Inside and Outside the Siege: A Woman's Battle for Marriage

Chapter 24
Pay for your own happiness

That night, Xu Qiuying and Zhang Zhonghou were sitting in the living room watching TV, Xu Qiuying suddenly said to Zhang Zhonghou: "Think carefully about what your wife said to me, I think I really feel sorry for her."

Zhang Zhonghou was taken aback for a moment, wondering why Xu Qiuying suddenly said such inexplicable words, so he put his arms around her and said, "Don't listen to her."

Xu Qiuying sat cross-legged on the sofa and said quietly: "Thinking about her, she is pitiful. She has shared joys and sorrows with you for decades, started a business with you, helped you succeed, and bore children for you. Now you Taking care of her as a mistress, not even going home...Thinking about it, I still sympathize with her, after all, she is a woman."

Zhang Zhonghou never expected that Xu Qiuying would still sympathize with Du Mengyuan, and couldn't help but want to laugh, thinking how could a mistress sympathize with an old woman?They should be rivals, right?He said: "Don't listen to her nonsense, she is nonsense. Besides, I didn't feel sorry for her. I still support the big situation, and the title is still given to her."

Zhang Zhonghou's words stung Xu Qiuying's heart, and her heart ached.Just now she felt sorry for Du Mengyuan, but now she felt that she was the most pitiful.I thought that Du Mengyuan at least still had a reputation, a big situation, and a family.I, Xu Qiuying, followed Zhang Zhonghou so foolishly without any name or status. At Du Mengyuan's age, what kind of role am I?There is a house but no home; there is love but no marriage; there is a man but no husband—is it worth it for me to go on like this?
Thinking of this, Xu Qiuying felt sore and uncomfortable: "Thinking about it, she still has a name and a big situation after all, and I have nothing. I can only hang in mid-air. I can't touch the sky or touch the ground. .All I have is air."

Zhang Zhonghou touched Xu Qiuying's face, and said lovingly, "What are you talking about, baby, what do you want for fame? What's the use of fame? In today's society, fame is just a vain thing. As long as we really love each other , everything else is false.”

"Why is it useless? Title at least represents a legal identity and status. She is your legal wife, so she dared to negotiate with me." Xu Qiuying said disappointedly, "When I get old, don't you I’m gone, and I’m going to have a third wife and a fourth wife. Do I dare to negotiate with them? At that time, I’m just an outdated mistress, and who will pity me except for hiding in a corner and crying silently? I?"

Zhang Zhonghou didn't expect Xu Qiuying to think so long and so much.To be honest, even he himself has never thought about these questions, so he doesn't know how to answer them, so he can only say: "Little baby, why do you think so far? Don't worry, I will always love you , love you forever."

Xu Qiuying lowered her head and said, "Don't lie to me, I'm not a child anymore. Love is not making up stories, it's daily necessities, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar tea, two people living together. Will you love me forever? Who will believe you? You don’t even believe it yourself. In today’s society, which man would love a woman for the rest of his life? Your wife was also a beautiful woman back then, prettier than me, and a singer in the art troupe. She has shared weal and woe with you for dozens of years In [-], she is your married wife, have you loved her for the rest of your life? Even she is not worthy of your love for the rest of your life, am I worthy of your love for the rest of your life?"

Zhang Zhonghou was speechless and ashamed, his face was a little hot, he really didn't know what to say.He thought it was because Du Mengyuan, that bird woman, disrupted his plan and muddied the water.If she hadn't told Xu Qiuying those nonsense, would Xu Qiuying have become so sentimental?After thinking about it, I couldn't find any better words of consolation, so I had to laugh at myself: "I'm so much older than you, and now I'm an old man. When you get old, I'll be dead long ago."

"This is even more of a problem. You are more than 20 years older than me. What should I do if you die at that time? Am I a widow?" Xu Qiuying said with a sigh of infinite sadness, "So I don't beg you. Love me all my life, I just want you to really love me for a while, just to have you alone for a while, not to share you with another woman."

Of course Zhang Zhonghou understood the meaning of Xu Qiuying's words, but he still pretended to be stupid, and said lightly: "Shadow, you think too complicatedly, don't think so much."

Xu Qiuying knew that Zhang Zhonghou was still deliberately avoiding this question, so she said bluntly: "If you really care about me and love me, then you should divorce her and marry me."

Zhang Zhonghou was startled, but he came back to his senses immediately.divorce?That is impossible.He didn't even think about it.No matter how old and ugly Du Mengyuan is, no matter how much he flutters colorful flags outside, the red flag at home still cannot fall, and the marriage still cannot be divorced.Ever since he met Xu Qiuying, his love principle has been to "appreciate the new and never tire of the old", that's why he tried his best to hide all this from Du Mengyuan, trying to keep her out of sight.Du Mengyuan is his first wife, how can she say she abandoned her so easily?
Thinking of this, Zhang Zhonghou still said the same thing: "Don't think so much. Don't worry, I love you. There is no doubt about this, and it will not change."

"If you love me, then you can prove it to me and give me a legal identity." Xu Qiuying said, "I am living a life like a thief, do you know? In the eyes of others, I am a mouse, a blood-sucking worm, a Thief! Do you know? I don't want to bear the infamy and be pointed at by others all the time, I also want to live a normal life in a dignified way."

"Haven't I been proving it?" Zhang Zhonghou salivated and said, "You are living well now! What else is missing, you have a card in your hand, just buy it yourself."

Xu Qiuying knew that Zhang Zhonghou was still avoiding the important and taking the light, and felt very upset, so she pushed his shoulder and said, "When you say living well, do you mean being rich? In your eyes, money is everything, right? Money It means happiness, right? You can provide me with a rich material life and use money to prove that you love me, but what about my spiritual life? I am also a normal woman.

Zhang Zhonghou didn't say a word, he appeared calm, but in fact he was very disturbed.He took out his cigarette, lit it, took a long drag, and smiled.

"It stinks! It stinks!" Xu Qiuying waved away the drifting smoke with her hand and asked forcefully, "Today I want you to tell me honestly, are you going to divorce her or not? I just want you to say something."

Zhang Zhonghou said firmly: "I can't." After thinking about it, I was afraid that saying this would hurt Xu Qiuying's heart too much, and added, "I am giving her marriage now, and giving you love. You just said that I shared weal and woe with her. Ten years. If I divorce her, it will be cruel to her."

"Isn't it cruel to me?" Xu Qiuying pouted, staring at Zhang Zhonghou aggressively and said, "I'm like a flower now, inserted in this deserted house without a name, for you alone Open up, waiting for you to come back every day. As the days go by, this flower slowly withers and withers in loneliness. Tell me, isn’t this cruel?”

Zhang Zhonghou turned his head to blow out the smoke, and said with a smirk, "As expected of a liberal arts background, he has such a rich imagination."

"It's not a problem of rich imagination, it's a real problem before us, and it's a real problem that every woman has to face." Xu Qiuying said with a gloomy face, "You just said to give her marriage and give me love, that's Because I am still young, and you still love me. When I reach the age of your wife, or one day you don’t love me anymore, what should I do? At that time, I have no love, no marriage, what else do I have? My back With the money you gave me to marry? What good man can I marry?"

Zhang Zhonghou put out the cigarette butt, rubbed his hands together and said, "Little fool, what are you talking about, why would I not want you? Why are you going to get married?"

Xu Qiuying looked at Zhang Zhonghou, and said flatly: "Anyway, I won't talk to you so much, let me ask you again, will you divorce your wife?"

"No. This is definitely not acceptable." Zhang Zhonghou said without hesitation with a serious expression.I thought to myself that this is a matter of principle, no matter how many other promises there are, he can't give this promise, and he can't discuss it, and it will be more troublesome if he gives it.

"Okay then, let's break up." Xu Qiuying said calmly.

Zhang Zhonghou was startled, touched Xu Qiuying's forehead and said, "Little baby, what are you talking about?"

Xu Qiuying pushed Zhang Zhonghou's hand away, and said coldly: "Don't touch it, I'm not hotheaded, I'm telling the truth. Since you can't marry me, then let's break up, treat me, you, and her like this It's all good. I still want to live a normal life, and I don't want to continue to hurt another woman."

Regarding this issue, Zhang Zhonghou didn't want to continue talking with Xu Qiuying, no matter how he talked, there would be no result, he would not divorce Du Mengyuan, this is the bottom line.

Zhang Zhonghou stopped talking, he hugged Xu Qiuying, covered her mouth with his mouth, and put his hand into her clothes.

Xu Qiuying pushed Zhang Zhonghou away again, and said coldly, "Let's break up."

Zhang Zhonghou picked up Xu Qiuying and ran into the bedroom, threw her on the bed, stripped off her clothes, and pressed her on top of her involuntarily.He knows that once a woman is thinking wildly, it is useless for a man to explain more, only vivid and rich body language is the fundamental way to solve the problem.

Xu Qiuying struggled for a while, but finally obeyed.Let's have a good time with him at the end, it can be regarded as a ceremony for breaking up.

Lured by Xu Qiuying, Zhang Zhonghou entered the arena like a mad bull. He felt that Xu Qiuying had never excited him this time before, and he had never been so excited.

After a wave of ebb and flow and turbulent waves, there was boundless calm. Both of them were lying on their backs on the bed, and the only sound in the room was the sound of breathing.

After a while, Zhang Zhonghou kissed Xu Qiuying's face and said, "Baby, let's not think about anything, okay? Please believe me, the woman I love the most in this world is you."

Xu Qiuying closed her eyes and stopped talking.

Zhang Zhonghou said softly: "Our group has a lot of things to deal with these days, and we may not have time to come back. If you need anything, you can call me." In fact, he was Zeng Deyi who said to restrain himself for a while and wait and see what happens.

Xu Qiuying nodded: "Yeah." But she said in her heart: Okay, okay, everything is over.Starting tomorrow, I'm going to start over.

After thinking about it, she felt that Du Mengyuan's words made some sense.What is the difference between stealing someone's love and possessing someone else's husband by oneself and a thief?A thief just steals money and things, but she steals people.Her parents worked hard to bring her up, and they took money out of their teeth to send her to study, but in the end she was reduced to a mistress. If they let their parents know, how would they feel?I studied hard for more than ten years, graduated from a key university with a bachelor's degree, and was excellent in both character and learning in school. I once had a dream of becoming a reporter. Could it be that the end result is to become a mistress like a bird in a cage?Although today is a society where people laugh at the poor but not prostitutes, mistresses are still cast aside by people. In the eyes of most people, the word "mistress" has the same meaning as "Miss".

After a fierce ideological struggle, Xu Qiuying decided to leave Zhang Zhonghou and start a new life, becoming a reborn Xu Qiuying.

Early the next morning, Xu Qiuying went out to find a rental apartment, and then quietly moved.In fact, there is nothing to move, nothing more than some clothes and books, and some luggage.There are hundreds of thousands in the bank card that Zhang Zhonghou gave her, which is enough for her.The real estate certificate of this house could have been obtained in a few months, and Zhang Zhonghou also said that it would be in her name, so I think it's better not to forget it.She plans to use the hundreds of thousands given by Zhang Zhonghou to buy a small apartment, then find a job, work hard, and return to normal life in a down-to-earth manner.

On the third day, when Xu Qiuying walked into a cosmetic and plastic surgery hospital, a service lady immediately stepped forward and greeted her warmly: "Hello, Miss! Do you need any help?"

Xu Qiuying said flatly, "I want to have a minor operation."

The service lady immediately introduced: "What do you want to do, Miss? We have breast augmentation and facial changes..."

Xu Qiuying made a pause gesture and whispered, "Patch the hymen."

The service lady nodded her head in understanding, and immediately led Xu Qiuying into an office, and whispered a few words to a doctor, who nodded to show he understood.

The doctor asked Xu Qiuying to sit down, asked if she had smoked in the past two weeks, whether she had taken aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs, whether she was menstruating, and said, "Let's go to the operating room."

Lying on the operating bed, Xu Qiuying saw the serious faces of the doctors and nurses. Between the caps and masks were their indifferent eyes, which seemed to be full of contempt.After thinking about it, I realized that it might be their professional habits and my own overthinking.

After the operation, the doctor prescribed some oral antibiotics and some antiseptic potions, and asked Xu Qiuying to go back to take them and disinfect the wound, and told him: "After going back, don't exercise strenuously, eat a light diet, and pay attention to rest. The best time to get married is two or three months after."

"Okay, thank you doctor." Xu Qiuying walked out of the plastic surgery hospital, walking lightly, a gust of wind blew, and her long hair fluttered in the wind.She said in her heart again: Everything in the past is over, and from today onwards, I start again.

During this period of time, Zhang Zhonghou was really busy. First, he held the shareholder meeting and the board of directors for two days, then he went to the Provincial Federation of Industry and Commerce for two days, and finally he was on a business trip for a few days.She was so busy that she didn't even have time to call Xu Qiuying, and occasionally she called, but she also had a cold expression, and hung up without saying a word.He knew she was still sulking at him.

After a few more days, Zhang Zhonghou was finally not so busy, and Du Mengyuan's mood stabilized, so he decided to visit Xu Qiuying.He opened the door of Xu Qiuying's house, but saw no one, and called several times: "Shadow, Shadow." Seeing no one answered, he went into the bedroom and looked, and was immediately stunned: the closet door was open, and all of Xu Qiuying's clothes were gone. Many of her books were missing from the bookcase too!
Zhang Zhonghou immediately called Xu Qiuying's cell phone, and a cold professional voice sounded: Sorry, the phone you dialed has been turned off.

Zhang Zhonghou's heart was pounding, and he walked to the living room, where there was a piece of paper pressed by the TV remote control on the coffee table.

I'm gone, don't look for me, you won't find it.Let's break up, it's better for everyone.

Thank you for your love.I will never regret falling in love with you in this life.

Apologize to your wife for me, I'm sorry for her.I have occupied her husband for so long, and now I will give it back to her.

……

Zhang Zhonghou slumped down on the sofa, with a depressed expression, a stern face, and trembling hands.He lit a cigarette, sucked it hard, and said nothing.

Zhao Pinghai asked cautiously: "Boss, what...is it wrong?"

Zhang Zhonghou said in a low voice, "Qiuying is gone. She said she wants to break up."

Zhao Pinghai was taken aback and said, "What? She's gone?"

"gone."

"She left without saying hello? Where did she go? Boss, why are you sorry for her? You are good enough to her."

Zhang Zhonghou waved his hands, expressing that he did not want to talk about this topic again.

The distraught Zhang Zhonghou returned home and questioned Du Mengyuan as soon as he entered the door: "Tell me, did you drive Xu Qiuying away?"

Du Mengyuan was puzzled by the question, but she still roughly understood the meaning of the words, and said angrily, "It's none of my business! It's none of my business if she dies!"

Zhang Zhonghou had nowhere to vent his anger. These words undoubtedly ignited the explosives in his heart. He said sharply, "Du Mengyuan, what do you mean? Why is your conscience so poisonous? Curse him to death!"

Du Mengyuan sneered and said, "Do you feel bad? Don't come back if you love your mistress! Let's die outside together!"

Zhang Zhonghou was so angry that the veins on his face were exposed, and he glared at each other, "This is my home, why can't I come back? Du Mengyuan, don't speak so viciously!"

Du Mengyuan snorted again and said, "Blame me for speaking poisonously? You, Zhang Zhonghou, dare to do poisonous things, are you afraid that I will speak poisonously?"

Zhang Zhonghou didn't want to quarrel with Du Mengyuan anymore, he was already annoyed, and arguing with her would only make things worse and cause trouble for himself.Turning around and slamming the door, he turned around and cursed: "Crazy!"

Du Mengyuan rushed up and shouted: "You are the one who is insane! Why don't you go to a mental hospital! Why are you still here?"

Zhang Zhonghou had already gone downstairs.

Du Mengyuan was very sad and angry, wanted to cry, but couldn't shed tears; wanted to cry, but was afraid that the neighbors would criticize her.I can only suppress the anger and pain in my heart.After experiencing the painful struggle during this period, she no longer has tears.She cried the way she laughed, she shed tears the way her heart bleeds.

She felt that she was really at a loss and not worth it.On the road to Zhang Zhonghou's success, she has paid so much, but in the end this is the result.When she was young, she was willing to be his assistant, his entrepreneurial partner, his stepping stone, his ladder, silently supporting and assisting him.Now that he has succeeded, she is willing to retreat behind the scenes and care about and take care of him meticulously in life.She doesn't seek fame or fortune, she just wants to live in harmony with her family and have a harmonious and beautiful home.But now, not only did he have a mistress outside, but he still had such a bad attitude, as if it was only natural for him to have a mistress.How can his actions not make people feel chilling and hopeless?

To be honest, Zhang Zhonghou is like a stock she invested in. No one looked down on him back then. After her investment and waiting, he finally appreciated in value. Doesn't she have credit for it?Think about what he was at that time, wasn't he just an ordinary civil servant in the Dongcheng District Government of Haitian City?At that time, she was a singer in the Dongcheng District Art Troupe. She was young, beautiful, talented in music, attracted attention and had countless suitors.There were government officials, university professors, well-known artists, the most famous young entrepreneurs in Haitian City at that time, and even the son of the city leader.But she rejected all the suitors, and she chose Zhang Zhonghou, who was tall, burly, honest but of mediocre status.They performed a romantic and beautiful love story together, watching movies, going to dance halls, shopping, outings... Many places in Haitian City have left the footprints of their love.Later, when he resigned and went into business, she also gave up the job she loved to help him without hesitation.Especially when he first started to open a restaurant in the sea, she was the hardest. She had to go to the vegetable market to buy vegetables every day, and she was busy.Think about her singing on the stage and carrying a basket to buy vegetables. Only she knows what it feels like.

(End of this chapter)