Substitute Driver's Notes

Chapter 1 My Wife Ran Away

In 2006, in the suburban area of ​​Langya County, Shandong Province, there was a very ordinary affordable housing unit of just over 80 square meters.

"Honey, I went to the bank to deposit my salary today and found I only had a few dozen yuan left. Did you buy something?"

As soon as he entered the door, Li Wei asked his wife, Lu Lili.

"What? Can't I spend your money?" Lu Lili asked back with a dark expression.

Li Wei quickly shook his head in denial: "No? I was just asking."

"Ask me? Is food free or school free? You only pay me a fixed salary of a little over a thousand yuan a month and you still have the nerve to ask?"

You're a grown man, earning about the same as me, and after all these years of marriage, all you do is save, save, save. Why don't you know how to earn more money?

Hearing his wife complain, Li Wei immediately backed down and admitted defeat: "I also want to make money, but I have no education and I don't know how to do business. I can only live on this fixed salary. What else can I do if I don't save money? Besides, my salary is several hundred more than yours! Hehe! There's quite a difference between us."

"Say that again? It's all my fault for being blind back then. I thought you were quick to learn and had a skill, so I married you. But you're all show and no substance. You're a blockhead. You can't do anything right, except eat."

"If you open a small restaurant and serve everyone, giving free meals to the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled, you might think we're running a charity. After a year of working for nothing, we'll have to close down."

"Repairing home appliances for your cronies for free is one thing, but as the old folks say, physical labor is an unexpected source of income. You do the work and then don't even ask for payment for the materials, and then you even offer to treat them to a meal. Are you out of your mind or something?"

Li Wei muttered under his breath, "We're all good friends, we can't be so petty. Why are you being so meticulous, woman? It's just that we know a lot about these things."

Lu Lili roared, "Bullshit! You're just a rich fool. You work for nothing all year round, and you make me eat chaff and wild vegetables with you, making yourself suffer for others."

You painstakingly saved up some money, and six months ago your friend got sick. You gave him every penny, not even asking for an IOU. He didn't survive, and later his wife sold the house and left with the children.

"I called and asked my brother to go to her, and you actually said forget it, ten thousand or eight thousand doesn't matter. Don't you know that it takes more than a year to save ten thousand?"

They even said my brother is a special police officer and would scare people away. It's not easy for a woman to raise a child alone.

I scolded you a few times and you dare yell at me? Other people have it tough, but is it easy for me to manage this messy household?

Tell me yourself, what have I done to wrong you? I've withdrawn the money and put it in my card. Don't even think about spending money recklessly anymore. Give me your card.

Li Wei obediently handed the bank card to his wife.

Lu Lili took the card and put it away: "This old lady has had enough. I'm going back to my parents' house for a few days. You stay at home and serve those two darlings, and experience it for yourself. Otherwise, you'll talk bad about me all the time and make the kids think I'm a bad person. You three should try living at home."

Li Wei was shocked: "Lili, don't go too far. Your little rascal is just as troublesome as you. I can't handle him. A daughter is more suitable. If you want to leave, you can take that little rascal with you."

Lu Lili's expression suddenly changed: "Fine! You surnamed Li, you're not even going to try and appease me? I'm not taking any of you with me. You Li family's offspring can figure things out yourselves!"

"Huh?" Li Wei was dumbfounded and quickly admitted his mistake and apologized: "Wife, I was wrong, don't be angry! Um... haha! How about you hit me a couple of times to vent your anger?"

Lu Lili fell silent, glanced at him, and sneered, "Get lost, hitting you will hurt your hand."

Li Wei forced a smile and said, "Okay, okay, I'll leave, I'll leave, just don't go."

Lu Lili went straight to the wardrobe: "No way, I have to make you try it."

After speaking, he started packing his clothes and luggage.

Li Wei was furious: "You're serious, aren't you? Lu Lili, you dare to leave?"

"I'm leaving today, so bring it on," Lu Lili said as she packed up.

Li Wei's temper flared up, and he angrily shouted, "Fine, you can leave, but do you really think we can't live without you? Give me back my card! If you take it all, how are the three of us supposed to survive?"

"The kitchen has rice and noodles, the refrigerator has vegetables and meat, and even a few pounds of pancakes. Eat whatever you want, just make it yourself!"

"I don't like cooking."

"You can always go to your friends' houses for a free meal. Are you still thinking of going to a restaurant after I leave? Humph!"

"Lu Lili, don't go too far. What good will it do you to let the three of us starve to death?"

Lu Lili ignored it and quickly packed her luggage to leave.

Li Wei hurriedly tried to stop her, but Lili angrily started hitting him. In the midst of the fight, a "slap" was heard as Li Wei accidentally slapped Lili, and Lu Lili burst into tears.

Li Wei was stunned, staring at his hands in disbelief.

"Waaah, you heartless bastard! You practice martial arts just to beat your wife? I can't live like this anymore!" Lu Lili opened the door and ran out without even taking her luggage.

"No way? I...I...I didn't use any force either?" Li Wei muttered to himself.

............

He sat blankly on the sofa, lit a cigarette, and looked at the empty room, reflecting.

Recalling the moments before and after his marriage, he met Lu Lili, who was more than half a year older than him, through a chance act of kindness. He developed a strong liking for this straightforward and beautiful young woman.

After several meetings, Lili also felt that she could entrust her life to him. Although their relationship was ordinary, it was also warm.

The couple's married life was wonderful, and they understood each other. Over the years, she has always treated her relatives and friends sincerely, and she dotes on him to an extreme degree, often saying that she is the older sister and should take care of him, her younger brother.

But slowly, life transformed a gentle and virtuous girl into a calculating and petty mother.

I forget when it started, but she stopped speaking softly and gradually became a woman who constantly swore.

I want to change, but unfortunately my social circle is too small, and my relatives and friends are all similar to me.

Perhaps this outburst was just my wife's pent-up resentment, and she'll probably calm down soon.

Once his wife calms down, he should sincerely apologize and then find a higher-paying job.

Li Wei comforted himself.

Fortunately, my child eats lunch at school and I don't have to work in the afternoon, so it's good for everyone to calm down and avoid getting scolded by my in-laws again.

After tidying up the living room, I went straight to the kitchen. The kitchen was spotless, with not a single leftover dish. It seemed my wife had planned this all along and had thrown it all away.

Slightly annoyed, Li Wei peeled a scallion and rolled it into a pancake. After a quick lunch, he felt the hundred-odd yuan in his pocket and wondered what to eat for dinner.

I sighed. I'll wait until the kids get out of school and discuss it with my daughter. It's been a while since I've thought about such a small thing. Let's be democratic and respect the child's opinion.

He stared blankly at the empty room, then sat on the sofa and lit a cigarette.

The cozy house his wife had tidied up lost its soul, and Li Wei realized how cold it was without her.

Blowing out a smoke ring, how wonderful! No wife nagging in my ears, to hell with that stupid rule of no smoking at home! I can do whatever I want today.

Why is the smoke so pungent today? It's making my eyes water.

Before I knew it, school was over. The sound of a key turning in the lock filled the air, followed by a cry of "Huh? Dad, where's Mom? You've got some nerve! Smoking in the living room?"

"Your mother was carried off by a wolf, mind your own business." Li Wei quickly adjusted his mood and replied irritably.