What's the difference between living and dying in a life like this

The old mansion was stripped clean.

The creditors divided up the old house among themselves.

Wang had tried to stop them, shouted at them, thrown tantrums... but in the end, it was utterly useless.

The creditors were like wolves and tigers, each afraid of getting too little. They carved up the estate on the spot. Wang was just a woman, with no power or influence, and now without even a husband to shield her from the wind and rain. She was completely helpless.

Besides, the creditors were exercising their legitimate rights. Neither public sentiment nor the authorities would side with her.

So, after a day of struggle, Wang could only crouch outside the estate like a stray dog, tears streaming down her face.

"It's all over, all over..."

"The house is gone, the jewelry is gone..."

"Now I have nothing left."

Wang wept bitterly, but the reality was even worse than she imagined.

"Hey, Madam Wang, I've taken back the house. Why are you sitting in front of my gate like this? You look like a bad omen, are you mourning me?"

"Get lost, get lost!"

"Clear out now!"

"Don't be an eyesore here!"

Wang was chased away by the servants, scrambling off in a panic.

She shoved her way into the crowd, hungry, shivering in the biting wind, feeling as if the sky had fallen and the world had gone dark.

"Have you heard?"

Just then, an excited voice rang out.

"The Duke's army has arrived—they've already taken the troops at Pukou City, and now they're marching in full force. Let's go take a look!"

The name of Duke Ren Tianye had already spread throughout the capital. In areas where the Tongxin Alliance's control was looser, the public's enthusiasm for him was always high.

And Luofeng Slope, this remote corner, happened to be a place where both the Tongxin Alliance and the capital had little influence.

So when someone shouted this out, it caused a stir. People dropped what they were doing and surged forward.

Wang was caught up in the crowd and swept along toward the commotion. Soon she saw a mighty troop of soldiers, all clad in armor and bearing weapons, their faces stern, marching down the road.

Surrounded by the soldiers were several figures riding tall horses, both men and women. Handsome or not, their bearing at that moment was godlike.

Many gazed at them, their hearts racing, wishing they could be one of them.

Wang was different.

She didn't dream of becoming one of them—but of becoming the wife of one.

After all, she was single now.

And she had just suffered a setback.

It was the perfect time for a domineering general to descend from the heavens, rescue her from her misery, and give her the perfect love she longed for.

So her eyes roamed, scanning the figures on horseback. Suddenly, she froze!

Wang almost thought she was seeing things.

She rubbed her eyes and looked again.

Three times in a row—there was no doubt. It was Xie Liu!

That useless, miserly ex-husband of hers!

But Xie Liu looked completely different now.

He wore a brand-new official robe, sat on a fine steed, and was guarded by sword-bearing soldiers. His presence was solemn and commanding, making people bow their heads in awe.

"It really is Xie Liu!"

"It really is him!"

"Oh my god, this is unbelievable!"

For a moment, Wang's heart couldn't accept it.

They had only just divorced! According to the script she had imagined, she would quickly find happiness and be the envy of all, while Xie Liu would be shivering in the cold, miserable and pitiful, begging her to take him back.

Not that she would ever agree to reconcile.

But the feeling of being begged—that would still make her happy.

Now...

How had things turned upside down?

In the blink of an eye, she had gone from the respected Madam Wang of all Luofeng Slope to a homeless, penniless stray dog.

And Xie Liu had become the honored guest of the Duke's army?!

This world was too insane!

Everything was going in the opposite direction of the script she had planned.

But...

After Wang calmed down a little, she realized this might not be a bad thing. In fact, thinking about the wonderful future ahead, the despair on her face vanished, and she perked up.

She immediately followed the army closely.

She didn't dare to rush them, so she trailed them all the way until they stopped.

Then she darted forward in a flash.

"Xie Liu! Xie Liu!"

"It's me, it's me! Your wife, your wife!"

When the soldiers blocked her, she shouted at the top of her lungs in desperation.

It caught everyone's attention.

And it drew Xie Liu's gaze.

"Xie Liu, hahaha, you see me, right? It's me, your wife. I need to talk to you. Come over here."

Xie Liu didn't come over. He just sat on his tall horse and replied coolly: "Please watch your wording. It's ex-wife... or rather, a stranger."

"Ex-wife or stranger doesn't matter!" Wang quickly said. "We can get back together."

"Xie Liu, let's remarry."

"From now on, I'll give you more allowance—how about ten copper coins a month!"

"That way you can buy a wheat cake or some tea."

"What do you think?"

"Aren't you happy now?"

"Aren't you satisfied?"

She shouldn't have said that. The moment she did, memories that had not yet died came flooding back into Xie Liu's mind like knives and arrows, launching a painful assault.

Xie Liu almost lost his composure.

He spurred his horse straight toward her: "Ten copper coins? Wang, you're so generous!"

"Do you have any idea how much I can earn in a month now? Several times more than before! And all of it is mine!"

"I eat whatever I want."

"I buy whatever I want."

"On top of that, I still have plenty left over each month."

With that, Xie Liu let out a long sigh.

It was as if he was speaking to Wang, and also to himself.

"After divorcing you, I finally realized how good life can be. The life I lived before—what kind of dogshit was that?"

"I was neither man nor ghost!"

"And now you want to get back together with me and drag me back into the abyss? Dream on!"

After finishing this outburst, the pent-up anger in Xie Liu's heart finally eased. He didn't spare Wang another glance, turned his horse, and left.

Wang tried to call him back, but with Xie Liu's attitude so clear, the soldiers on either side gave her no chance.

"This is a military camp. Leave immediately, or we won't be lenient!"

The blades gleamed like frost, their cold light flashing.

Wang had been powerless against the people who took her house, and she was even more helpless against these soldiers.

She could only slink away in defeat.

But inside, she was completely shattered.

She felt like she was going mad.

"Xie Liu won't take me back. What am I going to do now?"

"Then I'll have to go out and work to make money? But I can't earn that much! I haven't worked in twenty years. What will I do?"

Wang's face turned pale as she envisioned her future.

Carrying a vegetable basket, picking up discarded leaves that others had thrown away, struggling just to get by, living a life worse than death!

"A life like that—what's the difference between living and dying?!"