met free Chapter 479 Leaving
Chapter 479 Leaving
Chapter 479
Niu Dali rubbed his calloused hands and said in embarrassment, "But... we don't have any paper or pen."
Niu Jiaojiao froze slightly when these words fell into her ears. Although she had learned some words from her cousin years earlier, how could a family like theirs have the opportunity to use paper and pen on a daily basis? Ink cups and rice paper were extremely expensive. Even she learned to write by scratching on the sand with a stick. How could her family afford them?
Just as she was stunned, a clear male voice suddenly broke through the air: "Uncle Niu, don't worry. I happen to have a pen and paper here, which I can provide for you."
The crowd automatically made way for him, revealing a young man in a blue shirt, holding a bamboo box. He was none other than Widow Chen's only son, Chen Shuyan. He had passed the imperial examination at the age of sixteen and was a well-known figure in the area. After all, not many among them could read, so they would inevitably need him for letters and other paperwork. Who could guarantee they wouldn't need him? For them, a scholar was a rare commodity, so they naturally gave him a bit of respect.
Luo Shuiyao was about to call out to Aunt Luo, but before she could even utter a word, she was interrupted by a clear male voice. Seeing everyone drawn to the voice, looking off to the side, no one had noticed her words. Luo Shuiyao paused, looking over the crowd to see a young man in a washed-out blue shirt.
She searched through the original owner's memories and recognized that this person was Liu's neighbor Chen Shuyan.
Chen Shuyan's father was also a scholar, but unfortunately, due to frail health, he passed away early. Since then, Widow Chen has been working as a laundryman and helping in the fields, gritting her teeth to support her son's education. Fortunately, Chen Shuyan was sensible and studied very hard, achieving the title of scholar at a young age. For the past two years, neighbors have frequently asked him to write letters and documents, and the mother and son's difficult life has gradually improved.
Luo Shuiyao gazed at the young man who stood out from the crowd, her gaze etched with a deep emotion. The original owner knew quite a few words, and thinking back, she realized most of them were taught by Chen Shuyan. She remembered spending a lot of time with this young man, and now, thinking carefully, a number of images suddenly emerged in her mind—the afternoons by the stream when he taught her to read, the evenings when they watched the sunset together under the eaves. Those small moments of warmth came alive.
Ye Yunzhou had stood beside her without realizing it. Seeing Luo Shuiyao staring at Chen Shuyan with a dazed, lost gaze, his heart tightened. Even though he didn't hold the young man in his heart, a bitter feeling still welled up inside him. He suppressed his inexplicable emotions and gently grasped Luo Shuiyao's fingertips. Feeling the slight coolness of her hand, Luo Shuiyao looked back as if waking from a dream, a look of confusion in her eyes.
Ye Yunzhou just shook his head, and the words in his throat never came out.
Luo Shuiyao ignored him and returned her gaze to the field. Chen Shuyan moved with remarkable agility, pushing through the crowd and placing the bamboo box directly in front of Niu Jiaojiao and Niu Dali. His movements were fluid, swiftly pulling out the rice paper and expertly grinding the ink. His movements were impatient, as if he feared Niu Dali might suddenly change his mind.
That's exactly what he was thinking. As a longtime neighbor of the Niu family, Chen Shuyan knew everything about them. He'd seen Niu Dali bully his wife and daughter, and while he'd been disgusted, he was an outsider after all, so he couldn't say anything. Now that Niu Jiaojiao had finally stood up and fought, he was genuinely happy.
He was standing outside the crowd when he heard Niu Jiaojiao's forceful statement. Figuring the Niu family wouldn't have any paper or pen, he turned and ran home. Panting as he returned, clutching his bamboo box of pens and ink, he overheard Niu Dali using the lack of paper and pen as an excuse. Fearing Niu would go back on his word, he immediately interrupted.
By now, the ink had been ground thick and shiny. He held the pen without looking up, "Uncle Niu, don't worry. I've written many family letters, including letters of severance and divorce. I know exactly what wording to use. All you need to do is put your fingerprint on it, and the document will be valid."
His words immediately blocked Niu Dali's words. Niu Dali gritted his teeth and glared at Chen Shuyan fiercely. But now, in front of so many people, he couldn't openly go back on his word.
Besides, he was also afraid that he would push Niu Jiaojiao too far. If this stubborn girl refused to go to Mr. Li's house, and the gambling house people came to collect the debt, he would be skinned alive. Although Niu Dali was reluctant, he had no choice but to agree.
Chen Shuyan's hands were quick and nimble, and before long, he had finished writing the two documents. He gently shook the paper, waited for the ink to dry thoroughly, then took out the inkstone from the bamboo box and called Niu Jiaojiao and Niu Dali forward to place their fingerprints.
Niu Jiaojiao didn't hesitate at all, and quickly stepped forward to press the handprint heavily. Seeing this, even though Niu Dali was full of reluctance, he had no choice but to follow suit.
Afterwards, Niu Jiaojiao pushed Luo forward and pressed her fingerprints on the divorce agreement. Both the divorce agreement and the severance agreement were in duplicate.
After Chen Shuyan checked and confirmed that everything was correct, he handed the documents to both parties, and the farce came to a temporary end. Niu Jiaojiao folded the divorce and severance letters, stuffed them into her sleeve, and breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's a good decision. Niu Dali looked like a decent person in his early years, but he has become more and more unreasonable in recent years." Aunt Wang and Luo have always been good friends. She was sweeping the yard before and hurried out when she heard the noise. Now she still had a bamboo broom in her hand. She glanced at Luo, who was standing in the middle of the crowd with red eyes and a dazed expression, and sighed slowly.
"yes,"
Aunt Zhang beside her responded while cracking melon seeds, "It's better that they broke up. Madam Luo has always been capable. Without Niu Dali, the troublemaker, her life won't be any worse than it is now. It's just a pity for Jiaojiao and Baowa. How could they have such a father..."
Their discussion, oblivious to the others, actually drew the attention of many in the crowd who had initially thought Niu Jiaojiao was too rebellious and aggressive. "Yeah, with a father like that, Jiaojiao will be bullied to death if she doesn't resist. And Luo Shi is a soft-hearted and easy target, so it's hard to believe that this girl, at such a young age, would still protect her mother."
Some shook their heads and sighed, their words filled with pity; others nodded slightly, their eyes showing a hint of understanding. The resentment that had just risen in the crowd over Niu Jiaojiao's disobedience to her father was quietly dissipating.
Niu Jiaojiao noticed the change in everyone's attitude and looked at Aunt Wang and Aunt Zhang with gratitude. Although she had come to this point and no longer cared about the others' gazes, it still warmed her heart that someone could still speak a fair word for her.
Niu Dali had already felt he couldn't control his wife and daughter in front of so many people, and now, hearing what everyone was saying, he felt even more ashamed and angry. Having come to this point, he no longer cared and shouted, "Since we've divorced, you and I, Niu Dali, have nothing to do with each other anymore. In that case, my Niu family has no place for you! You don't even need to enter my house. Just leave now."
Even though the Luo mother and daughter were already utterly disappointed in Niu Dali, they still found it hard to believe he was saying such shameless things. Was Niu Dali actually trying to force them to leave without even a single piece of their belongings or a single penny?
Luo's lips trembled uncontrollably, while Niu Jiaojiao clenched her fists tightly, her nails almost digging into her palms, her eyes full of anger and sadness.