Volume One, Chapter Fifteen: Doubt and Shame

Anger, frustration, and heartache—resentful that he does not fight back—this was the state of Chen Jianshe at that moment.
Persistence, protection, standing firm, and arguing one's case—this was the spirit of Cheng Xu then.
Bai Lan watched the father and son locked in a tense standoff, her heart pounding. "You two are family. Speak calmly, take your time. There’s no knot that a family can’t untie."
"Does he still see me as his father?" Chen Jianshe’s voice rose, but then he instinctively covered his mouth, gritted his teeth, and lowered his tone. "He called us here, but after the certificate was issued, the wedding was canceled. He doesn’t even want to take care of the child. Then what did he call us for? Just to make an excuse to get out of it?"
A father’s reproach was only natural.
Cheng Xu sat down beside Chen Jianshe, wiped his face, and said, "I’ve got good news for you to cheer you up, and maybe a reason to visit the capital. Your son has started his own family."
Mentioning “starting a family and career” only fueled Chen Jianshe’s anger. "What kind of career have you started? Living off others? You’ve brought shame on all men! I didn’t say anything before to save your face."
Such was the nature of family relationships in China—
The harshest and most cutting words were always reserved for the closest.
This only stoked Cheng Xu’s rebellious spirit. Though he had been hesitant about his decisions, now he was more resolute than ever.
He was eager to prove to everyone that the roles of men and women were not fixed, that societal expectations were not necessarily suitable for every family, and that they could create a different outcome.
"I don’t think there’s any shame in it. Who says men can’t stay home and take care of the family? I’m proud of Xiang Zheng; she has achieved what many cannot."

Chen Jianshe rose and paced the cramped guest room, mirroring his turbulent thoughts.
"You’re just making excuses for your incompetence! Do you really plan to stay home cooking and caring for the child while your wife goes out to work and support the family?"
Cheng Xu’s answer was yes.
"But have you ever thought about what she does?"
"Sales! She sells houses!"
"Don’t say this is the capital. Even in our county town, to sell houses, those female salespeople stoop to unspeakable things, things that can’t be mentioned."
"You said she’s the top sales champion, that she’s beautiful and better than others, but how did she achieve that? Do you want her to keep selling? You’re the man, the pillar of the family."
Cheng Xu was struck as if by lightning.
At that moment, he truly understood his father’s worries.
He didn’t believe Xiang Zheng to be that kind of person—a woman who was always learning, observing, and thinking, constantly improving her professional skills.
She earned money on her own merit.
But Cheng Xu honestly questioned—were all Xiang Zheng’s clients honorable gentlemen? The wealthy, who appeared respectable on the surface, were often revealed by the news to have darker sides.

Xiang Zheng was five years younger, with fewer years of experience, yet she easily brought in three to four million yuan. This surpassed many in the capital, even Cheng Xu, a senior product manager at a major company, could not compare. Was all this money truly just from market dividends and commissions?
Their intimate life had always been harmonious, partly thanks to Xiang Zheng’s efforts, which left him enchanted in her tender embrace.
But behind this...
Cheng Xu dared not dwell on it; he even felt ashamed for having had any suspicion of her.
“Dad, Xiang Zheng is not that kind of person. I’m the only one who’s seen how hard she works. I promise you that. But I will also seriously consider how to get along with her going forward.”
Chen Jianshe patted Cheng Xu’s shoulder and exhaled, “Son, it’s not easy for a man out there, but providing good food, clothes, and a comfortable life for your wife and children—that’s a man’s natural duty. Don’t be lazy and end up regretting it.”
Cheng Xu stood up, ran his hands through his hair, and said to his parents, “You’re all tired. Rest early tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll take you out for a walk.”
Back in the master bedroom, the lights were off, and Xiang Zheng lay quietly asleep.
He climbed into bed, wrapped his arms around her waist, rubbing her into his embrace, muttering to himself, “Sales must be tough. What if you quit?”
Unexpectedly, Xiang Zheng replied, “The company intends to promote me to marketing director. Marketing is more stable, but the pay is lower than sales. I’m still hesitating.”