October 1972, Northwest Military District. The wind cut through the bones.
But no matter how cold it was, it couldn’t stop everyone’s curiosity, because at this moment, at the entrance of the military district’s family quarters, a spectacular scene was unfolding.
“Why is she lying there motionless? Could she have gone crazy from anger?”
“What’s there to be angry about? It’s been said that Director Xu and Comrade Yuan are together for work reasons. Getting upset over this is just petty!”
“Her mother-in-law said they’ve been married for years, and her belly hasn’t shown any signs of pregnancy. A hen that can’t lay eggs has no right to argue with her husband!”
…
Various discussions rang out as Lin Xun lay in the snow, stunned.
She hadn’t expected that just from falling, she would suddenly awaken a large portion of her memories and realize that she was the discarded ex-wife of the male lead in a novel.
The male lead, Xu Zhicheng, was the youngest surgeon at the Northwest Military Hospital—handsome, talented, with a promising future. But he was born in the countryside, and his family included an extremely harsh and domineering mother, Cai Jinhua.
Lin Xun had been married to Xu Zhicheng for two years, but her belly had shown no signs of life. Cai Jinhua was furious, constantly beating and scolding Lin Xun, forcing her to drink all kinds of fertility concoctions—purple river pills, black charm water, Guanyin soil… she even secretly set up a Buddhist altar at home, worshipping the fertility goddess, forcing Lin Xun to kneel for entire nights.
All this inhumane torment, Lin Xun endured with a smile, because she thought she was happy. Despite her mother-in-law’s cruelty, Xu Zhicheng treated her well. He didn’t blame her for being unable to conceive and would even speak up for her in front of Cai Jinhua.
With such a good husband, what more could she want?
So Lin Xun bore all the abuse and worked even harder to give the Xu family children. She even decided to come to the military hospital from her hometown, thinking that spending more time together, instead of long-distance separation, would surely help her conceive.
But Lin Xun never expected that after several exhausting days on the train, she arrived at the hospital only to see her husband standing with another female comrade.
They were talking and laughing, both attractive, and even the harsh Cai Jinhua smiled warmly at the woman.
Holding her hand, she kept saying, “If only you were my daughter-in-law! Having a daughter-in-law like you would be the Xu family’s greatest fortune!”
The woman blushed and withdrew her hand, but her eyes remained filled with affection for Xu Zhicheng.
This scene, like a happy family of three, left Lin Xun dumbfounded. When she realized what was happening, she lost her mind, crying and shouting as she rushed forward to push the woman away.
But Xu Zhicheng, being a man, reacted faster and pushed Lin Xun aside.
“You actually pushed me? You pushed me for a woman? Xu Zhicheng, I’m your wife!”
Xu Zhicheng had reacted instinctively and wanted to explain, but Cai Jinhua spoke first:
“You shameless woman! The Xu family has been cursed for eight generations to have married you! A hen that can’t lay eggs, shamelessly showing off outside, get out of here!”
They were at the family quarters entrance, surrounded by people. Infertility had always been Lin Xun’s greatest pain, and now being publicly humiliated by Cai Jinhua was unbearable.
Overwhelmed, Lin Xun could not take it anymore. She wanted to jump into the river, but a stone on the ground tripped her, and she fell into the snow.
As she fell, Lin Xun realized she was the foil in the novel. In the story, she successfully jumped into the river and died.
After her death, the female lead, Yuan Yaqing, quickly married Xu Zhicheng. She soon conceived, filling the Xu family with descendants, and her career flourished. She became the model daughter-in-law everyone in the family quarters praised. Even the cruel Cai Jinhua spoke highly of the female lead, comparing Lin Xun, the ex-wife, to mud.
Having seen the whole plot, Lin Xun was stunned.
She couldn’t be that person in the book!
She would never torment herself for a man, nor would she die just out of jealousy!
Yes, she was married to Xu Zhicheng, but her memories after marriage were hazy, as if an unknown force was forcing her down this toxic path.
The plot was poisonous, and the Xu family and the leads were cursed!
Lin Xun didn’t know why she had awakened, but she would never go back to the old days. She had hands and feet, skills, and could support herself. So what if she couldn’t have children? Why should infertility trap her for life?
And she had been fine before marriage. After marrying Xu Zhicheng, everything changed—she was forced into a plot, forced to endure inhuman torment. This proved that Xu Zhicheng brought misfortune. She had to get as far away from them as possible!
Divorce! She would divorce!
Once she decided, Lin Xun felt a sense of clarity. She stood up from the snow, her voice calm: “Xu Zhicheng, let’s get a divorce.”
Everyone was shocked.
No one expected the hysterical Lin Xun to suddenly calm down and, the moment she spoke, demand a divorce.
In that era, women rarely initiated divorce, especially when Xu Zhicheng had a stable job and a bright future. And Lin Xun? She was just a “hen that can’t lay eggs”! How could she dare to ask for divorce? Who would marry her after that?
Xu Zhicheng was stunned. “Ah Xun, don’t say foolish things. I wasn’t deliberate just now. I was only acting unintentionally. Comrade Yuan and I were just discussing work. Don’t make a scene!”
His tone was indulgent, comforting her like a child.
Cai Jinhua immediately became angry. She knew Lin Xun had a scheming mind, and now she dared to threaten divorce!
“Fine, if she wants it, let her leave! Lin Xun, don’t regret it! You—”
Lin Xun interrupted her: “I won’t regret it. Since you’re in your workplace now, let’s divorce.”
Xu Zhicheng’s expression changed. He hadn’t expected Lin Xun to be serious. “Ah Xun, what are you doing? Have you forgotten how good our relationship was?”
Lin Xun smiled sarcastically. Good relationship? What a joke.
Yes, Xu Zhicheng never blamed her for not having children and spoke for her when Cai Jinhua scolded her. But that was all.
She had swallowed all the bitter medicine, endured Cai Jinhua’s beatings, and he only let her bear it, then lectured her at night, making her apologize willingly.
What kind of “good treatment” was that? It was hypocritical!
“I don’t want to talk about what’s already useless. I want a divorce. I can’t have children, and I won’t stand in the way of the Xu family’s lineage.”
“Divorce! Zhicheng, hurry and divorce her! Only then can I have a grandson!” Cai Jinhua was ecstatic. She had long wanted to drive Lin Xun out. A woman who couldn’t have children had no right to marry into the Xu family.
Xu Zhicheng was a doctor, with unlimited prospects. Only someone like Yuan Yaqing, outstanding and from a good urban family, could match him!
Cai Jinhua was overly excited, unaware of the coldness in Xu Zhicheng’s eyes.
Because the one who couldn’t have children wasn’t Lin Xun—it was him.