Chapter 148 I Want a Divorce

The next morning, everyone in the compound was woken up by the noise.

Dang Xianghong pushed through the crowd and pulled Shen Wanjun to the front.

While craning his neck to look inside, he fed gossip to Shen Wanjun and the onlookers behind him.

You guys don't know, do you?

Bai Lu and Gao Xiaoman jointly reported Hao Yan to the police station on charges of extortion.

"Extortion?" Shen Wanjun asked, "Why?"

"I don't know yet."

Dang Xianghong was very annoyed and secretly blamed herself for being a professional gossipmonger, as she seemed to have neglected her duties today.

The people around were chattering.

"Didn't Bai Lu and Gao Xiaoman have a falling out before?"

"I remember Bai Lu seduced Battalion Commander Zhang in an attempt to climb the ranks."

"No, you're mistaken. It was later found that it was Hao Yan's husband, Wang Ming, who spread the rumors."

"So, these two are now going to join forces to deal with Hao Yan?"

"That's right, that must be it."

The onlookers figured out the details of the scandal themselves, making Dang Xianghong even more frustrated.

Why didn't she think of that?

Sigh, it's all because she drank alcohol yesterday. Drinking affected her gossip-loving nature.

Hao Mei was in a real bind; her foolish younger sister had gotten her into trouble again.

Despite the accusations made by Bai Lu and Gao Xiaoman, Hao Yan refused to admit anything.

She thought that as long as she didn't acknowledge him, no one could do anything to him.

Unexpectedly, Bai Lu had someone summon Wang Ming.

Wang Ming was beaten up and almost died because he spread rumors about Bai Lu.

Now, when he sees Bai Lu, he's naturally afraid, like a cat seeing a mouse.

Before Bai Lu could say anything, he directly admitted it.

"Hao Yan, she did get back more than 50 yuan a few days ago."

"I asked her where it came from, and she said it was a windfall, and that we'd have plenty to eat from now on."

Wang Ming raised his hand and swore: "I really didn't know anything about this. I'm a victim too."

He was incredibly unlucky; ever since he married Hao Yan, that jinx, there had never been a moment of peace at home.

Hao Yan not only fights with his parents every day, but she also lost his job and caused him to be beaten half to death.

Wang Ming blamed all the suffering he had endured on Hao Yan, saying, "I want a divorce from you."

Hao Yan was stunned for a moment, then roared.

"You still want a divorce? You eat my food and drink my water; without me, you would have died long ago."

If she hadn't taken Wang Ming to the hospital in time, he would have had no chance of surviving.

Now that she's being harassed, Wang Ming not only doesn't help her, but he's also kicking her while she's down.

In front of so many people, he embarrassed her and made her lose face.

Hao Yan became increasingly angry as she spoke, and in the end, she simply started fighting with Wang Ming.

Bai Lu and Gao Xiaoman stood aside watching the commotion, so Liang Yi had to step in and separate them.

His solution was to submit to the fate of others: "Comrade Wang Ming, are you sure you want to divorce Hao Yan?"

Wang Ming nodded; he had never been so resolute in his entire life.

Hao Yan roared, "I disagree!"

Wang Ming: "Whether you agree or not, you have to agree."

Seeing that the two were about to argue again, Liang Yi said with a dark face, "Shut up, both of you."

"Wang Ming, let me ask you again, you just said that Hao Yan took home more than 50 yuan, is that true?"

"I swear, everything I said is true, or may I be struck by lightning."

"Alright, you have to return the money to Comrade Gao by today."

Wang Ming was stunned. He thought that once he divorced Hao Yan, the matter of that 50 yuan would be over.

Unexpectedly, Liang Yi actually demanded that he repay the money.

"The money was extorted by Hao Yan, what does it have to do with me?"

He summed up Hao Yan's behavior in one sentence.

Liang Yi asked, "Where's the money?"

"The money's all gone."

"Have you spent it?"

Wang Ming's eyes darted around; of course he had spent money too, why not?

But spending money is spending money, and he's not willing to be implicated because of it.

Liang Yi kindly explained to him: "Spending stolen money is equivalent to committing a crime. Tell me, when are you going to pay it back?"

He wanted to minimize the punishment of Hao Yan and Wang Ming, after all, they were his sister and brother-in-law.

But Hao Yan and Wang Ming, being husband and wife, were both unrepentant even when facing death.

"I have no money."

"I don't have any either."

Bai Lu laughed; her opponent was too stupid, she didn't even have to lift a finger.

"Then let the police handle it. Anyway, neither of you are from the compound."

Both the police and the compound have the authority to handle matters involving both compound personnel and non-compound personnel.

The police will usually give face to the compound and let the compound handle the matter first.

Bai Lu's words gave Hao Mei a bad feeling.

She said, "Comrade Gao, how about this? I'll compensate you for the 50-odd yuan."

The victim in this case is Gao Xiaoman, and Bai Lu is just a witness—proving that Hao Yan did indeed blackmail Gao Xiaoman.

Hao Yan vehemently denied it: "I never blackmailed her."

Bai Lu wasn't even there when she asked Gao Xiaoman for money that day.

Her current actions constitute perjury, and if investigated thoroughly, she won't be able to escape.

But in Hao Mei's heart, Hao Yan had long lost all credibility: "Shut up."

Bai Lu crossed her arms and laughed dismissively: "So you conjured up more than 50 yuan out of thin air?"

She then looked at Wang Ming: "Comrade Wang, you've lost your job, yet you're wearing a rather high-end watch."

Wang Ming quickly took off his watch and threw it on the table: "I don't want this watch anymore."

This watch cost 20 yuan; it was bought with the 50-plus yuan of stolen money.

Hao Mei closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "Comrade Gao, how about I compensate you with 100 yuan?"

Gao Xiaoman almost wavered, but then she saw Bai Lu shake her head slightly.

She pursed her lips and said, "Hao Yan, this kind of pest, should be punished by law."

Bai Lu chimed in: "Anyone who protects her is going against the organization, the country, and the law."

Hao Mei and Liang Yi exchanged a glance, knowing that the situation was beyond repair.

To avoid getting herself involved, Hao Mei said, "The compound can't handle this. You should go to the police station."

She was annoyed, tired, and heartbroken; she no longer wanted to deal with Hao Yan's messy affairs.

This was exactly the result Bai Lu wanted, and she pulled Gao Xiaoman toward the police station.

Hao Yan suddenly sneered and pointed at Gao Xiaoman.

"Comrade Gao, do you want to tell everyone why I'm extorting you?"

"Why did it still succeed?"

Hao Yan was somewhat delirious; these words were tantamount to admitting her crimes.

Her current behavior shows that she doesn't care about her own life, as long as she can drag Xiaoman down with her.

Gao Xiaoman felt a little guilty, and Bai Lu squeezed her hand.

He gestured to her with his eyes to calm her down and to just say what they had agreed on beforehand.

Gao Xiaoman took a deep breath and said, "You know I have money in my pocket, so you come here to extort me."

"You're talking nonsense!"

Hao Yan scoffed: "You went to Huang Daxian to ask for a talisman to have a son. You're guilty of feudal superstition, and I've caught you red-handed."

Seeing Gao Xiaoman's pale face, Hao Yan added fuel to the fire.

"Whether it's true or false, we'll find out by asking Wong Tai Sin."