It is hard for even an upright official to settle family disputes.
At work, Xie Yuping was not one to be indecisive, yet when it came to family matters, right and wrong were sometimes less clear.
Did he support Xie Jinghu and Zou Weijun divorcing?
Xie Yuping hesitated.
“I need to think about it, this is no small matter.”
The consequences would be far reaching.
Xie Qian would certainly agree.
But Xie Yuping feared that if Xie Jinghu and Zou Weijun divorced, Xie Qian might soon distance himself from the Xie family.
There was also the matter of their marital property, a large sum of money. Even with professional help, the settlement would take time. The Xie family would not shortchange Zou Weijun, and what was hers should be given to her. But would she remarry?
If she did, it might involve having more children.
With only Xie Qian as her child now, all her money would go to him, but remarriage and more children could change that.
Xie Yuping was not yet saintly enough to give up all worldly thinking. He loved Xie Qian and wanted him to inherit that fortune. That was his personal bias.
Of course, judging by Zou Weijun’s character, even if she remarried and had more children, she likely would not wrong Xie Qian.
Xie Jinghu was a different matter.
Once Zou Weijun no longer held the title of “Third Madam Xie,” Xie Jinghu would legally be single.
A single man was free to marry whomever he wished.
While Xie Yuping remained in office, Xie Jinghu would not dare cross the line, but he could not work forever. After retirement, who could restrain him?
When that day came, the woman abroad without status could become the new Third Madam Xie.
The mistress would be legitimised, and the illegitimate child would openly claim to be part of the Xie family.
That would be the family’s disgrace.
Moreover, the half of the property that Xie Jinghu received in the divorce could well end up in the hands of the woman and her child abroad. After all, people say that when there is a stepmother, there is a stepfather, and Xie Qian might get little from his father then.
This could not be allowed.
Xie Yuping acknowledged only Xie Qian, the nephew who had grown up under his watch. He would not fight for the sake of illegitimate children.
Spare him the talk that children are innocent, that logic did not work with him.
The divorce could not happen yet. No matter how clever Xie Qian was, he was still only a youth and could not carry the Jinghu Group alone.
Xie Yuping fell into thought. His wife reminded him, “You really mean it? The old lady will definitely not agree.”
If even the elder brother wanted to preserve the marriage, the old matriarch, being Xie Jinghu’s mother, would be even less accepting of a divorce.
Xie Yuping nodded, “That is why I say we must be careful. The most important thing is to see what our sister in law wants.”
Had Zou Weijun’s depression been cured?
The psychologist thought not.
She had cut Xie Jinghu out of her life.
Xie Qian wanted them divorced, and Xie Yuping was wavering, thinking the time might be right, but Zou Weijun had not spoken of divorce herself.
They had to wait until she recovered from her depression, to avoid triggering her condition again.
Xie Yuping found this to be a reasonable excuse and felt relieved. “Do not speak of this for now, wait a bit longer.”
His wife nodded and sighed softly.
If only Xie Jinghu had not betrayed his marriage, how happy that family of three would have been.
Perhaps heaven was jealous of Xie Qian and gave him such a father.
“I will not say anything.”
His wife had her own concerns. “Do not be so busy with Xie Qian’s family affairs, pay more attention to our daughter. Did you not say Xie Tang wanted to do postgraduate study at her university? Now she says she wants to work in Shanghai. I am not saying Shanghai is bad, but I want her to study for two more years.”
For a girl, the happiest and most carefree time was while still in school.
Once she graduated, she would soon face marriage and children. Entering a family meant many petty matters, managing a marriage, raising children, dealing with in laws, all waiting for her.
If she could study longer, it would be better. The Xie family did not need her income. A higher degree would give her more standing both in her career and marriage. It was not that a mother wanted to curse her daughter with an unworthy husband, but even if she married someone who seemed fine, who knew what would happen in ten or twenty years. Xie Jinghu had once treated Zou Weijun so well, yet still cheated and fathered illegitimate children.
With such an example before her, how could she not be wary?
With education, at least one could support oneself, like Zou Weijun now.
“If she wants to work in Shanghai, let her try. It is never too late to study. If she wants to upgrade her degree, she can do so after working for a few years. If she does not go out to experience things, how will she know what she wants?”
Xie Yuping supported his daughter entering the workforce first.
Without leaving their parents, children could never truly grow up.
If she was wronged outside, she could first bear it, and if she could not, the doors of home would never close to her.
Besides, compared to most graduates, she already had a head start, with an apartment in Shanghai, able to advance or retreat. What was there to worry about?
Mothers were more attentive than fathers. His wife just felt her daughter’s change of mind was odd.
“Old Xie, do you think our daughter might be in love?”
“If she is, then she is. She is old enough. If she never dated at all, you would worry just as much.”
“Am I like that? And you, as her father, are not worried she might pick the wrong person? Forget it, I will not argue with you. I will call Xie Qian later and ask him. If she has a secret, maybe her parents would not know, but she would not hide it from Xie Qian.”
She recalled that Xie Tang had never shown much interest in Shanghai before, but during the New Year she had gone there with Xie Qian.
Xie Qian must know something.
“All right, if you can get the truth out of her, do it. Asking Xie Qian is useless. Do not call him, I will. I have something to ask him anyway.”
Xie Yuping wanted to ask him about the essay competition.
When the call came, Xie Qian was at the Fu family home.
He felt his phone vibrating and cut the call directly.
Old Fu, wearing reading glasses, studied him.
What a fine looking young man.
They say the older one gets, the dimmer the eyes become, losing the bright spirit of youth.
Fu was a little different. His eyes were still clear and full of life, appearing gentle but carrying authority.
Years of teaching had taught him how to deal with young people. Most students, under such a gaze, would feel uneasy.
Xie Qian stood straight, letting him look.
After a moment, Fu sighed softly, “You do not look like Xiao Zou, nor like your grandfather.”
