Chapter 23 Mediation
Even though Director Wang's expression and tone were harsh and stern, and were clearly directed at Song Lubai, Song Lubai didn't feel ashamed.
Song Lubai countered, "If she really does something drastic, who will take responsibility?"
Leaving Director Wang aside, she looked at Secretary Chen and said, "Secretary, in all these years, has there ever been a case in our area where a family of several members died because of a family conflict? Shen Lingyu was really frightening just now. I'm genuinely afraid that something sensational will happen in our area."
If Secretary Chen wasn't worried, he wouldn't have let her chase after them.
Director Wang slammed the teacup down on the table, his facial muscles taut. "You're not married yet, you're still young, you don't understand the thoughts of married women. You talk a big game, but if she had that ability, she would have been in charge of the household long ago."
Song Lubai is disgusting.
Why can't people see the suffering Shen Lingyu endured? She just wanted a divorce and to start a new life, why is she trying to stop her like this?
Secretary Chen said, "Don't wait until tomorrow. Now, Xiao Song, you, Zhao Lei, and Liu Tian go to that comrade's house. Tomorrow, bring the Women's Federation people to visit him. Try to mediate first. If possible, try to prevent them from getting divorced. It would be best to get them to reconcile."
Liu Tian is a married woman in her thirties, one of the more senior members of the office. She spoke up, saying, "If he has children, it's easier to persuade him. If he doesn't have children, it's difficult. There's no guarantee that the man won't want a divorce and remarry."
Song Lubai added, "It's not that I wanted to, it's that I already did it. Shen Lingyu called the police before..."
She recounted what had happened last time.
Although many people in the office know about it, there are still some who don't, such as Director Wang and Secretary Chen.
After hearing this, Director Wang's face darkened even more.
Secretary Chen shook his head, "That's really difficult to handle. You guys go ahead and see what's going on."
Twenty minutes later, Song Lubai and the other two arrived at Shen Lingyu's house.
After knocking for a long time, Granny Li finally opened the door with a gloomy face.
"Why are you here again? What's up?"
The three of them peered inside, and found it to be completely calm and peaceful.
Granny Li had previously gone to the police station to make a self-criticism and stayed there for a day. She was terrified and felt angry whenever she saw Song Lubai, with a mixture of anger and a slight reluctance to provoke her.
"Shen Lingyu wants a divorce, let's see what's going on."
Granny Li stared wide-eyed in disbelief and began to shout, "She still wants a divorce? A hen that can't lay eggs dares to mention divorce! It's our Hu family's fault for not wanting her! It's outrageous! What kind of daughter-in-law would call the police and falsely accuse her in-laws? She can't have children and still dares to divorce, and she's even having affairs with other men! It's truly outrageous..."
The old woman howled so loudly that all the neighbors on both sides came out to join in.
“I say, Granny Li, your daughter-in-law has been beaten and miscarried several times. It is you who have damaged her health. How can you be such a mother-in-law who distorts the truth? You even said that Shen Lingyu is having affairs outside. She has hardly ever left the house. She is an honest person. How can you have such a foul mouth? Everyone says that family scandals should not be aired in public, but you want the whole world to know.”
"Once you get divorced, if any family finds out about your family situation, which family would be willing to marry their daughter into your family!"
"You have no shame at all. It's our bad luck to be neighbors with your family. You beat your daughter-in-law every few days to make yourself look powerful, but your reputation is ruined. You really don't know how shameless you are."
…
Song Lubai and the other two remained silent, letting their neighbors do as they pleased.
That old hag is too difficult to deal with; she deserves to be showered with everyone's spittle.
Granny Li looked at everyone, wanting to retort but not knowing which sentence to say first.
Who said her son couldn't find a wife after getting divorced? She had a good plan: to send Shen Lingyu to Yu Dali, and then Yu Dali would find a suitable young woman for her son in the village. If all went well, she could hold her grandson next year.
It's all the fault of the neighborhood committee's meddlesome staff; they even got her taken to the police station.
Thinking of this, Granny Li glared fiercely at Song Lubai.
Song Lubai immediately glared back and asked, "Where is Shen Lingyu? Did you beat her up again and she can't get out of bed anymore?"
“If you dare to hit someone again, the Women’s Federation will come to your door every day and make you write self-criticisms.”
A nameless anger surged within Song Lubai.
If Shen Lingyu had no relation to the Hu family, the Hu family members would be held legally responsible for hitting her, as the penalty for disorderly conduct and intentional injury is quite severe these days. However, since she is the Hu family's daughter-in-law, the beating is simply a family dispute, and she was completely innocent in the beating.
How disgusting!
Granny Li rolled her eyes. "Who knows where she went? She's probably off fooling around with some random guy."
Liu Tian: "Watch your words, she's still your daughter-in-law, after all."
Old Hu came out with a cigarette in his mouth. "What daughter-in-law? She's already asked for a divorce. Her womb is useless, and it looks like the family line is going to end with her. If we don't divorce her, she can't let my Hu family line die out, can she?"
Song Lubai was secretly delighted.
Let's get a divorce, let's get a divorce, it's a perfect match.
Then I heard Old Man Hu say, "She has a lover outside. My Hu family can't afford a daughter-in-law like that. In the past, adultery was punishable by being drowned in a pig cage. If she wants a divorce, it's my Hu family who won't accept her."
"A lover? You're talking nonsense. I'd say your son has someone else on the side."
Granny Li glared at her, "Don't talk nonsense! We have evidence to back up our claims. That slut was hospitalized, and a man was running around taking care of her. What else could he be but her lover? Shen Lingyu is a whore. My Hu family can't afford a daughter-in-law like that!"
Seeing the suspicious looks from her neighbors, Song Lubai felt she had to say a few words in defense of Shen Lingyu and not let those two inhuman old men throw all the mud at Shen Lingyu.
"What lover? The guy you're talking about is someone I just randomly called out in the alley. I asked him to help take Shen Lingyu, who you beat to death, to the hospital. He's not as heartless as you; he's a kind-hearted person! He did a good deed and helped, and you still throw mud at him. If anyone gets into trouble in the future, they won't dare to help because of the difference between men and women. Wouldn't honest people be bullied to death by you?"
"Li Erya, you were taken to the police station once for slandering the police. Do you want to go back in?"
Granny Li's pupils contracted.
Old Hu glared at him, "This is our family matter. Whether we get a divorce or not is none of your business."
Zhao Lei, who had remained silent until now, said, "Our subdistrict office is here to serve the residents. Your family's affairs are not your family's affairs. If word gets out, it will be a disgrace to our entire area."
Song Lubai said sarcastically, "The Hu family isn't afraid of losing face, because they've already lost all face."
Zhao Lei gave her a speechless look.
They're here to mediate, not to cause trouble.
The main purpose was to prevent the two from divorcing, so why did Song Lubai have to stir things up?
"Alright, alright, everyone disperse. Go home and cook your meals."
After everyone dispersed, the three of them entered the courtyard.
Song Lubai deliberately looked through each room with a gloomy face, but did not see Shen Lingyu, so she had to believe that she had not returned yet.
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