After her afternoon nap, Granny Zhang stood at the door for her routine mockery. "You're not going to work this afternoon either? I don't know how we ended up raising such a shameless freeloader in this house. The daughter-in-law next door not only gave birth to a big, chubby boy, but she was back working in the fields the very next day. Only our family is cursed with such bad luck. You're lazy and gluttonous, and you complain to my son every day that you aren't getting enough to eat."
"Mom, don't be angry. I'm definitely having a boy this time," the younger daughter-in-law coaxed sweetly. "I promise, once I give birth to your precious grandson, I'll help you with the chores."
Deng Yuyuan waited until the old woman finished scolding and left for work. Then, taking advantage of the moment the younger sister-in-law returned to her room to rest, she left the Zhang Family's home.
She sifted through the original owner's memories of the Knowledge Youth Institute. It consisted of two-person dormitories. The original owner had gotten along very well with her roommate, and no newcomers had moved in after she left, so moving back was a viable option. After all, even if she were no longer Zhang Jiahua's wife, she was still an educated youth assigned to Zhang Family Village.
The sun felt warm on her body today, showing no signs of the approaching autumn. It dispelled the chill that had settled into Deng Yuyuan's bones, and the baby in her arms seemed to sleep even more soundly. The infant weighed less than the few pieces of clothing in her small bundle; holding her, Deng Yuyuan was almost afraid she might break.
She had overestimated her own stamina. A small bundle and a tiny baby were far more than this frail body could bear. The rural dirt roads were rough and uneven, leaving her panting after only a short distance. Along the way, she ran into a few curious villagers who asked where she was going. Deng Yuyuan simply replied that she was dropping off some things at the Knowledge Youth Institute.
Someone teased, "That old hag in your house actually let you take things out?"
Deng Yuyuan smiled pleasantly in response. "They're all my things, so naturally, I have the final say. What does it have to do with her?" She offered no further explanation.
Suddenly, the bundle on her back lightened. She turned around in surprise to see a kind-faced older woman supporting its weight. "Jiahua's wife, give the bag to me. I'll carry it for you. You just gave birth, so why are you out running errands? You shouldn't be catching a chill during your postpartum confinement."
It was the village chief's wife, a woman renowned throughout the village for being warm-hearted and righteous. Afraid of triggering Deng Yuyuan's maternal protectiveness, she didn't offer to hold the baby. Having been deeply involved in the village's affairs alongside her husband for years, the older woman could tell at a glance that something was wrong.
Deng Yuyuan did as she was told and handed over the bundle. Left holding only the baby, she felt significantly lighter.
The village chief's wife made small talk with her until they reached the entrance of the secluded Knowledge Youth Institute. Then, her expression turned solemn. "Jiahua's wife, did something happen? Tell me. If you've been wronged, I will definitely help you seek justice."
Deng Yuyuan's smile was bitter. "Auntie, I want a divorce."
"Divorce?! Is it really that serious?" The village chief's wife's expression grew genuinely grave. No one in their village had ever gotten a divorce. If this actually happened, how would the higher-ups view their village? "Did your mother-in-law go too far? Don't be afraid, tell Auntie. I'll uphold justice for you."
The village chief's wife silently resolved to go have a stern talk with Granny Zhang later. How could they push a perfectly fine young woman and her newborn baby to such an extreme?
Deng Yuyuan avoided the question, instead asking, "Auntie, don't you think Xiaobao is very well-behaved? She hasn't cried or made a fuss this entire walk."
Following her words, the village chief's wife leaned in to take a look. With her sharp eye, she could tell at a glance that the baby was a little beauty in the making. "Yes, so well-behaved. Her eyes and brows look like yours, and her mouth resembles Jiahua's."
She was well-acquainted with the situation in the Zhang Family. Zhang Jiahua was a good, sturdy man, so there likely weren't any conflicts between the young couple. The problem almost certainly lay in the relationship between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
Deng Yuyuan replied in a deadpan voice, "She's well-behaved because she's passed out from hunger."
The village chief's wife was shocked. She couldn't resist reaching out to gently touch the baby, realizing that something was indeed very wrong. "I'll bring you some rice, okay? How could a child be starved like this?"
Deng Yuyuan sighed. "I'm starved down to skin and bones, so how could I possibly produce milk? Her grandmother is only willing to feed her the water used to wash rice. And her father? He just thinks his mother can do no wrong. If we don't divorce and separate, I'm afraid my baby and I will starve to death. If you're willing to lend a helping hand, Auntie, I will definitely repay you the rice in the future."
Even with all her worldly experience, the village chief's wife found herself at a loss for words of persuasion. Zhang Jiahua looked like a tall, strong, and diligent man—how could he allow his wife and child to starve to this extent?
Deng Yuyuan smiled bitterly. "Look at me. Don't you think I've gotten thinner every year? To tell you the truth, I nearly starved to death this morning. After knocking on death's door, everything suddenly became clear to me. I snatched Jiahua's lunch and ate it, and once I had a bit of strength, I decided to leave that place."
The village chief's wife's lips trembled, knowing that she wouldn't be able to talk her out of it. "But... what will happen to the child without a father? You have to think of the baby."
"When has this child ever had a father?" Deng Yuyuan retorted. "I couldn't get enough to eat while I was pregnant with her, and now that she's born, she's fallen asleep from starvation. It makes no difference whether she has a father or not. Having a father just means she has to deal with a difficult grandmother, too."
Looking at Deng Yuyuan's resolute gaze, the village chief's wife couldn't continue her attempts at persuasion. She decided to wait until the younger woman had calmed down before trying to mediate again. The women in the village were all like this—they were capable of anything in a fit of anger. But once that anger dissipated and their in-laws came to coax them, they would always go crying back, continuing to live their chaotic, miserable lives.
She figured she should go check on the Zhang Family's home first. It would be a shame if such a good daughter-in-law's health was ruined by anger. Besides, that family had truly gone too far. It wasn't as if there was a famine right now; almost every household had enough to eat, and they could even afford meat occasionally. To starve a postpartum mother and her newborn to such a state was simply a disgrace to the village!
Making an excuse about needing to fetch a small bag of rice for Deng Yuyuan, she hurriedly took her leave.
Deng Yuyuan immediately shed her aura of poverty and bitter resentment, calmly pushing open the door. Next, she needed to conserve her strength and get some proper rest. At the very least, both she and the baby needed to reach a healthy weight. In this era, although the folk customs were honest and simple, wanting a divorce meant she would have to face tidal waves of people trying to reconcile her marriage.
The young woman on duty at the Knowledge Youth Institute today was named Tian Tian. Seeing Deng Yuyuan arrive, she couldn't recognize her for a moment.
"Yuyuan... how did you get so thin? You're nothing but a skeleton!" Her mouth moved faster than her brain, and she immediately tapped her lips lightly in regret.
Deng Yuyuan knew she was just being straightforward and didn't take offense. "I was afraid I really would end up as nothing but a skeleton, so I came to the Knowledge Youth Institute. Can I still stay here for a while?"
Seeing her state, Tian Tian knew she must be going through a tough time and didn't pry. "Yuyuan, what are you talking about? Honestly, your bed is still here. Let alone now that you've run into some trouble, even if everything were fine and you just wanted to move back, it would be absolutely okay. Sister Dongdong is always talking about you, too."
"Should I help you carry your bundle over?" she asked, wiping her hands on her apron and reaching out.
"I think I'll get some sun in the courtyard first," Deng Yuyuan said. "Erdong doesn't know I'm coming, so it wouldn't be appropriate for me to just barge into the room."
"Oh, then come sit in my room for a bit! My roommate got married too, so I have the place all to myself." Tian Tian enthusiastically snatched the bundle from her hands, but then suddenly realized something was wrong.
"Yuyuan, this doesn't feel like a bundle. It's a baby.
"Is she still breathing?"