"Exactly, the boss is right."
Wang Xiumei's grandmother jumped in right after.
"This is all your fault. If it weren't for you, how could our family have lost such a huge sum of money?"
"Don’t say I, as your mother, didn’t give you a chance. It’s up to you now."
Wang Xiumei's grandfather was as sly as a fox.
"Third son, a family can only thrive if everyone pulls together."
Pfft—
Shen Nanchu couldn’t hold back and burst out laughing.
The entire Wang family turned to glare at her.
"Ahem—"
"Sorry, I really couldn’t help laughing."
"Don’t mind me, carry on."
Shen Nanchu waved dismissively.
Wang Xiumei’s grandmother gritted her teeth at the sight of her.
"You still have the nerve to laugh?"
"If it weren’t for you, would my third son be divorcing his wife?"
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black—what a masterclass in blame-shifting!
In Shen Nanchu’s dictionary, there was no such phrase as "respect the old, cherish the young."
"When trouble hits, you blame others—are you a spinning top? Just whirl and fling accusations?"
"With how smoothly you pass the buck, your ancestors must’ve been circus performers!"
"Too bad—I won’t take this blame. Keep it as a family heirloom!"
"You—!" Wang Xiumei’s grandmother sputtered, too furious to form a complete sentence.
Shen Nanchu turned to Wang Dazhi and Sun Fang.
"Are you both really set on divorce?"
Wang Xiumei was frantic.
"No, absolutely not!"
Sun Fang kept her head down, silent.
Wang Dazhi just stared at his wife with sorrowful eyes.
Just when Shen Nanchu thought Sun Fang would give in—
"Comrade Shen, I want a divorce."
Sun Fang lifted her head, tears glistening, but her gaze was unexpectedly firm.
"I can’t let my Xiumei suffer like this anymore."
Wang Dazhi, who had been wavering, looked at Wang Xiumei’s faded, too-short clothes—threadbare at the wrists and ankles—and felt a pang of guilt.
He was a failure of a father, letting his daughter down.
No matter what he chose, he’d betray either Sun Fang or Wang Xiumei.
Damned if he did, damned if he didn’t.
The grown man was nearly driven to tears.
Shen Nanchu checked her watch.
She’d been here five minutes—long enough to grasp the situation.
At this rate, Village Head Wang Jianguo and Aunt Yu Lanhua should arrive soon.
If she wrapped this up in five minutes, she could still go back for fried rice and a nice nap.
She rolled up her sleeves and switched to battle mode.
Her system, watching from the sidelines, cheered: Go, Host! You’re the best! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧
"Uncle, Aunt—are you afraid of being called unfilial for splitting the family, or of being bled dry if you don’t?"
Shen Nanchu went straight for the jugular.
The whole courtyard fell dead silent.
She pressed on,
"Or are you scared they’ll call you ungrateful?"
She feigned puzzlement.
"But they’re worse than wolves—at least wolves protect their young!"
Another jab:
"Are you worried about burning bridges? They’re already burning through your wallets!"
She eyed Wang Dazhi’s pathetically empty pockets.
"Oh wait, your pockets are cleaner than your face."
Shen Nanchu spoke earnestly to Wang Dazhi:
"Uncle, they’re about to leave you alone and destitute in your old age. Still no split?"
"Wait till they’ve picked your bones clean and erect a ‘Model Filial Son’ memorial for you?"
She shook her head at Sun Fang:
"Auntie, your approach isn’t right either. If thieves are raiding your home, do you just hand them the keys?"
Sun Fang never wanted to divorce Wang Dazhi.
She’d long considered splitting the household.
Now that things had escalated, she might as well cut ties.
Bruised and resolute, Sun Fang locked eyes with Wang Dazhi:
"We split, and we stay together. Otherwise, I take our daughter and leave."
Shen Nanchu’s eyes sparkled.
Perfect. Nothing like self-respect.
Wang Dazhi didn’t hesitate:
"Fine. We’ll split. We’ll make our own way."
With his wife and child on the line, he couldn’t care less.
They’d start over. Two able-bodied adults could rebuild.
"Dad, Mom, let’s make a better life together."
Wang Xiumei wept with joy, linking arms with both parents.
The trio looked like three scrawny, bitter gourds.
Wang Xiumei’s grandparents, Wang Daming, and Wang Daqiang all glared at Shen Nanchu, the instigator.
If not for her meddling, the 100 yuan they’d nearly pocketed wouldn’t have flown the coop!
Worse—the golden goose was leaving too.
Unacceptable!
"You worthless brat!"
Wang Xiumei’s grandfather swung his cane at Wang Dazhi.
Wang Dazhi shielded his family and took the hit.
The thwack was so loud Shen Nanchu winced.
How much venom did the old coot put into that?
"Over my dead body will this family split!"
The old man slammed his cane down.
News flash—it’s not up to you.
Shen Nanchu spotted Village Head Wang Jianguo approaching.
Her warm-up act was over. Time for the main event.
Wang Jianguo never imagined—
Not even half an hour since the field incident, more drama?
Do they think I’ve got nothing better to do?
Can’t even let a man eat in peace!
Such model villagers.
Seeing Wang Jianguo, Wang Xiumei’s grandfather scowled, grip tightening on his cane.
This is family business—since when does the village head stick his nose in?
To Wang Dazhi and Sun Fang, Wang Jianguo was a savior.
"Village Head, Aunt Lanhua, thank heavens you’re here!"
"You’ve no idea how much Xiumei’s suffered."
Wang Jianguo got the full story from Shen Nanchu’s vivid recap.
Yu Lanhua stayed silent, watching him.
Wang Jianguo was speechless.
This time, he stood firmly with Wang Dazhi.
His own wife was already giving him the look.
"Wang Dazhi, you’re certain about splitting?"
"Yes."
No hesitation.
Wang Jianguo turned to Sun Fang.
"And you?"
"Absolutely."
She nodded fiercely. She should’ve done this sooner.
Without even glancing at the elders, Wang Jianguo declared:
"Then pack your things. You’re leaving with nothing."
What?!
∑(ﾟДﾟ)
