Chapter 55: Chapter 55: Divorce or Severed Ties

“Oh? So you say it is? Why don’t you ask them yourselves if they even remember they’re the grandmother and aunt of the children?” Ling Chengyan’s voice was indifferent, yet filled with endless coldness and sarcasm. “When they curse at the children at the drop of a hat, and raise their hands to hit, did they ever think they were a grandmother and aunt then?”

As she spoke, Wang Lianqi hurried in, followed by a group of children.

Wang Futang saw his eldest son, frowned, and asked in a low voice, “Where’s your mother?”

“Second brother carried her back home.” Wang Lianqi said in a low voice.

As they talked, Hongling and Hong Zhi had already run over, “Fourth Aunt!”

“Fourth Aunt, is Xiao Xing and Shi Tou okay?” Hongling asked anxiously.

“They’re in the house, you can go in.” Ling Chengyan replied calmly, patting Hongling’s shoulder to comfort her.

Even in this situation, Fourth Aunt didn’t forget to comfort them. Hongling’s eyes reddened, “We went to pay respects at our aunt’s grave who passed ten years ago, didn’t expect such a thing to happen…”

Ling Chengyan’s doubts were eased, and her demeanor softened further. She patted them and let the sisters into the house.

Turning back, she nodded to her elder cousin, and then looked towards Wang Guizhang and Zhou Xiuying’s family, saying flatly, “Today someone advised me to get a divorce, to avoid being dragged down… I was unsure before, but now it seems much better to divorce, so no self-proclaimed mother-in-law and sister-in-law come to my house stealing, robbing, and hitting my children.”

As these words came out, Wang Guizhang and Zhou Xiuying still had no reaction, but Wang Futang and Wang Lianqi’s expressions changed first.

Wang Futang called out, “Fourth daughter-in-law.”

Wang Lianqi opposed directly, “Fourth sister-in-law, these matters have nothing to do with Liansheng. He is already in a very difficult time, you shouldn’t stab him in the heart now!”

Ling Chengyan looked at her eldest uncle and eldest cousin, “Uncle, cousin, it’s thanks to your care all these days, but you’ve seen it too, as long as I don’t shed this identity, they won’t quit a day, my children and I can’t live properly!”

Wang Futang turned back and glared at his brother Wang Guizhang, his eyes filled with disappointment and disdain. After a long pause, he dejectedly turned back to Ling Chengyan, “Today’s matter is their fault, let me make a suggestion and see if you agree. If you do, I guarantee they won’t disturb you three anymore.”

Ling Chengyan remained silent, in agreement by default.

Wang Futang secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said, “With the village elders and village officials as witnesses, sign a severance agreement, from now on, your small division (Wang Liansheng is ranked fourth) has no relationship with the Wang Family’s second division. If they act unrulily again, you may throw them out or send them for official punishment, and the village will have no say in it.”

Ling Chengyan looked at Wang Futang and did not immediately respond.

Her gaze seemed to see through hearts, making Wang Futang, who had served twenty years as a village head, a bit unable to bear it, wanting to avoid her gaze.

He felt guilty, as he promised to watch over the three of them. Earlier that day, Fourth daughter-in-law had entrusted his wife and sisters-in-law with looking after the children… but he couldn’t do it, letting Zhou Xiyin lead Lianxiang in to rob and hit. Sigh!

Ling Chengyan watched for a while and then withdrew her gaze, saying plainly, “I’ll listen to Uncle.”

Wang Futang secretly sighed in relief, he turned back and instructed the security chief and his eldest son, Wang Lianqi, to disperse the gathered villagers, then sent someone to invite the village elders, ensuring Wang Guizhang and Zhou Xiuying personally signed the severance agreement. From then on, Wang Liansheng’s branch had nothing to do with Wang Guizhang and Zhou Xiuying’s family, no more matters concerning life and death tied them.

Wang Guizhang didn’t dare oppose Big Brother, yet Zhou Xiuying wailed bitterly, not willing to sign, claiming their son who she carried for ten months was being broken apart by a heartless woman…

Wang Futang didn’t let her argue much, directly having Wang Lianqi bring militiamen to apprehend, proceed according to law. For robbery and harm, whatever is judged should be judged; Zhou Xiuying’s cowardice was deterrence enough that, in tears and snot, she roughly left her fingerprints on the severance agreement.

Wang Guizhang and Zhou Xiuying led their family away in disgrace. Ling Chengyan invited the two sisters-in-law to help, stewed a large pot of the eggplants with two big birds she caught on the way, the village elders, and security chief each had a bowl. What remained was sent over to the uncle’s house, along with a brazier of simmered beef, and the cousin, cousin-in-law, and children all had an oily and satisfying dinner at Ling Chengyan’s place.

Early the next morning, before dawn, Ling Chengyan got up and prepared to go to the county town.

Xiao Xing and Shi Tou were still asleep, while Xiaoyu got up early to heat a pancake, add a chopstick of pickled vegetables, and fill a thermos with hot water to send off Ling Chengyan.

The cousin and cousin-in-law were already waiting at the door. Seeing her come out, the cousin-in-law smiled and went inside, “Don’t worry, I’ve divided up work with your second sister-in-law, today I’ll look after the house for you.”

Ling Chengyan smiled gratefully, pushed the cart out the door, and Wang Lianqi escorted her to the village entrance, “Yesterday you mentioned divorcing Liansheng, has something happened? Or is there something new with Liansheng?”

Ling Chengyan smiled, “Don’t worry, big brother, I was just speaking off the cuff yesterday, nothing happened to us. If anything, it’s good news. Yesterday, the team leader secretly gave me a champion’s allowance, a pile of tickets, cloth tickets, food coupons, oil tickets, and meat tickets, all really good things.”

Wang Lianqi apparently relaxed, smiling and congratulating her, watching her leave on the bicycle.

Upon returning home yesterday, he inquired with his father in detail, while everything else seemed fine, it was the matter of Ling Chengyan mentioning divorce that made father and son both ponder: had the fourth brother Wang Liansheng experienced any change that would implicate the family again?

Thankfully, Ling Chengyan assured everything was fine.

Ling Chengyan had a long stick on her bicycle, not of the best material, but she had carefully selected it, barely usable once.

In the past six months, as the policies relaxed, small traders gradually emerged, and alongside, petty thefts and robberies sometimes happened. Furthermore, she had recently made enemies in the village she had to pass through… One had to be cautious.

The journey was smooth, not even sliding over a dirt mound.

Ling Chengyan arrived at the courtyard smoothly, parked the bicycle, and without going to the cafeteria, went directly to the stables. She brought out the black chestnut horse she had ridden, brushed it, put on the saddle and bridle, and trotted around the training ground a few times.

Someone applauded by the training grounds; Ling Chengyan turned to see the team leader Zhang Hanchao.

“If you love horses so much, you may as well ride them back tonight, it could save you some strength going back and forth.” Zhang Hanchao patted the visibly excited horse and said with a smile.

Ling Chengyan’s eyes brightened, “Can I really?”

Zhang Hanchao nodded, “I can’t privately sell army horses, but I can certainly let you ride it.”

“Thank you, team leader.” Ling Chengyan smiled and thanked him, stroking the horse’s forehead, adding, “If they ever become available for sale, let me know too.”

Zhang Hanchao nodded at her, shaking his head with a helpless smile, “I can see it clearly now, you truly love horses.”

Finally, Zhang Hanchao began discussing the work arrangement, “Let’s leave this matter aside for now, focus on preparing for the regional competition. When you become the regional champion, you may even gain county recognition, potentially advancing further.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep