Zhang Lei stood there stunned for a long time before slowly putting down his chopsticks and letting out a long sigh.
"I never intended to keep Yue'er's matter a secret from you forever. Now that you've found out yourself, I'll tell you formally."
“That’s right, Yue’er’s mother is Qiao.”
Looking at Liu Ercui, Zhang Lei recalled, "We fell in love freely. At first, she didn't know that I had an arranged marriage in my hometown. After I confessed, she originally wanted to break up with me, but I kept pestering her and said that I would definitely break off the engagement."
"That year I went home to visit my family, my purpose was to break off our engagement, but who knew what would happen later..."
Liu Ercui murmured, "It's my fault. I made a scene and threatened to hang myself, forcing you to marry me. I was wrong."
Looking at Liu Ercui's expression, Zhang Lei felt a pang of pity.
“All of that is in the past. From the moment I decided to give her up and marry you, I stopped thinking about anything else and just wanted to live a good life with you.”
"But I still owe her."
"She was ruined because of me, so she had to change jobs. But even after she changed jobs, she still had trouble finding a husband. In the end, she had no choice but to marry Lin Peng... that 'Uncle Yue'er,' who is Yue'er's biological father."
"Lin Peng is a bad person. Yue'er has no future if she follows him. Qiao Cai entrusted me to take care of Yue'er before he died."
Liu Ercui asked calmly, "You and she have been in contact all along?"
Zhang Lei hurriedly shook his head, "I haven't been in contact with her since I got married. She got sick and knew she didn't have much time left, so she asked someone to find me and tell me her last words."
Zhang Lei lowered his head. "Er Cui, we've wronged her. Let's atone for our sins and be kinder to Yue'er."
Liu Ercui: "Then why didn't you tell me the truth from the beginning?"
Zhang Lei said, "I don't want to hide it either, but I'm afraid you won't agree."
Liu Ercui chuckled softly.
Zhang Lei took Liu Ercui's hand.
Liu Ercui's body stiffened; the man hadn't held her hand for who knows how many years.
"It's good that things have been discussed. From now on, let's all be more calm and live our lives peacefully."
"As for Yue'er, we'll raise her, find her a good family, and that will be our responsibility."
After saying all this, Zhang Lei felt much more relaxed.
"Moon's father, what do you plan to do? Let him keep extorting you like this?"
Liu Ercui now understands that Zhang Lei had made excuses to ask for twenty yuan to carry with him so that he could give money to Yue'er's father every month.
Later, she complained that she didn't have enough money at home, and Zhang Lei spat out another ten yuan.
However, Zhang Lei stopped smoking after that.
These details of life, when pieced together, reveal the underlying reasons.
“I will no longer deal with Lin Peng. I haven’t given him any money since he caused trouble.”
Zhang Lei gave Lin Peng money in the first place to keep things quiet, but now that Lin Peng has already caused a scene, he doesn't care about anything else.
Besides, he will soon be transferred back to his hometown.
"After we go back to our hometown, we will live in the county, but it will be very convenient to buy a bicycle to go back to the countryside."
“We’ll take the kids back every week to see my parents and your parents too.”
Thinking about his happy future, Zhang Lei smiled.
Liu Ercui replied, "I won't go back with you."
Zhang Lei was taken aback: "Huh?"
Liu Ercui said, "You should file for divorce as soon as possible, and we'll get things done."
Zhang Lei asked incredulously, "You really want to divorce me?"
Liu Ercui frowned. "You think I was joking?"
Zhang Lei did indeed believe she was making a scene.
He did indeed hide Yue'er's affair; it was his fault.
But he has already explained the reasons clearly. The two of them were talking quite well just now, which is rare for them not arguing after just a few words like before.
Why, why do you still want a divorce?
Zhang Lei asked again, "Are you serious?"
Liu Ercui paused for a moment, then nodded. "After the divorce, I won't go back to my hometown. I'll stay in Jiangcheng with the children. You can say whatever you want when you go back."
In my hometown, divorced women can't survive. Putting everything else aside, their families have to find them a new husband immediately.
However, she doesn't want to get married right now.
Zhang Lei was dumbfounded. "You still want to stay in Jiangcheng after the divorce? Are you crazy? How will you survive without a job? ...And you're going to take the children with you??"
Liu Ercui: "I gave birth to all the children, so of course they will stay with me. But don't worry, they will always recognize you as their father, and they will still be filial to you in the future."
Zhang Lei could no longer hold back. He jumped up and paced back and forth in frustration.
Why do you still want a divorce?
"I have explained everything about Yue'er very clearly. I promise there is nothing more I am hiding from you."
"I understand you're angry, but life goes on after you've calmed down!"
"Divorce? Divorce isn't something you can just do on a whim. How are you going to explain this to your family, my family, and both sets of parents?"
"And what about the children? Are you just going to let them live without a father for the rest of their lives? You can't be so irresponsible."
Of all the things Zhang Lei said, only his last sentence touched Liu Ercui's heart.
She didn't just casually mention divorce; she had already planned her escape route in the city.
Qin Hanshu had said before that she would help him find a job, so if he asked her now, she would definitely still be willing to help.
As long as she has a job, no matter what she does, she can support several children.
However, Zhang Lei is right; children without fathers are always looked down upon.
Seeing that Liu Ercui's expression had changed, Zhang Lei felt a little more at ease.
He knew that Liu Ercui, a rural woman with little education, could not possibly divorce her husband.
Nao Nao's divorce was just a way to vent her grievances.
Zhang Lei thought back carefully and realized that he hadn't been very good to Liu Ercui over the years. He always lost his temper with her, and although she would argue back and fight with him every time, she would act as if nothing had happened after the argument.
There's actually nothing wrong with living with this kind of personality.
At least it doesn't require much brainpower.
Zhang Lei sighed, walked up to Liu Ercui, and put his hand on her shoulder. "Alright, let's leave it at that."
His tone was gentler than ever before.
Liu Ercui slowly raised her head and said, "You should file for divorce as soon as possible."
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