Chapter 107: Family Division Next Door
Yun Jiao glanced at the man when she left.
She didn’t lay a hand on the old person or the pregnant woman, not out of respect for the elderly or care for the pregnant woman, but mainly because she was afraid she might lose control of her strength and hurt them, and then her family would pay the price.
She didn’t want that.
But that man was a very good target for revenge and a little punishment.
He was Old Woman Li’s favorite son, and the husband of that woman.
Hee hee…
After returning home, Grandmother Shen complained for a while and then didn’t dwell on the matter next door.
The moon was exceptionally big tonight, and the family was peeling corn and cooling off in the courtyard.
Everyone was chatting, their hands moving slowly.
“You know Shen Cuimei got divorced, right? She’s the first one from our side to get divorced.”
Shen Yunlian truly didn’t know: “She really got divorced?”
Grandmother Shen nodded: “Yes, her husband’s matter caused quite a stir last time. If people aren’t arrested now, then Shen Jiantong and Zhao Widow would be considered engaging in illicit relationships and would be arrested.”
Yun Jiao perked up her ears, she didn’t expect this matter to have a follow-up.
Shen Yunlian said: “It’s good that she divorced. What’s the use of a man like that? He’s incompetent and only knows how to drink, and he hits people when he drinks. How was the child divided?”
“How else can it be divided? It stayed with the husband’s family.”
It’s good enough that they got a divorce; the husband’s side would definitely not let the child leave with her.
Aunt Shen pouted: “That idiot Shen Cuimei didn’t want a divorce, it was her parents who couldn’t stand it and forced her to divorce.”
“Shen Cuimei is the kind of person who is too concerned about face. Her parents advised her to divorce, but she felt ashamed herself, caring too much about face and suffering. It’s her own life, what’s the big deal if people say a few things? Does the pain from the fists hitting her not hurt?”
Shen Yunlian nodded.
However, the life of a divorced woman is not easy. Even if her own parents don’t mind, her sister-in-law and brother’s wives still might.
A married-out daughter is like spilled water; this saying is not just for show. Sons who have divided their families can be considered separate families, let alone daughters who have married into other families.
But for other people’s affairs, it’s just a matter of curiosity and then moving on.
The next day, early in the morning, before dawn, everyone was up.
Yun Jiao yawned, sitting on a small stool in the courtyard, gnawing on a cucumber in her hand.
Behind her, Shen Yunlian was braiding her hair.
Grandmother Shen and Aunt Shen were burning the fire to cook noodles.
“Meow.”
As soon as the braid was done, Yun Jiao heard a familiar cat’s cry.
She turned her head and saw that the Tabby Cat Leader had jumped onto the wall, its pair of green eyes staring at her.
“Mimi.”
The Tabby Cat stared at her intently, sitting motionless on the wall, ignoring her.
“Mimi, come down. Do you still want that chicken from yesterday?”
That chicken belonged to the Tabby Cat, and it had been agreed with Grandmother Shen and the others yesterday.
Although it pained her, after all, it was a whole chicken, but since the Tabby Cat had caught it, what should be given must be given.
Their wild chickens were also caught with the help of this Tabby Cat.
Yun Jiao called Mimi and Big Mi several times, but the guy was unmoved.
Yun Xiao Jiu said: “Jiaojiao, you need to call him Leader.”
Yun Jiao muttered: “But I want to be the leader.”
Yun Xiao Wu and the other children pointed at the big Tabby Cat on the wall.
Yun Xiao Wu said: “This is the Tabby Cat that led you to catch wild chickens. It looks really dominant.”
Shen Xiu Yuan said: “This Tabby Cat has lofty ambitions, it even wants to be Jiaojiao’s leader.”
Yun Xiao Wu said: “But if it can lead me to find wild chickens and wild rabbits, I’m willing to call it Leader.”
These two talked the most.
Yun Xiao Liu, like Yun Jiao, was holding a melon and eating it. He ate much faster than Yun Jiao.
“Oh, calling him Leader is fine. Jiaojiao just talks tough, but if she calls him Leader and he listens, isn’t he still your little brother?”
Yun Jiao turned her little head, thinking that what was said made some sense.
So she called out “Leader” to the Tabby Cat.
“Meow.”
Yun Jiao hummed a couple of times: “You want to eat chicken, but you have to be called Leader before you’ll eat.”
The wild chicken had been processed, its feathers plucked, and its innards removed.
“Leader, will you be full with just chicken? Do you want the innards?”
When Yun Jiao mentioned the innards, her eyes were full of bright longing.
Because the chicken’s innards could be made into a very delicious mixed dish.
She licked her lips, the mixed chicken dish stir-fried with fermented chili was especially fragrant, delicious, and chewy.
“Meow.”
The Cat Leader didn’t care about the innards, and with agile movements, it jumped down from the wall and began to eat from the large basin of chicken.
It wasn’t afraid of many people, as long as they didn’t touch it.
The Cat Leader was naturally not afraid of people; it just disliked crowded places, especially children.
For example, there were two mischievous naughty children who wanted to grab its tail.
The Cat Leader swept its tail and simultaneously bared its teeth and hissed to warn Yun Xiao Wu and Shen Xiu Yuan.
The two of them touched their noses.
“So fierce.”
Shen Xiu Yuan said: “We are fellow villagers after all. Why do you let Jiaojiao pinch your paws but not let me touch the tip of your tail?”
The Tabby Cat completely ignored him.
Yun Linhai and the others also took a look at this formidable Tabby Cat, but soon left to pack their things.
“Grandmother, can we stir-fry chicken innards today?”
“Yes, we’ll stir-fry it when you get back.”
Yun Jiao and the others were immediately overjoyed.
Everyone’s happiness was simple: being full, eating well, and dressing well was satisfying enough.
The noodles were cooked, and there were also sliced cucumbers as a cold dish.
They each held their own bowl of steaming noodles and squatted in the courtyard to eat. The children occasionally took food from each other’s bowls, laughing and chatting.
Suddenly, a sharp scolding from next door broke the harmonious atmosphere on their side.
Yun Jiao pricked up her ears, holding her noodles and stuffing them into her mouth as she tiptoed to go watch the excitement.
Yun Xiao Wu and the others quickly followed.
Shen Yunlian said grumpily: “I don’t know why Jiaojiao likes to join the fun so much.”
“It’s fine, as long as she doesn’t get into trouble. I also like to join the fun.”
Aunt Shen also took her noodles to see what was happening.
“I seem to hear that they are having a family division next door.”
Indeed, the ones arguing about family division were the eldest son next door, who had always been hardworking and treated like a beast of burden.
Grandmother Shen also became excited. Although there was unpleasantness next door yesterday, it was the old woman who was now unhappy, so she was very interested.
Thus, several heads poked out from the wall on this side.
“I forbid it! Your father and I, your mother, are not dead yet, and you’re already thinking of dividing the family? What, your wings have grown strong, haven’t they? You ungrateful, unfilial wretch.
I worked so hard to raise you, feeding you one spoonful of shit and one spoonful of urine at a time, and this is how you repay me? Oh, everyone, come quickly and see, look at this wretch whom heaven and lightning should strike…”
Shen Jiang knelt on the ground, allowing Old Woman Li to hit him, but he was determined to divide the family.
