Chapter 45 - Split Up

Li Miao’s tears flowed uncontrollably as if she wanted to pour out all the bitterness in her heart.

Yang Dashan covered his face with his hands and lowered his head weakly.

Yue Jiaojiao silently handed him a handkerchief.

It was unknown when Zhao Zhan had quietly moved to Yue Jiaojiao’s side. However, his large hand — which was hidden under the table — tightly clenched her small hand in his palm, and silently squeezed it.

“Forget it, Jiaojiao. I was being too greedy.”

“Why don’t you move out?”

Yue Jiaojiao never had the thought that even if her parents-in-law pestered her, she would still have to respectfully wait on them by the side. She raised her brows slightly, her eyes cold. “Since it’s so painful, why don’t you move out?”

“Of the family?” Li Miao looked up at Yue Jiaojiao in a daze and said, “But it’s my fault for not bearing children. If I continue to make a fuss about splitting up, will my in-laws defame me?”

“You’re Dashan’s wife. Even if they wanted you to leave, they’ll need Dashan’s permission.”

“Li Miao, I won’t divorce you. It’s not like we can’t have a child. Even if we don’t, we can just adopt one.”

“Dashan,” Zhao Zhan, who had been silent all this time, suddenly spoke up, “Why don’t you move out? Your family’s six fields are all handled by you and Li Miao, but Dashu and Dashen are not even willing to pay a single silver to send her to a doctor even when they’re your siblings. Even if you are separated, you can still be filial to them. You can send them silver and food every year. You can also help with the work in the fields, but you must break away from them to grow your own roots and earn your own income because…”

Zhao Zhan held back and didn’t finish his sentence. He wanted to say that if the elders were not kind, the younger generation should not be foolishly filial.

In particular, his foolish filial piety was the reason he had suffered until now.

Yue Jiaojiao was a little surprised that Zhao Zhan’s awareness was so high, and she tilted her head to give him a look of admiration.

“Dashan, Yang Lizheng is a fair man. As long as you seek justice from him, not only will you be able to leave the family, you will also be able to get a fair share of the inheritance.”

“Dashan,” Li Miao looked at him in disbelief with trembling lips, “Should we?”

Yang Dashan looked at Zhao Zhan for help. Zhao Zhan and Yue Jiaojiao looked at him and nodded encouragingly.

He hesitated for a moment and finally made up his mind. “Alright, let’s go find Lizheng.”

“Zhao Zhan, can you take care of Liao Miao for me for two days? When I go to the fields, I’ll leave a piece of land for your soybeans and millet peppers. I’ll plant some wheat in the remaining fields for tax and for my own family to eat.”

Hearing that Yang Dashan had made up his mind, Li Miao immediately pulled him up, “Let’s go and find Lizheng.”

“Li Miao.” Yue Jiaojiao stood up and held her hand. She squeezed it a little hard and then smiled gently. “After you move out, you’ll definitely have a pair of children next year.”

Li Miao was stunned. She wanted to say that Yue Jiaojiao was joking, but when she looked into her eyes, an inexplicable trust appeared in her heart. Her mouth moved and she nodded vigorously. “Thank you!”

After sending the two of them off, Yue Jiaojiao closed the courtyard door when she suddenly felt the world spin around her as she was pulled into Zhao Zhan’s embrace.

Feeling the other party’s body slightly trembling, Yue Jiaojiao’s movements were stiff. She then reached out her arms and hugged the other party back, immediately melting into the warmth. Her voice was tender as she asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Jiaojiao, if I make you cry in the future, you can scold me and hit me,” he said with difficulty, his eyes closed. “But if you leave me, I may die.”