Translator: Lonelytree
“Divorce?”
“Just not to pay the compensation?”
Everyone witnessed the cold-blood ruthlessness of Xiao Chengcai’s family. In order to shirk the responsibility, the family was willing to abandon Zhang Xiaolan. The ruthlessness chilled the hearts of everyone present.
Xiao Chengcai’s mother and Xiao Chengcai were both like this. If Xiao Chengcai’s sons were also like this, then Zhang Xiaolan had really lost all hope in the world.
Then again, what about themselves? What was their position in their own family?
When Xiao Lingyu heard Xiao Chengcai’s question, she did not answer. Instead, she said, “Uncle Chengcai, I’m sorry. I don’t know the answer. You should ask the court or the lawyer directly!” Then, Xiao Lingyu looked at the surrounding villagers and asked, “Aunties and Uncles, do you have any other questions?”
“No.” A villager said. “We’re just passing by. I still have something to do, so I’ll be leaving first.” After that, he ran away.
“Me too. I’m just passing by. I also have something to do, so I’ll be leaving too.”
“Wait for me!” One after another, they left.
Only Xiao Chengcai and his family were left behind. Xiao Chengcai was still kneeling there.
When Old Master Gong saw this, he sighed and said, “Girl, you’ve been standing there for so long. Go back and rest.” With that, his expression changed, and he shouted sternly, “Brat, what are you still standing there for? Quickly help the girl back to rest!”
Xiao Lingyu didn’t wait for Gong Tianhao and walked back into the home on her own.
After everyone left, only Xiao Chengcai and his mother remained outside the courtyard door. The other villagers watched from afar. They pointed at the pair but didn’t say anything.
Xiao Chengcai’s mother looked at the tightly shut courtyard door. Her eyes were sharp and venomous. Then, she looked at her son and said angrily, “Let’s go back first.”
When they returned home, Xiao Chengcai’s mother said directly, “Go and divorce that bitch! After that, we don’t have to pay the money anymore! Xiao Lingyu is another bitch. She wants our house! She even wants us to work for her for free!”
Xiao Chengcai was silent. Then, he asked, “Mother, how am I supposed to divorce Zhang Xiaolan? She’s in jail.”
Xiao Chengcai’s mother thought for a moment and said, “Let’s go ask Xiao Taiyang.” Xiao Taiyang was the village chief. He knew many things better than the people in the village. There was another person who could answer their question. It was Xiao Lingyu. But obviously, they wouldn’t ask Xiao Lingyu.
Xiao Chengcai said, “Mom, should we tell Xiao Chun and Xiao Dong about the divorce?”
Xiao Chengcai’s mother said, “Why should we? This is none of their business. There’s no need to tell them.”
“Alright!”
When the village chief learned that Xiao Chengcai was there to inquire about the divorce, he was stunned.
With a gloomy face, he pointed angrily at Xiao Chengcai and scolded, “You’re simply inhuman!” How could he abandon his wife when she desperately needed it? He was worse than an animal.
Xiao Chengcai did not feel ashamed at all and said, “Village chief, you’re not the one in trouble. Of course, you have the moral high ground.
“If I don’t divorce Zhang Xiaolan, her debt will fall on my family. If that happens, what will my family eat in the future? Also, Xiao Chun and Xiao Dong have reached the age of marriage. I don’t want their mother’s crimes to hold them back. Village chief, I hope you can understand me.”
The village chief said angrily, “I can’t understand you. What I know is that Zhang Xiaolan has served your family for two decades. But now, you decide to kick her when she’s down. That’s too much.”
Xiao Chengcai did not argue with him anymore. He only pursed his lips, and his sunken eyes stared intently at Xiao Taiyang. He looked very stubborn and cold-blooded.
The village chief sighed and said, “Alright, I can go to the town to help you ask the relevant personnel.”
Xiao Chengcai smiled and said, “Thank you, Village Chief!”
As soon as Xiao Chengcai left, the village chief’s wife, Auntie Zeng, looked at his back and spat. “I always thought Xiao Chengcai was afraid of his wife, and he loved her very much. But it is all an act. When the pressure is on, he is more heartless than anyone I know.” Auntie Zeng then looked at her husband, “Are you really going to help this awful man?”
Village chief said, “He has already come to ask for my help. If I don’t help him, who will?”
“He can help himself!” Auntie Zeng said angrily, “Zhang Xiaolan has done something wrong, but she is nothing but a saint to her family. She worked so hard for her family. Now, she is shunned just like that. Her family is worse than animals.”
“Alright. There’s no point for us to say anything anymore.” The village chief sighed, “I’ll depart for the town in a bit.”
…
In less than half a minute, everyone in Taoyuan Village knew that Xiao Chengcai was going to divorce Zhang Xiaolan. The reason was that they didn’t want to get burdened with Zhang Xiaolan’s debt.
Some scolded Xiao Chengcai for being cold-blooded and heartless. They didn’t think Xiao Chengcai had to be so ruthless to his wife. As long as he talked it out with the Xiao Family and apologized sincerely, there was still hope for this marriage.
Of course, some people also felt that Xiao Zhengyang’s family was too cruel. They had forced Xiao Chengcai to the point of divorce! They were too harsh and cruel.
In short, people were talking about Xiao Chengcai and Zhang Xiaolan.
The village chief brought Xiao Chengcai to the town and found a lawyer through his connections.
The lawyer said, “Even if you get divorced, the debt will still be divided equally.”
Xiao Chengcai was dumbfounded. He asked in confusion, “Why?”
“Because your wife committed the crime when she was still married to you. A husband and wife’s financial situation, be it income or debt, is shared when they’re still married,” The lawyer explained.
“So, I can’t divorce her?” Xiao Chengcai asked foolishly.
“No, you can still do that. It means that the debt of 108,000 RMB will be split equally. You have to pay 54,000 RMB while your wife pays the rest. She’ll work on the debt after she comes out of prison.” The lawyer explained.
Xiao Chengcai said very confusedly, “So if I ask for a divorce, I still need to pay half of the compensation? If I don’t get the divorce, I have to pay in full? There’s no way for me not to pay the compensation?”
“Correct!” The man nodded.
Xiao Chengcai immediately fell silent, his hands tightly clenched into fists.
For a moment, he didn’t know what to do.
The village chief said, “Chengcai, you’d better think it over carefully!”