512 Get Out
“You! You! How dare you curse me! I’m still your grandmother after all! How dare you disobey your elder like this!” Old Madam Zhang stomped her feet in anger.
Qiao Mei could not help but roll her eyes when she heard this. What kind of elder! Was she even worthy to be called an elder!
“I won’t dare to curse you. Aren’t I just advising you to think more about happy things? If you just stay put in the city, who will bully you?” Qiao Mei asked.
As the quarrel became louder and louder, the number of villagers watching outside also increased. Some of them even went home to ask more people to join in.
Auntie Dong, who loved to join in any commotion, forced her way in from the back of the crowd. Before she even saw who was the one causing trouble, she spotted Qiao Mei in the courtyard.
“Mei Mei, you’re back!” Auntie Dong rushed forward excitedly.
“Auntie Dong! I was just about to go to your place to look for you when something happened,” Qiao Mei said with a smile.
“Oh my, I’m still wondering what’s happening. This group of shameless people can come four times a week. They’re even more diligent than the funeral people,” Auntie Dong said mockingly.
Her words made the people outside laugh loudly. Auntie Dong’s tongue was as sharp as ever.
Seeing that there were more and more people, Zhang Qian wanted to slip away from the back. Before he could even take two steps, Xia Zhe stopped him. Now, they could not get either money or vegetables.
If the villagers did not discover that they were here, they still had a chance to get the things they demanded. They also did not know why the villagers here were so united. If anything happened at Li Gui’s house, the villagers would all come to help. As long as they entered the village, someone would definitely inform everyone.
After all, it was Li Gui’s family matter and the villagers could only watch from outside the fence. However, as soon as the Zhang family lay a hand on Li Gui, they would be chased and beaten up by the villagers until they reached the outskirts of the village.
At first, Zhang Qian felt that he would have some peace and quiet at home once Li Gui was not around. However, he did not expect Old Madam Zhang to kick up a fuss at home every day because there was no one at home to clean up the house!
“If you can’t fork out the money today… I… I’ll divorce you! You don’t have money and you’re not at home! Our Zhang family doesn’t want you!” Zhang Qian pointed at Li Gui and shouted.
Before Qiao Mei could feel happy about hearing this, Li Gui rushed over and said, “Give me a few more days! Give me a few more days!”
Everyone felt that Li Gui’s reaction was very normal. In this era, not many people got divorced. If one did, one would be mocked for the rest of one’s life. Back then, Li Gui had remarried because Qiao Yue passed away and she had no other choice.
There were also widows and widowers living in this village and very few of them remarried. Whoever got a divorce would be made to feel ashamed for the rest of their lives!
“No! Your daughter and son-in-law are both back! Don’t they have even 500 dollars! If you don’t give me 500 dollars, we’ll have to get a divorce! I didn’t hold it against you previously! Now that they’re back, you have to give me the money!” Zhang Qian said as he shook off Li Gui’s hand.
Li Gui really could not bring herself to borrow money from Qiao Mei, let alone Xia Zhe. How could a son-in-law be asked to help his mother-in-law “repay a debt” as soon as he came for a visit.
For the past two months, she could barely afford to buy rice and noodles. The children already had to set off and walk to school before dawn. They originally still had the money to take the bus to go with the other children in the village. If this continued, the children’s tuition fees would become a problem too. She did not have any money left.
“How can you have the cheek to talk about getting a divorce! Not only does our sister have to raise four children, but she also has to give all of you pocket money! Have you ever given her anything!” Auntie Dong shouted.
“That’s right! Didn’t we say the last time that you need to have identification documents to enter the village! How can any Tom, Dick or Harry be allowed in!” Auntie Wang shouted from within the crowd.
However, there were many ways to enter the village and there were also inconspicuous paths in the mountains that the villagers could not block.
The villagers quickly surrounded them, making the three people from the Zhang family retreat repeatedly. Zhang Qian took advantage of the moment when no one was paying attention and ran out from the back of the courtyard, followed closely by Zhang Cong. Old Madam Zhang was old and it was difficult for her to move around, so she could not keep up with her son and grandson. She was so afraid that she did not dare to make a sound and just stood there with her legs trembling.
“Your son and grandson have already left, so why are you still standing here! Hurry up and leave! Don’t let others say that our village bullies the elderly!” Auntie Dong said as she waved her hand.
