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Chapter 139
The next day, besides Xiao Wu’s in-laws, husband, younger uncle, and aunt along with a group of in-law relatives, there were also Xiao Wu’s parents, siblings, and relatives from her maiden family.
When Qiao Wei, escorted by the members of the Armed Forces Department, brought Xiao Wu to the library, Xiao Wu’s father was earnestly apologizing to her in-laws, “She’s not that kind of person, I guarantee it! I guarantee it!”
At that moment, Xiao Wu appeared, and her father hurriedly pulled her, “You quickly promise your in-laws, after you finish university, you’ll live a steady life!”
Upon hearing this, Qiao Wei’s lips curled slightly.
After a night of contemplation, Xiao Wu calmed down.
She lowered her head and said, “Dad, Mom, Jian She, after I finish university and return, I will definitely live a steady life.”
But her in-laws didn’t think so. Her father-in-law signaled to her mother-in-law, and her mother-in-law slapped the table and stood up, “What university! You’ve been married for two years, and you haven’t even gotten pregnant yet! You still want to go to university? Then tell me, when will you have a child? You’ll be in your twenties by the time you finish university, right? How long are you going to delay our Wang family from having grandchildren!”
Wang Jianshe saw Qiao Wei’s indifferent expression and grabbed his mother’s arm, “Mom, calm down.”
“I can’t calm down! How can I calm down!” Wang’s mother was responsible for the “madness” in the family. If men couldn’t say the words they wanted to say, she would say them in a fit of anger, “Xiao Ling, have we ever treated you unfairly? Have we ever hit you or cursed at you! No! Tell me! You’ve been married for two years and still haven’t gotten pregnant. I haven’t even let Jian She divorce you! How can you be so heartless!”
“Oh, you went to university? What about this whole family? Who will cook? Who will do the laundry? With so many people of all ages in this family, you just left? You don’t care at all?”
Xiao Wu tightly pressed her lips and remained silent.
Wang Jianshe waited for his mother to finish her outburst and then pulled her back.
Wang’s father finally spoke, “Xiao Ling, you can’t be too selfish. You’re already someone else’s daughter-in-law, and you bear the responsibility of taking care of the whole family. Chairman Mao taught us to be responsible, how can someone like you, who is so selfish, have the time to go to school for a few years?”
“We, the Wang family, don’t expect you to bring glory to our family. We can leave university for the future generation.”
“You, you just need to stick to your duties, live a good life, take care of our whole family, and that will be the greatest achievement of your life!”
Qiao Wei glanced over.
Xiao Wu’s lips had turned pale.
Xiao Wu’s father said, “In-law, going to university has been Xiao Ling’s dream since she was young. It’s such a pity that she finally got into university. Wouldn’t it be regrettable if she didn’t go?”
Xiao Wu gratefully glanced at her father.
But Wang’s father said, “Old Wu, I don’t mean to criticize you. Xiao Ling has already married into our family and is now part of our family. What she should do in the future should prioritize our family. You’ve raised her, fulfilling the duties of a parent. From now on, Xiao Ling’s matters will be handled by me and her mother.”
Wang’s mother grumbled, “I’ve never seen such a thing! After marrying out, her natal family still interferes all the time.”
Mrs. Wu wanted to speak, but Mr. Wu, feeling guilty, held her arm and stopped her from speaking. He sighed and remained silent.
The prevailing ideology at that time was that once a woman married, she belonged to her husband’s family.
Relatives from the Wu family also advised, “Ling, say something.”
“If you ask me, she shouldn’t be going to university at all. She’s already married, the most important thing now is to have children.”
“Lingling, listen to some advice.”
Wang Jianshe said, “Xiao Ling, say something.”
Qiao Wei stepped forward and glanced at these people.
Everyone present knew who she was. Qiao Wei, the former leader of Xiao Ling, had always been steadfast, and now she had been promoted further and was a deputy director.
Although there were many deputy directors, she was different. Everyone knew about her firm resistance against the verbal attack, refusing to condemn Meng Zuoyi at the oral meeting. Now, with Meng Zuoyi back in power, she was once again in a top position.
Although there were many deputy directors in the Revolutionary Committee, everyone knew that Qiao Wei was different.
But hearing about someone and facing them in person were two different things. When Qiao Wei’s gaze swept over them, these people subconsciously shrank their necks and their spirits weakened.
Even Wang’s mother didn’t dare to shout directly at her.
Qiao Wei said, “Xiao Ling, say something. Do you really want to go to university?”
Xiao Ling lifted her head and said, “Yes. I want to go to university.”
For this college entrance exam, Director Zheng didn’t assign her any tasks and let her study in the small room that Yan Xiang had used before. All the colleagues in the library helped her review, memorize, and dictate.
Everyone repeatedly encouraged her, “We believe Ling will definitely pass!”
Everyone believed she should go to university, didn’t they?
Everyone thinks that going to college is good, right?
Why do only people from the husband’s family not think so?
She said it firmly.
Her husband Wang Jianshe’s face changed.
He said loudly, “Wu Xiaoling, I’ll make it clear today! If you want to go to college, you’ll have to divorce me first!”
His mother also said loudly, “Yes, if you want to go to college, let’s get divorced!”
I never want this daughter-in-law again!
Fortunately, Qiao Wei had traveled for thirteen years. If this had happened in the first year or two after she had traveled, she might have laughed out loud when she heard these words.
What are people most afraid of in later generations? They are most afraid of wanting to leave but not being able to.
This mother-in-law actually said the word “divorce” first. If it were in the later generations, a few best friends would probably pop a champagne, hang a banner, and celebrate the sister’s escape from misery.
Wu’s mother panicked, “Jianshe, Mom Jianshe, calm down, everyone.”
Wu’s father also said, “Everyone, let’s calm down a bit. Jianshe’s father, you persuade Jianshe.”
But Wang Jianshe’s father just turned his head away, arrogantly snorting.
Wu’s mother’s tears were about to fall, “Lingling, Lingling… otherwise, we…”
But she also knew that going to college was her daughter’s dream.
She couldn’t say that she had been admitted but she wouldn’t go.
That was college, how many people out of a multitude could become college students?
Qiao Wei smirked, “Comrade Wang Jianshe. Divorce is not something to be taken lightly. This is a serious matter. Talking too much about it hurts feelings. Do you really want to divorce her?”
Wu Xiaoling’s former leader also meant to help stabilize her marriage by saying this.
The people from the Wang family were even more convinced that Wu Xiaoling didn’t have the courage to divorce.
Wang Jianshe said, “Between college and marriage, she can only choose one.”
College or marriage, you can only choose one, what would you choose?
Yesterday, Qiao Wei had asked this question. She gave her a night to think about it.
Wu Xiaoling raised her eyes and met Qiao Wei’s gaze.
When Qiao Wei had just transferred to the library, Wu Xiaoling’s first impression of her was that this sister was really good-looking.
But later on, she rarely thought about how good-looking Qiao Wei was.
When her parents asked about “the current boss,” Wu Xiaoling would bite her chopsticks and then admire her, saying, “She’s especially capable.”
She drove away one group after another who came to the library to cause trouble, some were appeased, some were scared, and some were confrontational.
When she was firm, those people backed off.
She fought for budget, resources, and benefits for the library. During her five years there, the library was peaceful and sheltered.
Wu Xiaoling’s personality was actually somewhat weak.
But weak people yearn for strong ones even more.
Qiao Wei stared into her eyes, “Xiaoling, you decide for yourself. Do you want to go to college, study, and achieve something for yourself? Or do you want to go home, wash clothes, cook, and serve your husband, in-laws, and younger brother-in-law?”
Is there even a need to choose? The options are crystal clear.
Qiao Wei’s slightly raised eyebrows, burning gaze, all encouraged her, all told her which one she should choose.
Blood rushed to her head. Wu Xiaoling, who had always been weak-willed, blurted out, “I want to go to college!”
Uttering this sentence with such volume, she felt unprecedented relief in her chest.
For the first time in her life, Wu Xiaoling experienced such relief.
She took a deep breath. This time, her voice was louder and more resolute, “I want to go to college! I choose college! I…I agree to the divorce!”
Qiao Wei smiled with relief. When she turned her head again, her smile faded, replaced with a look of embarrassment. “Comrade Wang Jianshe, what do you think about this…”
Wang Jianshe realized that Wu Xiaoling had gone crazy, determined to go to college.
Did she think he was just bluffing when he mentioned divorce?
Wang Jianshe took out several sheets of paper from his pocket and slapped them on the large old elm desk in the library, “Fine, let’s get divorced! I’ve already prepared the divorce papers!”
Divorce was actually very difficult in this era.
Not to mention the rounds of dissuasion from family members, relatives, and even neighbors. In the end, even if you can withstand all of these, you still have to pass the test of your unit leader.
The leader will talk to you repeatedly, firmly believing in the saying “Better to destroy ten temples than to break one marriage.”
Without a divorce recommendation letter issued by the leader, divorce is impossible.
Wang Jianshe explained the situation to the leader and told him, “I was just scaring her, making her afraid to go to college,” and the leader happily issued the recommendation letter.
This is really great.
Qiao Wei’s biggest worry was that Wang Jianshe’s leader would obstruct.
She reached out and glanced at the recommendation letter, everything was fine, all the details were there, and there was even a big red stamp.
The next two sheets were marriage certificates, also brought along.
This is really great, everything is here.
Qiao Wei sighed, “It seems that the marriage between Wu Xiaoling and Comrade Wang Jianshe has completely broken down.”
“No one is at fault in this matter.”
“Comrade Xiaoling has accepted the Party’s teachings, worked hard to improve herself for the betterment of the revolutionary cause. She is not wrong.”
“Comrade Wang Jianshe believes that Xiaoling cannot balance the demands of household chores and childbirth with her, and he wants to find someone else who meets his needs, which is understandable.”
“We can understand both sides. Since that’s the case, let’s not argue anymore.” Qiao Wei looked at Zheng Ai and asked, “Director Zheng, where are the comrades from the Civil Affairs Bureau?”
“Here, here, we’re here!”
As the voice rang out, everyone looked in that direction.
Sister Shen pushed out two people from behind the bookshelf, wearing uniforms and carrying briefcases.
No one knew when they had arrived or when they had been hiding behind the bookshelf.
Qiao Wei went over to shake hands with them and said, “Thank you for coming all this way.”
The two said, “Director Qiao, there is no need to be polite, this is serving the people.”
Qiao Wei said, “Immersing ourselves in the masses, doing practical and good things, I’ll make sure to write a commendation letter to your director when I get back.”
The corners of the mouths of those two people widened.
Everyone in the main reading room was stunned.
One person from the Civil Affairs Bureau sat down, while the other acted as a witness.
The person who sat down took out a red seal and a box of ink from his briefcase.
Qiao Wei handed over Wang Jianshe’s recommendation letter and marriage certificate. The person checked them and asked, “Where is the recommendation letter from the woman?”
Zheng Ai quickly took out a piece of paper from her breast pocket and handed it over unfolded, saying, “Here it is!”
Zheng Ai was Wu Xiaoling’s current supervisor. The recommendation letter for Wu Xiaoling was issued by him.
After the staff checked everything, the person picked up the big red seal, took a deep breath, and stamped it vigorously on the ink pad, then stamped it several times, holding it up high.
At this moment, the Wang family members, who had finally reacted, couldn’t help but stand up, reaching out their hands in protest.
But the red seal representing state authority had already come down heavily!
Bang—
The sound of it hitting the desk seemed to echo.
For Wu Xiaoling, it was deafening.
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