Everyone said she seduced Li Jianye, wanting her dead. Fine, she’d seduce them! She would step inside the Li family’s door one step at a time!
Widows? So what? Widows could remarry!
As long as she was alive, she would cling to Li Jianye!
@InfiniteGoodWorks, all found at Jinjiang Literature City
The widow was now in a state of reckless defiance, gambling fiercely against everyone’s disdain—yes! She was a tramp, so what?
This was her rebellion against this life. Different from Lin Xinran’s knife-wielding protests followed by fear and retreat, the widow’s defiance was against everyone’s gaze and scorn.
She was resisting a notion and said: “Mom can’t go.”
Since the name “tramp” had already stuck, she might as well enjoy the benefits. This man would never let go!
These thoughts flashed through her mind, and suddenly a surge of energy welled up inside. She stood up, determined to act.
Sometimes, people live by sheer willpower.
“Find me some clothes,” she said. “I’m going to see Li Jianye.”
She needed to hurry to Li Laier’s house.
Just as others believed Stone Meilan and Li Jianye couldn’t divorce, the widow thought the same.
Divorce! What a terrifying, rebellious, immoral thing! There was no woman in the world who could divorce. Even if life was hell, you had to make do.
So she had to hurry.
She had to get to Li Laier’s house to urge divorce.
She must hurry. What if it was too late and they reconciled?
“But Mom—” Lin Xinran hesitated, “Those people might—”
They might say terrible things. Could her mother withstand that?
Wang Yulian lowered her head and spoke each word slowly: “I can.”
What good would it do if she couldn’t?
Life never pampered anyone. If you could bear it, bear it; if not, die.
If you died, no one would care. Soon everyone would forget you. You might even become a joke, endlessly mocked. They bullied you alive, and after death, they’d still bully you. What could you do then?
You’d be helpless—you’d be dead.
So Wang Yulian would not die. She must live.
She had to live well. Even if everyone cursed her, she must live.
She had to live well; she must endure.
Lin Xinran fetched some clothes. Wang Yulian put them on, tidied her messy hair, and prepared to leave.
Lin Xinran held the knife, following closely, but the widow stopped her.
“You go back,” Wang Yulian said. “Mom will be back soon.”
She had to handle things and couldn’t bring her daughter along. As a mother, she had to keep some dignity in front of her child.
But Lin Xinran refused.
“Mom, take me with you.” She gripped the knife. “Take me with you.”
At least if something happened again, she could protect her mother.
Wang Yulian couldn’t stop her, so she said, “Then hide outside the door. Don’t come in.”
Lin Xinran nodded and followed her out.
Wang Yulian headed straight to Li Laier’s courtyard.
Meanwhile, Li Laier’s household was embroiled in a fierce dispute.
Stone Meilan wanted a divorce, so they cleared the door. Others could enter, and Li Jianye finally got dressed.
Everyone gathered in the main hall. Even Hu Honghua came in but stood quietly in a corner.
Old Master Li sat at the main seat with elders around, all trying to persuade Stone Meilan. Li Jianye seemed calmer. If he divorced now, he’d be a laughingstock, so he no longer shouted about “this house is mine, you get out,” but fell silent. When pressured, he muttered, “I already know I was wrong, stop making trouble.”
If that didn’t work, he begged others, like a broken record: “Dad, say something.”
“Second Uncle, say something.”
“Cici, say something.”
“Third Uncle, say something.”
He even turned to Hu Honghua: “Honghua, say something.”
The men took up his call, talking nonstop with kind words raining down.
Men’s way was to gloss over, pretend nothing happened, feign madness or deafness, hoping the marriage would last and the women would tire out.
But Hu Honghua turned pale, trembling, unable to say a word, only staring at Stone Meilan.
Stone Meilan seemed resolute to divorce. Hearing all the nonsense, she got annoyed, grabbed the broom, and was about to chase away the Li family elders to live with Wang Yulian.
Li Jianye gritted his teeth.
Divorcing over such a trivial matter? Was he crazy? He, a man, had humbled himself this far. Even his father had apologized. Why all this fuss?
Stone Meilan was overreacting to his one mistake, humiliating him in front of everyone!
He could almost imagine his future life. This wouldn’t end, just countless little torments. Cooking meals, Stone Meilan wouldn’t cook for him; she’d scold him to eat elsewhere. Buying new clothes, she’d refuse, calling him a tramp. She would hold grudges and curse him dozens of times a day.
At this moment, Li Jianye was also filled with disgust and thought it might be better to just divorce. The kids were grown; no point keeping Stone Meilan around. Such a shrew only caused trouble in the family!
Just as Stone Meilan raised the broom, a timid voice came from outside the main hall: “Li Ersao.”
Everyone froze, then turned to see Wang Yulian entering.
Oh, what was she doing here?
This Wang Yulian was different from the fresh lotus she’d been at noon. Now, swollen-faced, hair pulled out in clumps, bruised and battered, she looked pitiful.
“Yulian!” Li Jianye’s voice shot up, “Who beat you like this?”
Then he guessed, “Was it Zhao Erjie?”
There was no one else. Zhao Erjie was the meanest in the village.
Li Jianye was heartbroken. At that moment, he forgot where he was, his father present, and that he had just begged everyone for peace. All he could think of was Wang Yulian.
He truly liked her, so seeing her hurt pained him. He hurried toward the door, but Wang Yulian stepped back, avoiding his hand.
“I came to apologize.” Her anxiety deepened. She lowered her head and told everyone, “It’s all my fault. I seduced Jianye. After today, I’ll leave Li village. Li Ersao, if you don’t want a divorce, I’ll leave. The house and money are yours. Don’t divorce. It’s my fault, nothing to do with Jianye.”
Everyone in the hall was stunned.
The men’s first thought: What a sensible woman! If only Stone Meilan was this reasonable, there’d be no fight.
Second thought: If only they could all find such obedient wives. Li Jianye’s luck was good—great wife and great mistress.
“Yulian!” Li Jianye was moved to tears. “It’s my fault!”
Compared to Stone Meilan, Wang Yulian was wonderful. For a moment, Li Jianye couldn’t tell what he was sorry for! Was Stone Meilan worth keeping?
If he stayed, he’d be scolded for life. Might as well divorce and marry a gentle, obedient woman.
Better to be ruthless now and avoid future suffering!
Thus, Li Jianye’s gaze toward Wang Yulian softened.
They were in love, making Stone Meilan look like a criminal.
Stone Meilan was stunned for two seconds, thinking no wonder Li Jianye was infatuated with Wang Yulian and insisted on bringing her in.
At this crucial moment, Wang Yulian’s show of weakness seemed like an apology, but to Stone Meilan, it was another slap in the face.
Disgusting! Didn’t she feel disgusting?
If she really wanted to leave, she’d have slipped away quietly. Coming now meant she wasn’t leaving and was just acting.
This was like a military strategy—advancing by retreating, the ultimate attack on the mind. That’s why they say educated people are cunning.
“Now you come here to pretend?” Stone Meilan’s anger flared as she pointed at Wang Yulian, cursing, “How could you have any shame? What about sleeping with Li Jianye before?”
She hadn’t cursed Wang Yulian before, only dealt with Li Jianye, but now both deserved it.
“Shut up!” Li Jianye shouted, “Yulian already knows she was wrong and will leave Li village. What about you? Do you want to kill me?”
At that moment, Wang Yulian suddenly burst into tears, saying, “If I don’t die, will Li Ersao and Jianye not divorce? Then I’ll die.”
Then she turned and banged her head against the wall.
Li Jianye immediately caught her, shouting, “Yulian, you can’t die! If anyone dies, it’ll be me! I’ve wronged you both!”
“Jianye, I don’t want to drag you down,” Wang Yulian said. “Let me die.”
Ah, true love!
Stone Meilan found it disgusting and decided to act. She was set on divorce anyway; no need to pretend here. Since Wang Yulian was provoking her, she’d give her a good beating.
She swung the rattan broom fiercely. Wang Yulian didn’t dodge and got hit solidly, eyes rolling back as she collapsed.
Li Jianye let out a loud howl—his family’s infamous Li voice, the louder the cry, the more painful: “Stone Meilan, what are you doing!”
With a “bang,” Wang Yulian hit the ground, unconscious.
Li Jianye shouted, “Call the doctor!”
Someone rushed out to fetch Dr. Qian.
Dr. Qian was extremely busy—making all the money from the Li family.
Stone Meilan looked over to see Li Jianye guarding the unconscious Wang Yulian, a loving couple.
She laughed, hands on hips and holding the broom, turning to Old Master Li in his wheelchair: “See? Old Master Li, look at them. Are they really done?”
They were about to die together today, so of course, they’d still be together tomorrow.
Old Master Li roared angrily, “Complete nonsense!”
Though not as reasonable as Wang Yulian appeared, Old Master Li could not accept divorce!
In their Li family, divorce was unthinkable.
Li Cici added, “Dad, this is nonsense.”
Li Cici thought, if Dad liked this woman, he could sneak around quietly without Mom finding out. No need for divorce.
But now it was too late to stop.
From Wang Yulian’s arrival and display of weakness, the marriage was doomed—Li Jianye had fallen for her.
He no longer wanted to be humiliated by Stone Meilan.
If Wang Yulian hadn’t come, he would have refused divorce, and this would have been a stalemate. He could feign madness, but with Wang Yulian there, she pried open his heart. It was over.
When a woman wants divorce, it’s not always certain she’ll get it, but when a man wants divorce, it’s inevitable.
Sure enough, Li Jianye had made up his mind. He looked at the unconscious Wang Yulian, then shouted at Stone Meilan, “Divorce! Right now! Who cares about you?”
He used to care, but after being scolded for so long and seeing Wang Yulian, he no longer cared for Stone Meilan.
Stone Meilan was like a stinky, hard rock in a cesspit, humiliating him. Wang Yulian was a juicy peach, fragrant and sweet, willing to die for him. Who would he choose?
Wang Yulian was the last straw breaking the marriage. After all the twists, it would end in divorce.
Old Master Li cursed a few times, then, exhausted and out of breath, closed his eyes and wheeled himself away.
He gave up.
Old Master Li gave up; Stone Meilan and Li Jianye called the village chief to arbitrate.
In their countryside, marriage was just a feast; no formal procedure. Calling the village chief to settle was enough.
The village chief sighed, aiming for fairness—he was a man of dignity, not taking sides.
“The land belongs to the village, the house is built on it, so I can’t give it to you,” the village chief told Stone Meilan. “But you gave birth to two children for the Li family. The Li family owes you. You can take anything you can carry as compensation.”
The Li family had just over 200 yuan left, all borrowed to pay Li Jianye’s debts.
200 yuan sounded like a lot but wasn’t enough to make up for Stone Meilan’s decade-long sacrifice. Still, it wasn’t unfair. In the countryside, a woman who marries in gives everything. Leaving means taking nothing. If Li Jianye hadn’t made such a big mistake, Stone Meilan wouldn’t even leave with money.
The property was settled, but she had two sons. Luckily, they were grown, not burdens but laborers. The village chief asked, “Which of you will go with Stone Meilan?”
If even one son went with her, she’d have food to eat. The sons would support her.
But both sons stayed silent.
If they were young, hungry, and helpless, they could go with Mom, who would care for them. But now, grown up, what could they get by leaving?
Kids needed a thoughtful, gentle nanny who wouldn’t beat them or drink. Adults needed real money.
Yes, Stone Meilan had some money but no land. No land, no house—big problems in the countryside. No land, no wife.
So the sons said nothing.
Besides, even if they didn’t go, Stone Meilan would spend money on them.
Li Cici knew his mother was angry at his father, not him. When he went to college, his mother would definitely pay for his studies. That money would end up with him, so Stone Meilan’s bargaining chips were even weaker.
Her value was negligible. Don’t blame the sons for not wanting to leave with her.
Though they looked down on Li Jianye and sympathized with Stone Meilan, they wouldn’t give up their claims and go with her.
Stone Meilan was fine with their silence. She nodded and said, “They both have the Li surname. They’ll stay in the Li family.”
What happened to these two sons in her past life was clear. This life, she would never want them.
After a pause, the village chief gave a hint: “Wang the widow isn’t exactly upright. They probably won’t last long. You should go back to your mother’s home for a while, cool off. Maybe then the Li family will take you back.”
Everyone thought the village chief was being fair.
But Li Jianye didn’t want fairness.
While Li Jianye sat silently, clutching the unconscious widow, he said, “I want her. I will marry her!”
Li Jianye rejected fairness. Stone Meilan naturally refused it too.
“Thank you, village chief, but I won’t be coming back.”
With that, Stone Meilan grabbed a big bag, picked two pieces of clothing and some saved money, and headed out.
Li Jianye scoffed.
He already had a better woman lined up. Let’s see if Stone Meilan could find a man better than him! Who wants a divorced woman?
Li Cici frowned.
Divorcing now was too shameful!
Marrying a tramp was even worse!
Li Fufu opened his mouth but didn’t dare speak.
With Mom gone, who’d cook? Could that widow cook?
All the swirling thoughts and the crowd’s gaze turned to Stone Meilan, who strode arrogantly out of Li Laier’s yard with her money and clothes.
They whispered:
“Ah, she’ll be back eventually.”
“What can a woman do after leaving? Can her natal family take her in?”
She adjusted her bag on her back.
“Jianye, you’re foolish. Send Wang Yulian away and take Stone Meilan back. A second wife isn’t better than the original.”
She walked to the yard’s corner and pushed a rusty old bicycle.
“Take her back?!” Li Jianye shouted, afraid of being looked down on. “I have Wang Yulian!”
He left without looking back.
The men behind him talked like sheep criticizing a lamb that left the herd, mocking her stupidity, speculating about her future with pity and tolerance.
“Women, when they’re mad, it’s like this. She’ll regret it and come back.”
“Would she? Wang Yulian’s here now!”
“Wang Yulian may not get in—the old master won’t agree.”
“The sons are grown; does he need Dad’s permission?”
“Blame Stone Meilan. If she had softened earlier, none of this would happen. Now Li Jianye doesn’t want her. Tsk, all her own fault.”
Amid the gossip, Hu Honghua slipped away from the herd and caught up to Stone Meilan.
Leaving Li village, but a new woman entered. The two groups passed each other, silently guessing each other’s troubles and the harshness of this land. Neither looked back, biting their lips and continuing on their chosen paths.
This broken cage was left behind. If the widow wanted to dive in, let her. Stone Meilan was done with this suffering.
She wasn’t sick yet, at 33 years old full of strength. Pushing the cart, the wheels turned in sync, every part cooperating with her pace. As long as she pushed forward, this cart could carry her away.
The cart was bought less than two months ago. In the past life, it became Wang Yulian’s bride price. This life, Stone Meilan grabbed it along with her life, walking with the wind toward another direction.
A bright, round face smiled suddenly, voice clear: “Auntie Shi, where are you going?”
When the Li family’s estate was being divided, Hu Honghua stayed on the sidelines, a young girl with no say, waiting for Stone Meilan to leave with the cart before following.
Her mind was slow. After all they’d been through with Stone Meilan, she still didn’t understand what her aunt planned.
What could Stone Meilan do now?
She’d made the Li family a laughingstock, ruined Li Laier and Li Laoda’s reputations forever. Following divorce, logically…