Volume One: Menial Servant of Changshui County Chapter Sixty-Eight: A Torrent from Above
“Brother Lu, if it’s too dangerous, I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do to help you!” Guard Mo let out a long sigh.
...
At the Demon-Slaying Division, Lu Jiuzhang had already stayed for several days in a row.
Early morning, Zhou Cheng arrived at the Demon-Slaying Division, only to find Lu Jiuzhang cultivating in the training grounds.
“So diligent?” Zhou Cheng was inwardly startled!
No wonder Lu Jiuzhang was making such rapid progress—he hadn’t returned home at all, spending all his days training here.
From now on, he too shouldn’t go home, better to stay in the Demon-Slaying Division.
He soon joined the ranks of those cultivating.
Half a stick of incense later, Chen Xuanfeng arrived as well.
Seeing the two men in the training grounds, Chen Xuanfeng wondered if he himself had been slacking off lately.
The path of cultivation was meant to be arduous.
“This is too much!” Chen Xuanfeng cursed inwardly.
“Chief Chen!” A voice suddenly called out beside him.
It was Wang Yunshan!
“Look at them, working so hard! And look at you, after all these years in the Demon-Slaying Division, still just a menial worker. If you’ve nothing else to do, reflect on yourself,” Chen Xuanfeng scolded.
“Huh?” Wang Yunshan was momentarily bewildered.
He’d just come over to say hello—why was he being scolded so harshly?
What had he done to deserve this?
“Chief Chen, I’ll work harder!” Wang Yunshan quickly replied.
“All right, you all get back to your cultivation. I’m leaving.” Chen Xuanfeng entered his own quarters, feeling restless, and decided to set about cultivating himself.
He didn’t need to go to the training grounds; he could practice in his own private courtyard.
A set of fist techniques flowed from Chen Xuanfeng’s hands, fierce and vigorous, moving so swiftly his form blurred.
The air was split with the sound of fists, echoing like thunder.
When he finished the set, Chen Xuanfeng was still unsatisfied, eager to train a while longer.
...
In the training ground.
Wang Yunshan glanced at Lu Jiuzhang several times, clearly wanting to say something.
Lu Jiuzhang had no choice but to halt his practice and approach him. “Brother Wang, is there something you need?”
“Come talk with me over there,” Wang Yunshan said, pointing to a secluded corner of the training grounds.
“All right!”
Lu Jiuzhang nodded and followed Wang Yunshan over.
Once they reached a quiet spot, Wang Yunshan spoke. “I’ve decided to come clean with my wife. Today, I’ll give her a letter of divorce!”
“Brother Wang, are you sure about this?” Lu Jiuzhang asked.
“Eh, what’s there to be unsure about? In the end, it’s my fault. I plan to give her that house, and I’ve saved some silver over the years—I’ll leave that to her as well.”
“It’s just that I’ll have nowhere to stay for a while. Do you think I could stay at your place for a couple of days? Once I find somewhere, I’ll move out.”
Wang Yunshan’s main purpose in coming today was for this.
“Staying at my place is no problem, but are you really sure about this?” Lu Jiuzhang asked.
“Sigh...” Wang Yunshan let out a long sigh.
In these times, if a man gave a divorce letter and was still willing to leave behind the family property, he was already considered decent.
But such a matter, Lu Jiuzhang still felt required careful thought.
“I’ll come find you this evening, let’s go have a drink somewhere,” Wang Yunshan said, full of melancholy.
“All right, come look for me then.”
Lu Jiuzhang nodded.
...
Back at the Demon-Slaying Division, Wang Yunshan began drafting the divorce letter.
He was literate enough; writing a divorce letter wasn’t too difficult. But as his brush hovered, his heart was a tangled mess of emotions.
Taking a deep breath, Wang Yunshan put brush to paper:
“I, Wang Yunshan, hereby write a letter of divorce.
Thirty-three years into the Yongwen era, by the three letters and six rites, I married a daughter of the Li family. Speaking of the bond between husband and wife, our affection was deep and our duty true. We shared the same bedding, our hearts once united in joy.
Five years together, as husband and wife in harmony; five years and grievances arose, bringing discord.
Now that our hearts are divided, and unity is impossible, it is best to gather family and part ways. All possessions are divided, each returns to their own path.
May you, after our parting, dress your hair anew, paint your brows, and show off your grace and elegance. May you find a worthy match, find harmony and happiness in the courtyard, and enjoy the music of a well-tuned zither.
...
On this day, the fifth day of the fourth month, first year of the New Emperor Yunqing, I solemnly write this letter.”
With a letter of divorce, all grievances are ended, no more enmity; from now on, each goes their own way, wishing happiness for both.
Sitting at his desk, Wang Yunshan put down his brush.
All that remained was to give the letter to his wife.
But what if she begged him to tear it up? Wang Yunshan wondered.
No, since the letter was written, he mustn’t waver.
A true man deals with troubles swiftly!
Afterward, Wang Yunshan anxiously waited for the workday to end.
As time ticked by, Wang Yunshan grew more and more nervous.
He waited until well after the others had left before finally, with a pounding heart, heading home.
Approaching his door, Wang Yunshan took another deep breath.
Knock, knock, knock...
He gently tapped on the door.
...
A moment later, the door creaked open and his wife appeared.
“You’re home late today after work,” she glared at him. “Why are you knocking at your own house? Is there something wrong with your head?”
Wang Yunshan said nothing, but walked into the main hall.
Dinner was already set on the table. He didn’t rush to pick up his chopsticks, instead looking at his wife.
“These last few days, I’ve thought it over. The two of us have grown apart; we can’t be of one mind anymore.”
“This is a letter of divorce!”
He placed the folded letter on the table.
“What did you say?” his wife exclaimed in shock. “Wang Yunshan, you want to divorce me?”
“You think you’re in the right, going to the Red Blossom Brothel? You’re lucky I don’t make trouble for you, and now you’re giving me a divorce letter?”
In the next instant, Wang Yunshan’s wife rushed into the kitchen, grabbed a kitchen knife, and charged right back, pressing the blade to his throat.
“I’m giving you one more chance—pretend I never saw this letter!”
Damn it!
Wang Yunshan began to panic.
When a woman is truly pushed, she’ll do anything.
She might really kill him!
He had thought she’d beg for mercy, but who’d have guessed she would be so fierce.
A real man knows when to yield and when to stand tall!
Better to endure for now.
“You’re right, my dear, I didn’t think it through. Please forgive me!” Wang Yunshan apologized quickly, tearing the divorce letter to shreds.
“Go close the door yourself, so the neighbors don’t see!” his wife said coldly.
Wang Yunshan hurried to close the courtyard gate.
Not long after, the sound of pitiful cries echoed from within.
...
Lu Jiuzhang had already been home for quite some time.
He had been staying at the Demon-Slaying Division lately, but since Wang Yunshan was supposed to come stay for a while, Lu Jiuzhang made a special trip home.
Who would have thought he’d wait until nightfall, with no sign of Wang Yunshan?
Could it be that after handing over the divorce letter, Wang Yunshan had run off to a brothel?
Quite possible!
Ah!
His elder brother certainly knew how to enjoy himself, but brothels were money pits.
With only a few taels of silver as a monthly salary, spending it all there was not wise!
A man ought to have a wise wife at home.
Better to save more silver and, when the time comes, marry a new one!