Chapter 4: Eight Years of Marriage, Worth Eighty Thousand

Who in the entire military district would dare show him disrespect then, let alone Shen Zhihui?

In high spirits, he tried on one formal outfit after another with Lin Xuan for the promotion ceremony.

They had just made their choices when a call came from the head of the political affairs department.

"Major General Han, Shen Zhihui has reported us to the military district's discipline inspection and supervision authorities!"

"All research funding has been frozen!"

"Your promotion order has been canceled too!"

Han Yansen stood rooted to the spot, as if struck by lightning.

It took him a long time to force the words through clenched teeth.

"Impossible!"

The military district committee had already notified him that his promotion was approved. Only the formal order remained.

He and Shen Zhihui had signed the divorce agreement too. There was no dispute. They were simply waiting to collect the divorce certificate.

Everything had been settled.

How could it suddenly be suspended?

Knowing what he would ask, the department head hastily added,

"Shen Zhihui submitted a complete chain of evidence to the discipline inspectors, reporting a dispute over the division of marital property and ownership of research achievements."

"Every research project undertaken during your marriage, and the ownership of its results, is now under renewed review!"

"The military district's personnel bureau has also notified us of questions over the ownership of achievements listed in your promotion file. The formal promotion decision has been revoked!"

…

The department head kept reporting.

But Han Yansen's mind had gone completely blank.

He wasn't given much time to recover.

Superior departments called one after another to ask what was happening, applying pressure both openly and indirectly.

The institute committee demanded an emergency plenary meeting.

One moment, he had been at the pinnacle.

The next, he'd fallen so hard he was almost shattered.

Lin Xuan came over after changing and took his arm as usual.

"Yansen, I'm ready. Shall we pay and go?"

Seeing his bloodless face, she unconsciously stroked her lower belly.

Their child was inside.

He almost bit his tongue bloody before he managed to pull himself together.

He took her to the checkout.

But the clerk looked uncomfortable.

"Comrade, your official expenditure card has been frozen. It can't be used."

He tried several other cards. The result was the same.

He suddenly remembered the department head saying that Shen Zhihui had also requested a review of the military weapons drawings.

He handed the outfit to the clerk.

"Hold on to it for now."

Lin Xuan immediately grew displeased.

She began muttering.

"It's just an everyday formal outfit. A few tens of thousands of yuan. Is this really necessary?"

The last taut thread of Han Yansen's restraint snapped.

He shook her arm off hard.

"'Just a few tens of thousands'? Listen to yourself!"

"How much do you earn in a month?"

He had always been gentle and courteous to her.

Now he was shouting at her in front of everyone.

Lin Xuan felt humiliated too.

"Why are you yelling at me? I'm carrying your child. I get talked about behind my back at the institute every day. Isn't that enough?"

"Tell me, do you regret divorcing Shen Zhihui?"

"If you don't buy it today, I'll jump from upstairs with your son!"

He'd once adored her lively, impulsive nature.

He'd thought it gave him a passion he'd never felt with Shen Zhihui.

Now, suddenly, she seemed unreasonable, forever backing people into a corner.

The tears and tantrums he'd once found endearing only made him lose face.

The watching crowd grew.

His eyes were bloodshot.

"Fine. Go ahead and jump."

"If my promotion order is canceled, I'll jump with you!"

"Satisfied?"

His wild smile stunned Lin Xuan.

At last, she obediently followed him out.

On the way back, Han Yansen called me.

His voice sounded exhausted.

"Shen Zhihui, we've known each other for twelve years. Must you be this ruthless?"

"Whatever you want, we can discuss it."

I gave a small laugh.

When he'd wanted a divorce, he hadn't thought to discuss it with me.

When he'd stolen my research achievements, he hadn't thought to discuss it.

When he'd forced me to leave military service and the institute, he still hadn't wanted a discussion.

Now that his own interests were suffering, he wanted to negotiate.

But I no longer wanted to negotiate with him.

"Han Yansen."

I said his name.

"I don't want anything."

His voice shot up.