The next day, after all the necessary letters of introduction were prepared.
Zhang Desheng and Hua Xiaoyu immediately went to complete the formalities.
The weather was rather muggy, and the cicadas were chirping incessantly.
After an unknown amount of time, Hua Xiaoyu and Zhang Desheng walked out of the door with the sign for the Civil Affairs Office one after the other.
Hua Xiaoyu held a thin piece of paper with a red stamp in her hand.
Her face was expressionless, showing neither the ecstasy of relief nor the sorrow, only a calm and indifference that came after a storm.
She didn't even look back at the man she had lived with for over a decade before turning to leave.
Zhang Desheng looked at her back, that once so familiar... now so resolute and distant back, and felt as if something was blocking his throat.
He remembered his mother's complaints from last night... the neighbors' whispers... and the half-empty bed...
A complex and indescribable emotion welled up inside him. He opened his mouth, but his voice was dry as he blurted out, "Xiaoyu! I...I'm sorry!"
Hua Xiaoyu stopped in her tracks.
She didn't turn around, but simply stood still, the sunlight casting a long shadow over her.
After a brief silence, her cool voice came through, without anger or sobs, only a calm statement: "You don't need to apologize to me."
She slowly turned around, her gaze finally settling on his face for the first time.
There was no hatred or resentment in her eyes, only an almost indifferent scrutiny. "Because I won't tell you it's okay. In this life, you have indeed let me down, and even more so, you have let down those three children who call you Dad! This is not something that can be erased with a simple 'I'm sorry'."
Zhang Desheng was rooted to the spot by her words, his face burning with shame, too ashamed to lift his head.
Hua Xiaoyu's tone remained calm, "Zhang Desheng, if you still have even a tiny bit of conscience left, then send the child support payments monthly and on time from now on."
Don't drag it out, don't shirk responsibility, and most importantly, don't let your mother cause any more trouble. Even if... even if it's just so the children won't hate you more when they grow up than they do now!
After saying that, she had no more regrets. She resolutely turned around, took the piece of paper that would determine her and her children's future, and walked step by step firmly toward a new life.
The sunlight shone on her, as if gilding her with a golden halo.
Zhang Desheng stood alone, watching her receding figure, and opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
He had clearly thought about divorce for a long time...
But when the divorce actually happened, why couldn't he be happy?
......
During the factory's lunch break, the weather was hot, and several workers gathered under the shade of a tree, fanning themselves and drinking water to rest.
Someone started the conversation, and the topic turned to Hua Xiaoyu, who had just finished her divorce proceedings. "Have you heard? Hua Xiaoyu from our factory really divorced her military officer husband!"
I heard the paperwork is all done! She seems to have taken the day off to move. Tsk tsk, really… what was she thinking? Her husband is a military officer, a government employee, and she just gave him up like that? What a waste!
Sister Li from the compression workshop curled her lips, her tone tinged with sourness, "What's a pity? I saw it coming a long time ago. She's had three daughters in a row, not a single son. This marriage is bound to fall apart sooner or later!"
Which man doesn't want a son to carry on the family line? She's just not conceiving, who can she blame?
As soon as she finished speaking, a woman in her fifties who worked in the crushing workshop became unhappy. She was an active member of the factory's literacy class.
The old woman slammed her teacup down on the stone bench and shouted, "Li Cuihua! What nonsense are you spouting! Director Guan went to great lengths to invite a professor from the city to give us a biology lesson, and you've completely forgotten what he said?"
The professor clearly stated that the sex of a child is determined by the man's penis! What does it have to do with our bellies?
"Her inability to give birth to a son is her husband Zhang Desheng's problem! How can you blame it on Xiaoyu? Your thinking is so outdated!"
Several other female workers around nodded in agreement:
"That's right! Sister Li, you're wrong! Xiaoyu is a very capable person!"
"Zhang Desheng and his mother are such scoundrels, it's good they got divorced! Xiaoyu has escaped a living hell!"
Li Cuihua was embarrassed by everyone's criticism, especially when she was told that her thinking was backward. She became somewhat angry and retorted:
"Fine, fine! Even if it's not her fault! She's so old, and she's dragging along three little girls... ugh, three girls, who will want her in the future?"
Could she possibly find someone better? I think she's going to have a tough time from now on! A woman still needs a man to make a home!
A female worker who was close to Hua Xiaoyu couldn't stand it anymore and retorted, "Why do women have to have a man to live? Look at our factory director Guan, he used to raise triplets by himself and he still made a good living."
Now that we're reunited with Commander He, that's the icing on the cake! We can earn money and support our families; we won't starve without a man, will we?"
Li Cuihua retorted stubbornly, rolling her eyes, "That's true! But if there's no man in the house to hold things up, can it still be called a home? Who will help you when something happens? It's just not the same!"
Just then, Deputy Factory Director Lei Yongkang walked over with a frown on his face. He had obviously heard the argument that followed.
Lei Yongkang's expression was not good, and his voice was authoritative, "Comrade Li Cuihua, you say that there has to be a man in the family to hold the fort? Hold the fort for what?"
Is he there to help you with chores or to bring you honor? You want him to come home expecting to be waited on hand and foot, while you work yourself to death at work and then come home to be his slave, doing his laundry, cooking, and bearing his son? Is that what you call honorable? Is that what you call a home?
Li Cuihua's husband was a notorious lazybones in the commune, and he relied on Wang Cuihua for everything, both at home and outside. Lei Yongkang's words really hit a nerve with her.
Li Cuihua's face flushed bright red instantly, as if she had been stepped on. She stood up abruptly, "Deputy Factory Director Lei! What... what are you saying! I... I can't reason with you!"
Anyway… I'm just watching! Let's see what kind of good life Hua Xiaoyu will have with three kids in tow! It'll be tough!
After she finished speaking, she felt she couldn't stay any longer, so she picked up her water glass, turned around, and left dejectedly.
The remaining workers rolled their eyes speechlessly as they watched her disheveled figure.
"This person is really... their own life is a complete mess, yet they look down on others..."
"Exactly! They have ulterior motives!"
Lei Yongkang glanced around at everyone and raised his voice, "Alright! Stop gossiping about other people's family matters! Comrade Hua Xiaoyu's divorce is her personal choice, and the organization has followed all the procedures."
From now on, no one is allowed to gossip or spread rumors in the factory! It's almost time for your break; everyone get back to work! Let's get to work and finish our production targets!
When the deputy factory director spoke, the workers put aside their gossipy thoughts, responded, and got up to walk towards their respective workshops.
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