Going to the county to reissue a marriage certificate was not only time-consuming and troublesome but also cost money for round-trip transportation.
More importantly, many people never set foot in the city in their entire lives, not even knowing which direction the county town’s gates faced.
Clearly, Wang Lihua and Su Dagui had not gone to reissue their marriage certificate; otherwise, Old Mrs. Su wouldn’t have spoken with such certainty.
Fifth Great-Uncle spoke up at this moment, “Xueming’s wife, what do you mean by this?”
He was old, with deep wrinkles around his eyes, and his gaze was sharp as an eagle’s—after all, he was a veteran who had once fought on the battlefield.
Old Mrs. Su tugged at her sleeves and the hem of her clothes, glancing over dismissively. “Since she’s not my daughter-in-law, it’s not appropriate for her to keep the pension.”
Now that they were openly tearing off all pretenses, she wasn’t afraid of what others might say. If she cared about face, how could she, a widow, have raised two sons all these years and even found wives for them?
Third Grandpa was so angry he gasped for breath twice. He raised his hand and pointed at Su Dabao and Su Erbao, who were leaning against Wang Lihua. “What about those two children? They’re still Dagui’s flesh and blood!”
“Even if you don’t acknowledge Dagui’s wife, you must acknowledge the children!”
“Since the children are Dagui’s, the pension naturally belongs to them!”
Old Mrs. Su shifted her gaze to Wang Lihua, as if asking, 【Money or the children—which do you choose?】
Wang Lihua understood her look. She took a deep breath and spoke up, pretending to be forced into a corner.
“Third Uncle, Fifth Great-Uncle, I’m willing to give the pension to Li Fengying.”
“But I’d like to ask all you respected elders to bear witness for me.”
“That is… my two daughters and I… want to sever ties with the Su family!”
Her eyes were red, her whole body trembling, and as she spoke, tears fell in large drops.
Seeing this, Su Erbao stepped forward and hugged her arm, also silently shedding tears.
Su Dabao stubbornly raised her sleeve to wipe her face, looking at Old Mrs. Su as if she were an enemy.
Fifth Great-Uncle stared intently at Old Mrs. Su. “Xueming’s wife, is this what you wanted?”
Old Mrs. Su knew what he meant—that she was cruel, driving her daughter-in-law and two granddaughters out of the house for money after her second son’s death.
But so what?
Su Dagui had already found a better place, and she had a better daughter-in-law now. Of course, Wang Lihua had to make room, lest she cause unhappiness later.
That “unhappiness,” of course, referred to her new, better daughter-in-law.
Old Mrs. Su curled the corner of her lips, her gaze sweeping around the room before finally settling on the mother and her two daughters.
“If you sever ties, you must move out of my Su family’s house.”
“It’ll be just in time to vacate it for Xiao Wen’s wedding.”
Everyone was shocked by her heartlessness and cruelty. An old woman who had long been at odds with her couldn’t hold back any longer and spat fiercely in her direction.
“Li Fengying, how can you be so cruel! Driving them out in the dead of winter—you don’t want the three of them to live!”
Another person chimed in, “Exactly! How can our village produce such a venomous woman!”
Old Mrs. Su didn’t even bother to glance their way, speaking only to Third Grandpa and Fifth Great-Uncle. “This is New China now. We don’t follow the old clan ways anymore. Don’t think you can pressure me with outdated customs.”
“To put it bluntly, this is our family’s private matter. What the hell does it have to do with any of you!”
Third Grandpa suddenly stood up, wishing he could step forward and slap her. “Li Fengying!”
Old Mrs. Su paid no attention, as she too only wanted to resolve this quickly and drive out the bothersome mother and her two daughters as soon as possible.
Her son had sent word last night, urging her to handle the matter promptly and not waste any more time.
With Wang Lihua looking like a consumptive ghost, in this bitter cold, she wouldn’t last three days before meeting the King of Hell.
Once she died, if the two wretched girls were lucky enough to grow up, she might show some mercy and arrange marriages for them.
Wang Lihua stood up and bowed once more to Third Grandpa and Fifth Great-Uncle. “I ask Third Uncle and Fifth Great-Uncle to bear witness. From today onward, my daughters and I sever ties with the Su family.”
“Hand over Su Dagui’s 300-yuan death pension to Li Fengying.”
“Move out of the Su family home.”
“Please, Third Uncle, help me draft the Severance of Kinship Agreement!”
Third Grandpa gritted his teeth. Seeing both sides were determined, he realized that Dabao had likely invited them over today precisely because Wang Lihua wanted to break ties with the Su family.
Everyone in the village knew Old Mrs. Su’s temperament. If Wang Lihua didn’t hand over that 300 yuan, who knew what kind of torment she would face in the future.
Wang Lihua had probably considered this and wanted to sever ties for the sake of peace.
The only question was whether her frail body could endure it. If she didn’t survive, what would become of the two children?
As he pondered this, Fifth Great-Uncle beside him nudged him with an elbow.
Third Grandpa snapped back to reality. Even if Wang Lihua passed away, the two girls were just children—any family in the village could spare a bit of food to raise them. And if worst came to worst, Fifth Great-Uncle would step in.
He cleared his throat and said sternly, “Since you’ve both made your decision, I’ll write the Severance of Kinship Agreement.”
“The agreement will be made in triplicate, with both parties signing and fingerprinting.”
After speaking, he glanced at Su Wen, who couldn’t hide his delight. “Go call your mother and that girl Xiuxiu. They need to sign as well.”
Su Wen eagerly replied, “Yes!” and dashed toward his home.
He had only expected the 300 yuan, but he never imagined his grandmother was so formidable—she had even secured the house for him.
Now he could live a cozy life with Juanzi behind closed doors. The thought alone thrilled him.
Watching his eager retreating figure, Third Grandpa and Fifth Great-Uncle exchanged somber glances.
This Su Wen… was hopeless.
The Severance of Kinship Agreement would be kept in three copies: one for the eldest branch of the family, one for Wang Lihua, and one held by Third Grandpa.
After receiving the agreement, Wang Lihua handed over the 300 yuan that Old Mrs. Su and the eldest branch had been coveting, doing so in front of everyone.
The moment Old Mrs. Su got her hands on the agreement, she began urging the mother and her daughters to move out immediately, forbidding them from taking anything belonging to the Su family. Liu Xianghua even tried to snatch the padded jacket Wang Lihua was wearing, but she backed off after Fifth Great-Uncle shot her a fierce glare.
Su Erbao had foreseen this and had long since stored the family’s grain and some items Wang Lihua had gathered in the Storage Space. Even if they left empty-handed now, there was nothing to fear.
And indeed, they left the Su family with nothing but the Severance of Kinship Agreement tucked inside Wang Lihua’s clothes.
Once they stepped out of the Su family’s second branch home, Wang Lihua felt as if an invisible shackle had suddenly been lifted, and her entire being lightened.
Su Erbao had told her that in their previous life, when she and her sister were driven out, they had lived in the house of Great-Grandpa at the village entrance.
Great-Grandpa had lived his whole life without a wife or children. After he passed away, the house had stood empty—it just needed tidying up to be livable.
“Dagui’s family—oh no, Lihua, your eldest brother’s house is still empty. Why don’t you move in there first? When you have the money later, you can build a new house.”
Third Grandpa called out to the mother and her two daughters. Before they could refuse, he turned to look at the onlookers who had followed them.