Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Pack Up Your Impractical Romance Chapter 32: Chapter 32 Pack Up Your Impractical Romance They soon arrived at the school, and it was time for another parting. Not far away, they could still see boarding students returning to school—children who lived far from home.
“Bai Yu, take your brother and sister to play over there. Mom has something to discuss with your dad, off you go,”
Ye Xiu pointed towards an open area, signaling Bai Yu to take his siblings there.
Bai Yu nodded and, hand in hand with Bai Ye, led Xixi away. It wasn’t long before their laughter and playful bantering could be heard.
From a distance, they appeared to be playing eagle catches chicks. Bai Ye was trying to catch Xixi, but Bai Yu was guarding her closely, making it impossible for Bai Ye to catch her. Xixi’s laughter could still be heard from afar.
Bai Da watched this scene and then glanced at Ye Xiu beside him. This was his wife and their children, and he would do anything for them.
“Xiuxiu, look how happy they are playing. In another two years, they’ll all be grown up, and we’ll probably be old, but you’ll still look good even when you’re old.”
Bai Da’s survival instincts had always been particularly strong. Besides, to him, Ye Xiu looked good on all fronts, and he couldn’t find a single fault in her.
“Bai Da, I didn’t sleep at all last night. I tossed and turned, thinking about a lot of things. I want to discuss something with you,”
Ye Xiu hadn’t finished speaking before Bai Da immediately put down everything in his hands, anxiously grabbing Ye Xiu’s hand.
“Xiuxiu, what’s wrong? Is it something I did that upset you? Tell me, and I will change!”
It was always like that, Bai Da always said that. If he did something wrong, he would change it, and he would be there no matter what.
Touched? Very much so, but sometimes not everything he did was what she wanted. For example, he always felt she should wear the best clothes and eat the finest meals—he placed everything in the house second to her.
If before having children it was touching, now it often seemed like he was somewhat neglecting the kids, too idealistic.
“You are very good, but what I want to say is, could you not buy me so many things? Clothes, shoes, bags, and this…”
Ye Xiu pointed to the watch on her hand, which clearly wasn’t a necessity. If they were the kind of family with a lot of money, then indulging a bit wouldn’t be a problem. But they were not!
They had three children, and now there was Xixi. They needed schooling and there were living expenses; these were what mattered most.
She didn’t need Bai Da to regard her as more important than anything else. What she wanted was someone who lived life firmly and reliably.
Her colleagues were envious of her for having a husband who doted on her so much. Every time she came back from work, she would have new clothes and didn’t need to contribute her salary, but they didn’t know she felt distressed inside.
Especially this time, seeing Xingxing wearing old clothes, her heart ached. Bai Da had even suggested Xingxing stop schooling. Wasn’t that cutting off Xingxing’s future?
Knowledge can change one’s destiny; this was a truth known by great people. How could Bai Da not understand this?
No, it wasn’t that he didn’t know; he just spent all the money on appearances.
“It’s not like that, Xiuxiu. That watch suits you, and all the young girls at our factory really want to buy it. If others have them, you should too. Don’t worry, I don’t have anything, but I do have a lot of strength.”
Bai Da patted his chest, laughing foolishly. He wanted everyone to know that Xiuxiu was very happy, very happy indeed, married to him.
“I can give you the best life I can; I am your man. It’s only right that I buy you anything.”
Ye Xiu didn’t doubt Bai Da’s words and knew he was sincere, but she didn’t need it.
“You always think I need this or that, but have you ever asked me? Do I actually need these things?”
Bai Da’s face stiffened. He looked at Ye Xiu, somewhat at a loss. Xiuxiu seemed angry, but why?
Was it because he wasn’t working hard enough? He could carry even more cement.
“The watch, and those bags you bought, none of them are necessities. You have not only a wife, but also a son and a daughter. Have you forgotten?”
She didn’t need to be the only one in Bai Da’s heart. They had children whose futures depended on them. Surely they should save money to give their children a better life.
“Look, Bai Yu and Bai Ye are almost in sixth grade, and Xingxing and Xixi are already in fourth grade. The school fees for the new term, and their future expenses to study in town—a year by year, the children are growing older. Don’t you think about saving money for them?”
What did she need so many clothes for? She wasn’t putting on a show every day. And those shoes, a pair could last a long time, yet Bai Da kept buying more. It wasn’t that she wasn’t touched, but shouldn’t they consider their actual circumstances?
“We can’t always live in your ideal world where giving me the best means happiness. We need to live, and what about Xingxing? How can you not let her go to school? I can’t agree to that.”
Ye Xiu’s face grew darker, and her frustration built up within her. She hadn’t known how to say it before for fear of hurting Bai Da’s pride, but now it had reached a point where she had to speak out.
“Xiuxiu, don’t worry, my child will work hard, and I’ll make sure they go to school. Don’t be angry,”
As soon as Ye Xiu straightened her face, he felt very uncomfortable, heartaching as he felt he hadn’t taken good care of Xiuxiu, hadn’t given her happiness.
“It’s not about whether you work hard. You don’t even treat me as a member of the family!”
Ye Xiu’s emotions escalated. Whenever Bai Da said everything he did was for her good, and taking care of her was his duty, she felt very touched.
But his male chauvinism was a bit too much. She had to save her money while his was for household expenses, but the problem was he shouldn’t recklessly spend his earnings on useless things. In the end, should the children eat chaff and swallow vegetables? Xingxing didn’t even have one piece of clothing!
“How could that be!”
Bai Da would never agree with this statement. No one knew how much he loved Xiuxiu.
“Ha, then why won’t you let me pay the children’s school fees? Is it because you’re the husband, you should take care of the family, right? Isn’t that the biggest problem?
What are spouses? They work together, live together. When your money is insufficient, using mine is only natural. Can’t you put aside that pretense that a man can’t use a woman’s money?”
The more Ye Xiu spoke, the more impatient she felt, gradually becoming emotional.
“How much money do you even have left in your bag now? Why did you buy so much useless stuff today? Do I need a lunchbox? No!
Bai Da, I’m begging you. I don’t need your romantic gestures; they aren’t realistic. I just want to save for the children. From now on, give half of your salary to me; I will manage it!”
She used to not be home often and worried that they wouldn’t have enough money, so she hadn’t taken Bai Da’s salary. But now, she felt this couldn’t continue.