Crying, making a scene, and threatening to hang oneself were Mother Qi’s usual dramatic tactics, and she was true to form now, slapping her thighs while wailing loudly—a real spectacle.
In the countryside, there was never any shortage of people keen to watch the excitement. At the sound of weeping and wailing, they all hurried over, claiming to break up the fight, but really, they just wanted to see the commotion.
"Talk it out nicely, what’s there to quarrel about?" Someone went to grab the pole from Father Qi’s hands.
"You hit me, go on, hit me! Kill me, I don’t want to live anymore." Mother Qi, seeing someone coming to mediate, became even more fearless.
"Don’t think I won’t dare to. You just cannot enter the house today," Father Qi said with glaring eyes: "You troublemaker, you’ve disrupted a perfectly fine home. Go away, to the old house, you’re not allowed in the Qi home."
"How have I disrupted anything? You just listen to rumors. What have I done? I refuse to go, what can you do about it?" Mother Qi shouted loudly: "Qi Shuhua, you heartless man, I bore and raised your children, managed the household, and took care of your parents for so many years. You chase me away; you’re utterly heartless!"
"Are you leaving or not!" Father Qi grabbed the pole, intending to hit her.
"I’m not going, I won’t leave. If you have the guts, sue me in the county, see if you can win. I have my share in this home, I’ll stay however I like," Mother Qi stood up and tried to go inside.
Father Qi pushed her back: "If you dare to enter, I’ll divorce you right here and now!"
Mother Qi’s complexion drastically changed, and pointing at him, she said, "You, you’ve gone mad!"
"Uncle Qi, please talk it out. You’re both over a hundred years old when put together, why talk about divorce?" The villagers pleaded.
"There’s nothing left to talk about. She’s just a sh*t-stirrer, mindless, doesn’t appreciate what’s good for her, and doesn’t deserve to be called a mother. A perfectly good home, a good daughter-in-law, she just had to stir up trouble until our son and his wife are about to divorce. Tell me, what do I need such a wife for?" Father Qi was truly furious; this wife of his needed a lesson—to understand what’s good for her.
"What does their divorce have to do with me?" Mother Qi yelled: "It’s not like I told them to get a divorce!"
"You still dare to say!" Father Qi grabbed the pole, saying: "You know what you’ve done! Should we tell everyone here and see who’s wrong? Pah! Don’t make everyone laugh at us; I’m embarrassed on your behalf. Leave, right this instant!"
Mother Qi felt a bit guilty, seeing the prying eyes of everyone, she dared not speak out. If she really said it, she might as well not show her face!
"Jianguo, go, take her bedding to the old house!" Father Qi ordered the youngest son.
Qi Jianguo hesitated, looking at his elderly mother, his heart reluctant, he said: "Dad, Mom must know she was wrong, let’s not move her things. Mom, aren’t you?" Then he signaled to his mother with his eyes.
"Are you not even listening to me now? Don’t forget who paid for your education over the years!" Father Qi shouted.
Qi Jianguo’s neck shrank as he looked towards Mother Qi.
"Fine, fine, Qi Shuhua, you blind old fool, I’ll move, but don’t regret it. Even if you beg me, I won’t come back. You just enjoy your good life with your darling son and daughter-in-law!" Mother Qi snatched the blanket from her son and, crying, walked toward the old house.
Qi Jianguo clenched his teeth and followed her.
The crowd watched and, though they didn’t understand the full story, from what they heard, it was certainly a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law conflict!
This daughter-in-law of the Qi family was something else, managing to make a fuss so big that she’d pushed the mother-in-law out!
"Uncle Qi, think about it, at your age, why go through all this hassle?" Someone tried to console Father Qi.
Father Qi then said: "It’s nothing, all of you go back, go back, there’s no issue!"
As the crowd dispersed, Father Qi watched for a while, snorted disdainfully, and firmly shut the courtyard door.