Xia Xiaolan left like a gust of wind.

Chen Xiliang felt utterly devastated as Wang drove away with Xia Xiaolan, the car speeding off like lightning, leaving only a cloud of exhaust at the doorway.

“Are you satisfied now? With her withdrawing her investment, my business is finished.”

Lin Meijuan sneered, “You think I’d be fooled by this act between you and that vixen!”

He Congsheng couldn’t bear to watch anymore. “Xiliang, go to the Civil Affairs Bureau today and get the paperwork done. This marriage simply can’t continue.”

If Lin Meijuan didn’t destroy Chen Xiliang this time, she would eventually take his life. For a man, his career was his second life. Xia Xiaolan was right earlier – Lin Meijuan didn’t understand a thing about business but still brought people to make trouble. If it wasn’t Xia Xiaolan this time, there would be other people they couldn’t afford to offend.

He Congsheng, being a factory director, understood that business required maintaining harmony. If Lin Meijuan continued to tangle with Chen Xiliang, either Chen Xiliang would have to give in and hand over the clothing company to Lin’s family, or they needed to make a clean break… Better a short pain than a long one, He Congsheng had figured it out.

What still held Chen Xiliang’s marriage together, besides the children, was the Chen family’s opposition.

He Congsheng wasn’t surnamed Chen, but he was the most influential son-in-law in the Chen family. With He Congsheng’s approval, Chen Xiliang had no more reservations.

He had been happily bringing Xia Xiaolan to check on the company’s progress today, but Lin Meijuan had ruined everything.

“Let’s go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to handle the paperwork. You can take all the cash we have at home, but this company won’t work – it’s my life’s work.”

Lin Meijuan didn’t know how much cash they had at home. She had previously opposed Chen Xiliang doing business, but now she knew that a company capable of doing business was the most valuable asset. The Lin family hoped to control the finances while having Chen Xiliang continue making money outside, but there was no way they could take over the company.

Previously, Chen Xiliang had just been arguing with Lin Meijuan, and she wasn’t afraid because she had their son as leverage.

Now that Chen Xiliang calmly proposed “divorce,” Lin Meijuan felt a bit panicked.

She had used their son as leverage and came to catch him in adultery – all means to control Chen Xiliang. But when it came to actual divorce, Lin Meijuan wasn’t stupid.

Chen Xiliang gave her tens of thousands each year, allowing her to wear gold and silver jewelry. Divorce would bring a bad reputation, and she wouldn’t be able to find anyone who could earn more than Chen Xiliang.

Now Lin Meijuan was truly frightened.

She wanted to speak softly and ask for Chen Xiliang’s forgiveness, but she was used to being domineering. How could she say it in front of so many people?

Before both sets of parents could get involved, Chen Xiliang dragged Lin Meijuan to the Civil Affairs Bureau with his brother-in-law He Congsheng as a witness. Lin Meijuan refused to divorce, and the bureau official tried to mediate.

Chen Xiliang said he would give 80,000 yuan in cash immediately if she agreed to divorce.

Lin Meijuan’s brother’s eyes darted around: “Make it 100,000, and I’ll get my sister to agree!”

The Civil Affairs Bureau official drew in a sharp breath. They knew some private business owners had become wealthy, but did they need to show off like this? 100,000 – it would take him several decades to earn that much at his current salary.

The official didn’t dare to mediate anymore. This was beyond his place to speak. If he advised against divorce and the woman’s family lost out on 100,000 yuan, would they let him off?

Chen Xiliang was already stretching himself to offer 80,000. Seeing Lin Meijuan’s silence, he gritted his teeth and agreed:

“Fine, 100,000, but I get our son!”

Lin Meijuan shrieked: “The son is mine! You’re having an affair – you have no right to claim him!”

Lin Meijuan’s brother also disagreed. He had calculated well – with the nephew staying with the Lin family, they could still ask their former brother-in-law for money in the future.

Chen Xiliang was also driven mad with anger and stopped fighting for his son. If they didn’t want him to have his son, so be it. He could remarry in the future and have as many children as he wanted! Bah, bah, bah – he misspoke. Marriage was such trouble, why would he want to bring that upon himself again?

Lin Meijuan’s brother pulled her aside and whispered something. Who knows how he convinced his sister, but Lin Meijuan agreed to divorce. However, she would only sign after seeing the money. He Congsheng had the factory’s accountant deliver 100,000 yuan in cash.

The money was piled high like a small mountain. Their marriage certificate was exchanged for a divorce certificate, with Lin Meijuan still cursing and complaining. Chen Xiliang turned and left immediately. Though the divorce was painful, he didn’t feel as happy as he’d imagined, but there was a sense of relief.

Watching from the car, seeing Chen Xiliang decisively get divorced, Xia Xiaolan closed the account book on her lap:

“Brother Wang, am I being a bit wicked?”

If not for her provocation earlier, today’s drama might have ended in another compromise. Xia Xiaolan didn’t want to meddle in Chen Xiliang’s family affairs, but if this matter wasn’t resolved, it would remain a major business risk.

She didn’t want to withdraw her investment – Zhou Cheng and Chen Xiliang’s money had partly gone into initial investments. The rent and renovation costs for stores in Beijing and Yangcheng couldn’t be recovered now.

Was Xia Xiaolan wicked?

Little Wang didn’t think so.

This was saving a life – saving Chen Xiliang’s life. With a wife like that, Little Wang thought he would have lived fewer years! How terrifying women could be when they became unreasonable – just look at his boss. Mayor Tang’s ex-wife was a complete lunatic, and Chen Xiliang’s wife – no, ex-wife now – Chen Xiliang’s ex-wife was a minor lunatic.

Normal people couldn’t live long with lunatics. Either they endured it, or they became lunatics themselves.

“But Chen’s loss is quite substantial.”

100,000 yuan – Little Wang thought it was a lot too. Poor him, being on a fixed salary. Tang Hongen was very disciplined in financial matters, and his confidants didn’t dare to misbehave.

“If Chen gets divorced this year losing 100,000 yuan, in two more years, he might have lost a million.”

From any angle, Xia Xiaolan helping Chen Xiliang decide to divorce was reducing his losses. Of course, Xia Xiaolan didn’t deny her selfishness. She was certainly closer to Zhou Cheng, and the money Zhou Cheng earned from cigarette trading didn’t come easily. Kang Wei said they used to carry guns when doing long-distance transportation – one careless moment and highway robbers could take their lives. The higher the profit in business, besides needing connections, one also had to risk their life.

So she couldn’t withdraw the investment; Xia Xiaolan had to find a way to protect Zhou Cheng’s capital.

She had ultimately violated her principle of not interfering in others’ family affairs. Especially with Chen Xiliang, whose marital relationship was equivalent to his future fate. Would today’s divorce lead to Chen Xiliang’s death crisis in the future?

Xia Xiaolan felt one shouldn’t be too unethical. Since she had interfered with Chen Xiliang’s fate, she would have to see it through to the end and help him.

Compared to Chen Xiliang’s future wealth of hundreds of millions, using 100,000 yuan to save his life – and the money wasn’t even coming from Xia Xiaolan – she felt like she was doing a good deed anonymously.

“I’m actually at a loss here.”

Xia Xiaolan muttered to herself, leaving Little Wang confused.

What loss?

Was she still upset about being scolded by Chen Xiliang’s ex-wife earlier?

Little Wang thought Xia Xiaolan was quite magnanimous. She never showed off her connections outside and never used Mayor Tang’s influence to intimidate people. Xia Xiaolan also had a very good temper; few people could make her angry, and according to Little Wang, none of them were innocent.