Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

"What...what?" Zheng Jiasheng roared in fury, "You've gone too far! You dare to kick me out? Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning?"

He didn't stop at verbal attacks; he also searched for tools that could be used for physical attacks. When he couldn't find any in the room, he took off his own shoes and was about to beat up Xidong.

Xi Dong didn't flinch at all, but the aunties rushed up to stop him, saying, "Talk it out, talk it out, you mustn't hit him."

"Don't stop him," Xi Dong said coldly. "I'm wearing official clothes. If the county magistrate wants to hit me, he has to take off his outer clothes before he can do it. You try to hit me."

The idea that you have to peel off the outer layer before you can start was just something Xi Dong made up on the spot, but Zheng Jiasheng had no idea about it.

"You absolutely mustn't touch him." The eldest aunt blocked Zheng Jiasheng's way and said in a low voice, "The county magistrate and his constables are right outside. If you hit the county officials, you're slapping the county magistrate in the face."

Taking advantage of these words, Zheng Jiasheng nimbly climbed down from the platform and stopped pretending to hit Xi Dong.

"I'll let you off this time for the sake of the aunties, but if you say something like that again..."

Before he could finish his harsh words, Xi Dong said, "Please leave. Take anything you like from this house."

“You…” Zheng Jiasheng pointed at Xi Dong, but couldn’t utter a single word for a long time.

Xi Dong spoke up, "If you can't bear to leave this place, I can take Mother and Xi Chun with me, but how can you still have the face to live in the village?"

"Why am I ashamed? What heinous things have I done?" Zheng Jiasheng was also very confused.

This was a sudden event; he wasn't prepared at all.

When he got home, he was met with chaos. He was led around in confusion.

Not long ago, we went to the county government and agreed that Xi Dong's wages would be used to help support his family next month. But now, his family is about to be gone.

What is this thing called?

"Xidong, don't talk like that. She is still your father..." Before the words of mediation could be finished, the person speaking was pulled hard by the person next to him. "We've finally gotten to this point, don't try to persuade her to go back."

While they were talking, Xichun, who had been ignored by everyone, had almost finished packing her own things. Now she was enthusiastically helping her mother pack, asking, "Mother, is this blue cotton jacket yours or Father's?"

He didn't hear the whole thing. When he heard Xidong say to pack his things, he ran back to his room and started packing, afraid that Xidong would be unhappy and wait for him.

He didn't listen to a word of what followed.

"What are you accepting? What are you accepting!" Zheng Jiasheng was furious. He stepped forward, snatched the package from Zheng Xichun's hand, and slapped him hard across the face.

The slap sent Zheng Xichun sprawling to the ground, a handprint quickly appearing on her cheek. Zheng Jiasheng had vented his anger towards Xidong on Zheng Xichun.

You, Zheng Xidong, can't be hit, but I can't hit your brother?
Zheng Jiasheng's expression was one of threatening violence if anyone dared to disobey him again; this was his last act of defiance before he completely lost power.

"Oh dear, why are you hitting the child!" The neighbors reacted and rushed to help Zheng Xichun up. Zhou Erya also hurriedly got up from the kang (a heated brick bed) to check on Zheng Xichun's condition.

Zheng Xichun was also stunned and huddled on the ground, not daring to get up for a moment.

"You two adults should discuss this together. Don't let the child make the decision and then blame the child in the end," the old woman said. "Do you want to live together or separate? If you separate, how should you divide it? Who will leave home and who will go outside? You should discuss it carefully."

"Auntie, the kids are just talking nonsense." Zheng Jiasheng tried to defend himself, "We've been through more than ten years, what's the point of making a fuss?"

“This matter isn’t up to you to decide alone,” the old woman said, leaning on her cane as she turned to Zhou Erya, who was squatting on the ground. “Don’t expect the child to stand up for you. You have to tell her what you really think.”

"Was what I said useful?" Zhou Erya asked numbly.

The neighbor said, "How can it be useless? Everyone will stand up for you. The county magistrate is right outside."

Zhou Erya looked at Xidong, then at the person staring at her, and made up her mind, "I'm not going to stay with him."

That's exactly what I was waiting for.

Xi Dong walked through the crowd, opened the door, and said to the village chief in the courtyard, "Uncle Zhu, please bear witness with everyone that my mother wants to separate from my father."

Zhu Laosi, who was in the courtyard, looked at Meng Changqing's expression and, seeing that he did not object, quickly replied, "Alright, everyone, don't leave. Stay and be a witness."

Meng Changqing watched the whole thing, but didn't say a word.

After they finished dealing with the matter, they took Xidong and left.

The outcome of this matter did not exceed Meng Changqing's expectations.

Neither Zheng Jiasheng nor Zhou Erya left the house. The village chief made the decision that Zheng Jiasheng could move into Zheng Linsheng's original house and live alone. The food, clothing, pots and pans that could be divided were divided, and those that could not be divided were used in rotation.

He didn't mention divorcing his wife, but the two of them would live separate lives from now on.

Fourth Brother Zhu deliberately avoided mentioning retirement in the future. He was indulging that troublemaker now, but what would become of him in his old age? That was all Zheng Jiasheng had brought upon himself. (End of Chapter)