Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

"No! Absolutely not! They're divorced. How is Liu Cuilan supposed to live? She's so old, and she has nowhere to go in Beijing. Going back to the countryside these days is practically forcing her to die!"

"Cuilan, you really can't get a divorce. As the saying goes, even a day as husband and wife is worth a hundred days of kindness. Besides, we women have to accept our fate..."

The deaf old man quickly jumped out to manipulate Liu Cuilan.

But Zhang Dabiao stood up immediately—

"Accept your fate?"

"No! My fate is in my own hands, not in the hands of heaven!"

"I don't believe in fate, that's me... I've switched channels..."

"Aunt Liu, assuming you get divorced, it's true that the house belongs to the factory and you won't get any of it, plus you don't have a job. But renting a place and taking odd jobs from the neighborhood office shouldn't be a problem."

"Furthermore, Yi Zhonghai is at fault in the marriage. In addition to long-term deception, he also deprived you of your right to have children and your right to be a mother. Therefore, you have the right to apply for divorce and division of property."

"Although it is said that men are responsible for external affairs and women for internal affairs in this era, women also create labor value by washing and cleaning at home in married life."

"So all things considered, if you appeal to the court, according to the Marriage Law and the protection and care that the Women's Federation provides for women, I estimate that you should have no problem getting about 6% of Yi Zhonghai's assets."

"Director Wang, am I right?"

Upon hearing this, Director Wang...

That seems to make a lot of sense. As for whether the Marriage Law addresses property division and how it should be divided, she wasn't sure. But the logic is sound; didn't the teacher say that women hold up half the sky?

Why should divorced women be left with nothing?

And if this matter really goes to court and is resolved—that would be like having a legal basis for dealing with similar issues in the future!

That's a classic case!

Their work at the Women's Federation will be much easier from now on!

She had considered advising Liu Cuilan to get a divorce before, but how to live after the divorce and whether she could survive was a big problem.

Therefore, many women's work involves domestic violence, and they dare not make too big a fuss about it. Otherwise, what will happen to the women comrades who are left behind once the Women's Federation leaves?

The retaliation they received became even more severe, with some cases involving wives being beaten to death or maimed.

Who told his wife to call the Women's Federation and make him lose face?

But now Zhang Dabiao has proposed a feasible solution.

So Director Wang is secretly hoping that Yi Zhonghai and Liu Cuilan can get a divorce; that would be a political achievement! I support you in spirit!

So she immediately replied, "Da Biao is right. In this situation, there is a high probability that the court will award Liu Cuilan 6% of the family property. Moreover, our street office and women's federation will give priority to and take care of this situation. You can go to our street office's temporary resettlement point (for those fleeing famine). There are places to stay there, and you can also work there."

"And if needed, our neighborhood office will give priority to introducing Liu Cuilan to potential partners so she can start a family again."

Upon hearing this, everyone exclaimed, "Wow!"

There are other benefits too?

"Did you hear what Director Wang said? Fang Youcai, if you hit me again, I'm divorcing you!"

An older woman slapped a man across the face, and the man, looking guilty, immediately protested, "No, no, you hit me! I couldn't take it, so I hit back!"

He felt wronged. He only fought back because his wife hit him. What if his wife wanted a divorce? She would have to share more than half of the family's money. If she ran away and he lost all the money, wouldn't he be losing a fortune?

Would he dare to fight back?

I'll never do it again.

The other middle-aged women's eyes lit up, while the men... started to feel a little guilty.

Liu Cuilan was still hesitating when the old deaf man and Yi Zhonghai grabbed her, especially the old deaf man who was very nervous.

"The deaf old lady is advising you not to get a divorce because it's because you, Aunt Liu, have been taking care of her for so many years. If you really get a divorce, who will take care of her? There won't even be anyone to empty her chamber pot."

"Yi Zhonghai's reasons for not letting you get a divorce are similar, but we have to add one more: if you get a divorce, it will be confirmed that he has no heirs, and then he will really lose all face."

"Up until now, they have never considered your feelings even a little bit; all they think about is themselves."

The more Zhang Dabiao spoke, the more serious Liu Cuilan's expression became, while Yi Zhonghai and the old deaf man became more and more flustered.

Liu Cuilan is seriously considering the possibility of divorce.

"But even if I get divorced, it will be difficult to remarry at my age, and it will be even more difficult to have children..."

Liu Cuilan was well aware of her physical condition, and given her advanced age, remarrying would only make her a laughingstock.

"That is indeed very dangerous, but—Aunt Liu, you can adopt a child, right? You wanted to adopt Yi Zhonghai before but they wouldn't let you. Now that you're divorced, you can adopt as many children as you want."

"Just like when my dad adopted me, or at the temporary resettlement site of the neighborhood committee, there are sometimes little kids who have fled famine."

"..."

"Cuilan, Zhonghai has already recognized Jia Dongxu as his godson, so you are his godmother and there is no need for him to adopt any more children."

"Yes, godmother, don't worry, I will definitely be filial to you and godfather!"

"Mmmmmmmmm—"

The old deaf man quickly continued his manipulative tactics, while Jia Dongxu, with his keen insight, stepped forward to dissuade him. Yi Zhonghai, as if he had phlegm stuck in his throat, could only nod and agree.

"Jia Dongxu? I'm not lucky enough to be his godmother."

Before Zhang Dabiao could say anything, Liu Cuilan rolled her eyes at Jia Dongxu, believing that Jia Dongxu would take care of her in her old age.

Would Jia Zhangshi agree?

This is a huge joke.

"If Aunt Liu doesn't want a divorce, she can adopt a child herself, raise him from a young age, and exchange sincerity for sincerity. You raise him when he's young, and he'll take care of you when you're old. Isn't that normal?" Zhang Dabiao continued to add fuel to the fire.

Liu Cuilan sighed, "Da Biao, I appreciate your kindness, and I know you're a good child. It's a blessing for your father to adopt you."

"But what if the child grows up and his biological parents come looking for him? Wouldn't that be..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but everyone knew what she meant.

It wasn't just Yi Zhonghai who was worried about this; she felt the same way, or rather, most people in this era thought the same way.

Even in later generations, it was quite common for parents to come and take their children away after they had been raised and developed into successful individuals.

But this was also within Zhang Dabiao's expectations: "Then find someone you know well. Since you don't like Jia Dongxu, then..."

"What do you think of He Yushui?"

"Huh?" Rain was stunned. How did this get back to me?

"Rainwater, I'm just using it as an analogy, whether you like it or not is entirely up to you."

"Because I remember, before your father went to Baocheng, Aunt Liu had always taken good care of you."

"Your mother passed away early, and your father and brother didn't know how to take care of little girls. Aunt Liu often took care of you when you were little."

"Even 52 years later, Aunt Liu would often secretly slip you food, and she wouldn't let you tell anyone. I'm not lying about that, am I?"

Everyone nodded. They had all seen something about this: Liu Cuilan had no children, and she was the one in the courtyard who liked children the most.

He Daqing went to work in the factory at that time, and Sha Zhu went to the restaurant to learn a trade when he got a little older. He Yushui was often entrusted to Liu Cuilan to take care of, and she was no different from a biological daughter.

However, after 52, at Yi Zhonghai's suggestion, the relationship began to drift apart.