Ye Xiaoxiao’s complaints struck not only the accountant, but also the old secretary and the brigade leader right in their hearts.
The old secretary was somewhat okay—he hadn’t wanted the position in the first place and had been pushed into it. The brigade leader was elected by the people, so he was somewhat responsible for noticing misbehavior—but he hadn’t caught the accountant’s misconduct.
The accountant, on the other hand, had achieved his position through tricks, and now his face was unusually grim.
Thinking about it now, Li Tianyou was already a regimental officer in the army, a rare success in the county. Even the county magistrate looked at him highly. Yet here, his wife and children were starving, forced to go up the mountain to forage. It was completely outrageous.
Ye Xiaoxiao glanced at the old secretary and the brigade leader, realizing they understood the gravity of the situation. She spoke to them, “Old Secretary, Brigade Leader, you’ve seen it too. My husband’s parents despise me and my child. Staying in the Li family, there’s only one path—death, whether sooner or later.
I think… why not split the family today? At least then we have a chance to survive. My child and I can move to Uncle Li the hunter’s house—he just passed away. Staying in the Li family, despised by so many, tormented by so many… if we don’t die, we’ll go mad.”
The old secretary glanced at Ye Xiaoxiao but remained silent.
Li Father immediately interjected, “If you’re going to split, then split. If you’re going to move, move. But it’s voluntary—you won’t take a single thing from this house.”
“Father, you mean no money, no food. I don’t blame you for disliking me, but my child Xiao Anguo is your biological grandson, and the others are your granddaughters. Do you want them to die too?” Ye Xiaoxiao asked, eyes wide in disbelief.
Ye Xiaoxiao’s shock mirrored that of the onlookers—everyone present, even the accountant, was nearly jaw-dropped.
“You’re not a real Li family member. Your children aren’t Li family members either! Tianyou’s money is meant to support me and my wife in old age—when did we ever say it was for you?
This whole family, your younger sister, the fourth son, the second and third sons’ children all need schooling, each month costing a fortune. What would be left over?” Li Father’s shameless words were said with brazen confidence. Even the old secretary and brigade leader felt like kneeling.
“Father, you said Tianyou’s money is for his parents, to support your sons who’ve been married over ten years, to feed the two younger sisters in school… but you never said anything about supporting Tianyou’s own children or his wife!
Fine, I’m not a Li family member, but I am Li Tianyou’s wife. My children are Li Tianyou’s children, aren’t they?!” Ye Xiaoxiao grew more agitated, louder and louder. Everyone could hear her clearly.
“As for Xiao Anguo and the others, blame them for being born to you! I don’t like them either—why should I support them?” Li Father gritted his teeth, hiding the deepest truths in his heart.
“Li Daniu, you’re inhuman! I’ve never heard of someone earning money to not support their own wife and children, only to support all their siblings and nieces and nephews! Would you happily support your brothers’ children with your own earnings? If your children aren’t Tianyou’s, why bother being a father at all?!” Ye Xiaoxiao spoke sharply, and she liked it that way.
“Li Daniu thought everyone was stupid—no way he’d give the money to anyone but himself, not Ye Xiaoxiao and the children!”
“I always thought Li Daniu was dull, a good man. Turns out he’s this malicious.”
“No true man is without poison! Truly no man without poison!”
“The whole family is inhuman—they’re beasts!”
…
Even the deaf could hear the murmurs and curses of the crowd. Li Father’s anger flared again. “Split! Split! Split! Tomorrow, after work, when everyone’s here, the old secretary and brigade leader will preside, call a few elders—we’ll split the property. If we don’t, I’m a coward!”
“Old Li, first explain how you plan to split it. Give us a baseline so we can discuss. If it’s reasonable, we’ll split it tomorrow,” the old secretary said, clearly distrustful of Li Father. Otherwise, when they reported back to the womenfolk, more trouble would erupt.
“The same as just now. If she wants a split, she leaves the house empty-handed!” Li Father drew the line clearly.
The old secretary nearly had a heart attack.
“I disagree. You go back and discuss with the Li family. The brigade leader and I will also think it over. If it’s too unfair, we can’t just follow your instructions. What if another family in the village produces someone as biased as you? People would die!” The old secretary was at a loss for words.
Ye Xiaoxiao was satisfied. Meals are eaten one bite at a time, torment step by step.
That morning, the Li family’s reputation was in ruins. Once, everyone praised them; now, anyone daring to speak in their favor would likely be laughed at.
The Li family’s conduct turned public opinion against them, and it would surely backfire on them.
Ye Xiaoxiao’s current concern was housing. She approached the brigade leader and asked, “Brigade Leader, I want to move to Uncle Li the hunter’s house at the foot of the mountain. Rent it for a year—how much?”
The brigade leader’s smile was awkward. “Uncle Li is a wubao household. His house belongs to the commune. The decision rests with the brigade. But… you really want to split? You’re taking so many children.”
“Brigade Leader, I know you’re looking out for me. My father-in-law has agreed, and no one else has reason to oppose, right?”
Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t want to argue further. She asked, “Brigade Leader, can we get the keys first? At home, we can’t get food, nothing to eat—we’ll starve. At Uncle Li’s, everything is ready. It’s June; we can forage wild vegetables, at least two bundles of fresh greens for a proper soup—right?”
The brigade leader gave up trying to persuade her. Neither side objected. Luckily, he had the keys on him, so he handed them over.
Ye Xiaoxiao led her children to Uncle Li’s house. The accountant watched, thinking to stop her, but recalled her previous words—better to avoid her for now.
Li Father and his sons didn’t care. Good—she’d be gone, leaving their food untouched.
Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t care either. With her space’s food supply, she had no fear.
As they left, everyone remembered that Ye Xiaoxiao hadn’t even recounted what she endured up on the mountain—the focus had already shifted.