Chapter 27: Xu Damao Gets a Divorce

After directing the masons, plasterers, carpenters, and other craftsmen, He Yuzhu watched as they began to scrape the wall plaster and dismantle the doors. He then put his hands behind his back, took his tools, mounted his bicycle, and rode off toward the Big Leader's home.

Not long after He Yuzhu left, Qin Jingru was helped into the Siheyuan by Xu Damao, limping along with her eyes swollen from crying.

As soon as the two entered the courtyard and saw He Yuzhu's room being dismantled by the crowd with dust filling the air, Xu Damao's eyes lit up.

"Look at that, how about it? I told you, this is definitely because He Yuzhu got arrested; they're even tearing his house down!" Xu Damao looked triumphant, his little mustache twitching and quivering.

"Ah?! Is this for real..." Qin Jingru pulled her arm away from Xu Damao's grasp.

"For sure, who would dare tear down his house if he hadn't been arrested? Look at the smashing, tsk tsk, what a pity." Xu Damao shook his head and paced a few steps with his hands behind his back. He could naturally tell this was a renovation, but Qin Jingru didn't know that—what kind of renovation involves smashing doors and windows?

Watching the house being smashed to pieces, Qin Jingru's heart sank, but at the same time, a sense of relief welled up. It was a good thing she had followed Xu Damao last night, otherwise her dream of getting a city household registration would have truly gone down the drain.

Turning her head, Qin Jingru thought of He Yuzhu again and immediately gnashed her teeth: If she had known He Yuzhu would fall so quickly, why would she have bothered to sacrifice her body? Qin Huairu has ruined me!

Qin Jingru looked at the foolish-looking Xu Damao; it seemed like following him wouldn't be so bad after all?

"Alright, you go stay at your cousin's place first. I'm going back right now to have a showdown with Lou Xiao'e! You wait for me!" Xu Damao leaned in again, taking the opportunity to grope her, then looked around and explained in a low, servile voice.

"No, I'll wait for you right here in the courtyard. If you don't get a divorce, I'm going to the Public Security Station to report you today. You figure it out; I'll be waiting." Qin Jingru rolled her large eyes; not daring to sit, she leaned against the wall nearby.

"Fine! Don't you worry, I'm going right now." Xu Damao nodded firmly and walked back to the Back Yard without looking back.

"Lou Xiao'e, Lou Xiao'e, get out here." As soon as he entered the door, Xu Damao started shouting.

"Xu Damao, where did you go last night? Huh?!" Lou Xiao'e walked out of the bedroom with dark circles under her eyes and demanded an answer.

"I... I went home! Is that any of your business? Pack your things and get out!"

Xu Damao paused, then flew into a rage: "You eggless hen, I've been married to you for so many years and you haven't even made a sound. Get out! Get out! Get out!"

Lou Xiao'e's body suddenly went limp; she swayed a few times, then covered her head and squatted down.

"Wuwu, Xu Damao, you bastard, I've been married to you for so many years, and this is how you treat me?!"

"Lou Xiao'e, let me tell you, that capitalist father of yours has caused me great suffering. If it weren't for your family's background, I would have been an official long ago, you know that? And you? You can't even give birth to a child. Do you want me, Xu Damao, to have no descendants? Get out! If you don't, I'll pack for you!"

As he spoke, Xu Damao took out two large suitcases and rolled Lou Xiao'e's clothes into them. Finally, after thinking for a moment, he took out the two Small Yellow Fish hidden under the bed and stuffed them inside.

He didn't dare spend these things, and if he kept them and Lou Xiao'e reported him after the divorce, he'd be finished—he'd have to go inside and sit in a cell. It was better to just settle it with Lou Xiao'e.

The packing was finished quickly. Xu Damao saw Lou Xiao'e squatting on the floor crying incessantly, and his anger flared up again.

He kicked the door open and threw the luggage out.

Then, Xu Damao pulled Lou Xiao'e up and dragged her outside.

"Go, get out, we're going to finalize the divorce right now!"

"Enough! Xu Damao, do you have to be this heartless? A day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of grace; a hundred years of cultivation brings us to sleep on the same pillow. Is it all my fault that we can't have children? Why don't you mention that you're the one who's useless? You're as limp as half a little finger!"

Lou Xiao'e fiercely shook off Xu Damao. She looked at the man who had shared her bed and pillow with eyes full of despair, and tears gushed out.

Xu Damao's mind was now filled entirely with the young, cute, and pure Qin Jingru; he couldn't hear a word of this, and Lou Xiao'e's words had severely stung his pride.

"Slap!" With a sound, Xu Damao slapped Lou Xiao'e, then said furiously: "So what if it's half a little finger? So what if it's limp? Haven't you been enjoying it for all these years anyway? Get out! We're going to divorce right now!"

"Heh, fine, consider me, Lou Xiao'e, blind!" Lou Xiao'e covered her face, turned, and left the room. She dragged the luggage on the ground and arrived at the door of Long Laotaitai's room nearby, knocking gently.

"Grandma, are you up? It's Xiao'e."

"Coming, coming. Is that Xiao'e here to bring me breakfast?" Long Laotaitai leaned on her cane and opened the door.

"Grandma, wuwu, Xu Damao doesn't want me anymore." Lou Xiao'e burst into tears again, kneeling before the old lady, crying like rain on pear blossoms.

"Oh, child, get up quickly, get up. The floor is cold. Come inside and tell Grandma, what happened?" The old lady looked at her with pity and pulled Lou Xiao'e into the room.

Lou Xiao'e sobbed as she told her what had happened.

The old lady slapped the table and cursed: "Outrageous! I'll have the First Elder deal with him, and if that doesn't work, I'll have Shazhu deal with him. You wait, I'm going right now. He's really gotten too big for his boots."

Lou Xiao'e stood up abruptly and stopped the old lady.

The old lady asked suspiciously: "What, you can't bear to?"

Lou Xiao'e shook her head: "How could that be, Grandma? I've thought it through. Divorce! After I divorce him, I'll find someone better! He, Xu Damao, isn't worthy!"

"Good, good granddaughter. That's right. Go, go divorce him. If you have nowhere to go, just stay here and keep Grandma company." Long Laotaitai smiled, patted Lou Xiao'e's hand, slowly bent down, and dragged her luggage to the bedside.

Lou Xiao'e thanked her gratefully, took out her identification documents, and walked out with a calm expression.

Taking one last look at the home she had lived in for so long, Lou Xiao'e said nothing more. She gave the anxious Xu Damao a calm look and walked out of the Siheyuan.

The two walked into the Minzheng office one after the other and finalized the divorce. Then, ignoring Lou Xiao'e, who felt a bit dizzy upon stepping outside, Xu Damao ran back in high spirits.

Lou Xiao'e watched Xu Damao's retreating figure, laughed in despair, squatted on the ground, and her shoulders began to heave.

After all, this was the husband she had been married to for many years!

After a long while, Lou Xiao'e finally calmed down, took out some money, bought some vegetables and wine, and carried them back.

She didn't dare go home. It was she who had insisted on marrying Xu Damao back then; if she were to be kicked out and return home in such a sorry state now, what would her parents say about her?

Drinking is good; one drunk can dissolve a thousand sorrows, and then she wouldn't have to worry anymore.

Just like that, Lou Xiao'e stumbled all the way back to the Siheyuan. In the courtyard, only those few craftsmen were still working hard to fix up He Yuzhu's house, and Xu Damao was long gone.

Inside the house, Xu Damao looked at the fair and tender Qin Jingru and was completely satisfied. A month later, when Qin Jingru became pregnant, he was so happy he ran around the courtyard like a madman.

It's just that... whose child was it?

Lou Xiao'e carried her things back to the old lady's room.

"Grandma, I'm back. I'll add a dish for you tonight; let's celebrate."

"Good, good. Tonight I'll go call Zhuzi over and have him cook; his food tastes good."

"Why call him, Grandma?"

"Hey, you silly girl, once his house is fixed up, you can move over there to live. That would be so convenient." Long Laotaitai tapped Lou Xiao'e on the head.

What the old lady was thinking was that after He Yuzhu's own room was fixed up, Lou Xiao'e could move into Yushui's room.

Lou Xiao'e, however, misunderstood: "Ah? That wouldn't be appropriate, would it, Grandma?"

"What's inappropriate about it, silly girl? It's appropriate, perfectly appropriate." The old lady smiled and turned to get busy.

Lou Xiao'e sat by the table, feeling a bit dazed. Moving over to live together...

It couldn't be more suitable...

Thinking of He Yuzhu's concern that night, and that hat...

He is an older bachelor, I am an older divorcee; it seems, it is somewhat suitable?

He Yuzhu carried his kitchen knives to the Big Leader's house, prepared a sumptuous lunch, and then played a few games of Go, winning back that phonograph and the Symphony of Fate, returning to the Siheyuan feeling very pleased with himself.

"Hey, where is everyone? Why hasn't anyone come back yet? Xiao Dang, where is your mother?"

"I don't know, Mom hasn't come home yet. Uncle Zhuzi, do you not know where Mom went either?"

At this moment, Qin Huairu was sprawled out on the ground, her body covered in various wounds, while on the other side, a German Shepherd was sticking out its large tongue, looking at its owner, Deputy Director Li...