The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 405: Chapter 405: A Last Resort, a Firm Grip

Yang Jianguo went to Chen Nanyang and asked him to be his second uncle’s defense attorney.

Who wouldn’t hire a lawyer for a lawsuit?

If it’s just a matter of spending money, how hard can it be?

Besides, Chen Nanyang was more skilled. As far as Yang Jianguo was concerned, Chen Nanyang had never lost a case, so he should be able to win this one too.

After learning about Yang Zhigang’s true goal, Chen Nanyang was slightly taken aback.

”If we file a lawsuit, it will drag on and probably take a long time to finalize the divorce. It would be better to just file for an uncontested divorce. That would be much faster.”

”As long as you satisfy her financial demands, you can sign the divorce agreement, go through the procedures, and get the divorce certificate.”

Yang Zhigang sighed at his words. ”If a negotiated divorce could solve this once and for all, I wouldn’t want to go through all this trouble either.”

”You don’t know Zhang Xiufang. If we agree to an uncontested divorce, she’ll take the money and disappear without ever getting the divorce certificate.”

”From what I understand, even if we sign the most comprehensive divorce agreement, it doesn’t count as a legal divorce until we get the certificate. Wouldn’t that just be planting a time bomb for myself?”

In fact, this was exactly Zhang Xiufang’s plan. Having lived with her for so many years, how could Yang Zhigang not understand her personality?

She was the type who wanted to have her cake and eat it too. How could she possibly let a cash cow like him go?

Hearing this, Chen Nanyang carefully considered Zhang Xiufang’s way of doing things.

It was indeed possible she would do what Yang Zhigang described. Chen Nanyang nodded. ”Alright, I’ll do my best to get this handled for you as quickly as possible.”

When Zhang Xiufang heard that Yang Zhigang had also hired a lawyer, she couldn’t find him, so she went looking for Yang Jianguo.

”Jianguo, you have to talk to your second uncle. I just want to go to the United States for medical treatment. I don’t actually want a divorce.”

Yang Jianguo was taken aback. His second uncle had been right.

”Second Aunt, you were the one who wanted a divorce, and now you’re the one who doesn’t! This is a matter between you elders. It’s become such a huge mess, and my second uncle is furious. It wouldn’t matter if I tried to talk to him. Even if Yang Jianming came back, he wouldn’t be able to change his mind.”

Zhang Xiufang hesitated. ”Jianguo, don’t you want me to go to the United States to get treatment and recover?”

Yang Jianguo hesitated. Although his second aunt wasn’t the kindest person, she had been busy helping out during his wedding.

”Second Aunt, you don’t know anyone in the United States, and you don’t speak the language. You won’t be able to get by over there. Besides, the medical care here in Shencheng is excellent. You’re recovering so well now. With another year or two of recuperation, you might even make a full recovery.”

A look of displeasure crossed Zhang Xiufang’s face, and she became very angry. ”Jianguo, I was so good to you in the past, and this is how you repay me? You won’t even let me get medical treatment? It’s just because you don’t want to spend the money, isn’t it? The hospitals here are nowhere near as good as your second uncle claims.”

”And even though the United States is far away, how can you say I don’t know anyone? Your cousin Jianming is there. He’s my own son. How could he not take care of his own mother?”

Yang Jianguo sighed. ”Alright, I’ll try to talk to him. But I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to change his mind.”

Zhang Xiufang left with a dark expression, cursing inwardly.

’That Yang Jianguo is no good. He’s so cunning and slippery, just dying for me to get a divorce.’

’Once my son, Yang Jianming, is out of the country, won’t all the money Yang Zhigang earns just end up in Yang Jianguo’s hands?’

No matter what, she had to get the money, go to the United States for treatment, and then come back.

She couldn’t just stand by and watch all the family’s money fall into Yang Jianguo’s hands.

One moment Zhang Xiufang insisted on the divorce, the next she’d soften and say she couldn’t bear to leave him. She kept changing her mind, completely fickle.

Chen Nanyang finally understood what Yang Zhigang had meant. Experience really does count. If they couldn’t secure a clean, final divorce, there would be endless trouble ahead.

Despite the situation becoming so tense, Yang Jianming never showed up.

To avoid the awkwardness, after his wife, Ai Li, finished her work, he took her sightseeing in Hangzhou and Suzhou.

As for his parents’ divorce, that was their business. It had nothing to do with him.

Yang Jianguo finally managed to find out which hotel Yang Jianming was staying at, only to discover he wasn’t there at all.

It was at that moment that Yang Jianguo completely lost hope in Yang Jianming.

Seeing things drag on, Zhang Xiufang was growing impatient.

”Yang Zhigang, I see it now! You heartless man! You won’t pay for my treatment, and now you want to use this as an excuse to divorce me.”

Yang Zhigang had had enough of Zhang Xiufang’s antics. ”Anyone who knows me, Yang Zhigang, would never say I’m heartless. How did I treat you after you got sick? Everyone in Jinshan Bay, young and old, saw it with their own eyes.”

”If you don’t want a divorce, fine. I’ll continue to pay for your medical care and support you. If you do want a divorce, that’s fine too. This is how much property we have. I agree to give you half.”

”Either way, you have to choose one. You can’t have both. A person can’t be too greedy, and they definitely shouldn’t be so shameless. Different choices lead to different outcomes, and you’ll have to live with yours.”

Seeing Yang Zhigang like this, Zhang Xiufang knew his patience with her had run out.

Making any more of a scene would just be a waste of time.

In the end, she agreed to the divorce. After the court issued its judgment awarding her the money, she refused to go and get the divorce certificate.

Chen Nanyang found Zhang Xiufang. She had hired someone to help her with all the procedures for going abroad.

Chen Nanyang said, ”Ms. Zhang, we’ll give you half the money for now.”

Zhang Xiufang was instantly displeased. ”Hasn’t the court already ruled on the divorce? Why won’t you give me the money? Are you trying to go back on your word?”

Chen Nanyang smiled. ”We have the court’s judgment, so your marital relationship is now over. However, the judgment only becomes effective if there is no appeal within fifteen days. What if we give you the money and you appeal? Wouldn’t all our efforts have been for nothing?”

Zhang Xiufang was stunned. ”It works like that? Give me the money first, or I’ll appeal! After all, I haven’t gotten the divorce certificate yet.”

Chen Nanyang chuckled. ”You think the court is a marketplace? The divorce decree has the same legal effect as a divorce certificate. Go ahead and appeal. We’re not in a hurry.”

”If you don’t believe me, you can ask your own lawyer. In fact, let me remind you, there will be serious consequences if you file a frivolous lawsuit.”

”If you have a pending lawsuit, it will delay your procedures for going abroad. Don’t blame me for not warning you! Didn’t you pay such a high price precisely because you want to go abroad?”

”If you can’t leave the country and get your treatment because we sue you, and the bank even freezes your money, won’t all your efforts have been for nothing?”

Although the judgment had the same effect as a divorce certificate, Zhang Xiufang could still appeal the first-instance verdict if she was dissatisfied, which would create too many problems. That’s why Chen Nanyang decided to be the bad guy first in order to control the situation.

Zhang Xiufang was stunned for a moment, but then she caught on. ”Everyone says Yang Zhigang is an honest man, but I see he’s as cunning and slippery as they come. He’s rotten to the core.”

Chen Nanyang smiled. ”Don’t put it so harshly. We were only forced to resort to this strategy because you kept going back on your word.”

Zhang Xiufang’s expression twisted with anger. She called her lawyer, who confirmed that what Chen Nanyang had said was true.

Zhang Xiufang received 820,000 yuan. Although it was much more than the 500,000 she had initially wanted, the thought of actually being divorced from Yang Zhigang left her feeling deeply dejected.

If she didn’t go abroad for treatment, wouldn’t this all have been for nothing?

Besides, she also wanted to see for herself what was so great about the United States that it made her son never want to come home.