Chapter 606 - 315: Liu’er is Divorced (2)

Chapter 606: Chapter 315: Liu’er is Divorced (2)

Juhua was holding a sickle, trimming the taller branches of the mujin bush to encourage it to grow wider. Hearing their voices, she turned her head in pleasant surprise. The moment she saw them, her face lit up in a smile. One look at their expressions told her they had passed the county examination.

Seeing Little Shitou grinning from ear to ear, she asked tentatively, "Shi Tou, you... you passed the county examination too?"

Hearing this, Little Shitou pouted. "Sister Juhua, what do you mean, ’passed too’? Don’t tell me you thought I wouldn’t pass?"

Zhang Yang also burst out laughing.

Only then did Juhua realize her question had been improper. ’Of course I thought Shi Tou wouldn’t pass. No matter how smart he is, he’s still too young.’

She explained sheepishly, "That’s not it. I always thought you could pass, but then I thought, for someone your age to actually pass is so incredible that I couldn’t quite believe it. So I just wanted to confirm with you."

Huai Zi stepped forward and took the sickle from her hand. He said with a smile, "He’s something else. He was the youngest candidate to pass the exam this time. Come on, let’s go inside. I’ll tell you all about it." He gently supported her by the arm and guided her toward the courtyard.

Little Shitou was just wondering whether he should go inside with them to join the celebration or head home first to tell his parents the good news, when a loud curse erupted from behind them. "Zhang Huai, you son of a bitch! You inhuman, black-hearted, rotten-livered bastard! You ruin people’s marriages, you’ll die a dog’s death! Zhang Dashuan, you raised a fine son! Get out here!"

Juhua jolted—she knew that voice all too well.

Years ago, at the edge of the village, Liu’er’s mother had gotten into a screaming match with her own mother, Mrs. Yang, creating a terrible scene. The sound of her voice had been etched into Juhua’s mind ever since. But why was she here today, blocking their doorway and cursing Zhang Huai?

She looked at Zhang Huai beside her in confusion.

Zhang Huai whipped his head around and glared at Liu’er’s mother. "What are you screaming about?" he said in a low voice. "Go home and ask your daughter what happened before you open your mouth. Otherwise, don’t blame me for what comes next."

Her eyes were wide and terrifying as she stormed into the courtyard in a few quick strides, getting right in Zhang Huai’s face. She cursed through gritted teeth, "I asked her, and I know perfectly well what happened, you little bastard! How my Liu’er is doing is none of your damn business! What gives you the right to meddle in other people’s affairs? You made the Tang family divorce her! What was your endgame?"

She had been in a terrible mood lately. Liu’er was like a wilting flower, her life force slowly draining away. It was like a knife to her heart to see it, and she could only keep running to the Tang family’s home to personally care for Liu’er, hoping she would get better soon.

But she couldn’t stay at the Tang family’s home forever, after all. This afternoon, when Liu’er was carried back to her maiden home on Zhang Huai’s back, she was stunned. She had begged the old matriarch of the Tang family several times to let Liu’er come home for a few days, but they had always refused. How did she end up back here today?

She asked Zhang Huai what had happened.

Zhang Huai and the others had found a half-dead Liu’er on the road and had taken turns carrying her back. Once they arrived, he wanted to avoid any suspicion and didn’t want to get involved further, so he told Liu’er’s mother that Mr. Zhou was waiting for their report and that she should ask Liu’er herself what happened.

Seeing her daughter on the verge of death, Liu’er’s mother’s heart ached, and she couldn’t bring herself to question her. Instead, she went to make some porridge to feed her first, only asking for the details after.

She learned that Liu’er had run away from the Tang family home and fainted. Zhang Huai and his friends had saved her. Then, the Tang family had caught up and tried to take her back, but Liu’er had begged Mr. Tang to divorce her. Only after that did Zhang Huai and the others bring her home.

She instantly flew into a rage. ’When the Tang family came to take Liu’er back, Zhang Huai and the others should have just let them. It’s only natural for a husband’s family to take their daughter-in-law home! He’s not even part of Liu’er’s family, just a fellow villager. Why was he meddling? This was the same as backing Liu’er up, forcing Mr. Tang to grant the divorce. Getting her Liu’er sent home in disgrace, making her the village laughingstock... what was he scheming?’

All her pain and despair from the past days seemed to find an outlet, transforming into a raging fire that swept toward the Zhang family. No, it was the Zhang family and the Zheng Family—she hated them both to the core.

She had stormed out of her house without a backward glance, ignoring Liu’er’s weak calls from behind her. She ran straight to the school, but Mr. Zhou told her that Zhang Huai and the others had already gone home. So, she had marched over to the Zhang family’s house to block their gate and start cursing.

Juhua listened to Liu’er’s mother, her expression stunned. ’How is that possible? Why would Huai Zi make the Tang family divorce Liu’er?’

Zhang Yang, however, was furious. He pointed a finger at Liu’er’s mother’s nose and shouted, "You old hag, you’re completely ungrateful! Who are you cursing? Your own daughter begged for the divorce, what’s that got to do with my brother? We were kind enough to bring her home, and this is the trouble we get for it?"

Little Shitou added from the side, "It’s true, Sister Liu’er asked Mr. Tang to divorce her herself."

Burning with rage, Liu’er’s mother spat at Zhang Yang. "Pah! You were kind? Kind enough to get someone’s wife divorced? ’Better to tear down ten temples than to ruin one marriage!’ You got my Liu’er divorced, you’ll have no sons or grandsons to carry on your name! I bet that scabby bitch of yours won’t even be able to birth a mangy pup—"

While Zhang Yang was speaking, Zhang Huai had leaned in and said quietly to Juhua, "She’s got it all wrong. Liu’er asked the Tang family to divorce her herself. You go inside. I’ll get rid of her."

Juhua mostly understood what was happening and nodded. But before she could even turn around, she heard the vicious curse. A sudden rage flared up in her, and she whipped her head back to stare chillingly at the madwoman.

Yes, she thought the woman had gone mad. ’Anyone with half a brain would stop and think, why would anyone else meddle in your daughter’s affairs?’

The moment those words left Liu’er’s mother’s mouth, they struck Zhang Huai like a dagger to the heart. His eyes instantly reddened. He dropped the bundle in his hands and, without a word, strode forward, seized Liu’er’s mother by the arm, and began to drag her out.

Liu’er’s mother struggled with all her might, but how could she break free from Huai Zi’s strength? Her feet scraped two long lines in the dirt as he dragged her toward the courtyard gate. In a fit of rage, she opened her mouth and bit down hard on his wrist.