The Sweetness of the Seventies-Chapter 1192 - 1161: Red Book Replaced by Green Book

Zhu Zhitao’s eyes were filled with red blood vessels, and he was somewhat silent in the face of the staff member’s words.

The staff member had intended to mediate further, but Yuan Hua’s legal representative produced a divorce agreement that had already been drawn up, detailing the division of property, as well as child custody and their respective duties.

Seeing that both parties had reached an accord, the staff brought over two forms for Yuan Hua and Zhu Zhitao to fill out.

Upon seeing the reason for divorce, Zhu Zhitao paused for a moment.

Yuan Hua also paused, they glanced at each other, and then Yuan Hua wrote down four characters on the paper, "Irreconcilable differences."

Too many arguments and complaints, Yuan Hua didn’t want to go into them – a myriad of words condensed into these four characters.

Zhu Zhitao’s nose tingled with emotion, he lowered his head and also wrote the same four characters, "Irreconcilable differences," on the paper.

On both Yuan Hua’s and Zhu Zhitao’s forms, there were damp spots, where their tears had fallen.

Witnessing the affection that still seemed to linger between the couple, the staff member then began to speak, "If there’s still a foundation of feelings between you, we could help mediate, you can still start over."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Hua shook her head gently and said, "No need, it’s all in the past."

"Young man, what about you?" The staff member turned to Zhu Zhitao.

Zhu Zhitao did not speak, but shook his head.

"Sigh," seeing this, the staff member could only proceed with the next step in the process.

An hour later, Yuan Hua and Zhu Zhitao held a green booklet in their hands – that was the divorce certificate.

Once outside, Yuan Hua stopped and said, "Zhitao, this is the key to the house in Dihua Residential Area. Take it."

Zhu Zhitao looked at his ex-wife with complicated feelings. His heart was a mess of emotions, but since he had already declined earlier, there was no need to accept now. He said, "No need, the house was bought with your earnings. I didn’t contribute to our home and I’ve let you down these past years."

Despite the hurt, Zhu Zhitao still respected Yuan Hua deep down.

Divorced, they were not enemies. They didn’t part due to infidelity, rather, life had worn away the sharp edges of their love, just as it had erased their marriage.

"Our family was never built on money to begin with," Yuan Hua stated, "Don’t think of this house as something I’m giving to you or bestowing upon you. I just want you to live well. Even though you’re no longer my husband, you’re still Xiao Xiao’s dad. Xiao Xiao is so fond of dad, looks up to you, so I hope you can live well. You are capable, and you’ll have your own house one day, but please accept this as a piece of Xiao Xiao’s affection, after all, these properties are Xiao Xiao’s assets. Thinking of it this way, maybe you can accept it."

Yuan Hua was persistent; she wasn’t lacking money or houses, but she wanted to leave a good memory for her daughter and Zhu Zhitao, hoping he would treat Xiao Xiao with true sincerity.

If you have time, come and see Xiao Xiao, spend some time with your daughter.

Hearing Yuan Hua say this, Zhu Zhitao finally reached out to take the keys and said, "Then I’ll not stand on ceremony. If you need anything in the future, you can always come to me. Also, I’d like to visit the child often on weekends."

"Of course!" Yuan Hua replied, "Xiao Xiao also enjoys your visits. In her heart, you are an incredible dad. Just because we’re divorced doesn’t mean we don’t both want our child to have a happy childhood."

"Yes," Zhu Zhitao nodded, "After I get back, I’ll have my parents leave, and I’ll move out as soon as possible."

The courtyard they had lived in before was Yuan Hua’s property, her favorite, so he would go back and sort things out, so as not to cause difficulties for Yuan Hua.

"Then... then thank you," Yuan Hua said politely.

They each got into their cars and drove off in different directions.

Yuan Hua didn’t return home, but went directly to He Tiantian’s house instead.

Although Zhu Zhitao went to work, he made arrangements for He Tiantian’s training and then headed home to have his parents move out immediately.

He had no face to stay on, and his parents had no right to be there either.

Meanwhile, He Tiantian got home and saw Yuan Hua sitting on the living room sofa looking despondent.

He Tiantian knew that Yuan Hua would come to her, so she wasn’t surprised, but she didn’t expect her to come so soon.

"Yuan Hua, what’s wrong?" He Tiantian asked, pouring a cup of warm water for Yuan Hua.

Yuan Hua took it, drank a few sips, and then slowly said, "Teacher He, I’m divorced."

"Ah?" He Tiantian was startled, "Divorced?"

"Yes, divorced," Yuan Hua affirmed, "You know what’s been going on at my house. My marriage to Zhu Zhitao, half of it was affection, the other half because it was time for me to get married, so I did. But after getting married, I realized it wasn’t as wonderful as I’d imagined. A marriage like yours and Huo Yingjie, I’m envious, but it’s rare, at least, I haven’t encountered it."

Listening to this, He Tiantian said gently, "Each marriage is different, you’re an adult and a good friend of mine, I respect your decision. Now that you’re divorced, have you thought about the future?"

Yuan Hua smiled and replied, "I haven’t thought that far, I just wanted to divorce, to escape that cage. Now I finally understand that classic line from Qian Zhongshu’s ’Fortress Besieged’. Regarding marriage, those outside want to get in, those inside want to get out."

Upon hearing this, He Tiantian patted Yuan Hua on the shoulder and said, "You’re a literary young woman with high ideals at heart, disdainful of family squabbles. You’ve tolerated and disregarded them before, why didn’t you endure this time?"

"They mistreated Xiao Xiao," Yuan Hua said angrily, "I couldn’t let my child grow up in such an environment..."

Afterward, Yuan Hua recounted to He Tiantian how her in-laws treated Xiao Xiao.

After hearing the story, He Tiantian’s expression turned to one of anger, "Knowing your in-laws favored boys over girls, why didn’t you realize it earlier? I noticed that Xiao Xiao had become so quiet. So it’s because she was worn down! Given the circumstances, it’s better to be divorced than for the child to live in such an environment."

"Yes," Yuan Hua concurred, "So I cut through the mess and got a divorce quickly. Even my father, who had previously advised me not to divorce, didn’t try to stop me this time. Even though he believes it’s not good for a woman to be divorced, he doesn’t want me and Xiao Xiao to live in repressed conditions either."

He Tiantian nodded and asked, "How was the property divided? Did you get custody of the child?"

"Xiao Xiao’s custody is with me. Zhu Zhitao took a car, and as for the house, I insisted on giving it to him, but he didn’t want it," Yuan Hua explained, "Zhu Zhitao isn’t a bad person, just that whenever his parents are involved, he tends to give in without principle. Our divorce was smooth, without tearing into each other verbally. Also, he’s Xiao Xiao’s dad, I can’t afford to leave him homeless."