Just then, Li Jinhua came out.

Seeing this, she snatched the family division agreement and tore it to shreds in a few quick movements.

"Is this what you meant by splitting up the family?"

Li Jinhua launched into a tirade of abuse at Su Mingqiang.

"A broken mountain, a debt of two thousand five hundred! Su Mingqiang, I must have been blind to marry you!"

"Jin Hua, let me explain..."

Su Mingqiang reached out to pull her, but was violently pushed away.

"Explain what?"

Li Jinhua took two steps back, her eyes filled with disgust.

"I lost my job, didn't get any money, and am now drowning in debt! I'm going to stay in the school's teachers' dormitory tonight; I can't take this anymore!"

She turned around, went back to her room, grabbed her luggage, and left.

Su Mingqiang stood there, watching his wife leave without even turning her head.

...

The next few days.

In the empty room, Su Mingqiang lay sprawled on the wooden bed.

Three days have passed since the family split up, and Li Jinhua has not returned.

There was a half-bowl of cold corn porridge on the table.

That was the last of the family's stored food.

When Li Jinhua left, she took all the money he had earned from selling his work with him.

At this moment, Su Mingqiang was penniless.

He rolled over, and the wooden bed creaked under the weight.

The sound suddenly reminded him of his father and the sturdy wooden bed in his childhood home.

Back then, his father would lift him high above his head and call him "Qiangzi"...

"Pooh!"

Su Mingqiang sat up abruptly and spat out a mouthful of blood.

He had already figured it out.

That old man is just playing him on purpose!

What barren mountains, what loans—it's all a trap!

A sharp pain shot through his stomach, and he realized he hadn't eaten anything all day.

Staggering into the kitchen, I rummaged through all the cabinets and found only half a bag of moldy flour.

With no other option, Su Mingqiang scooped up a ladle of cold water and poured it down his throat; the icy liquid temporarily suppressed his hunger.

Back in his bedroom, he began rummaging through everything, turning every drawer upside down.

"Where's the money...where's the money..."

He muttered nervously, his fingers trembling as he touched the pockets of every piece of clothing.

Finally, I felt something hard under the mattress.

It was the tin box where Li Jinhua hid her money.

Su Mingqiang excitedly opened the box.

The box was empty.

Su Mingqiang immediately slammed the metal box against the wall in anger.

......

On the seventh day, Su Mingqiang stood in front of the mirror and was startled by his own reflection.

His stubble-covered face and sunken eyes made him look like a homeless man.

Only a few worn-out work clothes remained in the wardrobe.

All the nice clothes were taken away by Li Jinhua.

He rubbed his rumbling stomach and his gaze fell on the five-drawer chest in the corner.

That was a dowry from Li Jinhua's family when she got married; it was made of rosewood and should be able to be exchanged for some money.

The midday sun was so intense it made people dizzy.

Su Mingqiang dragged the chest of drawers for two blocks.

The old man who collected secondhand goods circled the cabinet twice and held up three fingers.

"Twenty yuan, that's the most I can offer."

"Twenty? This is made of rosewood!"

Su Mingqiang's voice was hoarse.

"At least fifty!"

The old man chuckled.

"Take it or leave it."

He turned to leave.

"etc!"

Su Mingqiang grabbed him.

"Forty...would forty be okay?"

It was finally sold for twenty-five yuan.

Clutching crumpled banknotes, Su Mingqiang rushed into a small restaurant on the street corner and ordered two large bowls of noodles with soybean paste.

As soon as the noodles were served, he wolfed them down, stuffing them into his mouth even as his tongue went numb from the heat.

When he was eating his second bowl, he suddenly stopped eating and stared at his reflection in the soup.

Twenty-five yuan, enough to last at most half a month.

What should we do next?

......

Left with no other option, Su Mingqiang went to the school to find his wife, Li Jinhua.

Su Mingqiang had been waiting downstairs in the teachers' dormitory for three hours.

"Jin Hua! Jin Hua!"

Upon seeing the familiar figure, he rushed over.

"I was wrong, come home with me!"

Li Jinhua's female colleague revealed a mocking smile.

She wore exquisite makeup and a brand-new Dacron shirt, a stark contrast to Su Mingqiang's disheveled appearance.

"Oh, isn't this Young Master Su?"

Li Jinhua raised an eyebrow.

"What, did you go begging?"

Several teachers passing by stopped and watched curiously.

Su Mingqiang's face burned, but he still spoke in a humble tone.

"Jin Hua, you didn't leave me a single penny... and now I can't find a job..."

"What's it to me!"

Li Jinhua suddenly raised her voice.

"Everyone, come and see! This is Su Jianguo's son. He didn't get any money after the family division, and he's now drowning in debt. He's come begging his wife to support him!"

Laughter erupted from all directions.

Su Mingqiang's face flushed red, and he reached out to pull his wife.

"Don't do this... let's talk about it when we get home..."

"Get out of here!"

Li Jinhua shoved him away abruptly.

"Security! Get this beggar out of here!"

Two burly security guards immediately rushed over and grabbed Su Mingqiang from both sides.

He heard Li Jinhua's shrill voice as he was dragged out of the school gate.

"I'm going to court tomorrow to file for divorce! You useless piece of trash!"

Su Mingqiang slumped on the curb outside the school gate, his fingers digging deep into his hair, like a homeless stray dog.

......

Unemployed and penniless, struggling to make ends meet.

Su Mingqiang had no choice but to take a temporary job.

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