Thunderstorm

Lin Shaocheng's eyes were obscured in the darkness, making it impossible to discern his emotions. "I don't want to argue with you, but you used to say that I would tell you everything you had a problem with. Do you still stand by your word?"

Li Guorong fastened the silk bed sheet repeatedly, saying, "You tell me."

Lin Shaocheng's muscular upper body was exposed, but his face was obscured by shadows. "Nepotism."

Li Guorong retorted, "You're selfish and hypocritical too."

"Vanity and extravagance."

"Cold-blooded and arrogant."

"Desires are insatiable."

"bookworm."

Lin Shaocheng was about to speak when Li Guorong covered his mouth, saying, "Stop talking, aren't you annoying?"

Li Guorong's eyes were red. She loved money, beauty, and family, but Lin Shaocheng saw only flaws in her. "You don't understand at all. You don't love me at all."

Li Guorong put on her coat, her body trembling slightly. Lin Shaocheng hugged her from behind. This was what she used to want. Now she didn't care for Lin Shaocheng's forceful and domineering attitude. Li Guorong pushed Lin Shaocheng away. "I don't care about your liking or your love. Someone as self-centered as you doesn't know what I need. Let's get a divorce."

Lin Shaocheng's pupils trembled. He wanted to persuade her to stay, but slumped onto the bed in despair.

Li Guorong drove his car to his second brother's house. Cui Fanghua served him hot tea and snacks. "Brother-in-law, you are so inconsiderate. Who talks to their own wife like that? Besides, sister, you have no flaws at all."

Li Guojian chimed in, "Except for being a bit extravagant with money, it's perfect in every way."

Li Guorong breathed a sigh of relief after drinking hot tea; she now regretted arguing with Lin Shaocheng like this.

Cui Fanghua continued, "I think Qian Mancang is pretty good. Now a lot of people in the city are his underlings. He's very powerful when he goes out and even has a motorcycle to ride on. He's much better than Lin Shaocheng."

Li Guorong couldn't help but compare the two in her mind. Lin Shaocheng was handsome but boring, while Qian Mancang was not so handsome but was more upright and interesting. Thinking of the way he raced cars and danced on the mountain road and how he was fawned over by his underlings, as well as the dance halls and roller skating rinks where he made a fortune every day, made her heart itch with longing.

Li Guorong still said, "Second sister-in-law, what are you saying? How could anyone be interested in me?"

Cui Fanghua and Li Guojian looked at each other. Li Guojian sat to one side and said, "Qian Mancang has never been interested in anyone else since he saw you. He kept asking me about you. Even after you got married, he still couldn't forget you."

Cui Fanghua also said, "You've been working too hard these past few days. Originally, with me and your second brother in charge of the factory, things were going well, and you had time to oversee the direction and make money. But now look at what Lin Shaocheng has done; you have to do everything yourself."

These days, Li Guorong is getting annoyed by the contract data and the discipline. The thought of becoming the boss of the dance hall and roller skating rink, with more money to buy her gold jewelry, designer clothes and bags, makes her heart lean towards money. But in her heart, Lin Shaocheng is still different.

bang bang bang bang

It wasn't a holiday or festival, but people were setting off fireworks outside. Li Guorong was pulled to the balcony by his second brother and sister-in-law. Below, candles formed a heart shape, and Qian Mancang held up a ring inside the heart, saying, "Guorong, I love you, be with me."

Li Guorong's heartstrings trembled. How romantic! This was something Lin Shaocheng had never given her. It was like a scene from a TV drama. Every time she was with Lin Shaocheng, she was always the one who took the initiative.

Cui Fanghua pointed to the ring and said, "How romantic!"

Li Guorong is not single now; she has a marriage certificate with Lin Shaocheng. Why is Qian Mancang getting involved?

But Li Guorong's face was already flushed with embarrassment. The sun rose in the sky, and it was a new day. Li Guojian nudged his younger sister and said, "They're still waiting for an answer."

Li Guorong shouted, "I am a married man, so give up on that idea."

Cui Fanghua's eyes darted around. "Try Lin Shaocheng. If he doesn't try to keep you at the Civil Affairs Bureau, then divorce him. Anyway, you can still get married after the divorce. Let him worry about it."

Li Guorong gripped her coat tightly. Since becoming the factory director, she had been a woman of her word. Her second brother's phone hadn't rung, and Lin Shaocheng hadn't come out to look for her. Wasn't he worried that something might have happened to her? Thinking of this, her heart grew colder and colder.

Qian Mancang followed Li Guojian upstairs. The two looked at each other, one with tender affection and the other with unease. Qian Mancang slowly approached and opened the ring box in his hand. The diamond inside reflected a rainbow of colors under the yellow light. It was a very valuable pigeon egg. Li Guojian's heart pounded.

Li Guorong only had a small diamond ring on her hand. When she bought it, she felt that diamonds did not hold their value, so she asked Lin Shaocheng to exchange it for a gold bracelet. When she saw this pigeon egg that had no cost-effectiveness, her mouth couldn't help but open slightly. She really liked diamonds and things that were flashy but impractical.

"I'm married," Li Guorong heard his own hesitant voice.

Qian Mancang's eyes were full of determination. "I can wait. My mother is gone, my sister is married, and now you are the most important person to me."

Qian Mancang took Li Guorong's hand and slipped the huge pigeon egg-shaped diamond ring onto his finger. The brilliance of the diamond ring gave his fair skin a lustrous sheen, creating an unreal, ethereal effect.

A look of confusion crossed Li Guorong's eyes. They say marriage is a woman's second chance at life. She made the wrong choice in her past life, but did she make the right choice in the first half of this life? Or was the person in front of her, who loved to play and have fun just like her, the one she was meant to be with?

Li Guorong got into the car in a daze, followed by her second brother and sister-in-law. Qian Mancang sat next to her, and the group returned to her home in a grand procession.

Lin Shaocheng's white shirt shimmered in the sunlight, momentarily outshining the diamond ring on his hand. Li Guorong's face was even paler than Lin Shaocheng's shirt. Lin Shaocheng's eyes flickered with emotions she couldn't understand—disappointment or disgust? She was just a worldly person; they weren't a good match.

Li Guojian said, "You bullied my sister, and my sister wants a divorce from you."

Lin Shaocheng's gaze passed through Li Guojian and landed directly on Li Guorong. "Is that what you think?"

Li Guorong held her head high, but dared not look directly at Lin Shaocheng. As long as he persuaded her to stay, she could still make a living.

“Okay.” Lin Shaocheng calmly took out his household registration book, ID card, and marriage certificate, and sat in the passenger seat. “The chili factory is yours, I won’t touch it. The Chinese medicine factory is mainly managed by Xiang Xi, I can only get 100,000 yuan, and the house and car are all yours, is that okay?”

Li Guorong fumbled for the diamond ring, her lips tightly pursed, and no one knew what she was thinking.

Are you two sure about getting a divorce?

Qian Mancang stood to Li Guorong's right, his diamond ring still sparkling. Li Guojian nudged Li Guorong, who nodded hastily and looked at Lin Shaocheng with anticipation.

Lin Shaocheng gave a bitter smile. The seven-year itch hadn't even reached seven years yet, and the young couple hadn't even reached middle age before drifting apart. He could only agree, "Okay."

Li Guorong's hand trembled slightly as she tried to grab something, but Qian Mancang held her hand. She had other men. She was so young and rich. Even without Lin Shaocheng, there were other men who loved her.

A green divorce certificate was thrown out the window. Li Guorong caught it, her lips pursed, displaying her unique stubbornness and unwillingness to admit defeat. "Lin Shaocheng, you'll regret this!"

Lin Shaocheng's eyes were like mist, making it impossible for her to discern his emotions. Li Guorong, who had been hesitant, confused, and angry before, now felt a little regretful when she saw those eyes. "I..."

Qian Mancang and Li Guojian came to stay with Li Guorong, one on the left and one on the right.

"Let's go celebrate!"

Li Guorong's muddled mind was pushed forward by the two men, leaving Lin Shaocheng alone in place.

Time flies. Lin Shaocheng made a fortune from his subscription certificates, and he was able to move the Chinese herbal medicine factory. Qian Mancang began to pursue Li Guorong intensely, showering her with all sorts of diamond and gemstone bags and clothes, hanging advertisements on his taxis proclaiming his love for her forever, filming a love commemorative music video for her, and even writing a love song especially for her.

The two went to Hong Kong to chase stars, to Macau to play cards, and to Thailand to see ladyboys. Everything felt unreal and surreal. They shared the same hobbies, and even dancing all night long didn't make them feel tired.

Ring ring ring

Today, Li Guorong made a rare return to the factory for inspection. She hadn't been to the factory for several months, and she needed to carefully consider her relationship with Qian Mancang. "Hello, Sister Li, chili oil."

A strange male voice came from the other end: "Hello, are you Comrade Li Guorong? This is Clerk Wang from Jiangzhou District Court."

Li Guorong was annoyed. Scams were already happening now? They were really bold. She wanted to see what methods these scammers used. "Yes, it is. What's wrong?"

"Regarding the case that Xinxin Raw Material Factory sued you, the court hearing is next Thursday. Judge Li asked me to call both parties to confirm whether they have received the materials and whether there is any intention to mediate."

Li Guorong sneered inwardly, wondering if she should immediately transfer money to the account. "I haven't heard of any case."

"You didn't receive the summons? That's impossible. The delivery receipt clearly states your mother Wu Cuihua's name. It's been almost a month."

Li Guorong gripped the phone tightly. "Could you tell me what the specific case is?"

"One issue is about delayed payment for raw materials, and the other is about receiving substandard goods."

Li Guorong's face turned pale. What should she do now? If only Lin Shaocheng were here. Thinking of the two debts Lin Shaocheng had mentioned some time ago, could it be her second brother? Was her mother also protecting her second brother? "What should I do now?" Her voice trembled and choked with sobs.

The clerk on the other end then softened his tone, "Bring your ID card tomorrow morning and come to me to pick up the materials. I'll explain the details verbally. It would be best to hire a lawyer, as time is very tight, so please don't delay."

Li Guorong nodded hurriedly, then, realizing that the other side couldn't see, said, "Thank you, thank you, I understand."

Li Guorong slammed the phone down on the table, feeling a moment of weakness in her limbs. What was she going to do now? Didn't her second brother say there was no problem?

Why was she being sued? Her face turned pale, and she covered her head. And her mother, she shouted loudly in the office, "Bring Li Guojian and Cui Fanghua here!"

Hearing the noise, the cashier quickly knocked on the door.

"Enter."

The cashier in front of me was simply dressed and wore small glasses. "Factory manager, Sister Cui and Brother Li are on vacation, have you forgotten?"

Li Guorong's expression grew even more serious. "Where are you going on vacation?"