In the early 1980s, housing in the city was still very tight.

For Old Madam Li to rent a house, she needed a household registration book.

However, her household registration was still tied to Lin Yongnian’s, and since the Lin family already had housing, she didn’t meet the rental conditions.

“But I’ve already divorced him! Once divorced, we are two separate families. I can’t still live with him after the divorce, can I?”

The clerk glanced at her and patiently explained, “For situations like yours, you need to separate your and your daughter’s household registration from your ex-husband’s.”

“Where do I go to handle that?”

“Go to the Public Security Bureau and take your household registration book with your ex-husband.”

“Okay, thank you, comrade.”

Old Madam Li left, and the clerk turned to her colleague, saying, “This old lady is quite something, divorcing at her age.”

“Well, to be honest, who would divorce if life wasn’t unbearable?” her colleague replied.

“True…”

Old Madam Li hurriedly went back home and asked Lin Yongnian to go to the Public Security Bureau with her to separate their household registrations.

Lin Yongnian didn’t want to go, but not wanting Old Madam Li to think he was unwilling to separate because he couldn’t bear to be apart from her, he followed along, suppressing his frustration.

At the Public Security Bureau, they went to the household registration department, bringing their divorce certificate and the stamped divorce agreement, and got their household registrations separated.

The original household registration book was invalidated, and both now had new books.

Lin Yongnian’s household registration book was missing two pages, while Old Madam Li now had her own book and had become the household head.

Old Madam Li looked at the words “household head” on the first page of her new book, feeling very satisfied.

She was no longer the one who took care of the family, but the head of the household!

At fifteen, she was at the age to forge ahead.

She was determined to work hard, strive, and earn money to give her daughter, Xiaoyu, a better life.

In one day, they had been married for over twenty years, but not only did they get divorced, they also separated their household registrations.

Compared to Old Madam Li’s joy, Lin Yongnian appeared a bit downcast.

Old Madam Li proudly walked out, holding her new household registration book and divorce certificate, while Lin Yongnian trudged behind her with a dejected look.

Xiao Zhao watched their figures leave and said to his colleague, “These old folks are really something, divorcing and separating their household registration at such an old age. The old lady looks really happy, though.”

“Who are you talking about?” A deep voice came from behind.

Xiao Zhao turned around and immediately stood up. “Captain Gu! Captain Gu, I wasn’t talking about you. I was talking about that old couple.”

Xiao Zhao pointed at Old Madam Li, who was standing outside, looking up at the sun.

Captain Gu had also been divorced, two years ago.

At the time, he was already in his forties.

As the only person in their police department who had been divorced, he had often been the subject of gossip.

Xiao Zhao was afraid Captain Gu might think they were talking behind his back, so he reacted a bit defensively.

Gu Zhenyuan followed Xiao Zhao’s finger and saw a middle-aged woman in a blue cloth dress, with a short bob, standing in the yard, blocking the sunlight with her hand, smiling as if she were welcoming a new beginning.

The afternoon sun bathed her in a soft golden glow, and she almost seemed to be glowing.

Gu Zhenyuan couldn’t help but glance at her a little longer, before joking with Xiao Zhao, “You’re so nervous. You’ve been gossiping behind my back, haven’t you?”

“No, no,” Xiao Zhao quickly waved his hand.

“Alright, help me check on a person.” Gu Zhenyuan placed a suspect’s information on Xiao Zhao’s desk and looked up.

The woman who had been looking at the sky had already left.

Old Madam Li didn’t go home with Lin Yongnian.

Instead, while it was still before working hours ended, she went to the Housing Administration Bureau.

“The housing situation in the city is tight, and there are very few places available for rent. Right now, there’s only a one-bedroom apartment available, at No. 23 in Lihua Lane. It just became vacant the day before yesterday.”

The previous tenant had retired and returned to the countryside.

Old Madam Li knew about No. 23 in Lihua Lane.

She currently lived in No. 18 in Lihua Lane with Lin Yongnian.

No. 23 wasn’t like No. 18, which housed workers from the steel factory.

The people there were more diverse and chaotic, and you could often hear arguments when passing by.

Because the apartment was small, the rent wasn’t expensive, only two yuan fifty per month.

Old Madam Li paid for three months’ rent and took the keys home.

As she passed No. 23, she went inside to take a look.

As soon as she entered, she heard someone cursing, “That damn thief stole my new shoes! A thing born without a mother, no upbringing, a dog who deserves to die!”

Further inside, she saw a rather strong middle-aged woman standing in the middle of the yard, cursing, spitting with every word.

Others leaned against the doorframes, watching the drama.

“Chunbao’s mom, you’ve been cursing for an hour, can you stop?” A gray-haired old woman sitting at her door, sewing a shoe sole, called out.

Chunbao’s mom caught her breath, was about to speak, then turned around and asked, “Who are you looking for?”

Old Madam Li, who was thinking about the bad security and the thief in the yard, was startled by the woman’s question.

Old Madam Li paused for a moment, then took out the keys from her pocket and waved them. “I’m the new tenant of Room 5.”

“Already rented the house that the Yang family lived in?”

“Tch, I was thinking of having my younger sister rent it,” Liu Mingxiang said unhappily, glaring at Old Madam Li as if she had stolen something from her.

“I feel like I’ve seen you before,” the old woman squinted at Old Madam Li and said.

“I live in No. 18 in Lihua Lane. We live in the same alley, so it’s normal that you might recognize me.” Old Madam Li said.

“No. 18? Isn’t that the family housing for steel factory workers? Why would you come rent here?” Chunbao’s mom asked.

No. 18 was a lot better than their mixed-up neighborhood, with no thieves.

Old Madam Li smiled and didn’t answer. Instead, she asked, “Which one is Room 5?”

Chunbao’s mom pointed to the right. “The one at the very end.”

Old Madam Li thanked her and headed straight for Room 5.

It was the most cornered unit, the one without neighbors on one side.

A small kitchen had been built with red bricks, and it was locked.

Old Madam Li opened the main door with her key and walked in.

It was a thirty-square-meter studio, empty except for some dust from the recent move.

It needed cleaning and some furniture to make it livable.

The kitchen door, however, was on the outside.

Old Madam Li opened the kitchen door to check.

The kitchen had an electric light, a wall-mounted cabinet, and a countertop.

There was a faucet next to the door, and that was it.

There was still a lot to furnish before she could move in.