Chapter 18: Catching My Former Brother-in-Law in the Act with the Li Family

Because the commotion was so great, many people cast sidelong glances as they entered the Wang family’s village.

“What’s going on? These don’t look like folks from our village. Why are they accompanied by constables? Did someone break the law?”

“I recognize the one at the front—he’s the youngest son of the Li family from the neighboring village.”

“So why has he come here?”

“No idea, but Da Fa married a girl from the Li family. Come on, let’s go have a look.”

A crowd grabbed their farm tools and followed, curiosity piqued. Gossip is universal; this was sure to be a spectacle, even the passing dogs stopped to listen.

Li Su led his group to the Wang family’s door when a rough-looking fellow sidled up. “They’re inside, haven’t come out yet.”

“Hey, look…” The man rubbed his hands, hinting for payment.

Li Su handed him a few copper coins; the man took them, grinning—such easy work, five coins earned without breaking a sweat.

“If you have anything like this again, you can call on me,” the man said to Li Su.

The Li family didn’t quite understand what was happening, but nobody asked. Su was the cleverest child in their family; whatever he did surely had its reasons.

Li Su nodded to the man. There would likely be no next time.

“Third Sister, go in now and kick open the door. That widow and Wang Da Fa are still inside,” Li Su turned to Li Zhengping.

Li Zhengping clenched her fists. That damned Wang Da Fa, brazenly bringing someone into their home, truly didn’t care about her at all.

A glint of hatred flashed in Li Zhengping’s eyes as she kicked open the main door.

Wang’s mother, packing up to head to the fields, jumped at the loud bang. “Which scoundrel—!”

Her sharp voice rang out. When she saw it was Li Zhengping, she scowled. “You have the nerve to come back?”

Li Zhengping didn’t spare Wang’s mother a glance and went straight to Wang Da Fa’s room.

Wang’s mother hurried to block her way, warning the people inside, “Da Fa, your wife’s back!”

At that moment, Wang Da Fa was still holding the young widow in his arms. The widow, hearing the commotion outside, whispered coyly, “Da Fa, Li Zhengping’s back. Should we…”

Wang Da Fa kissed her fiercely. “Ignore her. It’s just as well she’s here—I won’t have to go looking for her. Today, I’ll divorce her!”

The widow was tempted by the thought. Divorce would be good.

Li Zhengping moved, and the Li family poured in behind her, instantly filling the small Wang courtyard.

Wang’s mother was dumbfounded. What was happening? Li Zhengping had brought her whole family?

Desperate to stop Li Zhengping, Wang’s mother was detained by Feng Cui Cui and her two daughters-in-law. “Da Fa! Da Fa!”

Wang’s mother did all she could to warn her son, but it was all in vain—Wang Da Fa paid no heed.

Meanwhile, Li Zhengping kicked open the door to Wang Da Fa’s room.

Wang Da Fa, still embracing the widow, looked at Li Zhengping at the threshold and sneered, “Li Zhengping, you haven’t given me a son in all these years. I’ve decided to divorce you.”

Li Zhengping felt no pain seeing them together—only satisfaction at catching them red-handed.

No heartbreak at a husband’s betrayal, just admiration for her own handiwork.

Following her younger brother’s advice, Li Zhengping pinched her thigh and wailed loudly, “Wang Da Fa, how could you treat me like this? I’ve worked day and night for this family since marrying you, and you’re here holding that little harlot while I’m back at my parents’ house…”

Her voice was so loud that not only the Li family in the courtyard heard, but even the villagers outside could hear every word.

“Wang Da Fa must be out of his mind. Everyone knows how good his wife is. How could he cheat on her while she’s back at her parents’?”

“Who’s the woman with him? Someone’s wife? Or maybe someone’s daughter?”

At that, the villagers’ faces changed—everyone had wives or daughters.

The rest of the Wang family, already at the fields, suddenly heard the Li family had arrived en masse. Hearts sinking, they dropped their tools and rushed back.

The Wang family shoved through the crowds, trying to get in, but the villagers held them back. “Who’s Da Fa sleeping with? Tell us the truth.”

“We don’t know! Let us through!”

They finally managed to squeeze in, only to meet the fierce Li family.

“What are you doing? You—” Wang’s father tried to scold the Li family, only to see his son dragged out naked, along with Tian Hua, clad only in underclothes.

“Oh my eyes! Aunt Du, isn’t that your daughter-in-law?”

Aunt Du’s face turned ghastly. She charged forward, slapping Tian Hua several times. “You shameless woman! Have you been carrying on with Wang Da Fa all along?”

Wang Da Fa tried to shield her, but the Li family lashed out at him.

“Make room for me! I want to hit him too! I want to stand up for Sister Ping!”

“Are there a few more Wang family members over there? Bring them in for a beating.”

The Wang family members nearby recoiled in horror. “Don’t come any closer!”

Wang Da Fa’s elder brother and sister-in-law just wanted to hide. “This has nothing to do with us—we’ve already separated households!” Thank goodness for that!

Constable Liu stayed silent, so long as the Li family didn’t beat them to death. He trusted Li Su to handle the matter.

The elder brother and sister-in-law refused to help, while Wang Da Fa’s parents wanted to intervene, but they couldn’t protect themselves. If they tried, they’d be slapped immediately.

Wang Da Fa’s grandparents tried to use their seniority to stop the fighting, but Grandpa and Grandma Li weren’t to be trifled with—especially with several burly sons at their side. The old couple dared not utter a word.

Everyone watched as Wang Da Fa and Tian Hua were pummeled, wailing and sobbing, and no one dared help.

The Li men’s muscles promised pain to anyone who intervened—no one was foolish enough to take a punch on Wang Da Fa’s behalf.

Li Su stood by until the beating was sufficient, then spoke calmly, “Enough, stop now.”

The Li family stopped. Li Zhengqiang spat on the half-dead Wang Da Fa lying on the ground.

Wang Da Fa never expected Li Zhengping to be so ruthless, bringing the whole family to his door. Now he dared not threaten to divorce her, having been thoroughly cowed.

Tian Hua was full of regret. She was ruined—so many people had seen her caught in bed with Wang Da Fa, even her former mother-in-law.

Though after her husband died, she’d left with her child, insisting on leaving to be with Wang Da Fa, her mother-in-law continued bringing her things, still believing the child belonged to her deceased son.

“Wang Da Fa, put your fingerprint on this divorce agreement. My sister will take the child with her. You already have a son with this woman—since you don’t care for this one, our Li family will take him.”

“You and my sister weren’t divorced yet when you slept with the widow and had a son. That’s a crime under the law of the realm—adultery. Constable Liu will handle it.”

“How do you know the child is mine?” Wang Da Fa, his face swollen, was shocked.

Li Su knelt, lifted Wang Da Fa’s hand, and used the blood on his fingers to make his mark on the divorce paper.