Brother Lin had remained silent with a somber expression since he entered the room, but he finally spoke:
“Daxi’s father-in-law, Daxi has been married into your family for so many years and our family has come to visit many times. We have always advocated for harmony. Today things have come to this point, so there’s nothing more to say. This matter is settled.”
Old Wu's face changed instantly. He knew that once his father-in-law spoke, there was no turning back. He rested his chin on his hands and said in frustration:
"What a misfortune for our family! It is our Wu family that has let your daughter down."
Brother Lin continued, "Xiaocao and Dacao should go with their mother. I know you're usually busy, and your wife takes care of everything at home. There are many things you can't see or take care of. It's not easy for a grown man like you to say anything. Xiaocao and Dacao will be better off with us."
Upon hearing this, Old Wu glared resentfully at his wife. Why hadn't he done anything about it? This woman really thought he had a good temper.
Da Lü felt a little guilty, but she still said, "Old man, I treat Da Xiaocao and Xiao Cao very well. Don't listen to their nonsense. They are my own granddaughters. How could I not love them? Also, you can't let Youcai's wife and Youcai divorce. Da Xiaocao and Xiao Cao can't be taken away by them either. They are the granddaughters of the Wu family and the offspring of the Wu family. How can we let outsiders take them away?"
It wasn't that Madam Lü was heartbroken and reluctant to part with her granddaughters; she was actually planning to raise the two girls a little longer and then sell them to wealthy families in town as servants in exchange for some money.
Some of the villagers who were watching also chimed in.
"That's right. Even if Youcai's wife divorces Youcai, Da Xiaocao is Wu's granddaughter after all. How can Youcai's wife take her away?"
"I've never heard of a woman who's been abandoned by her husband being able to take her child with her. What are her family thinking?!"
Seeing that Lin Daxi was determined, the woman who was usually close to him spoke up for him.
"Hmph, her own grandson is so fat, while her two granddaughters are skin and bones from hunger. Da Cao said that Da Bao is the same age as her, but she looks a year older than Da Cao. If you ask me, Da Cao and Da Cao can at least get a full meal if they go home with their mother, instead of being starved to death by this old hag."
"That's right. Once the stepmother comes in, the little weeds will have no chance to survive. It's better to let the child's mother take them away."
Sister-in-law Lin, hands on her hips, berated Da Lü: "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking, you old hag. If you're really so kind as to keep my eldest daughter and Da Xiaocao here, I'm afraid that once Wu Youcai rises to power and becomes an official, you'll kick Da Xi back to her parents' home."
"Hmph, what a clever scheme! You heartless, rotten wretch! You want to keep my Daxi here to do your dirty work, not only without food but also to bear your children. When it's time to enjoy your life, my Daxi won't get a single bite!"
When Da Lüshi realized that her thoughts had been exposed, she felt ashamed and indignant. Just as she was about to defend herself and retaliate, her husband stopped her.
"Alright! This is all your fault. I told you long ago to treat your daughter-in-law and children and grandchildren well, but you always have to favor your second son's wife and Da Bao. Let Da Cao and Xiao Cao be taken away by their mother. As long as they can live well, that's all that matters."
"Those two damned girls are worthless swindlers, they can't even give birth to a son, and they expect me to treat them well? Bah!" Madam Lu pointed at Lin Daxi and cursed, "Youcai, let me tell you, you only deserve to be divorced, you're a discarded woman of our Wu family. Let's see how people talk behind your back from now on. Go back to Linjia Village and stay in your house for the rest of your life! As for those two little brats, you can take them if you want, just pay them, otherwise they'll die in our house!"
Sister-in-law Lin was furious when she heard this: "Hey, you old hag, you still want to divorce my daughter? My daughter has done nothing to wrong your family. Even if this matter goes to the authorities, it won't be Wu Youcai's place to divorce my daughter. And you are really vicious, openly selling your own granddaughter. Have you been planning to do this for a long time, waiting for me to leave so you can sell Da Xiaocao for money?"
The surrounding villagers were immediately in an uproar. Many families still favor sons over daughters, but this talented woman actually wanted to sell her own granddaughter and let her die in her own home without paying her. She was truly vicious.
Enraged, Old Wu slapped her across the face, even harder than when he had slapped Wu Youcai, causing Da Lü to stumble and fall to the ground.
"You woman, I never knew you could be so vicious! I... I think I'm going to divorce you today!"
Lady Lü lay on the ground, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. Though her face burned with pain, upon hearing her husband's intention to divorce her, she disregarded her swollen cheek and frantically wailed and pounded her thighs, crying out:
"Oh dear, you man actually hit me and want to divorce me! I've worked so hard for you, bearing you two sons and three daughters for the Wu family, raising them from infancy, and even giving you a scholar who passed the imperial examinations. And this is how you treat me? Ah... If you divorce me, I won't live anymore! Ah... There's no justice! You heartless man..."
The wailing of Madam Da Lu filled the entire courtyard, and she kept cursing. Madam Xiao Lu and Wu Youde couldn't persuade her to stop.
"Second Aunt, I really want to shut her up. She's so noisy! It's fine to divorce my eldest sister, but not her. I think she's the one who should be divorced. She's a menace in the Wu family! My brother-in-law used to be quite good, and he even knew how to protect my sister. But I think it's all because of her that he hasn't passed the imperial examinations and his temperament has gotten worse over the years."
Lin Erxi pursed his lips speechlessly.
Song Anxin wholeheartedly agreed. Indeed, a woman is very important in a family. She remembered her college professor saying that a woman can influence at least three generations, bringing both blessings and ruin to three generations.
It's absolutely impossible for the Wu family to divorce Lin Daxi. Divorce is already a shameful thing for a woman, let alone being divorced. Just look at Meizi's life before. Fortunately, Daxi's father-in-law is a sensible man and can make the decision.
Sister-in-law Lin looked at the wailing and wailing Madam Lü with disdain. She really couldn't understand how such an honest man like her father-in-law could have married such a woman. However, she couldn't interfere in other people's business. She spoke up:
“Dah, since both families have reached an agreement, you should send someone to bring Wu Youcai back. Our family has already prepared the divorce papers; all he needs to do is put his fingerprint on them.”
After hitting his wife, Old Wu felt a pang of regret upon hearing her words. His wife had indeed toiled tirelessly for the family over the years. Looking helpless, he said:
"Alright, mother-in-law, I'll send someone to find Youcai for you right away. Father-in-law, you've come all this way, it must be tiring. Please come in and have a drink of water. After all, we've been in-laws for so many years."
Before Brother Lin could reply, an old man's voice came from the crowd: "No, Youcai and his wife cannot divorce!"
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