The intern taught a top-performing class, and the parents wanted to change the homeroom teacher.

Xu Qinglin was also taken aback when he saw Lu Qian pull out a bottle of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor).

What kind of teacher brings alcohol when making a home visit?

Since we've already brought it out, let's have a drink.

Lu Qian poured the wine into a small plastic cup provided by the store and pushed it in front of Xu Qinglin.

"Brother Xu, it's still early, let's have a drink and chat. You and your wife are Nuowen's parents, and I'm Nuowen's homeroom teacher. Ultimately, we're on the same page. It's just the two of us here now, so if you have anything to say, talk to me."

After speaking, Lu Qian raised his cup in a gesture.

Xu Qinglin felt as if he had been struck by something, his heart trembled slightly, and his hand holding the wine glass became a little unsteady.

The two cups touched lightly, and he took a small sip. The spiciness had just slid down his throat when the sorrow that had been building up in his heart surged up instantly.

Lu Qian sat quietly, not interrupting, waiting for him to speak first.

"Oh."

Xu Qinglin chuckled self-deprecatingly, "My wife is right. What she called business failure is just being scammed."

"Business was good a few years ago, I made some money, and I saved up some money. I got cocky and started saying things without thinking. Looking back now, I wonder how I could have been so stupid!"

Xu Qinglin looked pained. If he could go back to that time, he would not hesitate to slap his past self a few times.

Lu Qian didn't say much, but raised his glass and clinked it together again.

Xu Qinglin took another sip of wine and continued, "An old friend I've known for almost ten years tricked me into investing in stone products, saying the market was booming."

They made all sorts of promises, found me all the connections, and showed me lots of development prospects. Then they said they were short of money and wanted me to be a partner, so I could just sit back and wait for my monthly dividends.

"I was also hesitant at the time. I had heard a lot about scams, so I didn't dare to invest too much."

"The first five months were fine. I had a stable income every month, so I wasn't so worried."

In the sixth month, he suddenly called and said that his supplier was having some problems and asked to borrow money from me to keep his business afloat. I believed him.

"After that, he used various methods to swindle money from me. By the time I realized something was wrong, I could no longer contact him."

"I only found out after reporting it to the police that the people involved had already fled overseas, and it turned out to be an entire fraud ring. I wasn't the only one who fell for it. In the end, they only caught three people, and we couldn't get back a single penny of the money we had invested."

"Four hundred thousand! It just vanished into thin air! How could I be so stupid!"

Xu Qinglin gulped down a large mouthful of liquor, the strong liquor choking him and causing him to cough violently, tears streaming down his face.

Lu Qian took a deep breath. Four hundred thousand!

That's no small amount!

Many families never accumulate such savings in their entire lives.

"I was thinking of going abroad myself, that I would find him no matter what, and then kill him!" Xu Qinglin's eyes were full of hatred, but in the blink of an eye, only exhaustion remained. "But I still have a family, I can't abandon them."

"I really regret it, I was so stupid!"

"I worked so hard to save this money, hoping to make life more comfortable for my wife and daughter in the future, and now it's all gone."

Lu Qian, holding Xu Qinglin's shoulder, already understood what had happened.

He couldn't offer any profound truths or words of comfort.

You can't truly empathize with something that hasn't happened to you.

After a while, Xu Qinglin calmed down.

"It's only right that my wife scolds me. I'm blind and can't tell good people from bad people. She tried to advise me, but I didn't listen, so I can't blame anyone else."

"I drive for a ride-hailing service now, and I can make ends meet. But I feel guilty towards my wife and daughter, for not being able to give them a better life."

Lu Qian refilled his glass and slowly said, "Brother, it's understandable that you're upset after what happened. But don't blame yourself too much. Being too sentimental and trusting makes you easy to be deceived."

"You feel sorry for your sister-in-law, but over the years, she's only ever argued with you. She's never said anything about 'it's over' or 'divorce.' She still loves you."

"While you're out there working hard, she still manages to keep the house spotless and tidy in her spare time."

"If I live there myself, it'll be a pigsty."

"Besides, you named your child 'Xu Nuowen,' which means 'promising a lifetime,' doesn't it?"

"Just like you are determined to be good to your sister-in-law, she is still firmly by your side, even if you argue, she still cares about you."

"On the way here, I also learned from Norman that no matter how late you come home, there will always be hot food left at home."

"Losing money is an irreparable pain, but it is at this time that the true feelings between husband and wife are revealed."

Xu Qinglin's eyes instantly reddened, and he covered his face, choking back tears, "Brother, this makes me feel even worse!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the bedroom door on the other side was suddenly pushed open with a bang.

Wen Yue burst into tears. She had been listening to Xu Qinglin's words in the bedroom and could no longer hold back.

Do you think I'm angry about money?

"Four hundred thousand is a lot, but if we lose it, we'll just earn more!"

"I regret it too. I regret not being more determined back then. I also had a gambler's mentality, thinking that if I made money, it would make things easier for you."

"Money's gone, it's gone, you can't get it back, but I'll still help you earn more!"

"Back when we first got married, we'd get up before dawn and work late to grab a spot at the market to sell vegetables. Neither of us ever complained about being tired or scared."

"If we had felt tired, the two of us would never have made it out of that village back then."

"Not now?"

"I'll scold you? I'll scold you awake! Where did that spirited, high-spirited you go?"

"You can make money driving for ride-hailing services, what's shameful about that? If others look down on you, it's because they were envious of you before!"

"As long as you want to do it, I'll keep the gold bracelet and gold ring you bought me back then."

As she spoke, Wen Yue began to cry, her whole body trembling.

After so many years of marriage, how could she not know how much pain Xu Qinglin was in?

But life goes on!

She could keep the family afloat until Xu Qinglin recovered.

The reason why Xu Nuowen sometimes stays at his classmates' houses is that I don't want the children to see their cowardly side.

If both of them break down, the family will fall apart completely.

Lu Qian stood up, gently helped Wen Yue sit down next to Xu Qinglin, and then sat down on the other side himself.

The hardest thing for a person to get over after being cheated is to forgive themselves.

Some people deliberately seek out suffering, intentionally punish themselves, and hate themselves.

Wen Yue also realized this, which is why she felt even more upset.

She knew Xu Qinglin's personality; if she kept comforting him with gentle words, Xu Qinglin would only feel more guilty and remorseful, unable to forgive himself.

Lu Qian spoke softly, "Brother Xu, what can't a husband and wife talk about?"

"Your sister-in-law has always believed in you and is waiting for you to get through this."

"Xu Nuowen's life. This life is still long."

Xu Qinglin could no longer hold back, and he hugged Wen Yue in his arms, bursting into tears.

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