Yang Ming was left speechless by his wife’s words, and he felt utterly ashamed. He had always been diligent in his studies, knowing the hardships of his family and that he could not let them down.
But now, what had he done? His love for his children had even made him incapable of settling down to read. He was wrong, terribly wrong. He felt that such behavior would make his wife look down on him even more, and hate him even more.
He grabbed his things and walked out the door. He was going back to the academy, even if it was dark. He felt too ashamed to stay in the same room with his wife any longer.
He had to go back, to study hard. As for his wife, to separate or not, she would still be his wife. It was only a matter of time, he thought, as he did not stop his pace.
Xiaoxiao was in the midst of speaking when she saw Yang Ming heading toward the door. She hadn’t even finished her sentence, "Where are you going so late at night?"
But Yang Ming did not reply to her. It was as if he hadn’t heard at all, and he just walked away, disappearing from Xiaoxiao’s sight.
Left alone in the empty house, Xiaoxiao calmed down and thought about what had just been said. Had she perhaps been too harsh? In reality, Yang Ming had been making an effort. She had seen that he would read as soon as he had free time and often stayed up late.
Xiaoxiao thought Yang Ming had just stepped out for a moment and would be back soon. She decided to soften her tone when he returned.
But after waiting for a while and still not seeing him return, could this be the start of a separation? Had he gone to Yang Dong’s place? These chaotic thoughts tumbled through her mind as she fell asleep in confusion.
The next day, as soon as she stepped out, Xiaoxiao saw Yang Dong and signaled him over, "Come here, Fourth Brother."
When Yang Ming saw his third sister-in-law calling him, he immediately went over, "What’s up, Third Sister-in-Law?"
"Where is your third brother?"
"I haven’t seen him, ah!"
"Didn’t he stay at your place last night?"
"Third Sister-in-Law, what are you talking about? Why would my third brother stay at my place when he has his own?"
"..." He hadn’t stayed at Yang Dong’s place? Then where had he been all night? Could he have run away from home again?
Xiaoxiao returned home with a grim face. Wow, her husband is quite something, running away from home as if it’s his habit, a bad habit that’s been indulged! Let’s see how I deal with him during lunch.
After washing up and having breakfast, Xiaoxiao went to the county. This time, she didn’t ask Yang Dong to accompany her; she decided to take the ox cart instead, as asking Yang Dong to wait all day would be too troublesome.
Upon reaching Xiangxiang Cloth Shop, everyone got busy again, but Xiaoxiao was absent-minded and kept making mistakes.
Whether she cut the fabric wrong, sewed the trouser legs together, or pricked her finger, something would always go astray.
Wang Xiangxiang noticed Xiaoxiao’s situation and thought something must have happened at home, "Xiaoxiao, are you alright? If there’s trouble at home, go back first."
"No, it’s nothing! I’m fine!"
Xiaoxiao felt she might be sick, her mind preoccupied with her husband’s issues all morning. The dejected look on Yang Ming’s face when he left haunted her relentlessly.
She feared her harsh words had crushed him. If he couldn’t recover from that, she would become the sinner of the family.
Xiaoxiao took a deep breath, thinking that anyway she’d have lunch with her husband soon, and they could talk then. She quickly immersed herself back into work.
But when lunchtime arrived, Xiaoxiao waited a long time, and despite further waiting, her husband did not show up.
Xiaoxiao’s face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. ’So be it, he’s so ruthless. Why should I bother worrying about him, so fragile and unable to withstand a blow? If he gives up, so be it.’