Rebirth 1983: Building My Business Empire
Chapter 295 - Chapter 295 Chapter 284 Wont Divorce Even in Death (2)

Chapter 295: Chapter 284: Won’t Divorce Even in Death (2) Chapter 295: Chapter 284: Won’t Divorce Even in Death (2) Ma Lili was unwilling to divorce, no matter what Father Ma and Mother Ma said, she remained unyielding. Lu Jiajie began to move out on that very night, relocating to Lu Hongjun’s place.

Lu Hongjun also held discontent towards Ma Lili, for after he had stepped down, she scarcely visited. Even when he was sick three times, she only hurriedly came once. However, he still did not approve of the divorce.

“Third Uncle,” Lu Jiajie said, “I’ve thought it through. After the divorce, I’ll take the kids and live with you. I’ve hired Aunt Song to take care of the laundry, cooking, and all the household chores. All you need to do is help me drop off and pick up the kids.”

Lu Hongjun paused, his expression changing. A few days ago, someone had introduced him to a woman who was forty-one years old, quite attractive, and with a good figure. They both had taken a liking to each other after one meeting. If Lu Jiajie was to move in with the kids, the woman might get cold feet. Yet counting on Lu Jiajie to take care of him when he was ill, he dared not say he was reluctant, but he subtly expressed that he would be moving out soon.

“Moving out? Where to?”

Lu Hongjun replied, “Jiaxin has agreed to buy me a bungalow. She’s been busy recently, but said she’ll come back to look at properties after a while. There’s too much gossip in the family quarters here; I don’t want to live here anymore.”

“Housing reform is currently being discussed by our work unit, and there should be a conclusion by the end of the year,”

Lu Jiajie nodded and responded, “Once Jiaxin has purchased the house, I’ll also buy a property nearby so that we can look out for each other.”

Lu Hongjun thought this was a good idea. With his nephew and grandnephew close by, there wouldn’t be anything to fear, “That works. When Jiaxin comes back, I’ll have your older brother speak to her. Let’s find a place with good location and convenient transportation.”

“No need for my older brother to do that. I’ll find the house myself.”

Lu Hongjun felt a stir of emotion, “Then you look carefully. When the time comes, convince your older brother to buy a house nearby as well. It’s good for the three families to live close together for mutual support in case of any incidents.”

Lu Jiajie also felt living together was best, but Lu Jiaguang only had a fixed salary from his employer and probably couldn’t afford it. He delicately put it, “Third Uncle, even the entry-level houses where I’m living now cost over ten thousand. Older brother likely doesn’t have that much money.”

Lu Hongjun said, “Their family of six is squeezed into a fifty-square-meter house. It was manageable when the kids were small, but now they are growing up. In a couple of years, Lu Ping will have to get married; it’s not feasible. Over the years, the two of them must have saved something. I also have a bit. If it’s not enough, you can lend him some when the time comes. Jiajie, your older brother has always taken good care of you over the years. Now that you have the means, you should help out.”

Lu Jiajie certainly had no objections and said, “I have no problem with that, but I’m afraid older brother might not agree. Third Uncle, let’s try to persuade him when the time comes. We shouldn’t let the kids suffer for the sake of appearances.”

“Don’t worry, I will,”

Two days later, Ma Lili sought out Lu Hongjun, begging him to persuade Lu Jiajie not to divorce.

Lu Hongjun was a very smooth operator. He used a roundabout strategy, “You must agree to one condition for me, then I can persuade Jiajie to not divorce you and to live a good life with you.”

“You say it, as long as I can do it, I agree,”

The condition Lu Hongjun proposed was for Ma Lili to quit her job and then take the kids to live with Lu Jiajie in Yangcheng City, “You can’t leave your parents behind, so send some money for their care every month. They have your older sister and brother-in-law, and now they also have a grandson, so there are people to take care of them when they are sick. You don’t need to worry.”

Upon hearing this, Ma Lili immediately refused.

Lu Hongjun said, “Why does Jiajie want to divorce you? It’s not just because you are providing limitless financial support to your family, but also because he’s afraid that the two kids will be influenced.”

He felt that divorce wasn’t good for the kids. If Ma Lili was willing to move to Yangcheng City and distance herself from the Ma family, he would still urge Lu Jiajie not to divorce for the sake of their two children.

Ma Lili defended Ma Jixiang, saying that the child was too young to understand and that, having explained the severity of the situation, he wouldn’t dare do it again.

Lu Hongjun wasn’t a particularly patient man, and seeing that she disagreed, he didn’t want to waste his breath. The plan he devised was also for the sake of their two children. Since she didn’t agree with his advice, the divorce was her own doing.

After she left, Lu Hongjun called Wang Xiaojie, “I’m sure she will definitely appeal to you and Jiaguang. This is a matter between husband and wife; you shouldn’t get involved; it’s beyond your control.”

Wang Xiaojie hadn’t intended to intervene anyway. Jiaxin had been so good to their family, not only buying clothes and toys for the kids and letting them stay with her but also helping Jiaguang with his business and lending them money to buy a house. Yet, because they didn’t lend her money to help her family, she held a grudge and even blamed her marital troubles on Jiaxin. With Jiaxin serving as a cautionary tale, Wang Xiaojie wasn’t willing to get involved in their marital issues.

True to expectation, after two days, Ma Lili indeed sought out Wang Xiaojie, pleading with her to persuade Lu Jiajie. She really didn’t want to get divorced; she had been sterilized and was almost thirty years old. Remarrying would only mean finding a widower with children. Abandoning her own kids to take care of someone else’s, trusting in stepchildren who were rarely reliable, would leave her disregarded by her own children when she got old.

Wang Xiaojie didn’t say she couldn’t persuade him, instead, she said, “Yesterday, Third Uncle came to our house and talked about your situation. He also doesn’t want you guys to divorce, and he even suggested that I urge you to quit your job and move to Yangcheng. Lili, I think Third Uncle’s proposal is worth considering. Think it over.”

Ma Lili shook her head without a second thought, “My parents are old, and my eldest sister and brother-in-law aren’t reliable. If I leave for Yangcheng, no one will be there to take care of them.”

Even at this time, she still thought of her parents. Her filial piety was unquestionable, but that made Jiajie even more determined to divorce. It meant she was completely under the thumb of the Ma family, and without a divorce, there would be no peace.

At her repeated pleading, Wang Xiaojie finally agreed to ask. She didn’t deceive Ma Lili; she truly went to inquire.

“Jiajie, have you really thought about how to take care of the two kids if you divorce Lili?”

Lu Jiajie explained his plan, “Qiangqiang and Xiao Feng are both grown up enough to take care of themselves, and Third Uncle has agreed to help with ferrying them around.”

“Jiajie, do you really have to divorce? The two of you have children together; isn’t there any room for compromise?”

Lu Jiajie fell silent before saying, “Sis-in-law, I’m not lying to you. Although I’ve been dissatisfied with her before, for the sake of our two children, I never considered divorce. But if this continues, she and the Ma family will spoil Xiao Fengfeng. I can’t let them ruin her.”

Qiangqiang was sensible and extremely resistant to the Ma family, but Xiao Fengfeng was still young and would believe anything she was told. The last incident was proof enough.

Wang Xiaojie didn’t urge further.

Lu Jiajie’s life after proposing divorce wasn’t easy either. Some people advised him to think of the children and not divorce, while others suspected that he wanted to divorce because he had another woman outside.

Ah Le also advised him to consider carefully, saying that once divorced, the children would face discrimination and be bullied whether while playing with friends or at school.

Lu Jiajie told Ah Le everything Ma Lili had done, “She gave away the clothes, toys, and baby formula I bought for the kids to Ma Jixiang, and that’s not all. She, along with the Ma family, concocted stories saying we often fight because of Jiaxin. Qiangqiang is older and doesn’t believe her, but Fengfeng is still young and takes her words as truth.”

“Ah Le, don’t you know better? If I have achieved anything today, it’s all thanks to Jiaxin. She not only gave me opportunities but also taught me business.”

Ah Le didn’t urge him anymore.