Chapter 316: I Agree to Divorce

Lu Cheng returned to the Capital City; it was already a few days later.

Another winter had come, and compared with previous years, there were several earthquake shelters in Hu Tong Li or Da Za Yuan that hadn't been dismantled yet.

The biting cold wind blew, the main street was sparsely populated, and occasionally one could see someone delivering coal balls on a three-wheeled cart.

Just as he entered Hu Tong Li, he suddenly saw a familiar figure, also riding a three-wheeled cart.

"Dad, where are you going?"

Lu Beitang braked the three-wheeled cart, glanced back and said, "Back already? Go home first; your mother is at home. I'm going to buy some coal."

"Why still need to buy? Doesn't Qing Yan's Siheyuan have some?"

Lu Beitang opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing, lowered his head and rode away on the three-wheeled cart.

Watching his father's departing silhouette, Lu Cheng sensed something was off; in fact, with a little thought, it wasn't hard to guess what had happened.

If the Lin Family truly wanted to file for divorce, his father would definitely refuse; the Lin Family would inevitably say some contemptuous things, and his father is a man who would rather break than bend.

He resolved to discuss the matter properly tonight, and Lu Cheng set his thoughts aside.

In Hu Tong Li, a few Big Aunts and aunties were sitting under the sun, mending shoe soles.

When Lu Cheng approached, he instantly drew everyone's gaze.

"Oh dear, Lu San'er is back. Hurry home; your family is all in chaos. I heard that the Lin Family wants to divorce you."

Zhang dama's tone was oddly sarcastic, making it uncomfortable to hear.

But the people in Hu Tong Li were all discussing it, confirming what he had thought earlier: the Lin Family had already filed for divorce.

Lu Cheng laughed, "Divorce it is, look at you all making such a fuss."

"Oh, you really have a big heart. Divorce is such a big deal, you speak so lightly. I think you're just giving up completely."

"Exactly, Lu San'er. If you get divorced, where will you go find a wife again?"

"Never mind, Zhang dama. If I can't find a wife, you might as well divorce too; I'll marry you."

"Hey, you little rascal, what nonsense are you spouting? Big Aunt is already that old!"

"Hehe, I don't mind."

"Tsk, then I won't divorce either; our old man is fine."

"Whether it's good or not, he's just old; I have my youth and strength. If it really doesn't work, the three of us can live together; I'll take care of your old man, and then the property will be ours two."

Zhang dama lifted a shoe sole to strike, "You little brat, I'm going to beat you to death."

Lu Cheng hurriedly dodged and slipped into the courtyard, while the others kept chatting.

"You see, this Lu San'er really has a big heart."

"Exactly, the Lin Family is about to divorce him, and he still has the energy to tease people here."

Entering the inner courtyard, Lu Ying was washing clothes by the pool; Lu Cheng walked over and put his arm around his sister's shoulder.

"Hey dear Er Jie, washing clothes, have you missed me?"

"Get your filthy paws off! The house is a mess, and you're still grinning. It's your fault; if it hadn't been your terrible idea..." Lu Ying stopped mid‑sentence, glancing toward the kitchen.

"Anyway, there's no way to wrap this up now."

"Sister, during the time I was away, what exactly did the Lin Family say?"

"What else could we say! A few days ago, Qing Yan's mother came over, said some nasty things, and made our father so angry he got sick..."

Lu Ying recounted that day's events, and Lu Cheng involuntarily frowned.

No wonder dad was willing to spend money buying coal, yet refused to go to that Siheyuan to haul coal.

The Lin Family's words, given dad's proud temperament, were certainly hard for him to accept.

Lu Cheng hadn't expected the situation to be like this; now it seemed only one possibility: Lin Qingyan didn't want a divorce, which forced Yu Wanrong to come over to file for it.

If Lin Qingyan had agreed to divorce, the Lin Family wouldn't have needed to come at all.

What a dilemma!

Damned charisma! How did Lin Qingyan end up liking him?

If Lin Qingyan had no feelings for him, they could have divorced peacefully, and as for dad and mom, a little coaxing would have sufficed.

It wouldn't have escalated to both families tangling face‑to‑face like this.

Lu Cheng sighed, "Sister, you tell me why my charisma is so huge; it's killing me with worry."

"What era is this, still being narcissistic! Think quickly about what to do about this."

That night, Chen Xianglan prepared a simple meal, a big mixed stew of bean sprouts, cabbage, radish, tofu, and vermicelli, filling a bowl, served with flatbread, simple and convenient.

If it were before, a son returning home would definitely be rewarded with a feast, but now she had no mood for that.

At the table, no one lifted their chopsticks; Lu Cheng thought that unless the matter was clarified today, no one was in the mood to eat.

Lu Beitang spoke first, "Lu Cheng, tell us, what's your opinion?"

Lu Cheng was quite hungry; his mother's stew smelled especially fragrant, but when his father asked a question, he had to hold back.

"Dad, I want to hear your opinion first."

Lu Beitang nodded, "To be honest, at first your mother and I definitely couldn't accept it, but these past few days we've both calmed down, opened up, and reached a unified stance: whether you divorce or not, as long as you aren't wronged, that's fine..."

Hearing his father's words, Lu Cheng felt both surprised and moved.

The surprise was that his parents had figured it out so quickly, digesting it themselves.

Before coming, he had been on the train wondering how to comfort his parents.

Now it's settled, sparing him from further persuasion.

What moved him was that his parents were willing to respect his view, even if divorce was shameful, they would never let their son suffer.

Lu Beitang continued, "If you agree to divorce, let your mother look for a matchmaker and find you another; I don't believe that with our old Lu family's conditions, you couldn't find a wife!"

"If you refuse to divorce, your mother and I will go over and speak properly with the Lin Family again."

Lu Beitang laid out the two outcomes plainly; in the end, he still needed Lu Cheng's decision.

"Dad, if you go to the Lin Family's door, what are you planning to say?"

Lu Beitang fell silent for a moment, then said, "You don't need to worry about that; I'll definitely speak to them properly."

To avoid worrying his son, Lu Beitang didn't explain it too clearly.

But Lu Cheng could guess it—his old dad would put his face on the line, groveling low to beg the Lin Family.

Lu Beitang, who had never bowed his head in his whole life, would now bow for his son; how could Lu Cheng bear that?

"Dad, I actually decided on the train that I agree to the divorce."

Father doesn't want him to compromise, and of course he can't let his father compromise either.

Besides, the original agreement with Lin Qingyan was divorce; it's only now that Lin Qingyan has developed feelings that the matter has become complicated.

Whether it's dad and mom or the Lin Family, he can coordinate everything, but with Lin Qingyan alone he truly doesn't know what to say.

When Chen Xianglan heard Lu Cheng agree to the divorce, she involuntarily stood up: "San'er, you—are you really willing to divorce? Have you really thought this through?"