Chapter 235 Don’t let yourself be wronged
She didn't expect Wei Chenglu to speak so decisively without any hesitation.
After a few days, Wei Chenglu's attitude had completely changed.
Seeing Ruan Chuxia's surprised expression, Wei Chenglu forced a smile.
"Was I too cruel? Too heartless?"
Ruan Chuxia waved her hands quickly.
"Sister Cheng Lu, I really have no right to butt in on what's going on between you and Secretary Zhang. Besides, you're the one who's truly been wronged. I haven't experienced what you've gone through, so how can I stand by and point fingers at you?"
Wei Chenglu took a deep breath.
"Do you know why I suddenly decided to get a divorce? It wasn't a momentary impulse, nor was it because of any one incident. It was because of what happened that day that completely crushed me."
Ruan Chuxia said nothing, just stared at her.
Wei Chenglu continued.
"That day, Old Zhang had just left on a business trip, and my parents-in-law took advantage of him not being home and dragged me to the Zhang family ancestral hall. I struggled desperately, but I couldn't get free."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"When we got to the ancestral hall, they forced me to kneel down and kowtow to the row of ancestral tablets. They said that I had been married for so many years and had no children, which was extremely unfilial and a disgrace to our ancestors. If I didn't have another child, I had no right to stay in the Zhang family."
She sneered, "What's even more ridiculous is that they actually brought me a bowl of black magic water with incense ash floating in it, and insisted that I drink it, saying it was 'magic water for fertility'. If I didn't drink it, I would be disrespectful to my ancestors and would not be eligible to be buried in the ancestral tomb after I died."
A hint of anger flashed in Ruan Chuxia's eyes.
"Why are they doing this? What era is this? They're still doing this? Forcing people to drink talisman water? If this isn't feudal superstition, what is it?"
Wei Chenglu's tone was filled with ridicule and chilling feelings.
"I also thought they wouldn't do such a thing. After all, Secretary Zhang is an official within the system. But they actually did it, verbatim, saying that 'there are three unfilial acts, and having no descendants is the worst,' and that I was a 'jinx' who had delayed the continuation of their family line."
"and you……"
Ruan Chuxia stopped talking halfway.
The words "Have you drunk it?" were finally swallowed back.
Wei Chenglu continued directly, "Me? Of course I wouldn't do that. I poured the bowl of so-called 'water for fertility' onto the ground in front of Zhang's parents without hesitation."
Her eyes were as cold as ice.
"I even said on the spot that if the Zhang family ancestors really had spirits, they would know that the inability to conceive cannot be blamed entirely on me. For so many years, are they the only ones allowed to find fault and not allow me to tell the truth?"
"Guess what happened?"
"Instead of reflecting on my actions, they turned against me, saying I was cursing Old Zhang, that I was cruel and disrespectful to our ancestors. They even said in front of my relatives that I was unlucky for my husband and children, that I was cursed and had bad luck, and that I was unworthy of marrying into the Zhang family."
Ruan Chuxia looked at her and felt a pang of pain in her heart.
She knew that Wei Chenglu had a strong temper and a strong sense of self-esteem.
Wei Chenglu continued, "That night, Lao Zhang finally came home and heard the whole story. I thought to myself, he's my husband after all, so he should speak up for me."
Her voice was filled with suppressed grievance and disappointment.
"But he didn't. Instead, he looked helpless and accused me of being impulsive, saying that even if I didn't want to drink it, I shouldn't have poured it out in public and embarrassed my parents. He said I should communicate with his parents calmly and patiently..."
A painful glint flashed in her eyes. "Has he ever considered that if we could have negotiated, would I have come to this? Since the third year of our marriage, every time I go back, he keeps asking me to 'carry on the family line soon.' I'm sick of hearing this! When have they ever truly listened to my opinions? When have they ever respected my feelings?"
"Maybe he didn't mean to hurt me... Maybe he was just used to standing on his parents' side and thought it was filial piety. But at that moment, my heart was really cold."
"So," she seemed to be trying to convince herself, "I'm done with this completely. When I get back to Shenzhen, I'll get a divorce. I won't delay it any longer, I won't wait any longer, and I won't put myself off any longer."
Ruan Chuxia's eyes were filled with complex emotions that could not calm down for a long time.
In this case, there is no need to try to save this marriage.
She gently held Wei Chenglu's hand.
"Sister Cheng Lu, no matter what choice you make, I will stand by you. No matter which path you take in the future, I will support you."
Wei Chenglu's eyes were slightly red.
"Thank you, Xiao Ruan. I feel much more at ease with your words."
In the next few days, Ruan Chuxia just stayed by her side silently.
She knew that what Wei Chenglu needed was not persuasion, but companionship.
…
In the blink of an eye, Ruan Chuxia will start school in a week.
Wei Chenglu knew that he couldn't stay here forever.
That morning, Wei Chenglu looked at Ruan Chuxia who was packing her schoolbag.
"Xiao Ruan, I'm really sorry for bothering you and Comrade Xiao during this period. I've been staying at your house for so many days and disrupting your lives. I've always felt bad."
She paused, "I've already thought about it. I'll share my trial experience on WeChat Moments first, and then find a few reliable beauty bloggers to promote it together. Don't worry, I've taken this to heart and won't break my promise."
Ruan Chuxia was about to respond when the phone rang.
Usually people would look for Xiao Zhenwu or Guo Huaqin, and Ruan Chuxia would pick up the microphone.
"Hello, who are you looking for?"
Her voice was gentle, with a hint of habitual politeness.
"Excuse me, is this Ruan Chuxia? I'm Zhang Yongchuan, Wei Chenglu's husband. Do you know where Chenglu is now? I've been looking for her for several days..."
His words were filled with anxiety and uneasiness, as well as long-suppressed fatigue.
Ruan Chuxia was stunned for a moment.
Zhang Yongchuan?
She raised her head suddenly, and her eyes swept uncontrollably towards the sofa on the other side of the living room.
She hesitated and looked at Wei Chenglu.
Wei Chenglu noticed her gaze and asked softly with his mouth: "Who's calling?"
Ruan Chuxia covered the microphone with one hand and whispered:
"It's Secretary Zhang. He asked if you were there."
Wei Chenglu's face immediately darkened.
There was a cold glint in her eyes and her tone was firm.
"Just say I'm not here."
Ruan Chuxia nodded.
"Secretary Zhang, don't worry. Sister Cheng Lu didn't come to my place..."
When Secretary Zhang heard this, his tone became even more anxious.
"So you really don't know where she is?"
"This..." Ruan Chuxia looked at Wei Chenglu again.
Ruan Chuxia suddenly felt that Wei Chenglu was like a cold statue, expressionless, but with all his emotions locked deep in his heart.
She couldn't guess what she was thinking, nor did she dare to ask more questions.
"I don't know. She's not with you?"
Hearing that she really didn't know, Secretary Zhang only said something in a low voice.
"If you have any news about her, please give me a call. I'm really worried."
Ruan Chuxia slowly put down the microphone, her fingers a little stiff.
Wei Chenglu sat there without saying a word, looking like he had lost his soul.
Seeing her like this, Ruan Chuxia didn't know what to say.
Just as it was quiet, the phone rang again.
“Ding-ling-ling——”
The familiar bell rang.
Wei Chenglu raised his head slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
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