

"Have you all forgotten the child in my belly when I stumbled upon that filthy affair?" As she said this, it was as if she could feel the original Li San Niang's emotions, her heart ached, and tears fell.

Li Sanniang, gently touching her lower abdomen, said painfully, "How do we know that the child isn't a boy?"

I can no longer live with Wang Ziheng.

Since you all disregard my Dewdrop, why not release her and bring her home with me?

After choking back tears, Li Sanniang wiped away her tears with her handkerchief and looked resolutely at Wang Erlang, saying, "Wang Ziheng, you betrayed me first!"

All I want now is to leave this sad place with my dewdrop.

If you agree to divorce me and let me take Dewdrop away, I will allow you to visit her often.

I will keep your scandalous affair with your cousin a secret.