The discipline was strictly enforced, and the timing of Lin Peng's report coincided with Zhang Lei and Liu Ercui's divorce, which is why someone came to talk to Liu Ercui.

If Liu Ercui makes a scene, coupled with the well-known story of Zhang Lei and Doctor Qiao from years ago, this matter could very well be confirmed.

So Zhang Lei wouldn't have time to wait until he was discharged from the military; he would have to take off his uniform and go home to farm.

However, Liu Ercui did not make a scene.

Instead, she spoke up for Zhang Lei, saying that their divorce was simply because they were incompatible, argued constantly, and couldn't live together anymore.

Dr. Qiao has been gone for many years, so it is impossible to convict Zhang Lei based solely on Lin Peng's testimony.

"Oh, this silly woman! If it were me, I would have turned the world upside down!" Fan Hongxia was furious after hearing about this from her husband.

Because she lived in the family compound for a long time, she witnessed Zhang Lei's whole affair from beginning to end.

She had seen how Zhang Lei treated Dr. Qiao back then, and how he treated Liu Ercui after they got married.

At first, like most people, she thought Dr. Qiao was gentle and quiet, while Liu Ercui was rude and loud, so it was understandable that Zhang Lei didn't like Liu Ercui.

But after so many years together, Fan Hongxia has completely sided with Liu Ercui.

She put herself in Liu Ercui's shoes. Since she was going to divorce Zhang Lei anyway, she thought it would be good to take the opportunity to make Zhang Lei lose everything and vent her anger.

Knowing that Liu Ercui had actually helped Zhang Lei, she came to Qin Hanshu indignantly to complain.

Unexpectedly, Liu Ercui was also there, and he started chatting with her.

Liu Ercui listened to Fan Hongxia speak with her head down, and only spoke when Fan Hongxia finished catching her breath:

"Although my life with him has been a mess, I don't want to make things so ugly in the end. After all, he is still the father of our children."

"Moreover, I know very well that he is just not a virtuous man, and I can't go against my conscience and say that he is having affairs with other women."

Fan Hongxia fell silent immediately.

Yes, the couple had four children.

It's too ugly, and it's not good for the child.

Qin Hanshu said, "No matter what, this matter is over. Sister Ercui has also obtained her divorce certificate and can start a new life."

Fan Hongxia asked with interest, "I heard you became a sales clerk at a department store? That's a good start. Maybe you'll be even better off than your ex-husband in the future."

Liu Ercui smiled and said, "I don't have high expectations for the future. I just hope to raise my child well."

Fan Hongxia asked, "By the way, what are your plans for your children?"

Liu Ercui said, "Originally, I was going to have my three sons go back to my hometown with me, but my eldest son was unwilling and insisted on coming with me, saying that he was old enough to help me."

Fan Hongxia nodded repeatedly and praised, "You've done a great job raising your son. He was quite mischievous when he was little, but he's become very sensible now."

“Yes…” Liu Ercui smiled with relief; she never expected her boss to make such a choice.

Zhang Lei didn't insist on objecting and went along with his boss's wishes.

He also said that he would send her one-third of his salary every month so that she could use it to support her child.

Qin Hanshu asked, "So when are you moving?"

Liu Ercui said, "Zhang Lei told me to move slowly, but I wanted to move as soon as possible, so he found a few people to help me move tomorrow."

Qin Hanshu pointed to her stomach, "I can't help you like this."

Liu Ercui quickly waved her hand, "You should stay home and wait to give birth. I don't need your help here."

Fan Hongxia sighed and said, "Since the beginning of this year, first Xiao Cao moved away, then Xiao Wang from the fifth floor, and now Er Cui is leaving too... Sigh, the children have all grown up and gone to school, it feels more and more deserted."

Qin Hanshu smiled and said, "When someone moves out, someone else moves in."

Fan Hongxia nodded: "That's true."

After Cao Jing and Qin Feiyang moved into the house allocated by the Meteorological Bureau, the apartment opposite Qin Hanshu's remained empty. A few days ago, it was announced that a new family would be moving in, and people have been coming and going, moving things in and out.

Qin Hanshu had already met the lady of the house across the hall, a young woman not much older than herself. The two had gotten to know each other briefly but hadn't exchanged many words.

"By the way," Liu Ercui asked Qin Hanshu, "what are your plans for this pregnancy? Who will take care of you?"

When Qin Hanshu gave birth to her first child, Zhao Chunmiao came to take care of her during her postpartum period. She had originally planned to come again this time, but Qin Hanshu didn't allow it.

She wrote a letter to Zhao Chunmiao, saying that she could come and see the baby, but she didn't need to take care of her during her postpartum period.

Zhao Chunmiao is now in her sixties, and it is said that her health has declined in recent years. Qin Hanshu couldn't bear to let the old woman work so hard anymore.

Coming from the Northwest, the train journey alone takes several days and nights, which must be very tiring for Zhao Chunmiao, otherwise she would have come to see her grandson frequently long ago.

Qin Hanshu's letter was sent a long time ago, but the family hasn't received a reply from them, and they don't know what's going on.

However, she had already made preparations.

"My husband asked someone to find a nanny."

Fan Hongxia asked in surprise, "Who did you ask to find this? Is it reliable? They just openly said they were looking for a nanny?"

Qin Hanshu: "The person my husband found is definitely reliable. I didn't ask for the specifics, but I know that he asked a classmate from military academy to find him. On the surface, he just said that a relative was helping out."

Fan Hongxia lowered her voice and asked, "So how much money are you paying?"

Qin Hanshu said, "You'll get twenty yuan for a one-month trial period, and thirty-five yuan a month after you become a full-time employee."

Fan Hongxia sighed, "That's quite a lot. Tsk, everyone says employing a nanny is exploitation, but this nanny earns more than my salary. I wonder who's exploiting whom..."

Qin Hanshu chuckled and said, "How much salary I pay is not decided by me, nor by the nanny, but by the market."

Fan Hongxia asked, "What is a market?"

Liu Ercui asked quickly, "Is it the kind of black market in our town?"

Qin Hanshu nodded, "Yes. When we went to the black market to buy eggs, sometimes there were more people buying eggs, so the price was cheaper, and when there were fewer people selling, the price was more expensive."

Liu Ercui said, "I understand. In other words, there are fewer people working as nannies and more people hiring nannies, so it will take a long time for nannies' wages to rise."

Qin Hanshu explained further: "That's one reason. The nanny's salary is high, but she does a lot of work. She lives in my house 24 hours a day and is basically available whenever I call. It's not worth more than thirty yuan."

Fan Hongxia said, "But she doesn't have to pay for her food and lodging, so you'll still have to cover that. I think the nanny is the one who benefits."

Qin Hanshu smiled and said, "It depends on the wishes of both parties. If one party is dissatisfied with anything, the deal will not go through."

Fan Hongxia thought for a moment and said, "That's true."

Liu Ercui seemed to be deep in thought.