The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 123 - 112: Discord

Chapter 123: Chapter 112: Discord

Soon, Zhou SiLang also arrived, leading the three uncles from the Qian Family.

Eldest Uncle Qian and Second Uncle Qian had somber expressions as they entered, immediately looking towards Old Zhou to inquire about the situation. Third Uncle Qian, however, clamored, "What’s there to ask? Our family’s girl has just been sent back to us after being divorced. Do they take us for dead? Dalang and his brothers are all here, let’s go straight to their door and ask them what the Liu family really means by this."

Eldest Uncle Qian glared at him and said, "Hold your tongue, even if we go, we need to discuss and agree on our approach first."

"What is there to discuss? It’s better to act sooner than later. If we wait till tomorrow, we won’t be able to speak clearly. By then they’ll argue over everything Zhou Xi took from their house. With her just returning and her bags still not unopened, we should take them and throw them right back in the Liu family’s face."

A clan elder took a puff from his dry pipe and said, "Third Uncle’s words are crude but not without sense. I think he’s making a good point. Brother Jin, what do you say?"

Old Zhou pondered for a moment and nodded, "We need to go today, but we should lay out a clear plan for what needs to be done once we get there."

Everyone agreed and immediately began discussing the matter word by word, first needing to clarify the intentions of the Zhou Family.

Was it to accept the divorce letter, to insist on enduring with the Liu family, or to seek a separation?

Old Zhou did not speak but looked towards Junior Ms. Qian.

Junior Ms. Qian tiptoed into the house and said to Zhou Xi, who had just dried her tears, "Elder sister, Father asked me to inquire whether you want to continue living with the Liu family or not?"

Zhou Xi bit her lip and remained silent.

Manbao, sitting aside, immediately said without a second thought, "Of course she won’t continue! The brother-in-law is now a villain, elder sister, divorce him!"

Zhou Xi smiled half-heartedly and asked, "If I divorce him, where will I live, how will I get by?"

Manbao replied, "Of course you’ll live at home, we’ll get by just like we always have."

Junior Ms. Qian glanced at Manbao and said to Zhou Xi, "We can discuss these matters later. Father will surely have a plan. Right now, you just need to answer whether you want to continue with the Liu family or not."

Zhou Xi bit her lip for a long while without speaking, then finally clenched her fists and said, "Widow Wu from our village is pregnant with his child."

Upon hearing this, Junior Ms. Qian immediately understood and turned to leave.

Zhou Xi let out a deep sigh of relief, and shortly after, Junior Ms. Qian came back in, asking in a low voice, "Mother asked me to find out, do you have any solid proof of his affair with Widow Wu?"

Zhou Xi shook her head. She knew about it because she had overheard the conversation between her mother-in-law and him. If the people from Zhou’s household were to ask, they certainly wouldn’t admit it.

Junior Ms. Qian looked regretful, then gave Zhou Xi a somewhat frustrated glare, and turned to leave again.

Manbao, hearing the lively discussions outside, really wanted to join in the excitement, but Zhou Xi caught her by the arm, preventing her from leaving.

Zhou Xi said to her youngest sister with a wry smile, "Elder sister is a bit scared, could you stay in the room with elder sister?"

Manbao’s chest immediately swelled with courage. She patted her chest and promised Zhou Xi, "Don’t be afraid, elder sister, I’ll protect you. I’m really good at fighting, even Bai Shanbao who’s older than me can’t beat me."

Zhou Xi wasn’t really listening to Manbao’s words, let alone pursuing who Bai Shanbao was. She just didn’t want her younger sister to listen to such dirty affairs and possibly pollute her ears.

Outside, the adults already knew Zhou Xi’s intentions. Old Zhou then said, "A divorce letter, our Zhou Family cannot accept that. Even if our Xi has no children, she mourned for the Liu family’s patriarch and matriarch as a dutiful daughter-in-law. Thinking of divorce? Don’t even consider it. But since their family has trampled on our Zhou family’s face like this, it’s impossible to give our daughter to the Liu family again."

He said, "The only way is a separation."

"Exactly," Third Uncle Qian said, cruder yet. Although his great-niece had not spoken loudly just then, he had been standing nearby and heard her, he shouted, "We must also demand compensation. Otherwise, I’ll spread the word about his affair with the widow till the whole village knows, so everyone will know that his future son is born of adultery. Let’s see how the Liu family faces that."

These crude words embarrassed not only the uncles from the Qian family but also Old Zhou, who couldn’t help but give him a stern look.

Worried, he stepped aside to consult with his wife, "Should we really take Third Brother along with us?"

Ms. Qian was chanting scriptures with her eyes closed, and upon hearing this, she said, "You’ve brought all these people here, if you leave him behind, do you think he won’t turn your house upside down?"

Old Zhou couldn’t help but touch his nose.

Ms. Qian, expressionless, said, "Take him along, and when you get there, don’t stop him. Saving face, when they’ve already trampled it underfoot three times, what’s a little more dirt? As long as there’s a real benefit, that’s good enough."

Old Zhou then remembered his wife’s matters when she was young, how could he have forgotten, his wife was also a fiery and troublesome woman when she was young.

Old Zhou honestly went out, settled the tone with the villagers, and then went with the group towards the Liu family’s village.

As for Zhou Xi, she was left at home. Ms. Qian took the bundle with them, feeling there was no need to expose her eldest daughter to such an embarrassment; it was better left to the weaker and sick at home to wait.

However, Junior Ms. Qian led her two sisters-in-law along with her, of course, accompanied by quite a few wives and daughters-in-law from the clan, all of whom were particularly sharp-tongued.

Watching them march off in a grand procession, Ms. Qian then solemnly gathered all the grandchildren together and said, "Prepare for the evening meal. The adults will need to eat when they return tonight."

Zhou Xi also wiped her tears and came out, saying, "Mother, you’re unwell, please go back to rest. I can take care of the kitchen."

Ms. Qian didn’t go back, instead, she measured out the grains and had Zhou Xi grind rice. She also gave Datou some money and asked him to hire help to buy some meat from the big market.

Manbao followed along trying to join in the activity, but she was too weak and lacked the strength to be of any help.

Ms. Qian didn’t avoid her but asked Zhou Xi directly, "Do you want to go with your father to live with Four?"

Zhou Xi, with her head down, said, "But that can’t be a long-term solution?"

"I will have someone find you another good match after the New Year, that should settle it," Ms .Qian replied.

Zhou Xi turned pale.

Ms. Qian went on leisurely, "Don’t be afraid. This time, I will be vigilant for you, I’ll choose someone honest, preferably a household with one or two younger children. If you take care of them wholeheartedly, you can certainly nurture a bond."

Zhou Xi kept her head down and did not speak.

Manbao glanced at her elder sister and then at their mother, unable to resist pouting and saying, "Mother, elder sister is unhappy."

She didn’t quite understand Ms. Qian’s words but sensed something was wrong and asked, "Choose someone honest for what? And why would there be children of a young age? How much younger are they, younger than me?"

Ms. Qian looked at her young daughter and said, "When adults are talking, children should not interrupt if they don’t understand."

"You’re not keeping your word, mother. You once clearly said if a child doesn’t understand, they should ask. Now I don’t understand, so I’m asking," Manbao defiantly responded.

With this distraction from Manbao, Zhou Xi felt better and even let out a bit of what was on her mind, "Mother, I don’t want to get married again."