Chapter 344
Xiao Shuang wrote to me, mentioning something, and said: "...Guess who I met? A few days ago, Runze was working overtime, and I went to bring him lunch. A friend of his colleague came to see that colleague, and we started chatting. When we talked about where we went to school, that person mentioned if he knew someone named Kuang Yumin in the school. That person said that their family knew Kuang Yumin's family. Kuang Yumin wrote a letter back three years ago, saying that he was looking for a job in another place, which was better than graduating from college, which might not give him a good job. Later, he lost contact with him. He is the only son left in the family, and his father His mother has been asking around, but there's been no news. She cries every day and hasn't celebrated a New Year in three years. One of his mother's eyes has gone blind from crying, and the other can't see clearly either. It seems to be getting worse and worse, almost blind. Hearing this name reminds me of something from a past life, when they suddenly vanished. Isn't that strange? That group of people, who knows what they're up to. But thinking about the old man's age, and how his children have gone through something like this, unable to see them and yet unable to let go, is really sad. It would be better to just confirm their disappearance, and let them just say they're dead, and then we'll just give up.
The next time Wang Jiazhi heard that name, it felt like it was from a lifetime ago. She hated hearing those names; they were unlucky.
The reply read: "It's the father's fault for not educating his child properly. Judging from his arrogant belief that men are superior to women, his moral character is probably inseparable from his parents' education. He has to bear the consequences of his own actions and is not worthy of sympathy."
Even a year or two ago, when she heard something like this, no matter how much she hated those things, she would still feel pity for the old man. Now it's not like that at all. Nine out of ten times, if a person is bad, it's because they grew up with their parents being that way, or they were spoiled.
The hospital is always plagued by drunkards in their forties. Their parents had a son but didn't know how to cherish him. From childhood on, they let him do whatever they wanted: study if he didn't want to study, work if he didn't want to work, they didn't want to work. They wanted to raise their son like a prince, but he wasn't from an imperial family, just an ordinary household. They couldn't afford their child wealth and luxury, so he spent his days idle, gluttonous and lazy, his only entertainment being alcohol and cigarettes. His alcoholism into his forties had damaged his liver. Even in middle age, he was like a four or five-year-old, throwing tantrums and making a scene at the slightest provocation, even throwing a tantrum and throwing things when he needed an injection. He'd accomplished nothing in his life, never even enjoying life. His parents could barely afford to feed him three meals a day, and he drank the most ordinary alcohol and smoked the most ordinary cigarettes. Their family wasn't royal, yet they still wanted to raise their son like a prince. When she gave birth, there was a patient just like him in the department upstairs. One day, he came down from upstairs, yelling and screaming. The aunt said, "Poor parents! Having a son like that is worse than not having one."
The female doctor said, "It was his parents who ruined him. Drowning a child is like killing him. If such a family were wealthy, they would let their son do nothing but cockfight and run errands. Although he may not have achieved anything in his life, he still enjoys wealth and splendor. Such parents are the real culprits. They spoil their child into a waste, but their own abilities are limited. Not only has his life been ruined, but he has never enjoyed any good things. He has nothing but home-cooked meals, ordinary cigarettes and alcohol, because his entertainment is limited, which is all he has. Over time, his health has deteriorated to this point, and he won't live much longer, and he will die prematurely. Then these parents will blame their child for being useless and bringing them into trouble. Isn't that infuriating? Such parents and child must have had a grudge in a previous life. The child owed them an untold amount of hatred, and was reborn as their son in this life, only to be ruined like this."
Wang Jiazhi and her aunt were both enlightened. Thinking about the personalities of those people, it was probably because their parents were like that. With Lai Xiujing being like that, she didn't believe her mother could be a good person. At least she knew that her grandmother and mother were very good people. They taught her to work hard and not hurt others since she was a child. They themselves set a good example for her by doing what they said. Even her father was the same. Although he was not good to her and her mother, he was a down-to-earth and hardworking person. He hated those who were flashy and idle and just enjoyed the fruits of their labor. Kuang Yumin was so shameless and despicable that he always wanted to enjoy the fruits of his labor. It was easy to imagine what kind of people his parents were.
Wang Jiazhi shook her head with emotion. She was sad again. How could such a good upbringing have been ruined and schemed upon by them? She still had to blame her father for being worse than an animal. But if she had really had the same upbringing as them, she probably wouldn't have been so foolish as to let herself be schemed upon.
Wang Jiazhi sent Xiaoshuang a piece of pale yellow fabric with azure maple leaves. It was almost Chinese New Year, perfect for making new clothes. But Xiaoshuang would definitely find it too expensive, and she'd definitely want a return gift of similar value. If that happened, she wondered if it would increase her financial burden. But now that she had earned her royalties, and remembering the money Xiaoshuang had left for her before she left, a cheap gift wouldn't be justifiable.
Her royalties were a considerable sum. Without him, if she'd published one or two, it would have been enough for her to live on for a while. But without him, she didn't know if he would publish. Now that she was with him, those royalties didn't matter. It was like drought kills drought, flood kills flood. The rulers only had more and more, and the things they cared little about could be the lifeblood of ordinary people.
Xiao Shuang also mentioned in the letter that she got news from Meihui that a girl in the drama club had divorced.
"...Surprising, aren't you? She and her boyfriend were childhood sweethearts, so they've been together for over a decade. As soon as he heard she was sick, he disappeared. I understand he didn't want her to be a burden, but he didn't even say goodbye. As soon as he heard she was sick, he just disappeared without a trace. Isn't that too much? Luckily, her parents took her back and are willing to take care of her."
Wang Jiazhi also found it incredible. It's understandable that marrying a sickly wife would lead to divorce due to the immense pressure of survival. After all, most people marry to make a living; what's the point of living if they can't make ends meet? They say love is the foundation of marriage, but most marriages are based on equal exchange and mutual cooperation, devoid of love.
But after more than ten years of relationship, he shouldn't be so beastly without revealing anything. Besides, the girl is a very good person, not the kind of person who is unreasonable. Her family is also very good. She won't be left without support after the divorce.
Thinking of this, Wang Jiazhi felt very melancholy. Those with poor academic performance and no work had their families to support them, while those with good academic performance and no work had their families to help them find work. Like this girl, who was sick and unable to work and divorced, her parents were supporting her. It seemed like everyone had a path, except her.
Just as I finished digesting Xiaoshuang's letter, the phone rang. It was Mrs. Liao's daughter calling.
This was the second time he called her to invite her to the party, and it lasted almost two hours. It was only when she signaled to the little girl that she had something to do that the call ended. Otherwise, she might have called for another two hours.
In truth, she didn't say anything, just listened to the woman wailing about the beastly ways of her in-laws. She didn't need any comfort, as she just kept on talking, not giving her a chance to speak. Perhaps she was simply devastated and had no one to confide in.
He even asked her out on the phone, saying they would meet tomorrow. Wang Jiazhi knew it wasn't to go shopping, but to listen to him complain.
Wang Jiazhi was in a trance, back in school. After gossiping with Xiaoshuang, Huangliju from next door came over and started talking non-stop. Thinking of this, she remembered that Huangliju had been gone for several years, and she didn't know if her jerk boyfriend was dead or not.
He didn't come back at night and called her to tell her that he would go to listen to Mrs. Liao's daughter's talk the next morning. He said he had an appointment after work at noon, and the two agreed to meet at home in the afternoon.
The next day at nine o'clock, Wang Jiazhi and Mrs. Liao's daughter met in the hotel cafe. During the meeting, Mrs. Liao's daughter excitedly took out a novel of hers and said, "I just got it the day before yesterday. I've been really enjoying reading her books lately, and I finally got her autograph. She even gave me a bookmark she drew herself. She asked my dad for help, but he didn't care. He even asked someone to find the editor at the newspaper. I didn't expect him to be so kind."
"Uh... that's because it's you. If it were someone else, they wouldn't have the presence of mind to do so."
"No, I think she must be a very good person. She was very touched after reading the handwritten letter I wrote, so she gave me a hand-painted bookmark."
"Yes, of course I am moved by your sincerity."
"I don't think it was sincere. What I wrote was what she thought. I felt like a close friend."
"Yeah yeah."
The letter from Mrs. Liao's daughter was incredibly long and lyrical, the kind of long, lyrical, parallel sentences she couldn't finish. It was so thick she couldn't get past two pages. Knowing it was for her, Wang Jiazhi had given her a hand-painted bookmark. She felt sorry for her. Mr. Liao, for all he did, couldn't even do a little for his daughter, just call the magazine. What kind of person was he?
However, Wang Jiazhi thought that such fanatics would probably come and go quickly, and would soon no longer like her books.
When it was almost twelve o'clock, Mrs. Liao's daughter said, "Let's go eat. My mom and her family are having a treat today, so let's go together."
"ah!"
Wang Jiazhi had originally planned to treat her to a meal, as it was rare for someone to look up to her, though the reason wasn't entirely straightforward. But since she knew it was dinner time, she might as well have eaten there. She hadn't expected them to invite her to a dinner party with the fake imperial edicts.
"They are all acquaintances. My mother, Mrs. Yi, Mrs. Ma, Mrs. Liang and others. You won't feel awkward in there."
Wang Jiazhi remembered that Mrs. Liang's family had sent a lot of things not long ago, and it was so embarrassing to see them now.
"I've already told them, and I've asked you to come with me today."
What! In this case, she had no choice but to go. Wang Jiazhi had originally thought that after meeting with Mrs. Liao's daughter, she had done her best. She couldn't continue chatting with her like this in the future. It was a waste of her life.
As soon as they entered the private room, they were indeed acquaintances, though everyone felt a little awkward. It wasn't clear if it was simply that, or if she felt guilty. Mrs. Liang, however, looked uneasy. She smiled at her in a somewhat flattering way, but didn't dare to be too flattering. She was caught between a rock and a hard place, having to consider Mrs. Yi but not wanting to offend her. Mrs. Yi, seeing her, was also somewhat attentive.
Wang Jiazhi also felt that it was not a big deal and there was no need to be so angry. It would make her feel very embarrassed when she saw them again.
There were also two unfamiliar mother and daughter inside. After Mrs. Liang introduced them to her, she nodded. She had no idea what the husband and wife did for a living. What gender equality? It was just like the ancient times. She had been around them for so long, but she only knew their husbands' surnames. She didn't even know their family names, let alone their names.
But eating their food and taking their last name is not an insult to them. Talking about gender equality here is not feasible.
Before she could order, two men came in. One of them, wearing a black suit, was the husband of the woman inside, whom she didn't recognize. He came in and said with a smile, "We were going to eat next door. I didn't expect you to be here too."
Mrs. Ma asked, "How many of you are there?"
"There are four of us."
Mrs. Ma smiled and said, "That's perfect. Let's eat together. It will be more lively with more people."
The two of them came in and sat down. Everyone chatted, but Wang Jiazhi and the other two girls remained silent. Because two more people were coming soon, there wasn't enough space, so Mrs. Liao's daughter sat behind her, and that lady's daughter sat behind that lady.
As they spoke, Mrs. Liao's daughter continued to chat with her about her writing. For the first time, Wang Jiazhi was speechless about her own work and the person she was speaking to, because her meaning and the other person's understanding were completely different. It was incredible to think about this world. Mrs. Liao's daughter certainly had no idea that the writer she currently admired and felt she could never reach was the only one listening to her endless chatter.
Wang Jiazhi tilted her head to listen to Mrs. Liao's daughter's words when the door suddenly opened and someone entered. Everyone stopped talking and started exchanging greetings. She turned around and their eyes met. He seemed nonchalant, his surprise barely noticeable. He and another man came in, both wearing loose-fitting gowns, while the other two were in suits. So, the social engagement he'd mentioned was actually here.
Old Yi was surprised when he came in. Isn't this his harem? And Wang Jiazhi is also here! So she said she would invite Mrs. Liao's daughter to dinner, and she meant to be with them.
Today, the man from the male group, the one who came in with Old Yi, had returned from abroad. They hadn't seen each other for a while, so they came to greet him. They arrived later, ushered in by the two who had come earlier, unaware of the other women already in the room. But since this man was part of their circle and familiar with most of the wives, it didn't matter. As soon as they sat down, everyone started chatting animatedly.
After they sat down, the waiter brought a few menus and asked the man and Mr. Yi to order the dishes, while the female members had to ask Mrs. Yi to order the dishes first.
Wang Jiazhi could see that he was still the most senior official here, so everyone was trying to curry favor with him. Mrs. Yi also took the menu and asked her to order. Wang Jiazhi was very surprised and shook her head with a smile. On one side of her was Mrs. Liang, and on the other side was Mrs. Liao. Mrs. Liang was trying to curry favor with her and insisted that she order, and Mrs. Yi also wanted her to order. Wang Jiazhi thought that today was just a few familiar fake imperial edicts, so anything could be done. But with men and unfamiliar ladies here, it would be too awkward to push them back and forth like this. She thought she could be invisible with so many people around, but she didn't expect the ladies to insist on making up for what happened last time. She had no choice but to order two dishes.
Later, we asked everyone what kind of tea they wanted. Mrs. Liao's daughter, who was sitting in the back, said she wanted lychee Longjing tea. She whispered, "The lychees at that time were canned, and the tea they brewed tasted weird."
Two children sat at the back of the table. Wang Jiazhi, only a year older than them, stood out from the crowd. She dressed like a little girl, especially today in a lake-blue cheongsam with large white roses. Her hair was parted in the middle, braided into three-strand braids on either side. Then, all her hair was braided into a single three-strand braid at the back. A silk ribbon, the same color as her dress, was woven into the braid and tied into a bow at the end. She had a baby face and looked even younger than the other two girls.
They were chatting animatedly, and she seemed like a child among the adults. While the adults chatted, she remained silent. She couldn't understand what they were saying. But soon, Mrs. Liao's daughter started chatting with her again.
"I think this author has an Oedipus complex."
"ah!!!"
He was drinking his tea at the time and nearly choked. Although their voices were very low, he could still hear them.
"Many of the men she writes about are extremely irresponsible, selfish, stupid, and foolish. And there's a rumor that her husband is almost 20 years older than her, and the things she writes about are very mature. So I think her father must have treated her badly, so she wants to find an older man to make up for the regrets in her life."
Wang Jiazhi was speechless and said, "Then find a father. How can I make up for the regret of not having a husband?"
"I think so."
"I didn't mean to do that at all. I just like someone who happens to be a little older."
"Bigger?"
Wang Jiazhi confidently said, "In 'Gone with the Wind', Rhett Butler was almost twenty years older than Scarlett. When he proposed to Scarlett, he even said, 'Do you want to choose me? Find someone of the same age. No more than twenty years old is not considered old at all.'"
"Forehead……"
"That's a foreign idol novel. Human romance is universal. You see, it's not a big deal at all."
Wang Jiazhi had always thought that Lao Yi was so childish and interesting in many ways. From the beginning, she had overlooked the fact that he was almost twenty years older than she was.
"How can you be so sure? Some girls just like men who are like brothers and fathers."
"I just know it. Someone who can write an article like that would never be so disgusting. Looking for a husband is just looking for a husband. What's with the brother-like and father-like talk? That's all nonsense."
She really wanted to say that it seemed like □□, but with so many people around, it would be embarrassing if someone heard her words.
Although Lao Yi was chatting and socializing with others on the surface, he was actually concentrating on listening to what they were saying about himself.
"I think her writing is so realistic and mature, and a big reason for that must be because of her husband's teachings."
"Of course two people will influence each other, but can't they be more experienced and mature?"
"You don't understand as well as I do. I have read the article many times to understand it."
Wang Jiazhi thought to herself, "Don't I understand myself?"
On the surface, Wang Jiazhi was not familiar with the three men, as it was the wives who socialized with them. But with such a person present, how could she not secretly pay attention to them?
Wang Jiazhi's most dazzling feature wasn't her beauty, but her temperament and spirit. Initially, she was somewhat understated, with only Old Yi able to discover and appreciate her. Now, she's so dazzling that even the mortal eye can hardly fail to notice her.
The person next to Lao Yi asked, "Whose daughter is that?"
Wang Jiazhi now looks like a little girl, but she also has the charm of a young woman.
"Stop asking about other people's things." At the same time, he thought to himself, "What are you looking at? It's mine!"
At this time, she looked up at him, and his eyes meant: it's time to suck milk instead.
She gave him a look that meant she had finished sucking it.
God knows how they communicate with their eyes.
Mrs. Liao was furious. "You're already married, yet you don't do anything important all day. You're just doing these useless things. No wonder your parents-in-law criticize you. I don't know how a minor writer who writes nonsense can be so rude. There are no more educated people in Shanghai. Why do you praise her so highly?"
Mrs. Liao's daughter angrily said, "What right do you have to look down on her? She's a writer of exceptional brilliance, a woman whose writing was already making waves in the literary world in her early twenties. Unlike you, who spend all day shopping, playing mahjong, eating, drinking, and gossiping, when have you ever read a single page of a book, earned a single penny, or done anything meaningful? You're living a life of luxury, living like parasites, and yet you have the nerve to look down on a self-reliant and talented woman."
Mrs. Ma groaned and said, "Why did the eldest lady scold us too? What did she mean by 'you'?"
Mrs. Liao reached out and slapped him a few times, saying, "I told you not to talk nonsense again, you conspicuous person."
The atmosphere was very awkward at this time. Mrs. Liao's daughter was ready to go crazy at any time and didn't care about anyone at all.
Unexpectedly, Old Yi couldn't help laughing and said, "Then what do you want the child to say? You mean the child should say that his mother is a parasite."
Mrs. Liao's daughter smiled and said, "Uncle Yi, what do you think? Am I wrong?"
Mrs. Ma said angrily, "Mr. Yi is talking about us too."
Old Yi laughed and said, "How did I become a judge? The child was just playing with her mother, and she blurted out "you guys", but you insisted on taking it as your own fault. We should share the good and the bad. When we play mahjong together, we are like brothers and share the good, but when it comes to sharing the bad, we should distance ourselves from each other."
Everyone else laughed, but Mrs. Ma was the only one who was so angry that she just stared blankly.
Wang Jiazhi lowered her head in amazement as this man started to get carried away again.
The man in the black suit quickly smoothed things over, saying with a smile, "If we talk about the local literary world right now, this writer is the hottest. Her writing is truly astonishing, her style and intentions are simply breathtaking. She doesn't sound like a girl in her early twenties at all. I wonder if I'm mistaken, she really is that young."
The man in the long gown beside Old Yi smiled and said, "I've heard her name over there. She's really rare. I've heard she's very secretive and refuses to socialize." Then he nudged him with his arm and said, "So, do you have any connections? I've heard of her name for a long time, and it would be great to see her face."
He laughed and said, "How could I recognize someone as aloof and proud as him?"
Wang Jiazhi saw that he was happy again and thought to herself, "How could I recognize him? Let's go back and sleep together and look after the child."
He must have not slept all night again, he has such heavy dark circles under his eyes.
Whenever Lao Yi heard people praising her, he would be very happy. But it was a pity that he couldn't tell them that she was the mother of his child.
Rumors have been circulating that he's having an affair with a popular female writer. Everyone knows he's currently obsessed with the Second Wife, since he's no longer invited to socialize with actresses. If he were truly involved with this female writer, how could the Second Wife not make a scene? So, they think it's all just speculation. What people don't know is that the female writer and the Second Wife are the same person. If this mystery could be solved, everything would make sense.
Mrs. Yi had also heard some of the rumors, and she was excited. If Old Yi fell in love with the female writer, she could share in Wang Jiazhi's affection. Moreover, in Mrs. Yi's opinion, the female writer and he would at most have a fleeting relationship like Mrs. Ma's, which would not last long, and she would never condescend to become someone's concubine. However, seeing how much Old Yi doted on Wang Jiazhi, she also felt that the female writer was out of the question.
After a while, the dishes were served. One of them had lychee leaves at the bottom and lychee-shaped balls on top. They looked very realistic. He gave her a look: "Try it."
She tried one, and it was very similar to the lychee meat from her hometown. This one was made with fish flesh, covered in a red, popcorn-like shell. It must be a modified lychee meat. It hadn't been there the last time she came, and he probably saw this new dish and thought it sounded like something from her hometown, so he asked her to try it.
She gave him a look: It's delicious.
The two of them did this without anyone noticing. In fact, if all the agents in the contact could master this skill, they could really pass on information without leaving any trace.
Wang Jiazhi looked up at Mrs. Ma with a very ugly expression.
Wang Jiazhi also felt that Mrs. Ma and the man in the black suit looked amiss, and that something was going on between them. Mrs. Ma had a new lover, and she was openly flirting with him, probably to see if Lao Yi would get jealous, but he didn't seem to care at all.
In fact, it was the men in black suits who arrived first this time. Mrs. Ma ran into the men in black suits and learned that Old Yi was coming too, so she pulled them over first. She hadn't given up yet and wanted to see if Old Yi would get angry.
The mother and daughter that Wang Jiazhi had never seen were the wife and daughter of the man in the black suit. Wang Jiazhi secretly observed the woman's expression and should have known the relationship between Mrs. Ma and the man in the black suit.
Flirting with his lover in front of his own daughter!!!
Wang Jiazhi couldn't believe it. No wonder they say morality is for the common people. The higher the society, the lower the society.
Think about it, at home, whatever he and I want, we are the real parents. The child is still young and doesn’t understand anything, so we have to send him to a wet nurse.
What is all this!!!
Seeing that it was almost two o'clock, Wang Jiazhi said that she had something to do at home and left first. The ladies tried to persuade her to stay but did not dare to let her go.
Half an hour after she left, Old Yi and the man had almost finished their socializing, and he left first, using the excuse of having something to do at the government office. Mrs. Yi knew that the two of them had gone back one after the other again, and her expression was very sad.
Mrs. Liang had been tormented for a while because Mr. Liang had been fired from his rice duties. The more upset you are, the more you find everyone annoying. She also began to resent Mrs. Yi.
She thought her husband had done her no wrong, supporting her in luxury, yet she couldn't even bear a child, yet she didn't complain a word. What else did she want? Having a concubine wasn't a big deal, but she was constantly making a fuss, causing harm to others and costing her husband his job managing the rice. She already had a concubine at home, and her family hadn't brought anyone in, yet she still had the nerve to make a fuss. What did she do?
Although the matter was now resolved, it had cost a fortune and required numerous requests for favors, leaving her physically and mentally exhausted and financially depleted. So, seeing Mrs. Yi like this, Mrs. Liang felt she was being ungrateful and foolish, and she had no desire to comfort her.
Mrs. Yi was also furious. She had actually asked Mrs. Liao's daughter to invite Wang Jiazhi to dinner today, fearing that if she called, it would seem that the man's anger would cause her, the wife, to bow down and give in. If she didn't come, it would be even more embarrassing. She had originally wanted to make peace and put aside their grudges, but Mrs. Ma had unexpectedly summoned several men, leaving her speechless to say anything to Wang Jiazhi. It was a complete waste of effort. She was filled with rage, and then seeing the two of them flirting like this, one after the other, and then going home, she was completely furious.
When he came back, she had changed into pajamas and was sitting on the bed playing with the child. When she saw him coming back, she hid the child behind her, and when he sat down beside her, she quickly carried the child to the front.
"ha!"
His eyes lit up. The kitten was dressed in a tiger costume, complete with a tiger hat and a small tail. She smiled with her hands and mouth open. If she could talk, she would have woofed.
He held the kitten in his arms, kissing and nuzzling it like a precious child, and the kitten gave him a kiss on the lips. Wang Jiazhi leaned forward and the kitten kissed her too.
She asked the little girl to bring him some pear juice, and then she snuggled into his arms and acted like a spoiled child. When the little girl came in, things would return to normal, and when the little girl left, things would return to normal again.
She was already very clingy, and seeing him in public like today, she could only pretend not to know him, which only made her even clingier.
It was the same in her previous life. Mrs. Yi always deliberately showed affection. Although he ignored her indifferently, she was still very uncomfortable. Because she had no right to feel uncomfortable, it made her feel even more uncomfortable.
She clung to him like a koala and said, "I will never chat with Mrs. Liao's daughter again. It's a waste of life."
"Then I won't go."
She was about to complain when this guy kissed her lips and hugged her. After being out of sleep for so long, shouldn't he catch up on some sleep? He'd been drinking, and there was a faint scent of tobacco and alcohol on him. I loved it...
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