Aunt Zhou squatted in front of the earthen stove in the kitchen, stoking the fire. Chun Tao stood by the chopping board, cutting vegetables, preparing to cook two home-style dishes to entertain Deputy Chief Wang.
She was only halfway done when Liu Cuilan rushed into the kitchen like a whirlwind and grabbed Chun Tao's wrist tightly.
Chun Tao cried out in pain, and the knife in her hand dropped to the ground with a clatter.
Comrade police officers, look at this! This is my family's heartless daughter-in-law!
Liu Cuilan shouted at the top of her lungs, Her man is paralyzed in bed and she doesn't care, but she runs to a bachelor's house to curry favor. Is there any justice left in this world?
Chun Tao stumbled from the pull, her frail body swaying as she nearly fell onto the chopping board.
Liu Cuilan, let her go! Aunt Zhou suddenly grabbed the red-hot fire poker and stood up abruptly.
I won't let go! This is my family's business, and no one can interfere... Liu Cuilan stiffened her neck, dragging Chun Tao out of the kitchen with all her might.
She turned back to shout at the two police officers outside the door, Comrade police officers, she's fooling around with a man here, you must stand up for me!
The two police officers frowned, their heavy gazes falling on Chun Tao's pale face. One of them spoke first, Are you Li Chuntao?
Hearing the commotion, Deputy Chief Wang and Zhou Zhijun, who were in the main room, immediately got up and walked out.
Zhou Zhijun strode over in a few quick steps, reached out with his large hand, pried Liu Cuilan's fingers apart, and shielded Chun Tao behind him.
His face was as dark as the soot at the bottom of a pot, and his eyes were cold enough to freeze someone.
Liu Cuilan, what are you doing? Chun Tao is a free woman. She can live wherever she wants, and it's none of your business!
None of my business? She was traded for my daughter! She belongs to my family. If it's none of my business, is it yours? As if she had heard the biggest joke in the world, Liu Cuilan slapped her thigh and began to wail, spit flying from her mouth.
If she can live wherever she wants, why on earth is she living in your house?
Li Dazhuang shrank back against the stone pillar by the front gate, wanting to interject but not daring to. He merely muttered softly, Chun Tao, come back with me. Stop embarrassing us here...
Deputy Chief Wang walked forward with his hands behind his back and shouted sternly, Everyone shut your mouths!
His voice carried such force that the courtyard instantly fell silent, leaving only the sound of a few people breathing heavily.
Deputy Chief Wang! the two police officers looked at him simultaneously and called out in unison.
Deputy Chief Wang glanced at Liu Cuilan, his eyes finally landing on his two subordinates. Finished the investigation?
One police officer stepped forward, looking troubled. Chief, Wang Jieshi refuses to admit it! And...
The two police officers relayed Wang Jieshi's words to Deputy Chief Wang. Before Deputy Chief Wang could speak, Liu Cuilan begged in a tearful voice, Comrade police officers, all I want now is for Li Chuntao to come home and live a good life!
Chun Tao's small face was flushed red, and the knuckles of her clenched fists turned white. She jerked her head up and looked at Liu Cuilan. I don't have a home.
Then she turned to look at Deputy Chief Wang, her eyes resolute. Comrade police officer, I only came to the Wang family because of an exchange marriage, but Wang Jieshi and I never got a marriage certificate, let alone lived together. The comrades at the civil affairs office said that he and I are not husband and wife. I have always been single!
Aunt Zhou hurried forward to support Chun Tao's arm, glaring coldly at Liu Cuilan. Liu Cuilan, Chun Tao is my daughter now, and this is her home. She can live here if she wants, and no one can say otherwise!
She has absolutely nothing to do with your Wang family, so stop coming here to cause trouble!
Hearing this, Deputy Chief Wang was somewhat in disbelief. He looked at Chun Tao and asked, You lived in the Wang family for a few years? You didn't get a marriage certificate, and there was no consummation?
Chun Tao's small face turned red at his question. Aunt Zhou quickly pulled Chun Tao behind her and explained to Deputy Chief Wang what had happened over the past few years. ...Exactly. Even though Chun Tao was with the Wang family for four years, they really didn't get a certificate, nor did they live together...
Liu Cuilan clapped her hands against her thighs and shouted, I traded my daughter for her! Even without a certificate, she belongs to our Wang family...
Her voice was pitched so high that half the village could hear her.
Before long, the villagers had gathered three layers deep, completely blocking the entrance to Aunt Zhou's house.
Seeing so many people arriving, Deputy Chief Wang cleared his throat and shouted loudly, Quiet down, everyone! The buzzing sound of discussions instantly disappeared.
He looked at Liu Cuilan with a serious expression, his voice resonant to ensure that everyone present could hear him.
Your son Wang Jieshi made a mistake. Not only did he show no remorse, but he also made mistake after mistake. Serving his sentence outside of prison is no longer suitable for him...
Exchange marriage is a folk custom and has no legal validity.
Li Chuntao and Wang Jieshi neither obtained a marriage certificate nor had a de facto marriage, so neither party has marital rights or obligations. If they want to separate, they don't need to go through any procedures; they can just separate directly!
Li Chuntao is a free person, and no one can interfere with where she wants to live!
As soon as Deputy Chief Wang said these words, Liu Cuilan felt as if the sky had fallen.
Oh my! Is there no law anymore... I don't want to live...
She wailed as she climbed up from the ground, craning her neck as if to smash her head against the earthen wall of the kitchen.
Two people with quick reflexes grabbed her arms and dragged her right out the front gate.
The daughter-in-law obtained through an exchange marriage was actually fake? The onlookers also discussed among themselves, unable to wrap their heads around it.
Deputy Chief Wang turned to say goodbye to Zhou Zhijun and Aunt Zhou, preparing to leave.
Aunt Zhou hurriedly tried to keep him. The soup is already cooked. Have some soup before you go!
He waved his hand. No thanks, auntie. There's been too much going on at the station lately. I have to hurry back!
After seeing off the police officers, Aunt Zhou shut the front gate with a clatter and slid the bolt into place.
Liu Cuilan wailed dryly outside the gate a few times, and seeing that no one paid her any attention, she had no choice but to leave, cursing as she went.
Li Dazhuang was still unwilling to give up, pacing back and forth outside Zhou Zhijun's front gate.
He came today firstly to persuade Chun Tao, and secondly to get back the household registration book.
If he couldn't bring back the household registration book, he wouldn't be able to answer to Wang Lanhua.
After pacing around for half an hour, Li Dazhuang finally mustered up the courage, raised his hand, and knocked gently on the door.
He pleaded, Chun Tao, give me the household registration book! If I don't bring it back, your sister-in-law definitely won't let it go!
The front gate creaked open, and Zhou Zhijun raised his hand, tossing the household registration book right onto Li Dazhuang.
Li Dazhuang, take it! Zhou Zhijun's voice was as cold as ice.
As an older brother, all you think about is your own wife and child living comfortably. Have you ever thought about what kind of life Chun Tao is living? Get lost!
Li Dazhuang opened his mouth, just about to defend himself, when the gate slammed shut again with a clatter, nearly hitting him in the face.
Chun Tao stood at the kitchen door, her heart filled with mixed feelings, and tears couldn't help but fall.
She couldn't deny that her brother and grandmother used to treat her really well.
But they had never truly thought about her. Chun Tao finally realized completely that their kindness to her came with conditions.
The condition was that she had to trade her entire life for Li Dazhuang's stable life.
No matter how bitter and difficult her life was, they wanted to tie her to the Wang family, never allowing her to leave.
Since they didn't care for her, she would have to care for herself.
"Tao!" Zhou Zhijun brought over half a basin of warm water and handed her a faded towel, his voice softening. "Wash your face, the soup is ready!"
Aunt Zhou had already served her a bowl of food, leaving it on the cutting board to cool.
Seeing Chuntao come in after washing her face, Aunt Zhou patted her shoulder. "Tao, hurry and have your soup! From now on, this is your home!
If anyone else comes to cause you trouble, I will lay my old life on the line and fight them to the bitter end!"
