Chapter 18: Supporting My Parents' Divorce

Before the factory director could speak, Song Jianshe stepped forward to explain, “Director, I just can’t go on like this. My wife picks fights with me every few days, and it’s made me lose all interest in work.”

“I don’t want to argue either,” Lu Meiqin wiped away tears strategically, “He’s completely biased, and my mother-in-law blames me for not having a son. She looks down on me every day, and my daughter suffers along with me.”

Song Jianshe shot her a glare. “You have no basic sympathy or filial piety. You’re nothing but a shrew!”

Lu Meiqin habitually put her hands on her hips. “You’re never satisfied with what you have, always eyeing what’s not yours. I didn’t have a son, but you don’t have to be so cruel to us. No one is as heartless as you…”

Song Jianshe was speechless.

Tempers flared, and they began to argue again.

Director Wei glanced at Wen Ran standing behind Lu Meiqin, feeling a bit of sympathy for her.

Judging by her reaction, she was probably used to her parents’ constant quarrels.

He tapped the table and said, “Both sides think they’re right. But once the papers are signed and the divorce certificate is issued at the civil affairs bureau, there’s no turning back. Think about your daughter, who isn’t even married yet—can’t you two at least manage to get along for her sake?”

“We can’t!”

Director Wei looked at Wen Ran, surprised when she spoke up first.

Politely, she said, “Director Wei, not every marriage can just be endured. My mother may not have suffered physical harm, but every day she endures my father’s torment mentally.

“To you, he might seem like a nice guy, but when he hurt my mother and me, he showed no mercy. If I hadn’t been accepted to the hospital, he would have sent me to the countryside for reeducation, replacing Wen Xin there.

“I’m not against the countryside itself—reeducation by the poor and lower-middle peasants is a good thing—but my father went too far. He even wanted Wen Xin to take over my job.

“We’re not unfeeling wooden dolls. What he did hurt me, and it hurt my mother even more. After all these years, my mother and I are treated worse than strangers, and we still have to endure my grandmother’s scolding and beatings. Grandma keeps urging them to divorce so my father can find a younger woman to have a son.

“In a situation like this, enduring it is pointless.”

...

Director Wei finally understood why Shen Nanzheng had asked him to use Wen Xin’s rural assignment as an example—it was to prevent the new daughter-in-law from going to the countryside.

Director Fu and the other two section chiefs were stunned.

They had never seen a child openly support their parents’ divorce.

In truth, Wen Ran wanted to describe her parents’ relationship as “emotional neglect,” but she worried they wouldn’t understand.

In fact, Song Jianshe was an expert at cold emotional abuse.

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Song Jianshe knew Wen Ran wanted them to divorce, but hearing her say it so openly still stung.

“Wen Ran, don’t talk nonsense here!”

“I’m just stating the facts. Didn’t you want a divorce? I’m just helping you get it done faster.”

Wen Ran was sharp-tongued and clear-headed.

Song Jianshe’s face darkened instantly.

Lu Meiqin chimed in, “My daughter’s not wrong. I already told the leaders everything. Please approve, Director.”

Director Wei took a deep breath.

Wen Ran looked like a harmless little doe, but her claws were sharp.

Paired with Nanzheng’s cold exterior and warm heart, it was quite an interesting dynamic.

Remembering Shen Nanzheng’s instructions, he didn’t approve right away and asked, “Team Leader Song, after the divorce, how do you plan to divide the property? What about Master Lu’s housing situation?”

Song Jianshe replied, “There’s no property at home, just the company-assigned apartment, and some old pots, pans, and worn clothes that aren’t worth much. After the divorce, I definitely won’t move out. If anyone moves, it should be them!”

“I’m the one moving out?” Lu Meiqin had already decided where she’d live after the divorce and retorted, “You want me and our daughter to sleep on the street?”

Song Jianshe was annoyed. “You insisted on the divorce. If you don’t move out, do you expect me to leave?”

“Don’t you want the divorce?” Lu Meiqin countered. “If not, why are you here? You said so much as if we were deaf!”

Song Jianshe was speechless.

Director Wei finally realized Wen Ran inherited her sharp tongue from Lu Meiqin.

Their skill at retorting was impressive.

Following her line of thought, he said, “Alright, I’ll issue the certificate and let your daughter decide. Whoever she wants to live with keeps the house.”

“No way. She’ll definitely choose Lu Meiqin.” Song Jianshe was sure Wen Ran wouldn’t pick him.

Director Wei spoke earnestly, “Old Song, you’re a man and a team leader in the workshop. You still have many opportunities ahead. You can’t keep fussing with the women.

“Being particular is sometimes good, but not in a family. Think about it—after the divorce, you can live in the single dormitory at the workshop. Where would Master Lu and your daughter live?

“You didn’t get the workshop director position this time, so look for your own shortcomings and keep working hard. There will be more chances. Besides, the factory will allocate more housing in the future. You might get another chance then!”

Song Jianshe’s face turned a riotous mix of colors, as if a palette had been overturned.

Lu Meiqin was momentarily stunned, not expecting the director to take such a clear side.

Wen Ran couldn’t understand why the director sided with her mother.

The factory wasn’t unfamiliar with divorces, but in most cases, it was the women who packed up and left.

For the factory to advise the man to leave was neither the usual approach nor typical for this time. Also, divorces couldn’t be finalized in less than a month usually, so Director Wei’s decisiveness was a first.

Director Fu and the two section chiefs were even more puzzled.

But Director Fu was the first to catch on and agreed, “The director is truly benevolent!”

The others praised the director’s advice as well.

Yet Song Jianshe wasn’t a fool; he knew leaders liked to dangle promises and that the director favored Lu Meiqin.

Having failed to become workshop director, he was determined not to lose the apartment and refused to budge.

He insisted, “Director, the apartment was assigned to me because I joined the factory early. At most, I’ll make a concession and agree that she can divorce but not move out. I definitely won’t move out. If I remarry, she has to move out unconditionally.”

Lu Meiqin didn’t want to argue further. She had never planned to claim the apartment—it was indeed assigned to him.

Given Song’s mother’s unreasonable nature and his own antics, she found the thought of staying with him unbearable.

Since the leaders were willing to issue the certificate, getting the divorce done smoothly was the priority.

After discussing with Wen Ran, she said, “Director, divorcing but not moving out would be a joke. I’m not shameless. If he pays me three hundred yuan in a lump sum, I’ll handle the divorce formalities and move out.”

Song Jianshe panicked. “Three hundred yuan? Why don’t you just rob a bank! My monthly salary plus grain subsidy and other benefits total just over forty yuan after deducting utilities. You’re asking for almost eight months’ wages!”

Lu Meiqin glared at him. “You think three hundred is too much? The money you’ve spent on Wen Xin and what you send back home every month adds up to several times that. Remember, all these years, every penny for your food, drink, and needs came from me. Why would I ask for more than three hundred?”

Song Jianshe, cornered, fell silent.

Director Wei couldn’t stand it any longer. “Song Jianshe, is this how you handle personnel matters? If you can’t manage family conflicts, how can the factory trust you? If you don’t want to be a team leader anymore, quit now! You have to choose between the apartment and the money—you can’t keep both. Otherwise, the factory has the right to reclaim the apartment and even dismiss you!”

Song Jianshe was speechless.