Chapter 80: The Pinnacle of Shamelessness

The two of them, hand in hand, walked toward the Wang family home under the watchful gaze of the villagers. Many people pointed and whispered, but Shen Guodong paid them no mind. He knew well enough that others’ opinions mattered little; his own woman needed his support at this moment. If even he were afraid of society’s judgment, how could Zhou Meiniang ever find confidence? He was determined to break those shackles.

Sure enough, seeing Shen Guodong stride forward with his head held high, Zhou Meiniang gained her own confidence, showing no fear of the stares around her. The villagers of Wangjia Village knew Zhou Meiniang had been absent for quite some time. Rumor had it she had run off with another man. Now, it seemed true.

But it wasn’t hard to understand. With Wang Weihua’s vile character, anyone unlucky enough to marry him was doomed. Though many believed Zhou Meiniang lacked virtue, they also knew she’d rebuffed countless men who’d tried to take advantage of her. Her personality seemed at odds with her beauty.

“Isn’t that Zhou Meiniang? They said she ran off with a man, looks like it’s true!”
“Well, isn’t that expected? Wang Weihua is useless, a drunk and gambler, never earns a penny, and is always beating his wife. Every time Zhou Meiniang gets her wages, she gets beaten!”
“She didn’t even keep her dowry; sold the family’s ox, gambled away the house, now living in a cowshed. Who could endure such a life? I’d run away too!”
“But Zhou Meiniang isn’t exactly right either, not behaving as a proper wife.”
“You men always talk like that. Try living her life—if your wife was always out gambling, taking your wages every month, leaving you hungry and indebted everywhere, what would you say?”

Men and women viewed the situation differently, and some women spoke up for Zhou Meiniang. Yet none of this mattered to her or Shen Guodong; they acted as if they heard nothing.

Arriving at Wang Weihua’s door, they heard loud shouts from inside—drinking and playing dice. Zhou Meiniang shook her head. The man was beyond saving; even now he invited his degenerate friends over for a meal. She couldn’t imagine such a scene.

“How does he even have money?” Zhou Meiniang asked, puzzled.

“Why do you care about him?” Shen Guodong answered, annoyed.

“Are you jealous? I’m about to be yours, both in heart and by law. You’re still jealous at your age?” Zhou Meiniang said with a gleaming smile, delighted. “I don’t care about him, just curious. The last time I saw him, he took my last dozen yuan; he should have spent it all by now.”

Shen Guodong ignored it, pushing open the door.

“Bare walls” barely described the place. Seven or eight shirtless men sat beneath a tree, feasting, with bottles of cheap spirits scattered around.

When someone entered, Zhou Meiniang’s appearance instantly inflamed Wang Weihua’s gaze. “You bitch! After I took some money from you, you ran away? Are you trying to rebel? Got any money? Hand it over—I'm out of booze!”

“I have nothing,” Zhou Meiniang replied with a frown, displeased. Even now, all he cared about was money! It was the first time she’d truly seen it.

Wang Weihua’s friends looked at him oddly. He was a real piece of work, missing the obvious. His wife had already betrayed him, yet he still cared about money! No one could guess what went on in his mind.

She’d come with another man, hand in hand. Wasn’t it obvious?

“That guy looks like Shen Guodong.”
“I think so, I met him once.”
“Isn’t he just like Wang Weihua—drinking, gambling, beating his wife? What’s Zhou Meiniang thinking? Leaving the wolf for the tiger?”
“Who knows, let’s just watch the show.”
“Wang Weihua is really pitiful.”

None of them considered Wang Weihua a friend—they just followed him for food and drink, nothing more. If he made money, they’d share in his good fortune. For now, they were mere spectators, with no intention of intervening.

At this moment, Wang Weihua shook his drunken head and stared, eyes wide. “Shen Guodong—You two!”

His rage erupted instantly. Their hands were entwined—he’d been cuckolded! And by someone not even his equal, Shen Guodong, a man who couldn’t gamble, couldn’t drink, couldn’t match him in any way. How could Zhou Meiniang pair with him to humiliate Wang Weihua? He was going mad.

“You filthy pair!” Wang Weihua snarled, teeth clenched in fury.

“Wang Weihua, I’m here today to tell you this: I’m ending things with you. Are you free to go to the registry office with me now? Let’s get the divorce certificate. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other. Over the years, almost all the money I earned was squandered by you. I owe you nothing,” Zhou Meiniang said coldly.

She felt nothing for him now—only hatred remained.

“Divorce? Ha! Zhou Meiniang, you think it’s that easy? You humiliated me, made me lose face before my friends. Now you say this to me? You’re dreaming! You want me to let you two go?”

Wang Weihua scoffed, suppressing his anger.

“Didn’t you once offer me to your friends for money? What now—worried about your reputation? Are you even human?” Zhou Meiniang laughed bitterly.

Thinking back to those days, she shivered. If she hadn’t been alert, she would have lost her innocence then and there. She was grateful she still possessed what was most precious to her as a woman, something she could give to the man she loved most. That was her only consolation.