Volume One, Chapter Three: How Much Harder Could It Be? The Toughest Days Have Already Been Overcome

“Auntie! Are you here to pick up the child?”

After standing for quite some time, Lou Nanzhi was pulled back to reality by a clear, refreshing voice.

“Ah! No, no! Young lady, I just wanted to ask if you’re still hiring piano teachers?”

Lou Nanzhi pointed to the recruitment notice pasted on the glass.

The young lady’s expression grew complicated as she glanced up and down at Lou Nanzhi.

“Auntie, are you looking for a job for a child at home?”

Wearing her food delivery uniform, Lou Nanzhi was not surprised by the question. After all, she was quite advanced in age. But for the sake of the rest of her life—having lost her home—what did losing a bit of face matter?

“No, no, I—I want to apply for the position myself!”

“You?”

The young lady stretched the word, a playful smile on her face.

At the same time, Lou Nanzhi’s cheeks flushed red.

“Auntie! I think you should be receiving a pension by now, and besides, the minimum educational requirement for our teachers here is a university degree, so you…”

The young lady didn’t finish her sentence.

Lou Nanzhi kept her head lowered. “I—I must be disturbing you then.”

She quickly slunk away.

Once she reached a small alley and saw no one around, Lou Nanzhi leaned against the wall and finally couldn’t hold back her tears.

Society was far harsher than she had imagined.

Before marriage, she had been a cherished princess, a talented scholar skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting—especially the piano. In that era, she had already worked miracles as a teenager. But fate was cruel; she missed the good times. She gave up all her dreams and contentedly became a housewife. And what did she gain in return?

Aging and losing her beauty, despised by others, a cheating husband, and a mistress taking her place?

Lou Nanzhi wiped away her tears haphazardly. How much harder could life get? She refused to believe that a healthy person like her could starve to death.

She pressed on, searching for work along the commercial street, facing repeated rejection but feeling increasingly resilient with each setback.

Until she reached the foot of the Moonview Tower Hotel.

[Hiring several room attendants, female, under fifty years old, junior high school education or above, experience not required, one day off per month, meals and accommodation provided, monthly salary of 4,500 yuan plus insurance.]

Lou Nanzhi was surprised to find she met all the criteria.

She was skilled at cleaning—that was a lifetime’s work—and with meals and lodging included, and a decent salary, this was an opportunity.

Summoning her courage, Lou Nanzhi stepped inside. Thanks to her previous experiences, she was noticeably more composed during the interview. Her appearance was quite striking, and the hotel uniform fit her well—something rare for women in their forties or fifties, who often carried extra weight.

Moonview Tower was a top-tier five-star hotel in the capital, placing great importance on the appearance of its staff.

So, it was no surprise when Lou Nanzhi was hired.

At fifty, Lou Nanzhi felt true happiness for the first time.

After completing all the onboarding procedures, she sat in her dormitory and pulled out her phone.

Only then did she discover over ten missed calls and more than twenty unread messages, all from her husband Wei Guoxiong and her mother-in-law Song Ying.

From her husband: [Mom asked me to make some millet and red bean porridge for you. Tomorrow when I go to work, I’ll bring it to the hospital. I’ve transferred 3,000 yuan to you. Starting this month, the household expenses will increase a bit.]

Reading Wei Guoxiong’s message, Lou Nanzhi felt a bitter laugh rise in her throat.

He was still waiting for her to come back.

Did he think their divorce was a joke?

From her mother-in-law: [Guoxiong is giving you a way out—why don’t you take it? A woman’s whole life is meant for the family. Nobody else is causing trouble except you. This whole matter is your fault. We’re all taking good care of Xiaoqing. If she gives birth to two strong boys, won’t they grow up to care for you too? Sincerity begets sincerity!]

Ha!

If Wei Guoxiong’s words were laughable, then her mother-in-law’s were downright disgraceful.

She wanted her to exchange sincerity with the mistress?

Lou Nanzhi had worked hard her entire life, but because she hadn’t borne a son, her mother-in-law refused to transfer the old family estate to Wei Guoxiong. Yet the mistress, who was only newly pregnant and whose child’s gender was unknown, had already been granted the property.

Though the old house was dilapidated, its location in the capital far outshone their suburban villa.

If they liked the mistress so much, then let them exchange sincerity between themselves.

And expecting the mistress’s children to care for her in the future? The mother-in-law was truly audacious.

When had the Wei family become so bizarre?

Lou Nanzhi didn’t bother responding. She tossed her phone carelessly onto the bed and went to tidy her clothes and bedding.

…

Just past ten at night, Wei Guoxiong dragged his weary body home.

He had already arranged for a caregiver for Xiaoqing—the first three months were the riskiest, especially given her advanced maternal age—so he dared not be careless.

Upon entering, he expected Lou Nanzhi to be waiting on the sofa as usual, regardless of the hour, with a hot meal on the table.

But the room was pitch black.

Frowning, Wei Guoxiong hurried to the bedroom and flung the door open, only to find it empty as well.

On the living room sofa lay the shirt, pants, and dirty socks he had changed out of the previous day.

Lou Nanzhi used to wash and iron all of these herself, even the socks, not allowing a single fuzzball.

She always said a man must look presentable—from head to toe, nothing could be neglected.

Thinking this, Wei Guoxiong grew inexplicably irritated. Although the house remained tidy, the sight of scattered clothes annoyed him. Since being with Lou Nanzhi, he had unknowingly developed an obsession with cleanliness.

He had already given Lou Nanzhi a way out—what more did she want? Staying out all night at fifty years old—didn’t she have any shame?

But where could she have gone?

Her parents had long passed away, no siblings, and in all these years in the capital, she had no friends. Wei Guoxiong refused to believe she could spend the night elsewhere.

Fuming, he made himself a bowl of noodles, purposely making a mess in the kitchen.

After eating, he lay on the sofa, glaring at the front door. A housewife out all night—this would cause a huge scandal!

He planned to keep watch but, perhaps from exhaustion, soon fell asleep.

The next morning.

Wei Guoxiong was awakened by a clamor. Following the scent, he found a familiar figure standing in the kitchen, and the anger he’d bottled all night dissipated instantly.

She was making millet and brown sugar porridge.

She was still obedient.

Just yesterday she had sworn to divorce him, but he knew she would return obediently. Soon she would prepare breakfast as if serving an emperor, standing by the table to confess her sins.

With his status in the capital, how many young women had tried to seduce him? Yet this fallen autumn leaf was still not satisfied.

If it ever came to divorce, she wouldn’t even know how to cry properly.

Feeling ever more superior, Wei Guoxiong prepared to give her another chance. He approached the kitchen and, watching her busy figure, wrapped his arms around Lou Nanzhi from behind—a gesture he was all too familiar with.

But the next second, Lou Nanzhi flung him off with disdain.

She even held up a spatula toward him.

“Wei Guoxiong, I don’t have time to waste on you. Pack your things and let’s get a divorce!”