Yun Congjun looked ashamed.
Jiang Huanqing, on the other hand, was weeping.
Yun Hua sneered. "Did you ever think about our living conditions in the village each time you called and asked for more money? Besides the money we earned every year after harvesting the crops, where do you think the rest of it came from?"
"Haha… My mother earned every bit of your so-called start-up capital through pig and chicken rearing, and working night shifts at the cotton mill!"
"You're right. Xiao Qiuci is graceful and elegant. She spent all her time using expensive cosmetic products to maintain her looks without having to do any housework. How else would she look if not elegant and graceful?"
"Try asking her to slaughter a pig or shove pig manure. Let's see if she can still be this elegant!"
"You despise me for being crude, willful, and uncultured, but have you ever thought about how I wouldn't even have a mouthful of food to eat if I behaved like your well-mannered Xiao Ruyue?"
"Why don't you bring her to the village, stay for a few days, and put her with those idiots from Uncle's family? Let's see how long she can maintain her manners."
Yun Hua's eyes were extremely cold.
"Dad, Grandma made me do the dishes, wash the laundry, boil water, and cook the rice when I was only five years old. Did you know that? I had to stand on a wooden stool just to reach the stove. I almost fell into a pot of boiling water."
"Uncle's son, Zhiming, was clearly the one who played and killed the chicken that Auntie just bought, but Auntie insisted it was me. Grandma took the bamboo cane and started caning me while calling me a liar when I told them it was Zhiming.
"Mom came back just in time to protect me, but Grandma and Auntie got hold of bamboo poles and started beating both of us. Mom took me in her arms and shielded me. She shouldered the beatings until the bamboo poles were broken."
…
Jiang Huanqing covered her face and sobbed bitterly as she shook her head continuously. "Stop it. Hua Hua, stop."
Yun Congjun was silent, his expression darkening.
He knew his mother well. However, she was still his mother.
Moreover, he had saved Jiang Huanqing all those years back when she suffered from amnesia and couldn't locate her family. If it weren't for the Yun family, Jiang Huanqing might have been sold to god knows where. She might even be dead!
To Yun Congjun, it was only right that Jiang Huanqing worked as a slave for his family.
Besides, he wasn't a wifebeater so that was enough for Jiang Huanqing.
Yun Hua took a deep breath. "Alright, I'll stop. Everything happened in the past. Dad, you may have your divorce. After you agree to all my conditions, you can proceed to file for one immediately."
"Impossible!" Yun Congjun shook his head. "The conditions are too much."
Yun Hua laughed. "Is it? Let's go through the court procedures then. Dad, Xiao Ruyue being your daughter is irrefutable evidence that you have been committing adultery while still married. That means you're at fault. Who do you think the judge will favor? The cheating husband whose wife had helped support his business, or the wife who had been abused by her mother-in-law?"
Yun Congjun's expression turned more sullen.
"Even if you win in court, the judge won't award this much!" said Yun Congjun between gritted teeth.
Yun Hua laughed again. "You're right. However, news of your adultery with Xiao Qiuci while she was still Mom's best friend would be exposed. Same with the news about both of you having a grown-up daughter like Xiao Ruyue. The elegant and sensible Auntie will become the widely despised mistress. Whereas Xiao Ruyue, your baby daughter, will become an illegitimate daughter. Dad, what do you think of that?"
Yun Congjun's face turned ashen.
"What will people say about Auntie Xiao and Xiao Ruyue—the cheating best friend and the illegitimate daughter? Tsk, tsk."
"Auntie Xiao—the elegant and graceful lady—and the gentle, kind Xiao Ruyue. Will they be able to take all the gossip about them?"