Yang Jianming hadn’t expected Wen Yining to block him like that. He opened his mouth, then realized he was at a loss for words for the first time in his life.
This young woman looked so gentle, yet she was so fierce.
No matter what, he was the commissar, Cheng Yifeng’s superior, yet she gave him no face at all. If this got out, how would he continue his work?
Besides, wasn’t he refusing to force a divorce for her own good?
“Captain Cheng, you step outside first. I need to speak with your wife,” Yang Jianming said with a stern face, clearly displeased.
Cheng Yifeng, seeing Yang Jianming’s serious, lecturing expression, assumed the commissar believed his explanation. He visibly relaxed, shot Wen Yining a glare, and warned, “Don’t say anything reckless!”
Wen Yining didn’t even glance at him. Her mouth was her own; she would speak as she pleased. She couldn’t understand why the original author of this book had chosen such a cowardly man as the male lead.
After Cheng Yifeng left, he had wanted to eavesdrop on what Yang Jianming was saying to Wen Yining, but the commissar’s bodyguard was stationed at the door, so he couldn’t sneak a listen.
Inside, Wen Yining looked at Yang Jianming expressionlessly. “Commissar, if you have something to say, just say it. Don’t waste my time. Since you can’t stand up for me, I’ll have to see if there’s someone higher up in the military who can help.”
“You little brat!” Yang Jianming was flustered and angered, realizing a young girl had threatened him. “Do you know what divorce means for a woman? You’ll be looked down upon, gossiped about! Even if you don’t care for yourself, think about your child!”
“You divorce Cheng Yifeng, what will you get? He’ll give you nothing! But if you don’t, I can fight for your maximum benefit; all his allowances will be yours.”
Wen Yining understood his meaning, but she rejected it. “I don’t need to think about that. I don’t want anything from Cheng Yifeng, and I won’t humiliate myself for his money, pretending to endure living with him. But he deceived me all those years—I won’t pay that cost for free. He must compensate me fully.”
She set down the cup in her hand, lightly brushing the nonexistent dust off her clothes with her slightly rough fingers. “I know this world is harsh on women, and divorced women are often looked down upon. But I’d rather be scorned than live with a man like Cheng Yifeng, who’s deceitful and two-faced.”
“As for the child, she doesn’t need a father who doesn’t love her. A cold marriage harms children far more than a single-parent household. Besides, Yao Yao isn’t even Cheng Yifeng’s biological daughter.”
Cheng Yifeng had thought she didn’t know, intending to use the child to manipulate her. But she had turned the same leverage against him.
Yang Jianming opened his mouth to speak, but Wen Yining’s single question shut him up entirely.
She asked calmly, “If the person sitting here telling you this were your daughter, would you try to convince her not to divorce a scumbag?”
Yang Jianming’s face hardened. “He’d better not! I’d shoot him myself!”
Wen Yining chuckled softly. “See? Only when the blow hits you personally do you feel the pain.”
“Ahem…” Yang Jianming realized he had been applying a double standard. His face flushed red, and he didn’t know what to say.
“I am going to divorce Cheng Yifeng,” Wen Yining said as she stood. “I know you worry that if I divorce him, I’ll have no standing with my child. But Commissar, as great leaders say, women hold up half the sky. Leaving Cheng Yifeng and that vampire-like family of his will only make my life better.”
“I’m still young, I learn quickly. At first, life may be hard, but as long as I work and study, it will improve.”
Yang Jianming, after years of ideological work, never imagined he’d one day be educated by a young woman about his own daughter’s age.
She had considered all the potential unfairness and contempt she might face. Yang Jianming could tell she genuinely wanted to divorce, to cut ties with Cheng Yifeng’s family as soon as possible.
He swallowed hard. “Have you considered what happens if Cheng Yifeng refuses to let you take the child?”
“He won’t refuse,” Wen Yining replied with a mocking smirk. “His parents would be thrilled for me to leave with my daughter, making room for Gu Yuxuan, who can bear a son. Knowing I’m leaving Cheng Yifeng, they’d celebrate with firecrackers. Why would they stop me? After all, my daughter is their family’s ‘loss.’”
She glanced sideways at Yang Jianming. “Commissar, do you know what they call my daughter?”
She didn’t wait for his response. “They call her Yao Yao—like she’s doomed to die young.”
“This… is excessive,” Yang Jianming admitted. He knew some elders favored sons, and some uneducated elders gave girls derogatory names, but he had never experienced such cruelty up close.
It was so strong it seemed they wished she would never grow up.
Faced with Wen Yining’s calm expression, he had no words of advice.
“All right,” he said. “If you can convince Cheng Yifeng to agree to the divorce, I’ll approve your application.”
Wen Yining smiled confidently. “He will agree.”
Yang Jianming looked at Wen Yining’s small but resolute figure and, strangely, said, “If you have nowhere to go after divorcing Cheng Yifeng, would you consider staying? Our political department needs someone like you—eloquent, sharp-minded.”
“Thank you, Commissar,” Wen Yining smiled faintly. “But I prefer healing and helping people to giving lectures. I know a bit of medicine—if you have contacts at a hospital or clinic that need staff, perhaps you could recommend me.”
Yang Jianming laughed, exasperated at her two completely different attitudes: demanding justice yet pragmatic.
This young woman had clarity—she knew what she wanted and what she was willing to sacrifice. Cheng Yifeng’s loss would be more than just a wife.
After saying goodbye to Yang Jianming, Wen Yining left.
Outside, she didn’t see Cheng Yifeng, but she knew that scoundrel hadn’t left—he was probably lurking nearby.
Sure enough, as she descended the stairs, Cheng Yifeng appeared at the corner, waiting for her.
Hearing her footsteps, he looked up, displeasure evident on his face.
Wen Yining stood at the top of the steps, looking down at him with utter indifference. Her arrogant attitude, treating him as insignificant, infuriated him.
He grabbed her, almost pulling her down the stairs.
“Who told you to come here? Instead of taking care of your parents at home, you come here?” Cheng Yifeng seethed through gritted teeth. “Go back the way you came! Don’t embarrass me in public!”
Wen Yining pressed her other hand on his wrist, applying pressure to acupoints, and coldly replied, “Ears are for hearing, not just decoration. Did I not make myself clear? I’m here to divorce you. If my meaning isn’t clear, is it your ears’ fault? And my legs are mine—I go where I want. If you think I embarrass you, then agree to the divorce quickly!”
Cheng Yifeng hadn’t expected the timid woman who used to lower her head at his gaze to now speak boldly, come to the army, and demand a divorce.
Since the last leave, when he accidentally pushed her and she fell, Wen Yining had changed—she even tried to chop him with a knife. That madness wasn’t an act.
Suppressing his doubts, he barked at her, “Other women might have family backing for a divorce—what do you have? Don’t tell me you expect your mother to plead with me from beyond the grave. You know nothing; if you divorce me, you won’t last till the end of the year. And don’t forget your daughter! If you die, who’ll take care of her? You won’t take her with you, will you?”
Wen Yining noticed his grip slackened. She leapt up and slapped him hard across the face, her hand numbed from the force. “You think you can control me? Use your mouth properly or shut it. Do you want to ask your parents who cooked and washed for these years? If I knew nothing, your parents would have starved to death!”
“I may have no family backing, but I’m crazy enough! Either you agree to the divorce, and we separate amicably, or not—I’ll slap you eight times a day! I won’t take my daughter with me to die, but I can send you to hell!”
Cheng Yifeng, seething, raised his fist to strike her face. He was determined to make her feel his power.
He recalled his mother’s words: women should be beaten when disobedient.
But just as his fist neared her face, he stopped abruptly.
No—this was the army. If anyone saw him hit her, it would ruin his image.
Wen Yining saw the hesitation in his face and chuckled mockingly. “Cheng Yifeng, do you know the saying ‘barefoot fears no shoes’? You’re worried about your reputation and dare not strike me. I don’t care. As long as you refuse the divorce, I have ways to ruin your life.”
She waved at him and walked briskly out of the office.
Cheng Yifeng ground his teeth—he had to admit he was completely cornered by Wen Yining.
By the time Wen Yining left the army, it was late.
She traced her way to Li Xia’s house. Upon entering, she saw Yao Yao sitting properly on a small stool in the courtyard, craning her neck toward the door.
Seeing her, Yao Yao’s tense face lit up, and she ran to her. “Mom!”
Wen Yining caught her steadily. “Where’s Auntie?”
“She’s cooking,” Yao Yao said, holding her hand and walking into the courtyard. “Mom, I helped her pick vegetables, and she said I’m sensible!”
Wen Yining patted her head. “Our Yao Yao is amazing!”
Hearing Wen Yining, Li Xia came out of the kitchen with a cup of water. “You’re here, sister! I was just telling your brother Zhang, if you didn’t come back soon, he’d have to pick you up. Did you see your partner?”
“Yes,” Wen Yining accepted the cup and thanked her. “I told him in front of the commissar that I’m getting a divorce, but he refuses.”
“What?” Li Xia was shocked. “You came to visit, but it’s actually for a divorce?”
Wen Yining nodded. “Life is unbearable. He has someone else.”
Seeing Wen Yining’s weary expression, Li Xia didn’t press further.
“You and Yao Yao can stay here. I’ll have your brother Zhang check the commissar’s stance later,” Li Xia said. Unlike others who might tell her to endure for the child, she understood—if it wasn’t truly unbearable, no one would divorce.
“You can stay as long as you like. Zhang’s usually at training and can’t come back every day. This way, you and Yao Yao keep me and Xiao Fan company.”
Since arriving in this world, aside from Yao Yao, Li Xia was the first person to make Wen Yining feel warmth.
She smiled apologetically. “Thank you, Auntie, for putting up with us.”
Zhang Yonghua came out from the kitchen with a bowl of rice. “Dinner’s ready. I have to head back to the army afterward, so I’ll eat first.”
Li Xia scowled at him.
Wen Yining smiled slightly. “Auntie, don’t worry about me. Let Comrade Zhang eat first if he has business.”
Otherwise, Li Xia would have given him a scolding.
“Come on, let’s eat first. We can talk afterward,” Li Xia said, holding Yao Yao’s hand with her left and Wen Yining’s with her right as they headed to the kitchen. “Let Zhang finish eating first, then we eat—nothing will be left.”
Zhang Yonghua had no objections to Wen Yining staying.
By eight o’clock in the evening, Zhang Xiaofan woke after sleeping most of the day, still looking weak from inhaling smoke.
Li Xia quickly brought him a warmed bowl of porridge from the stove and fed him a small portion.
Seeing Zhang Xiaofan eat little, Yao Yao whispered, “Auntie Li cooks so well. If you finish this porridge, you’ll feel better tomorrow.”
Zhang Xiaofan, still dazed and seeing the little girl coax him, thought he was dreaming and ate happily.
Li Xia, excited, almost adopted Yao Yao as her goddaughter.
Wen Yining assumed it was a whim and didn’t take it to heart.
Zhang Xiaofan soon fell asleep again, and Yao Yao also grew drowsy.
After settling Yao Yao, Wen Yining sneaked into her space while bathing and intended to prepare some vitamin and calcium supplements for Zhang Xiaofan. She was surprised to discover a small pool at the entrance of the medical room.
A spring flowed in it—clean, with a gentle stream.
She tasted it; the water was slightly sweet. Drinking it, warmth spread through her lower abdomen, then through her blood, dispelling her physical fatigue.
Wen Yining suspected this spring was the legendary “spiritual spring.”
She didn’t know what triggered its appearance, but she considered it a gift from her space, a small comfort for her journey in this world.