Liu Chunlan was absolutely furious.
That Chen Qingxiu had never taken her seriously, all because no bride price was given when they got married.
At the time, Liu Chunlan figured she would just agree to let her son marry into the Chen family. After all, once a child was born, wouldn't it still be her son's flesh and blood? Wouldn't it still be the eldest grandson of the Wang family?
Of the 500,000 yuan dowry provided by the Chen family, she had taken 300,000 to build a house in their hometown, and the remaining 200,000 was taken by Wang Kai.
She had even fought with Wang Kai over this.
She insisted that all the money should remain with the Wang family.
Later, when Chen Qingxiu got pregnant, she couldn't be bothered to visit. She still held onto the same thought: regardless of everything, the baby would be the Wang family's seed.
Who would have thought that no one would even notify her when the child was born? By the time she found out and went over carrying diapers and farm eggs, the child had already been registered.
With the surname Chen.
Liu Chunlan almost passed out from anger.
She threw a massive tantrum at the Chen household for days, but unfortunately, it was of no use.
The result was that Chen Qingxiu never set foot in the Wang family home again.
In their ten years of marriage, with her grandson now nine years old, they had only returned home twice in total.
And her grandson hadn't come back even once.
The villagers were all laughing at her, especially that Zhang Cuihua, who always said she had raised a son for someone else. Raised a grandson for someone else.
Thinking of this made Liu Chunlan miserable.
And it made her hate Lin Wanyi even more.
"It's all that bitch's fault. If she had just given me a grandson earlier, would I have to suffer such humiliation?
"Hao, you need to step up. Work hard every night. I refuse to believe she can't conceive a son."
Wang Jianguo soon returned and handed Wang Hao a few packets of medicine.
"Go on, we'll definitely be holding a grandson next month."
Wang Hao took the medicine, hesitated for a moment, and then immediately turned and poured it into a cup.
He thought to himself that he couldn't be blamed; he could only blame Lin Wanyi for having a change of heart.
If she were completely devoted to him, he wouldn't need to do this.
Lin Wanyi was coaxing Keke to sleep.
Keke still had tears in her eyes. "Mommy, I haven't been able to sleep these past few days. When Auntie covers me with the blanket, Brother Ruirui just kicks it away.
"He says I'm not allowed to use his family's blanket.
"I'm so cold, Mommy. I'm so cold every night."
Lin Wanyi shed tears along with her, hugging Keke even tighter.
Wang Hao felt a pang of guilt. That was his daughter; how could his heart not ache for her?
His fingers tightened around the cup. He thought it over and over, but finally handed the water to Lin Wanyi. "Have some water and go to sleep with our daughter.
"After all these days, she really missed you."
Lin Wanyi had a habit of drinking water before bed. Without any suspicion, she gulped down half the cup.
Liu Chunlan had been peeking from outside the door. She only left with a smile after seeing Lin Wanyi drink half the water.
Downstairs, she told Wang Jianguo, "It's a sure thing this time. Absolutely guaranteed.
"Oh, my precious eldest grandson. The day he's born, I will definitely carry him right in front of Chen Qingxiu and slap her in the face with it.
"What is a woman like her being so arrogant for?"
Li Suhua called Lin Wanyi on video. She was worried about her.
She also wanted to see Keke. The child was already seven years old, and she hadn't even met her once.
As they talked, Lin Wanyi started feeling drowsy and hastily hung up the video call.
Li Suhua sighed. She had a nagging feeling that something wasn't right.
Lin Wanyi's life was definitely not as good as she claimed it was.
But being so far away, she could only worry helplessly.
Lin Jiajun was also anxious. Finally, he slammed his hand on the table:
"Mom, why don't I just pay for it and have my older sister and Keke come back on the second day of the Lunar New Year.
"We'll see what Wang Hao's family says then. If they let her come back, then everything is fine. But if they keep making excuses, I'll definitely go there and bring them back myself."
Li Suhua thought about it seriously and finally nodded:
"Yes, on the second day of the New Year, daughters all over the country return to their maiden homes. Let's see how they try to stop her."
Lin Wanyi woke up early the next morning feeling sore all over.
Especially her legs; they hurt so much she didn't want to get out of bed.
She patted her head and thought hard. She hadn't done anything last night, so why was she in pain?
Unable to dwell on it, she pulled Wang Hao up. "Wang Hao, I want a divorce.
"Let's go to the Civil Affairs Bureau. I'm divorcing you right now."
Wang Hao didn't budge. "I'm not getting a divorce, honey. I will never divorce you."
Lin Wanyi threw off his blanket. "Wang Hao, do you think our marriage has any meaning left?
"As your wife, I'm not allowed to have even a little bit of money in my hands. I need your permission to buy anything, and I have to watch your mood to see how much I can spend.
"What woman lives a life like mine? Go out and ask around, who lives like this?"
Wang Hao hurriedly opened his phone.
"I've unlocked the family supplementary card for you. It's still three thousand. Honey, yesterday at your mother's house, I was just worried you'd act on impulse and give them a few thousand extra.
"I was just thinking about our own little family. As long as you behave yourself, stay at home, take care of the child and my parents, I'll be just like before and won't suspend your card."
Lin Wanyi's tears flowed uncontrollably. "That money should have been mine to begin with. We are husband and wife; the money you earn is our joint property.
"Wang Hao, I don't want your charity. I want fairness.
"Don't worry, even if we divorce, I'll only ask for my share. I won't take anything extra from you.
"The savings and the house will be split fifty-fifty. You can calculate it first."
"Calculate what?"
Liu Chunlan suddenly pushed the door open and yelled.
"Are you crazy? What are you arguing about so early in the morning?
"Lin Wanyi, why can't you just behave? The New Year is coming up, what are you making a fuss for?
"You just have to make a joke out of us for everyone to see, don't you? Stay put and behave. Divorce? Don't even think about it."
Lin Wanyi ignored her. After freshening up, she grabbed Wang Hao and headed out.
But before they could even walk out the front gate, Wang Meijuan came running back in tears.
"Mom, Dad, Hao, you have to stand up for me. That bastard Li Jun, he's not human."
Liu Chunlan was frantic and quickly asked, "What happened? What did Li Jun do to you?
"Stop crying! With us here, what are you afraid of?"
Wang Meijuan sobbed and sniffled for a long time before finally saying:
"That son of a bitch Li Jun hit me again. Mom, look at my face. It's not his first time; he hits me every time he gets drunk.
"I used to feel too ashamed to say anything, but today he knocked out one of my teeth.
"Mom, isn't he bullying me?!"
Liu Chunlan was so angry that smoke practically came out of her nose. She paced around the courtyard with her hands on her hips.
"Who gave Li Jun the nerve? Huh? Who gave it to him?
"Old man, Wang Hao, you two come with me to find him. We must teach him a good lesson today. If we don't beat him into submission, my surname isn't Liu."
The group quickly left. No one cared in the slightest about Lin Wanyi wanting a divorce.
She had intended to go draft a divorce agreement first, but to her surprise, Wang Hao dragged her into the car.
"Let's go. We're going to back my sister up."
It was absolutely ridiculous.
Lin Wanyi was being bullied herself, yet she was supposed to go back up the very people who bullied her?
However, she figured it wouldn't hurt to watch the drama unfold. So, she went along.
Wang Meijuan's house was a total mess, the floor covered in smashed plates and cups.
Half-eaten food and spilled liquor were everywhere.
Li Jun was clutching a liquor bottle, ready to smash it toward Wang Meijuan:
"Damn it, you dare come back?
"Wang Meijuan, weren't you going to run away? Weren't you going back to your parents' house?
"Didn't you despise me for being poor and not making money? How dare you come back?"
