On January 5th, Li Honghua took Dai Zhenhua for a stroll around Huaixi County early in the morning. They went to the Department Store and then to the market outlet, buying quite a few things.

They walked for about two hours. This was the longest Li Honghua had walked in one stretch during the winter months in years, and she felt incredibly excited and refreshed.

"Mom, let’s go back. We’ve walked a lot today," Dai Zhenhua, although happy, felt a bit worried, "Yi Roujing said that while it’s important to exercise properly, we shouldn’t overdo it."

"Okay, okay, we’ll listen to you," Li Honghua said, beaming, "Besides, we’ve nearly bought everything we need to take to your aunty’s house today."

The two of them carried a green net bag filled with milk powder and pastries, as well as a vegetable basket with pork belly and a pair of pig feet.

As the mother and daughter stepped out of the market outlet’s entrance, a chubby woman squeezed in from the corner, almost knocking into them.

"Ah—" The woman was too busy looking back and didn’t see them. Startled, Li Honghua and her daughter stepped back, nearly brushing faces with the woman, causing her to scream loudly in fright.

If Yi Roujing were here, she would have recognized this plump woman as Pan Changmiao, Li Hongguang’s wife.

At that moment, Pan Changmiao clutched her chest in shock, rolling her eyes dramatically, yet still managed to scold, "Who stands so close to someone? If you scare me to death, could you afford the consequence?" 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"We were just walking normally. You’re the one who suddenly squeezed in without looking ahead, like your eyes are on the back of your head. We’re the ones who should be scared, alright?" Dai Zhenhua wasn’t one to tolerate nonsense.

Li Honghua didn’t recognize Pan Changmiao, but Dai Zhenhua did. During the National Day, she had personally visited the Lotus Production Team, knew the Li Family, and had inquired about their ways. Pan Changmiao was fierce, but if you were fiercer, she’d back down.

Knowing she was at fault, Pan Changmiao pouted and said nothing more, gripping the banknote tightly in her palm and keeping it pressed in her pocket. She had gotten greedy upon seeing others’ large banknotes sticking out of their pocket and stealthily snatched one out while the person bent down to tie their shoe.

Now wasn’t the time to attract attention, so Pan Changmiao glared at them, snorted, and turned to leave the market outlet.

"That person is really unreasonable. Zhenhua, let’s go," Li Honghua complained, noticing her daughter hadn’t followed and called out.

"Mom, I forgot to buy candy." Dai Zhenhua found an excuse not to leave. Li Honghua didn’t recognize Pan Changmiao because she wasn’t in the Li Family anymore when Pan Changmiao joined, but with Pan Changmiao here, Li Hongguang might be outside.

"You kid." Li Honghua didn’t doubt her daughter at all and turned back to the counter.

When Pan Changmiao left the market outlet, she saw Li Hongguang, who had an angry, dark look on his face.

"What are you doing, woman? You’re so slow. Even getting a divorce is such a hassle," Li Hongguang grumbled with a frown.

"Hassle? When you sneaked into the widow’s door, you were quick enough," Pan Changmiao laughed angrily. "I mentioned divorce, and you beat me up. Now you’re bringing up divorce. Shouldn’t I return the favor with a beating? What a joke. Did you think I, like that bitch, want to dream about those two ounces of meat below you?"

Li Hongguang’s face turned red and then blue with anger at Pan Changmiao’s words.

Awhile back, when Pan Changmiao mentioned divorce, Li Hongguang felt humiliated and gave her a good beating. But a few days later, a pretty widow came to the village. Her figure and charm captivated Li Hongguang, making him lose his senses. He soon became infatuated, spending almost every night with her in the village’s ramshackle house in secret.

The pretty widow wanted to marry Li Hongguang, and he was tempted. So he went back to propose divorce to Pan Changmiao. Thus, the two of them had come to the county today to submit the stamped certificate from the team leader at the civil affairs bureau.

After leaving the civil affairs bureau, Li Hongguang couldn’t wait to return to the Lotus Production Team, while Pan Changmiao watched his departing figure with a cold smile.

"Sister." If Li Hongguang hadn’t left yet, he would’ve seen that it was the pretty widow he longed for who had appeared. "What about this?"

The pretty widow pursed her right fingers slightly, and Pan Changmiao pulled out a banknote and stuffed it into her hand. "Thanks."

"Oh, I should thank you, sister, for taking care of my business from so far away," the pretty widow replied with a sweet smile, "If there’s another good opportunity like this, don’t forget to call me."

"If you really like it, you can go back and marry Li Hongguang," Pan Changmiao suggested.

"I’m not crazy. Why deal with him when I can have plenty of men? Spending the rest of my life with that half-wit, where’s the happiness in that?" The pretty widow rolled her eyes. "I’m exhausted just keeping up with his nightly howls of passion."

Pan Changmiao cleared out all the possessions of the Li Family, left, and took her son Li Xijun with her. The two of them vanished without a trace, as did the pretty widow, leaving Li Hongguang unable to find her. Li Dabing and Cai Aliu cried every day at home and cursed people at the team, but it was all in vain. This winter, the Li Family was doomed to run out of food.

The Ding Family was unaware of the Li Family’s troubles and were preparing for lunch tonight.

Feng Lishu arrived early to help Li Hongying in the kitchen. She enjoyed cooking and could hone her skills with Li Hongying’s guidance. They were having a pot meal today, and Feng Lishu learned how to mix the sauce, making it easier to prepare at home next time with just the vegetables and seasonings.

When Li Honghua and Dai Zhenhua arrived at the Ding Family’s house, the lunch was already ready. Besides the pot, Li Hongying had also fried some crispy pork and radish balls, making it feel like the New Year. These could be eaten alone or added to the pot.

"Aunty, this is as impressive as East Province’s big pot stew. I’ve only had pot once before in Jing City, but the ingredients you prepared are so much richer. The sauce you mixed is a masterpiece, even better than what restaurants offer," Dai Zhenhua said, eating enthusiastically until her belly was round.

While Li Honghua took a nap, Dai Zhenhua shared the encounter with Pan Changmiao at the market outlet, wanting the Ding Family to be aware of the situation.

"Zhenhua, it’s okay. We’ve severed ties with the Li Family. Even if they come looking for trouble, we’re not afraid," Li Hongying said firmly.

But this notion didn’t hold up when the Li Family actually came knocking.

Now, with all their possessions depleted, the Li Family even struggled for food. The three of them, dressed like beggars, stood in front of the county government building to block Ding Anguo. Ding Anguo didn’t want to deal with them, but public opinion wasn’t looking good, and there was a colleague who knew Ding Anguo but harbored jealousy, so they directly informed them of his home address.

Upon learning, the three Li Family members headed directly to Bright Alley without bothering about Ding Anguo, who rushed to intercept them.

"We’ve severed our ties. The things you did to our family—others may not know, but we both do. If you continue to harass my mom, then we’ll meet at the police station."