The Stunningly Beautiful and Delicate Darling in the 1980s Military Compound - Chapter 75

In this era, divorce was an extremely rare occurrence. Many women preferred to endure oppression rather than face the stigma of a failed marriage, fearing they would be ostracized or left without a home to return to. As Zhang Jingjing walked out, Old Yu felt a mix of anxiety and spite. He hadn’t stopped her, but he couldn’t help but lash out with paranoia: “Do you have someone else out there?”

He couldn’t fathom why Zhang Jingjing would be so decisive the moment she returned. He felt betrayed that she had spent so many days away without caring for their home, and now, instead of apologizing, she wanted to leave—he was convinced there had to be someone else backing her up. Zhang Jingjing paused, but she was too exhausted to even refute him. The future was uncertain, but she knew she couldn’t endure another minute of this life.

Seeing her silence, Old Yu took it as a confirmation of his suspicions. Veins bulging on his forehead, he grabbed her hand in a rage. “Do you have someone else?!”

“Let go!” Zhang Jingjing wasn’t one to be bullied. She raised her other hand to scratch him. “We are getting divorced! Whether I have someone else or not has nothing to do with you!”

Neighbors living nearby heard the commotion, and two families stepped out to investigate. Seeing the fight, a neighbor grabbed Old Yu. “What is there that can’t be discussed between a husband and wife? How can you resort to physical force? Old Yu, you’re in the wrong here; a man should never hit a woman.”

Old Yu’s eyes were bloodshot, his mind filled only with her words: It has nothing to do with you. Since he couldn’t strike Zhang Jingjing, he redirected his rage toward Song Mingyue. It was all her fault! Ever since Zhang Jingjing had become friends with her, she had turned into a completely different person. He believed the two women were bullying him because they thought he was a pushover. Well, even a pushover has his limits.

With that, he broke free from the neighbors and stormed toward Song Mingyue’s house.

Inside, Mingyue had heard the commotion outside, though she didn’t know it was coming from Zhang Jingjing’s house. She was about to go check when Chen Che, having finished heating up water for a foot bath, urged her to wash up and get some rest.

Chen Che took off her shoes. Under the warm yellow light, Mingyue’s calves looked slender and pale, and her feet were fair and delicate. Chen Che hastily looked away, not daring to stare too intently. The water temperature was perfect. As Mingyue soaked her feet, she told him to leave, “I can wash them myself.”

Chen Che didn’t look up, instead gently massaging her feet. “It’s fine. This will make you feel more comfortable.” In this era, it was common for women to wash their husbands’ feet, but for the reverse to happen—and for a man as stoic as Chen Che to do it—was unheard of. Mingyue closed her eyes in comfort. “You’re actually quite good at this. Have you done this for others before?”

“No,” Chen Che answered honestly.

“Hmm. Little Chen has the makings of a professional masseur. You can use a bit more pressure.”

Chen Che’s lips curled into a faint smile, and he increased the intensity. “Is this better?”

“Yes.”

If his comrades in the military had seen him washing Song Mingyue’s feet, their jaws would have hit the floor. Chen Che was a man who rarely even offered a smile. But he didn’t care. He looked up, content just to watch her resting with her eyes closed.

Just as they were finishing, Old Yu burst through the door. When he saw Captain Chen crouching down to wash Song Mingyue’s feet, he froze, completely stunned. A crowd of neighbors had followed him in, and they were all treated to this scandalous sight.

Song Mingyue remained calm, and Chen Che didn’t panic. “Is there something you need?” he asked. Several women quickly turned their heads away, shocked. What is going on? Why isn’t Song Mingyue serving the Captain, but rather, the man is washing the woman’s feet? They scolded the act as “lacking proper decorum,” but deep down, they felt a pang of envy. How is Song Mingyue so lucky to have such a firm grip on Captain Chen?

Old Yu stuttered for a moment before working up the courage to shout, “Comrade Mingyue, how did you corrupt my Jingjing? Ever since she started hanging out with you, she’s been insisting on divorcing me!”

Chen Che didn’t hurry. He used a towel to dry Mingyue’s feet, put her shoes back on, and then stood up, shielding her. “Watch your tone. Your family matters have nothing to do with Mingyue.”

Chen Che possessed a natural aura of authority that made people instinctively keep their distance. Old Yu was no match for him, but thinking of Zhang Jingjing’s cold attitude, he pressed on. “It does have to do with her! Jingjing changed the moment she became close to her!”

Someone in the crowd tried to mediate: “Captain Yu, why don’t you go home and talk it out with Comrade Jingjing?”

“We can’t talk it out! She spent all those days in Shanghai, and the moment she came back, she demanded a divorce! And she admitted it herself, she admitted…” The humiliation of being cuckolded was too much for Old Yu to say out loud.

Before Chen Che could speak again, Zhang Jingjing stormed into the yard, trembling with rage. She didn’t look at the neighbors; she marched straight up to Old Yu and delivered a resounding slap. She had put every ounce of her strength into the blow, and her hand shook afterward. A bright red handprint immediately appeared on Old Yu’s face.

Being slapped by a woman in public was a massive blow to a man’s pride. But when he tried to argue, he was silenced by the look on her face. Her eyes were burning with fire and filled with utter loathing.

“Yu Xiangting!” Zhang Jingjing declared. “The only reason I want to divorce you is because I hate you. I cannot go on living with you. It has nothing to do with anyone else. You refuse to look at your own flaws, so you come to harass my friend? Are you insane? If you dare step foot into Song Mingyue’s house again, I will drag you down to hell with me!”

Old Yu was so taken aback by her outburst that his voice dropped to a desperate plea. “Jingjing, I am your husband. We are family. Why are you helping others instead of me?”

“I used to think you were just selfish. I didn’t realize you were useless and evil. This divorce is happening. Get out right now!”

Her hysteria silenced the crowd. Old Yu refused to move, so Zhang Jingjing shoved him toward the door. “Get out!”

Song Mingyue stepped over to comfort her. “Jingjing, calm down.”

Hearing Mingyue’s voice, Zhang Jingjing burst into tears, wiping them away as she apologized: “Mingyue, I’m sorry. Did I disturb your rest?”

“I’m fine. But what happened? Why are you suddenly wanting to…” Mingyue didn’t use the word “divorce” in front of the crowd.

Zhang Jingjing choked back a sob. “I’ll tell you later. I’m determined to end this marriage. I’ll stay at a guesthouse in the city for now, and I’ll come find you once I’m settled.”

Old Yu heard her resolve and grabbed her arm tightly. “Don’t think you’re going anywhere! Don’t think you can leave me to be with some wild man!”

Song Mingyue was so furious she wanted to slap him herself. It seemed the slap Jingjing gave him hadn’t taught him anything. “Shut your mouth!” she commanded. “Yu Xiangting, are you even a man? Spouting such filth about your own wife! Which eye did you see her with another man? As a soldier, you should be responsible for every word that comes out of your mouth!”

Old Yu, already incensed, channeled his rage toward Mingyue: “Don’t play the saint here! You know exactly why Jingjing wants a divorce. Without you, our family would have been perfectly fine!”

This time, before Chen Che could intervene, he had already floored Old Yu. Old Yu tried to scramble up, but he couldn’t find the strength. Chen Che, a man of few words but decisive action, pressed a hand to Old Yu’s throat. “I have no interest in your family affairs. But if I hear you disparage my wife one more time, it won’t end so simply.”

Zhang Jingjing watched, feeling a cold, hollow pang in her heart. This is what a man should act like.

A few moments later, Yin Xiumei, the head of the Women’s Federation, came rushing over. Seeing the chaos, she separated the two men. “Everyone, sit down and discuss this rationally. What kind of behavior is this?”

Song Mingyue agreed. There were things to be said, especially regarding Zhang Jingjing’s situation. The crowd dispersed, leaving only five people in the room. When Yin Xiumei asked for the cause, Zhang Jingjing refused to answer; she was beyond despair.

Seeing her silence, Old Yu argued, “I just told her to pay more attention to the family, and she demands a divorce. Her heart has wandered; she no longer cares for me.”

“Comrade Yu Xiangting, please watch your tone,” Yin Xiumei scolded. “Women are not your property. Do not speak to us as if we are objects.”

After lecturing him, she turned to Zhang Jingjing with a softer tone, asking what was really going on. Zhang Jingjing’s eyes were bloodshot. “I don’t know what kind of madness has possessed him. I come back from out of town, and all I get is a litany of complaints, and he blames Mingyue for everything that happened with Zhao Xing.”

Mingyue was shocked. “What happened to Zhao Xing?”

Yin Xiumei sighed and explained that Zhao Xing had secretly resigned from the Cultural Troupe, her parents had found out, and she had been sent away. She knew that people in the compound were blaming Mingyue, but Yin Xiumei, who had a favorable first impression of Mingyue, didn’t believe the gossip.

“Mingyue, ignore what people say. Words are fearsome, but keep your head up.”

It was one thing after another: a pregnancy she didn’t want, Zhang Jingjing’s divorce, and now Zhao Xing was gone. She realized that trying to accomplish something worthwhile was never going to be smooth sailing. But no matter how many obstacles stood in her way, Song Mingyue would not give up or admit defeat. Success was only achieved after overcoming countless hardships.

For now, solving Zhang Jingjing’s problem was the top priority. No matter how much Yin Xiumei tried to persuade her, Zhang Jingjing was iron-willed about the divorce. She didn’t shout or cry anymore—she was just chillingly silent, a complete departure from the lively girl she had been. It was a sign that she had truly lost all hope.