Chapter Forty-Two: Divorce and Human Traffickers

When Wen Xiuting walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, she felt utterly lost. Marriage, divorce—matters of life and death. Had she truly just completed one of life’s greatest milestones? Everything seemed so dreamlike, so unreal.

It was only four thirty in the afternoon. Ordinarily, she would be heading to work at the Seaside Cottage. Yet she had no desire to go. In the end, she dialed Shen Ye: “Boss, may I take two days off—today and tomorrow?”

Shen Ye paused for a moment on the other end, then replied, “Of course, but… Sister-in-law, your voice sounds off. Did something happen?”

“Don’t call me Sister-in-law anymore. I’m a bit older than you—just call me Xiuting. I divorced your brother, Shen Die.” Wen Xiuting spoke with a calmness tinged by exhaustion. “I’m not feeling well, so I’d like to take two days off.”

“You divorced Shen Die? Why?” Shen Ye sounded genuinely surprised.

Wen Xiuting briefly explained the situation.

Shen Ye was stunned. “Cousin is really like that? Well, okay… Sister-in-law—no, Xiuting—take your time off. Come back when you’re feeling better. There’s not much going on here anyway.”

After hanging up, Wen Xiuting felt powerless. It was only four thirty; she had two days off ahead. What should she do? The person she most wanted to see was her son, Xiao Nan.

But during the divorce proceedings, it was agreed that Xiao Nan would spend tonight at the Shen family, saying goodbye to his grandparents. She would pick him up tomorrow.

Finally, Wen Xiuting thought of her close friend, Xie Meina. They had been classmates since middle school and continued together through high school. Meina had done well, gotten into a good university, and later returned to N County No. 1 High School as a teacher. Wen Xiuting had attended a junior college and came back without a good job. Yet their friendship remained steadfast, unchanged by circumstance.

She called Xie Meina: “Meina, I got divorced. Come drink with me.”

“What? You got divorced?” Meina was clearly shocked. “Alright, where are we drinking? Bar?”

“My place,” Wen Xiuting began, then hesitated. “Now that I think about it, that home isn’t mine anymore. I don’t have anywhere to live. I’ll find a place to rent, then call you.”

“It’s four thirty, Xiuting. Most agents are closing up now—do you really think you’ll find a place in a hurry? If you stay at a hotel, you probably don’t have much money left after the divorce. Just bring your things and move in with me. I live alone in a two-bedroom apartment; there’s room for you. By the way, who’s Xiao Nan with?”

“Of course he’s with me,” Wen Xiuting replied. “Alright, I won’t be polite. I’ll come over.”

“Bring Xiao Nan too,” Meina said.

“He’s spending tonight at his father’s. He’ll start living with me tomorrow.”

“Alright, just come over,” Meina said, and hung up.

Meina lived in September Court, a high-end neighborhood in N County with central landscaping, double underground garages, elevated common spaces, and two elevators serving two apartments per floor.

Wen Xiuting rang the doorbell, and the door opened.

Xie Meina appeared, about 1.56 meters tall—much taller than Wen Xiuting—with striking features and a great figure. She wore a white short-sleeved shirt and denim shorts, showing off strong, shapely legs and radiating a lively energy. She set down Wen Xiuting’s bags and asked, “I’ve got white liquor, red wine, yellow wine, and beer. What do you want?”

“Let’s drink white liquor,” Wen Xiuting replied.

Meina jumped in surprise. “You never touch alcohol! Is the divorce really that painful? Honestly, you shouldn’t go straight for white liquor—you’ll regret it after one glass. Let’s stick to beer; I’ll make the call for you.”

She grabbed a bottle of beer, put together some cold dishes and peanuts, and they began to eat.

Wen Xiuting took the beer and drank straight from the bottle.

“So, why did you and Shen Die divorce? I thought you two always got along well,” Meina asked.

Wen Xiuting gave a bitter smile and explained everything.

Meina was stunned. “What? That bastard cheated for money? Damn, I really misjudged him.”

She took a gloomy swig of beer. “A man who cheats for money—better off without him.”

Suddenly, Meina playfully poked Wen Xiuting’s chest. “What are you afraid of? You’ve got a great figure—men love that, and you’re beautiful, still young at twenty-five. Remarrying won’t be hard. Honestly, it’s better this way—Shen Die was a jerk. You’ve been supporting the family for years; I feel tired just watching you.”

“When you look again, be careful—no womanizers, and definitely not any broke freeloaders.”

“I don’t plan to marry again,” Wen Xiuting said, shaking her head.

Meina was taken aback. “Don’t tell me you still have feelings for that jerk?”

“I lost all feelings the moment he asked for a divorce. It’s just Xiao Nan. I don’t believe any man would accept a woman with a child from her ex-husband. I don’t want Xiao Nan to suffer even a bit,” Wen Xiuting said earnestly.

Meina was silent, understanding this was a knot in her friend’s heart.

“Why talk about that jerk? Let’s drink,” Wen Xiuting said, downing beer. Normally she wouldn’t touch alcohol, but after three bottles, she was drunk.

...

The next morning.

Wen Xiuting woke with a headache. She’d certainly gone wild last night. But now, everything felt resolved. There was no hurdle she couldn’t cross.

Then she noticed a note on the table from Meina.

“Xiuting, I went to teach this morning. There’s milk and bread in the fridge—help yourself.”

The feeling of having a close friend was wonderful.

Wen Xiuting felt a surge of warmth, but soon faced the question: with a day off, what should she do?

She decided to take her son, Shen Nan, to eat at KFC.

When her salary was eighteen hundred, after groceries and kindergarten fees, there was never enough left to treat her son to KFC. But after two months at Seaside Cottage, her salary had doubled, and she could finally afford to take him. Shen Nan loved it.

It was May Day holiday, and when Wen Xiuting went to Shen Die’s home to pick up her son, she didn’t see him—he’d probably gone out to avoid her.

Shen Nan was four years old, about a meter tall, chubby and lively. “Mom, did you and Dad get divorced? So he won’t live with us anymore?”

Wen Xiuting felt a pang of sorrow. “Your dad wants to marry another woman, and there’s nothing I can do. Xiao Nan, from now on you’ll be with me, okay?”

“Okay. Dad’s new girlfriend stayed at our house yesterday. She seemed friendly and gave me toys, but I felt like she was mean,” Shen Nan whispered.

Children are perceptive. Li Jie, the woman who passed by Wen Xiuting, always provoked her—how could she be kind to Wen Xiuting’s son?

Wen Xiuting hugged Shen Nan, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Xiao Nan, from now on you’ll be with Mom, alright? We’ll stay at your Aunt Meina’s for a few days, then Mom will find a place to rent. Now, let’s go to KFC.”

Children’s worries come and go quickly.

When he heard this, Shen Nan nodded enthusiastically. “Alright! Mom, I love KFC!”

He was thrilled, bouncing all the way.

They arrived at the busiest area in N County. With the May Day holiday, it was even more crowded—people everywhere.

Wen Xiuting held Shen Nan’s hand. “Stay close to Mom.”

“Okay, Mom, I know,” Shen Nan replied with a firm nod.

As they navigated through the crowd, Wen Xiuting suddenly felt her hand slip and looked around—Shen Nan had vanished. What now? Where was Shen Nan?

She scanned the surroundings and saw a short, thin man forcefully dragging Shen Nan away.

Was this a kidnapper?

Her mind went blank. Countless thoughts flashed through her brain—if someone took Xiao Nan, she wouldn’t survive it. Driven by instinct, Wen Xiuting took off her high heel and hurled it.

As a child in the countryside, she’d been a tomboy—climbing trees, raiding bird nests, shooting birds with slingshots.

At that moment, all her childhood skills came together—the shoe struck the kidnapper’s head with a loud thud.

Blood splattered; his head broke open.

The kidnapper had thought he could snatch a child easily, but he hadn’t expected such a sudden blow. Panicked, he let go of Shen Nan and slipped into the crowd.

Wen Xiuting, barefoot, rushed over and hugged Shen Nan, sobbing.

In that moment, she felt she was holding her whole world.

Shen Nan was a bit bewildered, but comforted her: “Don’t cry, Mom. Don’t cry.”

(These two chapters are transitional—the main story resumes next chapter.)