The Sea Queen of 1985

Granny Cai thought for a moment. “He’s having an affair, and he has an illegitimate son.”

Lawyer Wang smiled. “Leave the evidence gathering to me. I guarantee I’ll get photos as soon as possible. This will prove your marriage has irretrievably broken down and prevent him from deliberately dragging things out over the property by refusing to divorce. We can also sue for divorce.”

Granny Cai nodded. “Right, we need to be prepared. That woman is only flattering him because she thinks he’s rich. Now that none of the assets are in my name or his, they won’t be happy when they realize they can’t get any money. They’ll definitely try something else.”

Lawyer Wang took out his notebook, asked Granny Cai detailed questions, and jotted down the key points.

After a while, Lawyer Wang closed his notebook and handed Granny Cai a retainer agreement. “Ma’am, I am now your legal representative. This is the agreement. Once we sign it, I can take full responsibility for your divorce proceedings.”

Granny Cai looked at it carefully, then handed it to Han Xiaorui. “Xiao Rui, take a look at this for me. If there are no issues, I’ll sign it.”

Han Xiaorui glanced over it and nodded. “It looks fine.”

‘Since Chen Nanyang came personally, he would never cheat Granny Cai.’

Granny Cai took the pen and paper and signed it. “Alright, I’ll sign. Xiao Wang, I’ll be counting on you. How much will it be?”

Chen Nanyang quickly interjected, “It’s a small matter, no charge. Sister Cai, there’s no need to be so formal with me. I come to Jinshan Bay often and have eaten your cooking countless times. As someone from the younger generation, how could I possibly charge you for helping out?”

Granny Cai was taken aback. “That won’t do. You’re running a business; you can’t work for free. Just charge me what you charge everyone else. I’ll be grateful enough if you can win the case for me. It’s only right that I pay you. If you won’t take my money, then I’ll just have to find another law firm.”

With the economy’s growth in recent years, lawsuits over financial disputes have become increasingly common, and the number of law firms has grown too.

Granny Cai appreciated Chen Nanyang’s gesture but couldn’t take it for granted.

Chen Nanyang couldn’t refuse any longer and finally accepted a symbolic one thousand yuan. “Now, you just go on with your life. Eat well, drink well, and leave the rest to us.”

Chen Nanyang left with Lawyer Wang.

Granny Cai unpacked her luggage and prepared gifts for a few of her close, old friends.

Granny Cai had planned on delivering the gifts to them, but now that word got out she was back, they all came over to visit her instead.

Jinshan Bay was, at its heart, a village, and news traveled fast.

Nearly everyone in Jinshan Bay knew about Old Man Cai’s affair. Even acquaintances of Granny Cai who lived out of town had heard about it.

Seeing so many people trying to comfort her, Granny Cai smiled. “Xiao Rui, you and Xiao Jing should go home and rest. I’m fine. It’s not a big deal. It’s just a divorce, right?”

“These days, people are afraid of natural disasters and calamities, but a divorce? What’s there to be scared of? This is a good chance for me to catch up with my old friends. Don’t worry about me.”

Han Xiaoqing came over and hugged Granny Cai. “Sister Cai, this will all pass. You’re such a wonderful person; you deserve to be happy.”

Granny Cai smiled. “Of course I will.”

Seeing that Granny Cai was truly not letting it get to her, Han Xiaorui and Han Xiaoqing finally left.

The two sisters delivered the gifts for Yang Zhigang, Wu Cuicui, Yang Jianguo, and for Yang Minmin and her sisters.

Wu Cuicui kept Han Xiaorui and Han Xiaoqing for a while longer, gossiping about Old Man Cai.

“That Chen Xiaoxiu is just after his money. If Old Man Cai were broke, who would give him the time of day?”

Han Xiaoqing nodded. “Exactly. Things won’t end well for him.”

With Granny Cai’s return from abroad, Old Man Cai’s scandalous affair instantly became the hottest piece of gossip in Jinshan Bay.

Meanwhile, Old Man Cai had just finished the breakfast Chen Xiaoxiu had prepared for him. Her flattery put him in a fantastic mood as he rode his bicycle to work.

In just a few more months, he would be able to retire.

‘He’d have his pension, no more work, and he could split his time between both women. What a beautiful thought!’

On the way, he ran into Uncle Liu from Jinshan Bay. “Brother Liu, where are you off to?”

Seeing Old Man Cai looking so proud of himself, Uncle Liu inwardly cursed what a complete idiot he was.

With a smile, Uncle Liu said, “Well, Old Cai, you’re really living it up these days! What’s the plan? Going to split your time between the two of them?”

Uncle Cai gave an embarrassed laugh. “Ah, it’s not that I want to, but Xiaoxiu is in such a pitiful situation. And Xuejun… the boy’s still young and hasn’t started a family! As his biological father, I have to step up and make arrangements, don’t I?”

Uncle Liu raised an eyebrow. “Heh, look at you, all responsible now! Fine, I won’t beat around the bush. Xueqin’s mother is back from abroad.”

“I’m advising you to break things off with that woman and go home to apologize. You might still have a chance to salvage things. If you don’t listen, your family might just be torn apart.”

Old Man Cai smiled smugly. “It won’t be torn apart. If she was going to divorce me, she would have done it years ago. Getting divorced at our age? Wouldn’t that be humiliating?”

‘He knew his wife cared too much about her reputation to ever divorce him.’

Seeing his advice was falling on deaf ears, Uncle Liu gave up. “Heh, well, I’ve said my piece. If you won’t listen, there’s nothing more I can do!”

You can’t talk a man out of digging his own grave.

Uncle Liu rode off on his bicycle.

Uncle Cai hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to head to work first.

‘I’ll give the old woman at home the cold shoulder for a few days, let her stew. Then I’ll go back.’

‘That’ll show her. If she doesn’t back down, I’ll just go live with Chen Xiaoxiu.’

‘Even if we get divorced, I’ll still get a share of the property and money.’

‘I could live quite comfortably with Chen Xiaoxiu and my younger son.’

Chen Xiaoxiu had been keeping a close eye on the situation in Jinshan Bay and quickly learned that Granny Cai had returned.

She rushed to buy groceries and cook a meal, tidying herself up and putting her hair up attractively.

The moment Old Man Cai got off work, she ushered him inside, cooing sweet nothings to him.

“I heard your wife is back… What’s going to happen to Xuejun and me?”

To win over Old Man Cai, she had even changed her son’s name to Cai Xuejun.

Old Man Cai said as he ate, “Well, since you don’t care about official status and she does, this whole thing should be easy to handle!”

The thought that the pastry shop earned more in one month than she had in her entire life made Chen Xiaoxiu’s heart race with greed.

‘She’d also heard the Cai family owned many houses and shops. What was the point of relying on Old Man Cai’s meager salary?’

“I don’t mind, really. Even if she hits me or curses me, I won’t fight back or say a word! As long as she doesn’t blame you, that’s all that matters!”

“It’s just… look at Xuejun. He’s not a kid anymore, and he doesn’t have a job! I want him to learn a trade, like making pastries, so he can open his own shop one day.”

“Oh, and Xuejun is dating someone now! But her family says he needs to have a house before they’ll consider taking things to the next level. If there’s no house, she doesn’t want to waste any more time!”

Old Man Cai thought for a moment, then nodded. “As for learning to make pastries, you can forget about it. That’s Xueqin’s mother’s specialty; she won’t teach anyone else.”

“But the house, that’s easy enough to handle. I’ll give them the cold shoulder for a few days, and when I go back to negotiate, I’ll get the house sorted out.”

“No matter what, Xueqin and Xuejun are brothers. Now that his little brother is dating and needs to get married, it’s only right for the older brother to provide him with a house.”