Old Master Lin was the head of the Lin family.
Although the family usually listened to Yang Sufen, once he spoke, no one dared to disobey.
“This money will go to my eldest grandson,” Old Master Lin said, sweeping his gaze over his sons and daughters-in-law. “Whoever can carry on the Lin family line gets the final say.”
“Enough arguing. It’s settled.”
Lin Zhengguang’s wife rubbed her lower abdomen, silently cursing her own body for not giving her a child yet.
She glanced at Shuilian’s stomach and muttered, “It should be showing by now. Why can’t I tell?”
Shuilian lowered her head, eyes downcast, one hand covering her belly. “M-maybe I’m weak… the baby isn’t developing well.”
Lin Zhengguang’s wife shot her a sideways look. “Oh? Isn’t 2,000 yuan enough to nourish your body?”
Then she pulled her husband away. “Who knows if she’s really pregnant or just pretending.”
Watching her leave, Shuilian revealed a faint, sickly smile.
It seemed she needed to hurry up with the child.
Lin Zhengguang was young, strong, and nearby—convenient.
Maybe she should start with him.
On the day they went to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get the divorce certificate, Aunt Zhang got Jiang Yunling up early to dress her up.
She picked out a red silk blouse that had been kept at the bottom of a chest, paired with a crocheted shawl Jiang Yunling had made herself.
She even brought out gold earrings and a pearl necklace from her own dowry, insisting Jiang Yunling wear them.
“I just can’t stand the Lin family acting like that. Today, you must divorce with dignity.”
Jiang Yunling couldn’t refuse and could only smile bitterly. “When I got married, I had nothing. Who would’ve thought I’d be fully adorned when divorcing?”
Afraid Lin Zhengxian might soften halfway and refuse the divorce after being persuaded by Jiang Yunling, Yang Sufen dragged Shuilian along to the city to keep watch.
Shuilian was young and healthy—perfect to provoke Jiang Yunling and keep her from feeling proud.
For this, Shuilian dressed up as well, wearing the floral synthetic blouse she had always been reluctant to use.
She even pressed sharp creases into her pants using a hot water cup.
But once they arrived in the city, her outfit still looked out of place.
Urban women had long stopped wearing floral synthetic fabrics.
They preferred plaid or solid-colored shirts—simple yet stylish.
If there were lace or ruffles at the collar or cuffs, that was considered fashionable.
As the long-distance bus entered the city, Shuilian, sitting by the window, grew increasingly self-conscious.
When she finally saw Jiang Yunling and Lin Qiqi in the distance, her confidence shrank even more.
Though Jiang Yunling had lost part of her left leg, the wine-red satin blouse and black pants made her figure look elegant.
The pearl necklace on her neck paired with the white crocheted shawl gave her a refined air.
And the touch of gold on her ears stung Shuilian’s eyes.
She had thought that being young would give her an advantage—that no matter what, a disabled older woman couldn’t compare to her.
She believed she could firmly hold Lin Zhengxian’s heart.
But ever since she got involved with him, the most he had done was give her a couple more pieces of meat at the dinner table.
Even after getting 2,000 yuan, he hadn’t bought her a single outfit, let alone pearls or gold earrings.
Shuilian, who had been loosely holding Lin Zhengxian’s arm, now clung to him tightly.
It was her only sense of security.
The moment the three of them appeared, Lin Qiqi’s gaze turned cold.
Her so-called grandmother was truly shameless—bringing the mistress along, as if Lin Zhengxian hadn’t embarrassed himself enough already.
Lin Qiqi’s hair had a natural wave. Today, instead of braiding it, she let it fall loose, clipping it into a half-up princess style.
She wore a light blue long-sleeved plaid dress, with a large crocheted collar that looked especially fashionable.
Her almond-shaped eyes, sharpened by anger, added a fresh brightness to her otherwise gentle look.
Compared to them, Shuilian looked utterly plain.
Lin Zhengxian glanced back and forth, filled with regret.
Especially seeing Shuilian’s ill-fitting synthetic blouse and dark blue pants—clothes typically worn by retired women over fifty in the factory.
Around the Civil Affairs Bureau were government officials—this was embarrassing.
He exerted a bit of force and pulled Shuilian’s hand off his arm.
With an awkward smile, he stepped forward. “Yunling, Qiqi, are you tired?”
“How about we don’t rush the divorce? Let’s discuss it again.”
“After all, a day as husband and wife means a hundred days of affection. Qiqi is also my biological daughter.”
Yang Sufen had long expected this. “Discuss what?!”
“If this divorce doesn’t go through today and this cripple clings to our Lin family, I’ll smash my head to death right here!”
As she spoke, she dragged Shuilian with one hand and pushed her eldest son forward with the other, striding arrogantly into the office hall.
As she passed Jiang Yunling, she sneered, “Watch your step, cripple. Don’t trip over the threshold and die.”
The staff at the Civil Affairs Bureau had already been informed that morning by a local mediator.
They were told that a disabled woman would be coming for a divorce and to take extra care of her.
Having witnessed the scene just now, a staff member stepped forward with a stern expression and blocked them.
“What business are you here for?”
Yang Sufen immediately put on a flattering smile. “Comrade, I’ve brought my son here to get a divorce.”
“This isn’t a daycare. Does he need his mother to accompany him for a divorce?”
Laughter broke out around them.
Embarrassed, Lin Zhengxian pushed his mother aside. “Mom, wait outside.”
Shuilian tried to follow, but he shot her a glare. “You stay outside too.”
Lin Qiqi supported Jiang Yunling as they slowly walked in. A staff member came over to help.
The mother and daughter didn’t even spare a glance for Yang Sufen and Shuilian.
The two people she once controlled so easily were now stepping all over her dignity. Yang Sufen was furious but had nowhere to vent.
She pinched Shuilian’s arm hard twice. “Useless!”
Then she left her there and went to sit under a tree by the roadside.
Two people were chatting there, and she overheard a sentence.
“Divorcing now isn’t worth it. The textile factory is about to start distributing welfare housing—it’s already spreading everywhere.”
“I heard the area is calculated based on the number of people on the household registration. The more people, the bigger the space.”
Yang Sufen didn’t fully understand, but hearing “textile factory,” she shamelessly leaned closer.
“Comrade, what does this welfare housing distribution mean?”
Though a bit impatient, the person still explained, “It means the state allocates housing from the workplace for workers to live in for free.”
“Oh.” Yang Sufen recalled what Secretary Wang had said and asked again, “Does that mean the state takes houses from disabled people and gives them to normal people?”
The person immediately refuted her. “Don’t talk nonsense!”
“This housing distribution prioritizes disabled workers. There’s a disabled female worker surnamed Jiang in our textile factory—she’s already being given priority. She will definitely get a house.”
A disabled female worker surnamed Jiang.
Yang Sufen’s mind buzzed.
So it wasn’t that the state was taking Jiang Yunling’s house—it was giving her one.
Based on household registration, and guaranteed allocation.
If the entire Lin family moved their registration under Jiang Yunling…
Wouldn’t each of them get a house in the city?
Yang Sufen suddenly turned and rushed toward the Civil Affairs Bureau hall.
“We can’t divorce! We can’t divorce!”