Chapter 10: Leave, No Matter the Reason

Old Mrs. Li’s gold ring was missing. She claimed she had taken it off and placed it on the edge of the kang the night before, but when she woke up the next morning, it was gone.

She insisted that her second daughter-in-law had stolen it.

This was because the second daughter-in-law had asked her for the gold ring before, but she hadn’t been willing to give it up.

The Li family’s second daughter-in-law was a tough one; she adamantly denied it and even told the old lady to call the police. The neighborhood committee also helped look for it, but unfortunately, it couldn't be found.

And so, the dispute had been left hanging for several days.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were blaming and accusing each other, nearly becoming sworn enemies.

Lu Qiaoge shifted her gaze away from the swallow’s nest, introduced herself to Qi Shuang with a smile, and then the two of them went inside.

Seeing Qi Shuang’s face full of sorrow and hidden pain, Lu Qiaoge got straight to the point: "I summarized a few possibilities this morning as to why he won't touch you. Take a look, Sister Qi."

After saying this, she took a piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to Qi Shuang.

Qi Shuang looked at Lu Qiaoge with suspicion. She felt relieved that Lu Qiaoge hadn't come in asking questions left and right like everyone else.

She took the paper, unfolded it, and her eyes widened instantly. The look of pain vanished, replaced by sheer disbelief.

On the plain white paper, there were points numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5... all the way to 29.

That was hardly "a few."

Qi Shuang clutched her chest, her eyes filled with confusion.

How could there be so many possibilities?

"Sister Qi, can you rule any of these out?"

As she spoke, Lu Qiaoge took out a pencil stub: "Cross out the ones you think are impossible."

Qi Shuang hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

While Lu Qiaoge took a moment to drink some water, Qi Shuang had already furrowed her brows and crossed out half of them, leaving only the other half.

Lu Qiaoge asked softly: "When your mother-in-law said you couldn't conceive, what was your husband's attitude?"

Qi Shuang gritted her teeth: "He didn't care. He just let my mother-in-law scold me."

Lu Qiaoge:...

Regardless of the reason, this kind of marriage was suffocating.

She looked at Qi Shuang calmly and asked again: "If he told you the reason and still wanted to continue living with you, what would your attitude be?"

Qi Shuang: "One of the reasons on this list?"

Lu Qiaoge nodded.

Qi Shuang hesitated, then gritted her teeth and said: "Divorce. No matter the reason, I want a divorce."

That made things easier.

Lu Qiaoge suggested: "Then write a divorce application. If he doesn't agree, go to the Women's Federation."

Before Lu Qiaoge left, she took the paper back, though Qi Shuang had already copied it down.

Qi Shuang decided to confront Yao Kai with each point one by one.

Just as Lu Qiaoge reached the doorway, she suddenly jumped forward. This movement drew Qi Shuang’s scattered attention back, and immediately after, a dollop of bird droppings landed with a *splat* on the ground right in the doorway.

It was exactly where Lu Qiaoge had been standing a moment before.

Qi Shuang asked hurriedly: "Qiaoge, are you okay?"

It was fortunate she had dodged in time, or it would have landed right on her head.

Lu Qiaoge looked up at the swallow’s nest.

A swallow flew over her head: *[Oops, missed.]*

Another swallow poked its little head out of the nest and said affectionately: *[Darling, you’re being naughty again. Go find me some food.]*

At this time of year, it should be the incubation period for the swallows; the chicks hadn't even hatched yet.

Lu Qiaoge’s eyes darted around, and she looked at the neighbors who were starting to gather to watch the commotion.

She said: "Sister Qi, your swallows are too mischievous. I’m going up to teach them a lesson."

Before Qi Shuang could stop her, Lu Qiaoge had already moved a ladder from the corner of the wall, placed it under the eaves, and climbed up.

The swallow was still watching the fun, never expecting that the human would climb up and stare it right in the eye.

*[Ah... ahhh!]*

Lu Qiaoge: "Don't 'ah' me. Is your 'darling' always this naughty?"

*[Huh?]* The swallow’s entire body stiffened.

Lu Qiaoge looked inside. Besides three bird eggs, there was indeed a gold ring tucked to the side.

Lu Qiaoge didn't take it, but whispered to the swallow: "I can understand what you're saying, so don't be afraid. I won't hurt you, but don't touch that gold ring. Someone will come to get it in a while."

*[You... you can really understand us?]*

Lu Qiaoge hummed in agreement, then pointed at the swallow: "Tell your husband, if it dares to poop on my head again, I’ll pluck all its feathers out!"

The swallow stared with its black-bean eyes: *[Yes, yes... it... it definitely won't dare to again.]*

Lu Qiaoge thought for a moment, then smiled and said: "Have your naughty husband fly to Guzi Village north of the city and help me see what vegetables are in the commune members' gardens. If you do a good job, I’ll give you some millet to eat."

Guzi Village was the production brigade closest to the military factory, located in the northern suburbs.

Every household there had a vegetable garden and a private plot.

Lu Qiaoge liked eating meat, but she also liked vegetables.

But these days, let alone meat, even getting vegetables wasn't as easy as one might think.

Not to mention the tenement buildings, even the bungalow areas didn't have vegetable gardens.

The Lu family only had a row of green onions planted in the corner, and they were almost all eaten now.

The grocery store actually received fresh greens every day, but you couldn't get your hands on them; rumor had it they were all taken by people pulling strings. Only a few hundred catties would be put on the counter, but there were thousands of people waiting to buy.

As for why they didn't stock more, the grocery store had a new manager this year, and no one knew what was going on.

Anyway, they got stock every day, and every day you had to fight for it...

Lu Qiaoge had a sudden inspiration to let the naughty swallow fly over and take a look.

Whether it would work or not, she would only know after trying.

When the swallow heard this, its eyes lit up. They went there often, so it nodded vigorously in agreement.

Lu Qiaoge climbed down the ladder, pulled Qi Shuang aside, and whispered: "Do you know about your neighbor losing a gold ring?"

Qi Shuang: "I know."

Lu Qiaoge pointed at the swallow’s nest: "There’s a gold ring in there."

Qi Shuang covered her mouth in shock.

—

When Lu Qiaoge returned home, Su Hui, who had been doing odd jobs, was cooking.

Because of the long journey, Old Mrs. Lu and Lu Qiaoling were exhausted and were sleeping.

It was almost the end of May, and the weather was getting hot, so Lu Qiaoge hurried to fetch water to wash her face.

Old Lu returned shortly after Lu Qiaoge. He was holding a lunchbox containing braised pork with potatoes.

Meng Xia took the lunchbox and pointed toward the west room: "Mom and Qiaoling are back."

Before Old Lu could show his emotions, Meng Xia rattled off the reasons for their return.

At the end, Meng Xia frowned: "I don't know which loose-lipped person called Qiaoling with that news; it’s too malicious."

Old Lu thought for a moment and waved his hand: "That call won't be easy to trace. Let it be for now."

He then said: "I think Qiaoge has become much more sensible since she fell into the water. Even if they don't have jobs, they won't starve if they stay home and glue boxes for now. I’ll apply for overtime tomorrow." He frowned again: "But what about Qiaoling? How was that handled back at the old home?"

Meng Xia rolled her eyes: "Your mother lay at the brigade office, clutching her chest and saying that she and Qiaoling were both dying. How could the Fifth Great-Uncle dare to keep them? He sent them to the train station overnight..."

Old Lu’s eyes widened: "How could they lie like that?"

Meng Xia couldn't be bothered to deal with him: "Then go report them!"

Old Lu had always been law-abiding and responsive to the call of duty; he never pulled strings or asked for favors, otherwise, they wouldn't be in such a difficult spot.

Old Lu felt a headache coming on. Just as he was about to say something, Meng Xia said: "Don't forget to go to Old Jiang’s house tonight and borrow some grain. With Mom and Qiaoling back, we don't have enough to eat. We'll pay him back next month."