Li Cuihua’s wails grew louder and more desperate, but this time, no one came to comfort her.
He Jiang stood rooted to the spot, his face ashen. The word “divorce” he had just uttered seemed to have drained half his life’s courage, yet it also fueled a desperate resolve within him. He truly wasn’t a man of great capability, but he had always been good to his wife and son. He never let Li Cuihua or He Qiang go without what others had. He knew Li Cuihua had a fiery temper, so he chose to be more gentle and yielding. But his concessions only led to her increasingly unreasonable behavior. He had had enough and couldn’t bear it any longer.
Pointing toward the courtyard gate without looking at her, He Jiang said, “Whether you go back to your parents’ home or not is your choice. As for the west room, you can either stay there quietly until moving day, or you can leave right now. I won’t stop you.”
Wang Shufen looked at her eldest daughter-in-law throwing a tantrum on the ground and couldn’t hold back. “Li Cuihua, stop making a scene. If you really get divorced and take Qiangzi back to your parents’ home, do you think your parents will tolerate you? If you hadn’t cried and insisted on marrying into this family back then, would He Jiang have married you? Think carefully about the mess you’ve made yourself. We can afford to raise a child, but we won’t support someone who stirs up trouble for no reason.”
These words poured over Li Cuihua like a bucket of cold water. She had many brothers at her parents’ home, and her sisters-in-law already disliked her. If she went back, what kind of life would she have? Yet, giving in just like that was something she couldn’t accept. She slumped on the ground, her cries gradually fading into soft, hiccupping sobs. The wound on the back of her hand was still oozing blood, now mixed with dirt, making her look both pitiful and wretched.
He Qiang, frightened by the earlier commotion, grew even more scared now that his mother had stopped crying. Tugging at He Jiang’s clothes, he whimpered, “Dad, don’t divorce Mom… I don’t want to go with her…”
He Jiang’s heart softened. He crouched down, patted his son’s head, and said in a gentler voice, “As long as your mother behaves, we can still make this work. But remember, if you ever act up like this again, no one will be able to protect you.”
He Junshan coughed, breaking the silence in the courtyard. “Stop standing around. Oldest, help your wife up and find a cloth to wrap her wound. The second son’s wife will be back from work soon. Let’s not have them come home to this mess.”
He Jiang acknowledged and bent down to pull Li Cuihua up. She didn’t resist, but as he dragged her to her feet, she shot a defiant glare at He Yuan. He Yuan returned it with an icy stare that made her quickly lower her head.
Soon, rustling sounds came from the west room, likely Li Cuihua angrily packing her things inside.
He Jiang crouched in the courtyard, using a clean towel to wipe He Qiang’s face and gently rubbing his reddened knees. “Does it hurt?”
He Qiang shook his head, then nodded, asking in a small voice, “Dad, will Auntie be okay?”
“That depends on what the doctor says,” He Jiang sighed. “When she comes back, you must apologize properly, understand?”
He Qiang pressed his lips together and buried his face in his father’s chest.
This was the time to teach the child—praise him when he’s right, but make sure he understands his mistakes when he’s wrong.
He Yuan was, of course, angry. His wife, whom he cherished, had been bullied. But he couldn’t just punch He Qiang to death, could he? What would that make him? This feeling of punching cotton was truly frustrating.
Before long, the sound of a bicycle bell came from outside the courtyard. It was Su Wenjuan returning from her midday work.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, she sensed the tense atmosphere. Glancing at the closed door of the west room and noticing the grave expressions on her in-laws’ faces, she didn’t ask any questions. Instead, she said softly, “Dad, Mom, I’m back.”
Wang Shufen took her hand and led her toward the kitchen. “Wenjuan, you’re back. You must be hungry. I saved some food for you.”
He Yuan had no desire to stay any longer. “Dad, Mom, I’m going to the clinic to check on Shuyu,” he said.
“Go ahead, be careful on the way,” He Junshan said, waving him off.
Just as He Yuan reached the courtyard gate, he saw Ji Shuyu being helped back by a nurse. Her face was still pale, but she seemed more spirited.
“Shuyu.”
He Yuan hurried forward and carefully took her from the nurse. “Why did you come back on your own?”
“I’m fine,” Ji Shuyu smiled, her eyes sweeping over the disarray in the courtyard.
It wasn’t as if anything was seriously wrong with her. She had estimated that the He family matters were mostly resolved, so she decided to return.
He Jiang stepped forward, his face filled with guilt. “Shuyu, it’s my fault for not teaching my child properly. You’ve been wronged. Qiangzi, apologize to your aunt now.”
He Qiang lifted his head, his eyes red, and bowed to Ji Shuyu. “Auntie, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have stolen the cured meat, and I definitely shouldn’t have pushed you.”
Ji Shuyu didn’t say much, simply uttering an “Oh.”
“I understand, but I don’t forgive you. At your age, you know right from wrong. On my first day here, you accepted my gift but still treated me this way. I have the right not to forgive you.”
Upon hearing her words, He Qiang’s tears began to fall again.
“Auntie…”
“Don’t call me that. We have no relationship.”
Listening to Ji Shuyu’s words, He Yuan held her closer, understanding that she was still upset.
He Jiang, standing nearby, wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.
After all, they were in the wrong—there was nothing he could say.
During dinner, the atmosphere at the table was heavy.
Li Cuihua didn’t come out; He Jiang brought her meal into the west room.
Su Wenjuan glanced at He Yuan and his wife, hesitating as if she wanted to speak, but ultimately said nothing.
After the meal, He Junshan called He Jiang, He Hai, and He Yuan into the main room to discuss the division of the family assets.
Wang Shufen sat to the side, mending shoe soles, occasionally interjecting a comment.
“The grain will be divided per person. Both the eldest and second son have families of three. Then there’s your mother and me, your younger sister, your two younger brothers, plus Yuanzi and Shuyu—thirteen people in total.”
“After keeping enough wheat in the granary for your mother, me, your younger sister, and the two boys for a year, the rest will be divided into eight shares. The eldest will take three shares, the second son three shares, and Yuanzi two shares.”
“As for housing, we’ll keep things as they are for now. When Yuanzi moves with Shuyu to the staff quarters, and it’s time to divide the rooms, you two older brothers will compensate him with money.”
He Jiang and the still somewhat confused He Hai nodded in agreement. “Whatever Dad decides is fine.”
He Yuan also nodded. “I have no objections.”
And so, the matter was settled.
Although He Hai was a bit unclear about the details, he had long wanted the family to split up.
He and Su Wenjuan were educated people and couldn’t stand Li Cuihua. With the family divided, they would move to the unit dormitories, where it would be much quieter.
After leaving the main room, He Jiang looked at He Yuan as if he wanted to say something but hesitated. In the end, he could only manage, “I’m sorry.”
He Yuan didn’t say much, simply repeating what Ji Shuyu had said earlier.
“Big brother, you will always be my big brother. As for the rest, I don’t want to say more. Sometimes, too many words hurt relationships.”
He Yuan wasn’t alone in the world. As long as their parents were alive, they were blood brothers.
As for the future, he couldn’t say.
As long as his older brothers understood the situation clearly, he would always consider them family.
“Yuanzi, this time… I’ve lost all face. I’m so sorry to you. I feel terrible that your wife was wronged as soon as she arrived.”
He Jiang thought of the thoughtful gift Ji Shuyu had brought and felt deeply ashamed.
“Shuyu has her principles. She won’t blame you, big brother. This matter has nothing to do with you.”
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