Xu Li no longer wanted to listen to his explanations. His mind was made up, and he just hoped to resolve the matter quickly and stop the commotion.
Xu Li said, "Wan Hai, our fate has run its course." After saying this, he felt as if half of his heart had emptied. He and Wan Hai had been together for almost ten years and had three children. After saying this, he felt a chill.
Wan Hai looked at Xu Li, trying to find any trace of joking on his face, but he was disappointed; Xu Li was serious. A huge unease descended upon him; he was genuinely flustered. He said to Xu Li, "Let's talk in private."
Xu Li agreed, and the two walked to a corner. Wan Hai reached out to put his arm around Xu Li, but Xu Li took a step back, stopping him.
Wan Hai said to Xu Li, "My current poverty is only temporary. Have you forgotten those several thousand taels of silver notes? Once we exchange them, it'll be enough for us to live a carefree life. I don't take the Gong family seriously at all; I just treat them as a joke. When my son becomes the top scholar in the imperial examination, we'll move to the provincial capital together, and I'll even hire a couple of servants for you then!"
Xu Li, pampered since childhood, had never experienced hardship. The days he endured being looked down upon in the Gong family were far from pleasant. He had no one to talk to; such suffering and repression were not unique to Wan Hai. Xu Li himself was enduring it all.
But Wan Hai's drinking and beatings were a way for him to vent his frustrations, and Xu Li had recently been experiencing dizziness and angina. Living with Wan Hai meant he might not live to see his son become the top scholar in the imperial examinations. Besides, Wan Hai's ruthless behavior, including beating his son, had crossed a line for Xu Li.
Xu Li said, "The three thousand taels of silver are yours. I don't want a single coin. I just want you to give me my son."
Wan Hai tried everything to reason with Xu Li, but Xu Li remained unmoved. Growing increasingly dissatisfied, Wan Hai said, "Don't try to force me to do something I shouldn't!"
Seeing his expression change, Xu Li took two steps back in fright. He said, "You, do you want to hit me?"
Wan Hai's expression shifted between anger and uncertainty. Just then, Xu Li's father rushed over and angrily rebuked Wan Hai: "What do you think you're doing?" If they couldn't see him in the county government office, they might let it go, but now Xu Li was right under their noses, and Wan Hai dared to make a move. He shouldn't blame his father for being impolite.
When something unexpected happened to Xu Li, He Zifeng and Qiu Yu rushed over.
Knowing things were going badly, Madam Wan quickly went up to them, forcing a smile and saying, "In-laws, it's best for us elders not to interfere in the young couple's affairs."
Wan Hai looked at Xu Li and said, "I will not agree to a divorce." As long as he didn't agree, Xu Li wouldn't be able to leave.
Xu Li had already begged him. Wan Hai looked at Xu Li and said, "You didn't happen to find a better match, did you?" Then he glanced at He Zifeng, his tone tinged with bitterness, "That's right. No wonder I came here. I was the most respectable person in the village, so you followed me. Now that you see He Zifeng is respectable, you want to divorce me and find someone better? There's no such thing as a free lunch."
Xu Li was shocked by his shameless statement and shouted, "What kind of person do you take me for?"
Old Man Xu was so angry that he grabbed a stick and beat him. "Shameless scoundrel, how could you say such things?"
Xu Li's mother was also furious and reached out to hit Wan Hai: "Xu Li has been with you for so many years, don't you know his character? How dare you say such things?" They weren't even divorced yet, and he was already trying to smear Xu Li. Such words were despicable.
Wan Haisheng was hit twice. Little Wan was furious and pulled He Fan along, wanting to rush in and stop them.
He Fan was dragged inside and beaten several times. How could they possibly be a match for the enraged Xu family?
The people around were so engrossed in watching the drama that they didn't try to mediate. Some even secretly went to tell the village chief, Liu Zi.
But He Zifeng quickly stopped him. He said, "If you want to make trouble, go home and do it. This is not a place for you to cause trouble."
Both sides were injured.
The relationship has deteriorated to this point, and the couple's feelings will definitely be affected.
A short while later, Village Chief Liu arrived in a hurry, accompanied by other villagers who had come to watch the commotion. They had already heard a bit about the feud between the two men on the way there. But seeing them in person was still a surprise; the two used to be such good friends, how could things have escalated to the point where their families were fighting?
He Zifeng separated the people, just as Village Chief Liu Zi arrived with his men.
He Zifeng looked down on Wan Hai, saying, "You're the first person to willingly wear a green hat." Regardless, Xu Li had been with him for so many years and had given him three children. Whether it was to attack the other party or simply to speak recklessly, he shouldn't have uttered such baseless rumors.
Wan Hai felt ashamed after He Zifeng's words, and he regretted it somewhat, but he wouldn't admit it. He said, "What, so I can't even say that's who he is?"
Xu Li was so angry that he was trembling all over.
Old Man Xu wanted to go and hit someone again. But the village chief was there and wouldn't let them succeed. Village Chief Liu said, "Alright, I've watched Xu Li grow up since he was a child. If you say anything like that again, get out of the village."
Xu Li's eyes were full of tears. He never knew that being slandered by the person next to him was so painful.
Xu Li gave a bitter smile: "This is between the two of us, we shouldn't bother others." He then left He Zifeng's courtyard. But the way he spoke was strange.
Wan Hai was also unwilling to lose face in front of He Zifeng, and when he saw Xu Li say this, he also said, "That makes sense." Then he followed him out.
Old Man Xu used to think Wan Hai was wonderful. But now, he feels disgusted just looking at his face. But no matter what, this is Xu Li's own business. Unless he stands up for himself, no one else can help him.
After they left, some villagers tried to reconcile them, while others asked Wan Hai to apologize, saying that the couple shouldn't hold grudges overnight.
The chaotic chatter around him reached Xu Li's ears.
Xu Li, however, paid no attention to anything else and suddenly ran towards the big tree outside.
He was all alone and seemed to be seeking death.
The person closest to him was Wan Hai. Wan Hai was also shocked and quickly ran to grab Xu Li. But Xu Li was no joke. He was very strong, and although Wan Hai pulled him, there was still a crisp sound as blood flowed down his head.
The unexpected happened so fast that everyone around gasped in surprise.
Wan Hai immediately hugged Xu Li and wiped the blood from his forehead, saying, "Where's the doctor?"
The Xu family has all gone mad.
Xiao Wan was also terrified and turned pale.
Qiu Yu was startled by what she saw, but He Zifeng held her in his arms and covered her eyes.
The village chief of Liuzi Village hurriedly sent someone to fetch a doctor.
A short while later, a gray-haired doctor was brought over from a neighboring village to treat the patient. Luckily, Wan Hai pulled him back, preventing him from using all his strength. He only suffered a head injury, but was otherwise unharmed.
Wan Hai trembled all over, both shocked and furious, and said, "You'd rather die than be with me?"
Xu Li's eyelashes trembled, but he was unwilling to open his eyes.
Wan Hai seemed to have gone mad. He said, "Fine, fine! I'll grant your wish." Seeing this, He Zifeng immediately brought out a small table from his house, where a brush and paper were readily available.
Wan Hai directly wrote a letter of divorce to his wife.
Wan Hai handed it to Xu Li, his eyes brimming with tears he could no longer hold back. They streamed down his face in front of others. Feeling utterly humiliated, he tried to cover his face with his hands, but little did he know, the more he tried to hide his tears, the more they flowed.
Xu Li also cried, but the doctor forbade him to do so, otherwise the grief would harm his health.
Seeing her son in this state, Xiao Wanshi went to hug him. But Wan Hai shook her off, and when he opened his eyes again, his gaze was filled with hatred as he looked at everyone.
Wan Hai said, "Today, with all of you young and old as witnesses, Xu Li and I are no longer related. You are free to marry as you please." Then, looking at Xu Li, he saw a complex mix of emotions and resentment in his eyes: "I will never forget the humiliation of today. One day, I will repay it a hundredfold."
Even He Zifeng couldn't stand it anymore and said, "That's enough! He doesn't owe you anything."
Wan Hai smiled bitterly, looking at the man he once looked down upon, now a deputy constable with influence over the county magistrate. He was naturally inferior. He Zifeng's attempt to lecture him only added to the pain. He said, "It's easy to say things like that since it hasn't happened to you. He just thinks I'm incompetent. One day, I'll show you whether I'm capable or not." With that, he turned and left without a second thought.
Old Man Xu wanted to scold him, but seeing his son's bloody wound, he felt both heartache and anger, and said, "If you want a divorce, then so be it. Your parents don't object. Why do you have to ruin yourself like this? If you end it all, what will your parents do?"
Xu Li was then carried into the house. The old doctor noticed his poor complexion and decided to take his pulse again. He discovered that Xu Li was one month pregnant, but due to her recent frequent outbursts of anger, she was already at risk of miscarriage.
The Xu family was somewhat alarmed.
Xu Li's mind wasn't on this; he was pregnant but didn't even know it.
Xu Li's mother angrily cursed, "You heartless bastard, you even beat me when I'm pregnant. Divorce is the right thing to do."
The villagers were filled with emotion once again.
The news spread quickly. Madam Wan insisted Wan Hai stay, telling him not to be too heartbroken, because then came the news that Xu Li was pregnant again. Madam Wan said, "This is fate. Heaven won't allow you two to be so capricious. Go and bring her back. Live a good life from now on."
Wan Hai refused, saying, "Let him stay if he wants, or beat him if he wants! It's pointless if the child's heart is gone." His face turned pale and then red as he thought of Xu Li threatening suicide earlier.
Xiao Wan said, "Are you confused? Xu Li has been with you for so many years. Now that he's gone, you have no reliable person to take care of you. How will you live?"
Wan Hai snorted coldly: "Is there only one guy in the world? Even if you come begging me, I won't agree." He was proud to the core.
Seeing that he was completely unmoved by reason, Xiao Wan sighed, "What a tragedy!"
Wan Hai left, only returning in the evening. He dumped Xiao San'er at the Xu family's doorstep and said to Xu Li, "Eldest son, the second son still needs to study; no one can support him. The third son is yours to keep as a memento; we'll call it even from now on." With that, he left the village.
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