73 The Golden Phoenix of Daliang Mountain (Tang Mei's Side Story)
Tang Mei is a golden phoenix from the Daliang Mountains. If you listen carefully to her, you'll notice a hint of the spicy flavor of Sichuan and Chongqing in her accent, tempered by the winds of northern Beijing. Tang Mei's parents passed away early, leaving her brother to support the family through his migrant work. His brother once said, "Sister, study hard and become a teacher. You'll be sheltered from the elements." This inspired her to apply to normal universities for all the college entrance exams. After graduating with a master's degree on a scholarship, she successfully landed a teaching position at a key elementary school in northern Beijing. She met Yang Bin at a colleague's wedding. He stood behind the groom in a perfectly ironed white shirt, yet he didn't seem to be outshone. Yang Bin was three years her senior, a fellow small-town test-taker who had passed the civil service exam. He was handsome, owned a house and a car, and although both were carrying mortgages, for Tang Mei, he was a top-tier marriage prospect. The first time she brought Yang Bin to meet her brother was at a food stall near a construction site. The brother stared at Yang Bin for a long while, then suddenly said to her in his hometown accent: "This kid looks honest and kind." Tang Mei watched Yang Bin put the peeled crayfish into her bowl, and the hesitation in her heart slowly melted away like sugar in hot water. On the day of getting the marriage certificate, she sent a message to her brother, and he replied with a grinning emoji, followed by the words "live a good life in the future." The days after marriage were like rice cakes wrapped in brown sugar, with Yang Bin taking care of all the household chores. But this arrangement was a delicate network. From the small things like Tang Mei's clothing to her colleagues and friends, as long as Yang Bin didn't like something, he could find the right excuse to make Tang Mei "obedient." Tang Mei didn't think it was wrong at first. Girls from the mountains have long understood the principle of "giving and getting". Since they have enjoyed the convenience of not having to touch water, what's the big deal about giving up some freedom in dressing and socializing? Just like when her brother asked her to save her pocket money for tuition when she was a child, although she felt wronged, she knew it was for long-term planning. She even felt that Yang Bin's "control" was care, that he was integrating her into his own life plan, meticulously planning it. Less than a year after their marriage, the two bars on the pregnancy test brought tears to Tang Mei's eyes. Yang Bin was so happy that he spun around the living room three times. From then on, he spoiled her like a fragile object, not letting her do any work. Not only did outsiders sigh, but even Tang Mei herself was full of anticipation for the future happy life of their family of three. At that time, she didn't know that fate is best at hiding bitterness in sweetness. Just like the wild loquats in the mountains of her hometown, they look so tempting at first glance, but when you bite them, you realize they are so sour that they can make your teeth peel. Once, Yang Bin forgot his usual tablet at home on a business trip. Tang Mei, thinking he might need it when he returned, offered to charge it for him. Bending down to...
Tang Mei is a golden phoenix that flew out of the Daliang Mountains. If you listen carefully to her speech, you will find that her accent has a bit of the spicy flavor of the Sichuan and Chongqing regions, but it has been diluted by the wind in northern Beijing.
Tang Mei's parents passed away early, and her brother, who worked away from home, supported the family. He once said, "Study hard, and become a teacher. You'll be protected from the elements." This inspired her to apply to normal universities for all college entrance exams. After graduating with a master's degree on a scholarship, she successfully landed a teaching position at a key elementary school in northern Beijing.
She met Yang Bin at a colleague's wedding. He stood behind the groom in a neatly ironed white shirt, yet he didn't seem outdone. Yang Bin was three years her senior, a fellow small-town test-taker who had passed the civil service exam. He was handsome, owned a house and a car, and while both were under mortgage, for Tang Mei, he was already a top-tier marriage prospect.
The first time Yang Bin met her brother was at a food stall near the construction site. Her brother stared at Yang Bin for a long time, then suddenly said to her in his hometown accent, "This kid looks honest and kind."
Tang Mei watched Yang Bin place the peeled crayfish into her bowl, and the hesitation in her heart melted away like sugar in hot water. On the day she got her marriage certificate, she sent a message to her brother, who replied with a grinning emoji and the words, "Live a good life from now on."
Life after marriage was like a glutinous rice cake coated in brown sugar, with Yang Bin handling all household chores, big and small. But this care was a delicate network. From the smallest details like Tang Mei's outfits to the biggest things about her colleagues and friends, if Yang Bin didn't like something, he would find a way to get Tang Mei to "behave."
Tang Mei didn't think it was wrong at first. A girl from the mountains, she'd long understood the principle of "give and take." Since she already enjoyed the convenience of a life without having to touch water, what was the point of giving up some freedom in dressing and socializing? It was like when her brother asked her to save her pocket money for tuition when she was little. Although she felt wronged, she knew it was for the long term. She even felt that Yang Bin's "control" was a sign of care, a way of integrating her into his own life plan and carefully planning it.
Less than a year after their marriage, Tang Mei's eyes welled up when two lines appeared on the pregnancy test stick. Yang Bin, overjoyed, spun around the living room three times. From then on, he pampered her like a fragile object, not letting her do anything. Not only did others sigh in admiration, but Tang Mei herself was also filled with anticipation for a happy future with her family of three.
She didn't know then that fate is best at hiding bitterness within sweetness, just like the wild loquats in the mountains of her hometown, which looked alluringly bright yellow, but when she bit into them, she realized they were so sour they could make your teeth peel.
Once, Yang Bin forgot his favorite tablet computer at home while on a business trip. Tang Mei, thinking he might need it when he got home, offered to charge it for him. As she bent over to plug it in, the screen suddenly lit up, and a WeChat preview popped up like a thunderbolt before her eyes.
[Are you free tonight? I miss you!]
She was nailed to the spot, watching more messages pop up. Those blatant flirting and large-scale photos were like countless needles, piercing her eyes.
The man who usually remembered that she didn't eat onions or ginger, the husband who would say to family and friends, "My daughter Meimei works the hardest," was now telling someone on WeChat, "Baby, you look best in black stockings." What she had thought were thoughtful considerations instantly turned into a huge irony, like a shattered mirror, each fragment reflecting her ridiculous appearance.
Tang Mei originally planned to wait for Yang Bin to return from his business trip to confront him face to face, but after witnessing Yang Bin's explicit love talks with different women for a few days, her body completely collapsed before her spirit.
With the help of neighbors, Tang Mei was sent to the hospital, and Yang Bin also rushed back. The doctor diagnosed that her cervix was too short and there was a risk of premature birth. To save the baby, she had to stay in bed and rest.
Back home, Tang Mei confronted him and demanded a divorce. Yang Bin knelt down and admitted his guilt, swearing he had never physically cheated on her and had only been seeking emotional stimulation. Thinking of the obscene language in the chat logs, Tang Mei felt short of breath and fainted.
When she woke up again, Yang Bin was lying on the bed with tears in his eyes. He held her hand and said that even if they were to divorce, he hoped that they and their child would be safe. Tang Mei was so weak now and needed someone to take care of her. If she still wanted to leave after the child was born, he would definitely not stop her.
The doctor's words were still ringing in her ears, and the baby in her belly kicked, as if reminding Tang Mei of its existence. She didn't want to take any risks. The humiliation was like a fishbone stuck in her throat, unable to swallow or spit it out. She could only close her eyes and nod.
Yang Bin deleted all ambiguous contact information in front of her and changed his phone password to her birthday. He started making soup every day, wiping her body, and tucking her in at night, acting like a more caring husband than before.
A few months later, Tang Mei gave birth to a boy. Every night, Yang Bin prepared the baby's formula, changed his diapers, burped him, and put him to sleep, becoming a model dad. She even thought that everyone makes mistakes, and perhaps those unbearable pasts could really be overshadowed by the trivial warmth of day after day.
It was not until she was about to finish her maternity leave and a colleague let it slip when he came to visit her that she found out that Yang Bin had already resigned on her behalf!
In response, he explained that the school was unhappy with her long-term sick leave, and he did not proactively mention her resignation because he was afraid that she would get emotional and hurt the child.
It was a plausible argument, irrefutable. Being unemployed meant she would most likely lose custody in the event of a divorce, and Yang Bin knew she wouldn't give up the child, so he effectively tied Tang Mei to his side.
For a long time afterward, Tang Mei felt like a puppet with its soul drained away. Her days revolved around feeding, cooking, and coaxing her child to sleep. The changing seasons outside her window seemed to have no bearing on her. Only when she heard her child's giggles would a flicker of life light up on her face.
Yang Bin continued to play the role of a caring husband, but the way he looked at her was like an invisible net, tightening ever tighter. To shoulder the sole responsibility of supporting his family, Yang Bin resigned from his public office and joined a friend in a non-performing asset disposal business. His work changed, and he had more and more social engagements, always returning reeking of alcohol and unfamiliar perfume.
After finally persevering until her three-year-old child entered kindergarten, Tang Mei began secretly submitting resumes and looking for a job. When she showed Yang Bin the employment contract from Huangcun Tongxin Experimental School, he unexpectedly expressed his happiness for her.
Tang Mei's return to work radiated her. Yang Bin saw a changed wife, and suspicions crept in like mold in damp weather. He noticed that Tang Mei no longer focused solely on him and the children. At dinner, she would chat about school, remarking on a child's essay that read like a fairy tale, and humming a pop song while washing dishes. These subtle changes, in Yang Bin's eyes, became glaring signals.
It wasn't until one day when he went to pick up Tang Mei from get off work and saw her walking side by side with a young male teacher, and Tang Mei looked up and smiled in response to him, that he figured out what "understanding" meant.
The quarrel that night was like a sudden rainstorm, and he attacked for the first time.
The days that followed became a relentless nightmare. Yang Bin would come home drunk. If a business deal went well, he would, still drunkenly, push her onto the bed, yelling, "Meimei, I love you so much," his movements as rough as if he were tearing something apart. If he ran into trouble, he would take his anger out on her, calling her a "slut," and then shoving her to the ground.
After sobering up, he continued to repent, repeatedly emphasizing his love for Tang Mei, but he couldn't help but suspect that she still resented his infidelity. His love became the most vicious shackles, guarding, following, cell phone positioning...
Tang Mei certainly considered divorce, but Yang Bin always remained the perfect father to their child. Once, at the dinner table, he deliberately asked, "If Mom and Dad separated, who would you live with?" Without hesitation, his son chose Yang Bin. Afterwards, he half-threateningly and half-jokingly told Tang Mei that if they divorced one day, she would never see her child again.
What really made Tang Mei make up her mind was a recent little thing.
That day, she had just finished class when she received a call from the kindergarten teacher, saying that her son was injured in a fight with other children and asked her to come over quickly.
When Tang Mei saw her son had only suffered a minor scratch at school, she felt relieved. However, the teacher's words instantly sent her back to hell - during the fight, her son shouted, "You can't get away!"
That was Yang Bin's catchphrase when he was excited. Tang Mei had always deceived herself into thinking that the hideousness behind closed doors was well hidden, and that as long as she played the role of a loving parent in front of her child, she could isolate the harm from outside. However, she had not expected that the subtle marks of violence had already penetrated into the child's body like poisonous mist.
She absolutely cannot let her son become the second Yang Bin.
…
Condensation droplets on the outer wall of the coffee cup kept rolling down and gathered on the table, reflecting Tang Mei's calm yet desperate expression. She quickly pulled herself away from her memories.
"I heard that even if you file for divorce, if the man insists that the relationship hasn't broken down, the judge won't grant the divorce, is that right?"
"If you're filing for divorce for the first time, based on the principle of maintaining family stability, if there's no evidence of a breakdown in the relationship, you might be denied a divorce."
Tang Mei's eyes dimmed instantly.
"But if there is domestic violence, it's a different matter. And the abuser usually can't get custody of the child!"
Liu Yuwei hurried to explain.
"Then how can we determine that he committed domestic violence?"
Tang Mei's eyelashes trembled, as if something moved under her eyes, but was quickly covered by a deeper weakness.
"He's very measured in his attacks. They're never serious and disappear after a few days. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to hold on until today..."
"Have you ever called the police or gone to the hospital for a medical examination?"
Tang Mei shook her head helplessly. She had never thought of leaving behind any unbearable evidence.
"If you have nothing, it would be difficult to gain the judge's support based on your unilateral statement. Moreover, from the perspective of outsiders, Yang Bin is definitely a good father and a good husband."
The air seemed to be frozen, and only the laughter coming from the children's playground in the distance was like tiny shards of broken glass, intermittently piercing my ears.
"If... I mean if..." Liu Yuwei suddenly reached out and gently patted Tang Mei's clenched fist. The warmth of his palm passed through her skin. "He attacked me again recently. You must call the police immediately and ask for an injury assessment. Tell them you want to contact a lawyer and then call me!"
Tang Mei raised her head, her eyes covered with a thin layer of mist, and nodded.
"Dad, Dad, why are you here!"
The familiar child's voice exploded like thunder in the quiet corner. Tang Mei looked at her son rushing towards her and turned her head sharply.
Yang Bin had stood a few steps away, his back to the bright lights of the mall. His face was shrouded in shadow, his expression unclear. No one knew how long he had been standing there, or how much he had heard.
Liu Yuwei also looked over. The man was wearing casual trousers and a light gray polo shirt, with metal-framed glasses on his square face. He had a well-proportioned figure, no protruding belly, no baldness, and looked gentle and refined.
Yang Bin walked over with his long legs and naturally put his arm around Tang Mei. The action seemed intimate, but it was filled with irresistible strength.
"Would you like to introduce yourself?"
"This is our school's new Taoism teacher, Liu Yuwei!"
Tang Mei's voice trembled a little.
"This is Yang Bin!"
Liu Yuwei took the initiative to extend his right hand, "Hello!"
"Dad, how did you know Mom and I were here?"
The boy ran over with a cup of water, his face covered with colored clay.
"Mom said she'd take you out this morning," Yang Bin ruffled his son's hair. "Every time we go to the mall, don't you always play in the amusement park for half a day? I calculated the time and came to pick you up for lunch."
"Teacher Liu, let's have lunch together?"
He turned his head and greeted her warmly, his hand never leaving Tang Mei's shoulder.
"No, thank you. I also have a meeting with friends at noon!"
The wind lifted a corner of her dark green skirt, like a leaf about to be swallowed by a dark cloud. Staring at the back of the man leading his wife and children away, Liu Yuwei suddenly thought of An Jiahe, the shadow of her childhood.
…
If it was their first meeting, Liu Yuwei could still sense a touch of the politeness between strangers in Yang Bin's polite smile. But the second time they met, at the school gate, that politeness had changed. While the curve of his lips remained the same, his eyes held a deeper, harder-to-understand meaning. He said nothing, merely a nod as a greeting, but his gaze lingered on Liu Yuwei for a long time, a kind of impassive scrutiny.
However, Tang Mei said that Yang Bin had been behaving very well recently. He would sleep alone in the cabin after socializing, and was even quite gentle and patient in matters between husband and wife. But Liu Yuwei always felt that something was not right.
On the day Jin Lang returned, a light rain fell in northern Beijing. The two of them sat on the sofa, listening to the patter of water and chatting, and the topic of a woman's sixth sense came up again. As the attorney representing Tang Mei, Liu Yuwei was reluctant to discuss Tang Mei's situation with anyone else, only vaguely saying that her guess was correct.
Jin Lang didn't ask any more questions after hearing this. He just put his arm around her and reminded her to be careful when dealing with such people.
In addition to Tang Mei's incident, there was another episode that disturbed Liu Yuwei's heart in the following days.
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