After Drinking, Will You Divorce Me

“Generals, keep calm and steady. Over the past two days, I’ve been tallying up the sweet potatoes and organizing the manpower. I’m confident that within a few days, everything will be smoothly delivered to Pukou City.”

Upon hearing Liu Xingyuan’s reply, the bodyguards felt a huge weight lift from their hearts and left happily. Still, to be safe, they kept over two hundred men behind to guard the vicinity.

Just in case something unexpected happened.

Once those men left the Liu residence, Liu Xingyuan’s eyes gradually darkened, losing the absolute loyalty they had shown moments before.

He wasn’t stupid.

Since Ren Tianye’s army marched south, their momentum had been unstoppable. In a short time, they had already reached Pukou City. Taking Pukou City would mean Cloud Capital was on the brink of collapse.

After that, whether the Cloud Capital would even survive was anyone’s guess.

Though the Liu clan was but a small boat amidst this massive tide, they too were seeking a path to survive. They wouldn’t recklessly put all their treasures on Pukou City.

So now, everything was a matter of weighing and calculating.

Remain loyal to Pukou City, loyal to Cloud Capital?

Or, while Ren Tianye’s army had not yet truly arrived, turn and pledge allegiance to Ren Tianye to seize an advantage?

This was the dilemma Liu Xingyuan and his clan had been pondering and debating recently, but no conclusion had been reached.

After all, the situation was still unclear. Zhou Xiong was fiercely defending Pukou City. Ren Tianye might not be able to break through. Would Ren Tianye even retreat? That was uncertain too.

With the situation so murky, they dared not make rash judgments and remained hesitant and conflicted.

Liu Xingyuan, however, was calm. Since things were like this, he would just stall for time and wait step by step.

For now, his task was to gather the sweet potatoes and other supplies.

He wouldn’t withhold them from Pukou City, nor would he give everything away.

He wouldn’t deliver immediately, but he wouldn’t delay too long either.

With these thoughts, his busy schedule was predictable—he worked nonstop from morning until noon, barely having a moment to sip tea.

But when noon came, it was as if a voice suddenly rang out in his mind. He immediately dropped everything and hurried home.

To be with his wife, A Xin.

A Xin was a treasure he had fought hard to marry, and he dared not be careless.

Besides, A Xin was never quite satisfied with him. She often threatened to divorce and find someone better. Each time, he had to pay a great price to bring her back.

Given this, no matter how busy he was, he had to carve out time daily to accompany A Xin. He couldn’t afford the slightest slack, lest he lose this marriage that so many envied.

“A Xin, I’m home.”

As soon as he stepped in, Liu Xingyuan wiped away the fatigue from his face and called out warmly, his gaze falling on A Xin.

Even after years of marriage, every time he looked at A Xin, he still felt a sense of awe, as if a fairy had descended from the heavens—so beautiful he couldn’t look away.

He was so moved he wanted to rush over and embrace her, but A Xin pushed him away.

“I just finished putting on my makeup. Don’t mess it up.”

Only then did Liu Xingyuan notice her appearance and asked in surprise, “A Xin, why are you dressed like this?”

“Are you going out?”

"Yeah, just going out with a few friends to relax and unwind. These days are peaceful, the sun is shining nicely—perfect weather for an outing."

A Xin said this as usual.

But when her words reached Liu Xingyuan’s ears, they left a bitter taste.

What did she mean by “peaceful days”?

Ren Tianye’s army had already crossed over, and Zhou Xiong, the commander defending Pukou City, was fighting desperately to hold the line. Their village was so close to Pukou City that battle could break out at any moment.

The entire clan was worried sick.

Yet A Xin didn’t seem to care in the slightest. She only cared about her own mood and the weather.

Still, Liu Xingyuan didn’t dwell on it too much. Ever since he married A Xin, she had never bothered about family matters—he took care of everything.

In A Xin’s own words—or rather, quoting her close friends from her inner circle—

“Men are responsible for earning money and providing a home.

Women should just focus on being beautiful.”

“Where are you going? Should I ask the steward to send a carriage for you?”

“No need,” A Xin replied. “I’ve arranged to meet a few sisters. They’ll come by carriage and pick me up.”

“We’re going to find a place to drink and chat.”

“Sisters!”

The moment those two words left her mouth, Liu Xingyuan’s heart tightened instinctively.

A Xin’s so-called “sisters” weren’t easy to deal with!

Countless times they whispered in her ear, nearly breaking the bond between him and A Xin. Even after their marriage, those sisters constantly criticized him behind his back and plotted on behalf of A Xin.

They said that with A Xin’s beauty, it was a gift from heaven—she deserved someone better. Marrying Liu Xingyuan was too much of a compromise.

They had urged A Xin many times to divorce him.

Each time, it drove him to the brink of despair.

Every time, he had to muster all his strength to win her back.

Because of this, Liu Xingyuan blurted out, “A Xin, are you sure you want to go drinking?”

“Yes, why?” she asked.

“It’s nothing, just... after you drink, will you want to divorce me?”

“Of course not. We’ve been married for years,” A Xin smiled brightly and promised, “I will never divorce you. I’ll be with you for life.”

Her smile was radiant, like blooming flowers, but Liu Xingyuan felt a sense of dread.

Because she had made this promise ninety-nine times before, yet every time she came back talking about divorce, forcing him to fight tooth and nail to win her back again.

And almost every time, the trigger was A Xin going out drinking with those sisters, getting drunk, and listening to their advice before returning to ask for a divorce.

This kind of life was driving Liu Xingyuan close to a psychological breakdown.

He had to be cautious now!

“Really?”

“A Xin, you really won’t divorce me?”

“You still love me, right?”

A Xin smiled again, her smile blossoming like fresh flowers: “Of course. I will love you forever and never divorce you.”

“All right, my husband, it’s getting late.”

“I have to go now.”

“Any later, the girls will start getting anxious.”

Before the words had even fallen, A Xin hurriedly stepped outside. By the time Liu Xingyuan caught up, he saw A Xin already seated in a horse-drawn carriage. The carriage door was open, and inside were the usual lively group of her close girlfriends.

They barely spared him a glance as they rode away with A Xin.

Watching this scene, Liu Xingyuan felt an inexplicable wave of panic wash over him. It felt like this was the hundredth time this had happened.

“So, do I really have to chase after her a hundred times more?”

“Don’t say that. Honestly, I really haven’t had the time lately.”

Liu Xingyuan prayed silently to himself.

Returning to his residence, he quickly ate and then threw himself back into his work. By afternoon, a distant cousin from the clan slipped in furtively.

“Cousin, big news.”

“What is it?”

“General Zhang Shi, one of Ren Tianye’s top commanders, sent a letter.”

Liu Xingyuan was instantly shaken.

He thought to himself, the news came fast.

Ren Tianye’s army hadn’t even crossed Pukou City, yet they were already trying to sway him. There could only be one reason—Ren Tianye had begun cutting off the city’s supplies of food and water.

“Cousin, do you think we should take this chance to side with Ren Tianye?”

“That way, we’d be valuable to him, and Ren Tianye would surely offer us good treatment.”

His cousin’s assessment was astute, and he spoke openly: “Ren Tianye’s side does offer good benefits, especially since he’s cleaning up all these ‘love-struck fools’ in the land.”

“If we served under him, no way would those who worship love be allowed to act so recklessly. I wouldn’t be stuck like this, unable to even arrange a marriage.”

“Cousin, your life would be better too.”

Hearing this, Liu Xingyuan’s mind stirred slightly, recalling the ninety-nine times he had passionately chased after A Xin.

To be honest, caught between Ren Tianye and Pukou City, he personally leaned toward Ren Tianye.

But his decision wasn’t firm.

Besides, the choice he made would represent the entire Liu clan’s will, so it required careful thought.

He said, “Let’s not rush this matter.”

With that, he opened the letter from Zhang Shi.

The contents surprised him.

He had expected that Zhang Shi, as a top general under Ren Tianye, would promise him and the Liu clan some substantial benefits.

But the letter only stated that the Duke’s command was extremely strict, with zero tolerance for those ‘love-struck fools’ who let romance interfere with important affairs.

Moreover, it emphasized that they would show him what true romantic relationships were, and what real love looked like.

“This General Zhang Shi, why does he keep talking like this? Without offering enough benefits, how does he expect our Liu clan to surrender?”

Displeasure was written across Liu Xingyuan’s face, yet almost involuntarily, his thoughts sank into the brief words in Zhang Shi’s letter.

True love?

If such a world really existed, chances were women wouldn’t be so quick to sever ties and force me to chase after them again, right?

It wasn’t until his cousin’s reminder that Liu Xingyuan snapped back to reality.

“Oh, oh, Zhang Shi didn’t say much after all. I think we should wait and see.”

After sending off his cousins, Liu Xingyuan resumed his busy routine, but this time, his mind was restless, thoughts swirling uncontrollably like the wind.

With his eyes gently closed, he seemed to breathe in a truly fresh, fragrant air—an air that freed him from the need to devote all his energy to the humiliating pursuit of reconciliation.

Time passed until dusk, and Liu Xingyuan lost count of how many times he had been startled awake. Checking the hour, he hurried home.

After all, A Xin might be coming back.

He had to be there to accompany her.

Otherwise, who knew what trouble might erupt again.

But A Xin hadn’t returned.

Instead, a message was delivered: she was out drinking joyfully with her closest friends and would be late.

With no choice, Liu Xingyuan waited anxiously.

He waited, heart pounding, until past midnight, yet A Xin still hadn’t come back. Instead, a maid was sent.

“Where’s A Xin?” he asked.

“A Xin is having a great time drinking with my lady and the others,” the maid said arrogantly. “Also, Miss A Xin asked me to tell you something.”

His heart skipped a beat.

He could almost guess what the maid was about to say, yet he forced himself to ask, “What did A Xin want you to tell me?”

“Miss A Xin said…” the maid said condescendingly, “She doesn’t love you anymore and wants a divorce!”

The thunder inside Liu Xingyuan’s mind roared, but unlike the sharp thunderclaps before, this was a dull, muffled rumble—after all, this was the ninety-ninth time she had asked for a divorce.

No matter how unaccustomed he was, he should have been used to it by now.

Still, he instinctively managed to ask with difficulty, “Where is A Xin?”

“At Li’s Tavern,” the maid replied. “She’s always there. Why do you ask when you already know?”

“Fine.” Liu Xingyuan rose mechanically, summoned his steward, and set off in the carriage.

The wheels creaked as the carriage rolled along the road. Liu Xingyuan felt hollow inside, numb and pained.

“Master, don’t be too anxious. It’s probably just the lady throwing a little tantrum again. Once you get there, just coax her as usual. Promise to obey her for the rest of your life. Wait ten days, maybe half a month. When she’s in a better mood, she won’t ask for a divorce anymore,” the steward advised carefully, well versed in the entire routine. After all, they had been through this many times—once is a lesson, twice is familiarity, and this was far beyond twice.

But this time, Liu Xingyuan didn’t agree.

The vivid scenes that had surged through his mind all afternoon resurfaced again, involuntarily.

“Could something like that really be happening under the command of the Duke?” he wondered.

Finally, they arrived.

Liu Xingyuan stepped down from the carriage and strode into the tavern. The moment he pushed open the door, a burst of raucous laughter erupted inside.

All of A Xin’s sisters were there, laughing wildly.

“Hahaha, I told you! The moment A Xin mentioned divorce, Liu Xingyuan would come running like a dog, tail between his legs, begging for forgiveness. See? I was right!”

“Heh, I’ve seen this scene countless times before, but this time Liu Xingyuan didn’t come prepared at all—no gifts, no agate, just empty-handed? A Xin, this time you can’t so easily agree to reconcile. That would be way too generous to him.”

“I’m telling you, Elder Liu, you’re the head of the Liu clan, yet you come begging for reconciliation with nothing to show for it? I know you’re not as influential as the high officials, but you can’t just show up empty-handed.”

…

Amidst a chorus of mockery, all of A Xin’s closest female friends instantly took on an air of superiority.

Even their maids.

Utterly aloof.

They looked down on him as if they were nobles gazing disdainfully at commoners.

But in reality, these families all depended on the Liu clan for their very survival.

It was only because of their close ties to A Xin that these dependents of the Liu clan dared to swagger arrogantly every time they saw him.

“You’re here?”

A Xin staggered to her feet. Having drunk quite a bit, her cheeks flushed a rosy red, making her look stunningly beautiful—no different from a young maiden, even more alluring.

Yet in her eyes was a deep, unmistakable disdain.

“I’m here. This time, let’s get everything out in the open.”