Chapter 1570: Cut when it must be cut

Nanluoguxiang.

Jin Lian and the little fatty arrived at the Cao home together, just as if they were entering their own house, without the slightest bit of formality. They ate, drank, and laughed, not treating themselves as outsiders at all.

Upon learning that Jin Lian wanted to divorce Sha Zhuzi, Song Yulan was shocked and tried to persuade her with earnest words. Song Yujuan also said a few things, but Jin Lian's heart was set on divorce; no one's persuasion was of any use.

The eldest son, Cao Ping'an, was already ten years old, fat and strong, looking like a little bully. He was playing games with his 7-year-old brother Cao Pingyi, 5-year-old sister Cao Ailan, and the little fatty He Shen.

He insisted that the little fatty and Cao Pingyi play the Japanese invaders, that his sister Cao Ailan play the villager being bullied by the invaders, and that he himself play the Liberation Army soldier saving the villagers and fighting the invaders... He made the little fatty and Cao Pingyi cry loudly, and then, unsurprisingly, before eating dumplings, they first had a meal of "belt-fried meat" cooked by their father himself.

The little fatty ate two dumplings at a time, saying while eating: "The dumplings made by Godmother and Auntie are really delicious, much better than the ones my mom makes. The dumplings my mom boils are salty and bitter; even the pigs wouldn't eat them."

Jin Lian was so angry her face turned red, and she angrily grabbed the little fatty's ear: "Little brat, I've wasted my love on you. Don't even think about eating the dumplings I make for you ever again."

Jin Lian and Song Yulan were both under thirty, in the golden period of a woman's life. Especially after having children, their figures were plump and rounded, and their femininity was even stronger; every pout and smile was exceptionally alluring.

This Jin Lian was a complete schemer and gold-digger, but it had to be said that her appearance and figure were top-notch. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to bewitch a whole crowd of men until they couldn't find north, nor would she have caused Cao Weiguo's impulsive drunken act...

After the meal, Cao Weiguo said to Jin Lian: "I have a house in Xizhi Sect. It's a two-courtyard Sihe Academy, and the furniture inside is complete..."

Before he could finish, Jin Lian interrupted him: "Xizhi Sect is too far. What? Do you find me an eyesore? Want to send me away?"

Cao Weiguo looked at the room with a guilty conscience and whispered nervously: "Keep your voice down, I didn't mean that."

Jin Lian stared at Cao Weiguo charmingly: "Hmph, I know your little thoughts. Xizhi Sect is too far, and it's not convenient for me and the child to see you. Arrange a place for me nearby, no more than one kilometer from your house. I don't want to live as a widow while I'm still young."

Cao Weiguo said with a headache: "I'm really afraid of you. Fine, if you won't live in the two-courtyard Sihe Academy, then live in a civilian house. There's an old house in Suoyi Alley."

Jin Lian said with eyes like silk: "An old house is fine. As long as I can see you every day, I'd be happy even living in a dog kennel."

Cao Weiguo took a wad of money from his pocket and stuffed it into Jin Lian's collar: "Stop feeding me love potions here. Do you think I don't know you?"

Jin Lian said coquettishly: "What do you know about me? Do you know my depth?"

Cao Weiguo looked left and right, then reached out and slapped Jin Lian's perky buttocks: "Behave yourself."

"Ouch! You shameless thing!"

Jin Lian covered her attacked buttocks and gave Cao Weiguo a shy, white-eyed look.

Cao Weiguo: "Go back to the room, no talking nonsense."

Jin Lian followed behind Cao Weiguo, muttering in a resentful voice: "Coward."

Red Star Sihe Academy.

Yi Zhonghai, Sha Zhuzi, and Qin Huairu were sitting together having a meeting. The theme of the meeting was Sha Zhuzi's second half of life.

Yi Zhonghai said with a kind face: "Zhuzi, your marriage with Jin Lian is beyond saving. Since it's already a settled matter, let's part on good terms. I said back then that you and Jin Lian weren't a good match, and that Jin Lian wasn't a woman who could live a settled life. But you wouldn't listen back then. However, it's not too late for you to divorce her now."

Qin Huairu laughed bitterly: "Is it not too late? Zhuzi is no longer young, and he has wasted a great deal of time and energy on Jin Lian for nothing. The bride price, all those wages—they all went to Jin Lian. What a huge loss that is."

Yi Zhonghai sighed: "Let's not mention those. After all, Jin Lian did give birth to a son for Zhuzi."

Qin Huairu said sarcastically: "A son? It's not even certain whose son that is."

Sha Zhuzi said excitedly: "He Shen is my son."

Qin Huairu said meaningfully: "Zhuzi, if you want to divorce Jin Lian, I advise you to hand over He Shen's custody to Jin Lian. You're not young anymore, and you don't have any savings at home. If you bring along a 'drag-oil-bottle' (burden), I'm afraid no woman will be willing to marry you again. You don't want to spend the rest of your life alone, do you?"

Sha Zhuzi struggled: "If I give custody to Jin Lian, then is He Shen still my son?"

Qin Huairu said: "How could he not be? Even if he isn't by your side, he still has your blood flowing in him, and he'll still have to call you Dad when he sees you."

Yi Zhonghai persuaded from the side: "Huairu's consideration makes sense. Zhuzi, you should be clear about your own situation. Although you've returned to work in the cafeteria, your monthly wage is only thirty-some yuan, and you still owe a lot of external debt. You don't have the ability to raise He Shen at all. Rather than letting He Shen suffer with you and dragging down your future life, it's better to hand over custody to Jin Lian. That way, you can save up some money, remarry, and build a new family. You can't not plan for the future. At worst, when your life is more affluent later, you can bring He Shen back and make it up to him properly. He's your son; could he really not forgive you, his father?"

"I need to consider it." ===== CHAPTER 1572 =====