"And it's not like you won't come back once you go. It just means we'll see each other less often, but these are things we must overcome."
Song Siyi leaned gently against his broad back, feeling completely secure. "I want what's best for you."
Xie Jingzhou felt his heart swell with emotion, his smile stretching almost from ear to ear.
"Wife, thank you."
She understood him, supported him, and had even given him new life. He knew he could never leave her in this lifetime.
"Wife, don't worry. If I pass the military unit's examination, I can stay in the military. As soon as that happens, I'll apply for a place in the family compound. Will you come with me?"
Xie Jingzhou carefully sought her opinion. Although life in the countryside wasn't much better, conditions in their current military unit were truly harsh, and he feared Song Siyi might not want to go.
Song Siyi nodded without hesitation. "Yes."
She had long wanted to leave this place that had ruined her life in her previous existence.
Receiving her definite answer, Xie Jingzhou was inwardly overjoyed.
He even began imagining what furniture he would buy once the house was approved, and he had already planned to build a separate bathroom for his wife.
Nothing was certain yet, but he felt as if he were already living that life.
When the two returned home, the Xie family was overjoyed to hear that his leg had healed. Zhang Xiuying even covered her face and wept.
Wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes, she took Song Siyi's hand and nodded repeatedly. "Siyi, you truly are our family's lucky star."
The others agreed wholeheartedly, nodding along.
But Wang Guihua didn't see it that way. She stepped forward again to make her presence felt.
"Mom, what lucky star? Wasn't Fourth Brother's leg cured by the doctor? Don't give Fourth Sister-in-law credit she doesn't deserve."
Xie Wenhua pulled her back, his face full of disapproval. "Can't you say less?"
On such a happy day, she insisted on inviting criticism.
The smiles on Song Siyi and the others' faces faded. This Second Sister-in-law didn't cause major conflicts, but she stirred up countless minor issues. If you confronted her, she would accuse you of being petty.
It wasn't a big deal—you could just ignore her—but it was still annoying when it happened too often.
Xie Jingzhou's face turned cold, his tone unreadable. "Second Sister-in-law, that doctor was willing to treat me because of Siyi. What Mom said isn't wrong, so please say less."
"If your mouth really has nothing to do, you can do more work."
Wang Guihua looked as if she had heard something absurd. He was telling her to do more work and calling her idle!
Hadn't she done enough work already?
Wang Guihua laughed in anger, instinctively retorting, "If she's so lucky and capable, why hasn't she asked the doctor to treat Eldest Sister-in-law? Then she wouldn't still be unable to have children."
She glanced up and down at Song Siyi's stomach. "And Fourth Sister-in-law, you've been married for almost a month now, and there's still no movement in your belly. Are you also unable to have children?"
Zhao Meixia's face turned pale upon hearing this. Her body trembled slightly, and she staggered backward. Xie Lincheng quickly steadied her.
He glared coldly at Wang Guihua. "Second Sister-in-law, you've gone too far."
"Our affairs are none of your business."
Wang Guihua showed no awareness of her mistake. Instead, she looked smug, because she had given birth to two sons.
Xie Wenhua could no longer stand it. He raised his hand and slapped her, the sound sharp and clear.
That slap startled everyone, even the brigade leader and Zhang Xiuying, who had remained silent until now, were taken aback.
Wang Guihua covered her face in disbelief. When she finally reacted, she lunged forward, clawing at Xie Wenhua’s face.
“How dare you hit me? What have I done wrong that your whole family bullies me, and now even you won’t stand up for me?”
Xie Wenhua gripped her hands, his face etched with exhaustion.
“Search your conscience—what has our family ever done to wrong you?”
Wang Guihua cried and cursed, “How haven’t you bullied me? Your mother never liked me from the day I entered this house. Even after I gave birth to a son, she still didn’t like me. What exactly did I do wrong?”
Zhang Xiuying felt as if a huge accusation had fallen from the sky.
“Wang Guihua, by heaven and earth, I may have opposed your marriage back then, but once you married into this family, I never mistreated you.”
“When you were pregnant, it was me who personally took care of you and looked after you. Yet in your words, it became me not liking you.”
Zhang Xiuying was truly angry and somewhat heartbroken. Because the second son’s family had two children, she had even leaned more toward them in daily life. But in the end, it seemed all her efforts were in vain.
Didn’t she scold and hit her because of her sharp tongue? Did she ever reflect on herself?
Wang Guihua stopped her hands but remained silent, convinced that all she saw was favoritism.
The silent brigade leader spoke slowly, “If you can’t live together like this, then let’s divide the family.”
Xie Lincheng and Xie Wenhua immediately grew anxious.
Xie Wenhua hurriedly said, “Dad, how can we divide the family? As long as our parents are alive, we shouldn’t split. How can you suggest dividing the family?”
The brigade leader was an open-minded man. He felt they should have divided the family long ago.
Although their family was relatively harmonious, the children were all grown up and had their own small families. It was necessary to divide the household.
The brigade leader’s tone left no room for doubt, “It’s decided. Originally, your mother and I had already agreed to divide the family after Fourth Brother got married, but we forgot about it during the busy autumn harvest.”
“Now that the autumn harvest is over, while Fourth Brother is still at home, this matter is settled.”
The brigade leader looked at Xie Zhaozhao, who was hiding with the children to the side.
“Zhaozhao, go call the elders.” Xie Zhaozhao slowly stood up, “Okay.”
Upon hearing this, the three brothers fell silent, none of them speaking.
Wang Guihua’s heart also sank. She had never thought about dividing the family. She still had two sons to raise. If the family split, wouldn’t the entire burden fall on the two of them?
The eldest brother’s family most likely wouldn’t have children, and Fourth Brother’s family would likely follow the army. Wouldn’t this family all belong to her sons in the future?
What would there be left if the family split?
She nudged Xie Wenhua, but he seemed not to notice, his face filled with guilt and remorse.
Wang Guihua then looked at Xie Lincheng, Song Siyi, and the others.
None of them spoke.
Xie Lincheng and Xie Jingzhou, however, were pleased with the outcome. Wang Guihua’s sharp tongue was unbearable, and they didn’t want their wives to suffer.
Seeing this, Xie Wenhua felt even more guilty. It was all his fault that the family was falling apart.
Before long, the village party secretary, the old village chief, and Accountant He had all arrived.
The old village chief looked at the brigade leader, “Yongsheng, why are you suddenly dividing the family? Are the children being unfilial?”
The old village chief glanced over Xie Lincheng and the others one by one. These children were among the best in the brigade.
Zhang Xiuying was quite open-minded about it; perhaps she could even live a few more years if they separated.
She cheerfully helped the village chief sit down on the bench. "Chief, just as a tree grows and branches out, children grow up and start their own families—it's only natural. We're both getting old now, and we've done our duty raising them and helping them marry. From now on, they'll have to work hard for their own little families."