It was a sunny morning, and I stood at the gate of the community, gazing through the gaps in the leaves at the familiar and unfamiliar landscape. Everything seemed as calm and harmonious as ever, but this tranquility masked a storm of life that I had experienced.
I still remember that three years ago in this season, Liu Ying snuggled in my arms and asked me in that sweet voice: "Xu Yuan, when can we get married?" and I responded to her with confidence: "Come on, Yingying, I am working hard for our future, and soon I will be able to give you an unforgettable wedding." "At that time, we loved each other deeply, but we didn't know anything about the complexity of marriage and the cruelty of reality.
As the wedding date approached, Liu Ying's parents began to look more scrutiny of our relationship. Once, Liu Ying's father asked me seriously: "Your monthly salary is only a few thousand yuan, how can you afford your married life?" I hurriedly replied: "Uncle, I will work harder to make money, as long as Yingying and you support me." "Little did I know, however, that in addition to the economic pressures, greater challenges were yet to come.
The bride price, a traditional custom that I had overlooked, became an insurmountable gulf between us. Liu Ying's father insisted that this was a sign of respect for the woman, but I, a child from an ordinary family, never thought too much about it. I started to travel around, teaching during the day and looking for various part-time jobs at night just to save enough money for the expensive bride price.
However, despite my best efforts, when the wedding date approached, the savings in my hands were still far from the 380,000 yuan requested by Liu Ying's family. Liu Ying tried to comfort me by proposing a small wedding first, but her father strongly objected. He angrily accused me of being untrustworthy and unable to give Liu Ying a decent marriage.
At that moment, I felt shame and helplessness that I had never felt before. I knew that as a man, I couldn't give Liu Ying what she deserved. In the angry rebuke of Liu Ying's father and the discussion of everyone, I silently endured all this. When Liu Ying was dragged away by my father, her cries echoed in my ears, but I didn't have the courage to turn back.
A few days later, I received a text message from Liu Ying about her divorce, which was brief and decisive. I know that this is a farewell to our past and a satire of my incompetence. Shame and loss came flooding in, and I couldn't face this reality and chose to flee the city.
Three years have passed in a hurry, and I have changed to a new environment and life. This experience made me deeply aware of my incompetence and failures, and it also inspired me to keep working hard to become a better person. Looking back on it now, although my heart hurts, I also understand that this is the only way to grow.