inspiring marriage tale
He was a renowned scholar, known for his beautiful handwriting in both pen and brush, with exceptional work abilities. Within a few years of starting his career, he was promoted by his superiors.
She was an ordinary rural girl who dropped out of school before finishing elementary school and went home to work in the fields.
He was handsome and well-mannered, with a strong literary aura, making him incredibly charming.
She was hardworking, kind, and though not a lady of high social status, she was a gentle and virtuous young woman.
He was a devoted son. When his mother fell ill and became bedridden, he took meticulous care of her, and with every paycheck, he would buy her a small gift, even if it was just an apple. Because of his bedridden mother, no matchmaker ever came to his door despite him being in his twenties. He didn’t mind; he could go without a wife, but he couldn’t bear to be without his mother.
She, having heard his story, secretly admired him and even sneaked a peek at him. Once she saw him, she couldn’t forget him. She confided in her mother, who disagreed, saying his family was too poor and marrying him would mean caring for his paralyzed mother. But she was determined and refused to consider other suitors. Her mother eventually gave in and sought out a matchmaker to propose marriage.
On the day they met, she was sincere, expressing that she wanted nothing more than mutual respect and love between them.
He, truth be told, wasn’t very impressed with her; she was a bit short and lacked education.
But his father was overjoyed, saying that finding a girl willing to marry into their poor family was like finding a treasure, and there was nothing to be picky about.
He didn’t want to go against his father’s wishes and agreed.
She treated his family as her own, frequently caring for his bedridden mother.
He often felt touched by her diligence and kindness, resolving to cherish her.
Their wedding was set for the twelfth month of the lunar year. Due to their poverty, they could only have a simple wedding, spending a night at his brother and sister-in-law’s home. It was a bitterly cold day, and she didn’t even buy a pair of cotton shoes, standing in her thin shoes by the roadside without a word of complaint.
He looked at his wife and silently vowed to give her the best life possible.
After their marriage, he worked hard, advancing in his career. She managed the household frugally, taking care of her in-laws, as well as her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, washing clothes, cooking meals, making winter clothes, and tending to her bedridden mother-in-law’s needs. They later had two children.
The brother-in-law grew up, bought a house, and got married. The sister-in-law reached adulthood and was married off.
When the elderly parents fell ill, she tirelessly cared for them, ensuring her mother-in-law never developed a bed sore in over thirty years.
During the New Year, she always thought of making new clothes for her father-in-law and mother-in-law first. All the good food was saved for them, and her children never even saw it.
When they made dumplings, she would always send a plate to her brother-in-law and another to her sister-in-law. As for herself, she would simply say she was full and had eaten enough.
He deeply appreciated everything she did for him.
On business trips, he would only have a bowl of porridge and a small plate of pickles for each meal, saving money to buy apples for his parents, a piece of clothing for his wife, and a children’s book for his kids.
After work, he would help his wife with chores, cooking, and cleaning, and taking care of the children.
He had a habit of always going to his mother first when he got home, spending time chatting with her. She never complained about it.
Forty years passed, and they spent over forty springs, summers, autumns, and winters together without a single argument, never raising their voices at each other.
The elderly parents passed away, the children grew up, and he and she continued to accompany each other.
She had poor health, suffering from heart disease, high blood pressure, stomach issues, and had her uterus and gallbladder removed. She endured a lot of pain, and several times wanted to give up on life. He would cry, holding her hand, encouraging her to face life bravely.
When her stomach acted up, she would vomit endlessly, and he would gently pat her back, sometimes crying like a child. He felt deep sorrow for her because she had never enjoyed a single day of comfort in her youth.
Looking at him, she felt uneasy. What would he do if she were gone? She didn’t trust anyone else to take care of him the way she did. So, she took her medication diligently and followed the doctor’s advice to stay alive for him.
One way of expressing love is through sweet words and affectionate gestures, giving up when it’s hard without considering the consequences or past affections. Another way is less about overt displays of affection and more about the deep-seated, genuine feelings accumulated through life, neither flashy nor false, silently spreading the blossoms of love.
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
