Chapter 300: Twenty-five Dollars of Humiliation
Zhuang Chaoying had no idea what was served at the wedding banquet or what was talked about.
He was like a robot. He laughed when everyone laughed and clapped when everyone applauded until the end of the banquet.
Everyone left one after another, but he was still sitting there until Li Yiming and his wife called him, and then he came to his senses.
"Teacher Zhuang."
"oh."
"You are waiting for Sister Zhu, right? She is still helping to clean the kitchen. Please go sit in the lounge first. The floor will be cleaned soon. It's dirty." Li Yiming asked with concern.
"Okay, okay, thank you."
Zhuang Chaoying didn't know where the lounge was. He saw that the private room where Huang Ling had just stayed was empty.
Li Yiming was about to lead him away. After following for a while, he heard laughter coming from a room. It should be the lounge Li Yiming mentioned. He should have guests there, so he waved his hand:
"Yiming, go ahead and do your work. I'll be waiting for her at the factory gate. It's a good opportunity to get some exercise."
"Okay, Teacher Zhuang, the lounge is right there. Come and sit down after you stretch your legs." Li Yiming did not insist.
Zhuang Chaoying walked along the red carpet to the entrance of the garment factory and stood on the roadside waiting for Zhu Xiu Yu for more than an hour.
Zhu Xiu Yu and Hong Bin walked out of the factory together and saw Zhuang Chao Ying sitting on the steps. His legs were a little numb from standing just now.
"Dad." Hongbin called.
Zhuang Chaoying stood up and said, "Now that you've packed up, let's go home!"
Zhu Xiuyu still didn't answer him.
"Mom..." Hongbin looked at Zhu Xiu Yu, a little worried.
"Aren't you going to go play with your classmates? Go quickly! Don't come back too late." Zhu Xiu Yu nodded at him.
"Let me take the things home first!"
The helpers at the banquet got some of the uneaten food, which was now being given to Hongbin.
"Hongbin, give me the things and you go!" Zhuang Chaoying took the net bag from Hongbin's hand.
The two of them were left walking side by side on the road.
"Xiu Yu, why didn't you tell me that your fixed stall is in Yue Sheng Department Store?" Zhuang Chaoying asked the question he wanted to ask most.
"I was hoping you would ask, is it cold in the countryside? Did you two have enough food when you went to their house? Did you make several trips back home?" Zhu Xiu Yu looked at him sideways.
"I..." Zhuang Chaoying was stunned.
"Of course, who am I, who is Hong Bin, how can your face be important?" Zhu Xiu Yu retracted her gaze, looked ahead, and spoke in a cold voice.
"I know what you're going to say," Zhu Xiuyu imitated him. "How could you set up a stall in the department store owned by my ex-wife? Where would I put my face? How would I face my friends and family in the future? What would they say about me? Have you ever thought about me?"
Zhuang Chaoying was speechless.
"Yes, I have never considered you. You have never considered me, so why should I consider you? Anyway, I am doing this for myself and Hongbin so that we can live well. What does face mean to me? I have never had that thing. What does your face have to do with me? Your relatives and friends are not my relatives and friends. What they think is none of my business."
Zhu Xiu Yu spoke in a tone she had never used before, in a calm tone, as if without any emotion, but every word was heart-wrenching.
"Xiu Yu, I'm just asking, I didn't mean that." Zhuang Chaoying explained.
"Just asking, right? The answer is yes, because A Ling is willing to help me. I can't make money elsewhere, but I can make money at Yue Sheng to support myself and Hong Bin. I'm different from people like you, Director Zhuang. I only care about money. I don't care about face or status.
I'm sorry, I've embarrassed Director Zhuang. There's nothing I can do. If you really feel ashamed, you can just get a divorce. When you married me, you should have known that I was such a vulgar person and not worthy of someone as educated as you. I don't blame you for disliking me."
"As long as you think it's okay, I don't mean to dislike you. Why are you bringing up divorce again?" Zhuang Chaoying sighed.
"So over the years, I've done my best to make our little family better. I've served you and taken care of the children... I want to live a good life with you, and I don't ask for much. As long as you treat Hongbin well and care about me a little, I think it's worth it.
But I was wrong. You wouldn't. If I treat Pengfei well, Pengfei will look after me. If I treat Tunan well, Tunan will also look after me. Even Aling, Manager Li, Yuanyuan... I treat them with all my heart, and they will all look after me...
You are the only one who has no heart. I do what I should do, but I never get your respect, your understanding, or your care. Teacher Zhuang, I have given up, really.
While speaking, Zhu Xiu Yu did not look at Zhuang Chaoying. Her eyes were as cold as water, and there was no trace of expectation left.
Yes, her marriage with Zhuang Chaoying was a result of various calculations.
However, when she first met the gentle and refined Zhuang Chaoying, she liked him and was moved.
After getting married, she also wants to manage their new family well, and it would be nice to continue living like this.
However, she was very disappointed with Zhuang Chaoying's cowardice, irresponsibility, inferiority and selfishness.
"Xiuyu!" Zhuang Chaoying grabbed Zhu Xiuyu's arm. "After you leave, Tunan and Pengfei...I won't get divorced anyway."
Zhuang Chaoying pulled the child out.
Zhu Xiuyu sighed. "I no longer have any expectations of you. Since you mentioned the children, I do have to consider them. I don't want them to be sad. They care about you as much as they care about me. Whether you like Hongbin or not, he likes you as a father very much."
"I like him, he is a good boy." Zhuang Chaoying said anxiously.
When he heard Zhu Xiuyu mention the child, he was delighted and thought there was a chance. However, Zhu Xiuyu's next words made him feel like he was in an ice cellar.
Zhu Xiuyu continued:
"Then let's do this. We'll live under the same roof. You'll be the manager, and I'll run my stall. You'll take care of your family affairs, and I'll take care of mine. I'll take care of the children, and as for you, take care of yourself!"
Don't worry, I won't spend your money. I'll take care of Pengfei. The money for Pengfei should be kept with me. If you want to leave anytime, just tell me. I'll give it to you then."
"Xiuyu! I was wrong about Auntie. I'm useless. I know I was wrong! I'll change in the future. Isn't it okay if I change?"
Zhuang Chaoying grabbed Zhu Xiuyu's hand and they both stopped on the trail.
"I'm worried that I'll have to do my own laundry and cooking in the future. I've seen you do quite well these past few days! If you really don't want to do it, I can do it. You can just pay me a nanny's salary every month, and the food expenses are separate. Twenty-five a month is enough!"
When Zhuang Chaoying heard this number, he felt as if he was in another world.
"Before, your parents didn't help you with anything and still asked you for twenty-five. A Ling even hanged herself because of this, and then they stopped. Now I will help you with everything, and twenty-five is not too much, right?" Zhu Xiu Yu chuckled.
Her humiliation made Zhuang Chaoying's face turn from red to white.
Although Zhu Xiuyu didn't hit him, his face was painful at this moment.
"Also, don't think I won't leave you because I have nowhere to go. I, Zhu Xiuyu, can move back to the shack if I want, but I won't leave, because my man gave his life for that room."
Zhu Xiuyu said word by word.
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