I was married off to a disabled hero in lieu of marriage; my in-laws doted on me and I aspired to gr

"Lin Jie..."

A shrill voice rang out, and Lin Jie frowned. Han Dan had really come to his workplace.

"Sister-in-law, you're eating in the cafeteria too?" Luo Jianming asked with a fawning smile.

"Lin Jie, I'm here to collect my salary."

Han Dan ignored Luo Jianming and said with a dark face.

"My salary has to support my son and feed him. I have no money," Lin Jie replied coldly.

"Raise a son? Is that your son? Are you even capable of having a son?"

This is Han Dan's last resort: if he doesn't pay, then it's a fight to the death.

Luo Jianming was so shocked that his mouth dropped open. Should he eat this melon or not?

How could Section Chief Lin be incompetent in any way?

Good heavens, reason has been overwhelmed by gossip; even if the sky were to fall, I'd still have to listen.

"Han Dan, what are you doing?" Lin Jie shouted sharply.

"Look at this, everyone! Look at your Section Chief Lin! He's not a man, he has no manly abilities. The child isn't mine, it's adopted. I'm still a virgin!"

Han Dan completely dropped all pretense of decency. If you have no shame, why should I have any?

Wow... The security guards who were about to leave work, along with workers from other workshops, all gathered around at once, including Zhao Weiguo.

"Han Dan, let's talk about this at home." Lin Jie was a little embarrassed.

"I've been living a life of widowhood with you, even adopting a child to maintain your dignity as a man, but you haven't given me a single penny for household expenses. Everyone, please tell me, how can I possibly continue living like this? Lin Jie, you're so heartless! What kind of skill is it to bully a country woman like me? What have I done to wrong you that you treat me so cruelly?"

Han Dan burst into tears, and the onlookers whispered among themselves, "Wow, he looks so respectable, but he's actually a eunuch."

"His wife has had it so tough."

"It's the new China now, how can such a thing still happen?"

Lin Jie, his face flushed, said angrily, "Han Dan, it hasn't been easy for you to be with me. I promised you a divorce, but you refused."

"We are a legally married couple, and you're telling me you want a divorce and kicking me out of my home. How am I supposed to face the world? It's clearly your problem, so why should I bear the consequences?"

I admire heroes and am willing to sacrifice for you, yet you cut off my financial support. As a man, isn't it my duty to provide for my family? Tell me, what exactly did I do wrong?

"You, you're being unreasonable..."

Seeing that things were getting out of hand, Zhao Weiguo stepped in: "Sister-in-law, this isn't right. Why don't you go to the union for mediation?"

Lin Jie had a sudden realization: Yes, going to the union, how could two people possibly explain such a thing?

When Luo Jianming saw Zhao Weiguo speak, he chimed in, "Sister-in-law, let's go to the union. Arguing like this won't get us anywhere."

The union chairman, who was about to leave work, had no choice but to work overtime.

"Comrade Han Dan, your behavior in the factory is very disruptive. Everyone has their troubles. If you keep making such a fuss, what has the factory become? Has it become a place for you to throw tantrums? If this happens again, our company can call the police. You can go to the police station and cause trouble."

The union chairperson was named Liu Xiangmei. As a woman, she hated women who would curse in the street at the drop of a hat.

Han Dan had no idea; she was determined to ruin Lin Jie's reputation.

"Chairwoman Liu, it's not her fault. Our problems are very complicated."

"No matter how complicated it is, there's always a reason to talk about it. If the union doesn't work, we can go through legal procedures. Comrade Han Dan, please state your demands first." Liu Xiangmei looked at Han Dan.

"Comrade, I was clearly the one being bullied. You can't just protect your own employees."

Han Dan's eyes were full of tears, she was so sad and mournful. Lin Jie found it annoying, it was the same old routine.

"Tell me, what are your demands?" Liu Xiangmei said sternly.

"My salary, meat coupons, and vegetable coupons must be handed over to my family." Han Dan simply wanted money.

Liu Xiangmei looked at Lin Jie and said, "Section Chief Lin, I'm not trying to be mean, but Comrade Han Dan has already suffered enough. If you don't hand over your salary to her, how will she make a living?"

"Chairwoman Liu, I used to hand over my entire salary to her. It was 78 yuan a month, plus meat coupons, egg coupons, and vegetable coupons. Ask her what I ate? It was either shredded potatoes or potato slices. Chairman Liu, is your family living like this too?"

"Is it wrong for me to be thrifty and manage my household well?"

Han Dan looked aggrieved; I really wanted to slap her to death.

Liu Xiangmei composed herself and said in a low voice, "Comrade Han Dan, it's true that you're thrifty, but does that mean you have to be so thrifty that you eat potatoes every day? Can't you switch to cabbage and green beans?"

"Yes, comrade, I know I was wrong," Han Dan said with her head down, looking mournful.

"Alright, that's settled then, Section Chief Lin. The couple should resolve their conflict at home." Chairman Liu stood up, ready to leave work.

"Chairman Liu, please wait a moment, I have something else to say."

Liu Xiangmei had no choice but to sit down again.

"Chairman Liu, you are the chairman of the trade union, you should stand up for women. Comrade Han Dan and I are husband and wife in name, but we are not actually husband and wife."

Is this a pleasant thing to say? Do we really have to bring it up in public? Liu Xiangmei gave Lin Jie a reproachful look.

"Chairman Liu, I want a divorce. Comrade Han Dan can make her request, and I will agree to anything within my capabilities."

"Divorce... Section Chief Lin, are you crazy?"

Liu Xiangmei's face darkened with anger. "I tried to downplay the conflict for your sake, and you still bring up divorce?"

"Chairman Liu, I am a soldier, a warrior. I cannot burden Comrade Han Dan because of my own problems. She should live a normal woman's life. We are loveless and estranged, and we quarrel every day. I don't want to live like this anymore."

Lin Jie spoke with righteous indignation, which brought tears to Liu Xiangmei's eyes. This is what a soldier is like, with such a precious spirit, always thinking of others.

"Comrade Han Dan, Section Chief Lin is right. You should start a new life..."

"I will not get a divorce. I was born a member of the Lin family, and I will die a member of the Lin family."

Han Dan suddenly became assertive and stopped playing the victim.

"You, Comrade Han Dan, don't spout those old-fashioned ideas. Don't talk about the Lin family or their ghosts. You are you, and women should be strong and independent. Section Chief Lin said he will meet all your requests within the scope of what he asks for. If you don't want a divorce and don't take good care of Section Chief Lin, even if the King of Heaven himself came, he wouldn't be able to resolve your conflict," Liu Xiangmei said sternly.

"Chairman Liu, what am I going to do now that I'm divorced? I can't go back to my parents' home, and I don't have a place to live in the city. Are you just going to watch me starve to death?" Han Dan's voice was filled with sorrow again.

"Don't you work at the popsicle factory?"

"The popsicle factory only pays 18 yuan a month, and there's no dormitory. What am I supposed to do?"

"I understand now. Your marriage is actually just a tug-of-war of interests. Comrade Han Dan, you're not as noble as you claim. In this new society, women must also be independent and self-reliant," Liu Xiangmei said sarcastically.

"I...I...Okay, since Lin Jie insists on a divorce, I agree. Lin Jie will help me arrange a job for my younger brother, give me the house, and compensate me with 500 yuan."

Han Dan finished speaking in one breath: Liu Xiangmei is right. Women should be self-reliant. If I have money and a house, how could I not get married?

"You, Han Dan, so that's what you were planning."

Lin Jie stood up angrily. Wasn't this tantamount to ransacking someone's home?

"Sit down, sit down." Liu Xiangmei slammed her hand on the table.

"Comrade Han Dan, that house was allocated to Section Chief Lin by the chemical company. Now that you're divorced, the house will be taken back," Liu Xiangmei explained patiently.

"I don't want the house. You have to find a job for my brother and give me five hundred yuan."

"What do you do with the children you adopted?"

"I don't want it. Leave it to Lin Jie. He can't have children. I'll take care of him in his old age and see him off when he dies."

"You... Section Chief Lin, what's your opinion?"

Lin Jie slammed his fist on the table: "Fine, I agree. However, I can only arrange temporary work for your brother; I don't have the ability to arrange permanent employment."

"Okay, Chairman Liu, could you please draft an agreement for us? We'll go and complete the formalities tomorrow."

Han Dan stood up for herself; she was ready to divorce him and have her own child.