I Became a Vicious Supporting Role in the '70s
Chapter 137: I Want a Divorce

Chapter 137: Chapter 137: I Want a Divorce

Lai Zi’s wife looked at Shen Meng, clueless and frowning, shaking her head as if she didn’t understand what Shen Meng was saying.

"I didn’t want to do anything, what do you mean by this?"

"Shirley, you’re smart and I’m not foolish, let’s speak plainly. There’s no point in beating around the bush. You’ve never had much say in the Xu Family, even if they wanted to take advantage of my ignorance with Lu Zhenping to bully the three kids, they wouldn’t do it behind your back. So whatever Lai Zi is up to, you’ve known all along. Why did you happen to arrive just in time? It seems you followed us here, Shirley, I’ve laid it all out, aren’t you going to open up?"

Mingyang, Ming Liang, and Ming Fang were very grateful towards Shirley who saved them. Even though she had a bad reputation and they had seen her dodgy behavior before, they truly believed from the bottom of their hearts that she was a good person and felt a closeness to her unconsciously.

However, what mother just said obviously meant the opposite; she saved them on purpose. Such deceit made the three children instantly glare at her with fury, even Xie Jinghao, who had been speaking to her kindly, now frowned harshly.

"Why would you? They’re all so young, if something really happened to someone’s life, you and Lai Zi would both end up in jail. Aren’t you afraid? You’re a mother too, how could you bear to do it?"

Shirley gave a sad smile, looking up at Shen Meng.

"Exactly, the person who’s had a bad reputation all her life suddenly does something good, and no one’s willing to believe her. Think whatever you want, your child is fine anyway, I’m going back."

As she was about to get off the bed, Shen Meng pulled her back and said, "As a mother, it’s normal for me to think this way. Look, you’ve been misunderstood, and you don’t even bother to explain. How can you blame me? Besides, even if I guessed wrong, I think I’m mostly right."

"Yes, you guessed right. The Xu family looks down on me, they even didn’t hide from me about how to beat other people’s children. Initially, I didn’t want to intervene. I can’t even protect my own children, let alone bother about others. But my son is no good, he follows the Xu family’s morals, he’s been a bad seed since he was little. I only have two poor daughters. After Lai Zi left, I was really anxious. I thought, ’Let it be, you and Lu Zhenping aren’t easy to bully.’ If this came to light, they couldn’t escape. But then, Dezi was pushing Daya, his own elder sister, towards the cistern, threatening to drown her if she upset him. I was shocked at the moment, saved Daya, and then ran towards the school path. I didn’t come to find you because I already knew you went to town. I thought if I just ran fast enough, I could save Mingyang and them. With the credit of saving lives, you might help me out a bit."

Shirley’s voice trembled as she spoke these words. Initially, she really hadn’t wanted to get involved. She and her daughters were already living a subhuman life in the Xu family. If she offended Lai Zi, she couldn’t bear to think about the consequences.

"What do you want me to help you with?"

"Divorce. I want to divorce Lai Zi and take Daya and Xiao Ya away. I just want a thatched hut in Lu Family Village, enough for us three to live by."

Shen Meng frowned slightly, not saying a word. She didn’t expect Shirley to ask for this. Not to mention Lu Family Village, there were hardly any women in the whole county who dared to ask for a divorce. Those days, women who endured grievances were common, and many were worn down by their village life.

"Take Lianhua, for example. Not only did her elder sister-in-law and mother-in-law grind her down, her own husband also occasionally hit her.

"I’m the third eldest at home, attended school for a couple of days, I used to be an active member, a production team’s model worker. There’s something you probably don’t know. Zhao Wei, who works under Lu Zhenping, and I were almost set to get married. Soon after, rumors spread that I hooked up with Xu Daqiang from Lu Family Village and was pregnant. Everyone called me self-degrading. Instead of being a good military wife, I secretly slept with a mangy dog, and they wanted Zhao Wei to be a cuckold. My parents were so ashamed of me, they cut ties with me. I had no natal family, so the Xu Family bullied me. I didn’t accept my fate; let others say what they want, it had come to this, life had to go on. I tried hard to earn work points, hoping to make life a bit better. After a year, I realized it was useless. The Xu Family was rotten from the root, no matter how hard I tried, it was pointless. So, gradually, I also turned into Lai Zi’s wife in other people’s mouths, the one accused of cheating, shirking work, and taking advantage."

Shirley finished speaking and the room fell completely silent, Shen Meng and Xie Jinghao both did not speak, almost able to imagine a proactive, excellent, and vibrant girl, just ruined by Xu Daqiang and those groundless rumors.

"Besides divorce and your two girls, what else do you want?"

Shirley shook her head, getting a divorce and being able to take her girls and live on was already more than enough, she dared not wish for more, only hoping that the Xu Family would completely sever ties with her.

Shen Meng thought for a moment before asking, "You mentioned Lai Zi has a sweetheart, who is it?"

"Who else but Liu Suqin!""

No wonder, that day she looked at Liu Suqin being beaten and showed such an expression.

"Shirley, your story is indeed touching, but divorcing isn’t that easy, I can’t guarantee that I can make it happen. We’ll discuss it further!"

Getting such a response already made her very happy. Even if she couldn’t get a divorce, she was confident that Shen Meng and Lu Zhenping would remember today’s discussion, and if they ever prospered, her Da Ya and Xiao Ya would have a better chance at life.

Shen Meng watched her somewhat staggering figure and said, "When you go back home, you might be beaten. I will ask people to inform the village chief, the Secretary, and the women’s director. You should know what to say then."

Shirley paused her steps briefly, then nodded.

After she left, Xie Jinghao couldn’t help but sob. As a woman, how could she not understand Shirley’s hardships? She had seen how the Xu Family treated her over the years. Men in the countryside beating their wives was all too common. If someone was good at dealing with people, they might be advised.

However, at Lai Zi’s house, almost no one bothered to come over. Moreover, with everyone already having a poor impression of Lai Zi’s wife, seeing her being beaten was merely entertainment for them; who would waste time advising them? Even if there were people who advised, it would only be adding fuel to the fire.

"Ming Fang, Ming Liang, my poor dear grandchildren, what kind of plague has this been to let people bully you like this? Come with grandpa and grandma. Today, we must smash his pot no matter what."