The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 350: Taking Her Away

Wu Ren felt confident.

Everything the Village Lady said was correct.

The Wu family indeed had plans to let Ma Wenpo kill Tong Pandi, but isn’t Tong Pandi perfectly fine?

Even if Ma Wenpo confessed, her testimony alone wouldn’t suffice.

The government cannot interfere with the family’s matters of wanting a daughter-in-law to bear a son.

As long as he insists that the daughter-in-law cannot give birth to a son and wants a divorce, the government will support the Wu family.

Understanding this, Wu Ren said, "All of this is slanderous means by the Village Lady to take away the Wu Family’s daughter-in-law. Lord Jiao, think about it, why would the Wu family want to kill the daughter-in-law? We just want her to continue trying to bear a son; we aren’t unable to support this. To be blunt, if she really can’t, taking a concubine for my son is also an option. Why would we kill her? Killing her would get us into legal trouble. We merely want a son, not trouble with a murder case."

Jiao Yamen stroked his beard and said, "Village Lady, where is the Wenpo? We need to hear the Wenpo’s statement before reaching a conclusion."

Tong Huaqiong replied, "The Wenpo is in the woodshed. Lord Jiao can interrogate her slowly. Here’s a clever suggestion: this Wenpo not only tried to harm my niece but also has many innocent women’s blood on her hands. Whether or not you can extract the truth will depend on your capabilities, Lord Jiao."

Ma Wenpo didn’t have the chance to act, and Tong Pandi wasn’t killed.

Wu Ren and Mrs. Qiao are unlikely to be implicated.

But at least one malicious person can be dealt with; Ma Wenpo, such a harmful spirit, deserves to be caught.

Tong Huaqiong continued, "My niece is subjected to harsh treatment from the Wu family; her days there have become unbearable. You heard, Lord Jiao, the idea of divorce is hers. As her aunt, I cannot stand by and watch my niece suffer unfairly. If she has no place to go after the divorce, then I must take her away."

Jiao Yamen felt overwhelmed.

The issue with Ma Wenpo could be set aside for the moment; after all, the Wu family clearly did not wish to let her go.

Divorce isn’t something a woman can enact unilaterally; it requires the husband’s consent.

Tong Huaqiong forcibly taking her away doesn’t comply with propriety.

Jiao Yamen didn’t agree with Tong Pandi’s divorce, thinking she’s too young to understand the hardship post-divorce.

She’s just a young woman with two children; how will she manage in the future?

It’s better that she remains in the Wu family, maintaining her rightful position in the main house; if a son can be born, then let him be born, if not, take concubines. Given her aunt’s strong support, nobody would dare overshadow her position in the main house.

Divorce is the least advisable choice, and throughout Pingchuan County, he hasn’t encountered a single divorce.

"Village Lady, your niece is young, she might not see things clearly. You need to open her eyes for her. Life for a divorced woman is tough, would even bring implications upon the family’s daughters."

Jiao Yamen lectured Tong Huaqiong with reason.

Tong Huaqiong didn’t have the patience to spar over principles with Jiao Yamen, so she asked directly, "Lord Jiao, let me ask you, isn’t it legally stated that a woman can divorce?"

Jiao Yamen responded, "Law is law, reality is reality, here in Pingchuan County..."

Tong Huaqiong countered, "Since the law states that a woman can divorce, no one can stop my niece from divorcing. As for her post-divorce life, that’s not for you to worry about."

Finding it futile to talk sense into Tong Huaqiong, Jiao Yamen remarked, "Divorce is possible, but it cannot be settled today. Official documents from the government are needed to officially complete a divorce."

It seems that divorcing today is not feasible.

But given the Wu family’s stubborn nature, they will likely try to obstruct.

Tong Pandi’s body, having just given birth, cannot endure the stress.

Tong Huaqiong could initially take her away, and the formal divorce can be attended once Tong Pandi has recovered postpartum. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

These aren’t significant issues.

Tong Huaqiong immediately directed Su Chengmin to carry Tong Pandi onto the carriage.

The Wu family began to obstruct.

Wu Musheng, seeing Tong Pandi’s resolute stance on divorce, declared, "No way for divorce, unless you dismiss Tong Pandi."

Tong Pandi, wanting to quickly depart from the Wu family, considered agreeing.

Tong Huaqiong scolded Wu Musheng, saying, "You dare write a letter of dismissal? On what grounds can you dismiss Tong Pandi?"

In these times, dismissing a wife wasn’t so trivial; it wasn’t about men casually writing a dismissal letter.

The ancestral hall must be convened for approval and official stamping of the dismissal letter by the government is required.

With Tong Huaqiong, the Village Lady, pressuring, the Wu family couldn’t dismiss Tong Pandi now.

Tong Huaqiong was considering Tong Pandi and her two daughters.

If Tong Pandi were dismissed, the two children would bear a marked stigma.

While divorce, at least, carries less stigma.

Su Chengmin carried Tong Pandi into the carriage, followed by Mrs. Hong and Cai Wenpo carrying large bags.

Tong Huaqiong personally carried Duo’er.

The Wu family tried but couldn’t stop them, and began fighting to take back Duo’er.

Jiao Yamen exclaimed, "What’s going on? This is a Village Lady personally appointed by the emperor. Who dare lay a hand on her?"

If Tong Huaqiong sustained any injuries today, he wouldn’t be able to continue; County Magistrate Liu wouldn’t let him off first.

Although he didn’t agree with Tong Pandi’s divorce, he couldn’t stand the Wu family clashing with Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong, holding the crying Duo’er, boarded the carriage.

Outside, the wind was fierce, yet the inside of the carriage was warm.

Su Chengmin had anticipated that Tong Pandi had to depart today and had already prepared a cozy space with quilts he scavenged from the upper room.

Furthermore, he had stealthily brought Mrs. Qiao’s hand furnace into the carriage.

Mrs. Hong and Cai Wenpo wrapped Tong Pandi securely.

Perhaps due to her impending escape from the Wu household, Tong Pandi felt the carriage was more comfortable than inside the house.

Tong Huaqiong lit a wind lamp, hanging it inside the carriage which illuminated warmly.

"Is there no royal law? Does becoming a Village Lady mean you can just take away someone else’s daughter-in-law?"

Wu Ren, in anger, stomped his foot, desperately wishing the carriage could be overturned.

"Lord Jiao, aren’t you going to intervene?"

Jiao Yamen, increasingly overwhelmed, retorted to Wu Ren, "Not to be disrespectful, but you’re pretty unfair to your daughter-in-law. A woman from the Tong family, no matter her faults, was brought to you through proper channels and matchmakers. She wasn’t purchased to be abused as a mere servant, but is an upright daughter-in-law. No wonder the Village Lady is angry and supporting her niece to divorce."

Jiao Yamen regularly visited Black Dragon Pond, aware of the Wu family’s harsh treatment of Tong Pandi.

"If indeed a divorce occurs, it would bring disgrace to the Wu family. The Sui Feng Village Lady isn’t unreasonable; if you treated the daughter-in-law with sincerity, she wouldn’t have taken your daughter-in-law today. In my opinion, while the Village Lady is currently furious, you should allow her to vent. During the postpartum period, send silver appropriately; after her recovery sincerely apologize and take back the daughter-in-law."

"As for divorce and dismissal, they are expressions said in anger, best never mentioned again; living well together is truly beneficial."

Jiao Yamen figured maintaining harmony within the family was more important than anything else. Now, if the Wu family lowered itself and remained small, perhaps Tong Pandi might reconsider.

Wu Ren bowed slightly to Jiao Yamen.

Wu Musheng stubbornly stiffened his neck.

He absolutely wouldn’t agree to a divorce.

Given Tong Pandi hasn’t committed any of the seven grounds for dismissal, then pushing her aside as a concubine due to not bearing a son won’t be intervened.

Yes, that’s how it should be done.

As long as he disagreed, Tong Pandi must obediently return to the Wu family, where she’d still be subjected to his whims.

The humiliation suffered at the hands of Tong Huaqiong and Tong Pandi today, he vowed one day to not let Tong Pandi forget.