Forced to marry a disabled man in the countryside? I'll repay you tenfold!

Hearing this, everyone in the room finally understood: So that was what Granny Sun was planning—to let Chen Xiuer and Granny Wang live in the old house, while she and her son would move into the new brick house.

That's quite a scheme, tsk tsk.

Aunt Wang frowned and remained silent. Her daughter had already discussed divorcing Zhao Shupi with her, but not now; it wasn't the time to make things difficult. She whispered, "You could move in with your mother-in-law; her house is big and spacious..."

The only downside is that it's cold in winter and drafty, but you can bear with it.

Chen Xiuer ignored her mother and stared at Zhao Shupi: "And you? You also want the three of us to move out and live in your old house? And then you and your mother move in?"

She wanted to see what other face this man could possibly have.

Zhao Shupi still had some sense of shame, and he didn't dare to throw a tantrum like his mother in front of so many people, but he had already tacitly accepted that the brick house as his property.

"The brick house belongs to my husband and me, it doesn't matter if you live there or I live there. But my mother is right about one thing—we are a family, and I don't want to be separated like this anymore. You said before that living at the planting site would be more convenient for taking care of us, and now the brick house is close to the planting site, so we can finally live together, right? It's not right for a husband and wife to always sleep in separate rooms."

He paused, his tone softening, tinged with grievance: "This house is big, we can divide it in the middle, your mother and daughter can live in that end, and we can live in this end. Your mother came all this way, and I didn't say I wouldn't take care of her. But you're so cold, you don't invite us to eat, you don't invite us to do anything, you kick us away like we're outsiders... Xiuer, you really hurt me."

He spoke with increasing sincerity, as if he were the one who had suffered all the injustice: "Right now, all I want is for us to live a good life together. Money is no problem; I'll give you all my salary from now on. I don't want anything else—I only have one request: to sleep on the same bed with you."

He spoke earnestly, as if he were the best man in the world.

The initial surge of anger subsided, and his mind cleared—no matter what, making up with Xiu'er and moving into the brick house was the most important thing. She wouldn't sleep with him because she was still throwing a tantrum; once he appeased her and slept with her a few more times, her temper would subside. Then, the salary and the brick house would still be his, wouldn't they?

Men are always charmingly confident, always thinking that sleeping with their wives a few more times is doing them a favor.

Guo Mingyuan frowned, looking at Zhao Shupi's face, and felt sorry for Chen Xiuer—how did she end up with such a family? At this moment, he even had the thought of helping her.

Chen Xiuer suddenly laughed, but her laughter was somewhat cold.

"My mother minds, and so do I. I earned this brick house through my own hard work, why should you move in? You're dreaming! You even want to partition the room so my mother can take care of the child while you sleep here—" She spoke each word with unwavering resolve, "I'm telling you right now: this house, forget about changing it, none of you are coming to live here!"

Granny Sun completely exploded: "You heartless wretch! You eat and drink your fill while neglecting your husband and mother-in-law, and you still have the nerve to talk back? Zhao Shupi, divorce her! Get the child back! I don't know how a divorced woman with a burdened old mother can survive in this community! She and her child could be drowned in spit!"

"Fine, let's get a divorce!" Chen Xiuer said, head held high. "But I'm taking the child with me!"

"You still want to take the Zhao family's child with you?" Granny Sun sneered. "Dream on! Go ask around the surrounding villages, who else in a divorce can take their husband's child with them?"

"Enough!" Zhao Shupi stopped his mother, then changed his tone and said softly to Chen Xiuer, "Xiuer, the marriage can't be dissolved. Since you're still angry with me, I'll come back another day. If you won't let us move out, then forget it, you can stay in this house for now."

After saying that, he grabbed his mother and left.

They walked quite a distance, and it was already completely dark. Granny Sun was so angry her chest ached. She slapped her son's hand away: "You spineless coward! Your wife has been so arrogant and unreasonable, and you're still so weak-willed? Today she dares to live in a brick house with her mother, tomorrow she'll dare to bring some other man in to have a good time!"

Zhao Shupi said with a gloomy face, "Mom, Xiuer is determined to get a divorce now. Every time we mention it, she really wants to leave. We can't push her any further. Finding another wife for her in the troupe would cost several hundred yuan in dowry, and we'd have to deal with her whole family, which wouldn't be easy to manage. Most importantly—who earns as much money as Xiuer?"

"What's the use of earning so much? She won't give you a single penny!" Granny Sun said, exasperated. "Look at that table full of meat she had today, it was like it was free! It must have cost her a month's salary! We didn't get a single cent! If she really settles into this brick house, what will you use to control her in the future?"

Zhao Shupi sneered, "This brick house was left behind by a sent-down youth with connections; its origins are illegitimate. I'll go to the production team tomorrow. If they don't find a way to take the house back, I'll make a scene right up to that sent-down youth. Then, the mother and her two children will have nowhere to live and will have to come begging to us for shelter, won't they?"

Grandma Sun said with some regret, "So we don't want that brick house anymore?"

Zhao Shupi said fiercely, "We can't have them now, so they shouldn't stay here either."

……

"I'm so sorry everyone, it's gotten like this." Chen Xiuer forced a smile and said, "Come on, keep eating, don't let it get cold."

Tian Dahua was the first to speak: "Every family has its troubles. Xiuer, you're doing a great job not letting your mother-in-law control you! We educated youth should stick together. If she dares to gossip outside, I and the educated youth team will be the first to object—they're causing trouble and creating division!"

Even so, after this incident, no one was in the mood to eat anymore. Everyone quickly packed up and went their separate ways.

Guo Mingyuan hesitated, unsure what to say in front of so many people. He simply told them, "If you have any difficulties, just say so, and we'll all help you," before taking his leave.

Professor Shen and Professor Wu didn't want to say too much, so they exchanged a few polite words and left.

Finally, Erzhuzi cleaned up all the leftovers, and everyone in the house went home.

Su Wanqing deliberately stayed until the end.

Chen Xiuer's eyes were red as she held her hand, saying, "Dr. Su, I really want a divorce. Do you think if I go through with it, they really won't let me have custody of the child? My little girl is my life! I don't care what people say or how they talk about her, I'm just afraid they'll take her away from me..."

Su Wanqing patted her hand: "You're right, it's better to get a divorce as soon as possible. I'll try to find out more, and if there's a way, we should get it done quickly."

—When the reform and opening up begins and Chen Xiuer really starts making money, Zhao Shupi's family will be even less likely to let go. They might have to suffer another loss then. It's better to leave now with nothing!

Chen Xiuer nodded: "Dr. Su, as long as I get custody of the child, I don't want anything else, I'll do anything!"