Chapter 4: Successful Divorce
A child bride wanting a divorce! Lin Shuping had truly seen it all today.
In his previous impression, no matter how bad-tempered Lin Xiangxiu was, she was just a country girl—how wild could she possibly be? Therefore, he had never taken this rural wife seriously, confidently leaving her in the countryside to care for his elderly mother.
Never did he expect to trip over his own feet one day. This country wife came to him and directly slapped him with a stinging blow.
It wasn’t until he entered the mediation room at the police station that Lin Shuping finally snapped back to reality.
In the mediation room.
Lin Xiangxiu sat on one side, an older female Public Security Officer sat in the middle, and Lin Shuping sat on the other side.
As for Lin Xiao, she was outside sharing snacks with a young female Public Security Officer, their laughter drifting all the way into the mediation room.
Lin Xiangxiu had intentionally left the child outside, asking the Public Security Officer to help keep an eye on her.
From Lin Shuping’s expression, she could guess that the mediation session would likely turn ugly, and Lin Xiangxiu didn’t want Xiao Xiao to learn about her father’s attitude toward her so soon.
If she had to find out, it didn’t have to be at this moment. She was afraid Lin Shuping might suddenly go mad and say something hurtful to Xiao Xiao.
The female Public Security Officer flipped through her notebook and calmly asked, “Comrade Xiangxiu, without a marriage certificate, do you have any other evidence to prove your marital relationship with Lin Shuping?”
“Evidence?” Lin Xiangxiu thought for a moment, then pulled out a letter from her small cloth bag. “Before leaving, I asked the Brigade headquarters to issue a Letter of introduction. Does this count?”
The female Public Security Officer took it and confirmed it was indeed a Letter of introduction, complete with an official seal. The letter clearly stated that Lin Xiangxiu had come to the city to find her husband, Lin Shuping.
Lin Xiangxiu added, “If that’s still not enough proof, you can call back to the village and ask the Brigade leader, or contact the post office in town. Anyone from our village knows about our marital relationship and that Xiao Xiao is his child.”
“Over the years, Lin Shuping often wrote letters and sent money home. At first, my mother-in-law would go to town to collect them, but when she could no longer walk, it fell to me. The letters and money were addressed to me. If we weren’t married, why would he send money to me?”
“Then I’ll make a call to verify this first,” the female Public Security Officer said promptly.
As soon as she stood up, Lin Shuping spoke. He took off his glasses and tossed them irritably onto the table, his voice filled with impatience. “No need to make a call. I admit we did have a relationship, and Lin Xiao is indeed my daughter.”
“But, Comrade Officer, we neither registered our marriage nor held a wedding banquet. I left for university shortly after we got married. Does that even count as being married?” he asked, utterly perplexed.
When the female Public Security Officer turned back, her face still carried a trace of disdain, but she quickly masked it, adopting a fair and impartial expression.
The female Public Security Officer stated, “Although you didn’t register your marriage, you had a child together, lived together, and were recognized as a couple in your hometown. This constitutes a de facto marriage.”
Lin Shuping gave up, saying bluntly, “Then what should I do? I’m already married here. I only acknowledge my current wife.”
“Comrade Lin Shuping, please mind your language. Don’t speak like that in front of a child.” The female Public Security Officer, being middle-aged and a parent herself, couldn’t help reminding him when she thought of Lin Xiao waiting outside. “Moreover, you’ve committed bigamy. If Lin Xiangxiu wishes, she can sue you.”
Lin Shuping’s face changed color, and the impatient expression vanished completely. Clearly frightened, he kept touching his nose and smoothing his hair, occasionally glancing in Lin Xiangxiu’s direction.
“Sue?” This was the first time Lin Xiangxiu had heard this term.
The female officer explained, “It means taking him to court.”
For a moment, Lin Xiangxiu was genuinely tempted, but after considering it, she shook her head. “Better not. It would only bring me trouble. If my adoptive mother found out I sued her precious son, she’d chase me down even if I fled to another province.”
Remembering her mother-in-law’s unreasonable and pestering nature, Lin Xiangxiu immediately dismissed the idea.
She could endure their harassment, but what about Xiao? Xiao still needed to attend school.
“It’s entirely up to you. If you don’t wish to pursue it, do you have any other requests?” The female officer nodded and asked further.
Without hesitation, Lin Xiangxiu stated, “I want a divorce, custody of the child, and for him not to bother me anytime he pleases.”
Lin Shuping eagerly agreed, “I consent.”
Lin Xiangxiu shot him a disdainful look. “Who cares if you consent or not? I want the Public Security Officer to issue a certificate to prevent him from coming to my daughter for support in his old age or returning to me when he’s older.”
The female officer made a few notes in her notebook and asked, “Anything else?”
“I want him to compensate me with a sum of money. Without it, I can’t support myself and the child,” Lin Xiangxiu added.
At the mention of money, Lin Shuping resisted, but knowing he was in the wrong, he played the victim. “Lin Xiangxiu, we grew up together after all, and my mother raised you. There’s no need to drive me to the wall. It’s not easy for me to settle in Shencheng, and my salary isn’t high. How could I have money to give you?”
Lin Xiangxiu chuckled coldly. “That’s not my concern. Xiao is your child, and this is what you owe. Whether you borrow or advance your salary, give me the money you should.”
“How much do you want?”
Lin Xiangxiu turned to the female officer to ask a few questions, then stated a figure. “I want one thousand yuan. Don’t tell me you can’t afford it—I’ve inquired. The average salary for a high school teacher is around two hundred yuan, and you earn extra from tutoring. This is less than five months of your wages. If you say you don’t have it, I’ll find out where your school is and ask your unit.”
“I’ll ask your principal if someone who abandons his wife and child is fit to be a teacher.”
Hit where it hurt most, Lin Shuping feared nothing more than this matter escalating and losing his foothold locally.
His face flushed red with anger, and after taking several deep breaths, he finally conceded. “I don’t have that much on hand. I’ll find a way to give it to you in a couple of days.”
Lin Xiangxiu shook her head firmly. “How do I know you’re not lying? What if you change your mind later? Give it now! Pay on the spot, sign on the spot, and from then on, we cut ties completely. I won’t bring Xiao to look for you, and please don’t come looking for us either.”
In the end, Lin Shuping compromised. He left his house key at the police station as collateral and went out to withdraw money.
He returned in less than half an hour, having somehow managed to scrape together a thousand yuan late at night, which he placed directly in front of Lin Xiangxiu.
Next, under the witness of the Public Security Officer, they drafted a divorce agreement that clearly outlined child custody arrangements, and both signed it.
Both breathed a sigh of relief upon obtaining the divorce agreement.
Lin Shuping refused to stay a second longer and stood up to leave immediately. Before going, he threatened, “Since you’ve gone this far, don’t even think about returning to our hometown! I’ll call my mother tomorrow and tell her we’re divorced.”
With that, he smirked coldly, as if waiting to see her suffer. “No job, no way back home—let’s see how you survive alone with a child.”
“Don’t worry, even if I have to beg, I won’t beg at your doorstep,” Lin Xiangxiu retorted, putting the money and agreement into her bag and rolling her eyes at him.
“Good riddance.” Lin Shuping, having lost a significant amount of money, was pale with anger. He slammed the door and left.
Only then did Lin Xiangxiu go to pick up her daughter. Lin Xiao was playing Gomoku with the female Public Security Officer, giggling nonstop, her little face flushed with joy.
Worried that her daughter might not take the news well, Lin Xiangxiu crouched down to meet her at eye level and carefully said, “Xiao Xiao, Mom and Dad have separated. From now on, it’ll just be you and me. But I’ll work hard to give you a good life.”
“It’s okay, Mom. You’ve always been the one taking care of me anyway,” Lin Xiao surprisingly comforted her mother, her tone and attitude remarkably calm—even less upset than when the village dog ran away.
A month before they left, the big yellow dog at the village entrance had gone into heat and run off with a dog from another village. Lin Xiao had cried all morning upon hearing the news—that dog had been her best playmate.
Lin Xiangxiu couldn’t help but chuckle. She took Lin Xiao’s hand and said, “Say goodbye to the officer.”
“Bye, sister!”
Holding her mother’s hand, Lin Xiao skipped out, forgetting about her father in less than a minute.
As they reached the entrance of the police station, she saw the dim yellow lights across the street and immediately pointed at the steaming shopfront. “Mom! I want to eat Wonton!”
The poor child couldn’t read and mispronounced “Wonton” as “Wonkou.”
Lin Xiangxiu thought it was time to put teaching Lin Xiao to read on the agenda.