Chapter 9

As soon as he entered the bank, Yang Ligang hesitated again.

150,000 yuan was no small amount. Even though he had cried to his parents and gotten 100,000 yuan, he still had to pay the remaining 50,000 out of his own pocket. Once he did, most of his savings would be gone.

Along the way, he had second thoughts multiple times, using every tactic imaginable—cursing, begging, cursing again, trying to put on an act, using reverse psychology—but Ye Xiaoyu was especially firm. Ye Xiaoyu, her second sister, brother-in-law, and the people they brought with them were all firmly on her side.

No matter how much Yang Ligang resisted, Ye Xiaoyu was not going to let him back out.

“Xiaoyu…”

“Photo!”

Today was a lucky day. After the bank staff confirmed that Yang Ligang wasn’t being coerced, the transfer went smoothly. Ye Xiaoyu got her passbook, and the weight on her shoulders finally lifted.

But after the transfer, Yang Ligang seemed like a criminal who had surrendered his weapons—completely drained of energy, his spirit crushed. He was just following instructions, no longer thinking for himself.

At the civil affairs bureau, many departments still lacked detailed, comprehensive regulations, which made the divorce process more streamlined.

For the staff at the civil affairs bureau, divorce was no longer a rare occurrence, and the reasons for divorce were usually just one thing after another: “emotional breakdown.”

As for the division of property, Ye Xiaoyu and Yang Ligang had already agreed. As for custody, Lele had clearly expressed that he wanted to stay with his mother. Ye Xiaoyu wasn’t interested in taking anything from Yang Ligang, except that she hoped he would have another son—just to avoid any future complications.

As for any future reports or complaints, Ye Xiaoyu wasn’t going to bother with this pair of scoundrels. If they lost their jobs, it would be her own loss.

Leaving Beijing had never crossed her mind. After all, Beijing was the capital. Living in the capital was the best option, and studying there would greatly benefit Lele. Leaving for a scumbag wasn’t worth it at all.

Besides, the factory’s environmental impact was significant. Even if it didn’t shut down, it would eventually have to relocate out of Beijing. When that time came, it wouldn’t be her leaving. Once they were gone, Ye Xiaoyu would consider avenging herself.

After signing the papers, Ye Xiaoyu received the divorce certificate.

Suddenly, Yang Ligang warned her, “Ye Xiaoyu, don’t regret it after the divorce!”

“Regret? I’m just waiting to set off firecrackers to celebrate!” Ye Xiaoyu happily replied.

As they left the civil affairs bureau, laughing and chatting, Yang Ligang screamed in frustration, scaring two passersby who were holding a child.

The two hurried away, explaining to the child, with vague references to “epilepsy” or something similar.

Yang Ligang shot them an angry look and returned to the factory, still upset. Every time he saw others talking, he felt as if they were discussing or mocking him.

But it was his fault, so he didn’t dare to anger anyone. After work, he vented his frustration on Hu Wanwan. While Hu Wanwan had gotten what she wanted, seeing the man in front of her—so different from the one before—left her confused and regretful about the future.

Was it really worth it?

The chaotic future of the Yang family no longer concerned Ye Xiaoyu. She didn’t want to waste her energy on this trash.

Now, there was still one more thing to do.

To the police station!

With her household registration book, ID card, divorce certificate, and other documents in hand, Ye Xiaoyu, after consulting Lele, decided to stop by and change Lele’s name. From now on, Lele would carry her surname and be called Ye Lexuan.

At the entrance of the police station, Ye Xiaoyu handed out red envelopes, one for each of the five people, including Ye Ermei and her husband. Each red envelope contained five hundred yuan.

Fifty yuan as a token of appreciation was not a small amount, and it was actually more than what most people would give at a wedding.

Ye Ermei and Zhao Qing refused the envelopes, pushing them back. “You’ll need the money for other things in the future.”

“Sis, brother-in-law, I’m confident about it,” Ye Xiaoyu said, shaking the divorce certificate in her hand. “I’m just so happy to be starting anew today. The red envelopes are to celebrate. Come on, let’s all go eat a big meal together. If it weren’t for the trouble, I’d be having a whole banquet and even setting off firecrackers!”

The others:

“…”

Divorces these days were more common than in the 70s and 80s, but most people still got divorced secretly, or with tears. They had never seen anyone like Ye Xiaoyu, smiling happily and even talking about having a divorce celebration with firecrackers. Was she planning to fly to the sky?

“Poof.”

Even passersby couldn’t help but laugh.

The laugh sounded familiar. Ye Xiaoyu turned around and, sure enough, it was the guy with the buz and tiger teeth from the hospital last time. His ankle straps were still on.

Besides him, the handsome man from last time was also there. Today, he wore a plain ash-gray down jacket, but with his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and long legs, he looked great no matter what he wore.

Ye Xiaoyu couldn’t help but glance at him again.

The tiger-teeth guy waved energetically. Ye Xiaoyu, who was in a great mood after the divorce, waved back.

It was quite a coincidence.

In just a few days, Ye Xiaoyu had run into them twice, both in awkward situations. Could they be witnesses to major events in her life?

There were three or four unfamiliar faces with blue uniforms standing with them. The young man with the flat haircut was chatting and laughing with the police officers, as if they were familiar with each other.

Turns out, they were police officers? As expected, all the good-looking ones were working for the state.

“Do you know them?” Ye Ermei asked curiously.

“I’ve seen them twice, familiar strangers,” Ye Xiaoyu turned back and continued, “It’s getting colder. How about we go eat lamb hot pot to warm up? If not, we could go to a private restaurant, or have some Peking duck?”

Ye Xiaoyu listed three options for them to choose from. The others, who hadn’t planned on gathering for a meal, ended up picking dishes without realizing it. Just like with the red envelopes, they unknowingly chose after hearing the question framed as an option rather than a simple yes/no.

They went to a small but well-known lamb hot pot restaurant.

Lamb hot pot, being meat, wasn’t cheap. A single dish could easily run into double digits. But the portions were generous—ten pounds of meat were ten pounds, and a whole lamb was a whole lamb, no compromises.

Of course, the lamb hot pot was stewed in advance.

Lamb has a strong odor, so a more complex process and seasoning were needed to remove the smell. The restaurant only had a limited amount of lamb each day. Thanks to its good taste, the meat would be sold out every day, making the business very profitable.

The soup was a pale, milky white, topped with a sprinkle of green onions.

Once the pot started bubbling, Ye Xiaoyu scooped a bowl of hot lamb soup. The cold weather made it perfect for drinking. The soup was fresh and fragrant.

The lamb used was carefully chosen from the hind legs, ribs, and spine of the lamb. After stewing, the meat was soft and tender, with no smell.

Even though it didn’t have heavy oils or spices, the natural flavor was so fresh that it made you want to swallow your tongue.

Lele had tried lamb offal soup before, but this was his first time having hot pot. His tastes were different from adults. He liked drinking the soup more than the meat, and he especially enjoyed the radishes and cucumbers in the pot. Radish was one of his favorite vegetables.

At first, there was some conversation around the table, but soon everyone was eating eagerly, and by the end of the meal, everyone was very satisfied with the lamb hot pot.

For foodies like Ye Xiaoyu, she was already planning when to return.

Leaving the hot pot restaurant, the cold wind didn’t feel freezing at all. In fact, it helped release the heat from their bodies, and the chill felt somewhat refreshing.

Someone, not sure who, exhaled deeply, and their breath turned into white mist in the cold air.

Ye Ermei said, “Let’s go, Xiaoyu. We’ll help you move. With us here, Yang Ligang won’t dare refuse.”

“There’s nothing to move,” Ye Xiaoyu shook her head. She had already packed up the previous owner’s things. Besides the savings, the most valuable items were the three-in-one record player and the other items that had been her dowry.

The watch and radio were already packed.

The watch was the most useful. In the days before phones, when people only had bulky cell phones, watches and clocks were the only ways to tell time.

That’s why, besides the watch, Ye Xiaoyu also took the clock hanging on the living room wall.

She didn’t plan to buy a TV anytime soon, but the radio was useful for music, news, and even operas. It had several stations, so she took it with her.

The sewing machine was heavy, and she didn’t know how to use it, so she left it behind. But it wasn’t wasted—it was sold to a neighbor in the building.

Since they lived near the factory’s employee building, she hadn’t bought a bicycle back then, but it was quite useful now. With the money from selling the sewing machine, she bought a second-hand bicycle.

The watch, clock, radio, and second-hand bike made up about 95% of Ye Xiaoyu’s belongings.

Then, she packed two sets of clothes for herself and Lele, plus some newly bought daily necessities. Together, it all fit into one package, with Lele’s schoolbag holding all his little things.

Everything else was left behind. Even if she took it, it would eventually get lost.

Ye Ermei saw that Ye Xiaoyu had taken so little and didn’t understand or approve of it. She thought Ye Xiaoyu didn’t know how to live properly, but Ye Xiaoyu waved it off, saying it was too painful to think about.

Ye Xiaoyu didn’t have much to bring, planning to stay in a hotel for a couple of days.

But Ye Ermei stopped her. “Why stay in a hotel? Stay at my place. You and Tianniu can share a room. Are you rejecting your niece?”

“Of course not,” Ye Xiaoyu shook her head. “It’s just that there are two of us, and I didn’t want to crowd Tianniu.”

“It’s winter, not summer,” Ye Ermei said, patting Lele’s little head. “With Lele here, you can’t stay outside. Hotels are chaotic, and with you alone with a child, even a moment’s carelessness could get your child kidnapped. Do you want that?”

“The real culprit is from the ’90s, and it involves Lele’s safety,” Ye Xiaoyu agreed, “Alright, I’ll trouble your sweet girl for the next couple of days. Once I find a place, I’ll move out.”

“You can stay as long as you like. Don’t you want your blankets and hot water bottle? I thought you were being frugal, but you’re still carrying Lele. You should save a bit of money…”

The group split up.

Wang Yilai and the others went back to their own homes, while Ye Ermei and Zhao Qing accompanied Ye Xiaoyu to the family dormitory once again to take the few belongings and the bicycle.