The Vanishing Beauty - Chapter 5 - 15

Chapter 5 - 15

Yu Jia temporarily stayed over at Yu Meng's place. They had argued and made a fuss, but a woman still had to maintain a certain posture—at least, that was Yu Meng's belief.

Liren's secondment had happened because she had helped pull strings—albeit disastrously—and Yu Meng felt she had an obligation to help Yu Jia repair her marital relationship. She needed to make up for her blunder, even though the blunder itself had been completely undeserved.

Fearing that Yu Meng might stir up even more trouble, Yu Jia emphasized two points: first, she must not go back to see the leadership or try to forcefully clamp down on Liren; if she did that and damaged Liren's official career, he would only hate Yu Jia even more, leaving zero room for any turnaround in their marriage. Second, no matter how chaotic things got, she hoped Yu Meng would hold onto the bottom line. She did not want a divorce.

Yu Meng had been divorced herself and didn't feel it was any big deal, but she could understand Yu Jia. Although Yu Jia held the crown as the top of Yuying Village's "Four Beauties," all these years of grinding hardship and fatigue, combined with a neglect of self-care, had caused her to slide downhill. While she still retained a touch of classical grace, she was already miles away from modern aesthetic standards.

If they divorced, it would truly be fighting a war without any preparation.

Completely passive.

Unfavorable.

Moreover, there was something Yu Meng hadn't asked Yu Jia. She couldn't bring herself to ask. Yet Yu Meng had the answer in her heart—she wanted to ask Yu Jia whether she still loved Liren. When he loathed her to such a degree, did she still love him? What on earth had he ever done for her? Was she actually in love with the man himself? Or was she in love with his status? Or perhaps in love with the status of being his wife? Thinking of this, Yu Meng found herself rather amused; humans were social animals—could these things really be separated? How absurd.

Yu Meng went straight to Liren's workplace to find him. Luan Liren couldn't just ignore her; for the sake of the master, one had to respect the dog—he was wary of the powerful man standing behind her. Therefore, he quickly told her that they would pick a restaurant, and he would arrive right after finishing his work.

Without standing on ceremony, Yu Meng chose an exorbitantly expensive Japanese restaurant and sat waiting for Liren to show up. At lunchtime, Luan Liren arrived with a smiling expression, appearing completely unaffected by any domestic disputes.

Yu Meng ordered a feast with a vengeance: appetizers, soups, seafood dishes, grilled items, deep-fried dishes, rice dishes, fruits, and desserts—not a single category was missing.

She was ordering on Sister Jia's behalf: if you can't finish it, you're taking it to go!

Closing the menu, Yu Meng chuckled and said, "Not bad, Leader. Using a borrowed knife to kill someone—you play that trick rather beautifully."

Before her words had even finished landing, Liren caught the ball and volleyed it back. "Please, please, Teacher Yu, you wrong me! Which borrowed knife am I using to kill whom? A person just has to keep pressing forward. Can we not be reasonable? Places of hardship are where people refuse to go, so I'll go. The grassroots level has too many trivial matters and people find them troublesome, but I don't mind the trouble! Not shunning the light nor fearing the heavy, sacrificing the small family for the sake of the greater family—I actually feel quite glorious about it."

Yu Meng raised both hands and gently applauded. "You truly deserve to be a leader; you've managed to leave me completely bewildered." Pausing slightly, she continued, "I'll ask you just one thing: what are you going to do about Sister Jia?"

Liren heaved a deep sigh, and the atmosphere instantly turned solemn. "For all these years, I expect you also know that the situation between Yu Jia and me is not much different from the situation between you and Old Luan. Whatever feelings you hold toward Old Luan, those are the exact feelings I hold toward Yu Jia."

Yu Meng was somewhat startled. She hadn't expected Liren to be so heart-to-heart, let alone use her and Old Luan as an analogy. She loathed Old Luan to the absolute core; therefore, Luan Liren must loathe Yu Jia to the exact same extreme. However, she was a woman while he was a man; a woman proposing divorce was imbued with a sense of justice, and in fact, she had also managed to catch him in a dirty little secret—Old Luan's infidelity and domestic violence. Unconsciously, Yu Meng felt her resolve waver. Emotionally, she leaned toward Liren's side—if you're done, if you don't love each other anymore, just let go; yet rationally, she had to stand on Yu Jia's side because she had come bearing a mission. She had signed a military-style pledge.

Thus, Yu Meng retorted, "Don't try to pull the wool over my eyes with vague nonsense. Luan Chengyun and I had fundamental principle issues; what kind of issues do you two have? Even under the ancient grounds for divorcing a wife, you still need a valid reason."

Liren immediately replied, "We cannot talk on the same wavelength, we lack shared aspirations and ideals, we cannot communicate on a spiritual level, and we have no resonance or harmony in our daily lives—aren't these reasons more than sufficient? Yes, to outsiders, it looks as though I've attained sudden wealth and power and cast aside my wife, but to anyone who sees it that way, I can only say they don't understand! They are vulgar! It's not about what I want; this is the arrangement of fate. I've walked step by step to this point, while she is still standing still in the exact same spot. The distance between us is plain as day. Can other people choose to turn a blind eye to it, and can we lie to ourselves? In the past, when things were hard, we supported each other through thick and thin because we had common struggles to face and we had our child. Now that life is prosperous, the child has gone abroad, her household registration has been transferred over, her job is properly arranged, her younger brother's schooling is sorted, the family back in the hometown needed medical care, and all those miscellaneous matters—haven't I arranged every single one of them? Have I ever said I wouldn't take care of things? Even if we separate, we are not enemies! We are still friends! Whatever needs to be done, I will not fall short on a single thing. Teacher Yu, you are a person of experience and broad horizons; you surely understand my feelings. How old are we now? If we don't fight and strive now, we might as well just wait to check into a nursing home."

Yu Meng found herself with no way to refute Luan Liren's words; she was nearly persuaded. They were all statements of fact, bordering on truth. But she could not allow herself to be convinced. "Then what do you mean when you say you want to separate?"

She went straight for the crucial point, demanding a precise definition from him.

"Whatever you mean toward Old Luan, that is what I mean toward her."

"No way," Yu Meng said, her words carrying the weight of a thousand pounds. "If you try to force this, I'll go back to see the leadership and put in another word."

Liren hurriedly reached out a hand. "Don't, please! Teacher Yu! Problems should be solved by addressing them; I know you're close to Yu Jia, practically sharing the same pair of pants or skirt... but why... why on earth... why must you hang yourself from a single tree..."

Yu Meng stated, "Anyway, it's a no! At least not right now. This whole mess was triggered because I pulled strings; if you force this issue, Yu Jia will hate me for the rest of my life. Let me tell you, if I had known you were going to pull a stunt like this, I wouldn't have helped you speak up in the first place! Do you have any idea that you're putting me in an unrighteous position?"

With a smile that didn't reach his eyes, Liren replied, "It won't be that fast, it won't be that fast. It's just an intention for now. I'm heading down to the grassroots level immediately anyway, which is perfect—let's both take some time to cool off."

"In any case, those two words—don't you dare bring them up."

Liren said, "It hasn't reached that point, it truly hasn't reached that point. Teacher Yu, take a look at this essay." As he spoke, he forwarded a piece to her phone. Yu Meng glanced down at the title, which was called Letter of Release, said to be a Dunhuang manuscript. It detailed how people in ancient times divorced their spouses. "You should show this to Yu Jia as well; people have to be reasonable."

Refusing to listen any further, Yu Meng stood up and prepared to leave.

Liren urged her to stay. "Don't go... you haven't finished eating yet... and it cost a fortune..."

Yu Jia lay flat on the sofa, supporting her head with one hand.

Yu Meng read the Letter of Release aloud to her. "...The cause of all marital unions is a predestined bond formed across three incarnations of existence, which alone makes possible the coupling of husband and wife in this present life. When husband and wife face one another, they are just like mandarin ducks, flying side by side with interlocking knees, sitting together with flower-like countenances; the beauty of their mutual virtue and the weight of their deep affection mean their two physical forms share a single heart... May all grievances be resolved and knots untied, so that they harbor no further resentment; since they part ways on amicable terms, may each enjoy a joyful and prosperous future..."

Yu Jia gave a bitter, self-deprecating laugh and muttered under her breath, "Parting ways on amicable terms, each enjoying a joyful and prosperous future..."

Yu Meng tried to persuade her, "Really, don't overthink it. Stay at my place for a couple of days and then go back. He wouldn't dare! Where on earth could he ever find a virtuous helpmate like you? After a while, once he goes out there to the barren wilderness and suffers through some hardship, he'll realize how wonderful a warm kang bed with a wife and children truly is. Managing a husband is just like flying a kite; you can't pull the string too tight, as long as you keep the string in your hand."

With a faint, bitter smile, Yu Jia asked, "Go back?"

With absolute certainty, Yu Meng nodded, "You have to go back."

Two days later, Yu Jia packed up and returned home. Leaving work a little early that afternoon, she arrived home, cleaned up the place, cooked dinner, and had a spread of delicious food waiting by the time Liren came through the door.

Upon seeing him, she didn't speak. He set down his bag. She stood up and went to the kitchen to dish out the rice. The couple acted as if they were performing in a silent film; they didn't even turn on the television, eating their meal in absolute silence.

Liren finished eating first, using his chopsticks to poke through the leftover bones on the table.

Yu Jia said, "Just leave them there."

Liren set down his bowl and chopsticks and announced, "I'm leaving in a few days."

Yu Jia let out a soft acknowledgment. She had no way to object, and any objections would be entirely ineffective.

"Did you read the Letter of Release?" he suddenly asked.

Of all times, he was still bringing this up. Yu Jia was terrified that he might blurt out the eight characters about parting ways amicably and each enjoying a joyful future. She let out another soft acknowledgment.

Liren continued, "Whether it's a thousand years ago or a thousand years from now, the situation remains much the same."

The moment had finally arrived. Yu Jia felt the skin across her entire body tighten, pressing heavily and uncomfortably against her flesh. Liren turned his body around to face her. "If you agree, I will walk out with nothing, leaving every asset behind."

Yu Jia's heart underwent a wild, violent spasm, as if it were trying to leap straight out of her chest.

"Tell me the honest truth—is there someone else?" Yu Jia couldn't believe she was actually able to voice the question. During her stay at Yu Meng's, she had turned the thought over and over in her mind: if Liren was stubbornly insisting on a divorce, the probability that there was someone else on the outside was extremely high. "Is it that person you found online?"

"No." Liren raised a single hand in a gesture of taking an oath.

"Then why?" Her voice trembled.

"Did you not understand the Letter of Release?" He pulled out his phone and began to read aloud, "When the karmic bond fails to harmonize, they turn against each other and breed mutual disgust, hating one another like cat and mouse, or dwelling together like wolf and sheep."

"Where is the breeding of disgust? Where is the mutual hatred?"

"We won't discuss this any further. Think it over." Liren stood up, picked up the third volume of Das Kapital resting on the sofa's armrest, and walked into the study.

He did not emerge for the rest of the night. Once he had stated his position, everything that remained was up to her to ponder and decide.

The more Yu Jia thought about it, the angrier she became. She felt that she did not deserve such treatment and such an end; even if she were merely a domestic helper or an old housekeeper hired by the Luan family, they couldn't just fire her on a whim! This was equivalent to taking her face and grinding it relentlessly against the floorboards! How was she supposed to return and face her folks back home?! After holding it in for a long time, Yu Jia finally stood up, walked over to the study door, and knocked twice.

She did not go inside. Through the wooden panel of the door, she declared her stance in a loud voice, "I do not agree! I will not get a divorce! Not unless I die!"

Her attitude was absolute and resolute.

Inside the study, it remained dead silent, with no response whatsoever.

Yu Jia took a deep, shuddering breath. The marriage she had once taken such immense pride in had truly reached a life-or-death crossroads.

On the train, Yu Shuang sat in the middle seat. By the window sat a young girl, holding a book and reading intently. Seated across the aisle was Kang Long. The young girl's name was Yu Chun'er; she was Yu Qing's eldest daughter and Yu Shuang's own biological niece. Yu Qing's wife, her mother-in-law, and her grandmother had all desperately wanted to adopt out the newly born youngest daughter to Shuang.

After repeated deliberations and further negotiations, Yu Shuang had instead decided to bring her eldest niece back to live with her. She had no desire to be the youngest niece's mother, nor did she wish to accept an adoption; she could help out, assisting with the care and daily life of the older children. A niece was a niece, and an aunt was an aunt—she refused to blur the lines or engage in any substitution schemes.

She felt that her relationship with Chun'er was fine just as it was. The girl was already in elementary school, possessed her own capacity for judgment, and understood familial relationships; taking her in was purely out of consideration for her deceased younger brother and out of a shred of flesh-and-blood kinship. She didn't expect any repayment from Chun'er; she had already made up her mind that years down the line, Chun'er would have her life of her own. Between her and Chun'er, the dynamic ought to be one of equality.

Although Yu Qing's wife repeatedly exhorted Chun'er, "The conditions over there are good, so you must be obedient. From now on, call her Auntie, for she is both aunt and mother," Chun'er was sensible and spoke very little. However, even before boarding the train, she had already begun addressing Yu Shuang as Auntie. Feeling slightly awkward, Yu Shuang corrected her, "Just call me Aunt, my aunt, auntie," before adding, "You can also call me Niangniang or Ayang." She wanted to avoid adding the word "mother" to it, even though she was about to shoulder a mother's responsibilities.

Yu Shuang felt terribly guilty toward Kang Long. With a child suddenly added to the household out of nowhere, the dynamic between her and Kang Long underwent yet another major shift. She couldn't let Kang Long help her shoulder this burden, nor could she drag him down—that wouldn't be fair.

Kang Long walked over carrying a boxed meal and handed it to Chun'er. Yu Chun'er said, "Thank you, Uncle Kang," her voice crisp and bright.

To Yu Shuang's ears, it sounded rather awkward.

Taking advantage of the moment after the meal when Kang Long went to get some fresh air between the train cars, Yu Shuang followed him out.

"I've wronged you," she said.

"Hmm."

"You're an uncle now."

Kang Long let out a chuckle.

"You have your freedom," Yu Shuang said.

"What?"

"You can see my situation; I can't drag you down with me. This isn't fair."

"What do you mean?"

"Why don't you leave—go join Dr. Songzi."

Kang Long froze for a second, then smiled. "Whether it's a burden or not is up to me to decide. Maybe I like it." Pausing briefly, he added, "A sweet burden."

For a moment, Yu Shuang didn't know how to respond. In any case, she had made her attitude clear; if he insisted on acting willfully, then it was a case of a willing buyer and a willing seller. "Do whatever you want, then."

Yu Shuang turned around to return to her seat, only to discover that Chun'er had vanished without a trace. Yu Shuang's scalp tightened. "Chun'er!" she cried out in alarm. Kang Long hurried back over. Anxiously, Yu Shuang said, "She was just here..." Comforting her, Kang Long told her not to panic; the train hadn't stopped and was fully enclosed, so the person couldn't possibly be lost. The two of them hurriedly split up to search. Outside the restroom door, Yu Shuang knocked and called out Chun'er's name. A man's voice sounded from inside, "Hold on a minute!" He hastily apologized, and she continued searching. The restroom door was locked, so she knocked again and called Chun'er's name.

"Auntie, I'm in here!" It was Chun'er's voice.

Only then did Yu Shuang's heart drop back down into her stomach.

"Running around like this for no reason!" she scolded in a flash of anger.

"My stomach hurts..." Chun'er answered.

Having officially assumed the role of aunt-cum-"mother" for less than a day, Yu Shuang could already deeply feel the burden on her shoulders and the pressure weighing on her heart.