Chapter 178: Divorce

No matter how Liu Hong scolded him, Yang Tao kept his head down and didn't utter a sound.

This timid reaction made Lin Dongfan realize:

Yang Tao was not only physically tortured, but also suffered a huge blow mentally; his current choice to say nothing likely means he is being threatened.

Moreover, the other party gave him a hush‑money payment—4 million.

He had been missing for over half a year.

That works out to roughly twenty thousand per day.

If he now only seeks a peaceful life, that is not any kind of crime.

Lin Dongfan persuaded Liu Hong: "Forget it, it's good that he's back. It's also getting late; I'll go ahead. Don't scold him anymore—coming back alive is already a miracle."

"Brother Lin, eat before you leave."

"No, I still have to return to Wuzhou today; if anything comes up later, you can still call me."

"Thank you, Brother Lin; drive carefully on the road."

After seeing Lin Dongfan off, Liu Hong felt immense guilt, then turned and glared resentfully at Yang Tao.

Upon hearing Lin Dongfan's words, she stopped scolding Yang Tao.

She merely said:

"Your life was pulled back from the hands of death by Brother Lin. Yet you let people down by leaving, preventing their case from progressing. I won't live with an ungrateful person—let's divorce."

Unexpectedly, Yang Tao still kept his head down, silent, as if divorce didn't matter to him.

This scene left Liu Hong's heart as dead ashes.

Liu Hong wiped away her tears, said nothing more, turned and went back to the room to pack her belongings, preparing to leave with her child.

Yang Tao remained sitting in the living room, unmoving and indifferent.

Until Liu Hong left, one arm holding the child, the other pulling her suitcase, Yang Tao then spoke indifferently: "The fire incident is settled; it's not our family's responsibility. We don't have to pay compensation, and I've received four million in compensation. Now I have money—have you thought it through? Do you really want to divorce me?"

"You shameless money‑grubber—go die clutching your money!"

"If you want to leave, fine—but leave the child; he's my son."

Yang Tao rose and snatched the child away; the child neither cried nor fussed, being so young that he obviously couldn't understand what the parents were fighting about.

Liu Hong had originally wanted to snatch the child back.

Upon further thought,

Having no job and no money, I'd rather let go than bring the child to suffer. Yang Tao, that dog, now has money; no matter how ungrateful he is, he wouldn't wrong his own son.

Wiping her tears, Liu Hong dragged her suitcase away, not wanting to say another word.

She gave up custody of the child.

She also didn't mention dividing the family property.

She simply thought herself foolish, blind, and married the wrong person.

Recalling past unpleasant incidents, the village chief's son‑in‑law Peng Junhua tried to rape her, but was caught red‑handed by Peng Junhua's wife Yang Xiaoyun.

That shrew Yang Xiaoyun turned the tables, accusing her of seducing Peng Junhua, and they publicly scuffled.

At the time, many villagers gathered to watch the spectacle, but Yang Tao hid like a good‑for‑nothing, staying silent while others bullied his wife.

Later, a forest fire broke out.

The Yang family bore full responsibility; Yang Tao went through various means to attend "F", and previously I thought that after the family upheaval he would finally act like a man and show some responsibility.

I never expected a dog couldn't change its habit of eating feces.

Judging by the current situation, he isn't seeking justice; he just wants money.

Selfish beast!

Liu Hong left Green Bamboo Village carrying endless resentment. Having given up custody of the child, she didn't know whether she would regret it later; for now she only wants to leave this painful place.

The evening grew deep.

Liu Hong pulled her luggage into the ticket hall of Nanzhou train station.

She looked up at the schedule; the more she looked, the more confused she became—though trains to all parts of the country were available, she had nowhere to go.

Having lived this long, she had never left Nanzhou City.

Helpless,

She tearfully sent Lin Dongfan a message: "Brother Lin, I've divorced Yang Tao and want to go out to work. Could you lend me two thousand yuan? I'll repay you once I find a job."

At that moment Lin Dongfan had already returned to his new home in Wuzhou, still living with his father‑in‑law.

Seeing the message, Lin Dongfan was stunned speechless: Yang Tao got four million in compensation, and you're divorcing without taking a penny—how foolish is that?

Where are you now?

I'm at the train station.

Wait there, don't leave.

After replying, Lin Dongfan called Ye Jiaying, asking her to go to the train station to pick up Liu Hong and help arrange a job for her.

Finally, Lin Dongfan called Liu Hong back: "I'm not in Nanzhou; later Ye Zong will come to get you. Wait at the entrance of the train station ticket hall so she won't miss you."

Which Ye Zong?

The Administrative Director of Shangshi Media—Ye Jiaying, she's my friend. Just go with her; she'll help you arrange work. If you need to borrow more money, talk to her.

Thank you, Brother Lin.

Now that you're divorced, marital property should be legally divided; may I ask—did Yang Tao refuse to give you money, or did you yourself decline it?

He's raising the son; I'm afraid that if I took money, the son would suffer following him.

Oh, that's how it is.

Sorry, Brother Lin, you've put in so much effort for our family's affairs, running back and forth, yet the result is that Yang Tao, that dog, is ungrateful...

Forget it; some things cannot be forced.

Lin Dongfan simply comforted Liu Hong with a few words, and told her to follow Ye Jiaying and work hard from now on.

In Lin Dongfan's view, Yang Tao's various actions were indeed disappointing, but this incident also precisely demonstrated Gao Peng's vow to protect Wang Minjuan.

Gao Peng is someone who holds great power.

Speaking more deeply, since Gao Peng dared to let Yang Tao go home, he must have prepared to eliminate any unexpected events; even if Yang Tao stood up and took a bite out of Wang Minjuan, Gao Peng would have a countermeasure.

Tonight, Lin Dongfan also discussed this matter with his father-in-law, Chu Jinsong.

The father-in-law said: "Whether or not Wang Minjuan is released, it currently doesn't affect the trial of Xiao Yunce and the others. Temporarily letting Wang Minjuan go might not be a bad thing. Treat her as bait, throw her back into the fishponds of Nanzhou. Whether we can catch a bigger fish later depends on the abilities of our Anti-Corruption Bureau."

Upon careful thought, Lin Dongfan felt that the father-in-law made sense.

To catch a big fish, you need to throw heavy bait!

At eleven o'clock that night, Lin Dongfan was holding his wife, preparing to sleep, when he messaged the field reporter Miao Miao of the interview talk show team: "I heard Yang Tao has returned home; what's the situation?"

"The pressure worked; they got scared and released Yang Tao early."

"Then how am I supposed to air my program?"

"Still airing it?"

Lin Dongfan looked speechless; now that Yang Tao has returned home, if we continue to broadcast the interview from Qingzhu Village, wouldn't that be tantamount to singing praises for Gao Peng?

"What a joke!"

Lin Dongfan immediately replied with a contemptuous message: "Big reporter Miao, you must not help the tyrant do evil; I suggest you seal those interview contents and become a fine comrade who possesses both beauty and wisdom."

"Do you count this as begging me?"

"Young master is tired; you may kneel and pay respects!"

After replying to the message, Lin Dongfan directly turned off his phone and went to sleep.

Earlier, I had already agreed with my wife Chu Lingxi to accompany her for a prenatal checkup tomorrow; even if I fail to keep my pants, I can still uphold my principles, resolutely being a doting yet scoundrel husband with principles.