Xia Dajun recognized the young man before him – wasn’t he the one who helped write the divorce agreement between him and Liu Fen that day?

Xia Dajun barely restrained himself from throwing a punch, his fist clenched, wanting to teach Chen Qing a lesson. This wasn’t Qijing Village – would a crowd of people suddenly appear to help Chen Qing fight him?

But this was County First High.

Principal Sun was sitting on the stage – if he saw any violence, he definitely wouldn’t help persuade Liu Fen.

Yuzi called this “swallowing one’s pride” – controlling his temper momentarily would help convince Liu Fen to remarry him. Xia Yuzi had carefully explained what “swallowing one’s pride” meant, and Xia Dajun felt he was doing exactly that. He was being magnanimous by not holding anything against the mother and daughter, and as his niece suggested, giving them face and providing them a graceful way to return. Wasn’t that sincere enough?

After several months without anyone to wash his clothes or cook his meals, returning home from work to find no clean clothes despite searching everywhere, no one to scrub his back while bathing, let alone care whether he had eaten enough. Old Mrs. Xia only cared about money, while Zhang Cui and Wang Jingui were his sisters-in-law – who could step up to care for him?

Xia Dajun felt a man needed a wife, regardless of whether she could bear children. Someone to wash his clothes, cook his meals, and share his bed at night would suffice.

Moreover, Liu Fen’s previous “money-losing goods” had amounted to something. Xia Dajun cared deeply about face – previously he feared people talking behind his back about having no son to conduct his funeral rites, but if Xia Xiaolan could enter university, who would dare mock him for not having a son?

Those with sons who couldn’t get into university would be inferior to their daughters.

He was willing to accept Liu Fen and their daughter back, determined to treat them better. If Xia Xiaolan could enter university, he would support her even if he had to sell everything he owned. If his niece could attend school, of course, his daughter could too. Yuzi was right – wives weren’t for beating. Liu Fen was different from other village women; she had already run away once… With these thoughts churning in his mind, Xia Dajun somehow managed to suppress his violent impulses.

“I’m Xia Xiaolan’s real father – why can’t I come?”

Chen Qing wanted to call some students to help remove Xia Dajun. Where was this “real father” when Xiaolan lived with the Xia family? He was convinced Xia Dajun was here to cause trouble. The Xia family were all terrible – someone claiming to be Xiaolan’s cousin came to spread rumors about her, her cousin paraded around with the boyfriend she’d stolen from Xiaolan, and didn’t even mention Xiaolan’s grandmother. When Chen Wangda returned from transferring the mother and daughter’s household registration in Dahe Village, he said he’d never seen such a vicious old woman!

“Xiaolan didn’t ask you to come. You can’t be here!”

Before Chen Qing could push Xia Dajun away, the school leaders on stage called out:

“Parents, please quickly find your children’s class sections and take your seats. Our meeting is about to begin. Everyone’s time is valuable, especially our students…”

“Chen Qing, please help this parent find a seat.”

Teacher Qi, responsible for Class 3’s order, noticed people still standing when the leaders announced the start.

With the entire auditorium watching, including parents and teachers, they couldn’t air Xia Xiaolan’s family matters. Chen Qing forcefully guided Xia Dajun to the back row. Fearing violence, he seated Xia Dajun as far from Liu Fen as possible.

As soon as Xia Dajun sat down, he called out “A-Fen” in a deep voice. Though Liu Fen was terrified, she couldn’t let Xia Dajun see her fear.

In the countryside, stray dogs were everywhere. If accidentally chased by a dog, you couldn’t run – running would show the dog your fear, making it more aggressive. You had to crouch down to pick up stones, throw things at them, stamp your feet, and shout to intimidate them!

Wasn’t Xia Dajun just like a vicious dog?

Liu Fen no longer told Xia Xiaolan lies like “that’s your father” or “he still cares about you.” She realized Xia Xiaolan didn’t need Xia Dajun’s “love” – after leaving the Xia family, both Xia Xiaolan and she lived better, happier lives.

During the New Year, the family gathered harmoniously, chatting and laughing while making dumplings. After cleaning up, Xia Xiaolan displayed Zhou Cheng’s New Year gifts one by one. Such scenes had never occurred in Liu Fen’s twenty years with the Xia family.

Her mother-in-law always found fault and berated her for wasting time.

Her sisters-in-law who always tried to take advantage of her, then insulted her after getting what they wanted.

And her husband who earned money for his niece but had no money when their daughter nearly died, who only knew how to use his fists.

Liu Fen was lost in thought – the Xia family was like a nightmare!

“A-Fen!”

Xia Dajun called out again, and the parent next to Liu Fen nudged her arm.

“Is that man in the back calling you?”

Liu Fen was still afraid but felt more disgust than fear. “Yes, he’s calling me. He’s my ex-husband… I don’t want to deal with him.”

Ex-husband?

In 1984, terms like “ex-husband” and “ex-wife” were modern expressions. Widows and widowers were common, but divorce was rare. How bad must things get for a couple to divorce? Marriage naturally had its ups and downs – arguments, fights, throwing furniture, wielding knives – but didn’t couples always reconcile in the end?

How many couples remained bitter partners for life?

For those like Liu Fen who married in the 1960s, love wasn’t a consideration. A matchmaker arranged meetings between men and women – if neither had major disabilities, the match was generally accepted. Only after marriage did they discover their personalities clashed, but by then they’d shared a bed and even had children. Even if incompatible, there was no choice but to continue… Divorce? How could that be possible?

What would others say? How would the children view it? Would both sets of parents agree?

Few could withstand the gossip of relatives and neighbors.

This parent carefully observed Liu Fen, who appeared honest and simple – probably divorced by her husband, truly pitiful.

That Xia Xiaolan could maintain such good grades while living with her divorced mother made it even more remarkable. Self-studying at home? How else could she manage without earning her school fees?

“Then ignore him. Your ex-husband looks troublesome. When the meeting ends, I’ll ask several parents to accompany you out.”

Liu Fen was surprised.

She had thought that revealing her divorced status would change the attitude of this woman who had just been warmly praising her daughter. Instead, she offered comfort. Though Liu Fen was slow to process things, she wasn’t stupid.

So divorce wasn’t as shameful as she had imagined?

“Who would choose divorce if they could live together peacefully?”

Being women themselves, how could they not understand another woman’s feelings? Liu Fen appeared simple and honest, unlike those painted women with complicated schemes. When such a woman divorced, people generally didn’t question her character.

After Xia Dajun called several times without response, seeing Liu Fen not only pretend not to hear but engage in conversation with those around her, completely ignoring him, he clenched his fists. Women needed a few beatings to behave and obey.

But he was swallowing his pride!

First came Principal Sun’s speech, then Grade Leader Wang’s address. County First High had established scholarships based on the previous semester’s final exam rankings. Xia Xiaolan ranked second in her grade. The top ten students received awards: the top two received “Special Merit Scholarships,” third and fourth places received first-class awards, fifth through seventh received second-class, and eighth through tenth received third-class. The distribution of scholarships revealed something unusual – originally the “Special Merit Scholarship” was for the top student only, with three students in each subsequent category.

The school had specifically accommodated Xia Xiaolan by designating both first and second place as “Special Merit” winners.

The “Special Merit Scholarship” came with 200 yuan. While Xia Xiaolan declined the school’s assistance, this scholarship was earned through her academic achievement – how could she refuse?

When Old Wang called Xia Xiaolan’s name, asking her classmate to accept the award on stage, the whole auditorium applauded.

Liu Fen stood up, and Xia Dajun tried to stand as well, but was pulled back by Mrs. Chen beside him: “How can you be so shameless? Is this your award to collect?”

Chen Qing had purposely arranged Xia Dajun in the last row where his mother sat. Mrs. Chen had come for Chen Qing’s parent-teacher conference, so excited that she’d stayed at the county guesthouse the previous night, which was why she hadn’t traveled with Liu Fen. When Liu Fen entered the auditorium, Mrs. Chen saw her son attending to her, with many parents gathering around Liu Fen asking questions, so she didn’t approach.

When Xia Dajun started calling out “A-Fen” like a lost soul, Mrs. Chen wanted to hit him.

You’re divorced – don’t you understand whether she wants anything to do with you?

Xia Dajun didn’t recognize Mrs. Chen, but she knew him. On the day of the divorce, when he was pinned down by the Qijing villagers, she had watched from the crowd. Xia Dajun had rarely accompanied Liu Fen to her hometown, so he didn’t recognize Qijing Village’s most prominent middle-aged woman… He deserved his current bewilderment.

Should he knock this woman down?

No, Yuzi said to swallow his pride.