Rebirth 1983: Building My Business Empire
Chapter 294 - Chapter 294 Chapter 283 Death Wont Do Us Part (1)

Chapter 294: Chapter 283: Death Won’t Do Us Part (1) Chapter 294: Chapter 283: Death Won’t Do Us Part (1) Lu Jiajie had gone to Yangcheng City to purchase a batch of goods this time, and it was past eight o’clock by the time he got home after finalizing the deals. As soon as he entered the house, he saw Father Ma and Mother Ma with grim expressions on their faces.

Ma Lili asked anxiously, “Did you go to the school to find Jixiang today and hit him?”

A scornful smile appeared on Lu Jiajie’s face, “He stole my watch, not sending him to the Public Security Bureau and just slapping him twice is letting him off easy.”

Mother Ma shrieked, “Lu Jiajie, Jixiang’s face is so swollen, you clearly wanted to beat him to death.”

Lu Jiajie responded, “Don’t worry about that, murder is against the law, and it’s not worth getting myself in trouble over a thief like that. Besides, this is my home, if you want to make a scene, go back to your own place.”

Father Ma said with a menacing look, “Lu Jiajie, have you forgotten how my wife and I treated you initially? Your conscience must have been eaten by a dog.”

Lu Jiajie had long been discontented with the Ma family and hadn’t visited them since the Lunar New Year. He had previously spoken to Lu Hongjun and Lu Jiaguang about divorcing, but they both disagreed. However, due to the situation with Jiaxin, the elder brother had begun to relent, seeking only a suitable excuse to bring it up.

This incident with the watch provided just the right excuse. Lu Jiajie said, “After I got married, I lived with the Ma family, and you did help me look after the child post-marriage, I’ve never denied that. However, Ma Lili borrowed money to buy a house for Ma Jixiang, and I originally wanted to get it back, she said it was for the six years of rent as well as compensation for looking after the child…”

Ma Lili interrupted him, “Jiajie, what nonsense are you spouting?”

Lu Jiajie looked at Ma Lili and said, “What, you haven’t made it clear to them?”

This was not something she could bring up with her parents; to do so would be like ripping off a bandage. Ma Lili said, “Jiajie, Jixiang was wrong to take your watch, but he’s still a child, you shouldn’t have been so harsh.”

Lu Jiajie no longer wished to waste words with her, “Ma Lili, I can’t live like this anymore, let’s get a divorce.”

He had wanted to mention it after Jiaxin left but had been holding back because of his elder brother’s instruction. Now, with Ma Jixiang stealing his watch worth several thousand yuan to sell, and the Ma family not disciplining him but, instead, questioning Lu Jiajie, it seemed like a joke. Whatever happened to Ma Jixiang was none of his concern, but Lu Jiajie would not allow the two children to have any more contact with the Ma family.

He had thought it would be better for Xiao Feng, being a girl, to be with her mother. But now it seemed Jiaxin was right; if he really let his daughter go with her, the child’s life would be ruined.

Ma Lili was stunned, “Lu Jiajie, what did you just say? Say it again.”

Lu Jiajie said blankly, “Divorce, I can’t continue living like this. You can have the house, but I must have custody of the two children.”

Ma Lili snapped back to reality, lunged at him, and started to fight, “Lu Jiajie, do you have another woman out there? Lu Jiajie, you heartless beast, I’ve been home wearing myself out looking after the children, and you’ve been messing around with a fox spirit, and now you want a divorce. I’m telling you, I won’t divorce you, not even if I die.”

Lu Jiajie pushed her away and said coldly, “I hired Aunt Song to do the laundry, cook, and pick up the kids. You only need to take care of the kids occasionally. It’s your own choice to work overtime to earn more money and relieve your parents’ burden as well as take on extra shifts for others. The hardship you endure is self-inflicted, it has nothing to do with me.”

Mother Ma yelled, “Qiangqiang, Xiao Feng, your mother is about to be killed by your father, aren’t you coming out?”

Wanting desperately to kick them away, but seeing the two children come out, Lu Jiajie suppressed his rage and said, “Qiangqiang, take Xiao Feng back to the room, don’t come out without my say-so.”

Xiao Feng cried loudly out of fear, while Qiangqiang after glancing at Ma Lili, took Xiao Feng back to their room. This child matured early, knowing that it was his father who cared for them with all his heart, while his mother placed the greatest importance on her parents and Ma Jixiang. That’s why he had always sided with Lu Jiajie.

Ma Lili watched as the two children returned to their room, crying even harder.

Father Ma saw the look of disgust on Lu Jiajie’s face and knew that if this marriage continued, his family wouldn’t get anything good out of it. “If you want to divorce Lili, that’s fine, but aside from the house belonging to Lili, you’ll also have to give her fifty thousand yuan as compensation.”

That was a lion’s mouth indeed, no way could Lu Jiajie agree to that. “At most five thousand yuan, if you don’t agree, forget about it. I won’t come back to this family anyway,” he said.

Father Ma stated, “The house goes to Lili, plus a compensation of five thousand yuan. However, Qiangqiang will be yours, but Xiao Feng must go to Lili.”

He had heard that in the past year, Lu Jiajie had made over a hundred thousand, yet his family hadn’t seen a dime. Even the money for groceries was given to Aunt Song, not letting Ma Lili have any control whatsoever. And because Aunt Song did the laundry, cooking, and chauffeuring the kids, when they complained about Lu Jiajie’s wrongdoings, everyone thought they were ungrateful.

Lu Jiajie snorted, “Both children must be with me. If Xiao Feng goes with Ma Lili, once the child grows up, you definitely would let Ma Jixiang leech off her blood and flesh. I won’t let my children be trampled on like that by you.”

Mother Ma said furiously, “Lu Jiajie, your words are heartless.”

Lu Jiajie was unfazed, “The shameless ones are you. It’s not enough for Ma Jixiang to suck the blood of his sister and brother-in-law, you even hit and scold your grandchildren recklessly and shamelessly say it’s right for them to be filial to you.”

He then added viciously, “Don’t push me too far. If you do, I’m capable of anything, and I hope you won’t regret it then.”

Fearing his words, Father Ma knew that in the past two years, Lu Jiajie had made some shady connections.

Father Ma then proposed, “Give this house and twenty thousand yuan, and I will let Lili divorce you.”

Finally snapping back to reality, Ma Lili screamed, “I won’t get a divorce, I’d rather die than divorce.”

Father Ma said irritably, “His heart has already been captivated by some fox spirit out there. What’s the use of keeping such a cold-blooded man around?”

Lu Jiajie sneered, “I swear I haven’t sought another woman outside, and if there’s a lie in that, may I end up destitute and die alone. How about you? Can you swear you haven’t sought another woman outside?”

Father Ma didn’t accuse him of creating a ruckus without reason.

Now that things had come to blows, Lu Jiajie wasn’t about to let him off the hook. “Just to have a son, you found three other women, but unfortunately not one of their stomachs bulged. You dirty your shoes outside and think every man is like you. You may not find it disgusting, but I do,” he retorted.

Mother Ma was shocked, “What, what are you saying?”

Lu Jiajie ignored them and said to Ma Lili, “Let’s go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to file for divorce tomorrow. The house will be yours, and in addition, I’ll give you five thousand yuan in compensation. If you don’t go, I’ll sue for divorce, and you won’t get the house or the money.”

Ma Lili repeated the same words, she wouldn’t get a divorce, she’d rather die than divorce. Even if she got the house and the money, what would be the point without her man and children?

Lu Jiajie had long lost patience with her, “How could you bear to die? If you’re gone, who will take care of your parents when they’re too old to move? Surely you can’t expect Ma Dahua and Ma Jixiang, who only know how to ask for money and things, to take care of them, can you?”

Since she was so reluctant to leave her family, Lu Jiajie decided to grant her wish and let her go back to be a dutiful daughter. With the two children, he too could live well.