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Chapter 577: Chapter 567 Have a Good Talk (3)
"Wife, I know you feel wronged," Li Hongjun closed his eyes and comforted his wife, holding her hand.
"Hmph, I really do feel wronged, seriously wronged. Even as a girl with just my mother and I, no one back in our hometown ever treated us this way. Ever since I married you, my heartache has been more bitter than coptis, and the injustices I’ve suffered are comparable to that of Dou E, not to mention the scolding..." Yunfang didn’t find what she said funny at all, as she was speaking her mind.
Although Li Hongjun felt heavy-hearted, he couldn’t help but snort a laugh at his wife’s words, "Wife, wife, why do I adore you so much?" This was a moment that called for an embrace, but due to his injuries, he could only hold his wife’s hand, his fingers restlessly caressing it.
"Don’t think that just saying a few nice words will make everything okay. We need to clear the air today; I need you to give me an explanation. It’s been proven—I just can’t get along with your mother. It’s not just about living together, even seeing her face makes me want to scratch her if I don’t hold back. I don’t want to hold back anymore. You tell me what we should do, how we’re going to live from here on out." Shen Yunfang didn’t think there was anything amusing about what she’d said; she was speaking from the heart.
"Look, look! Who would have thought my wife has such a fiery temper?" Li Hongjun had never seen his wife lose her temper like this. In their relationship, his wife had always been the model of the virtuous wife and good mother, adept in both the hall and the kitchen, managing every aspect of the home beautifully, and she had never complained to him about these mother-in-law and daughter-in-law issues, allowing him to pursue his career without any worries at home.
But now, seeing this vivid side of his wife, witnessing her flared nostrils and glaring eyes, he found a new charm in her, which made him love her even more.
"What’s the matter, have you had enough of me? You should have told me earlier. We already have two kids. What are you thinking of doing, divorcing me?" Shen Yunfang was unconcerned, as her prior easy-going nature made her focus solely on having a happy family, a loving husband, and a few lovely children. To her, everything else was insignificant—having a good life was all that mattered.
However, reality gave her a harsh slap on the face once again. Living a happy life wasn’t just about the two people being content; it involved two families.
"No divorce. Ours is a military marriage, protected by law. We’re stuck with each other for life," Li Hongjun looked at her tenderly.
"Cut it out, don’t say things like ’can’t live without each other.’ There’s nobody in this world who can’t live without someone else," Shen Yunfang’s words darkened Li Hongjun’s expression.
"And I’m not afraid of making you angry. Why do you think we can still get along without quarreling until now? First, it’s because you spend little time at home due to the army, so even if I feel aggrieved, there’s no one to tell. By the time you get home, I’ve already cooled off, so there’s no fight to start. The second reason is that I don’t have a family to defend me. If my parents were still alive, they surely would clash with your parents. Believe it or not, in that scenario, it’d be impossible for us not to fight."
Li Hongxing and his wife—they were a case of the weak partnering with the strong. Li Hongxing listened to everything his wife said, which meant they had no significant conflicts. Their fights merely consisted of Wang Dan bossing Li Hongxing around. Regarding Qiu Shuping, the couple presented a united front.
But this kind of approach just wasn’t suitable for Shen Yunfang and her husband. First of all, Li Hongjun was not a weak person, and Shen Yunfang, though she appeared to have a good temper, was actually very stubborn. If the two of them were to live like ordinary folks, given their unthoughtful mother-in-law, they probably would have come to blows long ago.
Li Hongjun thought over what his wife had said, and realized it was true.
"I know you’re a son, and making any decision now is tough for you, but after what happened this time, I’m truly heartbroken," Shen Yunfang felt her request was not the least bit excessive, "I don’t ask for much; I just want to live peacefully for a while." She felt it was a long time before she could say, "It seems like no matter how I handle this issue, it just doesn’t work out right." It was indeed distressing.
After Shen Yunfang’s voice faded away, the room fell silent again. It was like an intractable knot, impossible to untie satisfactorily.
A long time passed, and Shen Yunfang even wondered if Li Hongjun had fallen asleep before he finally spoke, "Wife, I owe you an apology. When we got married, I promised you that my family wouldn’t trouble you, but this time after time, if you hadn’t said anything, I would have thought I was handling things pretty well, completely unaware of how aggrieved you felt in your heart."
He looked at Shen Yunfang sincerely and said, "Wife, we’re family, meant to spend a lifetime together. I’m inattentive, and like you said, the nature of my job means I can’t be home with you every day, so in the future, if you have any issues, or feel aggrieved, just tell me. I can assure you, I will stand firmly by your side."
"As for my parents, when we get back, I’ll talk to them. We will still contribute to their living expenses, but in the future, unless it’s necessary, they shouldn’t come and disturb your life at home. When I’m on leave, I’ll visit my parents myself." As a son, he could not simply ignore his elders, but now it was clear there was tension between them and his wife, and he had to do something about it.
"When we split the family assets, my parents said they wanted to live with my younger brother. Given the nature of my job, it won’t be possible for me to take care of my parents in their old age. But no matter what, they are still my parents. I know they’ve done some things wrong, and that makes me angry, but I can’t bring myself to completely turn my back on them. Given the circumstances, I was thinking since we can’t provide the help, we can give more money. It would be doing my duty as a filial son, wouldn’t it?" Li Hongjun asked Shen Yunfang.
Shen Yunfang looked at him, "I’ve never thought of making you abandon your parents. With the nature of your job, we have to care for your parents. If your parents truly lived with your brother and didn’t come to our place, I would be willing to pay. But our money doesn’t grow on trees. I can agree to reasonable requests, but I will not agree if they think they can take advantage of us." She figured that now, with the younger brother going to jail, the Li Family elders would probably end up depending on Li Hongxing or Li Hongjun. She would prefer to pay rather than live with her in-laws.
"No, even if you agree, I can’t. Taking care of the elderly is my responsibility as a son, and so is supporting my wife and children. I only make so much in salary, and I can’t give more than that," Li Hongjun made it very clear. He knew his wife earned more than he did, but that was her personal money; he was the man and it was his responsibility to provide for the family.
"Okay, with your word, I am reassured." Shen Yunfang was very satisfied with this outcome. "Let’s not talk any more today. You should get some sleep. The doctor did say that with your condition, you need to rest properly." Shen Yunfang became concerned about her husband’s health at this point.
So why didn’t she think about his health when she was spouting off all those words just before, huh? Well, at that moment, she wasn’t sure of Li Hongjun’s stance. In other words, she didn’t know if this man was truly hers yet. Only when a man is truly yours, then he is worth worrying about, isn’t he?
