Chapter 390 Finally Divorced
Zhang Yuan was truly scared. The elder clan uncle had the right to drive her out of the village. Her maiden family was not far from Bai Rong Brigade, but who knew what the situation was like now.
The elder clan uncle was an old-fashioned fuddy-duddy. In his eyes, women should consider the family their heaven, and women who made the home a mess were absolutely unacceptable.
"Since you two are willing to divorce, then today I will make this decision. Ai Dang, fetch paper and pen, and I will dictate."
At this time, they had to ask the brigade accountant for paper and pen, which was written on the back of the work point ledger.
"Gong Wenliang and Zhang Yuan. Male: only knows how to bury his head in work and failed to manage his wife or educate his children. Female: gluttonous and lazy, not virtuous nor diligent, unworthy of being a wife and mother.
The couple's relationship has broken down. They shall part amicably, and neither shall interfere with the other's future marriages. The two children will be raised by Gong Wenliang. As long as Zhang Yuan remarries, the children will have no obligation to support their mother in her old age.
As compensation, all the remaining grain in Gong Wenliang's family will be given to Zhang Yuan, which shall be considered as the children fulfilling their filial obligation."
As soon as the elder clan uncle finished speaking, it drew many discussions. In fact, only the elder clan uncle truly considered Gong Wenliang and the two children.
After all, Zhang Yuan was a scoundrel. When the children grew up, they would definitely come to pester them, and even children who were straightened out would be dragged down and have a bad life.
Only by buying out this mother-son relationship now with all the family's grain.
"Ah~, what is the clan uncle thinking? Giving all the grain to Zhang Yuan now, isn't this going to starve Wen Liang and his sons?"
"Exactly. It's raining like this, and we don't know if we can find food outside. It's fine for adults to go hungry for a meal or two, but the children cannot starve."
Gong Wenliang showed no reaction. He was accustomed to obeying his parents' arrangements, and it was even better for someone to make decisions for him now.
"Zhang Yuan, what is your choice? Do you want all the family's grain or only the four catties of grain that were divided before? If you take it all, you will have no claim on the children in the future, as you will be taking their lifeline.
If you only take four catties of grain, as long as you don't remarry, the children will support you for life when they grow up."
The choice was thrown to Zhang Yuan. She hesitated. After all, it was uncertain whether she could have more children if she remarried. If she lost other children, these two little brats would be her only source of income.
But if she only took four catties of grain, she couldn't even last three days. Ever since she married into the Gong family, she had never gone hungry.
This old man was truly ruthless, blocking her own retreat. Zhang Yuan looked at the two children again. They still didn't look at her, their indifference and selfishness evident at this moment.
Zhang Yuan didn't realize that the children she raised were actually like her. Gritting her teeth, she finally spoke.
"Er Mao, San Mao, do you really not want your mother anymore? Are you really willing to watch your mother have no one to rely on in the future?"
The two children looked up, but as soon as they met Zhang Yuan's suggestive gaze, they lowered their heads again.
"Heh heh, you see, these are ungrateful people. I choose all the grain because they don't want me. I won't need them to support me in the future."
This was the last excuse Zhang Yuan found for herself, and perhaps a form of self-consolation.
"Alright, Ai Dang, write it this way, and then have them press their fingerprints. We will all bear witness, and remember to get the brigade's seal when the disaster passes!"
Gong Ai Dang smiled and took out the brigade's official seal and ink pad from his pocket.
"We can stamp it now to avoid future disputes."
Gong Wenxing gave Fan Wenli a look. Fan Wenli understood immediately and quickly carried over the grain bags that Er Mao and San Mao were holding. She also remembered to separate some of Zhang Yuan's luggage, as she couldn't let her go without clothes and a blanket.
Gong Ai Dang copied two more, and three *pa pa pa* sounds of stamping marked the end of the matter.
"Zhang Yuan, take your grain and divorce papers. From now on, you will have no relation to Gong Wenliang, Gong Qiming, and Gong Qifeng."
Zhang Yuan tightly clutched all her belongings, which was her current source of confidence.
"Zhang Yuan, you should go live in another cave to avoid unnecessary trouble."
Zhang Yuan looked at the Gong family members before her, her hatred undiminished. But she couldn't fight them now, so she could only leave resentfully in the rain.
Gong Wenliang, who had been silent all along, walked up to the elder clan uncle and bowed.
"Elder clan uncle, thank you for your kindness. I will live well in the future and will never disappoint my father and mother again."
The elder clan uncle remained silent, only looking at Gong Wenliang intently. After a while, he spoke,
"There are no cowards in the Gong family. I don't ask you to be as capable as your younger brother, I only ask you to hold up the family."
"I will, I will definitely hold it up."
After the elder clan uncle left, Fan Wenli was not stingy and returned the grain that her in-laws had left for the second son. She might be petty, but she would never take advantage of others unfairly.
Gong Wenliang sat beside the two children and spoke after a long time.
"From now on, it's just the three of us. I won't say much else, but you must do the work that needs to be done, don't be lazy, don't steal food, and don't hide anything."
These were the only methods Gong Wenliang could think of to educate his children at the moment. His abilities were limited, and he could only take things one step at a time.
Er Mao was already ten years old. He understood everything but was accustomed to not thinking about anything, accustomed to playing wildly and then having food waiting for him at home. Everything now made him feel strange and scared. He could only obey the words of the only person he could rely on, his father.
Er Mao pulled San Mao and quickly stood up, picking up the family's ceramic pot and walking out.
"Dad, we'll go fetch some water to boil for you."
Gong Wenliang nodded in surprise. Gong Wenxing, standing beside him, patted his second brother's shoulder with relief.
"There is hope for the future now."
Finally, a smile appeared in Gong Wenliang's eyes, and he nodded repeatedly.
"Big brother, I want to see Mom and Dad and tell them I've made it through and will take good care of the children myself."
Gong Wenxing hesitated, looking at the rain outside, but he didn't want to disappoint his second brother, who had finally found hope in life.
"Alright, we'll go tomorrow morning. You must apologize to Mom and Dad properly. Of course, I also have to admit my mistakes. I've been living too much in complacency all these years."
Meanwhile, Wang Qing and the other two, who were still wandering in the mountains, had already started arguing.
"Where are we? Do you guys still know the way back?"
Zhang Chunli was the first to regret it. Her raincloth could no longer block any rain. Not only were her clothes soaked, but she was also freezing.
"Why don't we go back first and then come out with more villagers?"
"We've already come out. If we don't find anyone or food, how can we face them?"
Wang Qing also regretted it, but as the captain, he couldn't return empty-handed. Otherwise, how could he command respect in the future? He had to have some gains this time, and he would let those people see him eat when he returned.