Era: Starting from divorce from female college student

Chapter 4, Aspirations High

Early in the morning, Zhao Mancang, who had not returned home all night, appeared in the courtyard of No. 5 Yongheng Hutong. Before he even entered the courtyard, he heard the neighbors' discussions.

"Tsk tsk, Mancang in the backyard really hasn't come back all night? Could it be that what Mr. Huang said was right, and there really is someone outside?"

"I was the one who opened the gate this morning. If Mancang really came back, how could I not know?"

"Hiss, it seems Mancang really can't help it anymore. I really don't know how he endured it for the past eight years."

"He's already looking for women outside before the divorce even begins. I'm afraid he's going to get into trouble this time."

The neighbors' discussions made Zhao Mancang's heart sink, but at this moment, a voice came from behind him.

"Hey, Mancang, what are you doing here? Are you really going to divorce your wife?"

The person who came was Liu Changan, who lived in the front yard and was a first-class worker at the Beijing Steel Plant.

Who among the residents of Yongheng Hutong and the nearby hutongs doesn’t know that there is a female college student named Huang Xiuling in Courtyard No. 5?

Unfortunately, Huang Xiuling married Zhao Mancang as early as 1950, and there was no unmarried gay man in the neighborhood who did not envy Zhao Mancang.

Even after eight years of marriage, there are still many men who want to replace Zhao Mancang.

Because Huang Xiuling is still a virgin.

Zhao Mancang looked at the other person expressionlessly, ignored his intention, and walked straight over the hanging flower gate.

Several neighbors in the front yard looked a little embarrassed.

As a result, Zhao Mancang had no intention of paying any attention to them.

However, just when Zhao Mancang was about to go to the backyard, Liu Changan's annoying voice came from behind him again.

"Mancang, don't leave! Your sister-in-law has called Aunt Hao from the neighborhood office and is going to sue you for having an affair."

Liu Changan's voice was so loud that it could be heard clearly not only in the entire yard but also outside the yard.

The old men and women in the yard immediately showed a look of excitement.

Before Liu Changan could finish his words, the second daughter Huang Xiufen and Aunt Hao appeared in Zhao Mancang's sight.

"Zhao Mancang, you bastard! Our family treats you so well, but you actually keep a mistress outside my eldest sister's back? No wonder you kept nagging about divorcing my eldest sister yesterday and even forced her to be with you."

Huang Xiufen was furious when she saw Zhao Mancang, and she started to complain:

"Hmph, since you dare to do it, don't blame us for being ruthless. Today, in front of Aunt Hao from the Street Office, let's have a good talk about this matter."

She was a high school student and thought she was somewhat capable and that she was helping her older sister.

What's more, their family had already agreed last night to use the fact that Zhao Mancang was an adulterer to slander him, so as to tie Zhao Mancang down and force him to continue supporting their family.

After all, Zhao Mancang's monthly salary is fifty-four yuan and ten cents. If he doesn't support their family with such a high salary, their family cannot afford it with just her eldest sister.

As the only college student in the courtyard, Huang Xiuling's salary is not low.

In 1950, Huang Xiuling was sixteen years old and had just experienced a failed high school entrance examination.

Her academic performance was actually average. If it weren't for Zhao Mancang, she would have had to go out to work after graduating from junior high school.

It was because of Zhao Mancang that she was able to study with peace of mind. She successfully entered high school in the fall of 1951, but was not admitted to a junior college until 1955.

A junior college lasts three years, so she graduated in July of this year. It was the summer of 1958, not even July yet, but Huang Xiuling had already secured a job.

This is because college students are so rare nowadays that they become cadres right after graduation. Even college students who have just started working only earn 40 to 50 yuan a month.

Huang Xiuling was assigned to the administrative department of the Tianjin Railway Bureau as a small cadre with a monthly salary of 49.5 yuan, which was the salary standard for level 23, a level 5 clerk.

It is called Tianjin Railway Bureau, but the headquarters is located in Beijing.

After the War of Liberation, especially at the end of 1949, all major trunk lines were repaired and opened to traffic, and two major railway administrations, Beijing and Tianjin, were established.

However, in 1952, the two bureaus merged into the Tianjin Railway Bureau, and the bureau headquarters was moved to Beijing the following year.

If Huang Xiuling's family didn't have so many problems, her salary of forty-nine yuan and fifty cents would be enough to support them.

But with a father who is both a gambler and an alcoholic, a mother who is addicted to medicine, and four brothers and sisters who are like vampires, no matter how much money he has, it will not be enough.

In 1955, Zhao Mancang's salary was 54.1 yuan, plus Huang Xiuling received a monthly government subsidy of 22 yuan as a college student, totaling 76.1 yuan. The family was considered a little better off.

Unfortunately, Huang Dechang soon became addicted to drinking again, and the family’s money was no longer sufficient.

The problem now is that Zhao Mancang wants to divorce Huang Xiuling. The most frightened person is not Huang Dechang, Huang Miao, or Huang Xiuling.

On the contrary, Huang Xiufen is the one who is most afraid.

Huang Xiufen would definitely not be able to bear it if she lost Zhao Mancang, her long-term meal ticket.

Because her alcoholic and gambler father would definitely let her go to work instead of continuing to take the college entrance examination.

Huang Xiufen, who has high aspirations but a fragile life, is already 20 years old this year and still has to take the college entrance examination in July.

If she fails the exam this year and doesn't have the long-term meal ticket from her brother-in-law Zhao Mancang, how can she not go to work?

But Huang Xiufen is very proud and she also wants to become a college student like her elder sister.

College students become cadres after graduation. Otherwise, if she goes to work now, she will just be a minion.

How long will it take to become a cadre?
"Mancang, are you really having an affair?"

In the yard, Aunt Hao looked at Zhao Mancang seriously and asked in a gentle voice.

We are all neighbors, who doesn’t know Zhao Mancang, a good man?

Is Huang Xiuling a virgin? Can she escape Aunt Hao's scrutiny?

At the very least, which of the uncles and aunts in Yard No. 5 hasn’t been through this?
He has never slept with Huang Xiuling in eight years of marriage, and he is still happy to support the seven members of the Huang family. If Zhao Mancang is not a good man, then who is a good man?
At this time, Zhao Mancang did not expect that his sister-in-law would do such a thing.

He shook his head at Aunt Hao and denied having an affair.

At this moment, Huang Dechang, who had rushed over after hearing the news, raised his fist and rushed towards Zhao Mancang's forehead:
"I'll beat you to death, you bastard! You didn't even come home last night, and you still say you weren't having an affair?"

Zhao Mancang dodged away angrily, and Huang Dechang accidentally stumbled towards a few aunts in the front yard.

The aunties screamed and dodged, causing Huang Dechang to fall flat on his face.

But Huang Dechang's words reminded everyone: Zhao Mancang did not return home all night last night!

(End of this chapter)