Now that the thought had entered her mind, Shen Jiao could not help studying Gu Xinguo more closely.
Mm.
The more she looked at him, the more he suited her tastes.
It was not as though she was being completely absurd. So what if she had only known Gu Xinguo for a few days before considering entrusting her future to him?
Plenty of people in modern times entered whirlwind marriages after knowing each other for only a short while.
Sometimes, once the feeling was right and two people found each other pleasing to the eye, everything naturally fell into place.
There was no point in overthinking it.
The more important question was whether Gu Xinguo would even be interested in her.
“Comrade Gu, since this is my hometown, I should have treated you to a proper meal. Unfortunately, I don’t have the opportunity today.”
Shen Jiao smiled at him.
“I wonder whether I’ll have another chance in the future to make up for it.”
“There’s no need to be so polite.”
Gu Xinguo’s indifferent tone left Shen Jiao feeling particularly disappointed.
Her words had partly been intended to test his feelings.
Unfortunately, he had disappointed her.
From beginning to end, he remained perfectly courteous, without showing the slightest hope that they might meet again.
Shen Jiao felt somewhat defeated.
Who would have thought that even after transmigrating, she would still possess a constitution that made her unpopular?
Still, Gu Xinguo was the most attractive man she had ever encountered, so she had to make at least some effort.
“Comrade Gu saved my life. According to the old sayings, I should repay you by offering myself in marriage.”
After saying this, she secretly glanced at Gu Xinguo.
She still could not read the slightest expression on his face.
The fragrant meat bun in her hand suddenly no longer seemed so delicious.
“Hehe. Although people in the new era no longer repay life-saving debts with marriage, I should at least treat you to a meal.”
Gu Xinguo did not respond.
Instead, he finished his bun in a few large bites, took two mouthfuls of water, and asked what Shen Jiao intended to do in the future.
Although he had not entered the village or spoken with Shen Chunshan and the others, he had seen enough during their journey to gain a rough understanding of her brother and sister-in-law’s characters.
After this divorce, Shen Jiao might truly have nowhere to live.
No wonder she had repeatedly and indirectly asked about finding employment along the way.
Even under such difficult circumstances, she had still found the courage to divorce an unfaithful husband.
Gu Xinguo admired her for that.
He did not want her future life to become too miserable.
“I haven’t figured it out yet. Does Comrade Gu have any good suggestions for me?”
Gu Xinguo mentally reviewed his connections.
Unfortunately, he truly did not know anyone in Anyuan County.
Even if he wanted to help, there was very little he could do.
For some reason, this made him feel restless and irritated.
Fortunately, Qin Zhifeng and the others soon returned, preventing him from dwelling on the matter for long.
“The Civil Affairs Bureau is open. Let’s hurry over. We still need to travel to Linqing County.”
“Fine, but shouldn’t you give me my alimony first?”
Shen Jiao had never dared underestimate the moral character of a scumbag.
What if they completed the divorce, received their certificates, and Qin Zhifeng suddenly refused to acknowledge the debt?
By then, she would have no leverage left to negotiate with him.
“Didn’t we agree that I would give you the money when we received the divorce certificate? Why are you in such a hurry?”
Shen Jiao smiled.
“Because I’m afraid certain people might suddenly change their minds and break their promises.”
Qin Zhifeng became embarrassed and angry.
He felt that she was insulting his character.
More importantly, Shen Jiao had exposed the plan hidden in his heart.
He truly had intended to refuse to give her the money.
To obtain the household-registration booklet back in Shenjia Village, he had already handed the money to Du Lingxiang.
Where was he supposed to find another five hundred yuan for Shen Jiao?
“We agreed that I would pay you when we received the divorce certificate, so that’s when I’ll pay. I’m also afraid that once you get the money, you’ll change your mind and refuse to divorce me.”
The two began arguing over the money, with neither willing to compromise.
An Qing knew why Qin Zhifeng insisted on paying only after the divorce was completed.
He simply had no money left.
However, Shen Jiao refused to divorce without receiving payment.
Rural people truly were vulgar.
Money was the only thing they could see. They had no regard for affection whatsoever.
“Comrade Shen, you lived with Zhifeng for so long. Don’t you understand his character?”
An Qing spoke patiently.
“He is an extremely principled person. Since he promised to pay after receiving the divorce certificate, he won’t break his word.”
“I clearly don’t understand him. If I had, I wouldn’t have been blind enough to marry him in the first place.”
An Qing suddenly had nothing to say.
She stamped her foot anxiously, then turned with a dark expression and approached Du Lingxiang.
She wanted Du Lingxiang to persuade Shen Jiao to complete the divorce procedures and collect the certificate as quickly as possible.
They needed to reach Linqing County early that afternoon so that An Qing could complete her own divorce.
Only then could she finally bid farewell to her past.
Unfortunately, Du Lingxiang refused to help.
If An Qing wanted her assistance, she would have to pay.
“This stalemate isn’t solving anything.”
Gu Xinguo looked at the sky and offered a suggestion.
“Why don’t we compromise? Hand the money to a third party for safekeeping. Once the divorce certificate has been issued, the third party can give the money to Comrade Shen.”
His Grandma was still in hospital.
He truly did not want to waste any more time or energy here.
“I agree with Comrade Gu’s suggestion.”
Shen Jiao immediately nodded.
“Why don’t we ask Comrade Gu to act as the third party? Qin Zhifeng, surely you can accept that?”
“I don’t agree. Who knows whether he has some hidden motive?”
If Qin Zhifeng had not already handed the money to Du Lingxiang, the arrangement would have been acceptable.
But he no longer had any money.
How could he possibly hand over what he did not possess?
“Nothing is acceptable to you.”
Shen Jiao looked at him mockingly.
“Qin Zhifeng, could it be that you still have feelings for me and don’t actually want a divorce?”
“You should have said so earlier. After all, nothing compares to one’s original spouse.”
She deliberately glanced provocatively at An Qing.
An Qing’s face instantly turned deathly pale.
Qin Zhifeng hurried over and placed an arm around her shoulders to comfort her.
“Shen Jiao, I’ll tell you the truth.”
He glared at her.
“I already gave your five hundred yuan of alimony to your sister-in-law. You’re all one family anyway. You can divide the money amongst yourselves later.”
“You must come with me to the Civil Affairs Bureau and complete the divorce now.”
So that was why Du Lingxiang had handed over the household-registration booklet so readily.
She had already received the money.
But what did that have to do with Shen Jiao?
“Alimony only counts once it reaches my hands.”
As long as she had not received the money, she would not obediently go to the Civil Affairs Bureau and divorce him.
Once money entered Du Lingxiang’s hands, there was no possibility of extracting even a single cent from her.
Shen Jiao desperately wanted to divorce the scumbag, but to receive the money, she had no choice but to drag the matter out and create trouble.
Poverty truly weakened a person’s resolve.
Qin Zhifeng should be burning incense in gratitude that she had not demanded an even larger amount.
“Shen Jiao, don’t go too far!”
“Even at my worst, I’m still better than a modern-day Chen Shimei.”
She crossed her arms.
“I only have one thing to say. Without money, there will be no divorce.”
“I’m not in a hurry. Perhaps staying married would be better. I’ve never visited Capital University before. This would be the perfect opportunity to tour the best university in the country.”
Qin Zhifeng’s face turned livid with anger.
No wonder people said that women and petty men were the hardest to deal with.
But he truly had no money left.
Even the remaining money he carried, including the money he had given Du Lingxiang, had come from An Qing.
“Are you people ever going to finish?”
Gu Xinguo finally spoke.
“My Grandma is still in hospital. I don’t have time to remain here while you drag this out.”
“If we don’t complete the divorce today, I won’t have time again for a very long while.”
“An Qing, decide what you want to do.”
Gu Xinguo’s words were like divine assistance.
Both An Qing and Qin Zhifeng immediately calmed down.
Qin Zhifeng was not the only one who needed a divorce.
An Qing needed one too.
If Gu Xinguo truly left now, it would be much more difficult for An Qing to locate him and complete the divorce later.
With no other choice, An Qing took out another five hundred yuan she had brought with her and handed it to Gu Xinguo for safekeeping.
Once Qin Zhifeng and Shen Jiao’s divorce was complete, Gu Xinguo would give the money to Shen Jiao.
“Qin Zhifeng, you promised to give us another five hundred yuan once we reached the county town.”
Du Lingxiang chose that moment to raise her price.
“Hurry up and hand it over. Without the household-registration booklet, neither of you will be getting divorced.”
They had originally agreed upon two hundred yuan.
Now she had raised the amount to five hundred, demanding an additional three hundred yuan.
That was equivalent to an able-bodied labourer’s income for an entire year.
At this point, no matter how much Qin Zhifeng and An Qing hated it, they could only grit their teeth and pay.
They handed the money to Du Lingxiang resentfully and received the household-registration booklet in return.
Fortunately, as a precaution, An Qing had withdrawn all the money from her savings account before returning.
Shen Jiao looked gratefully at the expressionless Gu Xinguo.
Without his intervention, Qin Zhifeng and An Qing would never have handed over the money so readily.
Since both spouses had already reached an agreement, the divorce procedures were completed quickly.
The moment they received the divorce certificate, Shen Jiao remained relatively calm.
Qin Zhifeng, however, nearly burst out laughing.
He had finally escaped this disgusting marriage.
“Qingqing, I have the divorce certificate now. From now on, we can be together openly.”
“Mhm, Zhifeng. This is wonderful!”
There they went again.
Did they never become tired of behaving so sickeningly sweet?
Shen Jiao could not stomach such low-quality public displays of affection.
She was afraid they would give her food poisoning.
She quickly moved away from them and approached Gu Xinguo.
At the same time, she repaid the hospital fees he had covered for her in the capital.
“Comrade Gu, thank you for helping me throughout this journey.”
She looked at him hopefully.
“Would you be willing to leave me your address? If I ever visit Linqing County, I could stop by and see you.”
Gu Xinguo looked into the young woman’s bright, expectant eyes.
He had not intended to tell her.
However, as though possessed by some impulse, he gave her his home address.
Shen Jiao happily memorised it.
If she truly had nowhere else to go, she could visit him and ask him to take her in.
Surely, he would not stand by and watch her sleep on the streets.
Gu Xinguo and the others still had matters to handle, so they hurriedly boarded the bus to Linqing County.
If they rushed back now, they could still reach the Civil Affairs Bureau before closing time and obtain their divorce certificates.
Shen Jiao watched their figures disappear into the distance, the corners of her lips curling into a cold smile.
That scumbag Qin Zhifeng still owed the original Shen Jiao a life.
The only reason she had not reported his bigamy to the university was that she wanted to collect the divorce settlement and escape the marriage as quickly as possible.
Once she had stabilised her situation, she would demand justice from Qin Zhifeng.
If that scumbag wanted happiness and a promising future, he would first have to see whether his victim agreed.
As for Shen Jiao’s own happiness, she would pursue it once she had settled down.
She had memorised a certain person’s home address very clearly.
“Shen Jiao, give me the money in your hands!”
“Why should I?”
The moment Gu Xinguo and the others left, Du Lingxiang approached Shen Jiao and demanded her money.
She had already gained one thousand yuan for nothing, yet she still was not satisfied.
Now she wanted the money in Shen Jiao’s hands as well.
Her greed was truly hideous.
“Why?”
Du Lingxiang sneered.
“Because I’m your sister-in-law, and because the Shen family raised you for twenty-one years.”
“You must repay the Shen family for raising you.”
“My biological parents raised me. If I owe anyone gratitude, it’s them.”
Shen Jiao stared at her coldly.
“Who do you think you are?”
“Your biological parents are probably rotting in some forgotten corner by now.”
Du Lingxiang scoffed.
“The Shen family picked you up and raised you all these years. Are we not allowed to recover a little money in return?”
Du Lingxiang’s words left Shen Jiao frozen on the spot.
The original Shen Jiao was not the Shen family’s biological daughter?
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