Chapter 5633: The True Colors of Mount Lu

"What is the problem?" Seeing Zhao Desan suddenly become so somber, Zhao Xue looked at him with curiosity and nodded.

"Who exactly are your husband and your in-laws? Also, how does your husband treat you? Why haven't you had children after two years of marriage?" Zhao Desan asked directly. He was very curious about these questions because, generally speaking, it is very normal for a couple to have children within a year or two of marriage, yet Zhao Xue had been married for two years without any children, which he felt didn't quite add up.

"Do you really want to hear it? I'm afraid that if I tell you these things, you'll feel distressed for me, so you'd better not listen." After Zhao Desan asked these questions, Zhao Xue's expression suddenly turned bleak, and she said in a heavy tone.

"I want to know everything about you, because you are Zhao Desan's woman." Zhao Desan looked at her solemnly, but to Zhao Xue, these words sounded like a man's domineering nature. She shifted her body, clinging tightly to Zhao Desan's embrace, her eyes becoming unfocused as she said faintly: "Actually, I didn't really want to give you up and marry him, but my father was harmed by someone back then, and my mother has been in poor health and chronically ill for years; I was the only child in the family. I told myself to wait for you for two years, but I didn't get the result I wanted. You were busy with your career and work, and my mother kept telling me not to be so foolish as to wait, saying that if a girl gets too old, she won't be able to get married..."

"I'm sorry." Zhao Desan interrupted Zhao Xue as she said this. Hearing her say this, Zhao Desan suddenly felt very regretful. He regretted that he had been so focused on his work back then that he neglected his lifelong affairs and missed the opportunity to be with Zhao Xue. Now, seeing her living an unhappy life made him feel very guilty.

"Don't say so much. A man should prioritize his career; I understand you, and I won't blame you." Now it was Zhao Xue's turn to comfort Zhao Desan. She gave him a faint smile and continued: "You also know that I only have my mother left as a relative, and her health is poor. After waiting for you for two years, I really couldn't wait any longer. At that time, I felt so tired, and someone introduced me to a suitor. I met him and thought it was acceptable, thinking that life is just like that. Not long after, their family asked us to get married, and I also wanted to settle down quickly and live a married life. It was not bad when we first got married; although there was no affection, we lived quietly. But a year later, I got pregnant..." Hearing Zhao Xue say this, Zhao Desan couldn't help but widen his eyes, but he couldn't bring himself to interrupt her, listening as she continued to recount her life over the past two years: "His family was overjoyed, but you know, you can't have sexual relations during pregnancy. While I was resting at home to protect the fetus, he started carousing outside. At that time, how could I endure such grievances? I started arguing with him. One night, we had a dispute, he pushed me, I accidentally fell, and then I had a massive hemorrhage and miscarried. Seeing that I couldn't get pregnant, he stopped taking me seriously afterward. He wouldn't come home all day, and even brought women home to spend the night. I argued and made scenes, but in front of men, women are always the weaker party. I had no choice. In the end, heartbroken, I wanted a divorce, but both families disagreed. My mother told me that a divorced woman is worthless and it would be very difficult to find another one. In the end, I chose to compromise, but we started living separately. He lives his life, and I live mine. This is how it has been for the past six months. Until now, sometimes I feel that this is actually quite good; one is free and unfettered, with no one to restrain you."

After hearing about these unknown hardships Zhao Xue had endured over the past two years, Zhao Desan's fists clenched involuntarily. He truly couldn't imagine that such a man could exist in the world; could such a person even be considered human? Zhao Desan took a fierce drag of his cigarette, and an old saying involuntarily came to his mind: "A man fears entering the wrong profession, and a woman fears marrying the wrong man." Once a woman marries the wrong man, her whole life is ruined. Looking at Zhao Xue now, Zhao Desan felt truly heartbroken. Although Zhao Xue said that things were quite good now, did she really feel that way in her heart? What woman doesn't want to be in love with her other half, and who doesn't want to have a happy and fulfilling family? But regarding Zhao Xue's current situation, he could only feel helpless. He couldn't help but grit his teeth and say: "What is that man's name? What does he do for a living?"

"What do you want to do? I won't tell you." Zhao Xue looked at Zhao Desan's gritted-teeth expression and said with some surprise, "Desan, I'm really doing quite well now. Being able to meet you is the greatest happiness of my life. The past is no longer important. You must not think about taking revenge for me or anything like that. You are still young, and your career is going so smoothly; you must not do anything foolish, as it will affect your future, you know? Don't do it for me; it's not worth it. I'm actually grateful that he treated me this way now. If it weren't for him treating me like this, how would I have come to Xijing, and how would I have met you?"

Listening to Zhao Xue's words, the hatred in Zhao Desan's heart subsided slightly. Zhao Xue was right; if it weren't for this man treating her this way, how would she have come to Xijing, and how would she have met him? And how would she have so easily let him climb into her bed and willingly become his underground lover? If put this way, Zhao Desan really should thank him. Zhao Desan laughed at himself and finally asked her: "Zhao Xue, do you resent your mother in your heart? Do you resent her for making you marry him?"

"Resent? I don't resent her. I can only blame my own bad luck. In this world, what relatives don't have overnight grudges? She is my mother. My father passed away early, and she was the one who raised me to adulthood. She suffered so much and endured so many hardships. Now that her daughter is grown, she made me get married for my future; this is not her fault. The fault lies in her choosing the wrong person and having poor judgment. At first, for a period of time, I did resent her very much, and I attributed all the reasons for my misfortune to her. But gradually, I understood. A woman raising a child alone from a young age, having to earn money to support the family, and taking care of me, never letting me suffer—what else do I have to complain about?" As Zhao Xue spoke, her eyes began to moisten.

Zhao Desan nodded. He highly agreed with Zhao Xue's words. Every parent treats their child as their treasure, and this outcome is not what they wanted to see. Thinking about how his own father, while in prison, went to such great lengths to get him into the Yuyang City Coal Bureau, it truly is a case of "pity the hearts of parents everywhere." ===== CHAPTER 5634 =====