?Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Masterful Tactics Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Masterful Tactics “Li Dashan, you should know when to stop; don’t push people to the brink of death,” Liu Baoshan said in a low voice to Li Dashan and the elderly Li matriarch. “I see that this sister and brother-inw are not pushovers. If you think you can get away without paying a cent and just let them leave, I’m afraid that’s impossible. If this really gets to the town, and the town leaders start handling things, even if you’re very persuasive, they won’t overlook a human life. And if the government really gets involved, I worry they might withhold your relief funds and grain subsidies. Don’t say I didn’t warn you beforehand.” His words suggested they should take a step back.
Li Dashan himself felt apprehensive.
If the government got involved, he, a mere peasant, would have no option but to ept his fate. He dare not lose face and act out against the authorities; they had plenty of ways to deal with him. But the thought of paying up still pained him.
“This…”
The elderly Li matriarch saw that her son was too fixated on money at such a critical time. He showed no sign of relenting, not considering that Bai Yue was no longer alone; she had a formidable sister and a People’s Liberation Army brother-inw on her side. At this moment, their family had no right to stand on.
“Vige chief, let’s talk about this further. Since Dashan’s wife wants a divorce, we can’t stop her, but we must rify everything,” the shrewd olddy said.
Li Dashan’s face showed impatience, still feeling pain where Bai Xiao had kicked him fiercely in the lower back, not holding back any force. It would be strange if it didn’t hurt.
How dare his sister-inw hit him!
Liu Baoshan nodded; as long as the olddy was willing topromise, there was room for negotiation. In the end, the Li Family still depended on the matriarch’s decisions.
“Bai Yue,” Haiping and your mother-inw say, “since you want a divorce, it’s only right to settle things. You should get some of the money; after all, you’ll need to provide for yourself post-divorce.” There was a loosening of their stance.
As soon as Bai Yue heard this, she gripped Bai Xiao’s hand tightly—her son finally had a chance to be saved.
If it meant saving her son, even if it cost her life, she was willing.
Finally, the two families sat down to talk.
The elderly Li matriarch nced at Bai Yue. “Daughter-inw, since you’re set on leaving, I won’t hold you back. Speak your mind on how you want to handle this. As long as it’s nothing excessive, we can negotiate. After all, you’ve been with our family for so many years; if not for merits, at least for your hard work.”
“Mother, I don’t want the house ornd; I just want to take half of the money I earned. I’m also taking all three kids with me. Anyway, Li Dashan barely connects with them beyond hitting them. After he remarries, no stepmother would want half-grown boys around. They are better off with me. Even if I have to beg for food, I won’t let my children starve,” Bai Yue stated. She felt her demands were nothing but fair, as she had already made enough concessions.
Bai Xiao red; oh sister, you don’t know how to negotiate at all, revealing all your cards so soon—now they will surely drive a harder bargain.
But this was her elder sister’s affair, and she couldn’t make decisions for Bai Yue. She could only offer help when needed, not take over everything for someone else. That wasn’t her role. If one day her sister regretted it, wouldn’t she be med for tearing apart someone else’s family?
Upon hearing this, the olddy’s smile indeed deepened the wrinkles on her face, and any trace of animosity she held seemed to stretch and dissipate. It appeared that her sister’s request was something the olddy had anticipated all along.
“Bai Yue, I can give you half of the money, but as you know, the money you earned over the years has been spent on household expenses, and there’s not much left. I only have four hundred yuan in my possession. If you want to leave, I’ll give you two hundred yuan—that should be fair to you. What do you think?” The olddy knew how to negotiate. If Bai Xiao remembered correctly, Haiping had just mentioned that they had altogether handed over seven hundred and eighty-five yuan to the olddy, which seemed to have already been cut by more than half without any discussion.
Bai Yue nodded, “Alright, I have no objections to the money, two hundred it is!” She didn’t fuss because she knew that if it really came down to it, and the olddy stubbornly imed to have no money, what could she do? Either way, the oue would be the same, so she might as well just take the money and leave quickly to get her son medical treatment.
“Good, I knew you were reasonable. However, I can’t let you take the eldest and the second sons with you. No matter what, they are still the grandsons of our Li Family. It wouldn’t be right for you to take them away—that’s definitely not happening!” The olddy’s following words took Bai Yue aback, as she had thought the olddy disliked her three sons and, like Li Dashan, probably couldn’t wait for the four of them to disappear.
Li Haiping and Li Hai’an clung tightly to their mother’s clothes. They couldn’t bear to part with their mom, for Bai Yue was the kindest to them in this world. Despite the olddy’s sweet words, every time they carried stones back, apart from asking for money, the olddy never even offered a smile. When their mom once carried stones alone in the mountains and there was nothing to eat at home, they went hungry and panicked to their grandmother’s house. They watched as the olddy hid eggs in the cupboard and lied to them, iming there was nothing to eat.
After making them drink a bowl of water, she sent them away, but at that time, she didn’t say they were descendants of the Li Family, did she?
“Olddy, I must take the eldest and the second with me. Staying here, with Li Dashan marrying a new wife, they would undoubtedly suffer hardships.” Bai Yue was terrified and hurriedly begged the olddy.
The olddy had drooping, triangr eyes and simply ignored Bai Yue’s pleas, thinking to herself how Bai Yue thought she was so capable. The olddy was determined to have Bai Yue cough up all the money; to contest with her without considering her own capabilities.
“The eldest and the second are descendants of our Li Family and must stay in the Li Family!” The olddy was unwavering in her stance.
Li Dashan wanted to say something, but a stern look from the olddy silenced him instantly, leaving him to squat quietly on the side.
“Olddy, I beg you, please let the eldest and the second stay with me, do show some kindness.”
Bai Yue couldn’t abandon the eldest and the second—no one in the family treated her children well, and even Li Dashan likely had little patience for them. Leaving them behind was out of the question.
The olddy was waiting for Bai Yue to kneel before her.
Bai Yue dreamed of getting money from her hands.
“Bai Yue, it’s not like I absolutely won’t let you take the eldest and the second with you. As you know, they are, after all, the descendants of our Li Family. If you want to take them, fine, but Dashan will be heartbroken without his sons. So, you should leave the two hundred yuan to Dashan aspensation, and then you can take the children! Think it over! I’m not pressuring you; my intention was not to let you take the children away.” The olddy’s words chilled Bai Yue—it was clear that she intended to leave them without a single cent and drive the mother and sons away.
Bai Xiao sneered. The olddy truly had skills—she seemed reasonable and understanding, but in reality, she had set a trap all along. If you fell into it, it wasn’t because she forced you; you did it willingly.
Such high-handed tactics.