The neighbors around the Lu family all knew what kind of people they were.
The family of Lu Sanbao had never been shy about boasting that their Eldest son took a good wife, how well her younger brother treated them, providing food and clothing, as well as giving Silver every month and so on.
There were those who envied the Lu Sanbao’s family, but most people felt that the match with the Xiao family was truly not worthwhile.
It was one thing to spend money and effort to support the Lu family, but at least they should have treated their own daughter better.
Everyone knew what kind of life Xiao Daya was living in the Lu family—it was like being soaked in bitter water.
Many people criticized Ms. Ping: "This matter can’t be let go just like that; the Lu family must give a clear explanation."
Only then did Lu Sanbao co over.
Upon arrival, he imdiately offered Ms. Ping an apology: "In-law, we never wanted this to happen. Who knew that the child was so playful. Our second’s child plays outside all day and nothing happens; it truly was our negligence. I offer you my apologies. Whatever your demands are, just say them. If it really doesn’t work out, we can divide the family, let the children separate and each live their own lives. Whichever family the children belong to will raise them. What do you think?"
In fact, Lu Sanbao had been pondering over dividing the family for so ti.
He figured that if the family were divided, the Xiao family would certainly give more support to Lu Gui, who was a filial son. Whatever goods and Qian he received, it was nearly the sa as if they went into the public funds.
Furthermore, after the division, if the second and third brothers wanted to lead a good life, they would have to be all the more sycophantic towards him, which would an he would actually have an even better life.
He had been mulling over this issue for a quite while and hadn’t even had the chance to discuss it with his wife yet when such an incident occurred.
Now, in order to appease Ms. Ping and to calm the Xiao family, he quickly brought up this matter.
If it was any other ti, maybe Ms. Ping would have agreed.
However, Xiao Daya had already made up her mind to divorce the Lu family, and rely dividing the family would surely not be enough for Ms. Ping.
"Bah, you speak so lightly, saying ’divide the family’. What about my grandson? A perfectly good grandson is now gone, can dividing the family bring my grandson back?"
Lu Sanbao frowned: "In-law, how do you want it to be done?"
"Divorce, it must be a divorce."
Ms. Ping said fiercely, "My daughter finally had a son, and then he was gone just like that. I can’t risk letting her stay in your ho any longer. If she stays, I’m afraid she might not even keep her own life. Fortunately, our Xiao family can still support her. Just divorce, no other requests."
Lu Sanbao was definitely not willing to agree.
He didn’t want to give up such a good in-law relationship with the Xiao family.
"In-law, everything else is easy to talk about, but divorce... There’s a saying that goes ’encourage to reconcile, not to divorce’, and another saying ’better to demolish ten temples than to destroy a single marriage’. The children had an accident, we need to persuade them, how can we just let the children get divorced?"
Lu Sanbao pulled at his wife: "You also hurry and say sothing, say a few soft and reconciling words to the in-law."
The wife of Lu Sanbao was scared too at this point.
She did not expect the Xiao family to be so resolute and actually demand a divorce.
She quickly said to Ms. Ping: "In-law, don’t be angry, we are at fault here, but we really can’t let the children get divorced. The child is gone, which none of us wanted, but what can we do about it? We have to persuade the couple to get along better and try to have another child soon."
Lu Sanbao also said: "Right, after all, Eldest and his wife are still young, they can still have children."
Ms. Ping was infuriated by the shalessness of the Lu family.
Hands on her hips, she scolded, "Do you have no sha? Having children, they can still have more, I really want to slap you. Your son doesn’t have to worry about anything, it’s not him who has to give birth, that’s my daughter risking her life! Do you think having children is like speaking? Oh, just say the word and a child is born? Which woman doesn’t go through the pass of the devil when giving birth? Besides, even if my daughter can have another child, she won’t have it for your family. With your family’s attitude, no matter how many more children she has, it won’t end well."
Seeing he could not persuade her, Lu Sanbao ground his teeth and said, "Stop thinking about divorce, dividing the family is fine, anything else is fine too, but divorce is out of the question."
Anning saw Ms. Ping ready to scold them again and thought that if she went on, the Lu family wouldn’t budge, and this matter would be impossible to resolve.
Ms. Ping, as a person, isn’t bad, and her nature is okay, but after all, she’s from the marketplace, always seeing trivial matters, her actions lack thod and ans, nor does she know how to use her position to pressure others. With the way she’s making a fuss, even by tomorrow, this matter won’t get resolved.
If this keeps dragging on, indeed, a divorce might beco impossible. Besides, delaying like this is also disadvantageous to Xiao Daya.
Thinking of this, Anning couldn’t just stand by and watch any longer.
She quickly went over with several old won.
"If you do not wish your entire family to be thrown into prison, it would be better to agree to the divorce soon."
Anning said with a sneer, standing next to Ms. Ping, supporting her and said to Lu Sanbao: "The things your family has done, I’d prefer not to speak out loud. If I did, no one would have any dignity left."
Lu Sanbao was taken aback.
Ms. Ping also paused, "Why did you co? Didn’t I tell you to wait at ho?"
Anning smiled at Ms. Ping, "I was worried about mother, so I ca to have a look."
Then turning back, Anning instructed the following house servants, "Go, tell Mr. Qian from Yingtian Prefecture, ask Yingtian Prefecture to intervene and directly imprison Lu Gui, and also lock up all of the Lu family mbers, not a single one should be spared."
As soon as Anning uttered these words, Lu Sanbao and his wife were so scared their legs went weak.
Lu Sanbao still tried to hold his ground: "Who are you trying to frighten? Is the governnt your family business? Can you just send anyone you wish to the prison?"
Anning laughed lightly: "The governnt isn’t my family’s business, nor do I have the authority to send just anyone to prison, but I certainly have the power to send your family to prison."
She said in a low voice: "As for where those disaster relief supplies have gone, you know very well in your hearts. I did not speak up before, covering for you, and you took that for granted, did you really think you could get away with diverting those life-saving supplies without consequences?"
These words made Lu Sanbao tremble all over.
Only then did he recall that his family had indeed done such unscrupulous deeds.
If seen lightly, it was re unscrupulous behavior, but if the Xiao Family decided to pursue it, that would be theft.
He only thought of these things because his vision was limited.
Anning reminded him, "What if I said those goods were ant for the governnt? That’s stealing the court’s disaster relief supplies. Think about what kind of cri that is. And let tell you, my Ji Family and Mr. Qian of Yingtian Prefecture are old friends. If we go through Yingtian Prefecture to thoroughly investigate, even a minor cri could turn into a major one, and from there, it can even beco a capital offense."
Anning emphasized the words "capital offense" heavily, scaring Lu Sanbao’s face into instantly changing colors.
"If you want to settle this properly, then hurry up and sign the divorce papers. Otherwise, none of you should expect to get off well."
Anning addressed the old won and house servants, "Leave two people here to watch them sign the divorce papers, and once it’s done, take it straight to Yingtian Prefecture for the record."
Having issued her orders, Anning helped Ms. Ping onto the carriage.
Lu Sanbao’s family had already been frightened, their legs weak. As soon as Anning left, his wife collapsed onto the ground, "Oh my, the Xiao family’s daughter-in-law is truly formidable."
Indeed, she was formidable, for when Anning’s gaze swept over them, Lu Sanbao’s family thought they were done for.
Lu Sanbao was terrified.
The remaining house servants and old won threatened a few more words, and they quickly had soone fetch Lu Gui back to imdiately sign the divorce papers.
One house servant took the papers to the governnt for the record, while two old won went to Xiao Daya’s room to collect her belongings.
Since the divorce was settled, naturally, Xiao Daya’s things had to be taken back, even if they were just scraps, they couldn’t be left to the Lu family.
Of course, these things wouldn’t be moved to the Xiao’s, the Xiao family wasn’t so destitute as to concern themselves with these items.
After the two old won had packed up, they went out and dispersed the items to the neighbors.
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