The male leader spoke with a stern tone. "It’s obvious that you young people are acting on a whim, treating marriage like child’s play! If everyone acted like you, getting divorced on a whim, and then maybe getting back together when things are good again, do you know how much extra workload that would add for our staff?"
He was up for a promotion this year. If word got out that a couple under his watch divorced, it would be a stain on his record!
"Then you should put up a notice at the main entrance, warning those young couples coming to get married that if their relationship turns sour later on, they might get divorced, which would increase the staff’s workload. As the saying goes, without marriage, there is no divorce," Deng Yuyuan retorted calmly, wearing a polite smile.
"How is that the same? Female comrade, let me ask you, isn’t it because you failed to cultivate your husband’s sense of family first, causing his mindset to remain in his bachelor days?
"As a wife and a mother, not only did you not think about your family, but you also want to short-sightedly destroy the entire family over a temporary hardship. Am I right or wrong?"
Faced with the staff members’ aggressive pressing, Deng Yuyuan turned to ask Zhang Jiahua, "What do you say?"
Zhang Jiahua instinctively felt they were going too far. "Yuanyuan has always done a great job. I was the one who didn’t give her enough of a sense of security, which is why..."
His feeble defense couldn’t clearly explain anything.
"Zhang Jiahua, how old are you this year?" Deng Yuyuan asked out of the blue.
"Twenty-five," Zhang Jiahua replied.
"Alright," Deng Yuyuan nodded. "I’m twenty-two this year. On a smaller scale, there is absolutely no logic in having someone younger teach someone older how to act. If he doesn’t understand the true concept of a family at twenty-five, what could I possibly know at twenty-two?
"On a larger scale, although I married him as his bride two years ago, I consider myself his wife, not his new mother. I have no obligation to educate him.
"As a wife, as a new mother, and most importantly, as a completely independent person whose dignity is protected by the law, I live for myself, not for a family.
"The law dictates equality between men and women. As the primary culprit who caused the instability of our family, why am I the one being held accountable first?"
The male leader laughed out of sheer exasperation. "Ms. Deng, as expected of an educated youth sent down to the countryside, your level of knowledge is quite high. However, your ideological awareness is still lacking. You are being idealistic. Back in reality, what about the child? What will you do if you have to raise the child alone after the divorce?"
Deng Yuyuan took a sip of tea. "Like I said, men and women are equal in a marriage. Do not overlook the husband’s obligations. After the divorce, he will need to pay child support every month, and I can look for a job just like the two staff members present here."
"If you are working, who will take care of the child?"
Deng Yuyuan tilted her head and asked Zhang Jiahua, "What do you say?"
"I’ll... I’ll do it. If taking care of the child means one can’t work, then both spouses should jointly, jointly share the burden. You can’t just force Yuanyuan to give up working." Zhang Jiahua didn’t dare to meet the staff members’ eyes. He desperately wanted to avoid a divorce, but he couldn’t afford to oppose Yuanyuan anymore.
Besides, farm work wasn’t a year-round constant. When he wasn’t needed in the fields, it would be fine for him to look after the child.
Thinking back to the scenes he had witnessed during his few visits to the Knowledge Youth Institute, it was always other people helping to look after the child while Deng Yuyuan rested on a chair. He couldn’t let Yuanyuan come back and suffer.
"Your husband is so sensible. He is willing to make concessions for you, so why do you refuse to compromise?"
"Perhaps it’s because I have self-respect and self-love. I protect my own dignity, affirm my own contributions, and acknowledge my own value." Deng Yuyuan smiled. "How could I monopolize such a good man and refuse to let him go?
"He deserves someone better, instead of someone like me who is the absolute best."
"Then... then let’s proceed with the divorce," a female staff member said. She wore large, thick black-framed glasses, and her eyes practically sparkled as she looked at Deng Yuyuan.
The other two glared at her. To think she would drop the ball at such a crucial moment!
"Alright. In the case of failed mediation, we will process the divorce registration for you," the older staff member said. "However, our official seal went missing a few days ago. The entire process of replacing it will take about a month. You two should come back in a month."
"Sister Hong," the young female staff member called out.
The male leader reprimanded her, "Enough, enough. Stop making things worse."
A month later?!
Looking at the three people walking away, Deng Yuyuan fully understood that since their soft approach had failed, they were resorting to hardball tactics.
"The same official seal is used for both marriages and divorces. If it’s missing, then how did those people get married today?" Deng Yuyuan asked through gritted teeth.
"Are you a staff member? Do you understand how official seals work? If I say they’re different, they’re different. Please leave, Ms. Deng."
"Fine." Deng Yuyuan rejected Zhang Jiahua’s attempt to support her and walked out of the conference room. Once she confirmed they were a safe distance away, she declared, "If I don’t get that certificate today, I am not leaving!"
She was going to see for herself whether that official seal was actually missing!
"You’re causing a scene! I could have you thrown in jail!" the male leader threatened in a low voice, shoving one of the staff members forward.
The older staff member hurried forward, trying to stop her.
Deng Yuyuan walked unsteadily, her steps trembling, but she moved very quickly. She knew that if she didn’t blow this out of proportion today, she really wouldn’t be able to get her divorce.
Whether causing a scene warranted jail time also depended on the specific actions taken. Her mind was already racing, thinking of a strategy. She couldn’t resort to crying, screaming, or angry cursing. Perhaps she could sit on the waiting chairs in front of the office and pretend to ask the people there for help...
Zhang Jiahua tried to block them from behind. The male leader pointed at his nose and scolded, "If you keep stopping us, you’ll go to jail too!"
Zhang Jiahua could only stop with a pained expression, wanting to step forward and hold Deng Yuyuan.
As she reached the main hall, Zhao Erdong and Tian Tian also noticed the unusual commotion coming from Deng Yuyuan’s direction. Zhao Erdong placed Tuantuan into Tian Tian’s arms and jogged toward Deng Yuyuan.
Deng Yuyuan dodged Zhang Jiahua’s outstretched hand, but caught off guard, she was grabbed by the female staff member instead. "Ms. Deng, let’s take you to the conference room to calm down first."
"I don’t need to." She tried to break free, but her frail body was no match for the middle-aged woman’s strong arms.
Relying on his status, the male leader didn’t physically intervene. Instead, he gave a pointed look to the other young staff member, signaling her to disperse the crowd.
"I just want a divorce!" Deng Yuyuan grabbed the staff member’s hand, trying to pry open the five fingers that were tightly gripping her.
Divorce?!
The people in the hall caught onto the keyword. Couples stopped showing off their affection, and unhappy pairs stopped bickering. One by one, their eyes widened, and their ears perked up as they clumsily tried to hide their gossipy gazes.
The young staff member tried to shoo the crowd away for a while, but not only did no one budge, the crowd actually grew larger.
Deng Yuyuan wasn’t the only one with her feet rooted to the ground; the entire crowd of eager spectators was, too.
"PFFT! COUGH COUGH COUGH..." Deng Yuyuan suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.