Chapter 43: Chapter 43: I Want to Divorce Him

Before Wang could roar out the rest of his vile threats, a tall, imposing figure emanating an icy chill appeared soundlessly beside Su Tang, like a mountain that had suddenly shifted.

It was Lu Xiao.

She didn’t know when he had come in. He wore a crisp training uniform that accentuated his broad shoulders and long legs.

Beneath the brim of his cap, his deep-set eyes were as dark as the sea before a storm, fixed with a bone-chilling coldness on Wang’s face, which was twisted with rage.

Wang choked on the sudden, powerful pressure, the rest of his words caught in his throat. His finger, pointing at Su Tang, froze in mid-air.

Lu Xiao’s face was expressionless. He didn’t even spare Wang a second glance.

He turned slightly and placed the steaming enamel bowl he was holding—wafting the scent of scallions and sesame oil—on the table in front of Su Tang.

The bottom of the bowl met the tabletop with a soft, yet distinct sound that seemed exceptionally clear in the silence.

Only then did Lu Xiao lift his gaze, his eyes finally landing on Wang’s face.

His voice was quiet, as calm as still water.

“Not what?”

Hearing Lu Xiao’s words, Wang faltered, his expression turning ugly.

“Lu Xiao, it was your wife who slandered me first.”

’Some things were an open secret, but it was another matter entirely to say them out loud in front of so many people.’

“My wife’s words are my position.”

“She never lies, nor would she slander anyone.”

After speaking, Lu Xiao paid no more attention to Wang, who stood frozen on the spot.

He casually pulled out the stool next to Su Tang, sat down, picked up his own clean chopsticks, and began to eat as if no one else was there.

Su Tang, who was still in the posture of poking at her food, broke into a smile.

She lowered her head, looking at the bowl of steaming hot soup Lu Xiao had brought her, and sniffled.

’Egg drop soup was a rarity these days.’

She picked up her spoon, scooped up some soup, blew on it, and sipped it delicately.

’Truthfully, Su Tang hadn’t intended to blow things out of proportion. She had chosen to bring it up during mealtime simply because she knew Wang would be with his friends.’

’By saying it out loud, Wang wouldn’t dare to so brazenly lavish attention on Zheng Jinxin anymore.’

’Because now, whenever he went to see Zheng Jinxin, everyone would know what he was up to.’

’It was an indirect way of getting everyone to keep an eye on Wang.’

’They say you shouldn’t get involved in other people’s business, that even the wisest judge can’t settle a family quarrel.’

’But Su Tang truly didn’t want to see Sister-in-law Zhang Cui be wronged.’

’If it served as a warning, that would be for the best.’

’Besides, it was Wang’s own guilty conscience that made him kick up such a fuss.’

Choking on Lu Xiao’s words, Wang’s arrogant demeanor toward Su Tang and Zhang Cui instantly deflated under Lu Xiao’s stern gaze.

But he was unwilling to completely lose face in front of so many people. Seeing that his own wife, Zhang Cui, had actually been the one to bring Lu Xiao over only added fuel to the fire.

He didn’t dare to yell at Lu Xiao anymore. His vicious anger and humiliation, having found the safest outlet, turned abruptly on Zhang Cui.

“Zhang Cui!”

Wang’s voice rose, thick with redirected anger. “So this is the great friend you’ve made! You’ve gotten bold, haven’t you! Conspiring with an outsider to badmouth your husband and make a fool out of me, is that it?!”

Zhang Cui trembled at his roar, all traces of the sharp and capable demeanor she displayed in front of others vanishing completely.

“I didn’t…”

Wang swung his arm violently, the motion so wide it nearly knocked over the bowls and chopsticks on the adjacent table.

He pointed a finger at Zhang Cui’s nose, flecks of his spittle nearly spraying her face.

“Look at you, you pathetic thing! You’re worthless! Someone feeds you a line and you swallow it whole! She whispers a little poison in your ear and suddenly you don’t even know who you are anymore?”

“You stupid woman! What are you good for besides dragging me down and embarrassing me?!”

Every word was like a poisoned dagger, stabbing cruelly into Zhang Cui’s heart.

She had never heard such horrible things come from Wang’s mouth before.

Zhang Cui’s face went from pale to ashen. She swayed on her feet as the countless gazes from those around them pricked her like needles.

She felt the world spin and wished she could find a hole to crawl into and disappear.

Zhang Cui instinctively reached for Wang’s sleeve, wanting to beg him to stop, to not make a scene here, to leave her with some shred of dignity.

Seeing this, Su Tang was absolutely furious.

’Taking out his own incompetence and philandering on a woman… How could he be this kind of person?’

“Wang Jianfeng!”

Su Tang put down her spoon and stood up, her face turning completely cold.

She could tolerate Wang coming after her, but she absolutely could not stand by and watch him publicly humiliate Zhang Cui like this.

Just as she was about to speak, Lu Xiao, who was beside her, grabbed her wrist.

Lu Xiao’s palm was warm and strong, carrying a silent reassurance.

“Wang Jianfeng, this is the army mess hall, not your home. Watch your words and remember your position. Personally insulting your wife is a serious offense.”

“I’m disciplining my own wife! What’s it to you?!”

Hearing Lu Xiao’s official tone, Wang blurted out recklessly, “This is my family’s business! It’s not your place to interfere! You just worry about your own wife and stop her from running around stirring up trouble!”

“She is my wife. So of course, I will.”

Lu Xiao’s voice remained steady, but his eyes were sharp as a blade. “As for your family matters, publicly insulting a military dependent has a serious negative impact. That makes it more than just your family matter. The Organization will be taking notice.”

The words “The Organization” were like a bucket of ice water poured over Wang’s head, extinguishing his rage.

The color drained completely from his face, and he couldn’t get another word out.

He was just a minor logistics section chief, while Lu Xiao was not only a battalion commander with real power but also a young officer with a boundless future.

Zhang Cui kept her head down, her shoulders trembling violently as large, silent tears fell onto the cold concrete floor.

At that moment, as if blaming Zhang Cui for all his humiliation, Wang suddenly raised his hand and swung it viciously!

The steamed bun in Zhang Cui’s hand was knocked away, rolling across the ground and becoming covered in dust.

Knocked away along with it was a small net bag Zhang Cui was holding in her other hand.

Inside were the vegetables Aunt Wang had just given her, saying she had too much and that Zhang Cui should take them home to make noodle soup.

The net bag fell to the floor, scattering the vegetables across it.

The sharp sound was piercing in the deathly silent mess hall.

Zhang Cui looked at the rolling steamed bun and the scattered vegetables on the floor. She instinctively bent down to pick them up.

“Leave it! Haven’t you embarrassed me enough?!”

Wang growled with disgust, as if she were something filthy.

Zhang Cui’s outstretched hand froze in mid-air.

Su Tang, however, bent down to help Zhang Cui pick them up, murmuring an apology to her.

’This whole thing started because of me. I’m the one who escalated it.’

But Zhang Cui just shook her head, gave her a small smile, and then looked toward Wang.

“Sister, let me ask you something.”

“Do you know… how to get a divorce?”

Everyone was stunned by her words. A divorce? Was Zhang Cui really going to divorce Wang?

Su Tang frowned, but then she squeezed Zhang Cui’s hand.

“I know how. If you need me, Sister-in-law, I will help you.”

Bolstered by Su Tang’s words, Zhang Cui fiercely wiped away her tears and pointed a finger at Wang.

“Good! I want to divorce him!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep