Military District Organization Department, Divorce Mediation Room.
“Comrade Chen Weidong.”
The person in charge of the mediation was a female cadre in her forties, surnamed Zhao. As she carefully reviewed the materials Shen Zhiwei had submitted, her brows knit tighter and tighter.
The look she gave Chen Weidong carried barely concealed disdain and disgust.
“The evidence provided by Comrade Shen Zhiwei including detailed financial records and related witness testimonies indicates that during the course of your marriage, you engaged in serious misconduct in your personal life.”
“Do you have anything to explain?”
Chen Weidong’s face turned ashen. The dark circles under his eyes made him look as if he hadn’t slept all night. Putting on the airs of a deputy battalion commander, he snapped, “Explain? What is there to explain!”
“All of this is fabricated by her! She’s slandering me! She’s jealous of my good relationship with Comrade Li Man and is retaliating against me! Comrade Zhao, you can’t just listen to her side of the story.”
He tried to twist the truth, his voice loud but laced with guilt.
Shen Zhiwei said nothing, simply watching him perform in silence.
Officer Zhao slammed her hand on the table. “Enough! Your attitude is highly problematic. The evidence Comrade Shen Zhiwei has presented is in black and white do you think we in the military are fools?”
Chen Weidong flushed red, panting heavily, yet unable to offer any rebuttal.
He instinctively tried to intimidate with his bearing, only to find it completely ineffective here.
Officer Zhao stopped looking at him and turned to Shen Zhiwei, her tone softening somewhat. “Comrade Shen Zhiwei, the organization has basically understood your requests.”
“The house will go to Comrade Shen Zhiwei. The savings will be divided equally. In addition, Comrade Shen Zhiwei will receive compensation of 2,000 yuan. As for the divorce application, it is, in principle, approved.”
The moment he heard this, Chen Weidong panicked. “No! Where am I supposed to get that much money? And that house was allocated to me by the military!
On what grounds does she, Shen Zhiwei, get it?”
“She’s a woman who can’t even serve her husband who would want her after she leaves me? She should leave with nothing! Shen Zhiwei is just retaliating because I exposed her affair with Gu Yanzhou!”
Even Officer Zhao couldn’t stand listening to that.
Looking at Chen Weidong, who had completely lost his composure, the last trace of bitterness in Shen Zhiwei’s heart born from everything she had given in her previous life finally disappeared.
She slowly stood up. “Chen Weidong, leaving you is the most correct decision I have made in this lifetime.”
Chen Weidong was momentarily stunned.
“The house is mine! Why should it go to her!”
“Because this is the organization’s decision!” Officer Zhao cut him off sternly.
“However, I cannot sign off on it today just yet we still need a certification issued by the neighborhood office.”
“It’s alright, Comrade Shen Zhiwei. I will arrange for someone to coordinate and make up that document. It won’t affect the effectiveness of the divorce decision.”
“Chen Weidong, you are suspended from duty effective immediately for self-reflection!”
Shen Zhiwei was momentarily stunned. This meant she would still have to keep dealing with this despicable man in front of her.
When Chen Weidong heard that the divorce hadn’t been finalized on the spot, it was like a drowning man grabbing his last straw.
A trace of smugness even resurfaced in his eyes. Though he didn’t dare speak, the expression on his face was nauseating.
Suppressing the irritation in her heart, she said, “Understood, Comrade Zhao. I’ll complete the remaining procedures as soon as possible.”
“Weiwei, this is fate. You and I are destined not to divorce.”
Shen Zhiwei clenched her fists and looked at him coldly. “Then how about I ask Comrade Zhao to register me as widowed instead?”
“You!” Chen Weidong’s face flushed red with anger. “You’d rather be a widow than stay with me, is that it? Just wait you’ll regret this!”
Hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor, and the mediation room door was pushed open.
“Comrade Shen!” A young staff member rushed in, drenched in sweat, his voice trembling. “Something’s wrong! Deputy Director Wang from the factory’s Revolutionary Committee has taken Engineer Shen away!”
“What?!” The documents in Shen Zhiwei’s hands fell to the ground with a slap. “Didn’t they already question him yesterday?”
Chen Weidong suddenly let out a short, cold laugh. “Karma, Shen Zhiwei this is the price for wanting to divorce me.”
Shen Zhiwei’s heart sank. Li Man had acted too quickly.
She had no time to deal with this scum. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to stay calm.
Immediately, she said to Officer Zhao, “Comrade Zhao, my father is innocent. This is retaliation! Please, the organization must ”
Officer Zhao’s expression turned serious as she immediately responded, “I’ve heard about Engineer Shen his technical skills are solid, and his conduct is upright. Don’t worry, I’ll report this situation to higher authorities at once!”
With Officer Zhao’s assurance, Shen Zhiwei felt half-relieved but she still needed the strongest support.
Gu Yanzhou.
The autumn afternoon sunlight was dazzling.
From the military organization department to the discipline inspection building was only a few hundred meters, yet she walked quickly, her steps hurried but not chaotic.
The spring sunlight carried a hint of chill, but it couldn’t cool the anxiety burning in Shen Zhiwei’s heart.
With her father in the hands of Li Man and Wang Qiang, every extra minute meant greater danger.
Though her pace was fast, her gaze remained steady at critical moments like this, she couldn’t afford to panic.
The military discipline inspection building stood solemn and imposing, with armed sentries on guard.
“Comrade, please stop.” The sentry dutifully blocked her path, his eyes alert. “Without an appointment, you are not permitted to enter!”