Chapter 3: This Granddaughter is Also the One Who Resembles Her Most

It must be said that there is always something hateful about a pitiful person; if you don't use your own brain, don't blame others!

Sheng Wanqiu’s words were resonant and clear, and the onlookers gathered around listened with rapt attention.

"Cuicui, if you want to sever ties, then sever them! Can't you just give birth to another one later?" Jiang Dazhu shouted at his sister.

He was in agonizing pain and only wanted to see a doctor immediately.

Besides, the two-plus taels of silver his sister had were already in his mother’s hands. Once she remarried, there would be another three taels of silver as a bride price!

That added up to over five taels, which would be enough for his family to spend for a long time. He had already lost over seven taels just now; if his sister didn't remarry, wouldn't that be another loss of nearly six taels?

That would be even more unbearable than killing him.

"That’s right! Cuicui, don't worry. If you can't have children in the future, I’ll let your nephew provide for you in your old age!" Old Woman Jiang’s eyes darted around; one look and you knew she was up to no good.

She saw that her daughter was starting to waver, and she couldn't let this little money-losing brat talk her out of it. She had already accepted the deposit for the bride price; there was no way she wasn't getting married.

"Fine, I’ll sever ties. I won't come looking for you again!"

As expected, the result was exactly as Sheng Wanqiu had predicted. This Jiang Cui was a classic "brother-obsessed" woman who treated her older and younger brothers better than her own children.

She would secretly take any good food back to her maiden home for her nephews. If it weren't for the original owner’s sharp tongue—who would eat everything the moment she saw good food in the house, and when asked by her mother if her father had brought back pastries, would simply say "no"—then since you said there were none, there was no problem with her eating it all.

Later, Jiang Cui didn't dare hide things anymore; she would split the pastries her father brought back into two portions, hiding one and giving the other to the three siblings. But it was still useless; as long as Sheng Wanqiu found them, she would eat them all immediately!

"Big Sister, I’ve brought Uncle Village Chief here!" Little Huaimu pulled over a middle-aged man who looked about the same age as Uncle Sheng.

The Village Chief of Qingshan Village was also surnamed Sheng; he was considered a cousin-uncle to Sheng Wanqiu.

When he saw the kitchen knife in Sheng Wanqiu’s hand and the blood on the courtyard floor, he was thoroughly startled.

"Girl Wanqiu, speak slowly if you have something to say. You mustn't do anything rash!"

"Uncle Village Chief, you’ve come at the perfect time. It couldn't be better to have you as a witness!"

"Uncle Village Chief, I’m sorry to trouble you, but could you please help write three copies of the severance agreement?" Sheng Wanqiu said respectfully to the Village Chief.

"Girl Wanqiu, have you thought this through? Do your younger brothers agree?" The Village Chief also saw Sheng Wanqiu’s determination, but he still asked.

"I agree!" A young boy of about ten years old walked into the courtyard carrying a bundle of firewood.

"Huaian!" Jiang Cui looked at her eldest son with tear-filled eyes, never expecting that he would also agree to sever ties.

"I’m asking you two: are you willing or unwilling to sever ties with her?" Sheng Wanqiu asked her two younger brothers softly.

"Big Sister, I’m willing. Since she doesn't want me anymore, I don't want her either!" The eldest brother, Sheng Huaian, looked at Jiang Cui coldly, his eyes filled with resentment toward her.

"Big Sister, Second Brother, I don't want her either. She won't be my mother anymore; from now on, I only have my sister and brother!" Sheng Huaimu stared at Jiang Cui with red eyes. He was already six years old and understood everything.

"Uncle Village Chief, please write it! We all agree to sever ties with Jiang Cui. From now on, we are strangers!" Sheng Wanqiu said firmly to Village Chief Sheng.

"You really have broken your mother’s heart!" Jiang Cui cried even louder as she looked at her two sons.

She was just a simple woman; once her husband died, she fell into a complete panic. At home, she followed her father; after marriage, she followed her husband. These two sons were still so young that she couldn't rely on them at all, so she only listened to her mother and brother about remarrying.

A person like her never thought about relying on herself. She depended on others for everything, and without the ability to stand on her own, she would never live a good life.

With the help of Village Chief Sheng, the severance agreement was written in triplicate: one for the Jiang family, one for the Sheng family, and one for the Village Chief, who planned to take it to the county office the next day for filing.

Seeing the agreement in hand, Sheng Wanqiu released Jiang Dazhu, walked to the side, and pressed her thumbprint onto the document. Her two younger brothers followed suit.

Under the gaze of several people, Jiang Cui also pressed her thumbprint, and the severance agreement officially took effect.

"Mother is leaving. Take care of yourselves!" Jiang Cui said to her three children with a choked voice.

Sheng Wanqiu turned her back completely, not giving her a single glance. Sheng Huaian did the same. Only Sheng Huaimu watched Jiang Cui with teary eyes.

Jiang Cui closed her eyes, turned her head away, and followed the Jiang family, crying as she carried the small bundle Old Woman Jiang had thrown out for her.

"Stop watching, disperse!"

"And you, hurry up and get to work!" Village Chief Sheng shouted at the villagers who were watching the commotion.

The surrounding villagers scattered in a rush; the Village Chief’s authority was still effective.

"Tell me what you plan to do next, Girl Qiu!" The Village Chief walked up to the three Sheng siblings and asked.

"Let’s talk inside!" Old Woman Sheng called everyone back into the house and invited the Village Chief in as well.

Sheng Wanqiu looked coldly at her uncle and aunt who had only rushed back after the farce was over, as well as her eldest uncle and aunt who had been hiding in the crowd watching the show.

And these cousins who had stood by and watched with cold eyes!

In this family, only her grandmother was good to her. The others were either too cowardly to speak up, or they took the attitude that it was none of their business. Some even coveted the silver she had. She didn't want to live with these people, and she certainly didn't want to be taken advantage of by them.

"Uncle Village Chief, Grandma, Uncle, Little Uncle, since the elders are all here: my father is gone, and my mother has remarried. I am the head of this household now. I know the situation of the family, and I request to split the household!"

As soon as Sheng Wanqiu finished speaking, Old Woman Sheng gave her a hard whack on the back. Her grandmother’s strength was truly great; it nearly knocked her off the stool.

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting, you dead girl? Have you lost your mind? Do you think your wings have hardened just because you have some silver?"

After Old Woman Sheng finished speaking, she tried to grab her ear, but Sheng Wanqiu dodged it.

"Grandma, listen to me first, then it won't be too late to hit me!" Sheng Wanqiu held Old Woman Sheng’s hand, looking sincerely at the old woman who appeared frail but was actually very strong-willed inside.

Old Woman Sheng was stunned. She felt as if her granddaughter had changed.

She had become more assertive, knew how to adapt when encountering problems, and was no longer like before, knowing only how to use brute force to solve things.

Thinking again that her son was dead and her daughter-in-law had remarried, and that she would have to support this family and raise two younger brothers alone, she felt even more heartache for this granddaughter.

This granddaughter was also the one most like her: bold, daring to think, and daring to act!