After Principal Sun finished speaking, an awkward silence fell.

Liu Fen moved her lips, completely at a loss for words. Even others might struggle to handle such a situation properly, let alone a rural woman with limited worldly experience. Xia Yuzi had truly found Liu Fen’s weakness – Principal Sun’s position naturally commanded reverence from students’ parents.

How could such an educated person as the principal be wrong about what would benefit a student’s studies?

When Principal Sun asked both parties to express their views, Liu Fen’s mind was in chaos.

Xia Dajun remembered his niece’s coaching and began by apologizing to Liu Fen, admitting his wrongdoing and claiming he’d learned his lesson and would change. During the months without Liu Fen and Xia Xiaolan, he claimed to have missed them terribly, constantly hoping for family reunification.

“A-Fen, I was truly wrong, and I’ve changed. Come back with Xiaolan, and together we’ll support her through university. Principal Sun says Xiaolan’s grades can improve further – if she can focus more on her studies, she could enter an even better university… I’m working outside earning several dozen yuan monthly. How can Xiaolan concentrate on studies while you two are living at someone else’s home?”

Xia Dajun said so much that Liu Fen became confused.

Principal Sun also chimed in, making Liu Fen feel she was hindering Xiaolan’s future by refusing remarriage.

But when Xia Dajun mentioned supporting Xiaolan’s education with his monthly earnings of several dozen yuan, claiming this would let Xiaolan focus on his studies, Liu Fen suddenly became alert.

Should she remarry Xia Dajun just for his few dozen yuan monthly to support Xiaolan’s studies?

Never mind that she and Xiaolan had already saved over ten thousand yuan – even her pork rind business alone, running two trips daily except in bad weather, earned several hundred yuan monthly… While Xiaolan’s choice to study at home rather than attend school daily like other students might have initially been about money, that certainly wasn’t the reason now.

Their savings could cover Xiaolan’s entire university education.

Though Liu Fen didn’t know the exact university costs, she estimated based on Xia Yuzi’s standards. Xia Yuzi went to Beijing with 500 yuan, and the Xia family surely sent more money later. But how much could they send? Even if Xia Yuzi spent 2,000 yuan yearly, excluding holidays, that meant 200 yuan monthly for living expenses – surely that was enough for food even in Beijing.

They had 12,000 yuan in savings – four years of university would only cost 8,000.

Xiaolan’s academic improvement wasn’t a matter of money!

Though considered simple-minded, Liu Fen had left the isolated Dahe Village and lived in Shangdu City for several months. While Xia Yuzi’s scheme targeted Liu Fen’s weakness, she had miscalculated Xiaolan’s financial situation. Xiaolan, carrying over ten thousand in savings, had asked Wang Jianhua for 35 yuan… This oversight doomed Xia Yuzi’s plan to failure.

When Xia Dajun mentioned jointly supporting their daughter’s education, Liu Fen’s foggy mind began to clear.

All his words were meaningless – she earned more than him, so why should she and Xiaolan return to suffer in the Xia household?

Principal Sun continued mediating earnestly, “A stable family and solid financial foundation would let Student Xia focus entirely on studies without worrying about basic expenses, allowing her to aim for our country’s top universities! Comrade Xia Dajun has made promises and recognized his mistakes…”

“Principal Sun.”

Liu Fen suddenly raised her head. Though Principal Sun spoke sincerely and held authority, she dared not meet his eyes or argue loudly, but she forced out the words:

“I refuse to remarry.”

“Good, good, agreeing is… what?”

Principal Sun thought his mediation had succeeded, only realizing mid-sentence that Liu Fen had said “refuse.”

Xia Dajun’s eyes widened like brass bells, looking terrifying. The hair on Liu Fen’s neck stood up, but she gathered her courage and firmly repeated:

“I refuse to remarry! Neither Xiaolan nor I need his support!”

Her tone was so resolute that Xia Dajun felt this woman needed a beating. If not for his future university student daughter, he wouldn’t waste words with Liu Fen. Yuzi said enduring humiliation was necessary to achieve his goal – he’d repeatedly apologized to Liu Fen, setting aside his male pride, yet Liu Fen remained stubborn.

Why?

Xia Dajun suddenly realized only one possibility.

Having not seen Liu Fen for months, he’d overlooked certain changes. Her clean clothes weren’t surprising – she’d naturally dress up for school. But from several steps away, he could smell fragrance, her face wasn’t so dark, and her hands resting on her legs showed no cracks… These weren’t a farmworker’s hands.

Liu Fen had changed dramatically. Xia Dajun couldn’t believe mother and daughter had improved their lives through their efforts – he imagined another possibility: Liu Fen had found a new man!

“You shameless woman, have you made me a cuckold? Is that why you refuse to remarry?”

Thoughts of being cuckolded erased all notion of enduring humiliation – Xia Dajun cursed loudly in front of Principal Sun.

Mrs. Sun had long lost patience. Still chopping scallions in the kitchen, she ran out with her knife: “What are you shouting about? This is teacher housing – mind the disturbance!”

The newly sharpened kitchen knife gleamed dangerously – even Principal Sun feared getting accidentally nicked.

Mrs. Sun turned to berate her husband, “You men are all no good! Must divorced women remain celibate for life? If I divorced you, I’d find another man the very next day! State law supports me – I’d like to see who dares complain. I’ll chop them with one strike!”

She wasn’t scolding Principal Sun but targeting Xia Dajun.

The audacity! Even in feudal society, divorced women could remarry – how dare he question this in modern times? Xia Dajun had just looked ready to devour someone, preparing to attack despite being in Principal Sun’s home.

Liu Fen trembled with rage.

Wanting to take them back for a better life?

He just wanted to prevent their better life, harassing them even after the divorce, causing trouble at Xiaolan’s school, and making the principal look down on Xiaolan. Liu Fen’s eyes reddened with fury. She felt no lingering attachment to Xia Dajun, only hatred and disgust. Thinking of his endless haunting presence, Liu Fen wished they could perish together.

Yes – perish together, then he could never again destroy Xiaolan’s life!

With unexpected boldness, Liu Fen snatched the knife from Mrs. Sun and swung wildly at Xia Dajun:

“Go die! Xiaolan has no father like you!”