Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

Xu Dashan's face turned even more ashen as he was scolded.

But just as the old lady and Xu Dahong were about to retort, he stopped them and spoke up first.

"It's true that we're getting a divorce, but I didn't expect you to open a shop so soon!"

And I didn't mean to cause any damage; it was just something I said in the heat of the moment.

As a result, Xu Juan has become so aggressive and domineering; you all have corrupted her..."

Zhao Fengying couldn't stand hearing this and immediately exploded, "What's wrong with me opening a shop? We're getting a divorce, and you won't even let me run my own business?!"

And my youngest daughter didn't teach you bad habits. I think she did a good job. That's how you shameless bastards should be treated!

Xu Bei and Xu Li shared the same thoughts as Zhao Fengying.

They felt even more hatred for Xu Dashan and the mother and daughter, and spoke out without any restraint.

"No one has the right to interfere with my mother's business, especially since you are about to get a divorce. Coming to the store to make trouble is just sophistry and you have no right to argue!"

In addition, Xiao Juan was forced into this state by the old lady who wanted to smash the shop and Xu Dahong!

"You, as a father, haven't said a word against them at this point, but instead blame Xiaojuan and us. This proves you're completely unqualified and utterly unfit to be a father!"

"Yes! You're not acting like a father at all. You've always unconditionally favored them. Now that the facts are right in front of you, you're still lying through your teeth. My mom was right to divorce you!"

The sooner you leave, the better! Otherwise, you won't have a single good day for the rest of your life!

We weren't here just now, otherwise we definitely would have beaten them up and thrown them out!

The siblings' words made Xu Dashan feel utterly humiliated in front of so many people. The veins on his forehead throbbed, and he wanted to retaliate, but he was speechless.

After all, his mother and sister did attempt to vandalize the shop, and he didn't stop them.

Xu Dahong and the old lady didn't think they were wrong, and they resorted to their old tricks from the countryside.

However, it was inconvenient to sit down outdoors in temperatures below -30°C and nearly -40°C, so I had to resort to slapping my thighs instead.

"What a tragedy! Everyone saw it, right? What kind of wife and children are they? They don't respect our second son at all! We've worked so hard all these years to raise them, and we've made a mistake!"

"Yes, she's been secretly saving a lot of money even before the divorce, and now she's opened a shop. The mother and her children are all of one mind. She's treating my second brother like a fool!"

Second brother, this divorce is a must, but we also need to settle the score properly. We can't let her get the shop for nothing!

When it comes to settling accounts, Zhao Fengying has a lot to say. Unlike the mother and daughter, she looks directly at Xu Dashan and the onlookers with a frank and open manner.

"Okay, after I married into the Xu family, I didn't get my first salary and start managing money until I moved here. I keep a record of every expense."

Over the years, Xu Dashan has earned a considerable amount of money, and I, my eldest daughter, and my son have also kept accounts of the money we've earned. I've also kept detailed records of every money we've sent back to our hometown each month, as well as any requests for money or goods. If anyone wants to see them, I can go back and get them later.

I used the two hundred-plus yuan that was allocated to me to open this shop, but the majority of the five hundred yuan was borrowed by my son from others, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to open it..."

From the moment Xu Bei moved out of his home, he guessed that this day would come; it was just a matter of time. Therefore, he made some arrangements and preparations in advance.

He then produced the IOU he had made himself and deliberately said, "Since we're not divorced yet, this five hundred yuan debt is a joint debt of the couple. Mom, I can't let you pay it all by yourself."

Upon hearing this, not only were the old lady and Xu Dahong nearly fainting from anger, but Xu Dashan also lost his composure.

After all, a worker's monthly salary is only a little over sixty yuan, so five hundred yuan is a lot of money for him. Even if he didn't eat or drink, it would take him almost a year to save it all.

"Damn it, you guys have the nerve to owe so much money and run your own shops, why should I have to pay it off for you!"

Zhao Fengying was truly heartbroken and devastated before, but after these days of reflection, she has not been without any changes or illusions.

After all, they've been a married couple for so many years and raised three children; it's impossible for them to have no feelings for each other.

But what happened today can be said to be the last straw that broke the camel's back.

"Xu Dashan, every wrong has its perpetrator and every debt its debtor. I never intended for you to pay for it, but your mother and sister wrongly accused me of secretly saving a lot of money and want to settle accounts, so let's settle the accounts properly!"

"A woman marries a man for food and clothing; we're not divorced yet, so as the husband, you have to help pay for it!"

"I don't care, I'm not paying a single penny!" Xu Dashan said to his son Xu Bei. "Don't take on a job you're not qualified for. Whoever wants to borrow, let them figure it out themselves!"

Xu Bei curled his lips into a cold smile.

Although the money was being transferred from one hand to the other, he couldn't reveal the truth or say anything in anger at this moment. In fact, he was happy to see the true colors of these people, which would make his mother and the others give up even more.

For the old lady and her daughter Xu Dahong, who still earned work points in the countryside and needed Xu Dashan to subsidize them every month, five hundred yuan was an astronomical figure, so they hurriedly agreed.

"Yes, if you have a way, use it; if not, you're dead! Our second brother can't possibly help pay for it!"

"Yeah, my second brother's money didn't come from thin air, why should he help you pay off your debts!"

Besides Xu Bei and Zhao Fengying, Xu Li and Xu Juan, who are also present, are very familiar with the store's situation.

They knew it wouldn't be difficult to pay back the five hundred yuan, but they couldn't let others see it. So the two sisters exchanged a glance and gave each other appropriate expressions.

Xu Bei leaned close to his mother's ear and whispered a few words.

Zhao Fengying immediately understood and said, "If you don't want to help pay back the money, hurry up and get a letter of introduction from your workplace. If you leave too late, I won't be able to help when the creditors come to the timber processing plant to collect the money. Anyway, I don't have any other jobs to find."

Even though Xu Dashan wasn't really keen on getting a divorce, he was genuinely angry and frightened, and said in a very impulsive tone, "Fine, I'll drive then! I'll be at work in a bit!"

The old lady and Xu Dahong, seeing that they had finally achieved their goal, revealed smug and triumphant smiles.

"Second brother, you've finally seen things clearly and come to terms with it!"

"Yes, we should have gone a few days earlier; we delayed it for so long!"

The mother and her two children quickly left amidst the onlookers' gazes and buzzing discussions.

Sister Liu from the tailor shop wanted to offer some words of comfort, but she was afraid of disturbing Xu Bei and Zhao Fengying, who had just returned from their outing, so she said goodbye and went back to her shop first.

Xu Bei and Xu Li also dragged the sled and goods that had been left aside to the shop entrance, carried them inside, and locked the shop door from the inside.

Seeing his mother wiping away tears, Xu Bei felt bad too, and gently comforted her, "Mom, don't be sad, it's better to leave sooner rather than later."

Xu Li and Xu Juan also stayed on the left and right, like the left and right arms.

"Yeah, if we don't leave, we'll just have to let those people bully us."

"Mom, I don't want them to bully me anymore. Before you came back, I really..."

Zhao Fengying opened her arms and hugged her two daughters, then looked at Xu Bei earnestly and said, "Don't worry, Mom will fight for her pride, and we'll get a divorce!"