Shen Qingli threw the wooden stick aside with a loud clang.
Only then did everyone snap out of their daze, staring at the scene in disbelief.
Old Madam Yang hadn’t expected to be beaten down by this seemingly insignificant second girl. She lay on the ground stunned for quite a while before slapping her thigh, sitting up, and wailing loudly:
“Ahhh, heavens above, why am I so unlucky!
To have raised such unfilial descendants—oh God, how am I supposed to live the rest of my days?
This wretched girl dared to hit her own grandmother! Folks, you all be the judge—someone like this, our Shen family cannot keep!
Divorce! She must be divorced!”
Her son was the only juren (successful provincial exam candidate) in Shen Village. Whether in looks or learning, he was top-notch.
How could he possibly be matched with the daughter of a mere butcher like her?
With his current status and appearance, if he divorced his wife, he could easily remarry a young lady from a wealthy family in town.
But the divorce had to be justified—otherwise, how could a respectable young lady agree to become his wife?
So today was the perfect opportunity!
Since she refused to let the eldest daughter be used in a marriage exchange, then she and the two useless daughters she bore could all get out of the Shen family!
She couldn’t even bear a son—what use was she?
Meanwhile, Shen Wenxuan, who had been standing aside like an invisible bystander, saw his mother knocked to the ground and immediately rushed forward in fury. He raised his hand to slap Shen Qingli.
Unfortunately, he didn’t succeed.
Shen Qingli easily caught his wrist and said coldly:
“Don’t touch me with your filthy hands.”
With a flick, Shen Wenxuan felt a sharp pain in his wrist. In front of so many people, being humiliated like this by Shen Qingli made it impossible for him to save face. Overcome with rage, he shouted:
“This is outrageous! Divorce—I want a divorce!
And these two unfilial daughters—throw them out of the house as well!”
Hearing this, the second son of Shen Wenshi (the eldest brother in the Shen family) immediately ran inside to fetch brush and ink, eagerly fanning the flames:
“Second Uncle, here—write the divorce letter.”
Shen Wenshi’s wife, Madam Jiang, also watched gleefully, adding fuel to the fire:
“That’s right, Second Uncle, this should’ve been done long ago. Not only can she not bear a son, now she even encourages her daughters to fight you. She’s completely out of line!”
She herself had borne two sons—though one had unfortunately become mentally impaired after an accident, it didn’t affect the continuation of the family line.
Unlike daughters—completely useless, barely able to do farm work, and only good for eating.
Now they even refuse to agree to a marriage exchange—what’s the point of keeping them? Truly a burden!
Shen Qingli already found this entire family unbearable and didn’t want to stay any longer. Judging from the original owner’s mother’s attitude, she also no longer wished to live like this.
So be it—divorce it is.
She could take the original owner’s sister and mother away and still live well.
Since she had taken over this body, it was only right to take care of her sister and mother—as repayment to the original owner.
Just as everyone thought the divorce letter was about to be written, a powerful voice suddenly came from the doorway:
“I’d like to see who dares divorce my daughter!”
Then, an imposing, burly old man walked in, followed by two equally strong young men, all looking fierce and intimidating.
At the sight of the familiar faces, Li Shi, who had been holding herself together, burst into tears and cried out:
“Father! Elder Brother! Second Brother!”
It turned out that Li Shi’s family had arrived.
The villagers watching the commotion immediately grew more excited. Li Shi’s family was from Li Village, several villages away, though they still had regular contact.
Someone must have sent them word, which was why they arrived so quickly.
Now this would be interesting.
Butcher Li was well known for his fiery temper, and his two sons were just like him—tall, strong, and clearly not to be trifled with.
When Shen Wenxuan saw his father-in-law, his arrogance immediately deflated. He respectfully greeted him:
“Father-in-law.”
After all, over the years, Li Shi had often brought money and meat from her family to support them. Facing this imposing man, he truly felt afraid.
Hearing this, Li Dashan grew even angrier. He glared fiercely at him and snapped:
“Who’s your father-in-law? Don’t call me that!”
Then he signaled his two sons to pull their sister and nieces up from the ground and stand behind them protectively. Clasping his fists, he said in a commanding tone:
“A divorce? Absolutely not!
But this wolf’s den of yours—my daughter will not stay here any longer. If you have any sense, write a separation agreement.
That way, it’ll be better for everyone. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being rude—I’ll publicly recount just how much your Shen family has leeched off my Li family all these years!”
Their daughter’s life hadn’t been easy. As her parents and brothers, they willingly supported her—it was something they did out of love, without complaint.
But Shen Wenxuan should never—under any circumstances—have forgotten his debts of gratitude just because he had passed the provincial exam and become a juren, treating his lawful wife and daughters this way.
A man like him did not deserve to be a son-in-law of the Li family. Even if the Li family were merely butchers and he now stood high and mighty as a respected scholar, they didn’t care for such status at all!
Old Madam Yang was somewhat unwilling. Why agree to a mutual separation? It should be a one-sided divorce! Just as she was about to say something, Shen Wenxuan pulled her back.
After all, Shen Wenxuan was an educated man—he cared about his reputation.
If the villagers found out how much money and meat they had taken from his wife’s family, they would surely become the laughingstock.
So he nodded in agreement. Very quickly, he wrote up a letter of separation.
Li Dashan was a straightforward man and had no interest in wasting words with such a beast in human clothing. After taking the separation letter, he said to the mother and her two daughters:
“Let’s go. We’re going home.”
And so, the Li family arrived in force—and just as forcefully, they left.
Li Dashan had come with an ox cart. He helped the mother and daughters onto it, then silently drove off with his two sons, leaving Shen Village behind.
Once the spectacle ended, the villagers gradually dispersed.
Of course, quite a few people cursed Shen Wenxuan behind his back—barely had he become a juren, and he was already causing trouble.
And that Old Madam Yang—trying to trade her own granddaughter in a marriage exchange? Wasn’t that basically sending the eldest girl to her death? Truly heartless and devoid of conscience.
Evil people would get their retribution sooner or later.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Li Liuye sat on the ox cart with her two daughters. Looking at her father’s broad back, she spoke uneasily:
“Father, thank you… but if we go back to my natal home, will my sisters-in-law be unhappy?”
She was a married daughter who had now separated and returned home—she feared she wouldn’t be welcome. But for the moment, she had nowhere else to go.
Without turning his head, Li Dashan continued driving the ox cart and replied calmly:
“They won’t. Don’t overthink it.”