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墨書 Inktalez
I sat there, feeling as if everyone's gaze pierced me like knives. At that moment, Li Xuemei suddenly spoke up, "Zhi Qiang, I think you're right. When it comes to being a person and doing things, we should be more practical. If we aim too high, we end up achieving nothing."
Her words were clearly directed at me. Instantly, all eyes turned toward me. My face flushed red. "Li Xuemei, what do you mean by that?"
"I mean nothing. I just think Zhi Qiang's perspective is very valid," she replied without looking at me, continuing to address Zhi Qiang. "In today's society, making money is still the most important thing."
"You're right, Sister-in-law!" Zhi Qiang nodded in agreement. "Things are different now; having just a diploma is useless; you need real skills."
"Exactly! What's the point of reading so many books? It's better to be practical and do business," Second Aunt chimed in.
I sat there, feeling each word slap me across the face.
After the gathering ended, we took the bus home. On the bus, Li Xuemei didn't say a word, her face pale with anger.
Once we got home, she finally exploded. "Lin Zhiyuan, how long are you going to keep pretending?"
She threw her bag onto the sofa and pointed at my nose. "Look at Zhi Qiang, then look at you—this useless waste!"
"Don't compare me to him!" I snapped back angrily. "He's just lucky!"
"Lucky?" Li Xuemei scoffed. "He didn't even graduate from middle school and now makes millions a month! What about you? You barely earn a few thousand and have to rely on others' moods!"
"I..."
"What? What do you have to say?" Li Xuemei's voice grew sharper. "Do you know how humiliating it was for me today? Everyone was gathered around Zhi Qiang while you sat in the corner like an idiot!"
"I'm not an idiot!" I shouted.
"What else would you be? A man in his forties delivering takeout for a living, struggling to pay off your mortgage!"
Tears streamed down Li Xuemei's face, but they were not tears of injustice; they were tears of anger. "How could I have been so blind to marry you?"
"Li Xuemei, you can't say that..."
"Why can't I say that?"
She pointed at the shabby furniture in the room. "Look at what kind of life we're living now! The TV has been broken for three months, and we can't afford a new one. My daughter wants a tablet, and we have to think about it for half a day!"
"I will try harder..."
"You've tried for over a decade, and look where we are now?" Li Xuemei wiped her tears. "I've had enough!"
She walked into the bedroom and started packing her things.
"What are you doing?" I followed her inside.
"I'm getting a divorce!" she said without turning around. "I can't let our daughter live in poverty with you for the rest of her life!"
"Are you crazy? You want a divorce just for money?"
"Yes, I want a divorce for money!" Li Xuemei turned to look at me, her eyes cold. "Without money, all feelings are worthless! Do you think I want this? I want to live a decent life too!"
"Then why did you marry me in the first place?"
"I thought you had a future!" she shouted through her tears. "I thought marrying a college student would mean a good life! But what have you given me? After all these years, we're getting poorer!"
"Li Xuemei, please calm down..."
"I am calm!" She zipped up her suitcase. "I've made up my mind. Rather than living in poverty with you, I'd rather start over while I'm still young!"
"And our daughter?"
"Our daughter is coming with me! I can't let her follow you into failure!" Li Xuemei dragged her suitcase out the door.
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