As soon as the family finished eating, Su Mian’s three aunties hurried into the yard from outside.
He Qin and Su Mian were washing the dishes and clearing the table. As soon as they saw that people came to them, they went out and welcomed them.
“Sister-in-law, Xiao Mian.” Her Youngest Aunt’s eyes were red and swollen, and there were still tears in her eyes. This meant she just cried not long ago.
He Qin pulled her little sister-in-law over, “What’s wrong? Have you eaten? We just made dumplings at home, the three of you can have some.” Su Jiang Hai told He Qin that his little sister’s husband was having an affair a few days back. He Qin almost died of anger when she heard about it. She heard that the son he had with that woman was already 3 or 4 years old, which meant he had had the affair with that woman a few years back.
“Sister-in-law, we have all eaten. Today we came to discuss the divorce of the third sister. We also called up our other 2 brothers, and they will come over in a while.” Eldest Aunt said openly and did not beat around the bush. The two brothers mentioned were Su Mian’s second and younger uncle.
“Come in and talk about it.” He Qin invited the three sisters to the house, and Youngest Aunt couldn’t help crying again when she saw Su Jiang Hai, “Big brother, you have to help me figure things out, Gao Tie Liang is just too much.” Su Jiang Hai was their eldest brother. He had taken care of them since they were young. The saying ‘The eldest brother was like a father’ was not wrong at all. She just couldn’t hold her grievances back anymore after she saw Su Jiang Hai.
“Big brother, how could he treat me this way? I have been married to the old Gao family for more than ten years. I might not have contributed, but I did work hard. He even had a son behind my back. If it weren’t discovered by Su Mian, I would still be kept in the dark!” Youngest Aunt became more anxious as she said, covering her face and crying out loud after she finished speaking.
These days, Gao Tie Liang didn’t even come home at night. When she asked him where he had been, Gao Tie Liang still boldly replied that he would go just anywhere he liked. It was yesterday that he was finally annoyed by her persistent questions, and almost gave her a beating. Fortunately, their child came back. Gao Tie Liang didn’t bother to care about her, turned around and left in front of their children.
That morning, Su Mian’s Youngest Aunt went to the market to buy groceries, and happened to run into him. He was fetching a child with a lady, and they were happily talking along the way as if they were a family. Her Youngest Aunt was so pissed and confronted the lady at once. She was pushed aside by Gao Tie Liang right away. If it weren’t for the people around who couldn’t stand watching holding back Gao Tie Liang, he would have definitely slapped her in her face.
Youngest Aunt cried and told the story, and Su Jiang Hai’s expression sank after hearing it. Gao Tie Liang was still behaving well a few years ago when he was down to earth and slaughtered pigs for a living. Over these few years the condition had improved and he was not his previous self.
After a while, old Mrs. Su and her two sons rushed over. After listening to Su Mian’s Eldest Aunt, old Mrs. Su was so angry that she threw the big pipe on the ground, “Gao Tie Liang is not a thing! That time during the marriage he was talking so extravagantly and sweetly as if there were honey in his mouth. It’s just the tenth year after the marriage and he had himself an illegitimate child.This man must be divorced!”
“Mother, calm yourself down, don’t be angry.” Su Mian’s Eldest Aunt picked up the big pipe and placed it next to old Mrs. Su. “If it really ends up in a divorce, the lady will suffer more than the man. If she were to return to her family, she would be a laughing stock. If she were to stay outside, she would have no source of income to sustain her life.”Su Mian’s Eldest Aunt did not agree to a divorce. Her youngest sister even wanted custody of her two children. After the divorce, she would have problems even taking care of herself, not to mention raising her two children.
Old Mrs. Su was upset when she heard that, “Just find a source of income then! It is still better than letting my old daughter suffer from this sorrow everyday! Today, he dared to lay his hand on you, there will not be an end in the future!” Old Mrs. Su had lived long and seen a lot. Some couples with no issues could become violent from just an argument, not to mention an affair!
In the Northeast of this era, male chauvinism was rampant, and it was normal for a man to beat his wife. Su Mian recalled going to her grandmother’s house in her previous life. Even in his 70’s, her grandfather was still chasing after her grandmother all over with a wooden club in his hands, wanting to beat her!
