Chapter 2 — The Day I Saved 400,000 Yuan

Second year.
"Expenditure: Tran Hao said his parents' old house in the countryside needed repairs, so he sent 30,000 yuan back."
"Expenditure: Tran Hao said work pressure was too great, bought the latest game console, 8,000 yuan."
"My income: Salary increase, plus extra work, 110,000 yuan."
"Chen Hao's income: 50,000 yuan."
That year, my skin care cosmetics changed from high-end products to cheap products. Tran Hao pinched my cheek and smiled:
"Wife, your bare face is the most beautiful. Natural beauty is precious."
When I said that. His eyes were glued to the female star on TV. Third year.
"Expenses: My sister-in-law's child went to school, said she needed gifts, took 10,000 yuan from me."
"Expenditure: Tran Hao changed to a new phone, 11,000 yuan."
"My income: 130,000 yuan."
"Chen Hao's income: 52,000 yuan."
That year, my phone screen broke. I want to exchange for a new one. Tran Hao says:
"It's still usable, don't change it anymore. Save a little, there will be more places to use your money later."
I looked at the brand new iPhone in his hand. Say nothing. Fourth year.
"Expenses: Father-in-law hospitalized for high blood pressure, 15,000 yuan."
"Spending: Tran Hao said he needed to expand relationships, invite guests to eat, sing karaoke, and spend 20,000 yuan a month."
"My income: Get an extra job, 150,000 yuan for the whole year."
"Chen Hao's income: 55,000 yuan."
Every day I only sleep five hours. Tran Hao criticized me for always smelling like food and grease. He said:
"Can't you learn from others to take care of themselves a little?"
"If you don't cook, what will we eat?"
He was silent. Then he frowned, closed the office door, and went in to play games. Fifth year. It's this year.
"Expenses: Father-in-law discovered heart disease, needed surgery."
"Savings goal: 400,000 yuan."
For that purpose. I quit my tutoring job. Switching to a design position has a higher salary but is also more difficult. Every day overtime until late at night. When I get home, I still have to cook and do laundry for him. He started not coming home often. Say the company is busy. Even love him. I feel like because of this family, it won't be easy for him either. Now think again. What a joke. I turned each page of the notebook. The notebook is very thick. Record all five years of my youth. Documenting the process of me transforming from a radiant, vibrant girl. Becoming a "practical woman with faded beauty" in his mouth. Every amount. Just like a scar. Engraved deeply in my heart. I held a stack of savings books next to me. A total of 400,321 yuan. Not a penny to spare. Not even a penny missing. Exactly matches the number I just heard at the hospital billing counter. That's the amount of money I saved every penny. It's the price of countless sleepless nights. It's cheap clothes and cosmetics that I don't dare buy. I used to think. It was money that saved the family's life. Is our future. But now. Tran Hao told me again. He doesn't need me anymore. He wanted to go protect his goddess. I closed the notebook. The sound sounded like a slap. Slap on the past five years of youth. Also slap my stupid self. I looked at the woman in the mirror. Yellow skin. Light dark circles under the eyes. The hair is tied loosely with a rubber band. On her body was a set of clothes to wear at home, only worth a few dozen yuan. That was the "woman with fading beauty" he spoke of. I became like this for this family. But he hates me. I laughed. The corners of the lips slowly curled up. Tears suddenly fell. Not because of heartache. But because it's too funny. It turns out that what I have nurtured all these years is not a home. It's three giant children who never grow up. A selfish husband. A greedy father-in-law. And a sister-in-law I've never met, but still spends my money. I wiped my tears. Open the wardrobe. Inside are almost all Tran Hao's things. Branded vest. Limited edition sneakers. Expensive brand t-shirts. Hanged neatly and neatly. And my clothes. There are only a few sets huddled in the corner of the closet. I took out the two largest suitcases. Started stuffing his stuff inside. No need to rush anymore. No need to pair anymore. The game discs he treasures are like treasures. Cufflink. I swept them all into my suitcase. Like cleaning up trash. It took me nearly two hours to finish packing all of Tran Hao's belongings. Two large suitcases were stacked right in front of the door. Looks like two small mountains. Having finished everything, I sat down on the floor exhausted. The apartment suddenly became empty. But also a lot quieter. I'm going to take a shower. Wash away all accumulated bad luck and shame
during the past five years. I conveniently picked up Tran Hao's vest and threw it on the sofa. I intend to put it in my suitcase. Right at that moment. A hard object fell from his pocket. It fell to the floor making a soft sound. I bent down to pick it up. It was a folded bill. I know this brand.
"Product: Divas' Dream Series Necklace."
"Value: 52,000 yuan."
"Purchased date: Yesterday."
While I stayed up all night at the company to complete an urgent project. He sent me a WeChat message. Say you have to receive guests tonight. Don't come back to eat. That customer was a Bulgari counter employee. As for his project. Is buying a necklace for my goddess. Equal to nearly half a year's salary. He didn't blink. Immediately gave it to another woman. I can't even bear to buy a lipstick that costs 300 yuan. I tightened my grip on the bill. Fingertips tremble. Not out of anger. But because it's cold. The cold seeped from the very marrow of my bones. I've always thought that. We just don't have the money. Now I understand. Stiver. It's just me. His money. Spent it somewhere else a long time ago. Right at that moment. My phone rings. It's a strange number. I clicked to listen.