On the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, the festive atmosphere was strong. A deafening lion dance was performed in the square of Phoenix West Street. People were overjoyed and prayed for good weather and smooth sailing in the new year.
Jiang Shuya had no interest in the joyous celebration. After exchanging a few words with Jiang Shuyun, she found a bank on the street, withdrew 30,000 yuan, carefully put it in her canvas bag, and returned to Xixia Village with a nervous heart.
Jiang Shuya was on the bus the whole way home when she was suddenly met with a commotion. The noise came from the backyard. She immediately saw Tangtang standing by the big iron gate in the backyard, digging up the sand left over from when the house was built.
At first glance, the courtyard was filled with the entire Huang family: grandfather, eldest aunt, son-in-law, aunt, uncle, Huang Guohua, and Li Yuxiang.
Upon seeing Jiang Shuya arrive, Grandpa glanced at Huang Minghao standing beside him;
"Xiaoya, Haohao said you want a divorce, or did you initiate it?"
Jiang Shuya glanced around at the stares, walked up to her grandfather, paused for a moment, and then said in a low voice, "Yes, Grandpa."
"Can you tell me why you insist on divorce? I remember telling you two years ago that marriage is not a game, and you should think carefully before acting. You and Haohao are still young and can wait a little longer. What was your response then?"
Grandpa's aged voice trembled as he recounted what he had said two years ago.
Jiang Shuya lowered her head in thought, her face flushed, her expression dejected and frustrated. For a moment, she was speechless. She slowly looked at Huang Minghao, who sat there expressionless, his eyes gloomy.
At this point, the uncle and aunt stepped forward to agree;
"Oh dear, every couple has their ups and downs, arguments and fights are normal. Look, you've built that house on the hill, it'll be demolished soon, and good times are coming. Don't make a mistake!"
My aunt also spoke up;
"Yes, yes, Xiaoya, you are so capable, we all have high hopes for you and are counting on you to guide Haohao on the right path. We all know that you were the one who sold all the grapes that our family grew before."
With your grandfather backing you up, who dares to bully you? After the demolition and relocation, you'll have complete control over the finances. I'm here today to vouch for you.
Jiang Shuya instantly understood that Huang Minghao had invited them to act as persuaders.
Grandpa cleared his throat and asked;
"Xiaoya, you and Haohao are parents now. Can you really bear to watch your child grow up in a single-parent family?"
At this moment, Huang Guohua suddenly chimed in: "Yes, if you divorce my Haohao, Tangtang will have a stepmother. Who can guarantee that the stepmother will treat Tangtang well?"
Besides, you should know that there are plenty of people who want my Hao Hao. Even that Cao family girl is still waiting for my Hao Hao. She even asked me about him a few days ago. Huang Guohua was scolded by his grandfather before he could finish speaking.
"Shut up, you bastard, get out!"
Grandpa coughed a few times while holding the tea, and Auntie quickly went over to help him catch his breath, patting his back. A moment later, she gave Li Yuxiang a cold look.
"Sister-in-law, why aren't you saying anything? This is your wife."
Li Yuxiang's eyes darted around, unsure of where to begin, then she turned and said indignantly;
"I opposed her being with Hao Hao back then. If you ask me, it's better to get a divorce. Ask her if she has cooked a single meal in the two years she's been living with my family. I've been the only one doing all the farm work."
He speaks rudely, without consideration or respect for elders, and always tries to control us. He speaks in a sarcastic and unfriendly way. Hao Hao gives me some money, but he always gives me the cold shoulder, makes veiled accusations, and constantly brings up past events to harass me.
"My husband and I just like to gamble a little, don't we? Look at her, always putting on such a righteous act, like some kind of matriarch ruling the house. I'm not dead yet! This family isn't her place to be in charge."
Also, a while ago, in the dead of winter, what daughter-in-law would lock her father-in-law out overnight, almost letting him freeze to death? Only she could do something like that.
Upon hearing this, Grandpa stood up shakily, clutched his chest, and coughed repeatedly, pointing angrily at Li Yuxiang;
"You clueless idiots! Why didn't we lock you out overnight to freeze your rusty brain? You two unreliable beasts, you've ruined Hao Hao's life! You both want Hao Hao to never be able to hold his head up again, cough... cough, to make the whole Xixia Village look down on Hao Hao."
The aunt also looked at Li Yuxiang with disdain;
"Sister-in-law, what's wrong with you? Hao Hao invited us to be his mediators, but you turned against him first. We're family, do you really need to hold a grudge?"
You two will always be the same, shameless and brazen, and you're always worried about your wives saying a few words to you? Don't you ever use your brains? Everyone outside is just laughing at you; who's going to tell you the truth?
"Hmph! All you can do is bully your own family if you're incompetent. If you ask me, a wife this good is harder to find even with a lantern. I was lucky to have a daughter; if Hao Hao were my son, I wouldn't let such a good wife suffer even the slightest grievance."
Grandpa gave his aunt an approving look. This second daughter-in-law, though domineering, always had a clear understanding of right and wrong.
Grandpa asked Huang Minghao, who was standing next to him, another question;
"Haohao, what did you promise me before? You said you'd treat her well, that a man shouldn't hit a woman, and that you should earn money to support the family—that's the most basic responsibility of caring for a family. Didn't you fail to do that? I don't believe Xiaoya would bring up divorce without a reason; you must have committed an unforgivable crime."
Upon hearing this, Huang Minghao knelt down beside his grandfather with a thud, looking at him apologetically.
"I'm sorry, Grandpa. I've let you down. I haven't fulfilled my responsibilities as a man. I swear to you now, I will never hit her again. Don't worry, I mean what I say. I won't work on the ship anymore; I'll find a job and earn money to support the family. When the land is demolished and we receive compensation, all the money will be hers to manage."
Grandpa looked at Huang Minghao, his lips twitched, his eyes softened, and then he turned to Jiang Shuya;
"Xiaoya, look, how should I punish him? You tell me your stance, and I'll keep my word."
Jiang Shuya, who had remained silent the whole time, had a complicated expression on her face, and her eyes were filled with tears.
"Grandpa, I'm sorry. I never thought of turning back when I came here today. This family has left me exhausted, both physically and mentally. My husband is unsupportive, and my in-laws are ignorant and stupid. I feel hopeless. You can't protect me for the rest of my life, and I can't rely on you for the rest of my life either."
The most terrifying thing in this world isn't poverty, but two people who are only superficially close end up making do with each other for a lifetime. When you're trying to get my opinion, please seriously ask Huang Minghao what he's really thinking. He hit me, which is hateful, but the real reason is simply that he doesn't care.
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