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墨書 Inktalez
It was just past nine in the evening when Zhang Qiang finally returned. The moment he saw Li Jun sitting at the entrance of the construction site, his expression changed.
"What are you doing here?" This was the first thing Zhang Qiang said upon seeing his wife and child, his tone devoid of any surprise, only impatience.
Li Jun stood up, holding the already asleep Xiao Ming in her arms, tears welling in her eyes. "I missed you, so I brought the child to see you."
Zhang Qiang glanced around nervously, afraid of being seen. "Why didn’t you let me know in advance? I’m very busy here."
"I wrote to you, but you didn’t reply. I asked someone to pass on a message, and you didn’t respond either."
"Zhang Qiang, do you not want me and the child anymore?"
Zhang Qiang didn’t answer her; he simply said, "Let’s go find a place to stay."
They arrived at the Tanggu District Cultural Center Guesthouse. Zhang Qiang booked the cheapest room available, which didn’t even have hot water.
Once inside the room, Xiao Ming woke up and joyfully exclaimed, "Daddy! Daddy!"
Zhang Qiang forced a smile and hugged his son briefly before quickly putting him down again. "You two should go back tomorrow."
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he lit a cigarette. "I’m busy with work here and can’t take care of you."
"I’m not going back!" Li Jun suddenly became anxious. "Zhang Qiang, I traveled all this way to see you, and this is how you treat me?"
"What do you want then?" Zhang Qiang's tone was cold. "I didn’t ask you to come."
"Is there a picture of another woman in your wallet?"
Zhang Qiang's expression darkened. "Who told you that?"
"Your coworkers did!" Li Jun cried out. "They said that woman is prettier than me and dresses fashionably. Zhang Qiang, tell me honestly, do you have someone else out there?"
"What nonsense are you thinking!" Zhang Qiang took a deep drag from his cigarette. "It’s just a friend’s photo; what’s wrong with that?"
"What kind of friend needs to be kept in your wallet?" Li Jun's voice grew louder. "Do you think I’m an idiot?"
"Enough!" Zhang Qiang stood up abruptly. "I’m out here working hard to make money while you’re at home just imagining things!"
Li Jun also stood up. "You haven’t been home for over a year, and our contact has dwindled; how can I not think about it?"
Xiao Ming was frightened by his parents' argument and began to cry loudly on the bed, "Don’t fight! Don’t fight!"
But neither of the couple paid any attention to the child. They stood facing each other, their eyes red with anger.
"I’m telling you, I’ll send you both back tomorrow!" Zhang Qiang shouted, pointing a finger at Li Jun. "Don’t cause trouble here!"
"I’m not going back!" Li Jun's voice was hoarse. "I want to see what you’re really up to!"
"You..." Zhang Qiang trembled with rage. "I said go back, so go back!"
"I refuse to go back!" Li Jun retorted, her neck stiffened. "Unless you tear up that woman’s photo!"
"Are you out of your mind?" Zhang Qiang was completely enraged. "Why do you think my affairs are any of your business?"
"I’m your wife! Of course, I have a right to be concerned!"
Zhang Qiang scoffed coldly. "With you like this, do you even deserve to be my wife? Look at yourself—so plain and shabby, you'd be embarrassed to show yourself outside!"
Li Jun had always been the prettiest girl in the village; no one had ever humiliated her like this.
"What did you say?"
"I said you're plain and shabby!" Zhang Qiang lost all control. "In a place like Tianjin, no one would even look at a woman like you on the street!"
"Zhang Qiang!" Li Jun's eyes blazed with fury.
"And tomorrow, you both must go back!" Zhang Qiang moved toward the bed. "Don’t embarrass me here!"
Li Jun rushed over and grabbed Zhang Qiang's arm. "I’m not going back! Unless you come with me!"
"Let go!" Zhang Qiang forcefully shook off Li Jun.
"I won’t let go!" Li Jun held on tightly. "Zhang Qiang, let’s go home; we shouldn’t be out here!"
"I told you to let go!" Zhang Qiang completely lost his sanity.
Slap!
A sharp sound echoed in the room.
Li Jun stumbled back a few steps, covering her face in disbelief as she looked at Zhang Qiang.
In her memory, Zhang Qiang had never hit her before.
That slap didn’t just strike Li Jun’s face; it shattered the last remnants of hope in her heart.
The marriage she wanted to save, the love she had pursued across miles, were all completely destroyed with that one blow.
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