Chapter 9: Divorcing Along with My Mother-in-Law and Brother-in-Law

"No!"

Two shouts rang out toward Father Li; Li Shiyue and Mother Li cried out the same words simultaneously.

After the mother and daughter exchanged a glance, Mother Li was the first to speak: "Who would believe a word you say?

I've raised Shitou since he was a baby. When he was little and spoke late, you despised him. Later, when he grew up and wasn't as bright as others, you even told me to take him to the mountains and abandon him.

And now, you tell me Shitou is your son, yet you won't let me take him away?

Li Wangguang, if you have any heart left, let me take Shitou with me.

On this journey of fleeing the famine, the three of us will die together, and we won't hold a grudge against you even in the afterlife."

As soon as Mother Li finished speaking, Father Li's face instantly slumped. He truly had not expected Mother Li to expose the things he had said years ago in front of everyone.

Mother Li's words also left the crowd in shock, especially Grandmother Li and Li Wangming; the two of them truly had no idea that Father Li had once actually thought about abandoning Shitou!

Li Shiyue also shouted "Good grief" in her heart. This Li Wangguang was truly selfish to the extreme; he didn't care about his own flesh and blood at all. That was a life, after all!

Never mind the Li family; even Li Youfu, Li Shiyang, and the three clan elders standing nearby were stunned. Even the Third Great-Uncle, who had been sitting in the back with his eyes closed in a daze, now had his eyes wide open.

As for the villagers of Li Family Village who were watching the spectacle, they erupted into a frenzy, clamoring and discussing loudly on the sidelines.

"Oh my, this is truly... truly...

What did the opera singers say on the stage during the temple fairs?

Even a tiger won't eat its own cub?"

"It's called 'a fierce tiger does not eat its cubs'!"

"Right, right, right, that's exactly it! Even wild beasts know how to care for their young, but Li Wangguang is truly heartless! That's his own child!"

"In that case, Sister Chun definitely can't leave Shitou with Li Wangguang. Otherwise, he might actually discard Shitou as a burden on the road."

The words of the bystanders were like sharp knives stabbing into Father Li's chest, making him wince in pain.

Not only that, but the gazes of the villagers seemed to peel away his superficial veneer, exposing his black, rotten heart to everyone's eyes.

Even Qin Tao, who was still clutching him, lowered her head, her eyes filled with vigilance and a faint trace of fear.

Grandmother Li and Li Wangming looked at Father Li with eyes full of heartache and disbelief. They were the closest to him; Grandmother Li could tell just by looking at his expression that everything Mother Li said was true. Father Li had truly intended to kill Shitou back then!

And wasn't that exactly what it was—killing?

Taking a child under two years old to the mountains to abandon them, how was that any different from killing the child?

"Wangguang, you... you really intended to..."

"Mother, I had no choice!

Shitou was almost two back then and still couldn't say a full sentence. What use is a child with incomplete mental faculties? Wasn't raising such a child just a waste of food?

I didn't want to do it either, but our family's situation was so difficult back then. I had no choice!"

Listening to Father Li's excuses, Grandmother Li found herself unable to say a single word.

Shitou had always been different from the clever children in other families, but in Grandmother Li's heart, as long as Shitou could eat and drink, he had no major issues. He was her eldest grandson.

Grandmother Li never knew Father Li's heart could be so cruel—that he could cast aside his own child so easily.

Extending her thoughts to the mother, Grandmother Li looked at Qin Tao standing beside Father Li. She thought of the hardships she had endured on this journey. In the village, every family with a donkey or a mule allowed the elderly and children to sit and rest from time to time, yet she had endured this entire way by herself, leaning on a wooden staff and supported by her youngest son.

Grandmother Li turned back to look at Shitou, who was watching them with innocent, wide eyes. She understood clearly: if Shitou were truly left with Father Li, he would likely die on this road of famine.

It would be better to let Mother Li take him. Mother Li's love for Shitou was genuine, and Li Shiyue, his younger sister, also cared deeply for him.

After weighing the options, Grandmother Li finally made her decision.

"Brother Youfu, let Chunniang take Shitou and Shiyue. Divide the family's grain among the three of them based on their numbers. Let it be so."

After saying this, Grandmother Li, already aged, seemed to grow several years older instantly.

"Mother! I won't—"

"Shut up!" Grandmother Li turned back and sharply rebuked Father Li's shouting. She slammed her wooden staff hard against the ground and turned back to Mother Li: "Chunniang, Wangguang has failed you.

You gave the Li family sons and daughters; take all of your dowry with you.

The grain being divided to you is what you deserve.

From now on, on this road, live well with Shitou and Shiyue. If anything happens, have Shiyue come find Wangming. As long as I am alive, I still have a say in this house!"

Since Grandmother Li had spoken, no matter how unwilling Father Li was, he knew he could not say anything more.

However, a small complication arose when they asked Li Shiyang to write the divorce papers.

"I want to live with Sister-in-law!"

Li Wangming said to Li Shiyang with a stiff neck: "Brother Shiyang, include me in the papers as well!

I was raised by Sister-in-law since I was small. Shitou, Shiyue, and I are technically uncle and nephew, but in reality, we are no different from siblings.

Sister-in-law raised me, and I must look after her in her old age. Include me with her."

The revelation that Father Li once wanted to abandon Shitou had been explosive enough, but who would have thought that just as the matter was concluding, Li Wangming would drop another bombshell?

"Wangming, have you lost your mind?

I've never heard of a brother-in-law living with his sister-in-law after a divorce.

Besides, your old mother is still alive. Instead of staying home to serve her, what are you doing meddling here?"

After a moment of daze, the Fifth Great-Uncle spoke to Li Wangming this way, then turned to Li Shiyang: "Shiyang, just keep writing. Don't mind this fool."

Looking at Li Wangming, whose face was full of grievance and on the verge of tears, Li Shiyue thought of the things that might happen on the road ahead and jumped out to shout: "Second Uncle truly grew up with me. When we were little, Mother took care of both me and Second Uncle together.

Second Uncle truly should look after Mother in her old age!

Now that Father and Mother are divorcing, and Second Uncle still has to care for Grandma, why don't Second Uncle and Grandma come and live with us?

That way, Second Uncle can fulfill his filial duties and also repay Mother's kindness in raising me in the future. It's a win-win."

Upon hearing Li Shiyue's words, Li Wangming was so happy he nearly jumped for joy on the spot. He quickly agreed: "Shiyue, that's a great idea!

I'll just take Mother and live with Sister-in-law!

Brother Shiyang, hurry and write that in too. From now on, Mother and I will live with Sister-in-law."