Chapter 130: The Divorce Is for the Best

Chapter 130: Chapter 130: The Divorce Is for the Best

In his mind, Shen Rongjing was the eldest son, the reliable one.

But the others in the family—the elders being too old and the children too young—didn’t need to know about something this major until a final decision was made. There was no point in alarming everyone.

That was why Shen Songyao, Yang Wanqing, and the others were still being kept in the dark.

But Shen Rongjing’s words—that dividing the money had to be done by the book—had Shen Zhenwu tossing and turning in bed, staring at the ceiling until dawn.

His old-fashioned ideas were deeply ingrained.

He believed that marrying someone was a lifetime responsibility; you had to provide for their every need.

Yao Yuzhen had spent so many years with him. Even if things between them had soured, her contributions were undeniable. He had to ensure she would be provided for in her later years.

But on second thought, what Rong Jing said wasn’t wrong either.

Sometimes, a large sum of money is a hot potato.

The problem was, he had already promised Yao Yuzhen that all the money in the bank account would be hers.

Go back on his word and ask for it back now?

She would probably look down on him even more...

The more Shen Zhenwu thought about it, the more suffocated he felt, a tightness building in his chest.

Yao Yuzhen, however, wasn’t worried in the slightest.

For her, this marriage had been decades of suffocating torment.

Now that she could finally flip the table and walk away, she wanted nothing more than to buy a string of firecrackers and set them off at her doorstep in a cathartic explosion!

After getting the green light from Ruan Yongxing to go for it, she pulled Shen Shuangshuang along first thing the next morning, and they went out happily to look for a storefront.

The two of them spent the whole day running around and got a decent sense of the market.

A large storefront in a good location started at one thousand.

On a tighter budget, a smaller shop at the mouth of an alley was also an option; one could be secured for five to eight hundred.

To Yao Yuzhen, these weren’t large sums of money.

But she was planning to sell jewelry, which required a certain level of class, so she immediately set her sights on a storefront with a three-panel facade.

The interior could be opened up, making it bright and spacious. The annual rent was fifteen hundred, with utilities billed separately.

She thought it was a good deal but couldn’t quite make up her mind, so she decided to consult with Ruan Yongxing.

Timing it with Ruan Yongxing’s shift ending, she ducked into the wet market, bought some groceries, and led Shen Shuangshuang by the hand toward the alley.

Shen Shuangshuang’s palms were sweating the entire way. The closer they got to the mouth of the alley, the weaker her knees felt. Finally, once they were inside, she started talking loudly on purpose.

She was afraid Ruan Yongxing wouldn’t hear their approach and they would run into him unexpectedly.

Luckily, they arrived early; Ruan Yongxing wasn’t back yet.

When he did appear, another man was with him.

The two men walked side-by-side to the mouth of the alley, where they paused for a moment.

The man glanced in their direction, immediately gave Ruan Yongxing a quick wave, then turned and disappeared down an adjacent lane paved with green bricks.

Yao Yuzhen assumed he was just a colleague or an acquaintance and didn’t even bother to look up.

Shen Shuangshuang, however, was staring at the man so intently it looked like her eyes might pop out of her head.

The moment Yao Yuzhen saw Ruan Yongxing, she was too excited to notice that something was off with Shen Shuangshuang and hurried over with a cheerful grin.

"Yongxing! Shuangshuang and I went looking at storefronts today. We picked out a three-section one—it’s spacious inside, in a great, busy location, and the rent is only fifteen hundred a year. It’s a real bargain!"

She said it so casually, but Ruan Yongxing’s brow twitched when he heard the price.

’Fifteen hundred a year for rent alone, and she calls that a bargain?’

He asked offhandedly as he took out his keys and unlocked the door.

"What are you planning to sell?"

"Jewelry! It’s not like you don’t know—my family used to be in this business. My father’s skill as a silversmith was famous for miles around. I grew up behind the counter, so I picked up the trade just by watching and listening. That’s what I’ll sell."

As she spoke, she fished a small silver bracelet out of her bag and held it in front of him.

"Here," she said. "I made this myself last night to test my skills. The filigree is a bit crude, but the pattern is a traditional one."

"I still have a few old contacts. I can call them up, ask them to help me move some inventory and take on a few private commissions. I’ll be able to get the business off the ground slowly."

Ruan Yongxing nodded, his tone earnest.

"Alright. I’ve got your back."

The man who had just separated from Ruan Yongxing was already a short distance away.

He glanced back and his eyes met Shen Shuangshuang’s. She was glaring at him with the intensity of someone who had just spotted a thief.

He froze, then quickly averted his gaze. Lowering his head, he quickened his pace and vanished around a corner with a SWISH.

Hearing him say, "I’ve got your back," made Yao Yuzhen’s heart bloom.

"Then could you come with me to see it again when you have time? When would be good for you?"

"The day after tomorrow! I’m on a different shift then, so I’ll be free all day."

"Perfect! We’ll go together the day after tomorrow."

The door opened, and Yao Yuzhen deftly slipped into Ruan Yongxing’s small house.

She tied on an apron and immediately got to work.

Shen Zhenwu had been turning it over in his mind for half the day. The more he thought, the more lost he felt. Finally, at the dinner table, he couldn’t take it anymore. He picked up his bowl and chopsticks, then slammed them back down.

"Yu Zhen and I are getting a divorce!"

"..."

Everyone at the table froze, their heads swiveling in unison to stare at Shen Zhenwu.

Shen Zhenwu took a deep breath. His expression was placid, his voice calm.

"I spoke with Yu Zhen a couple of days ago. When she married me back then, it wasn’t her choice at all; she was forced into it by her family. She was pushed on me, but her heart was never in it. There was no way she could have been happy all these years..."

His hands fell to his sides, and a bitter smile barely touched his lips.

"A person’s life is long. I can’t just let her keep living a suffocating, miserable life, can I? So, we’ve talked it over. We’re going to part amicably. Getting divorced is for the best, for everyone."

Shen Songyao silently chewed her vegetables.

’So, does this mean his love-addled brain is finally back on the right track?’

Shen Lixin stared at his son, now a man over fifty, and let out a long sigh.

"You’re both grown adults. Since you’ve discussed it and made a decision, we as your elders won’t stand in the way. Things aren’t like they used to be. A marriage should be based on mutual affection. If you’ve made up your minds, then follow through with your own plans."

Yang Wanqing had never been particularly fond of Yao Yuzhen, but hearing that her son was actually getting a divorce brought a lump to her throat, and her voice was thick with emotion when she spoke.

"Why bring this up now, of all times, at your age? Why not sooner? What’s the point?"

Shen Zhenwu’s brow tightened.

"Mom, I’m not a child, and neither is Yu Zhen. The years I’ve wasted have been just as hard on her."

Shen Lixin nodded.

"What Zhenwu says is very true. She has been in this family for many years and given you three children. She’s truly been a pillar of support for our family. To be blunt, reaching this point just means your fate together has run its course. Neither of you should dwell on it. Just accept shared responsibility, each of you take a step back, and let it be. There’s no need to rake up the past."

He turned to Shen Zhenwu.

"Where will she live from now on? What will she live on?"

"And Shuangshuang, will she be living with her?"

"Neither mother nor daughter has a proper job..."

The old man’s brow furrowed into a tight knot at this thought.

Shen Zhenwu nodded. "Yes, Shuangshuang will be with her. I plan to transfer ownership of the apartment we’re living in directly to her. I also want to give her all of our savings. She’s not young, after all, and she’ll have to support herself from now on."

"How much money do you have saved up?"

Yang Wanqing blurted out the question.

Shen Zhenwu just shook his head.

"I really don’t know."

Yang Wanqing sighed in exasperation.

"I’m not trying to find fault, but she hasn’t exactly had a hard life since marrying into our family. In fact, she’s always put herself first and reaped the most benefits."

"Pretty much every cent you’ve ever earned has gone into her pocket. If you’re going to give her money now, you should at least know how much is there, don’t you think?"

"If you give her all the money, did she promise to take on any responsibilities in the future?"

Shen Zhenwu froze.

"Take on what?"

Yang Wanqing nodded.

"Exactly. What responsibilities."

"Of your three children, Rong Dan still hasn’t started a family!"

The old woman reached out and patted the back of Song Yao’s hand.