Lin Yongnian ignored the neighbors’ advice and left the compound with Old Lady Li, holding their documents.

Lin Xiaoyu wanted to follow them, but Lin Jianshe held her back. “Let’s not follow. If someone is watching, Mom won’t have the face to change her mind.”

The neighbors all nodded in agreement: “Yeah, don’t follow. If someone is there, neither of them will dare to back out first.”

“That’s right…”

Whenever a couple has a fight, it’s usually like this—if no one is watching, they’ll argue by the bedside and make up by the tail of the bed.

But if there’s an outsider watching, neither wants to be the first to give in; they have to battle it out to see who wins.

Lin Xiaoyu frowned, “Mom won’t change her mind.”

She could tell her mother was really hurt and wasn’t bluffing or threatening anyone—she was serious.

Lin Jianshe sneered, “Just wait, before they even reach the bus stop, Mom will have to change her mind and come back.”

Liu Qin covered her mouth to laugh, already imagining the old lady sneaking back in shame later.

Lin Yongnian stood under the bus stop sign, secretly glancing at Old Madam Li, thinking she should have changed her mind by now—otherwise the bus would be arriving soon.

A bus pulled up at the stop.

Old Madam Li lifted her foot and got on.

Hey, the old lady actually got on the bus.

Lin Yongnian also got on.

The bus stopped near the Civil Affairs Bureau. Old Madam Li got off first, with Lin Yongnian right behind.

After getting off, Old Madam Li walked briskly, while Lin Yongnian dawdled.

Soon, they were quite far apart.

Lin Yongnian looked at Old Madam Li’s back and thought, she should have changed her mind by now—they’re already at the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Noticing Lin Yongnian was far behind, Old Madam Li stopped and looked back.

Lin Yongnian breathed a sigh of relief.

Here it comes, the change of heart.

He knew that old lady was just bluffing to scare him, not really daring to divorce him.

“Alright, let’s go back,” Lin Yongnian said, turning around with a fierce look but eyes full of triumph.

After so many years of marriage, since she’s changed her mind, he wouldn’t hold it against her.

No need to embarrass her—he would give her some face.

Old Madam Li said, “Go back? You old thing, you usually walk so fast. Why are you dragging your feet today like glue’s stuck to your soles? If you keep dawdling, the Civil Affairs Bureau will be closed for lunch.”

Lin Yongnian was speechless.

He didn’t expect Li Shuping wasn’t backing out but urging him to walk faster.

He was annoyed too.

Hands behind his back, he quickened his pace.

If they made it to the bureau and then backed out, it would be even more embarrassing.

They entered the Civil Affairs Bureau.

It wasn’t a busy day—no weddings, no visitors, only staff.

Old Madam Li looked around and approached a counter, asking the woman inside, “Comrade, can we get a divorce here?”

Wang Shuang was startled by the middle-aged woman of about fifty in front of her.

They rarely had divorces here—maybe none for a month.

And this lady looked quite mature, yet came to ask for a divorce.

“Yes, divorces are processed here.”

“Good, we want to get a divorce,” Old Madam Li said, pointing to Lin Yongnian behind her.

Wang Shuang glanced at the man standing with his hands behind his back and tried to advise, “Ma’am, sir, you’re both not young. You probably have grandchildren by now. What’s so unbearable that it has to come to divorce? Divorce isn’t a joke.”

“He’s the one who wants it,” Lin Yongnian said, pointing at Old Madam Li.

Look, even the staff at the Civil Affairs Bureau think this divorce is just a childish game.

Let them educate this old lady who’s lost her mind!

Old Madam Li said, “I can’t live with him anymore. I don’t want to be a maid for his whole family, and I don’t want to be called a freeloader and doing nothing.”

“A night of marriage earns a hundred nights of grace. After all these years, what’s so unbearable?” Chen Huifang, deputy director of the bureau, came out from the office after hearing about the divorce and saw the two elderly parties, so she stepped over to persuade them.

Old Madam Li said, “Because of all those years, I’ve had enough. I raised the kids and did my duty as a mother. Now, I want to live for myself.”

Chen Huifang was surprised to see such awareness in an older woman—it’s rare these days.

“How have you done your duty?” Lin Yongnian said, pointing at her. “The second son just got married, the eldest grandson Junjun is only two, and Xiaoyu is still in school.”

Old Madam Li patted her chest and said, “I’m a mother. Raising the kids is my responsibility, and I’ve done my duty. Their kids are their responsibility, not mine as their grandmother. Xiaoyu belongs to me—I’ll take care of her. You don’t have to worry.”

Lin Yongnian said, “A grandmother who doesn’t take care of grandchildren!”

Old Madam Li coldly laughed and retorted, “Didn’t your mother never take care of them? I raised all three kids by myself. When you came home, you were just a useless manager. I cooked, the kids cried, and you didn’t even try to soothe them—you just called me over.”

What kind of man did she marry?

Old Madam Li thought she must have been blind to fall for Lin Yongnian, and crazy to stay after he hit her all those years ago!

Lin Yongnian was speechless.

Old Madam Li said, “Whoever gives birth to the kids should raise them. Otherwise, don’t have them.”

“Sir,” Chen Huifang looked at Lin Yongnian, “Ma’am gave birth to and raised three kids, which is hard work. If there’s conflict, you as the husband should be magnanimous—be the first to give in, comfort her more.”

Old Madam Li sneered, “She doesn’t think I’ve been hardworking. For over twenty years, I worked, raised kids, and did all the housework. These past two months, I handed over work to the second son, and now they say I’m just a freeloader.”

“I can’t afford to be a freeloader in the Lin family, and I don’t want to be one. I have hands and feet. When I worked at the factory, I was a level seven machinist. I rely on my own hands—I deserve a decent meal with dignity.”

Wang Shuang and Chen Huifang admired Old Madam Li’s spirit, but also looked at Lin Yongnian with some disdain.

She lost her job, but did she stop doing housework?

How could he call her a freeloader?

That’s so disheartening—no wonder she wanted a divorce.

“Sir, I’m not blaming you, but how could you say such things?”

Old Madam Li interrupted Chen Huifang, “Comrade, I know you mean well, but you don’t have to say more or persuade us. This marriage is over today! Before coming, we agreed—if either one doesn’t divorce, that one’s a son of a bitch.”

“Right?” Old Madam Li turned to mock Lin Yongnian and deliberately provoked him.

Lin Yongnian was furious, glaring and shouting, “Right! Whoever doesn’t divorce is a son of a bitch!”

That damned woman, did she think he didn’t dare divorce her?

Fine, let’s divorce and see who regrets it afterward.

“Oh, don’t be so impulsive…”

Chen Huifang and Wang Shuang tried to advise again, but the two were determined, so they gave up.

Chen Huifang helped write the divorce agreement, dividing savings and child custody.

Just like Old Madam Li said earlier, the savings would be split 50/50, sons would stay with Lin Yongnian, daughters with Li Shuping.

Walking out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, Lin Yongnian was still dazed.

He looked down at the green booklet in his hands—so it’s really over?

Li Shuping is no longer his wife?