The Sea Queen of 1985

Cai Xueqin’s head was spinning; he felt like he was going numb.

His resentment toward his father intensified. Because his father didn’t cherish their family, it was now on the verge of falling apart.

The next morning, Han Xiaorui got up and made a point to run past Liang Xiaoyu’s house.

Hearing movement inside, she knocked on the door.

Liang Xiaoyu heard the sound and came to open it. Seeing Han Xiaorui outside, she said, “Xiao Rui, what brings you here so early?”

Han Xiaorui asked, “Is Godmother okay?”

Liang Xiaoyu was taken aback. “You know about it too?”

Han Xiaorui nodded. “Wu Yao mentioned it at dinner yesterday. I was worried about Godmother, so I came over to check on her!”

Liang Xiaoyu shook her head and sighed. “Something this big is bound to have an impact! But you know what my mother-in-law is like. She always plans ahead, and she’s very resilient.”

“She’s already fully prepared. After breakfast, she’s going to call Lawyer Chen and ask for a lawyer who specializes in divorce cases. She’s getting ready to divorce Old Man Cai.”

By now, Liang Xiaoyu couldn’t even be bothered to call him “Father-in-law,” referring to him directly as Old Man Cai.

An old man like that wasn’t worthy of her respect.

Han Xiaorui was surprised. “Is it definite?”

Liang Xiaoyu nodded. “Yes, it’s definite. When we came back last night, only Xueqin was home! Old Man Cai has moved in with Chen Xiaoxiu!”

“My mother-in-law has come to terms with it now. She’s in her sixties and doesn’t want to waste her life living with an old man like that. Anyway, the four of us in our family all support her. As for Old Man Cai, he can do whatever he wants.”

Just then, Aunt Liu came over. She was Wu Yao’s mother-in-law and Liu Xiangnan’s mother.

She overheard Liang Xiaoyu and was slightly taken aback. “But if your in-laws divorce, won’t that just benefit that Chen Xiaoxiu?”

“And that’s not all. Even if they divorce, Old Man Cai is still Xueqin’s biological father, and Wenjun and Wennan’s grandfather. In the future, when he can’t take care of himself anymore, that Chen Xiaoxiu definitely won’t look after him. In the end, you’ll still be the ones supporting him.”

Liang Xiaoyu scoffed. “The family assets are all in my name. When my in-laws divorce, how can he get a share of the daughter-in-law’s property? Even this house is in Xueqin’s name. There won’t be much of a loss.”

“As for his elder care, it’s true that Old Man Cai is Cai Xueqin’s biological father and my son and daughter’s grandfather. Chen Xiaoxiu and her son will definitely not take care of him in the future. We’re not so shameless as to abandon him, so yes, we will have to provide for him.”

“But there are different ways of providing that care. For my mother-in-law, I’d serve her day and night, even dealing with her bedpan, and I, Liang Xiaoyu, would never say a word of complaint. But for Old Man Cai… heheh… spending some money to send him to a nursing home, that’s the absolute most I’m willing to do.”

Aunt Liu was shocked to hear this. “Would Xueqin agree to that?”

Liang Xiaoyu scoffed. “Heheh, you reap what you sow. Since his father chose an outsider and abandoned this family, he should face the consequences.”

“If Cai Xueqin doesn’t agree, fine. He can rent a place and take care of him himself. He shouldn’t expect me or the kids to help. After all, that’s his biological father. What he does is his business.”

Liang Xiaoyu was naturally a free-spirited and assertive person who despised injustice.

Han Xiaorui gave Liang Xiaoyu a thumbs-up. “Sister-in-law Xiao Yu, I’ll always support you and Godmother. No matter what you do, my policy is to side with family over reason. What’s more, you’re actually in the right, so I have even more reason to support you.”

Aunt Liu also nodded. “Right, that’s how it should be. If he’s not going to live a proper life, he deserves whatever shame comes his way.”

Granny Cai came out of the house and greeted everyone. She looked well and didn’t seem at all affected by Old Man Cai’s affair.

But then again, she was someone who had been abroad and had her horizons broadened.

The Earth is round, and it revolves around the sun.

It will keep spinning, no matter who leaves.

‘What is there to be hung up on?’

“Alright, you all go on with your day. This is just a small matter.” Granny Cai smiled. “I can handle it. Don’t worry about me.”

‘At her age, what was there she couldn’t let go of?’

‘To put it bluntly, she had one foot in the grave. Who knew when she’d just kick the bucket.’

‘The family has money and a business now, not to mention children and grandchildren. This is the time to enjoy life. Every minute spent being angry is an insult to this wonderful life she has now.’

Seeing Granny Cai in such good spirits, Han Xiaorui smiled. “Godmother, stay strong.”

“I will.” Granny Cai smiled.

Her smile was serene. She was making peace with her life and with herself, ready to shed her burdens and walk forward into a new chapter.

Seeing her old friend so carefree, Aunt Liu gave her a thumbs-up. “I have to say, I really admire your perspective. If it were me, I’d probably be half-dead from anger.”

Hearing this, Granny Cai smiled. “Getting angry will only make me miserable. Nothing in this world is ever perfect; nine parts out of ten is the best you can hope for. My life is perfect in every other way, so having an unreliable old husband isn’t so unacceptable.”

“Alright, I’m going to eat now. After I’m done, I’ll unpack my luggage. Come over later, I brought you a gift from my trip.”

Hearing this, Aunt Liu was surprised. “You brought me a gift?”

Granny Cai nodded. “Of course. You’ve been my dear friend for decades. I couldn’t forget a gift for you.”

“Okay, then I’ll go home for breakfast, and I’ll come right back to keep you company.” Aunt Liu felt that even though her old friend was being strong, she still needed companionship.

Han Xiaorui was relieved. ‘A woman who knows when to hold on and when to let go is the most beautiful.’

‘Godmother is awesome!’

After eating, Granny Cai personally called Chen Nanyang.

Chen Nanyang took the call, canceled a meeting, and came over with Lawyer Wang, the firm’s specialist in divorce cases.

He had originally thought Liang Xiaoyu and Cai Xueqin were getting divorced, not Granny Cai and Uncle Cai.

“Sister Cai, are you absolutely sure you want a divorce?” Chen Nanyang asked. ‘I hope we don’t go through all this trouble just for her to change her mind,’ he thought. ‘It would be a complete waste of time.’

Granny Cai’s attitude was firm. “Yes, I’m getting a divorce, absolutely. I’ve asked you here to help me protect all my current assets and get a smooth divorce. Anything else, Lawyer Chen, you don’t need to concern yourself with.”

Since Granny Cai had put it that way, Chen Nanyang glanced at Lawyer Wang beside him. “Alright. Lawyer Wang is our firm’s top divorce attorney. Lawyer Wang, Sister Cai is an elder to me. You must secure the best possible outcome for her and finalize this divorce as quickly as possible.”

Lawyer Wang nodded repeatedly, assuring them, “Don’t worry, this is my specialty.”

Granny Cai stated her demands and then described the family’s financial situation.

Lawyer Wang was stunned. “Actually, this case should be easy to win; he won’t be able to get his hands on any of the assets. My concern now is that once he sees he can’t get any money, he’ll refuse to divorce. We’ll need enough evidence to prove an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage in order to file.”