“Sister, since you insist there’s something that belongs to Wang Zhuzi in my room, then go ahead and look for it.”
Song Miaomiao spoke with complete confidence, as though she had nothing to hide.
That was exactly what Song Wanning had been waiting for.
She walked into the room and first pretended to search the less obvious places before opening the wardrobe and looking inside.
After nearly two minutes of searching, the anxiety hanging over Song Miaomiao’s heart finally disappeared.
“Sister, my room is only this big. You’ve searched everywhere.”
“There isn’t a single thing belonging to Wang Zhuzi.”
“So what do you have to say now?”
“Why are you in such a hurry?”
“You haven’t checked the bedding yet.”
As she spoke, Song Wanning walked over to the bed, picked up Song Miaomiao’s quilt, and gave it a hard shake.
A blue piece of clothing suddenly fell out.
Standing at the doorway, Aunt Li and Liu Cuihua both saw what it was.
Their faces instantly flushed bright red.
Song Miaomiao also saw it.
Her eyes widened in disbelief.
“W-What is that?”
“Whose is it?”
“Why is it in my room?”
Then she suddenly pointed at Song Wanning.
“I know!”
“Sister, it must’ve been you!”
“You put it in my room, didn’t you?”
Even at a time like this, Song Miaomiao was still trying to pin the blame on her.
Song Wanning looked even more aggrieved.
“Little Sister, don’t you lock your room every time you leave?”
“How was I supposed to get inside?”
“In this family, you all guard against me as if I’m a thief.”
“I can’t even enter your room.”
“I can’t even go into the kitchen.”
“Even when I cook, I have to wait until you and Mom come back to watch me measure the rice.”
“In that situation…”
“How could I possibly sneak into your room?”
The villagers immediately began whispering among themselves.
“I never knew Liu Cuihua treated her own daughter like this.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think the girl had been picked up off the roadside.”
“Exactly.”
“So she’s been living such a miserable life.”
“It was clearly the younger sister who got involved with Wang Zhuzi, yet they’re forcing the older sister to marry him.”
“I really don’t know what Liu Cuihua is thinking.”
The village chief looked at Liu Cuihua and Song Miaomiao.
“I originally didn’t intend to interfere in your family’s affairs.”
“But Song Wanning came to me for help.”
“And what you’ve done has truly gone too far.”
“Song Wanning has requested to separate from the family.”
“Since I’m already here today…”
“You might as well divide the family now.”
“What?”
“Separate the family?”
“No!”
“Absolutely not!”
The moment Liu Cuihua heard those words, she reacted the most fiercely.
She had been counting on receiving a generous bride price when Song Wanning eventually married.
If they split the family now, wouldn’t she lose everything?
“No!”
“We absolutely can’t separate.”
“As long as the parents are alive, children don’t split from the family.”
At that moment, Song Dashan, who had remained silent all this time, finally spoke.
“Wanning.”
“You’re taking this too far.”
“This whole thing was just a misunderstanding on your mother’s part.”
“But you can’t blame her entirely.”
“If anyone’s at fault, it’s because you’ve always been too friendly with men.”
“That’s why they misunderstood.”
“No matter what…”
“We’re still your parents.”
“Stop making trouble.”
“We won’t force you anymore.”
“As for Wang Zhuzi…”
“That was all a misunderstanding.”
“Since it has nothing to do with you, you naturally won’t have to marry him.”
“As for separating from the family…”
“I know you only said it out of anger.”
“Let’s forget about it.”
In truth, Song Dashan didn’t care who Song Wanning married.
What he cared about most was his reputation.
If she officially left the family today, who knew what the villagers would say behind his back?
Under no circumstances could they separate.
If it had been the Song Wanning of her previous life, she would have immediately obeyed.
Song Dashan had always been the head of the household.
Everyone had to listen to him.
Whenever someone disobeyed him, he would wear a cold expression and treat everyone harshly.
His temper was especially violent.
If anything displeased him, he’d slap people without hesitation.
The old Song Wanning had always been afraid of him.
But this time…
She wasn’t.
“Village Chief Wang.”
“I don’t care if I receive nothing.”
“I only want to separate from this family.”
“I truly can’t go on living here anymore.”
Hearing the determination in her voice, Aunt Li secretly jabbed Wang Jianguo in the side with her elbow, hoping he would persuade the girl to change her mind.
This foolish child…
Who separates from the family without taking anything?
Liu Cuihua, however, immediately saw an opportunity.
Her eyes darted around as she thought it over.
Actually… this isn’t a bad idea.
A woman all alone, with no food, no money, and nowhere to live…
Let’s see how long she can survive.
Afraid Song Wanning might change her mind, Liu Cuihua immediately shouted,
“Fine!”
“I agree to the separation!”
“You said it yourself—you don’t want a single thing!”
“Village Chief, everyone here can be witnesses.”
“She said it herself.”
“I didn’t force her.”
“If she can’t survive in the future, don’t come blaming us!”
The villagers watching outside all thought Song Wanning was being foolish.
If she was going to separate from the family, why give up everything?
Aunt Li felt the same.
She was just about to help Song Wanning bargain for something when Song Wanning calmly said,
“That’s right.”
“I said it.”
“I don’t want a single thing from the Song family.”
“All I want is to separate.”
Naturally, Song Wanning had her own plans.
She first wanted to sever all ties with the Song family.
Then, after nightfall…
She would quietly sneak back and move every valuable thing in the house into her storage space.
As for Wang Zhuzi…
She wouldn’t let him off either.
Considering everything he had done to her in her previous life, she would make him pay.
And Song Miaomiao…
She certainly wouldn’t let her have an easy life.
Every bit of suffering she had endured in her previous life—
She would find a way to let Song Miaomiao experience it as well.
Seeing that Song Wanning had made up her mind, Wang Jianguo had no choice.
After confirming once more that she truly wished to separate from the family, he had someone bring paper and a pen.
He drafted two copies of the family separation agreement, carefully writing out every term.
Since Liu Cuihua couldn’t read, Wang Jianguo invited one of the educated youths to read the agreement aloud.
The document clearly stated that Song Wanning was voluntarily leaving the family.
She would not take any of the family’s property.
She could only take belongings that personally belonged to her.
As for the farmland and the house…
She would receive no share.
Liu Cuihua was quite satisfied with the agreement.
Just as she was about to press her thumbprint onto it, she suddenly remembered something and pulled her hand back.
“Wait.”
“Village Chief.”
“I think this agreement isn’t fair.”
“It needs to be changed.”
Wang Jianguo looked at her in confusion.
Could it be…
Had she finally grown a conscience and decided to give Song Wanning something?
“What part isn’t fair?”
Liu Cuihua answered matter-of-factly,
“After the family is split, Song Wanning must hand over half of the grain she earns every year to us.”
“After all, we raised her.”
“Everything she ate and wore since childhood came from me.”
“Doesn’t all that cost money?”
“Since she insists on separating from the family…”
“Then don’t blame me, her mother, for being ruthless.”
“If we’re going to settle accounts…”
“Then let’s settle every debt from the beginning.”
“So there won’t be any disputes between us in the future.”