It wasn't until my two daughters said a word to me, "Lolita," that the life of a housewife who endured humiliation collapsed in an instant. I am a housewife who has been practicing for ten years, and my daily duties are to serve a large family.
01
January 4, 2020, the day after the Eighth Festival, happens to be a weekend. Just after eight o'clock in the evening, the father-in-law and mother-in-law took the lead in returning from a full moon banquet at a relative's house.
As soon as I entered the door, a powerful wave of resentment swept over me. I thought of them going out in full costume a few hours ago, ready to show their skills at the feast. I suddenly understood: this is again showing off and not playing well, and being pointed out by the opponent to the death hole.
As I bent down to help them change their shoes, I said, "Mommy and Daddy, it's hard!" The dinner is still delicious, right? Do you want to add some soup? I've been simmering on the pot waiting for you."
The second elder did not say good, nor did he say bad, and sat directly at the table with a black face. I hurried to get the soup. As soon as I walked to the table, my mother-in-law suddenly yelled at me impatiently, "Eat, eat, eat!" What else do you do all day long besides eating? Blame you for being useless! Can't give birth to a son! Let's be angry with you at this age!"
With the hysterical scolding of my mother-in-law, her powerful hand was not idle, and she directly flipped the hot soup onto me, and her arms and chest instantly burned a large piece.
I endured the pain, and quickly apologized while hurriedly cleaning up the soup and water on the ground: "Mom, I'm sorry I'm sorry, didn't burn you?"
Just then, the door opened. My mother-in-law and my father-in-law exchanged glances instantly, and without even looking at me in the right eye, she suddenly cried out in tears: "Oh... What a sin! White blind this pot of good soup, my son's money is not blown by the wind, which can withstand such a daily waste!" 」
Not to be outdone, the father-in-law quickly pushed and said, "We didn't say anything about the old Zhang family's boy!" This end of the soup can be spilled on the side, is it to burn us? What a misfortune!"
After saying that, the second elder put on a posture of being extremely aggrieved and unwilling to say more, and directly entered the room and closed the door.
As soon as I looked up, I saw the face of Zhang Huan in the doorway who was eager to kill me.
I opened my mouth to give a faint explanation for the scene in front of me, but Zhang Huan preemptively slapped me in the face.
He scolded as he punched, "You poisonous woman! Want to murder my father and mother? How can we Zhang family be sorry for you? yes? Isn't it enough to cut off children and grandchildren? I'll let you read! Make you slut!"
After a period of venting, Zhang Huan finally did not continue to fight. I took the opportunity to apologize softly: "My parents are in a bad mood... mother...... I...... Accidentally knocked over the soup pot, I was wrong."
Unexpectedly, my wording angered Zhang Huan again, and my hanging arms were raised again. He squeezed my chin and said fiercely, "Oh? Mom and Dad are in a bad mood? Then you should say that our old Zhang family is almost extinct, how can they be in a good mood?"
Just as my heart was pounding, ready to accept the storm that followed tonight, my two daughters suddenly pounced.
One of them was eleven years old, one was six years old, and one of them was holding one of Zhang Huan's legs, and they cried, "Daddy, don't hit Mommy." We obeyed, and in the future we all listened to Dad and Uncle Wang."
This is not the first time Zhang Huan has hit me in front of a child. Many times in the past, the daughters' pleas for forgiveness did not have any practical effect, and sometimes even caused them secondary harm. So I quickly shouted to them, "Go to the room, lock the door, and come to you when mom and dad are done talking."
Unexpectedly, before I could finish speaking, Zhang Huan actually let go.
I thought he finally had a little conscience, and there was a hint of warmth in his heart. But I saw Zhang Huan crouch down, touch the young cheeks of the daughters, and reveal an evil smile: "Then we said ok, next time... Be obedient!"
After saying that, Zhang Huan actually let me go, and locked himself into the master bedroom with a "bang".
I was about to finish my housework and get ready for bed, but I didn't expect my little daughter to apply medicine to my burned area, and she asked curiously with her big eyes, "Mom, what is Lolita?"
I was asked this question. I've been around the housework for years, and I've never heard that word.
At this time, the eldest daughter, who was sleeping on a bunk bed, poked out her small head and whispered, "Didn't Uncle Wang say that?" Lolita is the light of life! And also...... Don't forget that Dad said that this is a secret between us and Uncle Wang, you can't tell others, be careful of being beaten."
"But... Mom is no one else! I don't understand what Uncle Wang said, and I want to hear what my mother said." My little daughter's soft voice echoed in my ears, and I pretended to ask easily with inner doubt, "Who is Uncle Wang?"
"Dad said that Uncle Wang is the god of wealth in our company, he manages thousands of people, as long as my sister and I make friends with Uncle Wang, people from their company will come to our restaurant every day to eat!" 」
"I don't like to be friends with Uncle Wang, but I love the clothes he gave us!" Uncle Wang said that he still had a lot of different models at home, so let me go to his house next time to pick up miles."
The two daughters were still talking, but I was vaguely aware of a little uneasiness. The head turned faster than ever: No wonder... Since the company's annual meeting last year, Zhang Huan has frequently taken his two daughters out to socialize.
Every time I came home and saw my daughters wearing all kinds of gorgeous dresses that I had never seen before, with all kinds of shiny hair bands and different headdresses, I muttered in my heart: I don't know how Zhang Huan, a big man, understands such strange collocations, and at the same time, I wonder if this means that he attaches a lot of importance to his daughter?
Besides, the daughters are really good-looking after being carefully dressed. Like a princess, and like a doll, even I felt my eyes light up when I saw it myself.
Thinking of this, I was slightly relieved. Maybe Zhang Huan just wants to take two children out to meet the world, beautiful, well-behaved and sensible girls are always more likely to get the love of the elders, and sometimes the elders do need some opportunities to reflect their kindness and friendliness.
Although I have been reassuring myself with this in my heart, I am not stupid enough that nothing happened.
I decided to first secretly investigate the extent to which the two daughters were so-called friends.
02
In the evening when another daughter was traveling in full dress, I was just about to secretly follow the footsteps of my grandfather, and I shook the door handle in my hand, and coincidentally, I was stopped by my mother-in-law.
"It's dark, men go out to socialize, what are you going out for?"
I suppressed the tension in my heart and tried to keep a normal tone and whispered, "Oh, Mom, I forgot to tell you, this is not... At the end of the year, Ah Huan socialized a lot, so I asked him to customize a few new dresses for him. Just called me to see the ready-to-wear, what needs to be modified can be changed immediately, so as not to delay A ring wear."
"Which one is in the east of the city?" I don't know which of my words aroused my mother-in-law's alarm, and she continued to ask questions.
"Well, Ah Huan has always been quite satisfied with his family, so he didn't look for another one." I replied cautiously.
"Exactly... I'm okay tonight, let's run with you! I don't trust your aesthetic!"
My heart sank, I originally thought that my mother-in-law, who had always disliked walking with me, would be allowed to go after asking, but I didn't expect that she actually wanted to go with me!
The plan was intercepted before it had even begun, and I panicked, and for a moment I couldn't think of any other countermeasures, so I could only let my mother-in-law follow me to the east of the city.
Along the way, I racked my brains to come up with a way to get out. Fortunately, the restaurant my daughters went to tonight was also in the east of the city, not far from the clothing custom shop (which is why I chose "changing clothes" as the reason for going out), and I could only tell myself that when the time came, I could see if I could find a chance to sneak over and bump into luck.
After making up my mind, I put my mind back on my mother-in-law. As soon as I entered the store, I praised my mother-in-law's figure and encouraged her to customize a cheongsam here and then give my father-in-law a New Year's suit. The waiter quickly understood and cooperated with me.
After a while, all the clerks surrounded the mother-in-law like the stars holding the moon, and recorded the mother-in-law's request in great detail. In this way, my sense of existence was instantly reduced to a very low level, and I knew that with the personality of my mother-in-law's love to show off, the requirements of this three-person customization were not clear for an hour.
I, on the other hand, should make good use of this hard-won precious time and try to find out as much useful information as possible. Following the positioning of my daughters' phone watches, I sped to a restaurant not far away. This is a new store that we just opened, and I've never been there, and I thought no one knew me. So, I casually found a booth with a line of boxes facing each other and sat down.
I ordered a glass of water, pretended to be waiting, and looked around from time to time. But ten minutes passed, and I didn't even find out which box my daughters were in. Just when I was at a loss, suddenly a pure-looking, graceful waitress came to me with a sincere smile. Without waiting for my reaction, she took the lead and said, "Lady boss, are you here?" Are you waiting for the two little princesses?"
Suddenly recognized, I was momentarily speechless, and I had to stiffen my scalp and say, "Uh... Yes..."
"Yo, then you'll have to wait a long time." The two princesses had just been playing with Wang Zong."
The little girl may be talking unintentionally, but I am particularly uncomfortable with the word "play". Almost instinctively, I stared straight at the other person and asked bluntly, "What's the play?"
"Uh... Well, it's better if you ask Zhang directly." The little girl spoke subtly, but it made me think about it instantly.
A nameless fire rose from my chest, and I seemed to be possessed by a brave man, so angry that I suddenly got up and walked straight to a row of boxes.
Just a few steps away, I was pulled by a pair of Qianqianyu hands.
The little girl very intimately pulled me to a corner and said in a low voice: "Lady boss, you rushed in directly like this, in case nothing happened, not only will you bump into Wang Zong, but you will also annoy Zhang Zong." Why don't you take a grievance and change into the waiter's clothes. This box is my responsibility, usually only I can enter, occasionally too busy, I will arrange a helper, generally will not notice."
"You... Why help me?" I asked with some gratitude and some shame.
"Hey... What can't help, I'm just fulfilling a mother's concern for her daughter, you can follow me in."
The little girl replied sincerely and frankly, and I couldn't think much of changing my clothes in a hurry, followed this "god assist" who fell from the sky, and entered the place where I wanted to find out the most.
Although I just followed behind, I was nervous not to do it. Fortunately, I just need to divide an old chicken soup evenly into each small bowl on the pantry. As I divided the soup, I used the afterglow to look for the figure of my two daughters.
Soon, I saw my two children in costumes. Sure enough, among them sat a middle-aged greasy man with a fat head and big ears. At this moment, he kissed them on their tender cheeks, leaving only a mark of saliva and a satisfied and playful laugh. The crowd present echoed the sight and let out a series of meaningful exclamations. For a time, the box was like a large oil smoke scene, and the smoke miasma was black.
And my husband, who was like a blind man the whole time, not only completely ignored his daughter's suffering, but even teased the waitress with a confused look: "Xiao Yue, I am not happy to give Wang Zong a drink, and I have neglected the guest of honor."
The facts in front of me tell me: all the fantasies before were my wishful thinking, Zhang Huan not only favored sons over daughters, but even turned his daughter into someone else's plaything for money!
I only felt the blood rushing up, the knife and fork used to divide the chickens trembled fiercely in my hands, and I resisted the urge to rush over with the knife--not because I was afraid of crime, but because I knew Zhang Huan's means too well. If I had rushed up like this today without any backhand, he would have really sent me to a mental hospital!
And if I was really identified as mentally ill, wouldn't my daughter be reduced to an adult plaything?
It was only now that I understood that all my unprepared impulses could lead to the complete loss of my two daughters and the pushing of them into the abyss of doom. So, before I think of a one-size-fits-all solution, I have to put up with it! After figuring this out, I divided the chicken soup, silently withdrew from the box with tears in my eyes, and went into the employee changing room alone to let the tears flow. But before I could release my grief, the girl named Xiao Yue pushed the door open again.
With an anxious look on her face, she said to me, "Lady Boss, don't worry about crying." I just heard that tonight Wang Zong is going to take the two little princesses home to choose clothes, so you should quickly think of a way."
For a moment, I just felt the sky spinning. Under the rapid fire attack, I almost wanted to rush out and tear a fight, but reason told me that I must keep my composure: the two daughters are about to fall into the mouth of the tiger, and the only one who can save them is my mother, and I must find a way to stop it! In the midst of the stone fire and electric light, I suddenly thought of a forced next strategy.
03
After pondering for a while, I made up my mind and made a decision.
I gritted my teeth and said to the girl next to me, "That... Xiao Yue, can you help my two daughters to serve two cups of mango ice cream. The mango is broken into juice and mixed in."
Although the little girl looked confused, she still hurried to do it. I, on the other hand, quickly changed my clothes and rushed outside the store as fast as I could. The new store was on the third floor of the mall in the city's busiest business district, and I walked several streets to find a pharmacy. With the allergy medicine I had bought in my hand, I hid alone in the changing room of the new store and waited silently for my two daughters to be allergic to mango juice. Soon, I received a call from Zhang Huan.
"Hey! How the fuck are you! Don't you know that your child is allergic to mangoes? Lao Tzu is tired and tired outside every day, and the child can't touch anything you open your mouth to remind you that you will die? Fuck, I don't know what the use is for you?"
After a series of questions and insults, Zhang Huan "snapped" and hung up the phone. I was heartbroken and thankful, thinking that my child would escape the fate. Unexpectedly, after a while, Xiao Yue rushed in and told me a news that made me even more mad: "Zhang Zong he... Let me buy some allergy medicine for my child to eat, and then... Take them to rest, later... Or go to Wang Zong."
For me, this news is nothing less than a thunderbolt on a sunny day. I personally sent allergens to my daughters, making them react, but I still couldn't save them! Then this sin... Isn't it in vain?
No way! I can't let things go on like this! Whether it's a divorce or a negotiation of terms, I have to have real evidence to turn passive into active! Thinking of this, I tried to calm myself down and prepare for an even more brutal storm. It was also at this time that I made a bolder decision with tears than to send mango juice.
04
With Xiao Yue's help, I met my eldest daughter in the bathroom who was slightly better after taking the medicine. Seeing that it was me, she ran over to me with a happy face and gave me a big hug.
But I didn't have time to stay with her much longer, so I had to pull her into a no-man's cubicle in the bathroom. Then he quickly ordered in a low voice: "Baby, wait for Uncle Wang and remember two things: first, hide your phone watch in your sleeve so that your mother can always know where you are; second, if you can, secretly take a small interactive game between Uncle Wang and you, go home and show it to your mother, but remember not to let Uncle Wang and your father see it, okay?"
"Mm-hmm, Mom, are you going with us too?" The eldest daughter asked innocently.
"Mom is just passing by, a little worried about you, and wants to say a few words to my big baby." And also...... If you don't have fun or don't like it, remember to contact your mom. Be sure to remember!"
I asked again several times without worrying, making sure that the eldest daughter remembered it completely, and then hurried back to the clothing custom shop.
Fortunately, my mother-in-law was still trying on her cheongsam, and was exaggerated by a group of people, and when she saw me, she only asked lightly: "It's so hard to make clothes with me?" Gone to hide again?"
I rushed up to meet me, smiled and said, "What's the matter, Ah Huan just called me and said that two little guys have eaten a bad stomach, and I'm afraid of disturbing you, so I went out to pick it up."
My mother-in-law, who was in a good mood, did not embarrass me anymore, and after determining all my needs, she went home happily. At night, I waited anxiously for my two daughters like ants on a hot pot until I saw that their positioning was beginning to move in the direction of home. It wasn't until late at night that Zhang Huan returned home with his two daughters. I endured the torment in my heart and waited until Zhang Huan was asleep before I dared to take out my eldest daughter's phone watch. I took all the pictures taken inside and emptied my watch.
I sat in the dark night with my fingers out of sight, looking at the disgusting pictures taken by my eldest daughter over and over again, and my heart suddenly fell into the ice cave. Zhang Hangout chatted, stole, preferred sons to daughters, and even occasionally did something to me, I can endure! But with my two daughters in a dirty business, how can I bear it?
Although I know what happened to my daughter, I still don't have any good strategies for how to protect my two daughters. I know very well that in my current position at home, there is nothing I can do to stop anything. And if I get divorced with two daughters, with the objective conditions of my job, I want to get custody of two children, the probability is almost zero. So...... If I want to take my two daughters out of this disgusting circle, I must plan well and win in one fell swoop, and I can't afford to slip away.
Just as I was racking my brains to think of a countermeasure, my mobile phone actually rang a prompt tone of someone adding a friend. There are only two simple words in the message application column: Xiao Yue. I passed the second, maybe because my impression of Xiaoyue tonight was too good, or maybe because I was a little envious of the girl of this age from the bottom of my heart, so I chose to look through her circle of friends for the first time after passing the verification of my friends, instead of chatting with her.
But the result made me a little disappointed, because Xiao Yue's circle of friends was invisible to me. I was a little disappointed and ready to quit, but I was attracted by the display of her album cover. It was a picture of a red sports car, and I couldn't tell if I had taken it myself or if I had looked for it online. To my surprise, this car... I actually looked a little familiar, but I couldn't remember where I had seen it for a while. What makes me even more incredible is that just when I was about to take a closer look, I accidentally refreshed the page, and then... That picture is gone!
The cover of Xiao Yue's circle of friends was replaced by a delicate selfie of hers. I glanced at the time displayed in the upper right corner of my phone: one o'clock in the morning.
So...... What is this wave of operations? For me? At this moment, Xiao Yue's WeChat message arrived.
"Lady boss, are the two little princesses feeling better?"
I temporarily suppressed my inner confusion and sincerely replied, "It's all right, thank you tonight, Xiao Yue."
"Hee-hee, you're welcome, they're all women, and I especially understand the heart of being a mother."
"Xiao Yue is so young, she should not have been a mother yet, right?" I asked casually.
"Haha, not yet, but... It should be soon."
"Then congratulations to Xiao Yue, you are so gentle and kind, you must be a good mother."
"Thoughts... For the sake of the children... Divorce?"
Such a sudden question suddenly popped up in the original polite small talk, coupled with the circle of friends that was closed to me and the cover picture that was changed late at night for me, I was no longer dull, and I was a little alert. I stared at the glowing phone screen for a long time, remembering the red sports car picture that I had only seen a few minutes ago. My memory suddenly came with its own navigation, all the way to take off, and instantly brought me back to half a month ago.
05
Discovering that Zhang Huan's derailment is an unexpected hunt, interesting and exciting, dull and stupid. I am of course the hunted party, and as for the fun and excitement, naturally it is theirs. I only deserve to be dull and stupid. 25 December 2019, Christmas Day. Everyone was busy celebrating the holidays, eating together, and receiving gifts, except for me, who was busy serving two elderly patients in the hospital.
On that day, I was ready to take care of the second elder in the hospital for a week, and even brought a change of clothes. But the plan can't keep up with the changes. Because I was not accustomed to eating hospital meals, my mother-in-law overturned the hot lunch in one breath, and the soup water splashed me, and my whole arm was scalded red. But I didn't dare to say a word, for fear of provoking her again and causing even more trouble. I hurried home to prepare a meal that would satisfy her appetite and help her recover. But I didn't expect to go home suddenly, and I actually encountered a sending proposition. When I drove to the garage with ease, I found that my parking space was occupied by a red Audi TT. Looking at the empty public parking spaces in the underground garage, I couldn't help but press the mobile phone in the car. After it was connected, no one answered for a long time. A second before I was ready to hang up, it went through again.
"Hey~" I heard it correctly, and a female petite voice with uneven breath came from the mobile phone.
"Hello, you occupied my parking space, trouble down to move, I have an emergency!" 」 It may be that I have been a housewife for a long time, accustomed to pleasing and accommodating, obviously others have occupied my position, but I seem to be begging for someone.
"Oh, okay."
It was about ten minutes before I saw a hot young girl gracefully walk out of the elevator of my building. Because she was wrapped in a fashion scarf and wore sunglasses, I didn't see her face clearly.
I thought she would move the car to the public parking space, but I didn't expect it: she actually drove away. I was bent on hurrying home to cook, afraid that I would be scolded for delaying too long, and I hurried upstairs before I had time to think too much. As soon as I opened the door, I actually saw that Zhang Huan, who always threatened to work overtime, was staying at home at the moment, and he also cleaned up the sofa at home for the first time.
The moment he saw me, his expression was a little evasive, but he quickly skillfully found a breakthrough to attack me, and seamlessly changed into the usual aggressive posture: "What is the mess in the house, you don't work every day, can't even clean up your home?" 」
I just wanted to say that I packed up in the morning before going out, but he saw that the clothes on my body were too late to change out because I was in a hurry... Clothes stained with soup for meals.
He burst out in an instant: "Trouble you look in the mirror!" Who is dirty and greasy all day? Did I not give you living expenses? Dressing more shabbily than a nanny, is it to imply that I can't afford you?"
Angrily accusing me, he walked toward the window in disgust and opened a row of windows. A breeze blew through, bringing a faint smell of delicate perfume, which smelled good. This taste actually... A bit familiar!
A woman's sixth sense made me nervous in an instant, and I quickly searched my mind for this familiar scent. Where did you smell it? Fortunately, I had only smelled this smell for more than ten minutes, otherwise I would not have remembered the rusty brain that had stopped functioning for more than ten years. Yes, I remembered. This taste... I also smelled it on the girl who had just moved the car. I seemed to know a little bit about what this meant, but before I could figure it out, the man in front of me was furious again because of my wandering, and finally ended with him slamming the door.
06
My thoughts were completely interrupted here, and all the memories turned into a bright red sports car whizzing toward me. I remembered: the car on the cover of Xiao Yue's circle of friends five minutes ago I saw half a month ago! If I'm not mistaken, the gentle and kind Little Yue who was in the restaurant tonight is the little three who blatantly stole love in my house half a month ago!
That's why she recognized me at first sight at the restaurant tonight. Thinking of this, I laughed self-deprecatingly. Being pinched by my husband and not saying anything, now even Xiao San is so rampant in front of me, the main palace has achieved this point for me, and it can be regarded as a nest to the extreme. I put away my phone and let the memories of ten years rush toward me in the darkness. Zhang Huan and I also had a period of honey oil mixing days. In the early days of the business, because I didn't have money to hire people, my eldest daughter was helping him take care of the chores in the store. Only later, as the business in the store got better and better, the branches opened more and more, Zhang Huan became busier and busier, and he became more and more indifferent to me.
I know that starting a business is not easy, and keeping a job is even more difficult, so I have never blamed him, and I have never quarreled about it once. I thought that as long as the company was on the right track, Zhang Huan pulled out, and my good days would come. But I didn't expect the birth of my little daughter, which completely broke my fantasy.
With Zhang Huan's value exceeding 100 million, his straight male cancer attribute has been directly transformed from invisible. The family has a throne to inherit, and without a prince, it always feels that the country and mountains laid down will die in one generation. He was not reconciled. So I put the responsibility of not having a son on my head. My in-laws finally stopped hiding their dislike for me: I couldn't give birth to a grandchild for the old Zhang family, and I didn't earn a penny for my family, so naturally I wasn't worthy of their son who was a daily jin doujin and a talent. And the only meaning of my existence in this family is to take good care of him, her, and them.
The hardship of taking two unpopular children alone, and serving the second elder who has always been resentful of me, has exhausted me, and I really don't have more energy to think about whether Zhang Huan will raise Xiao San outside. Or rather, I automatically blocked all the information about this. In fact, two years ago, I broke up with Zhang Huan. He slept in the master bedroom, and my two daughters and I slept in the second bunk bed. I am actually quite satisfied with this arrangement. Being able to spend more time with my daughters and enjoy a moment of relaxation and warmth is a great gift for me.
As for Zhang Huan, I know: he has not been idle in the past two years. Busy sowing seeds, waiting for the harvest. It's just that for two years there has been no harvest. I thought that as long as he couldn't have a son outside, my two daughters and I would have a complete home. But now I know: I was too naïve.
Yes, it wasn't until this moment that I reacted: "Deliberately occupy my parking space" This move is basically from Xiao San's naked provocation! And tonight's initiative to let me see what happened to my two daughters should also make me completely dead to this marriage, and it is best that I can't stand to file for divorce.
Such a blatant declaration of war, such a clever and wonderful means, I still met for the first time in twelve years of marriage. I know what that means — the man who is imperative for my position has appeared. Poor me half an hour ago when she was a warm and kind savior, Zhang Huan scolded right, I was really stupid to go home!
As a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I didn't have the courage to fight. But women are weak, and mothers are strong. For the sake of my two innocent daughters who were about to "go to the mouth of the tiger", I knew I had to stick to my scalp.
And this battle... I have to win!
Follow-up is more exciting, please see the next short story: Housewife's Jedi Strikes Back (II)