Chapter 4: The Divorce

  The entrance of the Furan Hotel is guarded by four police officers, now only allowing entry but not exit. The hotel has a limited number of guest rooms, so in less than twenty minutes, the police gathered on the first floor.

  The leading policeman looked around and said, "Alright, this place should be fine. Let's head to the next location immediately."

  Director Niu's heart was filled with an indescribable mix of emotions, from passion to astonishment, from astonishment to anger, from anger to excitement, from excitement to calmness, and now even deeper gratitude.

  It's okay, nothing happened to me personally. If I were discovered, a warning within the party would be a minor issue, but if this was organized by the public security system and it was a serious case, being dismissed or expelled would be disastrous.

  "Little Su, benefactor!" Director Niu's two hands were tightly grasped onto Su Yang, almost to the point of tears and snot.

  Director Niu's reaction made Su Yang feel quite embarrassed, as if he had made some outstanding contribution. "Director Niu, in the year I've been working at the Party and Government Office, thanks to your care everywhere, this is what I should do. I know that the next step for the Party and Government Office is to reduce staff, no matter who leaves, I want to thank you."

  Su Yang's words moved Director Niu, who knew that the crucial moment was a test of the soldiers' political direction. He understood in his heart who were his own people and who were those who flattered and betrayed him.

  Su Yang is absolutely a fighter, Director Niu nodded and patted Su Yang's shoulder. "Little Su, I will fight for your case to the higher-ups, but you also know that this downsizing is not proposed by the Party and Government Office, it's a decision made by the Town Mayor's office meeting. Other departments of the town government have already reduced staff, and the Party and Government Office delayed because of your car accident this time. I'll try my best to coordinate, but I'm not sure if it will work."

  Su Yang was already overwhelmed with gratitude at Director Niu's words.

  Niu Director is called Niu Dapi, in the town government he is not an ordinary person, not only because the Party and Government Office Director can attend the Town Party Committee meeting and the Mayor's office meeting, but also because of Niu Dapi's civil servant quota, he is a regular deputy at the county level, with the same rank as the Deputy Mayor.

  A county-level deputy position is now a section-level staff member, which was originally a full-division level cadre. This is considered overstaffing. Niu Dapi has been dissatisfied for a long time, thinking it's a waste of talent, just like the ancient reserve officials, whose ranks were there but never had actual vacancies.

  Because of these reasons, Niu Dapi's words still worked in front of the town leaders.

  Finally can have a quiet weekend, Niu Dapi said, considering Su Yang just got out of the hospital, so he will go back to work in the government next week, and also give him some time to think of a solution.

  It just so happened that Su Yang received a call from home, and there would be an important guest coming to his house over the weekend, so he had to go back.

  Su Yang's home is in Haitang Town, separated from Furong Town by a river. In addition to his mother, he also has a younger sister who is in her third year of high school.

  The house is a good location, adjacent to the rural highway, but other people's houses have built two or three floors, while their house is like an alternative placed by the roadside, only one floor.

  No choice, family is poor, no money to continue building upwards.

  Her mother and sister Su Qing were cooking in the kitchen at this time. Su Yang entered the house and found a woman, who was her, in the small living room.

  Su Yang's marriage had been arranged by his father when he was very young, but his father passed away early and his mother didn't follow up on the matter. The interactions with the would-be in-laws also became less frequent over time.

  The Zhun family is from the county town of Wanhua, and they have been doing quite well over the past decade or so. However, as it was an arrangement made by their parents and a matchmaker, Su Yang and his family had always thought that they would keep their promise.

  The woman sitting in the small living room was Su Yang's fiancée, Xie Yiting.

  Xie Yiting and Su Yang are of the same age, 22 years old. However, she is a genuine undergraduate university graduate, and her four-year university life has cultivated her independence and outlook on life.

  Su Yang recalled that the last time they met was four years ago, when Xie Yiting had just been admitted to university, and his mother took him and his sister to her home to celebrate.

  "Yiting, it's you!"

  Su Yang had always considered Xie Yiting as his wife in his heart, and now he was even more excited to walk up and hug Xie Yiting.

  Xie Yiting immediately stood up, pulling away from Su Yang, and softly said, "Su Yang, you're back."

  Su Yang's handsome appearance did not catch Xie Yiting's attention, perhaps because she was a person who didn't pay much attention to others' appearances.

  Xie Yiting's long hair cascaded down her shoulders, black and shiny, which perfectly complemented her captivating appearance. Her red long dress showcased her elegant temperament, and it must be said that Xie Yiting is a rare beauty, one in a hundred.

  Being able to marry a woman like Xie Yiting, Su Yang felt it was his good fortune.

  During meals, everyone treated Xie Yiting like a family member, and Su Qing even regarded her as an elder sister, constantly asking about university life in the schoolyard, next year she will also start her university life.

  "Qingqing, if one doesn't experience university life in their lifetime, they will truly miss out on a lot of happiness. University life doesn't have the heavy academic pressure like middle school, but rather more specific skill learning and a relaxed campus life..."

  Xie Yiting talked about her happy college days.

  Her mother didn't care about these things at all; she only cared about one thing.

  "Ting Ting, you're becoming more and more lovely as you grow up. There must be many boys in school who have a crush on you, right?" her mother asked with a smile.

  Everyone says that girls change after they go to college, becoming more realistic and having more specific demands.

  "Auntie, there were indeed many people chasing after me, but I rejected them all one by one. Now it's great, all the mosquitoes and flies have flown away from me, feeling so relieved, haha."

  After Xie Yiting went to college, she spent more time on learning and adapting to society, just like a strong woman.

  Her mother was delighted and said, "Girls like Tingting are hard to find these days. You must cherish her doubly from now on."

  Her mother thought that Xie Yiting was devoted to her studies and future work, so she should not have any thoughts about marriage in the future, because this had been decided more than a decade ago, and the Xie family did not forget.

  Su Yang smiled foolishly, great, great, taking such a beautiful and sensible daughter-in-law out, it's really face-saving. Su Yang had already started fantasizing, Xie Yiting held his hand, her head slightly leaning on his shoulder, the two of them happily strolling along the streets of the town, what a beautiful scene!

  I used to think that Xie Yiting would change and wouldn't acknowledge this marriage arrangement after all, it seems I was overthinking, there's no escape for me.

  "Yiting, we are already at the age of getting married. Let's get settled down first and then work hard for this family."

  When Su Yang finished saying this sentence, he didn't think that, strictly speaking, he and Xie Yiting had never been in love for a day, and the two people didn't understand each other at all.

  Xie Yiting put away her smile, put down her bowl and chopsticks, and gently rubbed her hands in front of her chest.

  "Auntie, Su Yang, and also Qingqing, actually I came to your house today just to talk about something regarding me and Su Yang."

  "Mom is a naive person, after listening to Xie Yiting's words, she thought that today was the day to fulfill her parents' wishes. 'Tingting, your parents have already chosen a date, right? I'll go get the old calendar, you two chat first.'"

  Mother had been eagerly waiting for a long time, and finally waited until this day.

  "Auntie, wait a minute." Xie Yiting gently pulled Su Yang's mother.

  The whole family thinks it's strange, what does Xie Yiting mean.

  "I came to your house today, indeed to talk about marriage, but not to get married, but to divorce." Xie Yiting said coldly, breaking the joyful atmosphere at home.

  "Actually, my dad and your dad had arranged for us to be married when we were in the countryside. I knew about it and acknowledged it, but now times have changed and the ideas of our parents' generation don't represent our own wishes. You and I actually don't understand each other at all. I've thought this through clearly - from today on, what our parents said is invalid. Su Yang, you can go find someone you like now."

  Xie Yiting originally thought that this kind of thing was strange, studying in a big city university naturally broadened one's horizons, and the original set had nothing to do with feudal superstition.

  However, everything has a beginning and an end, Xie Yiting is a responsible person, she came to a conclusion about her things.

  Her mother almost fainted, Su Qing supported her mother's arm, "Mom, are you okay? Tingting sister, can you reconsider it again? My brother is really very good."

  Su Yang also didn't want his mother to get stimulated, although Xie Yiting had never come home in all these years, but his mother always thought of her like a biological daughter.

  "Yi Ting, otherwise let's date, I think we're quite a match."

  Su Yang knew that Xie Yiting had made up her mind to break up, but he still wanted to salvage the relationship.

  Xie Yiting just wanted to cut to the chase, this family were all down-to-earth people, if they didn't hurt each other with words, how would they let go? "Su Yang, I've successfully passed the civil service exam in Wanhua County and started working at the county health bureau last month. What about you? I've already asked around, you're just a driver in Furong Town, and still a temporary worker. Do you think it's possible between us?"

  Xie Yiting stood behind her mother, gently rubbing her shoulders. "Aunt, I know you're all good people, but this kind of thing really can't be forced. I think you're a reasonable person. Su Yang and I are from two different worlds. I hope you can understand that past things can't be counted."

  Driver!

  Temporary worker!

  What's it to you, Su Yang was furious in her heart and really wanted to slap this selfish woman, Su Yang couldn't swallow this tone.

  Your father has been keeping his chastity for twenty-two years because of what you call "the things of the older generation", Su Yang pointed at Xie Yiting's nose with his right index finger.

  "Thank... Yi... Ting, don't try to 'fire' me, I'm firing you! I'm telling you, within three years, I'll make you kneel on the ground and beg for me, crawl on the ground and beg for me! You will regret today's decision!"