The next morning.
After a quick breakfast, Wan Shu, along with her five children, Liang's mother, Liang Youqian, Li Dagen, and the clan chief Wang, boarded Uncle Erniu's cart and headed towards the county town in a grand procession.
Some villagers found it strange.
"Aunt Liang and Fu Gui's wife never associate with each other, so why are they together today?"
Some villagers who knew the inside story immediately gathered around and spread the gossip: "You guys don't know yet, do you? Fugui's wife is going to sever ties with the second branch of the Liang family!"
The phrase "severing ties with relatives" was an exceptionally explosive term in the Great Sheng Dynasty.
Unlike modern people who sever ties by cutting off all contact, severing ties in the Great Sheng Dynasty was much more complicated. Not only did both parties need to sign a document severing ties, but it also required the local county government to stamp and authenticate it.
Once the seal is affixed, even if they are biological mother and child, they will have no further connection.
Generally speaking, unless there is a particularly serious conflict, no one would choose to sever ties with their family.
Upon hearing the words "severing ties," everyone felt as if they could smell the aroma of melons and hurriedly inquired.
"Why would a wealthy woman want to sever ties with her family?"
"What's so good about it! You have no idea how outrageous the second branch of the Liang family is. Last night, when Master Wan's family was away, they actually took the village head and forced the wealthy woman to sign some kind of pension distribution agreement, allowing the orphan and widow to only receive one tael of silver!"
"It was Aunt Wang who led the clan chief to the rescue, but the wealthy wife was still heartbroken and determined to have her children sever ties with the second branch of the Liang family!"
The crowd erupted in uproar.
"Leaving only one tael of silver for the orphans and widows, the Liang family is utterly despicable!"
"The village head is a piece of trash. He does nothing but use his position to bully people. I should have chosen the Wang family as the clan head in the first place!"
"That rich girl is really tough; relatives like that should be cut off!"
“You’re mistaken.” An elderly man surnamed Wang in the crowd had a wise glint in his eyes: “Severing ties now is tough, but apart from Grandpa Wan’s family, her family will be isolated and helpless in the village. Besides, you still have to think about Yaozu!”
"Yaozu is so good at studying, he will definitely become an official in the future. Before the marriage was severed, she could still shamelessly ask for some benefits. But once the marriage is severed, it's all over!"
"Wan Shu is so stupid!"
Although Chief Wang didn't think Wan Shu was stupid, he thought roughly the same thing.
He was worried that Wan Shu would suffer a loss, so after the group arrived at the county government office, he reminded Wan Shu again.
"You pampered daughter-in-law, severing ties is no small matter. Have you really thought this through?"
"I truly understand." Wan Shu nodded, her expression resolute: "I'm severing ties with my family!"
Ever since Wan Shu learned about her two eccentric relatives, Liang Mu and Liang Youqian, she has been trying to sever ties with them.
In order to live a better life, she will definitely have to go into business in the future.
She believed that with her abilities and the help of the mall, she would definitely be able to make a name for herself in the Great Sheng Dynasty.
If she continues to be intimate with him, when she becomes rich in the future, Liang's mother and Liang Youqian will definitely take the opportunity to take advantage of her.
Rather than letting them take advantage of us later, we might as well take this opportunity to spend an extra tael of silver and sever ties with them.
Wan Shu was worried that Liang Youqian would take advantage of her, and Liang Youqian was just as worried that Wan Shu would take advantage of him.
“My Yaozu is so capable, he’s bound to become an official someday!” He proudly raised his head. “I was worried that once Yaozu became an official, she would try to take advantage of me. But I never expected her to be so stupid as to propose severing ties herself.”
Mother Liang frowned slightly: "The compensation for two people is too little. If it's divided among eight people, it's only two taels and five mace."
Li Dagen nodded: "It is indeed a bit less, but as long as everyone pools their money, we won't have to worry about tuition fees this year. More importantly, with the severance of kinship, there will be one less person to share the benefits of honoring our ancestors with us. The benefits we can get then will be much more than just two taels and five qian!"
After thinking it over, Liang Youqian and his mother agreed. Without further hesitation, they pressed their fingerprints on the letter severing ties under the watchful eye of the county clerk.
Wan Shu led the five children, and they all pressed their handprints one by one.
With disaster victims rising everywhere in Sishui County, the entire county government is extremely busy trying to maintain order in the county seat.
Seeing that they all readily pressed their fingerprints, and with the village head and the clan chief also present as witnesses, the clerk stamped the document twice and quickly went off to attend to other matters.
Back in Qingshui Village, after Liang Youqian and the others left, Wan Shu earnestly thanked the clan chief.
"Uncle Wang, thank you. If it weren't for you, the divorce agreement wouldn't have been signed so smoothly."
"Why are you thanking me? We should be thanking you. If it weren't for you, Huani would be gone."
Chief Wang waved his hand, still worried, and instructed her, "You are an orphan and a widow, and now you've lost your family ties. Life must be tough for you. If you encounter any trouble in the future, you can come to me. I will definitely help if I can."
Wan Shu knew he wasn't just being polite, so she didn't reciprocate with politeness, smiled and agreed, then led the child toward the end of the village.
After a morning of fermentation, everyone in the village knew about Wan Shu's severing of ties.
People kept asking her about it along the way.
"Rich woman, have you really severed ties with Rich Man's mother and brother, taking the child with you?"
After receiving Wan Shu's affirmative answer, everyone shook their heads, looking at her with disapproval and saying that she was too impulsive.
"Yaozu is such a bright student! He's destined to be a high-ranking official! You've severed ties with him, so how can you still try to maintain a connection with Master Guan!"
When Wan Shu heard these remarks, she didn't reply, but just smiled.
When Wan Shu got home, she noticed that all five children looked unwell, which puzzled her.
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