Looking at Nan Yu’s sorrowful and incredulous expression, Nan Dashu thought he had him cornered. He truly believed that Nan Yu didn't actually want to sever family ties, but was simply unable to accept the fact that his sister was being traded for a dowry, which was why he had struck Li Guihua. Watching Nan Yu’s devastated look, Nan Dashu felt a smug, triumphant sense of victory, like a rooster that had just won a fight.
Nan Yu’s acting was so convincing that no one realized he was putting on a show. Or, to be precise, it wasn’t entirely a show—it was half-real, half-feigned. Hearing his own father utter such heart-wrenching words, even after everything he had been through in his previous life, chilled Nan Yu’s heart. Despite the coldness he already felt toward Nan Dashu, he still felt a sting of pain. In his past life, Nan Yu had left the village early to seek his fortune in the south because of Nan Dashu’s behavior, yet even then, Nan Dashu had never told him to his face that he should just be "tossed into a water basin and drowned." Nan Yu understood that this was just something Nan Dashu said offhandedly in anger, but it was precisely those unconscious, careless words that cut the deepest.
The villagers gathered around to watch the spectacle began to point fingers at Nan Dashu. Nan Dashu, however, had no time to care what the villagers thought; he was locked in a battle with Nan Yu. Having finally regained a shred of his dignity as a father, he was relishing the moment, his eyes filled with the joy of victory as he looked at Nan Yu.
But the scene Nan Dashu was waiting for—Nan Yu admitting his mistake and begging for mercy—never came. Instead, he saw Nan Yu, face etched with sorrow, shake his hand off heavily, throw Li Guihua to the ground, and turn toward the Brigade Leader and the Branch Secretary.
"Brigade Leader, Branch Secretary, you both saw it and heard it, didn't you? In a home with a father who doesn't care about us four siblings at all, how are we supposed to survive? Today he sells my sister; tomorrow he’ll sell my younger brother and sister. Even if I try to stop him, how many times can I succeed? I can't stay home every single day watching over them! And my father is the type who cares only for his wife and not his children—he listens to whatever Li Guihua tells him to do. After such a massive scene today, there is no way Li Guihua will let this go; she must already be harboring deep resentment toward the four of us. How are we supposed to go on living in this house? I beg the Brigade Leader and the Branch Secretary to make a decision for us! Please, let us sever ties!"
The sadness and helplessness on Nan Yu’s face were so authentic that anyone could feel his distress. Everyone had been watching the drama unfold at Nan Yu's home for so long that they all understood what was really going on. They had all witnessed the kind of life these children had been living for years. Upon hearing Nan Yu’s words, those with a stronger sense of empathy began to speak up.
"That's right, Brigade Leader, just let Nan Yu sever ties with his father. If these children continue to be tormented by Li Guihua like this, they’ll be dead sooner or later!"
"Exactly! Even if they aren't killed, they'll be starved to death! Can't you see how starved Xiaosan and Xiao Si look?"
"Indeed! Just look at Li Yan and Li Hai—who would believe these children were raised in the same house?"
"It’s true. This Nan Dashu isn’t even acting like a human being. He doesn't care about his own children at all. How cruel can one be?"
"Is Li Guihua some kind of witch? How else could she have bewitched Nan Dashu into losing all sense of right and wrong?"
"Shh, don't say that! Be careful of being branded for saying such things."
Seeing the conversation veering into dangerous territory, the Brigade Leader quickly stepped in to interrupt. "Alright, alright, that’s enough. You spectators stop meddling. This is a family matter for Nan Yu; don’t go spreading nonsense."
After scolding the onlookers, the Brigade Leader glanced at the distraught-looking Nan Yu, then turned to Nan Dashu. "Nan Dashu, do you agree to sever the family ties?"
Severing ties required the consent of both parties. If Nan Yu and his siblings wanted to break away but Nan Dashu refused, it couldn't be done.
"I... I..." Nan Dashu was caught off guard by Nan Yu’s unpredictable move. He genuinely didn't want to sever ties, but now that he had been backed into a corner, he truly didn't know what to do.
Li Guihua, having been tossed to the ground by Nan Yu’s strength, was nursing her pain, but seeing how the situation was unfolding, she panicked. She hadn't been worried before because the Brigade Leader and Branch Secretary weren't there, and no one had ever really backed Nan Yu when he threatened to break ties. But now, it was different. If they agreed, the Brigade Leader and the Branch Secretary were actually capable of making it official. She had already made a deal with the family Nan Zhi was to marry into and was just waiting for the wedding. If the family ties were severed, how could she still trade Nan Zhi for the dowry? Her brother was also waiting for a job at the factory!
"No severing ties! Absolutely not!" Li Guihua scrambled up from the ground and rushed to Nan Dashu’s side, pleading earnestly. "Old Nan, don't be foolish! These are your own flesh and blood; how can you sever ties? Besides, even if you did, they are still your children—ties like that aren't something you can just break!"
As she spoke, she kept frantically signaling to Nan Dashu with her eyes. Nan Dashu wasn't always quick to react to other things, but he caught her meaning instantly.
"That’s right, right! No severing ties! What kind of talk is that? I was just speaking in anger. They are my own biological children; how could I ever break those ties?"
Nan Yu looked at the two shameless people and gave a bitter smile. He knew exactly what they were plotting, yet seeing Nan Dashu act this way still made his heart ache.
"Brigade Leader, Branch Secretary, you see, don't you? This is my own father—a man who does whatever Li Guihua says! Do you know why the two of them won't agree to sever ties?"
The Brigade Leader and the Branch Secretary remained silent, watching Nan Yu.
Nan Yu gave another bitter smile. "Because if they sever ties, they won't be able to trade my sister for a dowry anymore!"
As soon as Nan Yu said this, not just the Brigade Leader and the Branch Secretary, but everyone watching understood. It was exactly as he said! If they severed ties, they would be two separate families, and Nan Dashu and Li Guihua would no longer have the power to force Nan Zhi to marry. Everyone looked at Nan Dashu and Li Guihua with expressions of utter contempt.
With their selfish schemes ruthlessly exposed by Nan Yu, both Nan Dashu and Li Guihua felt deeply embarrassed. But no matter what, they could not allow the ties to be broken. Li Guihua quickly put on a fake smile. "Nan Yu, you’ve misunderstood us. We really didn't..."
Before Li Guihua could finish, Nan Yu roared, "Shut your damn mouth!"
Having been struck by Nan Yu so many times, Li Guihua was genuinely afraid of him now. Startled by his shout, she dared not say another word. Watching Li Guihua’s stifled expression, Nan Zhi, standing to the side, felt a sense of relief; it was as if all the bullying she had endured for years suddenly felt less heavy. But when she thought of how her father still intended to sell her, she lowered her head, heartbroken.
"Brigade Leader, Branch Secretary, is there anything more I need to say? Can the four of us still dare to stay in this house? Either Li Guihua leaves our home, or we sever ties!"
Nan Yu took a step back. He knew Li Guihua far too well; she would never give up on forcing Nan Zhi to marry. Severing ties wasn't as easy as he made it sound, but this time, he had let everyone see the suffering of his siblings and ensured everyone knew Li Guihua had been driven out by him. If Nan Dashu continued to listen to Li Guihua and force Nan Zhi into marriage, that would be the perfect time to finalize the severance of ties, once and for all.