The Sweetness of the Seventies-Chapter 1187 - 1156: Divorce Agreement

However, this prerequisite required dealing with his parents.

Before they were married, he thought his mother was a reasonable person, but after the marriage, he slowly realized that this was not the case. Yet, he was afraid of his mother’s nagging and always avoided it.

"Once she married into our Zhu Family, she became a member of the Zhu Family, and naturally, the money she earned is ours too," Mother Zhu said. "She wants a divorce, right? Give her nothing, let her leave with nothing, and take that annoying brat Xiao Xiao with her. Let’s see what kind of man she can marry then."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhitao could hardly believe it and said, "It’s a new society now, don’t spout those old-fashioned ideas. You’re a retired university professor, an intellectual. You shouldn’t act like those ignorant old ladies causing mischief."

Causing mischief?

Her son accused her of causing mischief?

Mother Zhu gasped for breath and almost fainted, staggering.

"Zhitao, hold your tongue, will you?" Father Zhu interjected, trying to smooth things over. "I’ll talk to your mother, don’t be upset. Tomorrow, go and apologize to Lady Yuanhua, try to coax her to come back." He too felt this had gone too far.

Zhu Zhitao gave a wry smile and turned to leave.

Pointing at Zhu Zhitao, Mother Zhu cursed loudly, "Ungrateful wretch, truly a waste of upbringing."

"Enough, hold your tongue," said Father Zhu. "Your son is right; the family’s expenses are mainly covered by our daughter-in-law, even this courtyard was bought with money she earned herself. We are already living well here; don’t cause any more trouble. It’s bad enough you take things to the second son’s place, but inciting them to divorce is sheer nonsense!"

"That woman is just talking big, trying to scare us. Ignore it, she’ll come back on her own after a while," Mother Zhu said smugly, utterly unconcerned.

Zhu Zhitao had a restless night, especially after seeing a video where his mother hadn’t fed Xiao Xiao all day yesterday, and Xiao Xiao had been left starving until she stole some cookies for relief, yet his mother had punished her by making her stand outside.

Zhu Zhitao felt guilty and got up early the next day, intending to buy some breakfast and see his wife and daughter.

But Mother Zhu was unwilling, constantly claiming she felt unwell and asking Zhu Zhitao to take her to the hospital.

Even though Zhu Zhitao was angry, he had no choice but to take his mother to the hospital, where, after a messy series of tests, he had nearly spent all the money in his wallet.

The results showed his mother was fine!

This made Zhu Zhitao even angrier, as his mother was clearly blocking him from visiting Lady Yuanhua and his daughter.

But this was his mother; after all, Zhu Zhitao couldn’t berate or physically punish his mother.

After getting ready, Zhu Zhitao prepared to visit Lady Yuanhua, but he did not expect a middle-aged man in a suit and leather shoes to arrive at his home.

"Hello, may I ask if you are Mr. Zhu Zhitao?" the middle-aged man asked politely, with a smile.

Zhu Zhitao was taken aback and asked, "I am Zhu Zhitao. And you are?"

"I am Li Jing, the lawyer representing Lady Yuanhua. This is the divorce agreement I drafted according to Lady Yuanhua’s wishes, which she has already reviewed, confirmed, and signed this morning," Li Jing explained, pulling out several stapled sheets of the agreement from his briefcase and handing them to Zhu Zhitao.

Zhu Zhitao was taken aback; he had not expected to actually receive the divorce papers today.

This time, he truly realized that Yuan Hua wanted to divorce him.

"Mr. Zhu, Mr. Zhu!" Seeing Zhu Zhitao in a daze, Li Jing gently reminded him, "Are we talking about the agreement face to face, or do you want to look at it yourself first, and then we can set a time to discuss it in detail?"

Zhu Zhitao said blankly, "I’ll look at it first, I’ll look at it first. You go back for now, I will communicate with Yuan Hua."

Zhu Zhitao’s mind was in turmoil, but he had not forgotten that Yuan Hua’s thoughts were the most critical. If he was just talking with the lawyer, it meant that he was preparing for divorce.

Yet he still loved Yuan Hua, he still wanted this family, he did not want a divorce.

"Alright, I have now officially given you the agreement, please sign here," Li Jing said as he brought out a report.

Zhu Zhitao felt helpless and signed under Li Jing’s watchful eye, indicating that he had received it.

After Li Jing left, Zhu Zhitao walked back despondently and sat on the sofa, holding his head and sobbing.

Had his marriage really come to this?

Father Zhu, seeing his son like this, asked cautiously, "Son, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Zhu Zhitao looked up, his eyes already red, and said, "Now I’m getting divorced. Are you satisfied this time?"

Father Zhu was stunned, then asked, "What do you mean by that? Who was that person just now?"

"That was Yuan Hua’s representative lawyer," Zhu Zhitao said, "This is our divorce agreement!"

Father Zhu hadn’t expected Yuan Hua to actually send the divorce papers and began to doubt what his wife had said earlier, saying, "Zhitao, go and sweet-talk Yuan Hua, say some nice words. Couples fight at the head of the bed but make up at the end. If you don’t go, how can things get better? Give her a way out, maybe Yuan Hua will come back."

"The key issue now is not just between us as husband and wife, but also the things you and mom did, which Yuan Hua can’t accept," Zhu Zhitao said. "Before we got married, mom said Yuan Hua came from a bad background. How is she bad? She graduated from a prestigious university, is talented, and frankly, better than me. After we married, how did you treat Yuan Hua? If having a bad background is the issue, then my younger brother’s wife’s father is just a doorman, how much more noble is that than a farmer?"

Father Zhu, hearing this, was left speechless.

Mother Zhu came out of the room and said, "You mentioned it yourself, Yuan Hua is so wealthy and talented. If I didn’t keep her down, how could you raise your head in this family?"

So that was Mother Zhu’s intention.

Zhu Zhitao stared dumbfounded, and then bitter, it was all his own uselessness.

"Mom, Yuan Hua has never looked down on me because of her income. It’s you who always criticize this and that, treat Xiao Xiao unkindly, which affects our marital relationship. Now I’m getting divorced, you must be happy," Zhu Zhitao said bitterly, "A perfectly good home, just gone like that."

"So divorce, then divorce, you are so capable, why fear a divorce? Now you are even a coach for the national team," Mother Zhu said resolutely, unwilling to let Yuan Hua overstep her, "Since you’re divorcing, then properly divide the property."

"Divide the property?" Zhu Zhitao gave a wry smile, "After the divorce, I won’t have anything to divide."

"Why is that?" Mother Zhu asked, "Even if the pre-marital property isn’t considered, there has been a lot of income over the years, you surely have a share."

Father Zhu also felt something amiss and asked, "What is actually going on?"

Zhu Zhitao said with a pained face, "Before we married, we signed an agreement that after having a child, our marital property would belong to our child. That means, if I divorce, I get nothing, it all belongs to Xiao Xiao."