"What? Five taels of silver!" Old Mrs. Li was furious.
Jiayin felt uncomfortable as her grandmother suddenly tightened her arms around her, but she didn't care and angrily waved her little fists.
"Yes, Mother." Tao Hongying had warmed up and took her daughter from her, saying.
"Wu Ergou grabbed Jiaren by the collar and cursed him so rudely that all the students in the academy came out to see Jiaren make a fool of himself. Luckily we went, otherwise we don't know what Jiaren would have done."
Feeling guilty, Wu Cuihua's eyes darted around as she backed away, awkwardly laughing as she replied.
"Really? There's such a thing? Er Gou is so inconsiderate. I'll definitely say a few words to him next time I see him..."
Unfortunately, she couldn't fool him like that. Li Lao Er had heard everything clearly and stepped forward to slap Wu Cuihua, almost making her fall over.
"Wu Cuihua, I've told you so many times, I can tolerate your laziness and gluttony, but you can't be unfilial and ruin the children's future."
A few days ago, you went to the village entrance to beg Jiaren for money. Did you think I didn't know? I gave you face, and you still sent Wu Ergou to cause trouble at the academy! I'll just beat you to death today, and then my family will finally have some peace and quiet!
Li Lao Er was truly enraged. He rushed to the kitchen, grabbed a cleaver, and with bloodshot eyes, was about to slash at Wu Cuihua.
Wu Cuihua was so frightened that her legs went weak and she couldn't run, so she crawled on the ground, crying and begging for mercy.
For a time, the Li family's courtyard was in complete chaos, with chickens and dogs running amok.
Villagers who heard the commotion rushed over to mediate, including several old men from the neighborhood.
Jiayin clung tightly to her mother's arm, trying to get a better look.
Unfortunately, Tao Hongying thought she wasn't feeling well, so she held her upright on her shoulders, leaving Jiayin to gaze at the lonely courtyard wall...
Although Old Lady Li was also angry, she couldn't let her son actually commit murder and go to jail.
So he called on Li Laosan to help stop Li Laoer, and asked Zhao Yuru to invite the village chief.
Soon, Li Lao Er's kitchen knife was snatched away, and he squatted painfully at the door.
Although he was literate, he had never studied outside the school. Now that his son was going to the academy, it was to fulfill his dream. He truly hoped that his son would bring honor to the family.
But unfortunately, he married such a foolish wife!
The village chief overheard the gist of the conversation on the way and was pleased that the Li family had invited him over, as they treated him like family and showed him respect and trust.
Sure enough, Old Lady Li invited him and the other old men next door to sit down, told them about the messy things in her family, and then said...
“This misfortune has caused unrest in the village as well. I invited several elder brothers and the village chief here today to bear witness to this tragedy.”
She glanced at her children and grandchildren and sighed softly.
"As the old saying goes, a virtuous wife brings fewer troubles to her husband. My second son is blind and deserves to suffer, but I can't let this spendthrift son harm my grandson. So, today I'm having my second son write a letter of divorce, but I won't give it to his wife for now."
From then on, the whole village helped keep an eye on our family. If the second son's wife did anything wrong, that was the time to kick her out of the house.
Outsiders, unaware of the inside story, may say that the Li family is heartless, but naturally, there are also villagers who will speak up for us fairly.
The village chief and several old men sighed. The entire Li family, young and old, were good people, except for Li Lao Er's wife, who was always causing trouble.
Now this letter of divorce is like a rope around her neck, tightening every now and then, serving as a warning.
If it still doesn't work, then getting rid of her is her own fault.
"Alright, everyone in the village has discerning eyes. If that day ever comes, I guarantee no one will say that your Li family is unrighteous."
The Li family now runs a semi-private school, so they naturally have the Four Treasures of the Study. Li Lao Er was a little angry and started writing a letter of divorce with trembling hands.
Wu Cuihua was completely stunned. She thought that being beaten was the end of it, but she never expected that she would actually write a letter of divorce.
She practically crawled over and hugged Old Lady Li's leg, crying so hard that snot and tears were all over her face.
"Mother, please forgive me this once, don't write a letter of divorce. I know I was wrong, I really know I was wrong! Waaah, even if I'm no good at anything, I still gave the Li family two grandsons!"
Old Mrs. Li was truly heartbroken. She pushed her away and said coldly.
"If it weren't for the fact that you gave our Li family two good grandsons, you would have been kicked out long ago. You are cunning, lazy, greedy, gossipy, mean-spirited, unfilial, disobedient, unkind, and unloving. What use would our Li family have for you? Would you just be an eyesore?"
Just then, Li Lao Er finished writing the letter of divorce and handed it over. Li Lao Tai took it and said...
"From today onwards, Wu Cuihua, you are only half a member of the Li family. You must do all the work that is yours, keep your mouth shut, and watch your hands, otherwise you will be kicked out of the Li family at any time."
Then you'll reap what you sow, and don't say I didn't show you any mercy!
As she spoke, she put the letter of divorce away.
Wu Cuihua sat slumped on the ground, completely panicked.
Unfortunately, when she pleaded for mercy, Old Lady Li called out "Second Old Lady Li" again.
"Although Wu Cuihua has been spared the death penalty, she has caused such a huge disaster that she cannot escape punishment. It's not appropriate for anyone else in the family to carry out the punishment, so you should do it. Twenty strokes of the cane, not one less!"
Li Lao Er was also extremely angry, so of course he wouldn't show any mercy.
He stepped forward, kicked Wu Cuihua over, pulled up a long bench, and tied her up on it.
Wu Cuihua was terrified. Li Lao Er, who usually considered himself a scholar, rarely hit her.
She was truly frightened by this sudden turn of events.
"Waaah, have mercy! I'll never do it again!"
Unfortunately, the board in Old Li's hand had already fallen.
In just one moment, she screamed like a pig being slaughtered.
Although it's called a board, it's actually just a wide and heavy carrying pole that the Li family uses every day.
The blows landed squarely on her flesh; after only a dozen or so strokes, blood seeped from Wu Cuihua's buttocks, and she wailed as if she were about to die…
In the end, Tao Hongying and Zhao Yuru dragged her back to her room, gave her a quick wash, and sprinkled some of the wound medicine they always kept at home on her.
After such a commotion, the Li family lost their appetite, ate a quick bite, and then went to rest.
Old Mrs. Li sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), touching her pipe in her hand, quietly shedding tears.
Actually, she didn't originally smoke pipes; this was left behind by her husband after he passed away, and it was also a way for him to keep her going.
"Old man, it's all my fault. I've failed to manage this family well."
Jiayin couldn't bear to see the old lady so heartbroken. It might be alright for others, but for that heartless Wu Cuihua, it wasn't worth it at all.
She mustered all her strength, wanting to roll over and crawl towards her grandmother, to be a warm and caring daughter.
Unfortunately, my strength wouldn't obey me; I used it in the wrong place, and so, *plop*...
Grandma Li was heartbroken when she heard the noise and turned around. She saw her granddaughter lying there, her neck raised, looking like she was about to cry.
She still had something she didn't understand, so she suppressed a laugh and quickly helped tidy up.
After changing the diaper and washing the baby's bottom, the grandmother and grandson were finally clean and tidy again and lying in bed.
Jiayin shyly hid her face in her grandmother's arms, not daring to lift it up.
Grandma Li laughed heartily, gently patting her granddaughter.
"Alright, why is my little Fu Niu shy? Grandma knows you're a clean child. When you grow up, Grandma will make you a pretty dress, okay?"
Fu Niu'er peeked out, grinning to reveal her two rows of pink gums, and then threw a big, bright red apple out of her pocket.
Grandma Li was startled by the sudden appearance of an apple on her pillow, but thanks to the hot water bottle she had used earlier, she felt much better this time.
She thought for a moment, then took a handkerchief, wiped the apple clean, took a bite, and handed it to her granddaughter.
Sure enough, Jiayin immediately put it in her mouth with both hands. She had no teeth and couldn't bite it, but that didn't stop her from savoring the taste.
Jiayin was so happy she was dizzy. After four months, she could finally taste apples again. Oh, they were so delicious!
Grandma Li was amused by her granddaughter's cute appearance and laughed again. She then quickly ate the rest of the food and finally hugged her granddaughter with satisfaction.
"Grandma's lucky girl, you're only this big, but Grandma is already enjoying happiness because of you."
Jiayin actually rubbed off a tiny bit of apple with her gums, and she was so happy she danced around with joy…
The sadness and anger of the day seemed to have been swallowed up by the grandfather and grandson along with this sweet apple, leaving only happiness and joy in their dreams...
After being severely beaten, Wu Cuihua became much more docile. She only needed five or six days to recover from her injuries before she started working again, limping. She was like a mouse seeing a cat when she saw the old lady.
She helped Zhao Yuru and Tao Hongying with cooking and laundry every day, and dared not slack off even a little bit.
The Li family is much better off without her meddling.
The weather was getting colder and colder. After a heavy snowfall overnight, almost every house was half-buried.
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