Chapter 16: I Want a Divorce

Ye Changzheng surged forward, his fist like a hammer crashing fiercely into Lu Qianjin’s body.

In both physique and strength, Ye Changzheng completely dominated Lu Qianjin.

Having grown up by Yan Hongying’s side, Ye Changzheng knew the human body's pressure points better than anyone.

Each punch Ye Changzheng landed on Lu Qianjin stirred an inexplicable sense of familiarity deep within Lu Qianjin’s heart.

“Changzheng, stop hitting him,” Xie Jinyu urged.

If this had happened elsewhere, Xie Jinyu wouldn’t have intervened when Ye Changzheng acted. But this was Yuejin Village, where Lu Qianjin’s father was the village party secretary.

If Lu Qianjin were seriously injured by Ye Changzheng, it would be a luxury for Ye Changzheng and Xie Jinyu even to leave Yuejin Village smoothly.

Xie Jinyu’s words made Ye Changzheng halt his attack.

Looking at the shaken Xie Jinyu, Ye Changzheng grabbed Lu Qianjin by the collar and threw him into a corner.

“Xiaoyu, light the candle.”

Xie Jinyu struck a match to light the candle on the table. She glanced at the bloodied Lu Qianjin, deliberately intimidating him.

“Or we could just toss him into the back mountain…”

Faced with overwhelming force, Lu Qianjin was both cowardly and terrified.

“No… don’t throw me into the back mountain.”

From childhood, Lu Qianjin had heard elders talk about wild boars and bears lurking in the back mountain. If Ye Changzheng and Xie Jinyu really threw him there, it would be a death sentence.

Xie Jinyu straightened her clothes and slowly walked beside Ye Changzheng, looking down at Lu Qianjin.

“Lu Qianjin, you’re finished…”

For a man, being told he’s finished was a grave insult.

“If you hadn’t brought people to catch me in the act, would I be finished?”

Lu Qianjin mulled it over and concluded that Chen Wanru was right—it was all Xie Jinyu’s fault.

Xie Jinyu wrapped her arm around Ye Changzheng’s and coldly challenged Lu Qianjin, “Why aren’t you ‘finished’? Shouldn’t you be asking Chen Wanru?”

Before Lu Qianjin could grasp her meaning, Xie Jinyu continued, “Chen Wanru was the one who got you to drink the deer’s blood wine, wasn’t she?”

“So…”

“Those villagers who came to catch you—Chen Wanru arranged them. She approached you at first just to connect herself to the village party secretary through you. You, a school dropout, could you possibly outwit Chen Wanru? You’ve been tricked time and again without realizing it.”

“That day, originally you…”

Compared to the unfaithful Chen Wanru, the Lu family and Lu Qianjin himself preferred the quiet and graceful Xie Jinyu.

“You say that day in the dorm? I was already kicked out to the cowshed by Chen Wanru! Think carefully—when you entered the dorm, was Chen Wanru the only one there?”

Lu Qianjin recalled that when he entered the dorm, only Chen Wanru was inside.

He had been looking for Xie Jinyu but was stopped by Chen Wanru.

And those villagers were all prearranged by Chen Wanru.

“Chen Wanru.”

The more Lu Qianjin thought, the more he agreed with Xie Jinyu. His current predicament was all because of Chen Wanru’s schemes.

Xie Jinyu threatened him, “Lu Qianjin, you came looking for me tonight under Chen Wanru’s orders, didn’t you?”

Since Xie Jinyu’s rebirth, she had sought vengeance for the past.

In her previous life, Chen Wanru and Lu Qianjin had conspired to ruin her utterly. She had to get revenge while keeping herself uninvolved.

“If Chen Wanru dares to scheme against me, Lu Qianjin, I’ll teach her a lesson. I, Lu Qianjin, bear her name.”

Lu Qianjin knew better than anyone that Chen Wanru initially came to him for the city return quota held by his father.

Now that the quota was taken by someone else, Chen Wanru despised Lu Qianjin’s uselessness and plotted against him.

The more Lu Qianjin thought, the more he believed Xie Jinyu’s words.

Ignoring the pain in his body, he staggered to his feet, shoved Xie Jinyu and Ye Changzheng aside, his face full of fury as he stormed to Chen Wanru’s door.

He flung open the wooden door, grabbed Chen Wanru’s clothes, and pummeled her relentlessly.

Chen Wanru howled in pain.

Hearing her screams, Xie Jinyu trembled and reached for an enamel cup.

Ye Changzheng gripped her hand, his manly presence unwavering. “Xiaoyu, don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

Xie Jinyu’s face turned pale; her lips quivered silently as a wave of emotions surged within her.

Ye Changzheng opened his arms and drew the terrified Xie Jinyu into his embrace.

Gently patting her back, he whispered softly into her ear, “Xiaoyu, it’s alright now. He won’t dare have any improper thoughts about you anymore. What about Grandma?”

“Grandma was taken back to the capital for investigation,” Xie Jinyu said, calming herself before sharing Yan Hongying’s departure.

“Why did you come back all of a sudden?”

“I sent you a letter, but thinking it might take too long, I took leave and came to pick you up.”

Ye Changzheng shuddered to think how scared Xie Jinyu must have been facing Lu Qianjin alone tonight.

He thought to himself that last time at the district office, he had been too gentle with Lu Qianjin.

Xie Jinyu, thinking Ye Changzheng must have been hungry from the journey, said, “Let me cook something for you.”

“I’ll help you.”

While Ye Changzheng started a fire, Xie Jinyu unpacked and prepared Yan Hongying’s bed for Zhan Xinyue.

She cooked a bowl of noodles with two eggs for Ye Changzheng.

Ye Changzheng picked the eggs out and handed one to Xie Jinyu.

“Xiaoyu, you eat this too.”

Two eggs, one for each of them.

Not knowing how many days they would be with Ye Changzheng’s unit, Xie Jinyu boiled the remaining eggs with shells on, planning to take them along for the journey.

After Ye Changzheng and Xie Jinyu finished eating, the room where Chen Wanru and Lu Qianjin stayed fell silent.

“Do you think someone might have been seriously hurt?” Xie Jinyu asked softly, though secretly she thought if either Lu Qianjin or Chen Wanru died, it would be a relief to many.

Yet she was disappointed.

The fight stopped because Zhan Xinyue heard the commotion and, despite being a frail woman, rushed in to shield Chen Wanru.

Chen Wanru, bruised and battered with a swollen face, glared fiercely at Lu Qianjin while being held protectively by Zhan Xinyue.

“Lu Qianjin, I want a divorce.”

Lu Qianjin sneered fiercely, “Chen Wanru, you’ve ruined me, and you still want a divorce? I’m telling you, you’ll never get divorced for the rest of your life! You owe me that!”

Chen Wanru broke down in despair at the thought of being tied to Lu Qianjin forever.

She couldn’t help but think that if she hadn’t schemed against Xie Jinyu, given their relationship, Xie Jinyu would have definitely given her the city return quota.

But now, thanks to Zhan Xinyue, she had missed her chance.

“Zhan Xinyue, please, I beg you, give me the city return quota, won't you?”