Chapter 112 A person lives only once, and that pride is something they earn themselves…

Even though his words far surpass those of most men in the world, he is still as clumsy as most men when it comes to comforting people.

“If you cry again, your eyes will get swollen and you won’t look good. It will make me feel bad too. I’m not saying this to make you cry.”

Tang Mingli burst into laughter through her tears, though she was genuinely worried that her eyes might actually be swollen from crying. It was the Lunar New Year, and people would be coming to the Fu family to offer their greetings; that wouldn't look good.

But despite not crying, she still deliberately said, "You're lying. You should have known I would cry before you said those things."

Some words are most dangerous when they come from the mouth of someone who doesn't like sweet talk.

Fu Ci is the kind of person who is destined for great success. He should only have his career on his mind, so why does he have her on his mind?

Tang Mingli couldn't understand when she had entered his heart.

When she got married, she was hoping for a respectful and harmonious marriage. After all, he might not be a considerate husband, but he would definitely be responsible. He could give her a stable and wealthy life, and there wouldn't be any messy issues. Plus, with his figure and looks, he was already perfect for her. But who could have imagined that she would open a blind box and get an S+++ card?

Perhaps she had terrible luck in her past life, and God is making it up to her in this one.

Fu Ci was unaware of the profound emotions behind his wife's words, and helplessly replied, "Before saying these words, I didn't know I would say them."

This is the truth. No matter how well you know someone, it's impossible to fully know what they're thinking or to mentally prepare a draft beforehand.

Who would have thought that his wife would feel such psychological burden after mentioning Li Dazhu?

Fu Ci felt sorry for her but also found it funny.

He and Li Dazhu are clearly different, so how could he possibly identify with him?

Is he such a sensitive and petty person?

Moreover, what kind of husband is he if he can't benefit his wife throughout her life?

While comforting his wife, Fu Ci inwardly scorned Li Dazhu.

Tang Mingli, however, said: "Since ancient times, society has expected women to be virtuous and kind after marriage, and to sacrifice and dedicate themselves to their families..."

Upon hearing this, Fu Ci couldn't help but grit his teeth and curse in his heart, "That bastard Li Dazhu has really caused a lot of harm."

He then sighed, blaming societal trends for being too demanding of women.

For the first time, he interrupted his wife before she could finish speaking, saying, "This is a new society, everyone is equal. Everyone, including men and women. We've lived together for several years, do you think I don't know what kind of person you are?"

Tang Mingli raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious.

What kind of person am I?

She had hoped to hear some praise from Fu Ci, but unexpectedly...

"You just won't let yourself suffer even the slightest grievance."

Tang Mingli: "..."

You really don't hold back!

But judging from the husband's tone, it wasn't meant as a pejorative remark.

Meeting Fu Ci's scrutinizing gaze, Fu Ci's smile deepened, and he continued, "Is there anything wrong with this?"

He was asking his wife, but more than that, he was telling her.

Is there anything wrong with that?

Tang Mingli suddenly understood after being asked the question, and her unease completely disappeared.

Yes, is it wrong to be good to yourself?

Because he was angry that his wife was indirectly crying during the Lunar New Year because of that bastard Li Dazhu, Fu Ci even unconsciously viewed marital issues from a female perspective.

Why must women sacrifice in marriage and not consider their own interests?

On what grounds?

Put yourself in his shoes; if his wife had to endure these same grievances after marrying him… just hypothetically, he would feel terrible.

How could someone who truly loves another person bear to see them constantly sacrifice and dedicate themselves to another?

I'm so glad my wife is so aware of this, and even more glad that he has always tried to be a good husband since we got married.

As Tang Mingli listened to Fu Ci rambling on, she became more and more shocked.

I never expected that my words and tears would have such an unexpected result.

I knew Fu Ci was different from other men, but I never realized how different he was.

This is probably due to the influence of family environment.

Both grandfather and father-in-law still held traditional views on marriage to some extent, but among men of their generation, they were already outstanding.

If, when she's old and gray, her thoughts haven't changed, and she doesn't write a book on correct views on choosing a partner to benefit future generations, then she would truly be letting down the good fortune of her rebirth and transmigration.

Surprised, Tang Mingli couldn't help but ask her husband, "Is there anything you can't tolerate?"

Fu Ci thought about it carefully, and although he had an answer in his heart, he found it difficult to say it.

Tang Mingli became even more curious about his hesitant manner and kept pressing him for answers.

Fu Ci couldn't hold on any longer, but thankfully the bus arrived at that moment.

Once the two got into the car, the topic naturally fell out of the way.

The bus swayed and rocked, and Tang Mingli quickly became sleepy, so she simply leaned on Fu Ci's shoulder and fell asleep.

She was genuinely sleepy, not pretending, but she didn't expect to hear Fu Ci's belated answer while she was half-asleep.

In an instant, it felt as if something had struck her heart hard.

He spoke very, very softly, almost in a whisper; if you weren't leaning on his shoulder, you probably wouldn't have been able to hear him.

"You just need to dislike other people."

—

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Mrs. Fu received a phone call from Fu Cai.

I thought we were communicating in advance about when she would come to pay her respects for the New Year, but I was surprised to hear that she wasn't feeling well and wouldn't be coming this year.

The old woman pressed her for details about where she felt unwell, but refused to say.

In the end, this infuriated Old Mrs. Fu.

"Is this person just making up an excuse because they don't want to come?"

Although that's what they said, they were really worried and decided to go and see for themselves.

Anyway, it was never said that the younger sister had to pay New Year's greetings to her brother and sister-in-law.

Since she had already suggested going, Grandpa Fu naturally accompanied her.

That "I'm just keeping you company" attitude made Old Madam Fu even angrier, so she deliberately said, "If you don't want to go, stay home with me, I can go by myself."

Tang Mingli immediately said, "Grandma, I'll stay with you."

Next up were Fu Ci and Fu Cheng'an, a married couple.

Seeing this, Old Master Fu could no longer maintain his composure and unusually yielded.

"I want to go too."

The pitiful yet cautious tone of her voice made Old Madam Fu burst out laughing.

When the group arrived at Fu Caiping's house carrying large and small bags, they found that she was really not feeling well and looked very haggard.

If Madam Fu was still somewhat angry when she arrived, she was completely irritated after seeing Fu Caiping.

Before she even sat down, she took Fu Caiping's hand and asked with concern, "What's wrong with you?"

Fu Caiping never expected her brother and sister-in-law's family to come.

You should know that a few years ago, because of Gu Lin's move to the countryside, the Gu family said a lot of hurtful things, which made the eldest brother so angry that he almost said some harsh words.

Fu Caiping knew her older brother's personality all too well.

She thought her brother and sister-in-law would never come to the Gu family again in this lifetime...

Fu Caiping said with emotion, "Sister-in-law, I'm fine, I'm just a little tired."

Madam Fu is not a three-year-old child, so of course she wouldn't believe it.

"Do you think I can't tell if you're tired or not feeling well?"

"I'm really fine."

Fu Caiping remained defiant, but her daughter-in-law couldn't help but speak up for her.

"It's all because of Gu Lin."

Madam Fu asked, "What's wrong with Gu Lin?"

Now that she had brought it up, Fu Caiping had no reason to hide it any longer.

"Her in-laws want her to have another child, but..."

However, there is a current national policy that dual-income couples can only have one child.

However, that family was unreasonable and shifted all the responsibility for not being able to have a second child onto Gu Lin.

Fu Caiping felt sorry for her granddaughter the most. Seeing that her granddaughter was still being treated so unfairly after giving birth to a grandson for her husband's family, she was so angry that she even fell ill from the anger.

It was all for this kind of thing; Madam Fu was both annoyed and amused.

They had advised against the marriage beforehand, but no one in the Gu family took their well-intentioned advice to heart.

But since things had already come to this, she didn't want to say anything useless and could only advise Fu Caiping to think more positively.

"Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. We elders can't possibly worry about them for the rest of our lives."

Fu Caiping sighed: "That's true, but can we really just sit idly by and do nothing?"

“It’s not that we’re just sitting idly by, it’s just that…” Old Madam Fu was at a loss for words, unsure how to express herself, and subconsciously looked at Tang Mingli.

Tang Mingli understood her grandmother's meaning and spoke it out for her: "Don't interfere too much, just be a strong support."

Madam Fu slapped her thigh: "That's right, that's exactly what I mean. We elders are the source of confidence for the younger generation."

Fu Caiping understood what she meant, but...

"It's easier said than done. To be a supporter, you have to see if you have the ability."

Tang Mingli disagreed.

Having ability is certainly good, but often attitude is more important.

For example, if parents who pressure their daughters into marriage react to their daughters' desire for divorce by saying, "If you want to divorce, then divorce. Your parents will support you," instead of offering well-meaning but ultimately unhelpful advice like, "Everyone goes through this, just bear with it," then their daughters will definitely be more willing to make mistakes.

Tang Mingli asked her aunt and the other members of the Gu family with a smile, "After Gu Lin suffered grievances at her husband's family, did you all advise her to think more positively, to bear with it, and tell her that many people have gone through this?"

"Otherwise what?" Fu Caiping retorted.

If we don't say it this way, how else can we say it?

Tang Mingli felt sorry for Gu Lin.

It's easy to imagine that she already felt wronged at her husband's family home, and going back to her parents' home only made her feel more aggrieved.

Since she's here today, she'll try to put in a good word for her, but there's little chance her words will be heeded.

Whether the Gu family listened or not is unknown, but the Fu family elders suddenly realized that Tang Mingli was right.

Family support is always the source of a child's courage to move forward.

Towards the end of the conversation, Fu Caiping hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

Seeing that her brother and sister-in-law's family were really about to leave, and that if she didn't speak up now, she might never have another chance, she finally decided to take the plunge.

"Big brother, do you have any way of getting a spot to have a second child?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Fu looked at Tang Mingli, silently saying: You guessed right again.

That phone call was probably really about this.

Then she looked at her husband, and surprisingly, she didn't see him turn cold.

In the past, if he had heard his sister say such things, Grandpa Fu would have definitely been furious.

He's been an upright man his whole life, how could he possibly do such a thing?

But now, he finds himself changing a lot without even realizing it.

Instead of flying into a rage, there was instead a sense of understanding and consideration.

He told his sister in a serious tone, "A while ago, a family in the same compound took advantage of their connections and got pregnant with their second child. In the end, they lost the baby and were even made an example of."

"Really?" Fu Caiping was shocked. She looked at her elder brother and then at her sister-in-law, silently seeking confirmation.

Madam Fu nodded.

This is indeed true.

Although she supports national policies, the thought of losing that child still breaks her heart.

Fu Caiping and the rest of the Gu family felt their hearts sink.

After a long pause, Fu Caiping said sadly, "Gu Lin, with her gentle nature, is probably going to suffer some injustice."

Tang Mingli couldn't stand hearing such words.

In this life, one's pride is something one earns through one's own efforts.

She said, "Aunt, if Gu Lin confides in you again, and you advise her to be patient and give her some support, wouldn't she have the confidence to resist her in-laws?"