Chapter 9: A Massive Debt

Wang Chunhua’s face was filled with excitement upon hearing Su Li's words, even more so than when He Jinbao had been beaten just a moment ago.

She relied on that silver every month to live a life of luxury; if Su Li went back on her word, what would she eat or drink?

"It's been like this every month, yet you say I'm just talking empty words? I see you just don't want to honor the debt!"

"Third Daughter-in-law, let me tell you, this is something you promised. Your name is signed above and your thumbprint is pressed right there. If you don't give me the silver, I'll burn this little shack of yours to the ground immediately."

Wang Chunhua looked as if she wanted to poke her finger right into Su Li's nose.

After listening to Wang Chunhua's words, some familiar yet strange images surfaced in Su Li's mind.

The original Su Li was lazy, gluttonous, and couldn't handle any criticism. Wang Chunhua didn't even care for her own biological son, let alone a daughter-in-law with no blood relation.

Every time they ate, Wang Chunhua would only set aside a bit of soup or liquid for Su Li. With Su Li's large physique, that tiny amount of food could never fill her up, leaving her on the verge of a breakdown every single day.

Not only did her mother-in-law, Wang Chunhua, torment her, but the two elder sisters-in-law above her and the younger siblings-in-law below her also didn't get along with her. All the dirty and heavy chores were dumped on her, and two out of every three sentences they spoke were aimed at belittling her. In this house, the original host's treatment was worse than a dog's.

The original Su Li's fiery temper simply couldn't endure such treatment, so she caused scenes every few days. But no matter how much she made a fuss, no one paid her any mind; even her husband, He Yufeng, treated her with cold indifference.

After Su Li had her child, she discovered that He Yufeng was exceptionally doting toward the baby. Su Li felt her opportunity had arrived.

To test her theory, Su Li used the child to test He Yufeng a few times, only to find that this tactic actually worked. As long as she used the child as an excuse, He Yufeng would compromise with her—something that had never happened before. Thus, as soon as the child reached one month old, Su Li began demanding a family separation.

Upon hearing this, Wang Chunhua wanted to clap her hands in joy. Regarding the fact that Su Li had given birth to two children, Wang Chunhua had been extremely dissatisfied from the very beginning. She felt that before these two children turned three, they wouldn't be able to help with any housework, yet they would suddenly add two more mouths to feed, consuming grain regardless of the amount.

Once they grew up, she would have to spend money to marry them off, and once they were married, they would have children. With so many unrelated people eating and costing money, the more Wang Chunhua thought about it, the angrier she got, and a seed of malice sprouted in her mind.

She wanted to split He Yufeng's household away and not give them a single cent; ideally, she wanted all the silver they earned to be handed over to her.

However, she also felt this was somewhat impossible. Setting aside whether He Yufeng would agree, if they split the family like that, wouldn't people's tongues tear them apart!

Wang Chunhua was loath to part with the silver He Yufeng earned from hunting, yet she didn't want to continue supporting idle people!

He Yufeng would never bring up a family separation, so Wang Chunhua could only target Su Li. If Su Li was the one to bring it up, the initiative would be in Wang Chunhua's hands.

Thus, taking advantage of Su Li's postpartum confinement, she found various ways to bully her, making veiled insults in the courtyard whenever she had the chance, and even subtly encouraged Su Li's sisters-in-law to join her camp.

Su Li's sisters-in-law understood Wang Chunhua's intentions and were overjoyed. After all, if Su Li's family was driven out, there would be one less person to divide the property with. They naturally supported such a good thing with both hands.

Sure enough, Su Li could no longer endure it and began making a scene for a family separation.

Internally, Wang Chunhua wanted to laugh toward the heavens, but on the surface, she maintained a look of reluctance, even uttering words of entreaty.

Seeing Wang Chunhua's hypocritical act, Su Li felt like vomiting and wanted to rush forward to tear the skin off Wang Chunhua's face.

When the villagers heard that the He family's daughter-in-law was demanding a family separation, they also came over to persuade Su Li. After all, she had just given birth; if the family split, the labor force would decrease, and He Yufeng alone might not be able to support the mother and child.

Regardless of who came, Su Li refused to listen to any persuasion. She insisted on the separation, even threatening that if they didn't split, she would take the child and jump into the river.

Finally, when the stalemate could no longer continue, Wang Chunhua stepped forward to speak.

A separation was possible, but after the third household split off, they had to pay seven taels of silver every month as elderly support to the old couple. The family's fields and houses would not be divided among them; they would only be given a piece of wasteland at the foot of the mountain to build their own house.

As for the household tableware, they would only be given four sets, since there were only four of them anyway, and they wouldn't need more.

He Yufeng earned at most five taels of silver a month from hunting, and since the fields and houses weren't being divided, everyone thought Su Li wouldn't agree to such harsh conditions.

Who knew that this simpleton Su Li would nod without a second thought? As long as she could separate from the family, let alone seven taels—even if Wang Chunhua demanded ten taels, she would have nodded in agreement.

In any case, she wasn't the one who would be doing the hard work. As long as He Yufeng went out hunting more, what did seven taels matter?

It would be even better if He Yufeng worked himself to death; that would suit her perfectly, and she could return to her maternal home to find her sweetheart...

Su Li sorted through the memories in her mind, wishing she could drag the original host's soul out and give it a beating. She had seen stupid people, but never anyone this stupid.

It was one thing to want nothing from the separation, but to actually pay several taels out of her own pocket every month? When others split a family, they only gave the old couple one tael a month; in their case, it had been multiplied several times over!

He Yufeng could now earn eight or nine taels a month from hunting. After giving seven taels to Wang Chunhua, they would still have one or two taels left, but this spendthrift woman, Su Li, insisted on wasting the silver on useless things.

Damn it all!

Su Li gritted her teeth in anger.

Wang Chunhua snorted through her nose. "Give me the silver."

Su Li shot her a glance. "What's the rush? There are still a few days until the payment date. Why are you coming to demand money before the day has arrived?"

Wang Chunhua put her hands on her hips. "It's always been given this way in the past."

Su Li sneered. "The past is the past, and now is now. Come back to get the money when the time comes. There isn't a single cent right now, and I won't indulge your bad habits!"

"You..." Wang Chunhua's chest heaved violently with rage.

The cloth shop in town had received a new batch of fabric, and it was almost time for her nephew's full-month celebration at her maternal home. She had been thinking of making a new outfit to show off when she went back.

"What 'you'? Am I wrong? Even if you ask the whole village, no one will say I'm doing anything wrong."

"I have work to do. The gate is that way; don't let the door hit you on the way out."

"You just wait! If you can't hand over the silver, I'll make sure you don't have a single good day!" Wang Chunhua left, pulling He Jinbao along in a huff.

Before leaving, He Jinbao even made a face at He Dahu.

He Erhu shook his fist at He Jinbao.

He Jinbao's mouth twitched; thinking of how ruthlessly He Erhu beat people without mercy, he felt a bit of fear!

After Wang Chunhua left, Su Li first performed a full-body inspection on the two brothers to see if they had any other injuries.

"You can't do this!" He Erhu gripped his chest tightly.

(End of Chapter)