Xie Sui's eyes were opened.
He had originally intended to mediate and not break up relationships, believing that cursing someone who encouraged divorce would lead to divine retribution. He wouldn't have dared to speak his true feelings without being drunk, and he didn't want Zhang Wenfeng to divorce.
However, given the behavior of the Yang family, this marriage had to end. It was decided, and Xie Sui was determined to see it through!
The Zhang family also came out, looking worried and scared. How did it come to this fight?
Zhang Wenfeng stepped forward, "Brother Xie, are you okay?"
"Wenfeng, brother was wrong. Brother didn't know you had suffered so much. The Yang family has bullied you in your own home, and you didn't ask anyone to find me?
Let's get this divorce settled today. With our capabilities, we can find a young girl to marry again. This ugly, wicked, and greedy shrew can go wherever it's cool! "
Yang Yumei's mother angrily retorted, "Who are you calling ugly and wicked? Don't be so sharp-tongued at your age, aren't you afraid of retribution?"
Xie Sui replied, "No, you haven't received retribution, so how could I? Heaven has eyes. If it doesn't strike you, it's because you're too ugly and it's disgusted. Do you really think you can escape retribution?
Enough nonsense. Aren't we here to divorce? Let's go get the paperwork done today. If you don't want to divorce, we won't agree either."
Laughter erupted from the crowd. Xie Sui's words were becoming increasingly sharp, causing Yang Yumei's mother's face to turn as red as a crimson cloth, her eyes almost spitting fire. "Divorce is possible, but you have to pay. You've ruined my daughter's reputation, at least five hundred yuan. Not a cent less, or we're not done. My Yang family will fight you to the end!"
"Five hundred yuan!"
Everyone gasped. Nowadays, the bride price for a new bride was no more than eighty-eight yuan, and the bride's family would also provide bedding, furniture, and other items. Five hundred yuan was enough to marry five brides. The Yang family was truly asking for the moon.
Zhang Wenfeng's face turned ashen with anger. "Auntie, one cannot be so shameless. Yumei already wanted extra betrothal gifts before, saying she was wronged during the marriage and how glorious it was to have many neighbors and sisters. I gave you a hundred yuan, and now you want more money? Am I, Zhang Wenfeng, a big fool?"
This was no longer about the bride price; it was clearly an attempt to extort money by taking advantage of the Zhang family's perceived weakness.
Xie Sui sneered. So, Zhang Wenfeng had borrowed money for this? If it were him, he'd spit in the face of anyone who dared ask for his family's money. What nerve!
"She was already wronged, so you should have paid. What's the point of saying this now? Just tell me, are you giving the five hundred yuan or not?"
Xie Sui asked, "And if I don't?"
Yang Yumei's mother plopped onto the doorstep, her backside like a millstone. "If you don't give it, we're not leaving. We'll eat your food, live in your house, and only leave when you pay."
They were being unreasonable. The Zhang family was so angry they nearly fainted. The villagers also condemned them, saying they shouldn't extort people like this.
Zhang Wenfeng looked to Xie Sui for help. He was incapable of handling this and could only rely on Brother Xie.
Xie Sui's family members were also ready. They rolled up their sleeves, prepared to fight. If they didn't leave, they would be beaten out. Knowing Xie Sui's temper, a fight was inevitable.
To everyone's surprise, Xie Sui nodded. "Alright, let's prioritize harmony. After all, you were husband and wife. Five hundred it is. We'll pay this money, but..."
The Yang family's faces lit up with joy, while Xie Sui's family members were astonished. Why were they agreeing to pay?
"If you give the money, everything else can be discussed."
Xie Sui continued, "But we need to draw up a written agreement today, and get the divorce papers processed. Someone go find Uncle Village Head. He should have stepped in when he was needed, not been so eager to arrange things he shouldn't have. This village head is getting worse."
At this time, divorce required a document from the village committee to be legally binding.
However, many people married without official registration, let alone divorce. Divorce was a rare occurrence.
The village head arrived. He had been keeping an eye on the situation, and with Xie Sui stepping in, he couldn't pretend to be deaf and mute. Su Dan Novel Network.
Xie Sui then sent someone to find Lin Wanwan to get five hundred yuan. Five hundred yuan was a significant sum, and Xie Sui didn't carry so much cash on him; Lin Wanwan managed the money.
Lin Wanwan also supported him. She sent the five hundred yuan and waited for Xie Sui's next move.
On-site, the village head drafted the divorce document, both families stamped it, and Yang Yumei's mother wrote a receipt stating she had received five hundred yuan for her daughter's divorce from Zhang Wenfeng, with this as evidence.
Xie Sui watched her sign and press her fingerprint, a wicked smile on his face. Ignorance was truly terrifying.
Zhang Wenfeng felt very guilty, having asked Xie Sui to pay for him again. He clasped Xie Sui's hand and declared, "Brother Xie, my life is yours from now on."
"Alright, Brother Xie knows. Don't worry, this is just the beginning."
He squeezed Zhang Wenfeng's shoulder, and Zhang Wenfeng felt a sense of relief, knowing Brother Xie had a plan.
"Everyone disperse. Isn't there farm work to do? Stop watching the excitement, scatter, scatter!"
The Yang family brothers got up. Seeing Xie Sui readily paying, their minds became active again. They surrounded him, saying, "What about you hitting us? Pay for medical expenses!"
Xie Sui snorted with laughter. Indeed, no matter when, backing down never brought peace. Instead, it made people feel they could be easily bullied and emboldened them to escalate their bullying.
"Medical expenses, you say? No problem, I'll pay you a thousand yuan. I won't mince words; a thousand or eight hundred yuan is nothing to me, Xie Sui."
The Yang family brothers rejoiced in their hearts, seeing a thousand yuan waving at them.
Xie Sui shouted to those who hadn't left, "Brothers, don't rush off. Come a few people, break their legs. I'll pay for the medical expenses."
The Yang family brothers were shocked. "You dare!"
"Why wouldn't I dare? You dare to extort medical expenses from me, and I'll go big. For a thousand yuan, let alone two legs, someone would even dare to take your lives, believe it or not. Do you still want it?"
"No, no more."
Xie Sui's cold eyes stared at them, not like he was joking. The Yang family brothers, terrified, quickly fled. A thousand yuan was a lot, but their legs were more important.
Lin Wanwan smiled. Xie Sui was becoming more mature, handling the situation with satisfying decisiveness.
Xie Sui turned to comfort Zhang's elderly parents. "Don't worry. What was taken will be returned, including the money from before. There will be a time when she'll be begging us."
Zhang Wenfeng's father clasped his hand gratefully. "Uncle believes in your abilities. Uncle knows you won't let me suffer a loss. You are a capable young man. My Wenfeng has a friend like you, and Uncle is relieved."
Xie Sui smiled awkwardly. "It's nothing. Eat, drink, and don't get angry. We're leaving now, heading to the city for business. Don't go out today; wait for good news."
Zhang Wenfeng left with him, driving a tractor to the city.
Xie Sui dropped Lin Wanwan and the children off at the factory, and he and Zhang Wenfeng went to the county police station.
Zhang Wenfeng suddenly understood. Brother Xie was going to involve the police.
"What are you doing?"
"Reporting a crime. We've been extorted, five hundred yuan! Please, comrades police, help us get justice!"