Chapter 5: Trash Men—Who Would Ever Want One?

Li Shiyue was naturally delighted that her mother could say the words "divorce" so decisively; she had no intention of following such a scumbag father on a journey of fleeing famine in the future.

With a scumbag father like him, she feared she would eventually be pushed forward by him to act as a human shield.

While her mind was racing with how to complete her "newbie task," Li Shiyue grabbed Shitou and pulled at her mother. As their eyes met, Li Shiyue saw the determination in her mother's gaze.

Li Shiyue was overjoyed!

Fortunately, her mother was not the modern type of woman who would endure a divorce just for the sake of her children. Having made up her mind, Li Shiyue nodded to her mother and used her eyes to signal her to look toward the crowd of onlookers.

As her mother turned around, she saw that the village chief and the clan elders of Li Family Village were also standing outside.

Her mother turned back and stood firm. Just as she was about to say something more, Li Shiyue grabbed her hand.

Meeting her mother's questioning gaze, Li Shiyue gave her a cunning wink. In the next second, she let go of Shitou's hand and, hardening her heart, gave the tender flesh at her waist a sharp, twisting pinch.

While Shitou stared blankly at his hand being cast aside by his sister, and under her mother's astonished gaze, and catching everyone completely off guard, Li Shiyue let out a loud "Aow!" She took two steps forward and collapsed into a kneel right in front of her still-kneeling scumbag father.

"Father! My dear father! Are you really going to abandon Mother?"

While wailing in fake grief, Li Shiyue thought about how to continue her performance. Within two or three breaths, she began slamming her head against the ground with loud "bang, bang" sounds, kowtowing to her father.

"Father! My dear father! Since you despise my foolish elder brother and look down on me for being a girl, and now that you have a new child, then let me and my brother go with Mother!

If we cannot survive on this journey of fleeing famine, at least the three of us can die together, so we can be companions on the road to the Yellow Springs!

Father! My dear father! Let the three of us die together!

Waaa, Father! My dear father! Waaa... let the three of us die together!"

Facing Li Shiyue's dramatic display, the first person to react was actually her uncle, Li Wangming!

However, this made sense. In the original host's memories, Li Wangming, who was only five years older than Li Shiyue, was the person she was closest to in the Li family.

Because Shitou had been a simple-minded child since birth, Mother Li had inevitably poured a vast amount of energy, time, and emotion into him. Consequently, during her childhood, Li Shiyue mostly followed her uncle around, and the bond between them was the strongest.

However, it was precisely because of Mother Li's sacrifices that Shitou could be raised well; now, Shitou could take care of himself and was obedient enough to listen to the family.

Thus, it could be said that although Li Shiyue and Li Wangming were aunt and uncle, they were actually more like biological siblings.

And toward Shitou, Li Shiyue and Li Wangming acted more like an older sister and brother.

Seeing that Grandmother Li had stabilized herself with her cane, Li Wangming ran toward the kneeling Li Shiyue.

When he reached her, seeing Li Shiyue slamming her head against the ground with such apparent sincerity, Li Wangming was heartbroken with worry.

"How did it come to this? How could it come to this?"

Li Wangming reached out to pull Li Shiyue up. "Your father has lost his mind and done something wrong. It shouldn't have reached the point of divorcing Sister-in-law! Shiyue, quick, get up. Get up so I can check—your head is going to bruise!"

Li Shiyue used all her strength, ultimately refusing to let Li Wangming—an uncle who had studied since childhood and possessed no physical strength—pull her up from the ground.

"Second Uncle, just listen to what Shiyue says! How can she and Shiyue's father continue to live together?

Even on this journey of fleeing famine, he doesn't forget to lean toward another woman's side. He even gave the family's donkey for others to use, leaving his own mother so exhausted she has no carriage to ride, forced to use a cane at her age.

We haven't even left Henan Province yet. If they divorce, and something happens on this road, then just as Shiyue said, the three of us can die together. We can walk the road to the Yellow Springs together so we aren't lonely."

After saying this, Mother Li took Shitou's hand and walked to Li Shiyue's side, reaching out to her. With Mother Li's help, the person Li Wangming couldn't lift was easily pulled up.

At this moment, the villagers of Li Family Village standing around watching the spectacle truly had no idea that this matter would progress to such an extent tonight.

One had to know that in all the surrounding villages for years, no one had ever heard of a married couple seeking a divorce.

For example, Gou Laosan, who had been gossiping earlier, was currently thinking that the outcome of the Li family's situation would be: "Sister-in-law Wangchun will accept Qin Tao and the child in her belly. Why? Because Sister-in-law Wangchun gave birth to a foolish son and a girl! After all these years, if she hasn't had another child or given Wangguang a healthy son, she'll have no choice but to accept it!"

Not only was Gou Laosan thinking this, but even Grandmother Li likely thought the same.

As for what Grandmother Li had said earlier about beating Father Li to death, one could just treat it as empty words; looking at her posture, she didn't seem like the type who would actually beat her own biological son to death.

But currently, Mother Li and Li Shiyue's behavior showed they truly intended to sever ties and divorce Father Li. Even on the road of fleeing famine—yes, even on the road of fleeing famine—Mother Li actually wanted a divorce!

It was a summer night, and the occasional breeze was warm.

As the drama unfolded scene after scene, the villagers of Li Family Village were truly caught up in the excitement. Some felt Mother Li was making too big a fuss, while others strongly agreed with her actions.

"Shitou's mother is really something, she can't even keep her own man in line! It's already come to this, she should just accept it. Maybe the child in Qin Tao's belly really is a son."

"Bah! You're the fool! Shitou's mother is doing the right thing! Didn't you hear? He even gave the other donkey cart to someone else to use, neglecting his own mother. A man who ignores his own family for a mistress—why would you want him? What's the use of keeping him? What are we doing here? We are fleeing famine! We are only able to flee as a whole clan because of Nephew Shiyang, who packed up our belongings in advance. Look, we've been out for half a month, and we've only been lucky enough to avoid refugees by taking small paths. As Shitou's mother just said, we haven't even left Henan Province yet. If we encounter refugees on the road later, do you expect your man to protect you? But look at him now!"

Zhou Lanhua bared her teeth and pointed her mouth toward Qin Tao, who was still in Father Li's arms. "Shitou's mother is right! In the future, if something happens, it's better for the three of us to die together on the road. At least we'll have company on the road to the Yellow Springs, and the family will be together."

Zhou Lanhua's retort left the woman speechless, rolling her eyes, but her words truly sank into everyone's ears.

Even Grandmother Li, standing with her wooden cane, felt a pang in her heart. She was old, and the family originally had two donkeys; one was pulling their belongings, leaving one spare, which logically should have provided a seat for her.

But that remaining donkey had been led away by Father Li to be used by Qin Tao's family. It was exactly as Mother Li said: for the sake of his mistress, Father Li didn't even care for his own mother!

"Chunniang? Chunniang? Who is bullying my Chunniang? Who dares to bully my Chunniang? Don't be afraid, Chunniang! Sister is here! I'll see who dares!"

Li Shiyue turned around to look toward the source of the voice and saw two young women, one tall and one short, supporting a tall, sturdy woman as they walked from behind the village chief and the clan elders.