Chapter 330: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 330: Family Ruin and the Hawk Brings News (1)
"Enough!" Li Zhong's thunderous voice interrupted the mother and son's pitiful act, stopping their incessant chattering. "No matter what your reasons are, it is a fact that the Zhang family has abandoned Xiu'er! Even if you both plead all day, I will not let her step into your Zhang family’s door again! Now, leave!"
After saying this, Li Zhong pointed to the door and turned his head away, clearly not wanting to continue the conversation.
"Father-in-law..."
Interrupted abruptly, Zhang Ming's words got stuck in his throat. He was unwilling to give up and wanted to continue. His own words had moved him, so surely they could move his father-in-law too, thus allowing Xiu'er to return to the Zhang family.
"Get out quickly, or don't blame me for being rude!" Impatient, Li Zhong gave him a push and casually grabbed a thick wooden stick from behind the door.
Seeing this, Zhang Ming instinctively covered his face and hurriedly hid behind Hu Shi, clearly remembering the last time he was beaten in public.
Hu Shi quickly spread her arms to protect her son. Looking at the stick in Li Zhong's hand, she was also very frightened. "Dear in-law, please listen to what this old woman has to say. If after hearing it you still don't want Xiu'er to return, we will never come to bother you again."
Li Zhong, hearing this, felt it was better to let them speak and make things clear so they wouldn’t bother him anymore. He urged, "Speak quickly and then leave!"
Hu Shi wiped the sweat from her forehead, took a deep breath, and managed a weak smile that revealed several decayed teeth. "We originally planned to give Yao Shi some money after she gave birth, then send her away and let Xiu'er raise the child. Even if it wasn’t her own, raising it from infancy would make no difference. But Xiu'er is strong-willed and demanded a divorce. Ming'er got angry and, instigated by Yao Shi, really wrote the divorce letter!"
Here, Hu Shi squeezed out a few fake tears and said sorrowfully, "After writing the divorce letter, Ming'er regretted it immediately. We all did. But Xiu'er took the letter and left. Ming'er searched for her for a long time but couldn’t find her, so he had no choice but to marry Yao Shi. Now that Xiu'er is back, she should return to the Zhang family. I only recognize her as my daughter-in-law!"
Hu Shi finished decisively, peeking at Li Zhong’s face through her handkerchief. Seeing he was not angry and had even put the stick down, she felt smug and revealed their true intention.
"Yao Shi, as a widow, is immoral. If not for our grandson, we wouldn’t tolerate her in the Zhang family! Xiu'er is the rightful wife, the legitimate mother of our grandson, and the one who deserves his filial piety. Dear in-law, I know you are angry, but you must think of Xiu'er's future. She still has decades to live. You can’t let her be lonely and miserable forever, or she might resent you in the future!"
Hiding behind Hu Shi, Zhang Ming nodded repeatedly and raised his right hand as if taking an oath. "Father-in-law, rest assured, if Xiu'er returns, I will treat her well! From now on, Bao'er will be Xiu'er's child, and she will be taken care of in her old age."
Li Zhong remained silent, but his hands clenched tightly under his sleeves. Now, he had only one daughter and one granddaughter left. Yan'er was still young, only ten years old. He could find a reliable young man for her in a few years.
But what about Xiu'er? She was no longer young, had been divorced, and had such a troubled past. Even if someone didn’t mind these, she couldn’t have children. Who would care for her in her old age?
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