Jin Shanyao hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. When the village head sent someone over, she was reading the law with her two children. The law was dry and boring.
There were still some uncommon characters that she needed to teach her two children. Just as the three of them saw their grandparents and parents, and their children and grandchildren who were from different families and had different wealth, Qing He came over to announce their arrival.
"Master, the village head has sent someone to ask you to take the young master to Meng Hongde's house."
Jin Shanyao the book, smiled, and said to the two little ones, "Let's go see what you've done."
Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci exchanged a glance, their hearts filled with excitement, anticipation, and a touch of nervousness. This was their first time operating in the shadows.
It wasn't about throwing a tantrum or threatening suicide; it was about hiding in the shadows and sowing discord.
After the two were dressed, Qing He stuffed a hand warmer into their arms before letting them go out.
Jin Shanyao, fearing she might have missed something, called Lu Chi to go with her. Although Lu Chi had spent the whole day digging latrines, he finally got to eat the braised meat he had been craving and drink Guihua wine, which made him feel much better.
The Meng Household's courtyard was packed with people. There was little entertainment in the village, so if there was any commotion in someone's house, everyone wanted to crawl into the doorway of their kang (heated brick bed) to listen.
As the Jin Shanyao approached, everyone automatically made way for him.
"Village head, you were looking for me?"
The village head took a sip of water from his bowl. "The eldest and second branches of the Meng Household want to sever ties with their relatives and need you to come and sign a document."
Jin Shanyao feigned ignorance, " The Meng Household has severed ties, why would I sign any documents? They aren't my children."
"How dare you speak like that!" Diao Siniang roared, "Who comes in and starts cursing?"
Meng Hongde nudged her. This tiger-like woman, if she's provoked, will make Jin Shanyao. What if she doesn't sign the marriage contract?
Diao Siniang swallowed hard, turned her face away, and stood aside. The village head knocked on the table, " The Meng Household has severed ties cleanly this time. Have the two children from the third branch sign as well."
That ended their line of cousins.
Jin Shanyao suddenly realized what was going on and said sarcastically, "I didn't use them to raise my child, yet they're so eager to sever ties. Fine, let them sign."
As he spoke, he glanced around the room and saw three pieces of paper on the table. He walked over, picked them up, and looked at them. The contents of the three pieces of paper were the same.
The three parties severed all daily contact and ceased to discuss kinship ties.
The family property and land have been clearly defined, each party retains their own, and there are no disputes.
Each person bears their own burdens in life, from birth to old age, sickness, and death, without burdening the other.
Their descendants have no kinship ties and cannot be recognized by them.
Jin Shanyao gestured for Lu Chi to look at it. After Lu Chi looked at it, he nodded to her. Jin Shanyao smiled and picked up a piece of paper to ask the village head.
Where do I sign?
The village headman got up and pointed out the location to her. She first picked up Meng Anzhi, wrote her name crookedly on the paper, and then picked up Meng Anci to sign and affix her fingerprint.
Lu Chi stared at the word "ugly" and frowned. He had never seen such an ugly word. Thinking of the environment in which the two children grew up, Youyou sighed. He was too demanding.
After the three sheets of paper were signed and sealed by the three families, Jin Shanyao one away and said calmly, "Is there anything else? If not, I'll be leaving."
The village head waved his hand.
Once outside the yard, the two little ones dared to cover their mouths and giggle secretly, "Auntie, with this paper, does that mean we have nothing to do with the Meng Household anymore?"
Jin Shanyao chuckled, "There's only one more step: registering it with the county government. This piece of paper is only good for honest people; it's better to avoid them going back on their word later. It won't hurt us, but it'll be disgusting."
The two children nodded, Lu Chi walked behind them with his hands behind his back. "The children's handwriting is too ugly; they should practice it more."
Jin Shanyao's eyes flashed. "How's your handwriting? You actually think my child's handwriting is ugly."
The two little ones looked up at Lu Chi with dissatisfaction. This servant had no sense of responsibility whatsoever. Lu Chi wrinkled his nose at the two little ones.
He said casually, "My handwriting is naturally good."
Jin Shanyao, pursing her lips. "Write it down for me when you get back." She bought Lu Chi for two reasons: first, because he was always surrounded by good fortune, and second, because she wanted him to teach her two children the Six Arts of a Gentleman.
When I first met him, the boy was beaten black and blue, but there was a resilient look in his eyes. Although his speech was incoherent, it was watertight, and his demeanor was well-mannered, showing that he had received a good education.
Her coercing the professor and his voluntary teaching have two different effects.
Back at the Meng Household, Jin Shanyao took the household registration documents and the letter of severance of kinship, and with her two young cubs, went directly to the county government office to file the report.
It was already dark when I came out of the government office.
Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci stood hand in hand at the entrance of the yamen, gazing at the fiery sunset and grinning foolishly. They had finally gotten rid of Meng Hongde and Meng Hongyi.
Strangely enough, Tietou woke up right after the letter of severance was signed, which made Meng Hongde determined to never have any more contact with the second wife.
When the first snow fell, the shop was also renovated, and Qing He, Qing Yang, and Lu Chi moved into the shop.
Lu Chi looked at the simple house and almost cried tears of joy. Finally, he didn't have to sleep in the kitchen anymore. He was a young master, yet he wasn't even as well treated as two maids in the Meng Household.
The maidservants could sleep on a heated brick bed, but he could only sleep on a makeshift wooden plank. Lu Chi looked up and held back his tears, vowing that one day he would definitely buy this crazy woman.
They made her a slave, to sleep in the kitchen... dig latrines, empty swill, chop firewood, carry water, and gather leaves from the mountain.
I'll make her wish she were dead... Wahahaha...
" Gouya, what are you grinning about? Go empty the swill."
Qing He's voice pulled Lu Chi back to reality. He glared at the clueless maid.
One day, he would buy this woman and make her do the swill. With that thought Lu Chi carried the swill out of the kitchen.
He even circled the Jin Shanyao once... Woman, did you see that? I'm working.
Jin Shanyao found him an eyesore and stepped aside.
Lu Chi scoffed. He didn't care whether Lu Chi saw him or not, but he wanted to see the slop bucket.
We can't do any work for nothing; we have to make sure our boss sees it.
After finishing, Lu Chi stood beside Jin Shanyao with his hands behind his back and coughed twice. "Um, I've cleaned the slop bucket."
"Um."
Seeing that Jin Shanyao didn't even lift his eyelids, Lu Chi felt somewhat displeased. Had he always treated his servants this way?
Thump... The sound of a cloth bag hitting the side of a bucket.
Lu Chi snapped out of his daze and watched as the two little ones solemnly tossed the items into their pockets.
He couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Is this what you call pitch-pot? Pitch-pot doesn't use cloth bags."
Jin Shanyao finally looked at him directly, a dark glint in her eyes. "What is pitch-pot?"
Lu Chi shook his head, "It's also difficult for you. What could a country girl like you know?"
He lazily stepped forward, picked up a cloth bag, and tossed it lightly forward. It landed in the wooden bucket with a thud, and he looked at the two little ones with a smug expression.
I expected to be met with admiring glances, but instead, their faces were all quite serious.
Lu Chi, "What kind of expressions are those?"
Meng Anzhi, "This isn't how you play the game?"
"Isn't it just throwing things in?"
Meng Anzhi, though young, sighed with surprising wisdom and instructed Meng Anci to retrieve the cloth bag from the bucket.
He said to Lu Chi, "Let's play a game. You throw one, I'll throw one, and whoever gets the most pockets in wins."
Lu Chi tossed the cloth bag into the air and caught it. "I'm not playing with you. You're bullying a child," he glanced at Jin Shanyao. "Let her play with me."
Meng Anci frowned, " Gouya you can't remember to call me master, I'll sell you out."
Lu Chi was both annoyed and amused. The little brat didn't even know how to bow properly, yet he was being taught manners.
Jin Shanyao lay back in the rocking chair, a thin blanket covering her, and said swaying gently, "If you beat her, I'll play with you."
Lu Chi looked indignant; this was utterly disrespectful. He picked up the cloth bag and threw it into the wooden bucket with a thud.
Then he looked at Meng Anzhi, "Your turn."
Meng Anzhi took the cloth bag and tossed it forward, but it got caught on the edge of the wooden tub and didn't go in.
Lu Chi glanced at the Jin Shanyao, as if to say, "See? This is the result you wanted."