Shang Duan Hua gripped his phone. Da Tian Ting was gone from his life for more than a month. There was no one who bought his favorite food, clothes and shampoo. His life felt like a mess.
Da Tian Ting wasn’t beautiful. But Shang Duan Hua lived a good life with Da Tian Ting in his life.
In the morning Shang Duan Hua spat out the gla.s.s of water. His family’s a.s.sistants told him that they didn’t know what brand of bottle water Da Tian Ting usually bought him so they poured him the same bottled water his family drank.
Shang Duan Hua called Da Tian Ting to buy groceries for him. He didn’t expect Feng Kai Ze to pick up.
‘Duan Hua, what happened?’ Da Ming Sheng asked.
‘Nothing,’ Shang Duan Hua said.
Shang Duan Hua hid his phone, because he didn’t want Da Ming Sheng to know he called Da Tian Ting.
‘Duan Hua, I found a dress I like,’ Da Ming Sheng said. ‘Can you take me to go buy it?’
‘Didn’t you buy a new dress yesterday?’ Shang Duan Hua asked.
When Shang Duan Hua was with Da Tian Ting, she took care of all his needs. But after he married Da Ming Sheng, Da Ming Sheng only knew how to spend money and dragged him to attend her friends’ parties.
Shang Duan Hua was frustrated doing everything Da Ming Sheng wanted to do. He wanted private time apart from Da Ming Sheng to do the things he liked.
‘The dress from yesterday isn’t the same dress I like today,’ Da Ming Sheng said. ‘Duan Hua, take me shopping.’
‘Fine,’ Shang Duan Hua said.
‘Let’s go,’ Da Ming Sheng said.
Da Ming Sheng dragged Shang Duan Hua downstairs, and he noticed his parents sitting solemnly in the living room after his dad ended a phone call.
‘Dad, mum, what’s wrong?’ Shang Duan Hua asked.
‘Dad, mum, Duan Hua is taking me shopping,’ Da Ming Sheng said. ‘Dad, mum, do you want me to buy anything for either of you?’
‘Ming Sheng, you don’t need to go shopping every day,’ Lam Shu Pan said. ‘You’ve bought a mountain load of clothes already.’
‘Mum, this is a rare dress,’ Da Ming Sheng said. ‘There are only ten of them available in the city.’
‘Do you think the Shang family receives money from the sky?’ Lam Shu Pan asked.
‘Mum…’ Da Ming Sheng said.
‘Mum, what happened?’ Shang Duan Hua asked. ‘Mum, why are you venting your anger on Ming Sheng?’
‘Duan Hua, you shouldn’t be whipped by your wife like this,’ Lam Shu Pan said. ‘The Shang family will be penniless because of your wife.’
‘Mum, it’s one dress,’ Shang Duan Hua said. ‘One dress isn’t going to make us penniless.’
Lam Shu Pan glared at her useless shopaholic daughter-in-law.
‘I’m serious,’ Lam Shu Pan said. ‘Your wife’s spending is out of control.’
Da Ming Sheng stood innocently beside Shang Duan Hua. She thought Lam Shu Pan was being unreasonable, because she only bought a couple of dresses each day.
Shang Duan Hua sat next to Lam Shu Pan on the sofa.
‘Mum, don’t be angry,’ Shang Duan Hua said. ‘You’ll grow old faster if you’re angry. Leave it me, I’ll deal with it.’
‘Duan Hua, our family circ.u.mstances aren’t the same as in the past,’ Lam Shu Pan said sadly.
Da Ming Sheng stood by herself, and felt it was unfair Lam Shu Pan made a fuss over a bit of money.
‘Dad, mum, tell me what happened,’ Shang Duan Hua said.
‘Tian Qiang is the bank who has been loaning money to Shang’s company all these years,’ Shang Ming said. ‘The truth is Shang’s company has been making losses for years. If it wasn’t for Tian Qiang, Shang’s company would have been insolvent years ago. But a month ago, Tian Qiang stopped loaning money to Shang’s company.’
‘What?’ Shang Duan Hua asked.
Shang Duan Hua had graduated years ago, but he didn’t have to work at Shang’s company so he didn’t know Shang’s company was in the red for years.
Da Ming Sheng thought the heavens were cruel to her. How could they let her marry into a poor family? She wanted to be the rich Mrs Shang, not the poor Mrs Shang.
Lam Shu Pan felt more frustrated looking at Da Ming Sheng’s useless face. She regretted choosing the wrong daughter-in-law.
‘Dad, why did Tian Qiang stop loaning Shang’s company money?’ Shang Duan Hua asked.
‘They refused to take my calls and declined to see me when I went to their head bank,’ Shang Ming said. ‘I don’t know why either.’
‘Dad, if we find out the reason then we can save Shang’s company,’ Shang Duan Hua said.
‘Duan Hua, come with me and see if you can find out the reason,’ Shang Ming said.
‘Yes dad,’ Shang Duan Hua said.
‘Duan Hua, you promised you’ll take me shopping today,’ Da Ming Sheng sulked.
‘Ming Sheng, didn’t you hear dad and mum say Shang’s company is on the verge of bankruptcy?’ Shang Duan Hua asked.
‘Duan Hua, take me shopping to buy the dress first,’ Da Ming Sheng said. ‘I want to wear the dress to my friend’s birthday party tomorrow.’
‘Ming Sheng, I’m disappointed in you,’ Shang Duan Hua said. ‘I thought you’re an understanding person, but it turns out you’re only a materialistic person.’
Shang Duan Hua regretted marrying Da Ming Sheng. He wished he had married Da Tian Ting who was more understanding and hardworking than Da Ming Sheng.