“Haha. You beat my mother until she had to be hospitalized.” Ye Qingyan gestured to the bandage wrapped around her forehead. “And then you did this to me. Now you even want to cast my mother out?”
“Are you joking?! Do you think no one stands by our Ji family?! If anyone is ending this marriage, it’s my sister who shall cast you out!”
Ji Dehua, who did heavy physical labor every day, was tall and powerfully built. He spoke with such a fierce expression that he was quite intimidating.
Ji Qiming stepped forward to stand beside him. Father and son stood side by side—clearly, they had come today specifically to back Ji Qiuyun.
Old Madam Ye sized up the tall, imposing pair. Her eyes darted about, and she turned to walk out. “I’ll go call the others back. This matter must be discussed by the whole family.”
Ji Dehua glanced at Ye Qinghui. “Qinghui, go fetch the Brigade Leader. His presence is needed for this divorce matter.”
Old Madam Ye and Ye Qinghui stepped out one after the other, then parted ways to summon people separately.
Before long, Old Madam Ye returned with the rest of the Ye family.
Ye Yao walked over to Ye Qingyan and said gently, “Qinghui, your Second Uncle was wrong this time. But you ought to persuade your Second Aunt too—divorce is no trivial matter.”
“No need for your reminders.” Ye Qingyan’s tone was cool. “We mean it.”
While Ye Yao spoke to Ye Qingyan, Wang Guimei turned to Ji Qiuyun. “Qiuyun, what married couple bears grudges overnight? Think of your two children. There’s no need to make such a fuss over this.”
Brigade Leader Ye Jianjun walked in just in time to hear those words. He asked in confusion, “No need to make such a fuss? What exactly is going on here?”
“Brigade Leader.” Ye Qingyan stepped forward and spoke calmly. “It’s like this. Two days ago, my father tried to force me into a marriage. When I refused, he beat me—this injury on my forehead was caused by him.”
“My mother couldn’t bear to watch me get struck. She rushed over to shield me with everything she had. In the end, he beat her until she collapsed and was sent to the hospital.”
At this, Ye Qingyan lowered her head and wiped the corners of her eyes, looking utterly pitiful and sorrowful.
Ye Qinghui continued where she left off. “This isn’t the first time he’s laid hands on us. Ever since we were small, whenever he drank too much or was in a bad mood, he’d beat us with sticks.”
“Hiss~”
“I never thought Ye Xingcai would be such a man—how cruel can one be?”
“To treat his own wife and children like that… it’s simply too much.”
Villagers had gathered at the gate and along the courtyard walls, watching and whispering amongst themselves.
“Brigade Leader.” Ye Xingcai immediately jumped to his own defense. “I am her father! I arranged a marriage into a good family for her! This ungrateful girl wouldn’t see my good intentions—that is why I lost my temper!”
Hearing this, some of the onlookers began to side with him.
“Perhaps that girl Ye Qingyan is being unreasonable. Surely her father wouldn’t harm her?”
“That’s right! Isn’t it only natural for a father to arrange his daughter’s marriage?”
Ye Qingyan heard the shifting murmurs. She let out a cold, scoffing laugh and spoke loud enough for all to hear: “You think he found me a good family? Fine—would you be willing to marry your daughter off to a fool?”
Her sharp gaze swept across the crowd. Everyone she met looked away, falling silent.
Marry your own daughter to an idiot? That’s no marriage—that’s throwing her into a pit of fire!
No one had expected Ye Xingcai to propose such a match.
“Xingcai, how can you say such a thing? That is certainly no ‘good marriage’!” Ye Jianjun frowned at him.
Ye Xingcai hurried to explain. “Brigade Leader, I speak the truth! That boy from the Xue family has his shortcomings, yes—but his two elder brothers both have steady jobs and will support him! On top of that, the Xue family has promised to find me a job for my daughter once she marries in!”
The villagers exchanged glances. Hearing it put that way, the Xue family did sound rather well-off. Still, no one dared speak up freely just then.
Ye Qingyan rolled her eyes and let out a short laugh. “I wouldn’t be marrying his brothers. How long can they be expected to support him?”
Everyone knew the truth—sooner or later, that support would end. While their parents lived, the brothers might say nothing. But once their parents passed away… who would take on such a burden then?
Ye Xingcai’s expression hardened. “They promised to find you work!”
“Enough, enough.” Ji Dehua stepped forward and waved a hand. “Marriage by choice is the rule now. My sister and my niece both refuse this match—there is nothing more to say on that matter. Let us return to what truly matters.”
Ji Qiuyun turned to Ye Jianjun. “Brigade Leader, for years now Ye Xingcai has beaten me and the children at every turn. I truly cannot go on living like this—one day he may well kill me! We were never issued a formal marriage certificate back then. I ask you to stand as witness today—let us sign the papers and end this.”
Ye Xingcai shook his head firmly. “I refuse to grant a divorce!”
Brigade Leader Ye Jianjun looked back and forth between the couple, then at Ye Qingyan and Ye Qinghui. He rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on.
If they stayed together, Ye Qingyan would be forced into that disastrous marriage—a fate no less than a death sentence.
After a moment’s thought, Ye Jianjun spoke to Ye Xingcai. “You have never treated Qiuyun well all these years. Under these circumstances… it would be better if you let her go.”
“Brigade Leader?!”
The entire Ye family gasped in shock. They were all of the same clan—they never expected Ye Jianjun would side with Qiuyun!
Ye Qingyan pulled out a medical record folder. “If you refuse a divorce, I will take this file to the Women’s Affairs Office at the Commune. I will ask the Women’s Director to judge this fairly. My mother’s injuries are severe—this constitutes assault with intent to cause harm. You could very well face prison time.”
Old Madam Ye’s eyes went wide. At the mention of prison, she looked thoroughly terrified.
Ye Xingcai reacted instantly—he lunged forward, trying to snatch the folder from Ye Qingyan’s hands.
Ji Dehua and his son were having none of it. They stood guard on either side of Ye Qingyan, blocking him completely.
“You ungrateful wretch!” Ye Xingcai screamed in rage. “I never liked you from the day you were born! If I’d known it would come to this, I should have drowned you in a bucket the moment you were born!”
A collective gasp swept through the crowd. Had Ye Xingcai lost his mind? To speak of killing his own daughter—was that not murder?
“Second Brother!” Old Madam Ye dragged Ye Xingcai back inside the house and shut the door. They spoke in hushed voices for some time.
When Ye Xingcai stepped back outside, he appeared calmer.
“Brigade Leader. I agree to the divorce.” He cast a sharp glance at Ji Qiuyun. “But on one condition. She takes no child with her.”
Ji Qiuyun’s face paled with alarm. That was impossible—she could never leave her two children behind.
“You beat and curse your own children day and night! When have you ever cared for them? How dare you demand Qinghui and Qingyan stay in this house with you?!” Ji Dehua clenched his fists, barely holding himself back from striking Ye Xingcai.
Ye Xingcai ignored him and looked straight at Ye Qinghui. “Qinghui is my only son! He is the one who will care for me in old age and see me to my grave!”
Ye Jianjun considered from all sides before speaking cautiously. “I have a compromise to propose. Ye Qingyan leaves with Qiuyun. Ye Qinghui remains here with the Ye family. One child with each side—what say you?”
Ye Xingcai agreed at once. “Agreed!” That troublesome girl was nothing but a burden to him anyway—good riddance.
Ji Qiuyun’s heart sank. To leave her son behind… that hurt more than she could bear.