Chapter 342: Chapter 342: Let’s Get a Divorce

Tonight’s dinner was quite sumptuous. Besides the rabbit Xu Qinghuan brought, Zhou Guizhi also slaughtered a hen that she had raised for five years.

Jiang Xinglan wanted to cry, “Why did you kill the chicken?”

“It’s been raised for so many years. Now that you’re back, can’t we even afford a chicken? Next time, bring Da Niu back with you,” Zhou Guizhi said, not daring to mention that the hen wasn’t laying eggs anymore.

She was afraid her daughter would be upset if she heard.

During the meal, everyone was quite silent. Mainly because there was no one at the table who could lighten the mood. Xu Qinghuan didn’t like the somber atmosphere, but as someone not officially part of the family yet, it wasn’t appropriate for her to try lightening the mood.

After the bowls were put down, Jiang Xinglan prepared to leave, but Zhou Guizhi glared at her, “Why are you leaving? What’s wrong with staying the night?”

“Da Niu is still at home.” If not for her longing for the warmth of her maternal home, Jiang Xinglan wouldn’t have stayed to eat this meal, even if it included chicken soup she hadn’t tasted in years and meat she hadn’t touched in a long time.

It had been so long since she returned to her maternal home.

Two or three years, perhaps!

Tears suddenly fell uncontrollably, no matter how hard she tried to hold them back.

The atmosphere became even more stifling.

After a long while, the grandfather spoke, “Get a divorce. I’ve already discussed it with Xiao Wu; you’ll get divorced before the end of the year and bring Da Niu back. It’s just as well; Xingjun and Xingwei aren’t home, so you and your daughter will have a place to stay.”

After Xiao Wu and Huanhuan get married, that room of Xiao Wu’s will be vacated for you to live in. Let your dad get your and your daughter’s household registration settled with the Shangjiang Team. Whether working in the fields for labor points or working at the factory, you’ll be able to support yourselves.”

“Grandpa, Grandma!” Jiang Xinglan fell into her grandmother’s arms crying, “I don’t want a divorce. My family’s so good to me. What would people say if I got divorced?”

“Life isn’t about what others say. Why care what people say? Do you still want to stay at the Guo Family and live like this?” Zhou Guizhi was heartbroken for her daughter but also frustrated by her lack of resolve.

Jiang Xinglan shook her head, longing to escape even in her dreams.

“He said if we want a divorce, the Jiang Family should pay five hundred yuan, and he won’t give up Da Niu,” Jiang Xinglan was struggling. She didn’t want to drag her maternal family into this, but she truly didn’t want to sacrifice her life at the Guo Family.

Xu Qinghuan laughed, “We don’t have five hundred yuan, but, eldest sister can suggest to Guo Caicai: if he’s willing to divorce and let Da Niu go with you, there’s a position at the county’s food factory that can be offered to him. It’s a formal job with a grain ration household registration.”

Everyone was extremely shocked, looking at Xu Qinghuan. A formal position like that offered to someone like Guo Caicai was like a lavish Manchu Han feast being ruined by a lump of dog feces.

Xu Qinghuan said, “Give it to him first, so that eldest sister and Da Niu can be free. There will be solutions to deal with him later on.”

“Do we really have to help him secure a grain ration household registration?” Jiang Xingmei thought this was too much of a bargain for Guo Caicai.

“No need,” Xu Qinghuan said, “You can hold off the paperwork, and after the divorce, tell the food factory to find an excuse to fire him.”

Jiang Xingye said, “I’ll handle this matter.”

He nodded at Jiang Xinglan, “That’s settled then. You go back and tell that bastard: if he’s willing to divorce and let Da Niu go with you, we’ll give his Guo Family a formal job at the food factory.”

Jiang Xinglan was really reluctant, “This is such a good formal position in the county, isn’t it just a waste?”

Xu Qinghuan said, “Compared to a life, it’s just a job. Besides, who would you save the job for? Meizi won’t go; the eldest sister-in-law is pregnant, and anyway, the eldest brother will be returning to work at the commune’s sewing machine factory;

Everyone has their own path. The benefits at the food factory aren’t great anyway. Exchange it for another path for the eldest sister, it’s not a loss.”

No one expected Xu Qinghuan to act so decisively. The elder Jiang and his wife were even more fond of her, thinking that among the five Jiang brothers, it would undoubtedly be Jiang Xingye’s household that would lead the family in the future.

As everyone was leaving, the elder Jiang and his wife exchanged a glance and called Xu Qinghuan over, “Huanhuan, come here.”

The two elders fished out a box from somewhere. When she opened it, there was a box of South Pearls inside, each one as large as an adult’s pinky, smooth and lustrous.

Even though Xu Qinghuan had seen a lot of the world, she rarely saw South Pearls of such quality, definitely auction-grade.

“These were part of my mother’s dowry, left to me. I’ve never raised a daughter. Giving them to any of my kids would be a waste. Among the younger generation in this household, only you are worthy. Take them, and in the future, whether you pass them on to the next generation or keep them yourself, it’s up to you.” The old lady handed the box to Xu Qinghuan.

“Grandma, this is too precious.”

“You deserve it. Take it!”

Xu Qinghuan’s eyes were slightly moist, and she smiled as she held the box and walked out, casually putting it into the space.

Even though it was a gift from her elders, she still didn’t want to test human trust.

When she stepped out, Tian Jinhua indeed glanced at her hands a couple of times, and upon seeing them empty, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Jiang Xingye was waiting outside. He came over and held her hand, “Shall we go back?”

On the way, Xu Qinghuan asked, “Aren’t you curious about what Grandpa and Grandma wanted when they called me over?”

“What did they want?” Jiang Xingye played along.

Xu Qinghuan said, “They gave me a box of South Pearls, each one similar in size, very beautiful. Grandma said whether to pass them on to the next generation or keep them is for me to decide.”

Hearing “next generation,” Jiang Xingye’s ears turned slightly red, “Keep them for yourself. No need to give them away.”

“Give them to whom?” Xu Qinghuan teased him.

They just happened to be crossing the site where He Yuzhen and Dong Mantang had their affair. Jiang Xingye dawdled, not wanting to move forward, but Xu Qinghuan pulled him along. They reached the door of their house, where Xu Qinghuan then led him into the space.

Compared to the freezing world outside, the space was warm like spring. Although the sun rose and set just like outside, with seasonal changes, it was always clear and sunny above Silver Light Hall, with a gentle breeze occasionally, making the climate very pleasant.

The two kissed on the large platform of the hall.

Later, they moved onto the big bed in the inner hall. Xu Qinghuan’s hand moved down, and Jiang Xingye’s body shivered, grabbing her hand, paused a moment, then guided it onward.

His lips were pressed firmly on Xu Qinghuan’s forehead, the hot breath searing her skin like fire.

Fingers buried in Xu Qinghuan’s hair, warm and silky, and as his mind went blank, a sound slipped out involuntarily.

Both of them ended up with their bodies affected, and when tissues were nearby, Xu Qinghuan handed the box over. Jiang Xingye’s gaze paused slightly when he saw the tissues from the future, as he hadn’t fully come back to his senses.

He first wiped all five of Xu Qinghuan’s fingers clean and then tidied up the both of them. He leaned in close to Xu Qinghuan’s ear, “Do you want me to also take care of you…?”

Xu Qinghuan blushed and pushed him away, “It’s late, don’t!”

“It’s not late, it doesn’t take much time,” Jiang Xingye said seriously.

Xu Qinghuan first hit him playfully, but Jiang Xingye already picked her up.

He remembered how his fiancée had thoroughly enjoyed herself last time in the hot spring pool; she seemed to like the water.

They moved to the pool at the back, where the water was fresh.

The water rich in spiritual energy splashed onto their bodies. Jiang Xingye lifted Xu Qinghuan onto the edge, burying his head low.

Xu Qinghuan’s body leaned back, supporting herself with her hands. Her disheveled hair spread across the floor, her legs taut, and finally, her toes pressed against Jiang Xingye’s waist.

When they were dressed again and came out, Xu Qinghuan laid in her own bed, immersed in the thick quilt, the shivers from her bones still lingering.

Early the next morning, Jiang Xingye took Jiang Xinglan back.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep