Chapter 25: They're all ruthless: their action-orientedness is off the charts.

The answer is no.

Even though the male lead in the movie "The Herdsman" gets the marriage certificate without the male lead showing up, there are conditions attached.

In the provincial capital in 1990, if a married couple with formal jobs wanted to get a marriage certificate, they first had to apply to their workplaces for a certificate.

No one can do this process for you. The company's review process is very strict, and no one will make a mistake in this kind of matter.

Lying is like throwing mud at her workplace. She has worked so hard to build a healthy, positive, and elite image, and she can't let it be ruined now.

Once Wang Xiao understood this, he immediately shut his mouth, refusing to humiliate himself further.

Ruan Rui was afraid that she would continue to lie through her teeth, so she said threateningly, "You even got your high school classmate to get our marriage certificate. You're not going to say it didn't happen, are you? They work hard and diligently, and we can't let you ruin it with just one sentence."

Chen Yanqiu was so angry that her face turned pale. She covered her chest with her hand and couldn't say a word.

Wang Xiao was terrified and quickly went over to pat her back to calm her down. She snapped at Ruan Rui, "What are you yelling about? Who are you trying to scare? Even if I was deceived by you and got the marriage certificate without thinking, I've now realized my mistake and I want a divorce!"

Chen Yanqiu finally recovered.

She was utterly devastated when she saw her daughter's marriage certificate. For a moment, she even suspected that her daughter's elopement was a ruse, and that she had never truly given up on Ruan Rui.

But now that Xiaoxiao has said these things on the spot and wants a divorce, it's clear that even though she was confused, she eventually woke up.

That brat is such a worry! How could she not tell anyone about getting her marriage certificate? Now she's making it public, is she trying to control their whole family?

No wonder Ruan Rui was so assertive back then, even threatening her in public that her family would regret it if they didn't go through with the marriage.

Of course he could act superior. They got a marriage certificate but didn't even have a wedding. In the end, the woman slunk into the man's house and could never hold her head up again.

These are jokes I can never get enough of!

Why even think about a bride price?

Everyone knows that the woman is practically throwing herself at him, afraid of not being able to get into his family.

Just thinking about it made Chen Yanqiu feel like she couldn't breathe.

Divorce is necessary; it must be done immediately, before the children are involved, to minimize the damage.

This is a new society, not the feudal era. There's no such thing as a virtuous woman refusing to remarry. If you've jumped into a fire pit, of course you have to climb out as quickly as possible.

"Divorce, get a divorce right now." Chen Yanqiu glared fiercely at Ruan Rui. "If you're still a man, if you have any guts, then stop hurting people."

Ruan Rui didn't even glance at his nominal mother-in-law; he had never taken the Wang couple seriously. Because, in his presence, Wang Xiao hadn't taken them seriously either.

If she truly cared about her parents, how could she have insisted on secretly getting a marriage certificate with him despite their strong opposition?

Now, the only person he was looking at was Wang Xiao, and he asked in a chilling tone, "You really want a divorce? You don't regret it? Who exactly forced me to get the marriage certificate?"

He never intended to get a marriage certificate in the first place. If it weren't for needing someone to take care of the child, he would never have looked for a partner in the provincial capital.

How can a sparrow know the ambition of a swan? He has already ascended to a high position, and he looks down on the ordinary people in the provincial capital.

He shouldn't have been so soft-hearted and agreed to get a marriage certificate just because she was crying so pitifully.

He didn't indulge her after that.

Did she think that by running away from the wedding on the day of the ceremony, she could control him and force him to beg her?

dream!

You're giving her too much credit!

He turned and left, saving himself the money he would have spent on the wedding banquet. This kind of cheapskate, practically begging to be served, didn't deserve a single penny of his money.

Did she think he would search the world for her and bow down to her after she ran away from the wedding and hid for half a month?

They think they're something special; they'll just have to slink back and beg him for mercy later.

It's good that this whole thing happened; it saves the so-called parents-in-law from really thinking they've raised some kind of pampered young lady and treating her like a treasure.

Marrying him was the greatest blessing she had ever received.

If she didn't understand this, would a young, unmarried woman be so subservient to him?

Isn't it because, given her qualifications (she couldn't even get into a prestigious university, which shows she's not very bright), it's impossible for her to find a man more outstanding than him?

He looked down on Wang Xiao and was happy to keep him from coming in late.

This move will give them a handle on her entire family, making them realize their place and stop trying to be in charge.

This time, Ruan Rui condescended to visit the Wang family because his daughter needed someone to take care of her. His mother also said that she was too old to manage on her own and that she needed to quickly bring her daughter-in-law in to serve the whole family.

Moreover, after he was demoted to a high school librarian, his income plummeted, and his family struggled to make ends meet.

Now that winter has arrived, since she has married into the Ruan family, she must be dutiful to her parents-in-law and take care of the children. At the very least, she should get some winter clothes.

She has a low IQ, yet she married a master's graduate from a prestigious university, a proper young scholar. She's climbing the social ladder, so she definitely has to pay for it.

In ancient times, when a merchant's daughter married into a wealthy family, she still had to bring a large dowry.

This is the most basic principle of how to conduct oneself in society.

Just then, Wang Xiao's act of bravery was featured on television, and her high school colleagues were incredibly envious, saying that the province would reward her with at least a thousand yuan this time.

He was not a mercenary, eyeing only a pittance.

He was thinking of Wang Xiao's best interests.

She ran away from the wedding without a word, hasn't been home for so long, and made such a scene; her family has a lot of complaints.

He was giving Wang Xiao another chance to perform well in front of his family and get them to forgive her.

A harmonious family brings prosperity. They've already registered their marriage, and he doesn't want his home to be in chaos.

Only then did he condescend to visit the Wang family.

When he knocked on the door, no one answered. Was he supposed to just wait there like an idiot?

He couldn't bear to lose face, so of course he opened the door and went in himself.

How rude! They're all just roughnecks; they beat him up without even asking what happened.

He could tell she was afraid she wasn't disliked by her in-laws.

Thankfully, Wang Xiao couldn't read minds; otherwise, if she had understood Ruan Rui's thought process, she would definitely have sent him to a mental hospital.

How brain-dead do you have to be, to have every single cell paralyzed, to have such a peculiar way of thinking?

To be able to live off a woman to this extent is truly remarkable.

She looked at Ruan Rui with a cold smile: "What, you can't bear to get a divorce? Well, what good is a good-for-nothing like you, a freeloader who lives off women? Besides swindling and cheating, what else can you do? You're a good-for-nothing, a family of poor, ungrateful wretches. I feel disgusted just looking at you! Even if you were to marry into the family, no one would want you."

Ruan Rui's face turned a deep liver color.

He prided himself on being a noble son from a humble background, looking down on everyone and being extremely aloof. How could he possibly tolerate such humiliation?

"Fine, you'll regret this!" His eyes blazed with fury as he pointed viciously at Wang Xiao. "We're getting a divorce tomorrow. Whoever doesn't is a coward! Even if you strip naked and kneel before me, I won't give you a second glance."

Wang Xiao sneered: "It's a deal. Whoever doesn't agree to the divorce is a son of a bitch, and their ancestors for eight generations are all sons of a bitch!"

The security guards were stunned.

The steel plant was like a big family, and he had watched Wang Xiao grow up since he was a child.

How did such a quiet and gentle girl turn out like this?

It seems the saying "a woman's greatest fear is marrying the wrong man" is true. A woman who marries the wrong man will absolutely go crazy.

He quickly tried to smooth things over: "Alright, alright, since we've agreed, let's go home now."

"No way!" Ruan Rui immediately jumped up to object, "Don't try to get rid of people like that."

Wang Xiao chuckled and said, "Oh, you little bastard, you can't hold back now? I've never eaten a single meal at your house, what are you trying to extort me for?"

Ruan Rui wanted nothing more than to strangle this woman. Pointing at his bruised and swollen face, he roared, "You colluded with that pretty boy to beat me up like this, you have to compensate me!"

Wang Xiao denied it without hesitation: "I didn't even touch you. Please open your eyes wide if you're trying to scam me."

The police officer sighed, "Alright, didn't we make it clear? It was just a misunderstanding. You're not mute, why didn't you speak up then?"

“Exactly,” Wang Xiao agreed. “If you break into someone’s house, everyone will definitely think you’re a thief.”

Ruan Rui was furious: "What are you pretending for? You're the one who gave me the key."

He then waved the marriage certificate in front of the security guard, saying, "Look carefully, we have a marriage certificate, and she's the one who made the key for me."

The police were in a difficult position. With the certificate, it became a family matter, and they suspected that the key wasn't actually a duplicate.

Wang Xiao, however, remained resolute: "So what if we have a marriage certificate? Uncle, let me ask you, do you have a key to your mother-in-law's house?"

Huh? The police officer was taken aback when he was suddenly called on, and instinctively shook his head.

Of course not.

He took the key to his mother-in-law's house. Wouldn't his brother-in-law be extremely annoyed? Whose house is it anyway?

Wang Xiao was certain.

She knew why they talked about "marrying out" and "bringing in" – not many women, let alone sons-in-law, still had keys to their parents' home after marriage.

She insisted on this point and wouldn't budge, and Ruan Rui couldn't produce any evidence to prove that she had indeed made the key. On her turf, he was outnumbered and could only retreat in frustration.

As the group exited the security office, Wang Xiao shouted, "We agreed that anyone who doesn't go to get their certificate tomorrow is a coward!"

Ruan Rui was furious: "I must have had the worst luck in eight lifetimes to run into a slut like you!"

Chen Yanqiu was so angry she wanted to hit someone, but Wang Xiao grabbed her and smiled sarcastically at Ruan Rui: "Fine, hurry up and go find your high-end stuff, the sooner the better."

The sooner you get out, the less trouble you'll have.

She didn't want to see that disgusting face again.

The problem is that he's incompetent, and people won't bother accepting trash that has no value.

The two went their separate ways and returned to their respective homes.

Chen Yanqiu opened her mouth several times, wanting to scold her audacious and incredibly stupid daughter to death, but she was afraid of provoking her rebellious nature, so she could only force herself to shut her mouth, suppressing all her bitterness and anger.

This is the tragedy of an old mother who is devoted to her children, yet she dares not even get angry.

Wang Xiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly slipped back to her room as soon as she got home. She didn't want to take another scolding for the original owner of this body.

Aside from being patient when making money, she has a temper that is anything but good at other times.

Forget it, let's just get a divorce and cut ties cleanly. Let's not get entangled in the original storyline any longer.

It's hindering her from making money.

Little did she know that things wouldn't go as planned. Yesterday, Ruan Rui was yelling that anyone who didn't divorce her was a coward, but after a night's sleep, she was a completely different person, refusing to show her face and resolutely refusing to get a divorce.

Chen Yanqiu was almost furious.

You brat, I'm telling you to steal the family's household registration book to get a marriage certificate!

Now you know how powerful it is, right? It's easy for a woman to lose her mind, but getting a divorce is harder than climbing to heaven!

Is the reason he has the surname Ruan because he is so attached to his daughter that he can't bear to get a divorce?

Bullshit! He's determined to suck their blood, trying to wipe out their entire family!

Chen Yanqiu grew angrier the more she thought about it, and turned to her husband, saying, "Don't you have several brothers? If all else fails, we can adopt one. Let's see if the Ruan family still eats their way to extinction!"

There's no benefit in it; given how much he disdains his own daughter, he probably wouldn't even bother to put on a show for half a minute.

Wang Xiao quickly called for a stop.

My dear mother, you can finally rest. It's easy to invite a god in, but hard to send him away. If you really adopt him, it's like letting a wolf into the house. You'll have plenty of time to cry later.

"You're so good at hindsight, now you think you're smart? If you had a brain, you wouldn't have stolen your family's household registration book to get that marriage certificate!"

Wang Xiao also had a headache.

In 1990, there was no cooling-off period for divorce, but based on the principle of voluntary marriage, it would be extremely troublesome if the husband did not sign the divorce papers.

She rolled her eyes and comforted her grief-stricken mother, "It's alright, I'll find someone to get him to agree."

Who should I look for?

The one who tied the knot must untie it.

Of course, I went to the factory kindergarten to find Zhang Yan, the original owner's best friend.

To be honest, she never intended to cause trouble for Zhang Yan. After all, her goal in life was to make money, not to avenge the original owner of this body.

She doesn't owe the original owner anything. She's not happy about transmigrating into a book; she'd rather wake up back to square one.

Besides, even if Zhang Yan is abandoned by everyone and lives a miserable life, she'll at most just watch the show. The pleasure she gets from other people's tragedies will never compare to the thrill of earning a million.

She would rather spend that time figuring out how to make money.

Moreover, as a woman herself, she knew all too well that women were naturally at a disadvantage in matters between men and women, and that women always suffered losses no matter what.

Using such things to attack women is rather low-class.

Given all of the above, why didn't she go looking for trouble with Zhang Yan?

How could that be!

Although she presents herself as a virtuous and upright person, she is not noble or sophisticated in person at all.

There's no such thing as high-end or low-end business warfare. If you can achieve your goal, even if it's just by directly unplugging someone's internet cable, that's the highest level of business warfare.

Since it was Zhang Yan who introduced the original owner to Zhongshan Wolf, it is now your responsibility to get Ruan Rui to sign the divorce papers.

“Impossible.” Zhang Yan refused outright. “How could he possibly listen to me? This is your business, it has nothing to do with me.”

As the original owner's best friend, she naturally knew about the fact that the other party and Ruan Rui had registered their marriage ahead of time. She originally thought they had already completed the divorce procedures, but she didn't expect that they were still not divorced.

Wang Xiao sneered: "It's okay? Are you sure? Do I have to remind you what you've done? Do I have to help you publicize it? Your love letter is quite good, I can't bear to throw it away."

Zhang Yan involuntarily tensed up, her voice sharp but her tone weak: "Don't do anything rash!" Then she softened her tone, "What can I do? I can't handle it."

"Why don't you just marry him? He's going to find another wife anyway, and you love him so much."

"No way!" Zhang Yan's voice rose eight octaves instinctively. "I'm crazy! I'm going to become a stepmother!"

Oh, finally telling the truth. This isn't the time to play the loving stepmother and emphasize how great it is. Tsk tsk, how did she manage to fool the original owner of this body back then?

Zhang Yan realized something was wrong and said awkwardly, "I can't compare to you. You're capable and can make decisions for your parents, but I can't."

Wang Xiao's face darkened: "Zhang Yan, have I been too polite to you, making you take it as a blessing? I'm not asking you, I'm demanding that you get Ruan Rui to get a divorce certificate. ...What, who are you trying to fool? Can't you listen to me? Do I have to take your love letters to the factory, the education bureau, the industry bureau, and demand an explanation from the leaders? What do you call this kind of behavior—breaking up someone else's marriage? It's adultery, hooliganism! Have you forgotten the crackdown so quickly? Do you want to go to jail to learn something, or do you want to get shot?"

Zhang Yan shuddered and forced herself to stand up straight: "You...who are you trying to scare? What did I do? How could you possibly throw me in jail?"

Wang Xiao smiled and nodded: "Yes, in a society governed by the rule of law, people shouldn't be arbitrarily arrested and imprisoned. But does a morally corrupt person like you deserve to be a teacher? You've corrupted the flowers of our motherland. I want to see if you can even continue being a teacher! Fine, as long as I haven't received my divorce certificate, I will openly and honestly report you, you filthy slut who ruined other people's marriages! You destroyed the marriage of an advanced producer; your crime is heinous!"

Zhang Yan turned pale with fright and pleaded repeatedly, "Please don't, Xiaoxiao, we're best friends..."

"Alright, you're not worthy." Wang Xiao, disgusted, added fuel to the fire. "Don't think I'm setting you up. Think about it yourself, given your current situation, what kind of good prospects do you think you can find? Do you really expect Xiang Dong to turn back?"

That's impossible.

After that farce in mid-October, no matter how much she begged, Xiang Dong ignored her. People even came to his house and took away the Narcissus brand washing machine and Wanbao refrigerator that he had given to her.

Her parents couldn't stop her and beat her so badly that she didn't dare to leave the house for three days, and Xiang Dong didn't feel sorry for her at all.

That damn country bumpkin from out of town! If it weren't for the fact that he earns a lot of money, would she even be interested in him? For him to marry a teacher with a stable job in the city is incredibly lucky.

She never complained about being a "half-household" (someone from another family) with him, and now he's complaining about her? He never truly loved her. If he loved her, he should have been as forgiving as in romance novels.

Wang Xiao didn't have time to let her finish her daydream and directly interrupted her nonsensical statement: "So, Ruan Rui is your best choice now. Even if we take a step back and say you've made such a mess of things, doesn't he bear any responsibility? If his attitude towards you wasn't problematic, would you have written him love letters?"

These words were exactly what Zhang Yan wanted to hear, as she considered herself a modern woman with ideals and aspirations.

Wang Xiao continued to coax him, shamelessly scheming: "Besides, he's a highly educated intellectual, and he even taught at a university in Beijing. Who knows when he might be transferred back? Then, the whole family will be living in Beijing, how prestigious that would be."

Zhang Yan's heart pounded. The capital city! It was the capital city! The provincial capital might seem good to people from the countryside, but how could the capital city be any different?

"Many administrative staff at our university are professors' wives. Ruan Rui is a talented young man, renowned for his scholarship. Once he returns to the university in Beijing, the school will definitely arrange jobs for his family. Then you'll go from being a kindergarten teacher to a university professor!"

Zhang Yan's heart was pounding in her chest, but she remained alert: "If things are so good, why are you still making a fuss about getting a divorce?"

Wang Xiao sighed, his face full of helplessness: "I can't control his daughter, Jiaojiao. She hates me so much, and Ruan Rui loves his daughter so much. I definitely can't beat that brat. What can I do if their whole family gangs up on me?"

No sooner had she finished speaking than a short, stocky guy rushed into the classroom.

After Jiaojiao and her father, Ruan Rui, were transferred back to their hometown from Beijing, they used connections to get her a job at the factory's affiliated kindergarten. That's why Zhang Yan, a kindergarten teacher, was able to act as a matchmaker.

Now, when the little girl saw Wang Xiao, she raised her chin so high it looked like it could break her neck, and her tone was incredibly arrogant: "Didn't you say you didn't want to be my mom anymore? Why are you still clinging to my dad? My grandma was right, you're just cheap, you can't even sleep without a man."

Wang Xiao ignored the brat and just shrugged at Zhang Yan: "See? I can't control her. You can't compare to her."

She glanced down at the short, stocky man, a forced smile on her face. "Don't worry, I won't be a stepmother. You like Teacher Yan Yan, don't you? Tell your dad, how about letting Teacher Yan Yan be your mom? Your dad loves you the most, he'll definitely listen to you."

Little did anyone know that this short, stocky man, though cunning, was not stupid. He immediately screamed, "No! I only want my mother! I don't want anyone else! You bad woman!"

As she spoke, she forcefully pushed Zhang Yan, who was about to hug her, and rolled out of the classroom angrily like a ball.

Zhang Yan stumbled from the push, her face changed drastically, and she cursed angrily, "You little brat!"

Wang Xiao smiled and said, "Out of sight, out of mind. I'm leaving. This matter is settled. I need results this week. Otherwise, I won't be able to control my mouth and feet."

Zhang Yan's face contorted, but she managed to regain her composure: "You saw it too, this child..."

"You'll definitely find a way," Wang Xiao smiled. "You're so smart, figure it out yourself."

Zhang Yan reluctantly saw the girl out of the kindergarten gate. Looking back, she saw Jiao Jiao swinging on the swing and cursed in her heart: "Little bastard!"

That's right, how could an adult like her not be able to handle a little brat? Out of sight, out of mind. She'll send her and that old hag to the countryside, and she and Ruan Rui will have another son.

Hmph, how could a man with a son possibly still care about the daughter his ex-wife abandoned?

When Ruan Rui was transferred back to the capital, it was naturally a good time for his family of three.

Just you wait, you son of a bitch.

After digging a hole for someone, Wang Xiao didn't feel any guilt whatsoever and simply walked away without a care in the world.

She didn't have time to waste; she still had to continue her business.

What kind of business are we doing? Hotel amenities, of course. Since we've already realized the need to upgrade our service and are offering complimentary soap to guests, then combs, toothpaste, and toothbrushes should naturally be provided as well.

The province has a well-developed light industry, and Xin County, besides soap factories, has everything from toothpaste factories to comb factories. It's small but complete.

Let's follow the principle of proximity and settle the battle directly in Xin County.

With both a source of goods and existing sales channels, she couldn't sleep well at night if she didn't make this money.

Wang Xiao happily bought a braised duck from a braised food shop and took it home to add to her dinner.

Wang Tiejun has already gone home and got a serving of braised chicken with chestnuts from the cafeteria. That's great! He can just make some cabbage and egg soup and cook some rice, and dinner will be ready.

By the time the rice was cooked, it was already dark outside, and Dr. Chen Yanqiu still hadn't returned home.

Wang Tiejun was worried that the roast duck would get cold and taste bad, so he muttered to himself, "I wonder who this old woman is chatting with now, she doesn't even come home anymore."

Just as Wang Xiao was about to get up and say that she would go with her father to find her mother, the door opened.

Ms. Chen Yanqiu exclaimed excitedly, "Old Wang, let's go, hurry up, let's catch them cheating at the kindergarten!"

Wang Tiejun was completely bewildered: "Kindergarten? Oh my, why are you meddling in other people's business so late at night instead of eating?"

"What a trivial matter! It's my family's business, that bastard surnamed Ruan and that little bitch Zhang Yan."

She treated the wound of a young worker who had been injured by a machine near the end of her shift, and left late.

On the way, they ran into Zhang Yan and Ruan Rui, who were arm in arm. The adulterous couple hadn't gone home; instead, they had gone to the kindergarten.

She sensed something was wrong, so she went inside with the others and hid outside the window to watch.

Goodness, they've all taken their clothes off.

How could she miss such a golden opportunity?

Without saying a word, Dr. Chen rushed home to get help.

Wang Tiejun's temples throbbed with rage, and he roared like thunder, "Let's go! Call Lao Zhang and Lao Tang, and if we don't beat this bastard to death today, I'm not a Wang!"

It's one thing for him to look down on someone surnamed Ruan, but the fact that Ruan dared to openly flirt with someone before even divorcing his daughter is a direct slap in his face.

What can be tolerated but not tolerated?

Wang Xiao stared blankly at the spot.

Good heavens! People born in 1990 are definitely not to be underestimated. Zhang Yan acted so quickly!

————————

"Half-household" is a Chinese term referring to a couple where one spouse is a rural resident and the other an urban resident. According to online explanations, the term appeared in the 1980s and 1990s (actually, it existed as early as the 1960s and 70s). One spouse worked in an urban unit, receiving a government salary, while the other farmed in the countryside. Their children typically lived in rural areas. Such families were then referred to as "half-households" by society. Because the spouses in these families faced different social statuses, especially the spouse with better benefits, the term often carried a sense of inferiority.

Given the historical context, it's not surprising that Zhang Yan's family discriminated against Xiang Dong. Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants between 2023-10-17 15:30:28 and 2023-10-19 15:30:28!

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