Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Filing the Divorce Report

Su Tang didn’t dare to look up, feeling incredibly guilty.

She had approached the matter with a modern mindset, believing such behavior was intolerable. She thought that confronting Wang Jianfeng would make him restrain himself.

But Su Tang hadn’t expected that in an era where ideological awareness wasn’t so advanced, a man was considered the master of the house.

This time, it was Zhang Cui herself who refused to endure it any longer and brought up divorce.

If Zhang Cui hadn’t had this idea, wouldn’t she have just been destroying a couple’s marriage for no reason?

“Oh, my dear, if you keep talking like that, you’re really going to embarrass me.”

“I’ve wanted to do this for a long time. I just never had the chance before. And for some reason, when facing a man, we women always feel like we’re inferior.”

“So, don’t you dare say you’re sorry to me again. I’m the one who should be thanking you. Thank you for your words, which finally let out twelve years of pent-up frustration. If you hadn’t taken the lead, I might still be stewing in this mess, suffering until the day I die.”

Zhang Cui gave a wry smile.

“Sister-in-law, you’re so brave.”

Su Tang looked up, her gaze fixed on Zhang Cui, her eyes filled with undisguised admiration. “You fought for a way out, for yourself and for Mai Sui. You’re an incredible mother.”

It wasn’t that motherhood made her strong; women were never synonymous with weakness to begin with.

Zhang Cui did everything well, but Wang Jianfeng had never seen her strengths.

Su Tang felt that divorce was truly the best option for them.

She just didn’t know if Zhang Cui would be able to withstand the gossip and rumors that were sure to follow.

“Brave?”

Zhang Cui paused for a moment, then laughed. “Even a rabbit will bite when it’s cornered. Besides, we women are tougher than we look! I just didn’t see it clearly before. I was the one selling myself short!”

Su Tang, infected by her smile, squeezed her hand back firmly. “Yes! You’re right, Sister-in-law! Without Wang Jianfeng, with your skills, your life will only get better and better. Mai Sui will be proud to have you as her mother!”

“Of course.”

Zhang Cui straightened her back as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders. Her whole being radiated with a newfound brilliance.

“Let’s go! We’ll go find the person in charge right now and get this sorted out. The sooner this divorce is done, the sooner I’ll have peace!”

True to her word, Zhang Cui pulled Su Tang along and marched straight to the family housing administration office.

On the way, they passed a few military wives who were craning their necks to gawk. Zhang Cui stared straight ahead, her back ramrod straight. In fact, it was the people who wanted to see a spectacle who were intimidated by her presence and quietly shrank back.

Zhang Cui knocked on the office door. Mr. Zhao, who was in charge of family affairs, looked up and saw it was Zhang Cui and Su Tang, and his heart sank.

The incident in the cafeteria had already become common knowledge.

“Mr. Zhao.”

Zhang Cui didn’t beat around the bush and got straight to the point. “I want to divorce Wang Jianfeng. Can you please tell me how to write the report? What paperwork is required?”

The pen in Mr. Zhao’s hand nearly fell onto the desk.

Although he had expected it, he was still stunned to hear Zhang Cui bring it up so decisively.

These days, it wasn’t unheard of for military wives to seek a divorce, but someone like Zhang Cui, who came straight to the point right after the public fallout, was truly a rare sight.

“Comrade Zhang Cui, this… divorce is a serious matter. It affects the child, the family, and it could also impact Chief Wang’s career. Why don’t you reconsider? The organization can also help you two mediate…”

Mr. Zhao was trying to encourage reconciliation as per procedure; after all, their old tradition was to advise reconciliation, not separation.

“I’m done considering it. We’ve been ’mediating’ for twelve years, and the more we do, the more he strays! Mr. Zhao, my mind is made up. Just tell me how to handle this report. What do I need to do? My daughter, Mai Sui, will come with me. As for child support, Wang Jianfeng won’t get away with paying a single cent less than he owes.”

Zhang Cui’s thinking was clear and her objective was firm, leaving Mr. Zhao speechless for a moment.

Su Tang took a timely step forward, her tone a little softer.

“Mr. Zhao, we understand the organization’s difficult position. But you’ve probably heard about what happened in the cafeteria today. Comrade Wang Jianfeng publicly insulted her, saying the most awful things. He even threatened to not pay a single cent after the divorce and to take away Sister-in-law Zhang Cui’s custody of their child.”

“This kind of behavior is more than just a domestic dispute, isn’t it? Sister-in-law Zhang Cui’s personal safety is at risk, and she’s under immense mental stress. Could the organization provide some necessary protection and support? For example, by arranging for her to stay somewhere else for now?”

Su Tang’s words were all reasonable. She highlighted the severity of the problem and skillfully passed the responsibility of ’organizational care’ over to him.

After hearing Su Tang’s words, Mr. Zhao’s expression instantly became serious.

He pondered for a moment before finally sighing. “Comrade Zhang Cui, I understand your determination. If you’ve really thought this through, I won’t say any more.”

“The divorce report has a standard format. I can give you a copy. You’ll need to fill it out, stating the reasons for the divorce and your demands, especially regarding child custody and division of assets. As for a place to stay…”

He looked at Zhang Cui and finally added, “For now, I can arrange for you to stay in an empty room at the guest house. Safety first.”

“Thank you, Mr. Zhao.”

Zhang Cui’s eyes lit up, and she immediately thanked him.

Mr. Zhao waved his hand, turned around, and pulled a sheet of paper from a file behind him, handing it to Zhang Cui.

After giving it to Zhang Cui, Mr. Zhao glanced at Su Tang, who was standing beside her.

Su Tang nodded. She understood his unspoken suggestion.

Mr. Zhao figured she was knowledgeable and could help Sister-in-law Zhang Cui with the divorce report.

When she took the thin divorce application form, Zhang Cui’s hand trembled slightly, but her eyes were incredibly firm.

This wasn’t just a piece of paper; it was the first door to her new life.

Su Tang also breathed a sigh of relief. The first step was a success.

The two had just walked out of the office with the form when they saw Wang Jianfeng pacing anxiously not far away.

When he saw them come out, especially the paper in Zhang Cui’s hand, his eyes instantly turned red.

But Zhang Cui acted as if she hadn’t seen him, pulling Su Tang along as she walked past him with her head held high.

“Wang Jianfeng, get ready to sign. This miserable life? I’m done playing the servant.”

It was the first time Wang Jianfeng had ever seen such a defiant Zhang Cui.

The two of them completely ignored Wang Jianfeng, and their attitude made him feel awful.

After Zhang Cui and Su Tang returned to the family compound, Zhang Cui went to pack her things.

Mai Sui had woken up and was watching her mother with her big, dark, expressive eyes.

Su Tang picked Mai Sui up and watched as Zhang Cui quickly and efficiently packed her and Mai Sui’s belongings.

“Sister-in-law, why don’t you stay at our place tonight?” Su Tang said while holding Mai Sui. “You can go tomorrow. Mr. Zhao hasn’t made the arrangements yet, has he?”

In truth, Su Tang was most worried that if Zhang Cui and Mai Sui moved into the guest house tonight, Wang Jianfeng would go there and cause trouble.

It would be better for them to stay at her place first, write the divorce report, and then move to the guest house after submitting it.

That way, they would have a reason. If Wang Jianfeng dared to harass them, she could use the organization to put pressure on him.

“That won’t work. There’s only one room inside. Where would you have Brother Lu sleep?”

Zhang Cui waved her hands, refusing repeatedly.

Su Tang shook her head and said, “He can just go stay in the dorms with Chang Jia. Once you’ve filled out the divorce report and submitted it, then you can go to the guest house.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep