She had thought the process would take at least two months, requiring multiple rounds of mediation by the women’s director.

She had firmly refused any mediation, expecting the director to only grant the divorce when there was no hope for reconciliation.

Old Lady Jiang knew how tough Fu Guihua was and was curious about how Lin Shu had managed to win.

Sister-in-law Lu Da expressed her admiration.

Lin Shu gave a vivid demonstration, adjusting her language to make it easier for the uneducated Grandma Jiang to understand.

Old Lady Jiang clapped her hands and cheered loudly as she listened.

In her excitement, she went to fetch a bottle of fine wine that her son had been saving.

On the table, she had prepared handmade noodles, scrambled eggs with chives, as well as pickled vegetables and cucumber pickles made by Lin Shu.

It was a very sumptuous dinner by ordinary standards.

Old Lady Jiang smiled warmly and said, “Lin Xia, even though people say that divorce is a bad thing for women—it’s painful and hard—i thinks it’s a good thing for you. Without children tying you down, you can focus on your work. Next year, you could become a level four electrician, and the year after that, a level five. Eventually, you could even become a manager. And then, you’ll find a man who truly loves you and a good mother-in-law. Your future will be bright and full of blessings.”

Although Lin Xia had been hurt by the Qian family, she had also made progress in her career, so she felt calm about the separation rather than resentful.

She didn’t express a desire to remarry but simply thanked Old Lady Jiang with a smile, “Grandma, I could only get divorced because of your support. Thank you for protecting me. If it weren’t for you…”

Old Lady Jiang immediately responded, “Don’t mention it. I’m telling you, whether it’s you or someone else who’s not as capable, if they’re unhappy and want a divorce, I’ll still support them.”

The four women ate and drank, laughing heartily.

Qian Lisheng stood behind them, finding their laughter very irritating.

Was Lin Xia really that happy about the divorce?

Hadn’t he and his parents treated her well during their marriage?

Why was she so heartless and not at all nostalgic?

He wanted to talk to Lin Xia, to reconcile and prevent the divorce.

He knocked on the door.

Seeing Qian Lisheng at the door, Old Lady Jiang felt a bit annoyed. “What do you want, Master Qian?”

Qian Lisheng looked disheveled—his hair was oily, he had dark circles under his eyes, and his face was unshaven.

He appeared worn out and depressed.

He hoped that Lin Xia would see him in this state and feel sorry for him.

Lin Shu immediately turned to Lin Xia and said, “Look at him, he looks so greasy and uncared for. He hasn’t even washed his hair or shaved. A man who doesn’t take care of himself is unacceptable. You’re lucky you had the foresight to leave him.”

When Qian Lisheng was her brother-in-law, Lin Shu could flatter and praise him.

But now that he wasn’t, she wasn’t going to show him any leniency.

Did he think looking so miserable would make Lin Xia feel sorry for him?

Not a chance.

Originally, Lin Xia noticed his disheveled appearance and remembered how meticulous he used to be about his grooming.

Now, however, he looked completely different.

He looked disheveled and unkempt, clearly not in the mood to care about his appearance.

Now, after Lin Shu’s words, she immediately came to her senses.

Yes, he used to be clean because she did the laundry, cleaned his shoes, and boiled water for him to wash his hair!

He would be clean when he went out, but once home, he didn’t care about hygiene.

He’d just get into bed in his outside clothes and wasn’t keen on washing his feet or body.

“Lin Xia, I want to talk to you,” Qian Lisheng said, his eyes red.

Lin Shu patted Lin Xia’s arm. “Second Sister, go ahead.”

This wasn’t to give Qian Lisheng a chance but to let her second sister see him for who he really was.

Lin Xia squeezed Lin Shu’s hand, indicating that she understood.

Outside, Lin Xia and Qian Lisheng went to a quieter spot.

Qian Lisheng wanted to say something to make her stay, but his jealousy and bitterness got the better of him.

He started, “You say you’re not close with Jiang Weidong, but you’ve moved into his house. Lin Xia, are you really so… happy to leave me? Don’t you feel any sadness or longing?”

Lin Xia glanced at him.

Of course, she did feel something, but she wouldn’t show it or let him know.

She replied, “Qian Lisheng, let’s part on good terms. You don’t have to feel that I’m taking advantage of your family anymore.”

“I haven’t!” Qian Lisheng said, grasping his hair in anguish. “Lin Xia, I never thought that. You’re just too sensitive and suspicious!”

Lin Xia said, “If I’m too sensitive and suspicious, then I don’t want to be that way anymore.”

Qian Lisheng, with a pitiful look, begged, “Lin Xia, come back. I’ll change. I’ll do whatever you say. I’ll give you all my salary, and we won’t support my younger brother and his family anymore.”

Lin Xia didn’t want to continue the conversation. “Let’s part on good terms.”

Suddenly, a loud slap startled Lin Xia.

Qian Lisheng slapped himself, tears streaming down his face. “It’s my fault. If we had a child, we could focus our efforts on one goal. We wouldn’t be thinking differently.”

Lin Xia took a step back. “Even without a child, I was focusing on our small family. You treated me like an outsider.”

Qian Lisheng suddenly became excited. “Lin Xia, let’s have a child. If we have a child, everything will be fine. We won’t…”

Lin Xia raised her hand to stop him and said sternly, “Back off!”

What kind of nonsense is this?

I was willing to have a child when I considered you my husband.

But now that we’re divorced, why would I want to have a child with you?

Besides, can you even father a child?

Qian Lisheng understood her mocking and questioning gaze.

Lin Xia, being a kind woman, would definitely feel a pang of sympathy for him. He began to regret and blame himself.

“I shouldn’t have hidden it from you, but it’s because I care about you. I’m under so much pressure, losing my hair. When I found out I couldn’t have children, it felt like the world was collapsing. I was afraid you’d reject me and that people would laugh at me. Lin Xia, I didn’t really want to go to Qizhou for training. I went for treatment. The doctor said I could be cured. Please give me another chance. I really can’t live without you.”

He hoped Lin Xia would soften and return to him.

However, Lin Xia was frightened by his desperate plea.

She tried to leave, but Qian Lisheng blocked her path.

“Move aside!” she said coldly.

Qian Lisheng, feeling suddenly irritated, said, “You’re just disgusted with me. You want to climb higher.”

Lin Xia replied, “I don’t.”

Qian Lisheng demanded, “Swear you’re not trying to get close to Jiang Weidong.”

Lin Xia responded, “I have nothing to do with Director Jiang. Why should I swear?”

Qian Lisheng’s eyes reddened. “I can be cured. Why won’t you give me a chance?”

Why was she so cruel?

Why didn’t she care about him?

He remembered how she used to care for him deeply—how she would worry when he cut himself, make him food when he was tired, and comfort him when he was cold.

Why was she so heartless now?

He slapped himself hard, begging, “Please give me another chance.”

Lin Xia didn’t feel sympathy for him. Instead, she was disgusted and contemptuous.

He didn’t understand why she wanted a divorce.

He only saw it as her using their family to advance herself and then discarding him.

Lin Xia had seen through him completely. As her sister said, Qian Lisheng was fundamentally bad, just better at hiding it before.

Seeing Lin Xia’s cold rejection, Qian Lisheng suddenly lashed out.

“You’re making a scene and not coming home. You’re staying at Jiang Weidong’s place. You accuse me of having another woman, but it looks like you have another man!”

“How am I supposed to save face? You’re just embarrassing me.”

From the side, Lin Shu chimed in with derision, “Qian Lisheng, I’ve already been to the hospital and got the evidence of your fraudulent behavior. If you continue to harass my sister, I’ll publicly expose your deeds. Test me if you dare.”

“Try!”

You can’t become the deputy director, so you’re taking it out on my sister?

Do you believe I could make sure you don’t even get to be the team leader?

The streetlight wasn’t very bright, but Qian Lisheng’s menacing eyes were clear. “You’re a military wife. What’s with always provoking and ruining other people’s marriages?”

“Your younger brother made you stir up a divorce. Now you’ve stirred up a divorce for my second sister. How many more people are you going to provoke into divorces?”

“You’re the kind of woman who causes trouble, not someone who should be settling down!”

“Slap!”

Lin Xia raised her hand and gave him a hard slap, trembling with anger. “Don’t you dare speak ill of my sister!”

Qian Lisheng covered his face where she hit him.

The humiliation was far worse than the pain.

He pushed his face toward her. “You did well to hit me. As long as it calms you down, you can hit me as much as you want.”

He had originally planned to use both soft and hard tactics to make Lin Xia pity him and threaten her with the negative impact on her family and sisters if she went through with the divorce.

He wanted her to be less selfish and think about others.

But Lin Shu’s strong stance only made Lin Xia more resolute and less likely to care about him.

He felt intense despair and resentment.

Lin Xia said, “Get lost!”

Qian Lisheng acted shamelessly, “We haven’t officially divorced yet. As long as I don’t agree, we need to continue mediation.”

Lin Shu sneered, “Dream on about mediation!”

Sister-in-law Lu appeared beside Lin Shu with a stick.

If Qian Lisheng dared to cause trouble, she’d hit him without hesitation.

Lin Xia, very clear-headed, said, “Third Sister, you’re right. He’s not worthy of me! Just because he has an urban hukou doesn’t mean he’s noble. His twisted thinking is beyond redemption!”

Gender, region, occupation, and education don’t define a person’s character!

She linked arms with Lin Shu and pulled Sister-in-law Lu along. “Let’s go. It’s filthy just looking at this kind of person.”

Qian Lisheng, furious and embarrassed, shouted, “Lin Xia, you’ve finally shown your true colors!”

Lin Shu responded, “Yes, and you’ve finally shown your vile and disgusting true self! My sister’s divorce was the right choice! Getting rid of you is the best thing for her future! She’ll have a bright future ahead!”