Han Xiaorui had no intention of leaving anyway. The original host’s maternal home was in the mountains—an impoverished area with poor medical facilities. Returning there would not only offer fewer opportunities to make money but would also delay the children’s treatment. After all, the in-laws’ home was in a fishing village in the suburbs of Shen City; being a major metropolis, Shen City possessed the best and most advanced medical resources.
“Dad, thank you for caring about Pingping and An’an. I agree to the divorce, but I hope that you and Jianming will not only provide the two hundred yuan in monthly living expenses for the children but also five hundred yuan a month for their medical treatment.”
“I’ve inquired; Pingping and An’an have autism. Hospitals here in Shen City can treat it. The earlier the intervention, the better the outcome.”
Yang Zhigang had not finished elementary school and had never heard of autism, but hearing Han Xiaorui say it was treatable, he was willing to spend any amount of money.
“Fine, I agree.” Yang Zhigang earned a good income and made the decision on the spot.
Yang Jianming was a teacher at a university; while the job was respectable, the salary wasn’t high. Conversely, his father owned a large boat and earned a significant amount of money every year! Hearing his father agree to cover the costs, he didn’t object, as he wouldn’t have to pay a cent.
Han Xiaorui breathed a sigh of relief and pointed to the pier on the east side of the village. “Dad, give me that twelve-meter fishing boat as well. Whether I rent it to others or use it to fish myself, it will be a source of income.”
She could already feel the familiar water-element superpower surging within her, and since she was by the sea, she had to fish!
Zhang Xiufang was furious upon hearing this. “Han Xiaorui, don’t push your luck! You’re getting the house and seven hundred yuan a month—that’s more than the salaries of some dual-income households—yet you’re still not satisfied.”
“Besides, you’re a woman who doesn’t even know how to sail; what’s the use of a fishing boat?”
Although it was a twelve-meter boat, it was still worth twenty thousand yuan!
Han Xiaorui didn’t explain herself; she simply stared steadily at her father-in-law, Yang Zhigang.
Yang Zhigang pondered for a moment before nodding. “Fine, the boat is yours, too. But I have one condition: you cannot leave Jinshan Bay until Pingping and An’an are grown.”
At this, Yang Jianming’s eyes lit up as he heard his father’s words and looked at Han Xiaorui. If that was the case, could he perhaps enjoy the best of both worlds?
Han Xiaorui pretended to hesitate, though, in reality, she did not dislike the request at all. The three-story villa in the fishing village totaled four hundred and sixty square meters, with a large courtyard exceeding five hundred square meters. Yang Zhigang had used high-quality materials to build this new house for his son’s wedding, and in this era, it was worth a hundred thousand yuan. Additionally, the house was located at the very edge of the fishing village, adjacent to a hillside with over ten mu (approx. 1.6 acres) of mountain land planted with fruit trees. The lease was for fifty years, and the fees had already been paid by her father-in-law.
Han Xiaorui feigned a difficult decision. “Dad, I agree not to leave Jinshan Bay until the children are eighteen.”
“However, I also have a demand: the mountain land contracted next to the house must be transferred to me. As for the future, if I meet someone suitable and wish to remarry, you cannot stop me.”
Yang Jianming was displeased to hear Han Xiaorui talk about remarrying. “Han Xiaorui, don’t be too greedy.”
Han Xiaorui shot him a sidelong glance and scoffed. “Why? Are you expecting me to stay single for you? Don’t have such delusions!”
“I hadn’t even finished university when you coaxed me into bed; I got pregnant and couldn’t continue my studies. I followed you, gave birth at nineteen, and now that the children are three and a half, I am only twenty-two years old.”
“If you had died, I would remain a widow for the sake of your parents and the children, and that would be a fair return for traveling thousands of miles to marry you.”
“But you, Yang Jianming, are cheating and forcing a divorce—I am not a grieving widow. It is you, Yang Jianming, who has wronged me and the children. Since I gave birth to these two children, I will raise them, treat them, and teach them how to conduct themselves.”
“Dad’s request for me to stay here until Pingping and An’an are adults is, in truth, because he cares for his granddaughters, and for that, I am grateful. I promise you here, Dad, that even if I remarry in the future, the house, the boat, and the land will all go to the children.”
Zhang Xiufang wanted to say more but was stopped by Yang Zhigang. “Xiaorui, you are right. I have my own selfish motives; I just want to watch Pingping and An’an grow up.”
“By staying close, if you and the girls run into difficulties here in Jinshan Bay, I can still use my reputation to help you.”
“If you leave, I won’t be able to reach you. Xiaorui, I only ask one thing: raise Pingping and An’an well. Jianming is unreliable; I’ve beaten him and scolded him, but nothing works.”
Han Xiaorui felt deeply grateful for this sensible father-in-law.
“Dad, I agree.” Han Xiaorui nodded. “Let’s go today to transfer the title deeds for the house, the boat, and the lease for the ten mu of mountain land. I’ll draft the divorce agreement, we’ll both sign it, and then we’ll go get the divorce certificate.”
The agreement stated that all these family assets would eventually go to the two daughters. Even though the mother-in-law was dissatisfied, Yang Zhigang firmly agreed. In any case, the assets would end up with his granddaughters and not fall into the hands of outsiders.
They had a casual lunch while the children napped in the room. Yang Zhigang, feeling sorry for his granddaughters, stayed to watch over them. Yang Jianming drove the motorcycle with Han Xiaorui to the Real Estate Bureau to transfer the house and to the Harbor and Shipping Department to transfer the boat. By evening, Yang Zhigang accompanied them to the village committee to transfer the land lease to Han Xiaorui.
That same night, Han Xiaorui packed Yang Jianming’s clothes and luggage into a box and threw them out the front gate.
“Since we are getting a divorce, there is no need to live together anymore.”
She slammed the gate shut in front of him and locked it from the inside.
Yang Jianming stared at the closed gate and then at the luggage on the ground, feeling an unpleasant mix of emotions. Before, he had been annoyed by Han Xiaorui’s desperate, suicidal refusal to divorce. Now, her lack of attachment, her bold demands, and her swift willingness to divorce left him feeling resentful. It felt as if he were not important in her heart at all.
If Han Xiaorui knew what he was thinking, she would likely spit in his face. To a cheating, scum of a man, how could he possibly be better than a house and financial security?
Han Xiaorui turned away without a second thought. She had already cultivated a powerful shielding mechanism. Any person or thing that drained her was not worth a second glance. Her time was precious, and she would spend it on her children and herself.
She smiled, picked up a flashlight, and carefully checked that all doors and windows were locked. Returning to the bedroom, she saw Pingping and An’an fast asleep, their little faces plump and soft. Han Xiaorui smiled. She leaned down to touch the children’s foreheads, turned off the light, and lay down.
As soon as she touched the bed and pulled the quilt over her daughters, they seemed to sense their mother’s presence. Like little piglets, they nestled closer to her. It was as if being beside their mother was more comfortable and provided a greater sense of security.
Lying there, Han Xiaorui relaxed her entire body and the corners of her mouth curled upward.
This place was truly wonderful!