Chapter 69 No More Trouble

"Yes, you're raising the child of your savior, that's a good thing, why keep it from your wife?"

"Who can stand supporting a whole family while the man doesn't contribute a single penny to the household!"

“If you haven’t done anything wrong, then speak up openly. Your wife has supported the whole family for so many years and has never said a bad word about you in front of us. She has done more than enough.”

"Officer Su, does your silence mean that what Comrade Li said is true?"

The group of people, one after another, put Old Man Su in a difficult position, putting him in a dilemma.

He couldn't suppress the frustration in his eyes. Feeling ashamed by what these people were saying, he could only stubbornly say, "No means no. They're a widow and her child. How can I use them as a shield for a couple's quarrel? How can I face my comrade who saved my life?!"

His self-righteousness left those who were speculating about him speechless.

Someone clicked their tongue and asked him, "How can you be so sure your wife won't accept them?"

"Unless he wrote and directed it himself, there's no such person or such thing at all!" someone in the crowd muttered.

"...Li Banxia is angry because I didn't bring money home, so he can't eat good food or wear nice clothes!"

Old Su pursed his lips, indignantly saying, "We are husband and wife, one body. They saved me, and as my wife, isn't it only right that she and I repay them? Why do you have to be so pedantic? It's just that I'm old and past my prime and you don't want me anymore..."

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.

"No, how could he possibly say something like that?"

"That's utter nonsense! A woman marries to be fed and clothed. Her husband takes care of her whole family, raised four sons and two daughters, and she doesn't contribute a single penny. She's supported by him. How can she have the nerve to say that..."

"Of course! Why do we have to drag you into this? Can your face feed you or make you money?"

"I think it's Li Banxia who spoiled him! He really thinks he's a hot commodity..."

Old Su felt his face burning from these sarcastic remarks. Just as he was frowning and racking his brains for a way to smooth things over, someone raised their voice and said something.

"If you're so unwilling, why did you marry her in the first place? Why don't you just live with that widow and her daughter?!"

The room fell silent.

The last thread in Old Su's mind snapped instantly.

He stared at Li Banxia with a grim face and gritted teeth, saying, "I told you when we got married that I didn't like her. It was her! She insisted on marrying me despite all the pressure! She had the child of her own volition, and she chose to support the family. Nobody forced her!"

These words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, causing the water to surge and churn.

Many people couldn't stand it anymore and looked at Old Man Su with disdain, saying, "Say less, do you really want a divorce?"

"Even if there are no feelings left, after spending so many years together, it's not right to say such hurtful things."

"Yes, yes, couples argue, but they make up before they get out of bed..."

"Officer Su, you can't just say things like that."

Some people say that couples argue and do whatever hurts, so they tell Li Banxia not to take it to heart and to talk things out. She has persisted for so many years, and if Director Su really doesn't want to talk about it, then so be it. Anyway, she can support the family, so consider the money as a donation.

How could Li Banxia let this matter go so easily?

This situation was entirely her doing.

She wanted this chaotic scene, she wanted Su Youfu to speak his mind.

Make sure his colleagues remember his true colors.

He, Su Youfu, for the sake of a pretty widow, verbally abused his wife who had borne him children and worked tirelessly to support their large family, showing her no affection whatsoever, and forced her to divorce him.

"Yes, I deserve it."

Li Banxia put on a look of utter despair and said, "Su Youfu, if someone doesn't know, they shouldn't do it in the first place. Why do you think I've been making trouble for you lately? It's because I already know the truth. Asking you to tell me was just giving you a chance, but since you don't want to..."

She shook her head, glancing blankly at the onlookers. "I thought that since the child is so grown up and we're both in our forties, we could just tough it out. As long as he's willing to be honest and talk, I wouldn't hold it against him. But I was wrong."

"Pinellia..."

Sister Liu, who had previously spoken up for Li Banxia, ​​had tears in her eyes as she listened, saying, "Don't do anything foolish."

Li Banxia gave her a bitter smile.

"Sister Liu, don't you know me? As long as life is bearable, I'll endure it as much as I can, but he wants to divorce me for the sake of that mother and child!"

Sister Liu didn't know how to comfort her for a moment, and let out a long sigh.

Li Banxia glanced at Old Man Su, took a deep breath, and said, "Su Youfu, if you insist on getting a divorce, then so be it! I've had enough of this life of robbing Peter to pay Paul, but the debts I've incurred over the years to support the family and your mother must be paid off before the divorce. So, I will definitely get back the money you spent on the widow and her daughter. Be prepared and let them know."

"Comrade Li, don't say such hurtful things. How can you just get a divorce like this?"

"Yes, you two have been a model couple for over twenty years. How can you just get divorced because of two outsiders?"

"Officer Su, please say something..."

Old Man Su was still in shock and couldn't come to his senses. Li Banxia actually wanted to divorce him!

How is that possible?

He knew all too well how humble she had been in his presence all these years, so how could she bear to divorce him?

Could it be that our own people have really aged and lost their beauty?

Old Su raised his hand and touched his face. He had been sitting in an office all these years, sheltered from the wind and rain, and he regularly wiped his face and hands, so his skin was better than that of his peers, and he didn't age so quickly.

Is it really because of that money?

He wouldn't take a single penny back, no matter how much Li Banxia made a fuss.

Forget it, he'll say a few nice words to her later and let it go. We can't drag Peach Blossom and her daughter into this.

Old Su was somewhat annoyed, feeling that he had still dragged Tao Hua and Jiefang down with him.

As for Li Banxia's words about him being prepared, that she would ask He Taohua for money, Old Man Su didn't take it to heart at all.

It wasn't that he didn't care, but he felt that Li Banxia was just threatening him to bow down, and that he would never actually do it.

After finishing her speech, Li Banxia smiled wryly and nodded to the crowd, "Thank you all for standing up for me. We've been neighbors for so many years, and you've all taken care of my mother and me a lot. Without you all, I..."

She choked up, and her eyes immediately reddened.

"...My third child had a high fever and convulsions, but we didn't have money for medical treatment. It was thanks to a folk remedy given by Sister Liu's mother-in-law that he was cured. My second child almost drowned after falling into that puddle behind us, but Uncle Fang saved him. When I was raising my fourth child, I didn't have any breast milk, and the baby cried day and night from hunger. It was the rice that everyone contributed that kept the baby alive, and we made rice porridge for her. Hongying had jaundice, and Hongmei was fussy in February..."

The more Li Banxia spoke, the more distressed she became. She had endured all these years alone!

Where did Su Youfu go?