Ye Xiaoxiao looked at everyone’s awkward, speechless expressions, then at the smug Li Mother, feeling a secret thrill: honesty really is a “great adventure.” A rational Li Mother would never have said such things.
“So the food and household items, won’t any of that be divided?” Ye Xiaoxiao asked next.
“Divide what? With so many people in the Li family, there’s not enough to eat—how could we divide it for you?” Li Father had completely let himself go, speaking without restraint. Ye Xiaoxiao had thought he still cared about face, but when it came to splitting interests, he didn’t even need his dignity.
Face is a valuable thing—but Li Father threw it to the crowd today, and everyone eagerly pocketed it. In the future, even if Li Father wanted to reclaim it, he couldn’t.
The men watching their wives’ foolish reactions kept calm on the outside but secretly felt smug. Having already been stunned, they considered this just an appetizer.
Ye Xiaoxiao almost laughed. Well said, Old Li! Honesty—let it see the light, don’t always hide it in your heart.
“Really, nothing at all? Then can I at least take some of our own clothes and daily necessities?” Ye Xiaoxiao asked as a compromise.
“Those old rags? Take whatever you want!” Li Mother looked down on her eldest daughter-in-law’s small-mindedness.
“Old Secretary, Brigade Leader, uncles of the clan, what do you say?” Ye Xiaoxiao glanced at them as if placing all hope on them, acting like the long-suffering daughter-in-law.
“This is outrageous! Are you trying to starve Tianyou’s wife and children to death? Tianyou is the most promising young man in our village, and you’re taking his money but not supporting his family—don’t you have a conscience?” The eldest uncle was furious, wishing he could kick Li Father into oblivion. How could this be acceptable?
“Uncle, you don’t understand, our family is poor! Li Second, Li Third, Li Fourth have so many children to feed and educate. My two daughters also need schooling and food!” Li Mother wailed to the uncle.
Hearing her words, no one could even believe the punctuation—so outrageous.
“What kind of nonsense is this? Working yourself to death to support all your siblings but not your own wife and children?” Rural folks may be simple, but simplicity doesn’t mean stupid. The Li family couldn’t fool everyone with this.
“Very good! You talked about your family, but not the elders’! If you hadn’t said it today, we’d all still believe you. But not believing the eldest daughter-in-law—what an eye-opener!” The uncle’s beard practically bristled with anger.
Li Mother dodged his point, “Uncle, you haven’t run a household—you don’t know the cost of rice, oil, and salt!”
Hah! Everyone hated hearing that, as if no one had a home or had ever managed one themselves.
“What cost of rice, oil, and salt? My household doesn’t even spend 50 yuan a year. His family spends that in a month, landlords and rich folk!” one villager chimed in.
“Exactly, exactly! My whole household doesn’t even spend 30 yuan a year.”
“70 yuan a month—are they eating gold?”
“70 yuan a month, and they won’t give any to Tianyou’s wife and children? The Li family is so black-hearted it could bleed ink.”
The crowd whispered among themselves; not a single person spoke in favor of the Li family.
Seeing that things were ready, Ye Xiaoxiao decided it was time to formally establish her new household. She said to the uncles and the brigade leader, “Fine. My parents have said their piece. If I take the money and food today, I become an unfilial descendant. Alright, I don’t want the money or the food—I’ll just take my personal items. But I have one request: Tianyou and I will set up a new household. This year’s labor points, all future labor points, the resulting food and money, and the children’s registrations should all be credited to the new household.”
“No! How dare you take that food! That belongs to our Li family. You can split off a household, but you cannot split off the account, and the food cannot be taken!” Li Mother nearly screamed. She couldn’t allow Ye Xiaoxiao to take that food.
Her words sparked outrage. Earlier she had said nothing would be given—already disgusting enough. Now she even claimed that Ye Xiaoxiao would take future food as well. What were Li Mother and her group supposed to eat? Everyone listening was enraged!
Ye Xiaoxiao knew this was Li Mother’s honest reaction, so she wasn’t surprised. Without her subtle prompting, Li Mother certainly wouldn’t have said it.