How did a street urchin from the film crew end up in a Northern Song Dynasty drama called "The

The next day, the Sheng family sent people to Sun Zhigao's house to discuss a divorce, but they were ruthlessly driven away by Sun's mother. Sun's mother then proceeded to publicly insult Sheng Shulan in the neighborhood, accusing her of immoral conduct. Sun Zhigao even went so far as to declare that Sheng Shulan should obediently return and kowtow in apology. Sheng Pinlan, upon hearing this, was furious and wanted nothing more than to have the mother and son tied up immediately. The matriarch then asked Minglan what to do. Minglan calmly replied, "If they don't agree to a divorce, we should strike at the root of the problem. Tell them that if they don't agree to a divorce, they won't get a single thing that Shulan brought with them."

The old lady gathered the clan elders of the Sun and Sheng families, as well as the old lady Dexin, with whom she had a long-standing friendship. Finally, she invited the Sun family mother and son to the gathering to understand the matter. Such a grand occasion could not be left unattended. She pleaded with Madam Li for a long time, but Madam Li naturally refused to let her daughter watch the adults quarrel. Instead, the old lady said, "She is not a child anymore. She should know the hardships of the world and not be as delicate as a flower that cannot withstand the storms."

The old lady's survival rules were different from her daughter-in-law's. She thought weeds were much better than ornamental orchids. Li Shi couldn't disobey her mother-in-law, so she glared at Pinlan and ignored her. Pinlan immediately went to find Minglan and called out, "Let's go together!" Minglan was also itching to go, but she still informed the old lady first. To her surprise, her grandmother didn't stop her. So the two girls excitedly sneaked into the side room of the main hall. "We'll make him pay!" Pinlan was particularly excited.

When they arrived at the private room, they found Shulan already sitting there, looking haggard like a widow.

"It was the old lady who sent us," Shulan's personal maid said softly. Minglan and Pinlan exchanged a glance. This time, the old lady was probably going to take drastic measures to cut off Shulan's hopes once and for all.

When the servants of the Sheng family came to invite them respectfully, the Sun mother and son assumed that the Sheng family had compromised, so they swaggered over to the door. When they arrived, they found that half the room was already occupied. Those present were either highly respected local figures or elders from both families. Turning their heads, they even saw that the local magistrate was also there, with two clerks beside him. Sun Zhigao began to feel uneasy, but his mother was still unaware of this and arrogantly chose a chair at the front to sit down.

After everyone had exchanged greetings, Uncle Hu and Changsong invited the magistrate and the two clerks out for tea. Pinlan peeked through the crack in the door and turned back to say softly, "Luckily, the third branch of the family didn't come, otherwise they would have laughed at us."

After drinking a cup of tea, Sheng Wei glanced around at everyone in the hall, cupped his hands, and said, "I have invited you all here today to discuss the matter between my daughter and the Sun family's son-in-law. My family affairs are not going well, so please do not laugh at me."

Seeing this, Sun Zhigao thought to himself, "Could it be that the Sheng family is trying to force me to submit because of their power?" Thinking it best to strike first, he snorted coldly, "Father-in-law, as the saying goes, of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is to have no offspring. I, Zhigao, am a descendant of the Sun family, and at twenty-five years old, I still have no children. This is truly unfilial. Now that my concubine is pregnant, it is a joyous occasion for the Sun family, and my wife should take good care of her. However, she is so jealous and intolerant. Father-in-law, you are a man of great principle and should reprimand her."

Hearing his twisted facts, Sheng Wei, despite his usual kindness, couldn't help but feel a surge of anger. Seeing her husband's purplish face, Li Shi slowly stood up and said, "This is a family matter, and it's not appropriate for me, the husband, to speak. So let me, the mother, speak." She then turned to Sun Zhigao, "Son-in-law, I'd like to ask you, since my daughter entered the family, how many concubines has she taken for you?"

Sun Zhigao's breath hitched, and he snorted without speaking. Li continued, "My daughter has been married for less than half a year, and she has already arranged three concubines for you, my son-in-law. A year later, she bought two more from outside, and the following year she hired a concubine from a respectable family. Now, you are twenty-five years old, and there are more than a dozen people in the house."

As Li recounted his secrets in great detail, Sun Zhigao's face flushed red. The elders and clansmen around him all turned to look at him. One of his uncles, who had a long-standing feud with Sun Zhigao, sarcastically remarked, "No wonder my nephew has failed the imperial examinations time and time again. He's been so busy, huh?"

Sun Zhigao was filled with shame and indignation. Seeing her son's embarrassment, his mother quickly said, "It is common for men to have three wives and four concubines. Besides, my son is doing this for the sake of having offspring. What do you mean by this, in-laws?"

Sheng Yun snorted coldly and said, "Whether it's for the sake of offspring or lust, only heaven knows~~~~!"

Sun Zhigao was furious and almost slammed his fist on the table.

Seeing that things were getting out of hand, the old patriarch of the Sun family quickly stepped in to smooth things over, saying, "My dear in-law, please calm down. Couples often quarrel and then make up. Family members should talk things out. Why argue?"

Seeing that there was a way out, Sun's mother quickly said, "That's right, don't talk about these irrelevant things. I won't say that my daughter-in-law is incompetent. Since there is someone pregnant in the room, she should accept her in properly. It would be her blessing if she gave birth to a son or daughter."

Madam Li's voice was stern: "Today we'll talk about this. I only have one question for you, my in-laws: if my son firmly refuses to take that woman as his wife, what will you do?"

Sun Zhigao stood up abruptly, his face full of arrogance: "What use is an unworthy person? Send a letter of divorce and leave the hall!"

Sheng Wei finally couldn't hold back and sneered repeatedly, "Very well! What a son-in-law who has studied the classics!"

Minglan felt pity and turned to look at Shulan. She saw that Shulan's eyes were empty and her body was swaying. She was only supported by her maid. Pinlan gritted her teeth and said to Minglan, "If I were a man, I would definitely go out and give him a good beating!" Minglan looked at Pinlan's imposing appearance and thought to herself: Actually, even though you are a woman, Sun Zhigao may not be able to beat you.

Seeing that the Sheng family remained silent, Sun Zhigao smiled arrogantly again: "As the saying goes, a day as husband and wife is worth a hundred days of kindness. If she is willing to be virtuous and take good care of the Sun family's offspring, the Sun family will not lack a single bite to eat! Father-in-law and mother-in-law, please think it over carefully." He sat down with an air of authority, as if he was certain that the Sheng family would not want to lose their son-in-law.

Seeing his demeanor, Li lost all hesitation. She was filled with murderous hatred and shouted, "No need to think about it anymore! We are not worthy of your great talent, Mr. Sun. However, we cannot divorce you. We can only agree to a proper separation, and all your dowry will be taken back!"

The Sun family mother and son were taken aback, never expecting the Sheng family to be so unyielding. They looked at each other in disbelief. Everyone present was also quite surprised. After the initial shock, they all advised them, "Don't act rashly," and "It's better to tear down ten bridges than to break up one family."

Sun Zhigao finally came to his senses and shouted, "What divorce? Such an unfilial and unworthy person, even a letter of divorce is too lenient!" Sun's mother quickly chimed in, "Once a woman marries into my Sun family, her dowry naturally belongs to the Sun family. Why should she take it back?!"

Looking at the behavior of the mother and son, who showed no affection or tenderness for her diligent and honest daughter, Li finally understood the old lady's good intentions. Her heart hardened, and she said loudly, "What do you mean by unfilial and unvirtuous?! How can you say such things with such black hearts? If you wanted to be filial and have children, my daughter didn't stop you. Although my family is in business, we know what wifely virtue and filial piety are. It is said that it is a transgression if a woman has no offspring after seven years of marriage. But my daughter took a concubine for you less than half a year after her marriage, and you still say she was 'jealous'?! Since she entered the family, she has slept in your mother's room for more than twenty days a month, serving tea and water, serving food and drink, cooking and sleeping, getting up before dawn, and never uttering a word of reproach when scolded or beaten. Isn't that virtuous?!"

Thinking of her daughter, so young yet so thin and frail, Li was overcome with grief and almost choked up. Everyone who heard this sighed in dismay, and accusing glances were directed at Sun and her son. Some even thought to themselves: "How can she expect a son if she won't even let the couple sleep together? What a shrewish and mean mother-in-law."

Sun's mother felt extremely embarrassed under everyone's gaze. Even with her thick skin, she couldn't help but blush slightly. Sun Zhigao sat down with his head down, sullen and silent. Li Shi, filled with hatred, shouted, "You've treated my son so badly, and you still want to divorce me and demand a dowry! I'm telling you, don't even think about it!"

Sun Zhigao sneered: "It's a man's right to divorce his wife. How can you stop him?"