Do you know? Do you know? It should be episode 46 of Green Fat Red Thin

  I originally wanted to get through this divorce war with just a few sentences, but the more I wrote, the itchier my hand got, so I ended up writing a whole passage.

  Divorces were relatively rare during the Ming and Qing dynasties, so it's difficult to find evidence. However, I did find some information about divorces from the Tang dynasty, so I simulated a scene based on that. Please don't take this chapter too seriously, as even I'm not entirely sure about it.

  Next chapter back to Beijing, youth war begins.

  Please leave your paw print, thank you.

  The Sheng mother and daughter chatted for nearly half a day, and Minglan heard everything she should and shouldn't have. The old lady was tired, so Sheng Yu supported her to rest. Minglan struggled to move her numb legs and slowly backed out, her legs aching and sore, her waist and back bent like an old woman's. She also had to be careful not to be seen. Minglan admired herself for still remembering to pull the water bucket back in such a situation, and even brushing away the weeds when she crawled out of the dog hole.

  Covered in mud, disheveled and embarrassed, Minglan didn't dare return to her own house, so she sneaked away to Pinlan's place. There, she saw the deserter who had abandoned his comrades, anxiously waiting for her. As soon as they met, he put on a flattering smile and offered her clean clothes to wash and change into.

  Minglan went up and was immediately in a mess, only moving to wash her hands after she had caught her breath. As soon as she took off her clothes, both girls were shocked - Minglan's elbows and knees were all red and swollen, with what looked like temple stone brick patterns covering her pale skin. Pinlan used some medicine she had brought with her to massage Minglan for half the day, then made her drink ginger soup to drive out the cold. Despite this, by the next day the injured areas had turned a mottled purple color, like the colored tiles in a bathroom. Minglan was furious, grabbing Pinlan's face and pulling it apart, Pinlan wailing loudly but enduring it obediently, being as meek as a small puppy for several days, constantly apologizing.

  When the purple and green on Dai Minglan's knees gradually faded, Old Mrs. Shen gathered all the elderly members of the two families, including De Xin, who had a good relationship with them, and finally invited Sun Shi and her son to come together to understand this matter. Such a grand occasion, Pin Lan couldn't just sit at home, so she begged Li Shi in front of her for half a day, but Li Shi naturally didn't want to let her daughter watch the adults quarrel. Instead, Old Mrs. Shen said a sentence: "She's not young anymore, it's time to let her know that the world is difficult and can't be like that delicate flower that can't withstand the wind and rain."

  The old lady's philosophy of survival was different from that of her daughter-in-law, she thought weeds were much stronger than ornamental orchids. Li didn't dare disobey her mother-in-law and glared at Pinlan but ignored her. Pinlan immediately went to find Minglan and called out "Let's go together!" Minglan was also itching to go, but first reported to Old Lady Sheng, who unexpectedly didn't stop her either. So the two girls excitedly snuck into the main hall, "We'll fix him good!" Pinlan exclaimed with great enthusiasm.

  Arrived at the compartment, but found Shulan already sitting there, her expression as withered and mournful as a widow.

  "It was the old lady who called us girls over." Shulan's personal maid said softly, Minglan and Pinlan exchanged a glance, this time the old lady was likely to take drastic measures, cutting off Shulan's thoughts once and for all.

  The Sun mother and son saw the Sheng family servant come to invite them with courtesy, thinking that the Sheng family had compromised, so they swaggered to the door. When they arrived, they found that half of the house was filled with people, all of whom were either local officials or elders from both families. As soon as Sun Zhi Gao turned his head, he saw the local magistrate also present, accompanied by two recorders. Sun Zhi Gao gradually became uneasy, but his mother still didn't know and sat down in the front row chair with her nose upturned.

  After everyone had paid their respects, Uncle Hu and Zhang Song invited the county magistrate and the two clerks to go out for tea. Pinlan peeked through the crack in the door and then turned back to whisper: "Fortunately, the third branch of the family didn't come; otherwise, they would have been laughed at."

  After a sip of tea, Sheng Wei scanned the crowd in the hall and bowed his hands: "Today, I invited everyone to come here to discuss the matter between my daughter and Sun Jia's young master. It's a family affair, please don't laugh at us."

  Sun Zhi Gao saw the situation and thought to himself, "Could it be that you, a member of the Sheng family, are relying on your powerful status to force me into submission?" He thought for a moment before taking the initiative, coldly snorting: "Father-in-law, as the saying goes, 'there are three unfilial acts, and having no descendants is the greatest.' I, Zhi Gao, am ashamed to be a descendant of the Sun family. Now that I'm 25 years old, I still have no children, which is truly unfilial. Recently, one of my concubines has become pregnant, which should be a joy for the Sun family. My wife should take good care of her, but unexpectedly, she's so jealous that she won't tolerate others. Father-in-law, you are wise and just, please reprimand her."

  Sheng Wei listened to him turning black and white, sparing him for being thick-headed, but hearing the words also made a surge of anger rise up. Li saw her husband's face turn purple and slowly stood up saying: "This is a family matter, I'm not good at talking about it, so let me speak as the mother." Turning to Sun Zhi Gao, "Gentleman, I'll ask you, my daughter has been married for three years, how many concubines has she taken in for you?"

  Sun Zhi Gao's breath caught, and he grunted without speaking. Li continued: "My daughter has been married for less than half a year, but you've already arranged three concubines for her. A year later, you bought two more from outside, and the second year, you took in a virtuous woman as a concubine, along with three more maidservants. The third year, there were four or five more. Now that you're twenty-five years old, there are already twelve or thirteen people in the house."

  As Li told the story, Sun Zhi Gao's face turned red with shame. The elderly people around them all looked at him sideways, and a tribal uncle who had always been at odds with Sun Zhi Gao said coolly: "No wonder my nephew has failed many times, it turns out he's so busy."

  Sun Zhi Gao was too ashamed to speak, and his mother saw her son's embarrassment and hastily said: "It is common for men to have three wives and four concubines. Moreover, my son did it for the sake of having a child, what do you mean by this?"

  "What's the point of all this? Is it for the sake of having children or just because you're a lustful person, heaven knows!!"

  Sun Zhi Gao was furious and almost jumped up in anger.

  The old patriarch of the Sun family saw that things were not going well, and hastily came out to mediate, saying: "Relatives, please calm down first. This couple, they fight in bed but make up at the foot of the bed. Family members have good things to say to each other, why must you quarrel?"

  Her mother-in-law saw that there was a step down and hurriedly said, "That's right, don't drag out these useless words. The daughter-in-law herself is incompetent and doesn't say anything else. Since there is someone pregnant in the house, she should welcome her well and take good care of her until she gives birth to a boy or girl, which will also be her blessing."

  Mr. Li's voice was stern: "I must say this today, I only ask you one question, if my son refuses to accept that woman, what will you do?"

  Sun Zhi Gao suddenly stood up, with a proud face: "A person of no virtue, what is the use of coming here? Just take this letter and leave!"

  Sheng Wei finally couldn't help but burst out laughing coldly: "Good good good! What a wonderful son-in-law who reads the classics of sages!"

  Minglan felt a pang of sympathy, turned her head to look at Shulan, and saw that she was staring blankly ahead, her body swaying as if about to collapse, only being held up by the maid. Pinlan gritted her teeth and whispered in Minglan's ear: "If I were a man, I would definitely go out and give him a good thrashing!" Minglan looked at Pinlan's fierce expression and thought to herself: Actually, even though you're a woman, your brother-in-law might not necessarily be able to beat you.

  Sun Zhi Gao looked at the Sheng family without speaking, and then smiled proudly: "As they say, 'a day of husband and wife is a hundred days of kindness.' If she were more virtuous and took good care of the Sun family's children, the Sun family wouldn't have to worry about her not having enough food to eat! You parents think carefully about it." Da Ma Jin Dao sat down, with an air of certainty that the Sheng family couldn't bear to part with this son-in-law.

  Li looked at him and her last bit of hesitation was gone, she hated him to death, loudly saying: "No need to think about it, you are a great talent, we can't afford to marry you, but we can't divorce, only separate, all dowry will be taken back!"

  The Sun mother and son were greatly shocked, not expecting the Sheng family to be so unyielding. Everyone in attendance was also shocked, and after recovering from their shock, they all advised "Don't let emotions get in the way" and "It's better to demolish ten bridges than to destroy one family relationship".

  Sun Zhi Gao quickly regained his composure and shouted, "What divorce? Such an unvirtuous and unfilial person, a divorce letter is already letting them off easy!" Sun's mother hastily added, "After marrying into the Sun family, those dowries naturally all became part of the Sun family, on what grounds can they be taken back?"

  "Look at the way you're treating your own mother and daughter! You don't even have a shred of affection for my diligent and honest daughter. I finally understand why the old lady was so worried. My heart has hardened, and I'm telling you loudly: What do you mean by 'not filial'?! How can you say such cruel things?! You want her to be obedient and produce offspring? My daughter hasn't stopped you from doing that! Our family may be merchants, but we know what it means to be a good wife and daughter. It's said that after seven years of marriage, there's no need to worry about anything, but my daughter has been married for less than half a year and you've already taken in a concubine! You still dare to say she's 'jealous'?! She's been living with your mother for three years, sleeping in her room for over 20 days every month, serving tea, helping with meals, doing chores from dawn till dusk, getting up at the crack of dawn and going to bed late at night. Not once has she talked back or complained! Is this not being a good daughter-in-law?!"

  Mrs. Li thought of her young daughter, but she looked like an old woman, thin and haggard, and was heartbroken, almost choking back tears. Everyone who heard this also sighed in sympathy, casting accusing glances at Sun's mother and son, and some people even thought to themselves: If they don't even let the couple sleep together, how can they expect them to have a son? What a cruel and heartless mother-in-law!

  Sun's mother was looked at by everyone with great disdain, even if she had a thick face, her face turned red. Sun Zhi Gao puffed out his chest and sat down with his head lowered, not making a sound. Li Shi's anger overflowed as she shouted loudly: "You treat my son this way, yet you still want to divorce him and take the dowry? I tell you, don't even think about it!"

  Sun Zhi sneered: "A man divorcing his wife is a matter of course, how can you stop it?"

  Mr. Li also responded with a cold smile, pulled out a piece of paper from his sleeve and held it up, saying: "You took a prostitute as your concubine, which is a shame to the literary world. This is the old household registration of Qianjin Pavilion, you redeemed her but forgot to burn this old registration book, huh? She was originally of low status, I'll write a letter and send it along with this registration book to your teacher and the educational official in Jinling. Let those scholars who often compose poetry with you see your true face. Even if they can't revoke your degree, your reputation among scholars..."

  Sun Zhi Gao's face changed, and he forced himself to calm down: "Hmph, scholars are indeed romantic, famous all over the world. The four sons of Yu Hang all have a background of being with beautiful women."

  "But others didn't even bring her home, let alone letting her enter the house and give birth to a child."

  Sun Zhi Gao was furious, but he didn't dare to lose his temper, as the Magistrate was right outside. The head of the Sun family took one look at Li Shi's attitude and knew they had come prepared. It seemed that today's matter couldn't be easily glossed over. He immediately turned around and advised Sun Zhi Gao: "In that case, once the woman gives birth to the child, you can send her away. Don't lose your wife because of a loose woman."

  Sun Zhi Gao heard this and suddenly transformed into a romantic saint, his eyes brimming with tears: "This is absolutely unacceptable! She, she sells her art not her body, truly a rare woman of the brothel!"

  In the compartment, Pinlan cursed in a low voice: "Fart!" Minglan couldn't help but sigh and say: "This is normal. From ancient times to the present, most of the unusual women have come from brothels. Generally, those who come out of ordinary families are good girls." And these unusual women usually encounter one or two heroes who frequent brothels, performing a touching and tear-jerking true love story.

  But Shulan didn't think as openly as Minglan, and upon hearing this, her empty eye sockets finally fell with rolling tears, covering her mouth and crying silently.

  At this time, a neatly dressed woman suddenly came in from outside. She walked respectfully to Li's side and handed over a large stack of documents and a large bunch of keys. Li took the things, smiled and nodded. As soon as Sun's mother and son saw this person, they exclaimed: "Aunt Bian, how did you come here?"

  "That's nothing, I just followed the young lady to accompany her to the in-laws' house. As a member of the Sheng family, what can't be done?" Turning to Li Shi, "Madam, this is the deed for the land and property that the young lady brought with her as dowry, and this is the original dowry list."

  The old lady had planned for so long, and naturally everything was well-prepared. As soon as the Sun mother and son left the house, the people who stayed behind immediately took action. The sturdy servants blocked the door, while the housekeeper quickly sorted out and packed up the trunks and boxes, counted the horses and men, and brought back to the Sheng family everything that had been taken to the Sun family for Shulan's marriage.

  "Ah, you dare to copy our old Sun family? Those are all our things, return them at once! I'll fight you!" As she spoke, she was about to grab Li's face, but the servant girls nearby quickly stopped her. The servant girls present were all loyal to Li and saw their young mistress being humiliated, they were secretly seething with anger. Suddenly, there was a loud thud, and somehow Sun's mother tripped and fell flat on her face in the mud.

  Sun Zhi Gao hurriedly went to help her up, only to see his mother biting her tongue and stuttering, unable to speak. Pin Lan Ming Lan felt a great sense of satisfaction in her heart.

  Mr. Li waved the contract in his hand and coldly said, "The dowry list is here! I didn't take a single needle or thread from your Sun family, but instead was shortchanged by several thousand taels of silver and many pieces of jewelry. Consider it as my son's living expenses for three years at your house! Hmph, if you don't accept this, want to sue me? I'll accompany you to court!

  Sun Zhi Gao was furious and shouted: "She married into our family, so whether she's alive or dead, everything belongs to the Sun family! What 'you' and 'I', it's all the Sun family!"

  Sheng Wei burst out laughing, pointing and laughing: "Although I'm not a scholar, I've also heard of 'seeing the carved railing and thinking of the fine horse'. Since my niece is so pleasing to your eyes, why must you keep her things? Isn't it that seeing an object makes one think of the person? Oh, could it be...?" Sheng Wei drew out his voice, with a look of sudden realization, "Could it be that our Yu Yang's number one talented scholar can't bear to part with wealth?! Tsk tsk, this is really too common!"

  Sun Zhi Gao was choked, his neck thick and red, his face almost twisted. The people in the hall were all persuading him to calm down, but he wouldn't listen. Just then, the old lady who had been silent for a long time suddenly spoke up: "Everyone, please listen to what I have to say."

  The crowd gradually quieted down, and the old lady's hoarse voice slowly said: "Our Sheng family has been in this land of Youyang for generations, from the old man to each other. We have been good friends with each other for several generations. It's not that my Sheng family's daughter is jealous and intolerant of others, but... Ah..." The old lady sighed long and sorrowfully.

  A member of the Li family stepped forward and bowed his hands: "Old lady, is there something difficult to say? Please speak freely."

  The old lady said with a sigh, "Decades ago, our Sheng family also brought in a woman of humble origin. After that incident, all the uncles and brothers knew about it. My eldest daughter Hong'er was not even ten years old at that time! Wei'er's father squandered all his wealth for that woman, and even sold this ancestral house!"

  At first, the old master's affair with his concubine and his treatment of his wife was notorious far and wide. Anyone who is a bit older knows about it. All the elderly people present have gone through that matter, witnessing how the family property was squandered away bit by bit. This incident has been cited as a classic example by countless parents to scold their sons for frequenting brothels.

  The old lady suddenly played the tragic card, and Sun's mother and son were immediately at a loss. They only heard the old lady continuing in a dismal tone: "Thanks to our ancestors' blessings and the support of all the uncles and elders, my child and I have managed to make ends meet over the years and finally redeemed the ancestral mansion. With this, I can close my eyes and face our ancestors in the afterlife. Thank you all!"

  The old lady surprisingly stood up and wanted to pay her respects to the elderly present, but everyone quickly got up to stop her, saying it was not necessary. Sheng Wei had a good reputation in Xiangyang, not only for his kindness to the elderly and his road repairs, but also for his inspiring story of reviving his family business.

  The old lady stood up straight and said resolutely: "On the day when we redeem this ancestral house, I swear to heaven that from now on, our branch of the family will never associate with prostitutes, whether male or female. If anyone breaks this vow, I will not die in peace and will fall into the 18th level of hell, where the ox-headed and horse-faced demons will pull out my tongue and throw me into a cauldron of boiling oil!"

  A few words cut through the noise, and everyone was shocked. In their hearts, they suddenly understood: The other party had been nearly ruined by a woman of ill repute in the past, and now you want his daughter to call a courtesan her sister? Isn't that taking advantage of him too much?

  After a few words, the atmosphere on the stage had changed. No one spoke for the Sun family, and the Sun family members could only sit silently, while the mother and son began to secretly panic. This big hat was pressed down, and they were very passive.

  At this time, the old lady suddenly softened her voice and sighed slowly: "I also know that your Sun family is in a difficult situation. It's not easy to have an heir, how can you bear to let go? Moreover, Zhi Gao has a deep affection for that woman; but my Sheng family daughter cannot be under the same roof as that woman..." Everyone stretched their necks and lifted their heads, waiting to hear more.

  Old Lady Sheng said: "Why don't we each take a step back and let them separate? In the beginning, when Shu brought her dowry to accompany her husband, she left half of it at the Sun family's house. This way, both our families will have fulfilled their obligations."

  As soon as the words were spoken, everyone in the house let out a sigh of relief. The head of the Sun family immediately said loudly: "After all, it's Old Lady who is wise and knows what to do, this is for the best! We can't afford to ruin our relationship with each other! Zhi Gao, nephew, what do you say?"

  Minglan is absolutely amazing, this old lady usually looks dull and silent, but unexpectedly she's so extraordinary when she takes action. The whole event has a clear role assignment, well-controlled rhythm, and emotions that are grasped and released at the right time, step by step drawing people in. She's really talented, writing, directing, and acting all by herself!

  Sun Zhi Gao was still resentful in his heart, feeling stifled. His mother also refused to give up. She had been eyeing Shu Lan's dowry from the beginning and would have swallowed it all if not for the several fierce mothers-in-law who followed her. Now that she was asked to spit out half of it, how could she be at peace?

  Mr. Li looked at the mother and son, and said loudly: "If you don't agree, we'll go to court! Drag that thing out and parade it through the streets, let everyone in Youyang County see the virtue of Sun Dazhong!"

  Sun Zhi Gao was most concerned about his reputation, and upon hearing this, he coldly snorted: "Divorce or not, do I care? In any case, having half of the dowry in hand wasn't too little."

  Sheng Wei's face sank, and he immediately invited the outside judge to come in, along with the two recorders. He explained the situation in a low voice, then immediately began writing documents on the spot. Later, Li took out the dowry list, but Sun Mu wanted to examine it carefully and pick out some good things. However, Sun Zhi Gao, in front of the judge, refused to utter a word or even glance at the list, tearing it in half and throwing down one half.

  "Besides," said Li, "the servants who accompanied you to the Sheng's are all born in our house; now that we are two families, it would not be right to separate them from their flesh and blood. I will make up the silver, but as for the people, not one of them shall remain."

  He took out several silver tickets from his sleeve and handed them over. The elderly people of the clan standing in the middle glanced at them, each with a face value of 100 taels, and there seemed to be four or five of them. They all thought: The Sheng family is indeed generous, these silvers can buy many people.

  The document was written well, and Judge Lao read it and looked at Sheng Wei, saying: "Then sign and stamp it." Sun Zhi Gao first stepped forward, signed his name with a flourish, and then pressed his fingerprint on it. Li Shi hurriedly said: "My daughter is weak, let me take charge of the household instead."

  At this time, a loud crash was heard, and Minglan and Pinlan were both startled. They turned their heads to look, only to see that Shulan had somehow gotten up and pushed open the door with great force, taking big strides as she walked out. Pinlan wanted to chase after her, but was pulled back by Minglan behind the door, peeking through the gap to look outside.

  "Shulan, what are you doing out here?" Li asked in a low voice.

  Shulan's face still had tears on it, but she knelt down straight and cried out to her parents: "It's all my fault for being unfilial, causing Grandmother, Father, and Mother to worry about me!" Li Shi covered her face and wept secretly, while Sheng Wei was deeply grieved in his heart, turning his head away without looking. However, the old lady's eyes flickered with delight.

  Only then did Shulan's sleeves move decisively, her expression firm and resolute. She bowed to the crowd in the hall, walked slowly to the desk, picked up the pen, wrote with a flourish, and stamped her seal.

  Sun Zhi Gao looked at Shu Lan's pale and haggard face, and couldn't help but sneer: "You're neither talented nor beautiful, you were never a match for me. It was my family who made the mistake of arranging our marriage in the first place. Now that it's over, it's for the best. In the future, you can marry some butcher or farmer, just make sure to be more virtuous."

  How outrageous! Li and Sheng Wei were both furious, and even the people around them felt it was too much.

  Shu Lan suddenly turned around, her eyes blazing with anger, looking at the man she had once relied on for her life. The face that was now so disgusting to her made her feel like vomiting. She spat a mouthful of saliva onto Sun Zhi Gao's face and then looked at the defeated man, saying calmly: "You are a lustful and unrighteous person, a depraved and shameless scoundrel; just looking at you makes me sick."

  After finishing, he gave everyone a blessing again and then swung his sleeves to leave. Sun Zhi Gao hurriedly took out his sleeve to wipe his face, and a soft mocking sound came from beside his ear, making him furious.

  Everyone showed disdain on their faces, and they bid farewell to Sheng Weidao one after another. Not a single person paid attention to the mother and son of the Sun family, even the Sun family members only nodded at Sun Zhihao. Sun Zhihao felt that he had been made a fool of by Tong Pan today, so he hurriedly went forward to talk to Tong Pan and try to get close to him. But unexpectedly, Tong Pan didn't pay any attention to him, coldly looked him up and down, then chatted with Sheng Weidao for a few sentences before taking his leave.

  Sun Zhi Gao was furious, turned his head and said to his mother: "What a powerful corrupt official! A few days ago he still drank wine and recited poetry with me, today he turns his back on me and doesn't recognize me. When I pass the imperial examination and gain an official position, I will severely impeach him!"

  "Hmph, you've taken the exam several times? You can't even get a single jinshi degree, yet you're criticizing others; it's like a toad opening its mouth wide, what a big tone!"

  Sun Zhi Gao shouted loudly, but as for his eloquence, he was no match for Sheng Yu, and was ridiculed several times.

  Pinlan had already left the compartment to comfort Shulan, only Minglan was still in the compartment. The two maidservants looked at each other and saw that Minglan stood motionless on the spot, her face deep in thought, looking a bit strange.

  Minglan slowly moved her feet, lowered her head and pondered. In recent days, many inexplicable things, together with her grandmother's painstaking efforts, she now somewhat understood.