Chapter 2 (5)
After drinking some wine, Yu Jia started to talk more.
"That's right." Yu Jia scolded Yu Shuang, "You can do whatever you want and when you want. There is no order without rules. Society has its own rules, families have their own rules, and marriage protects women. Why don't we take advantage of this? We are really too weak."
Yu Shuang said directly, "I don't need protection."
Yu Jia said earnestly, "It's not about whether you need it or not, it's the general trend. Marry one man and one woman, so women suffer less. If we continue like in the past, with three wives and four concubines, how can we do that?"
"Why don't you talk about polyandry?"
"That's debauchery." Yu Jia said seriously.
There was a moment of silence. Yu Jia continued, "Xiao Shuang, I'm satisfied with this. It's pleasing to the eye. Let's get along well." Yu Shuang had no choice but to admit that she understood. Yu Jia added, "Xiao Rui should also hold on tight." Yu Meng said, "Xiao Bai is chasing Rui." Yu Rui quickly denied it, saying, "Don't talk nonsense. It's not true." Yu Jia asked what Xiao Bai was talking about.
Yu Meng told her about her dinner with Bai Yuankai and how he'd sent Yu Rui home. Yu Jia said she remembered him. Yu Rui felt insecure. Bai Yuankai hadn't contacted her since that dinner. Since he didn't say anything, she couldn't initiate contact. As a girl, she had to be reserved.
Yu Meng blamed Yu Shuang and said that Xiaobai should have been called today.
Yu Shuang teased, "Why did you call him here? To pay the bill?"
Yu Meng didn't respond. She asked Yu Jia how her brother-in-law was doing recently.
"It's okay, but I'm busy." She could only say vaguely.
There was still a little wine left. Yu Meng raised her glass and said, "With this refreshing love wine, I have something to announce."
Everyone looked at her. Yu Rui knew what was going on. She had packed clothes with Sister Meng before. Yu Shuang didn't care. Yu Jia was nervous, glass raised, staring at Meng.
"I got a certificate."
I thought it was continuing education. I'm still studying.
"What do you want to do now?" Yu Jia asked. She knew Meng liked to make trouble.
"Dark red." Yu Meng said again.
Not good.
"What do you mean?" Yu Jia asked.
"I'm officially - divorced -" Yu Meng was not sad.
Yu Jia was struck by lightning. She couldn't even hold the cup steady. She couldn't bear the thought of divorce.
Are they really getting divorced? They originally thought it was just a quarrel between the couple, separating today and getting back together tomorrow. If things didn't work out, they'd be back together the day after tomorrow. Who knew it would become reality?
She herself would never divorce. The moment she married, she had already made up her mind to run this marathon in her life. She would never give up halfway. What couple lives without friction? Problems are solved, avoiding bankruptcy and collapse.
"What—" Yu Jia's voice sounded a little sad.
"Don't try to persuade me." Yu Meng fought back.
"Old Luan he——" Yu Jia could only utter a fragmented sentence.
It's hard to continue our past relationship. Let's not meet again in the next life.
"You don't understand him. I can't live with him." Yu Meng lowered her voice. The joyful atmosphere was gone. "You have to listen to him in everything. You have to obey him. You can't have any objections."
"Aren't all men like this..." Yu Jia didn't want to persuade him, but she couldn't help it. She couldn't accept it for the moment.
"There are many things I don't want to talk about, and I can't bring them to the table," Yu Meng said, about to light another cigarette. "No matter what, I don't love him."
Yu Jia was startled. She never said whether she loved him or not, and she rarely even thought about it. The word wasn't new to her, but it was exciting.
Yu Shuang felt drowsy, this was what happened when she drank a little.
Yu Rui sat aside, listening quietly. It was as if she were watching an ethics debate. Love was a luxury, something even she, let alone at Mengjie's age, wouldn't dare touch. Like a moth to a flame, it could easily end up in pieces.
"But before...all these years...how come..." Yu Jia stuttered. His worldview was shaken by the shock.
Yu Meng said, "I didn't understand myself before. I thought I just needed to find someone with good conditions and potential to take out. I was young and had a narrow vision, so I could only see so much. It's different now. Even if I leave him, he can turn around and find someone better. Maybe even a young girl. He won't lose anything. I give him freedom and I won't tie myself down. Sister, didn't you say that society has its own rules? I've walked all these paths, married, had children, and started a family to complete my mission. Really, how much youth do we have left? It's gone! Why not live for ourselves? Anyway, that's what I think. Luan Chengyun and I, our fate as husband and wife in this life ends here. I wish him the best."
Yu Shuang went to the bathroom. Yu Rui followed. It was best for them to avoid the gods fighting.
Shuang found it troublesome. Marriage was troublesome, divorce was troublesome, and grudges and hatred were too troublesome. Rui, on the one hand, admired Sister Meng's courage, but on the other, she felt she was a bit hypocritical. She made it sound like she didn't care about money and only pursued a spiritual life—a noble woman's spiritual life was funded by money.
But ultimately, Yu Rui envied Yu Meng. Yu Meng was already halfway through life, having fulfilled the mission society had assigned her, and now embarking on another adventure, living for herself. Yu Rui couldn't quite reach that point. She hadn't married, hadn't had children, and everything was still unknown. Her disadvantage was that she wasn't young, but her advantage was that she wasn't too old either.
The die is cast.
Yu Meng was resolute. Yu Jia also imagined all sorts of things, including a mistress, catching an adulterer, and domestic violence. Luan Chengyun had been busy and away from home for so many years, so it was inevitable. But Yu Meng couldn't bring herself to say these things, so she had to swallow the bitterness. It wasn't until she got home, showered, and went to bed that Di Liren sat beside her, still reading Das Kapital.
Yu Jia suddenly felt relieved. For so many years, Li Ren had at least been under the government's care, and he was a scholar, so he didn't have any such erotic stories. However, this news still made her feel sad.
Yu Jia sighed three times.
Li Ren thought she was still struggling with Sisi's decision to go abroad. He closed the book and said, "Children have their own paths, and adults have their own paths. Even if I'm reluctant, I can't let her go."
Yu Jia was stunned for a moment.
Not saying anything, just sitting there.
"Relax a little," Liren said, still speaking in the tone of someone doing ideological and political work. He should become a teacher.
Yu Jia turned to look at her husband. The light shone obliquely on his face, leaving it half in shadow.
"Yu Meng and Luan are divorced." Yu Jia's tone was like reading an obituary. Indeed, it was the marriage that died.
Di Liren didn't seem surprised. He put the book back on the bedside table. He took off his watch. He usually took it off before going to bed. He had to keep track of time. Then he lay down under the covers, hunched over, and said nothing. He had known Luan Chengyun for many years and had a good relationship with him. When he first came to the big city, Luan was the first one to greet him.
Yu Jia looked down at him. She was surprised by her husband's reaction. Or had Luan Chengyun told him? It had only been a short time. How could it be known to the whole world?
"Luan told you?" she asked.
Li Ren said, "Why did he tell me that?"
"What about your face?" She was dissatisfied.
"You are heading towards the age of knowing your destiny, so what's the big deal?" Di Liren turned over and faced his back to his wife.
Li Ren and Yu Meng had similar perceptions: both believed life was short. So, why not enjoy the second half of life while you can?
Yu Jia couldn't understand. She felt that her good days had just begun. She needed to be moderate and restrained, like grinding tofu, and work slowly and steadily.
"One can't live without the other," Liren said with a hint of mockery. "They can all live!" He added, "That's it!" Then, Liren mentioned his work. There was some hope of getting transferred to the university press.
"Just do administration, it's easy to get started," said Li Ren.
Yu Jia was stunned, and even a good night's sleep didn't bring her back to reality. Though they were close friends, this was ultimately their own family matter. They could intervene in Yu Shuang's blind date, but not Yu Meng's divorce. However, Yu Jia's initial intention wasn't to interfere. She simply wanted to understand more, to find inner peace. After finishing her chores that morning, she sat alone on the sofa. Her phone rested on the edge of the coffee table.
Pick it up and put it down again. Repeat this process several times.
She was quite familiar with Luan Chengyun, but they rarely interacted privately. She was just the elder sister. In name only. Her friends called her that out of respect. Sometimes she took it seriously, but sometimes she felt it was too much to take seriously.
Finally, he called. Luan Chengyun was very kind on the phone. He didn't seem to be affected by the divorce at all.
"What's going on?" At this point, no small talk was necessary. Yu Jia asked directly.
"I didn't suggest it." Luan Chengyun put away those friendly smoke bombs.
"This is no joke!"
"How is she?"
"Not good." Yu Jia lied.
"No way."
"You agree to this?"
"What else can I do? I admit my mistake. You know her temper better than me."
"You two were in love... back then... back then..." Yu Jiaquan knew. Luan Chengyun had cut himself several times to pursue Yu Meng—to be her patient, to be taken care of.
"I have feelings for her now too."
“That’s still a mistake.”
"I don't know," Luan Chengyun said, "We're all human. I'm just an ordinary man. It's inevitable." He smiled on the phone, "I won't say it anymore. No one will believe it."
Yu Jia wouldn't believe it. She was a decent woman. She hated middle-aged men who were dissolute. Luan Chengyun and Li Ren had a good relationship. Although Li Ren rarely mentioned Yu Jia, or how their family was making ends meet, Luan Chengyun believed that not mentioning it was a form of attitude.
"You..." Yu Jia was furious. Luan Chengyun's frankness was almost shameless. But she couldn't confront another man over the phone and ask for confirmation. He had already admitted it, so what else could she say? Defeat the man when he's down? That would be too embarrassing.
"I agree to remarry, anytime," he stated.
"She only has two small houses, where is the villa?"
"Did she ask you to ask?"
"no."
"Murdoch only gave his ex-wife two houses during the divorce," Luan Chengyun said. "More houses won't do her any good. I don't want her to raise our son. I'll pay for his tuition."
"That's your son!" Yu Jia tried her best to control her emotions. She actually wanted to call him a bastard.
"If it's convenient, please tell me that I agree to remarry." Before hanging up the phone, Luan Chengyun emphasized it again.
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