Someone in the crowd shouted, "The Wu family patriarch has arrived!"
As soon as the voice fell, the Wu family patriarch entered the courtyard, leaning on a wooden cane. Houhua Village was a village of various surnames, and of course, each had its own patriarch. Because it was so diverse, sometimes the words of the patriarch were more effective than those of the village head. The Wu family patriarch was also Wu Youcai's third great-uncle.
When Da Lüshi saw her third uncle arrive, she rushed over, crying and shouting, "Oh dear, third uncle, you've finally come! Someone is bullying our Wu family! My husband not only doesn't help his own family, but he's also leading them to bully this old woman like me..."
Clan Chief Wu snorted and ignored her. Old Man Wu stepped forward and said, "Third Uncle, what brings you here? It is our Wu family that has wronged Youcai's wife. I agree to the divorce, so let Youcai's wife go home."
Clan Chief Wu glanced at Song Anxin and the others and said, "Youcai's father, Youcai is a scholar. Because of that woman, whether he divorces her or gets a divorce, it will leave a stain on his future career. Therefore, Youcai's wife must stay in the Wu family and live a good life with Youcai."
Old Wu looked troubled and said, "But...but..."
"No buts. Youcai is the result of our entire Wu family's financial support for his education. The hopes of the entire clan rest on him. It's not up to your family," the Wu clan chief said firmly.
Upon hearing this, Brother Lin and his wife became anxious. Sister-in-law Lin said, "Third Uncle, why won't you let Youcai and my daughter divorce? Wu Youcai wronged my daughter first. They must divorce today. My daughter won't suffer this in his house! Youcai's father, you promised my family."
The clan chief Wu snorted, "As the clan chief of the Wu family, I can still make decisions. I will never allow anything to happen that would affect the future of our Wu family. As for Youcai's wife's mother, I guarantee that Youcai's wife will not be wronged in the Wu family. If Youcai ever passes the imperial examination, I will definitely not let him betray her. You can go back now. Don't even think about divorce."
Upon hearing this, some members of the Wu family also chimed in, saying, "That's right. If this matter affects Youcai's chances of passing the imperial examination, then all our money will have been wasted. We're still waiting for Youcai to pass the examination so we can be exempted from land taxes. Youcai and his wife cannot divorce."
"That's right, that's right. It's a big deal for Youcai to take the imperial examinations. Youcai's father, what's wrong with Youcai finding a woman outside? She'll be an official in the future. How could he be doing her a disservice?"
"......."
Old Wu also looked helpless. It was indeed the support of the whole clan for Youcai's many years of studying. If it really would affect his chances of becoming an examiner, as the clan chief said, then it was not something he alone could decide.
Old Wu fell silent. Upon hearing this, Da Lüshi stopped wailing and, with one side of her face swollen, looked at Lin Daxi and her sister-in-law with a smug expression. The Wu family patriarch had spoken; let's see how they manage to get a divorce now. This talented daughter-in-law should serve their family like a slave for life. Xiao Lüshi also felt relieved. As long as her sister-in-law was still her sister-in-law, she wouldn't suffer any loss.
When Brother Lin and his wife saw that Old Man Wu remained silent, their expressions darkened. Lin Daxi, in particular, looked as if she had been sentenced to death. Life in the Wu family was unbearable. Before, she could hold on with her talent, but now... if things continued like this, she might as well take Da Xiaocao and die...
Erxi grabbed Song Anxin's arm anxiously: "Second Aunt, please think of something! My eldest sister can't stay in the Wu family and suffer. I'm afraid something will happen to her."
Lin Fengshou had been acting as a bodyguard the whole time. As a grown man, he couldn't very well join Erxi in cursing Daxi's mother-in-law, but he was also very angry inside. Now, he was extremely anxious: "Yes, Mother, what should we do?"
Song Anxin sneered inwardly. Where was this clan leader when Da Xi was being tormented at her in-laws' house?! He only came to intervene when something happened that affected his interests, and he even made promises. He just wanted to sacrifice others to maintain the superficial peace of his Wu family so that he could continue to bleed others dry. And the whole Wu family was dreaming that someone who hadn't even passed the preliminary examination in all these years would become a Xiucai!
She said coldly, "Since the Wu family patriarch does not agree to a divorce, then I have a solution." She curled her lips slightly and said indifferently, "Then let Da Xi divorce her husband. Anyway, it was Wu Youcai's fault."
Upon hearing this, everyone around, including the Wu family, Sister-in-law Lin, and the villagers watching, widened their eyes and gasped in shock.
What?! Divorce?! This...this woman can divorce her husband?! They've never heard of such a thing before!
Madam Lü was so shocked that her tongue almost rolled back: "Divorce, divorce your husband? What kind of woman divorces her husband? I've never heard of such a thing before. Second Aunt Lin, are you out of your mind or have you gone mad?!"
Song Anxin remained calm and composed, saying, "It didn't exist before, but it does now. Why is it that when a woman makes a mistake, a man can divorce her, but when a man makes a mistake, a woman can't? I was originally going to give you face and let it go with a divorce, but since you're so shameless, then our Lin family doesn't need to give you any face anymore."
After her initial shock, Lin Erxi immediately realized that her second aunt was right. How could she not have thought of divorcing her husband? Her second aunt was truly admirable.
Chief Wu's chest heaved from Song Anxin's words: "You're dreaming! You want to divorce him? You're a scholar, don't you have any shame? You're deliberately trying to ruin him, to destroy the hope of our Wu family! I... I will never agree to this!"
Xiao Lüshi and Wu Youde also said, "That's right, there's no reasoning with that, don't even think about ruining my elder brother!"
Members of the Wu family also jumped out to oppose this outrageous proposal.
Some people from other surnames in the village already disliked the Wu family for their arrogance and condescension towards others in the village because of Wu Youcai, a scholar who had passed the imperial examination. When they heard that this might affect Wu Youcai's chances of passing the examination, they all jumped out to speak up.
"I think what Auntie Youcai said is right. If a man makes a mistake, he can divorce his wife and marry another beautiful woman to live a good life. Why can't a woman do the same?"
"That's right. If a man makes a mistake, you need his consent to get a divorce. If he doesn't, you'll be tormented in his house for the rest of your life. Otherwise, you'll be hanged. Even if you get a divorce, it's the woman who gets scolded and gossiped about. Life is so hard for her. Why should we women have such a miserable life?"
Sister-in-law Lin and the others also realized what was going on. Sister-in-law Lin whispered in Song Anxin's ear, "Sister-in-law, is this really going to work? The Wu family doesn't agree to our divorce, so why would they let Daxi divorce her husband?"
Brother Lin said, "If all else fails, we'll just take Da Xi and leave."
Lin Fengshou said, "Then Uncle, I'll go and prepare the oxcart right now."
Lin Erxi and Lin Daxi looked like they were ready to run away at any moment.
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