I, Yan Jiefang, will live to 2025 in this courtyard house.

After finishing his household chores, He Daqing set off for Baoding to complete the divorce procedures. Once the procedures were completed, he would return to his courtyard house to live permanently.

His wife in Baoding is said to be named Bai Jie.

She was said to have been one of the top courtesans under the deaf old lady's wing.

After liberation, she changed her name and married in Baoding, which can be considered a reformation of her family.

Unfortunately, her husband wasn't so lucky; he died a few years after leaving behind two sons.

Unable to support herself and her two children, the woman turned to the deaf old woman, a brothel owner with whom she had a past relationship, for help.

The deaf old woman was pondering how to secure her retirement.

After a quick thought, he immediately came up with a plan to scheme against He Daqing's family.

Thus, He Daqing went to Baoding to recruit people, both forced and willingly.

After all, Bai Jie was once the top courtesan, so her looks and figure were undoubtedly top-notch.

Everyone who has used it gives it a thumbs up and says it's great.

She was thirty years old then, a time when she still retained her charm.

He Daqing was instantly captivated and willingly abandoned his children to follow her and become her accomplice.

Unfortunately, as time goes by, those beautiful things will become yesterday's news.

Now that I'm forty, and I haven't done any special skincare, I'm just an ordinary woman.

This naturally greatly reduced its appeal to He Daqing.

He Daqing, though old, is still young at heart. He's thinking about how to get rid of her and find a younger widow to live with.

Unexpectedly, the case of Yi Zhonghai embezzling funds and making remittances actually occurred.

It's like a pillow being delivered to someone who's sleepy.

As for Bai Jie, she had long been fed up with He Daqing's deadpan eyes.

Moreover, her two sons were already grown up and had been given jobs, so Bai Jie no longer wanted to serve them.

Actually, He Daqing was quite good-looking when he was young, after all, he had the appearance of Yu Yan.

Now that he's over 50, he's completely changed, doesn't like to take baths, and has a very old-fashioned look.

If this guy weren't still able to work and earn money, she would have kicked him to the curb long ago.

...

After a long and tiring journey, I didn't get home until midnight.

He Daqing and Bai Jie sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) inside the room.

He Daqing, smoking a cigarette afterward, got straight to the point about the divorce:

"We've lived together for so many years, and now I'm getting old and can't work much anymore. I'm thinking of going back to Beijing to retire. How about we go to the neighborhood committee tomorrow to finalize the divorce?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Jie's face immediately darkened, and she showed a wronged expression.

She put on her coat, pushed He Daqing's shoulder hard, and began to cry loudly:

"What sins have I committed that now that I'm old, you heartless woman want to divorce me?"

He Daqing, are you even human? What were you doing all these years ago?

He was also at a loss when he heard the woman crying.

However, his easygoing nature remained, and he immediately roared:

"Anyway, I'm leaving tomorrow. You can leave if you want, or I won't serve you anymore."

Bai Jie didn't expect He Daqing to be so resolute this time. Although it suited her wishes, she couldn't let him get away so easily.

She then launched into a tirade of crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide.

Bai Jie wiped away her tears and cried:

"I've worked so hard to raise our two children and supported you silently from behind, spending half my life on this, and now you just want to leave?"

"What about the three of us? You're so heartless!"

Previously, she controlled most of the family finances, and He Daqing was practically a workhorse with very little money.

This time, they're asking for an exorbitant price, hoping to get as much as possible by negotiating later.

He Daqing naturally wouldn't let her have her way so easily; his face was ashen.

"Over the years, I've worked away from home, and the vast majority of my wages have gone to you. You've always controlled the family finances."

I only carry a few spare change with me to make ends meet, so I can't possibly save up a large sum. Let alone a thousand yuan, I can't even come up with a hundred!"

Bai Jie immediately started throwing a tantrum:

"You don't have one, but your son does. Didn't you arrange a job for him back then?"

"Over ten years, you should have saved at least a thousand dollars, right?"

Upon hearing this, He Daqing was immediately overwhelmed with worry.

He miscalculated today when he tried to reason with a woman!

The two sides began to pull and tug at each other.

"Bang!"

The door was kicked open.

The white widow's two sons burst into the house one after the other.

Without asking any questions, the eldest brother kicked He Daqing, sending him tumbling onto the bed.

"I've put up with you, you old bastard, for too long. If it weren't for my mom persuading me, I would have kicked you out of the house long ago!"

You actually dared to argue with my mom today? You're asking for trouble!

The second brother silently reached out and pulled the white widow behind him to protect her, then stepped forward to join his brother in teaching He Daqing a lesson.

If He Daqing were ten years younger than two grown men, he might have been able to put up a fight.

But now that he is over fifty, he could only put up a few resistances before being beaten and forced to run away with his tail between his legs. He was kicked out of his house at around 1 a.m.

Just like a stray dog.

In other words, he was smarter than Sha Zhu, because he knew to go to the police station to report the case.

Otherwise, he'll end up like Sha Zhu decades later, frozen to death under a bridge and torn apart by wild dogs.

He didn't have Xu Damao to collect his body.

I doubt even a single bone fragment will be left.

Neither party sustained any serious injuries, and with the mediation of the police, they temporarily shook hands and made peace.

That evening, He Daqing sat in the police station until the morning.

Reflecting on my past ten years of forming cliques.

The final conclusion is: it's fine to date a widow, but you shouldn't date someone with children!

The next day, he and Bai Jie went to the neighborhood committee to get a divorce, and then they sold their jobs there.

This matter has now come to a close.

The first thing he did upon returning to the courtyard house was to take away all the living expenses he had sent to He Yushui over the past ten years, leaving only ten yuan for his daughter to use as pocket money.

During the meal, He Yushui couldn't help but question:

"Dad, that money was originally what you sent me every month to live on."

He Daqing ate his food without even looking up:

"It's safe to keep your money with me. Ten yuan is enough for your daily expenses."

Plus, with the benefits the post office provides, what do you need money for?

He Yushui's sudden appearance:

"For so many years, all you've ever cared about is money; you've never genuinely cared about me."

He Daqing remained unmoved:

"Although I am not at home, I give you food money every month, which is my duty as a father."

He Yushui couldn't help but shed tears of grievance:

"Dad, you've gone too far!"

He Daqing looked up and glanced at his emaciated daughter:

"Rainwater, you can't control so much money. It's better to leave it with Dad."

In a while, Dad will find you a stepmother so she can take care of you and help you recover your health first.

Get well soon, and Dad will buy you a bicycle so it will be easier for you to go to and from school.

In a few years, you'll be getting married. Dad will prepare some big items for you so you can have a grand wedding.

"I'll take care of everything for you perfectly!"

He Yushui didn't hear the rest of what was said, but the word "stepmother" sent a jolt through her.

"Dad, I don't want a stepmother!"

Sha Zhu, who had been watching the show from the sidelines, also heard the word "stepmother" and felt the same opposition:

"Dad, how old are you? Why are you still seeing other women? Don't you think about how we feel?"

He Daqing ate his meal heartily, completely disregarding his children's thoughts:

"Silly Zhu, you're really silly. Once Dad finds Xu Xuan, he'll arrange all sorts of blind dates for you. How old are you? Don't you want to get married?"

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu immediately thought of Sister Qin.