The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 116 - 115: In Your Dreams

He Ze was a married man, but he was a worker and handsome. Those two things alone put him far above most men in the village.

In Da Liushu Village, only the two He brothers were workers. Gu Yuwei naturally preferred He Lang to He Ze, but He Lang didn’t like her; in fact, he looked down on her.

’Didn’t he tell me to stay away from the He family? Well, I specifically chose He Ze.’

Gu Yuwei knew her advantages. Not only was she beautiful, but she was also a high school student and a city girl. Compared to a village woman like Gao Cuiyun, she had a clear edge.

Sure enough, He Ze was interested in her too. But she didn’t throw herself at him. That’s how men are: the more they long for something they can’t have, the more they can’t let it go. So, for the past few years, Gu Yuwei had accepted He Ze’s gifts and his invitations to go out. But aside from a simple kiss and some flirting, she had always refused to take things further.

Last year, He Ze became a permanent worker. Every time he got paid, he would take her to the state-run restaurant, buy her things, and even give her money—ten yuan a month.

Gu Yuwei felt she had achieved her goal: to find a man with good means to support her. That man was He Ze. And so, she finally gave herself to him completely.

But gradually, Gu Yuwei grew dissatisfied with the current situation. They always had to meet in secret, unable to be seen together. The other educated youths had opinions about her returning late at night, and those who disliked her would make sarcastic remarks, implying she was up to something shameful outside.

Gu Yuwei knew this couldn’t go on. She wanted He Ze to divorce Gao Cuiyun and marry her. Then she could move into the He Family home openly, no longer having to squeeze into the educated youth housing and endure being ostracized.

Although He Ze was hesitant, he couldn’t resist her charms and promised he would definitely marry her. He just needed time.

Tonight, Gu Yuwei didn’t know what had gone wrong. She and He Ze had met at their usual spot, but someone had discovered them right as they were starting and called all these people over.

Just as Gao Cuiyun and He Ze were grappling with each other, someone shouted, "The village chief is here!"

The village chief came over. When he saw He Ze and Gu Yuwei, he froze for a moment, then frowned and glanced at Mr. He.

Mr. He’s face was dark as he met the village chief’s gaze.

The village chief understood what he meant.

"You two, get your clothes on first, then follow me to the brigade office."

He then addressed the crowd, "Everyone else, break it up. It’s late. Go home and sleep."

But everyone was there for the spectacle; how could they let the pair leave so easily? Besides, relations between men and women were strictly policed these days. Being caught in the act in public was considered hooliganism, and they could be subjected to a public struggle session.

So someone stepped forward and said, "Village Chief, these two were committing public indecency out here in the middle of the night. Shouldn’t we send them to the police station and have them properly re-educated?"

"Exactly! Hey, isn’t He Lang’s brother-in-law a police officer? Let’s call him over."

"Oh, but wouldn’t that make them family? Even if he came, he probably wouldn’t do anything."

Hearing this, the village chief glanced at He Lang and his wife.

"I’ll handle this. Now, everyone go home and sleep! Do you have work tomorrow or not? Anyone who’s late will lose a day’s work points."

The village chief’s roar silenced many people, and they slowly began to disperse.

The He family and Gu Yuwei followed the village chief to the brigade office.

Some of the other educated youths wondered if they should follow, since Gu Yuwei was, after all, one of them.

"You can go if you want, but I’m not going. It’s an absolute disgrace. You think the reputation of us educated youths isn’t bad enough already?" Wang Shumin said angrily.

Wang Shumin thought, ’Of all people, Gu Yuwei had to get involved with someone from the He family—and Xue Yue’s husband’s second brother, no less.’ It tarnished the reputation of all the educated youths, and it made her feel embarrassed by association.

Hearing Wang Shumin’s words, the others fell silent and returned to the educated youth housing.

Mrs. He was trembling with anger, so unsteady on her feet that He Nan had to support her.

Xue Yue was worried about Ruanruan at home, so she left first.

He Lang followed them to the brigade office.

Inside the brigade office, the village chief stood with his hands behind his back, looking at He Ze. "Second Brother, you’re a family man! And a worker! How could you do something like this? Where’s your sense of decency?"

He Ze kept his head down and didn’t speak.

Mr. He kicked him from behind, sending him sprawling to his knees.

Seeing this, Mrs. He shuddered and nearly lost her footing.

He Lang was the last to enter. He saw Little Chen standing just outside the door, his eyes red and his fists clenched, just standing there listening to the conversation inside.

He Lang walked over and put an arm around his shoulder, noticing he was trembling all over. He Lang tilted his head to look at him, his eyes filled with pity.

"Relax, kid. This is their fault, don’t punish yourself for it. Grandma, Grandpa, and your Third Uncle are here. Don’t worry."

Little Chen looked at He Lang with red-rimmed eyes. "Third Uncle, do you think Dad doesn’t want us anymore?"

He Lang gritted his teeth. "Even if he doesn’t want you, you can still live a good life, right? In this world, no one is truly indispensable to anyone else. You’re a little man now. Third Uncle believes in you."

Little Chen looked at He Lang, then lowered his head again.

Voices carried from inside the room.

He Lang let go of Little Chen and went inside. He found a place to sit and watched He Ze with a cold gaze.

"Now you’ve made this mess, and the whole village knows. Do you have any regard for your reputation? How are your children supposed to face anyone after this? How do you plan to handle this?"

He Ze only faltered for a second at the mention of his children, but a moment later, he looked up and said, "I want a divorce."

"In your dreams!"

"Bullshit!"

Gao Cuiyun and Mrs. He shouted in unison.

Gao Cuiyun shrieked, "Village Chief, I will not get a divorce! I won’t divorce him just to let that shameless pair get what they want! I’ll drag this out with him. Even in death, he will always be my husband."

Gao Cuiyun’s breathing was ragged. She was a disheveled mess, a hint of madness in her eyes.

Then she pointed at Gu Yuwei. "You vixen! You shameless slut! You want to kick me out so you can marry into the He Family? You’re dreaming! Don’t even think about it! I’ll never agree to a divorce, not even if I die!"

He Ze looked at Gao Cuiyun. "We can’t go on like this. Why do you have to cling to me? Can’t we just part amicably?"

Hearing this, Gao Cuiyun let out a laugh tinged with bitterness.

"Am I the one clinging to you? Didn’t you formally marry me and bring me into this family? Now you think I’m clinging to you and want to part amicably? What were you thinking back then?"

He Ze had completely lost his patience with Gao Cuiyun.

"We’re talking about now, not the past! Our personalities don’t match, our values are different, we can’t live together anymore! Besides, look at yourself! You’re a shrew! Why do you insist on being tied to me?"

"I’m a shrew because you people drove me to it! Don’t you just want me to make way for this bitch? ’Personalities don’t match,’ ’values are different’... We’ve lived together for over a decade! I’ve borne you three children! You’re only just now discovering we’re not compatible?"