Not Getting Along

Soon, Zhou Siro also brought the three uncles from the Qian family.

Qian Dajiu and Qian Erjiu entered with serious expressions and glanced at Lao Zhou, seeking information, while Qian Sanjiu exclaimed, "What's there to inquire about?" Our daughter was returned to us in this condition by the Liu family. Do they think we're dead? The brothers are all here. Let's go directly to their door and ask them what the Liu family means.

Qian Dajiu glared at him and said, "Shut up." If we go, we need to discuss it first.

"What's there to discuss?" This matter can't wait any longer. If we wait until tomorrow, it will be even more unclear. By then, everything that Xiji took from the Liu family will be disputed. While she has just returned and the baggage has not been unpacked, we can simply take it and confront the Liu family with it.

One of the elders took a puff of dry tobacco and said, "What Sanjiu said makes sense." I think he's right. Jin, what do you think?

Lao Zhou pondered for a moment and nodded, saying, "We need to go today, but we need to make a plan for what to do when we get there."

Everyone agreed and immediately began to discuss what to do. First, they needed to clarify the purpose of the Zhou family.

Should they accept the divorce letter, or should they insist on continuing to live with the Liu family, or should they separate?

Lao Zhou remained silent and gazed at Qian Xiaojie.

Qian Xiaojie tiptoed into the room and asked Zhou Xi, who had just dried her tears, "Elder sister, father wants me to ask you, do you still want to continue living with the Liu family?"

Zhou Xi bit her lip and remained silent.

Manbao was sitting next to her and, without thinking, said, "Of course not, sister. Your brother-in-law is a scoundrel." Elder sister, divorce him!

Zhou Xi wanted to smile but refrained. She asked, "After the divorce, where will I live? How will I live?"

Manbao said, "Of course, you will live at home. You lived at home before, and you will continue to live there."

Qian Xiaojie looked at Manbao and then asked Zhou Xi, "We can talk about these things later. Father will have a plan." For now, please tell me, do you still want to continue living with the Liu family?

Zhou Xi bit her lip and, after a moment, clenched her fist, saying, "Our village's Widow Wu is pregnant with his child."

Qian Xiaojie immediately understood and left the room.

Zhou Xi breathed a sigh of relief, and soon Qian Xiaojie came back in, asking her in a hushed tone, "Mother asked me to inquire if there is any evidence of his affair with Widow Wu."

Zhou Xi shook her head. She only knew about it because she overheard her mother-in-law talking about it. When the Zhou family asked, the Liu family would certainly not admit it.

Qian Xiaojie felt a little sorry as she looked at her with a disappointed expression, then turned and left once more.

Manbao, hearing the lively discussion outside, wanted to join in, but Zhou Xi grabbed her and did not let her go out.

Zhou Xi smiled wryly at her younger sister and said, "Big sister is a little scared. Can you stay in the room with me?"

Manbao immediately felt a surge of courage in her heart. She patted her chest and assured Zhou Xi, "Elder sister, don't be afraid." I'll protect you. I'm good at fighting. "Even Baishanbao, who is older than me, can't beat me."

Zhou Xi didn't really listen to what Manbao was saying, so she didn't inquire about who Baishanbao was. She simply didn't want her younger sister to hear these unpleasant things and have her ears tainted.

Outside, the adults had already understood Zhou Xi's intentions, and Lao Zhou said, "We can't accept the divorce letter." Even though Xiji has not had a child, she has been a dutiful daughter-in-law to the elderly master and mistress of the Liu family. Do they want a divorce? They can forget about it. "But since the Liu family has trampled on the reputation of our Zhou family, we can't give our daughter to them either."

He continued, "Separation is the only way!"

"That's right," Qian Sanjiu added. Although his niece didn't say it out loud just now, she was standing right there and heard it. He shouted, "And there needs to be compensation." Otherwise, I will spread the news of his affair with Widow Wu throughout the entire village. Let everyone know that his future son is a bastard. Let's see where the Liu family can hide their faces.

The coarse language, combined with the presence of the two uncles from the Qian family, made even Lao Zhou feel embarrassed, prompting him to glare at the speaker.

He was very worried and avoided discussing it with everyone, including his wife. "Should I take Siro with me?"

Qian Xiaojie was reciting scriptures with her eyes closed when she said, "Since the people have been invited, if you leave them behind, they might cause trouble for your family."

Lao Zhou couldn't help but rub his nose.

Qian Xiaojie said with a straight face, "Take him with you. If you go, don't stop him." This incident has already tarnished the reputation of the Zhou family. Adding another foot won't make it any dirtier. If you can derive some benefits from it, that's good.

Lao Zhou reflected on his wife's past and realized that he had forgotten how spirited and capable she had been when she was young.

Lao Zhou honestly went out and set the tone with the elders in the village. Then, they all went to the Liu family's village together.

Zhou Xi was left at home. Qian Xiaojie had them take the baggage with them. She didn't think it was necessary to let her eldest daughter face this embarrassment, so she and the other women, including the older and younger ones, stayed at home.

But Qian Xiaojie went with them, accompanied by her two sisters-in-law. Among the relatives, there were also many older women and daughters-in-law, all of whom were very eloquent.

Qian Xiaojie watched them leave in a grand procession and then turned to her grandchildren, saying, "Get ready for dinner. The adults will want to eat when they come back tonight."

Zhou Xi also wiped away her tears and said, "Mother, your health is not good. Please go back to the room and rest." "I'll take care of the kitchen."

Qian Xiaojie didn't go back but measured out some grain and had it ground. She also gave some money to the eldest son to go to the market and buy some meat.

Manbao wanted to join in the fun, but Zhou Xi grabbed her and didn't let her go out. Zhou Xi said to her younger sister with a bitter smile, "Elder sister is a little scared." "Can you stay in the room with me?"

Manbao immediately felt a surge of courage in her heart. She patted her chest and assured Zhou Xi, "Elder sister, don't be afraid. I'll protect you." I am good at fighting. "Even Baishanbao, who is older than me, can't beat me."

Zhou Xi didn't really listen to what Manbao was saying, so she didn't pursue who Baishanbao was. She just didn't want her younger sister to hear these unpleasant things and have her ears tainted.

Qian Xiaojie also asked Zhou Xi, "Should I send your father to stay with Lao Siro and the others, and you stay with me?"

Zhou Xi lowered her head and said, "It's not a long-term solution, is it?"

"I will find a good match for you again." After the New Year, it should be almost finished.

Zhou Xi's face turned pale.

Qian Xiaojie said slowly, "Don't be afraid. This time, mother will take care of finding a good match for you." It is best if the family has two younger children. "You just need to be more careful, and you will be able to raise them well."

Zhou Xi lowered her head and remained silent.

Manbao looked at her elder sister and then at her mother, unable to help but pout and say, "Mother, elder sister is not happy."

She didn't understand Qian Xiaojie's words very well, but she felt that the meaning of her words was not right, so she asked, "What do you mean by finding a good match? Why would there be younger children? How young are they? Are they younger than me?"

Qian Xiaojie looked at her daughter and said, "Adults are talking. Children shouldn't interrupt."

"Mother said that children who don't understand should ask." "I don't understand, so I asked."

With Manbao's interruption, Zhou Xi felt much better in her heart and couldn't help but express her thoughts, "Mother, I don't want to remarry."

She didn't understand Qian Xiaojie's words very well, but she felt that the meaning of her words was not right, so she asked, "What do you mean by finding a good match?" Why would there be younger children? How young are they? "Are they younger than me?"

Qian Xiaojie looked at her daughter and said, "Adults are talking. Children shouldn't interrupt."

"Mother said that children who don't understand should ask. I don't understand, so I asked."

With Manbao's interruption, Zhou Xi felt much better in her heart and couldn't help but express her thoughts, "Mother, I don't want to remarry."

She didn't understand Qian Xiaojie's words very well, but she felt that the meaning of her words was not right. Therefore, she asked, "What do you mean by finding a good match? And why would there be younger children?" How young are they? "Are they younger than me?"

Qian Xiaojie looked at her daughter and said, "Adults are talking." Children shouldn't interrupt.

"Mother said that children who don't understand should ask." "I don't understand, so I asked."

With Manbao's interruption, Zhou Xi felt much better in her heart and couldn't help but express her thoughts, "Mother, I don't want to remarry."