She won't clear her name; she'll throw away all the scum.

Old Chen really felt that Old Lady Xia was being unreasonable. "You were the one who started the argument, you were the one who got into the fight, and you were the one who stepped in. You felt tired and unhappy about these things, but you did them on your own initiative. I didn't force you. How can you blame me for all of this?"

Grandma Xia immediately realized that they wouldn't listen to her explanation anymore. She wanted to fight and argue, but if it weren't for Old Chen's relatives who were always trying to take advantage of her, and if it weren't for the interests of the family, why would she fight and argue for no reason?

Now, coming from Old Chen's mouth, all of this makes it seem like she deserved it, that she was just being foolish for insisting on fighting. Old Mrs. Xia doesn't believe that a fifty-year-old man can't understand this kind of thing; he's clearly pretending to be ignorant, and even at a time like this, he's unwilling to acknowledge Xia Yue'e's contributions to the family.

Outside the door, Chen Mei's family, carrying New Year's gifts, were dumbfounded. What had they heard? Their sister-in-law wanted to divorce their brother.

Grandma Xia didn't say anything more and went straight into the bedroom to pack her things; she really didn't want to stay there.

Chen Mei pulled her husband and son in and ran in, "Sister-in-law, you... it's still the New Year, how come you're arguing like this? You and your brother have been married since you were young, don't always say such hurtful things."

Grandma Xia still ignored them. All of Old Chen's brothers and sisters were disgusting people; talking to them was like talking to Old Chen himself—they'd always blame her in the end. They were the real family; even if she worked like a slave, she'd still be worlds apart from them.

Ignored by Grandma Xia, Chen Mei rushed up to Old Chen and asked, "What exactly happened, brother?"

Old Chen roared, "How should I know? Go ask her! She hit me on the head for no reason. Who can I reason with?"

Chen Mei was yelled at for no reason, and she didn't even have time to get angry. Compared to her brother's scolding, her brother's marriage was more important. Although she was a bit materialistic, she still hoped that her relatives would be well. She wasn't as vicious as Chen Weijun.

She went into the bedroom to talk to Old Mrs. Xia, "Sister-in-law, isn't this how a couple lives, bumping along the way? Old Song and I often argue too, but it's never like this. I know you've suffered a lot since you married my older brother. He's a blockhead, but what man of our generation understands us women? That's just how it is."

“If you’re not happy with your brother, tell me, and I’ll help you complain. But divorce is no joke. Let’s not talk about anything else, just money. Before the divorce, you could have all of your brother’s money and banknotes, which is no small amount. But after the divorce, you won’t get anything.”

Grandma Xia: "I'm not unemployed, I can support myself. I don't care about his little things at all compared to being mistreated."

Chen Mei grabbed her hand. "Don't pack anymore. I know you have a job, but it's definitely not easy for a divorced woman like you. Without a man at home, people will bully you."

Old Mrs. Xia glared and said, "I'll see who dares to bully me. If anyone is so blind, I'll fight them to the end. Since I married into your family, the biggest bullying I've suffered has been from you brothers, and you're the ones who bully me the most. Apart from you, I've never seen anyone else bully me."

Chen Mei was taken aback, scratched her head, and continued to persuade her with a forced smile, "Aren't we women all about our husbands and children in this life? We revolve around them our whole lives, and that's what makes us great. Being a mother is great, but being the woman behind a successful man is also great!"

Grandma Xia pursed her lips and said, "Then you're great. I don't want to be great. If you have time, help your older brother be great too, and you'll be twice as great, the greatest woman."

Chen Mei was kicked out by Old Mrs. Xia, her face dark. "Brother, sister-in-law... sigh!"

Chen Xiangbei was more confused about this than anyone else. He was knocked unconscious, so he had no idea what happened afterward. But one thing was clear to him: this time, his mother really didn't want to live with them anymore.

He wanted to say something, but he didn't know what to say. After thinking for a moment, he turned and ran outside. He wanted to find his second brother and ask him to persuade their mother.

Chen Xianghong, her face as white as a ghost, rushed in, "Mom, do you really not want us anymore?"

Grandma Xia glanced at her sideways: "What are you good for? You're only good for making me angry."

Chen Xianghong: "The third child is just a child. The second brother is very good to you. The eldest brother has already been separated from his family. I will also be good to you in the future. Mom, please don't divorce Dad. I will be filial to you."

Grandma Xia: "If I divorce your father, will you stop being filial to me?"

Chen Xianghong shook her head frantically, "No, no matter what you are like, I will always be filial to you."

Grandma Xia: "What's the difference?"

Chen Xianghong: "But you just said you didn't want to take care of us anymore, so you got a divorce."

Grandma Xia: "Yes, Xiang Hong, are you a filial child?"

Chen Xianghong nodded.

Grandma Xia: "Then you must not be the kind of child who forces your mother not to divorce and insists on living an unhappy life, right?"

Chen Xianghong: "But if you don't divorce Dad, all of us will take care of you, isn't that good?"

Grandma Xia sighed, "Xiang Hong, do you think the third son will mature right away?"

Chen Xianghong fell silent.

"Will your second brother and your father change their minds?"

Chen Xianghong hesitated for a moment, but still spoke well of them, saying, "I think as long as we talk to them nicely, they will definitely change gradually."

Grandma Xia: "I'm almost fifty, and I don't want to be so pathetic as to try to change them. Even if you can't say that your third son, who is younger than them, will change immediately, then I can't count on your father and second son at all."

“Xiang Hong, Mom wants to live happily every day from now on and not worry about them anymore. Those years when I sent you to the countryside were the times when I felt most sorry for you in my life, but thankfully you came back. Although I was worried to death about your personality, you are just like them and can't change much.”

“Xiang Hong, if you feel wronged after you get married, just go to your dad. Although he's a scoundrel, he's still a father. You're a daughter, and he's old-fashioned. He doesn't care about you as much as a son does, but as long as you talk to him, he'll definitely help you. However, if you don't say anything, he'll pretend he doesn't see it, so you must speak up.”

"Alright, stop trying to persuade Mom. Just let her get a divorce and live her own life, okay?"

Chen Xianghong shook her head: "Mom, I..."

Grandma Xia pointed to the door, "Alright, you can go out too. I told you to be a little more selfish and stop doing all that work for your brother for nothing, but I guess you wouldn't listen. Never mind then, I'm really tired."

After Chen Xianghong came out, Old Chen's eyes dimmed a little more. When Old Lady Xia came out with several bags of clothes, he couldn't sit still anymore. "Are you really leaving?"

Grandma Xia: "I'll come see you again after the New Year. I hope we can part amicably then."