"Divorce?"
Lin Jinxiao and Li Ce were stunned when they heard that.
However, since she had already said it, there was no turning back. After swallowing her anger for so long, she had to resolve this matter today.
Chu Nanzhi looked at Lin Jinxiao and said seriously,
"Yes, divorce. Life is short and it's tiring to always be judged by others. Brother Lin, perhaps my life in the past was muddled and not what you liked. In the future, I might not live the way you like either. But the past is gone and neither of us can change it. If I have hurt you in the past, I'll sincerely apologize to you today."
Her eyes wandered over Lin Jinxiao's handsome face. She tried her best to imitate the Host's tone.
"Brother Lin, I've always known that you've tolerated me for my mother's sake. But since I have taken the initiative to bring up a divorce today, you don't have to worry about what she thinks anymore. Moreover, I won't leave immediately. We'll divorce after you recover. In the meantime, I'll take good care of you and the four children."
Then, she looked at Li Ce and continued,
"Today, Third Brother can be our witness. I will definitely keep my word. I hope that when you recover, you will give me a divorce letter."
"Huh."
Lin Jinxiao sneered mockingly. "So you've been pretending to be good to me and the children these past few days because of this."
After puzzling over this for so long, he finally understood.
"You could say that."
Chu Nanzhi pursed her lips and looked at him calmly.
Hearing her words, Li Ce frowned.
"Sister-in-law, did something happen at the county office today? As a woman, how will you survive if you divorce? Don't spout nonsense."
He knew very well that his big brother had been waiting for her to take the initiative to say such things.
However, this woman had changed a lot after the tax case. He felt that at this rate, their relationship could be salvaged.
He and Madam Zhou's marriage had also been arranged by their parents. Now they treated each other with respect. There was no need to talk about love.
Just as he was about to dissuade his sister-in-law, Lin Jinxiao stopped him. He looked at Chu Nanzhi calmly and said coldly,
"Have you thought it through? You won't regret it?"
"No."
Chu Nanzhi knew that in this era, divorced women were poorly treated.
However, she was not a weak woman. With her abilities, as long as she was willing to work hard, she believed she would have a good future.
"Alright, as long as you don't act recklessly in the next few days and don't beat or scold the children, I'll give you a divorce."
Lin Jinxiao's answer was crisp and clear.
He had been looking forward to this day.
Madam Chen had sold him to Liu Yun as her son-in-law for five hundred taels of silver. On the day he married this woman, he had already accepted his fate. He felt that his life had been ruined by this mother and daughter.
But now things were taking a turn for the better.
He was indescribably happy. His lost fighting spirit burned brightly at that moment. He suppressed the joy in his heart and slowly walked towards the inner room.
Li Ce was a little dejected and prepared to leave.
Chu Nanzhi walked him out of the courtyard.
The moment Li Ce walked out of the courtyard, he suddenly turned around and advised indignantly,
"Sister-in-law, why don't you reconsider? Actually, as long as you continue behaving like that, my brother will accept you sooner or later. He's not a cold-hearted person."
He increasingly could not understand the woman in front of him.
It was even more incredible that he was actually worried about this woman who had once disgusted him.
Perhaps the human heart is often like this:
If a person who has always been kind suddenly has a little flaw, he would be scolded and spurned. If a person who has done many evil deeds suddenly did a good deed, others would be moved to tears.
Chu Nanzhi also knew that he had good intentions and replied with a smile,
"Third Brother, you don't have to dissuade me anymore. I appreciate your kindness. Don't worry, I will lead a good life after we divorce. Even if I'm alone, I'll work hard and my life will be no worse than his."
Li Ce was still worried.
Of course, he was not worried about his elder brother. Even as a divorcée with so many children, there would probably be many women pursing him.
On the contrary…
At that thought, Li Ce sighed helplessly and said to Chu Nanzhi, "Sister-in-law, have a good rest."
Then, he left resentfully.
Chu Nanzhi watched him disappear into the night before she turned around and walked back to the hall.
After speaking her mind, she felt that her footsteps were much lighter.
She took the document bag, blew out the lights, and returned to her hut. She put away all the silver she had earned.
In addition to what was left today, she now had a total of 285 taels.
The county's old doctor now provided the medicine needed to treat Lin Jinxiao's injuries. As long as nothing major happened, it would not cost much money for him to recover.
After the divorce, she planned to leave a sum of money for the children so that they could live a better life in the future.
Next was the Chu Family's troubles.
"Well, it looks like I'll have to help the county magistrate solve the case as soon as possible and then go back to my maiden home."
With that thought in mind, Chu Nanzhi went to boil water and take a bath. She returned to her room and took out the dossier. She laid on the bed and started reading it again.
Today at the government office, she had already ruled out the possibility that the Zhao boy had been kidnapped. Kidnapping by bandits was not within her consideration.
By considering all the information she had, she could only accept the county magistrate's hypothesis that this had been done by an enemy.
But investigations are not limited to fanciful hypotheses. They also involve field visits to collect evidence.
She had only taken the dossier to dispel the county magistrate's worries. It could not give her any more inspiration.
However, she still carefully read the dossier a few more times. She memorized all the information without missing a single word. She extinguished the lamp and prepared to personally make a trip to the Zhao Mansion tomorrow.
The next day, she got up at dawn. After washing up, she went to make porridge. Thinking that the children would not wake up so early, she scooped a bowl of porridge for herself. After filling her stomach, she would go to the county office early.
With Li Ce taking care of the family, there was no need to worry.
After cleaning the dishes and taking out the official document bag, she had just locked the door when she saw that Little Lin Ruijia had appeared behind her.
She was wearing the new pink dress from yesterday. She looked like a Barbie doll and Chu Nanzhi's heart melted.
Without waiting for Chu Nanzhi to speak, Little Ruijia asked, "Are you going out again?"
Chu Nanzhi bent down and smiled at her, saying softly,
"A boy in the county has gone missing. I'm going to help the county magistrate find him. Uncle Li will take care of you at home. You have to listen to him."
Little Ruijia pouted, not daring to answer.
Seeing that she was really leaving, Little Ruijia suddenly became anxious. "Can I go with you?"
She was increasingly worried that the bad woman would not come back.
Seeing her sincere gaze, Chu Nanzhi looked outside the courtyard. The coachman was already at the door and Li Ce's figure had also appeared in the courtyard.
"You haven't washed your face and eaten. Maybe next time."
But just as Chu Nanzhi finished speaking, Little Ruijia started crying loudly in protest.
Chu Nanzhi had no choice but to console her. "Okay, okay, okay. I'll bring you along."
Then, she hurriedly washed Little Ruijia's face and tied his hair. She decided to bring her to the Zhao Mansion.