Chapter 0040: Wen Ting is Drunk
It really is true what they say: for a poor couple, everything is a source of grief. Sitting idly, he grieved for his partner and for himself. Thinking back to his own days of destitution and struggle, when nothing went his way, all he could do was wallow in self-pity, stubbornly keeping his mouth shut and refusing to say a word. Even Li Bin himself looked down on the person he used to be.
When a man is poor, his ambitions are short. When you're poor, you truly can't do anything right.
The poorer you are, the more things go wrong. The more things go wrong, the worse your mindset becomes. With a poor mindset, everything you do annoys people. It's a vicious cycle that leads you to become more and more wretched.
But when you're successful and proud, everything goes smoothly. With a good mindset, your words and actions become more pleasing to others.
This creates a virtuous cycle. Things get better and better, the family becomes more and more harmonious, and naturally, your career becomes more and more successful.
Sometimes, you really can't blame the poor for lacking ambition or for not trying hard enough. When a man is poor, his ambitions are short. When you're struggling just to eat, how can you possibly have any foresight? When you're busy and desperate every day, where is the time to develop social skills or the art of dealing with people?
"Li Bin, come here for a moment." Just as Li Bin was lost in thought, Wen Wan suddenly pulled him aside with a stern expression.
Having been married to his wife for over a year, Li Bin naturally knew what Wen Wan was about to ask.
"Li Bin, is this money really from your book royalties?" Wen Wan asked seriously, her eyes filled with suspicion.
"Of course, it's from my royalties. What, did you think I won the lottery? I wish I were that lucky." Li Bin chuckled and pinched his wife's tender cheek.
Facing his wife's suspicion, Li Bin found it completely normal. Moreover, her concern made him feel warm inside.
"You'd better not be lying to me. It's okay if we're poor. My salary is enough to support the both of us. But you can't do anything illegal just to make money!" Wen Wan said, looking at him intently.
"Don't worry, am I that kind of person? Besides, I'm at home writing all day, what kind of shady business is going to find me?" Li bin said, giving his wife a gentle, reassuring hug.
"Good. And don't spend the money frivolously. We still haven't bought a house. As for buying Mom a Mercedes, just forget you ever said it. Don't actually buy it. A car is a depreciating asset. I think our Toyota is perfectly fine. Buying a Mercedes is just for vanity, it's meaningless." Wen Wan then earnestly advised Li Bin.
"Alright, alright, I get it. We'll buy a house first, then a car." Li Bin replied with a grin.
"Ding-ling-ling-ling..."
Just then, a phone rang. Wen Wan, who was about to continue questioning Li Bin, took out her phone and muttered, "That damn girl, she's probably calling to ask for money again."
Answering the call, Wen Wan said directly, "Tingting, when are you coming home? It's already past eight! It's not safe for a girl like you to be out so late!"
"Big sis... I... I had a little to drink... I feel a bit dizzy... You... you come and get me..."
Li Bin listened in. Wen Ting's voice on the phone was slurred; it sounded like she was completely drunk.
The background noise was also very loud. It seemed like a boy and a few girls were constantly urging Wen Ting to drink.
Li Bin's brow immediately furrowed.
"Wen Ting! How could you be drinking?! What on earth are you doing?! You've gone too far today!" Wen Wan scolded Wen Ting angrily into the phone.
"Big sis... I want to go home... Come and get me... Hurry up..." Wen Ting's tone was impatient and anxious.
"Wen Ting, where are you?" Li Bin took the phone from Wen Wan and asked gently.
"Brother-in-law... I... I'm at... I'm at... at... at Haoting Hotel, Restaurant 108... Ouch! I'm not drinking anymore!! Get away from me!!..." Wen Ting answered groggily. The voices of a boy and a few girls nearby seemed to be persistently urging her to drink, and the noise was overwhelming.
All Li Bin could clearly make out was that she was at Restaurant 108 of the Haoting Hotel.
"Okay, I'm coming to get you right now. Don't drink any more, and don't go anywhere. Wait for me!..."
Before Li Bin could finish, the call was abruptly hung up.
Li Bin frowned in annoyance. Handing the phone back to Wen Wan, he said, "From the sound of it, it seems like someone is forcing little Ting to drink. I'd better go over there right now and bring her back!"
"Brother-in-law, what's wrong? Did that damn girl Wen Ting get into trouble again?" Wen Lan had also walked over, curious.
"Wen Ting is drunk. I'm going to get her." Li Bin didn't bother to explain further to Wen Lan. He hurried into the garage, started the car, and with a stomp on the accelerator, sped anxiously towards the Haoting Hotel.
Li Bin had been around the block, he had gone through both high school and university.
He had naturally experienced the social dynamics of school life.
Wen Ting was so beautiful, such a good student, and most importantly, the silly girl was incredibly naive.
At a student gathering like this, there were bound to be boys who liked her but couldn't have her, who would try to take advantage.
And even her female friends and classmates were unlikely to have good intentions.
The sting of a scorpion's tail, a woman's heart is the most poisonous. Compared to her peers, his little sister-in-law Wen Ting was simply too outstanding. It was entirely possible that some girls, jealous of her beauty and academic performance, might try to play some dirty tricks on her behind her back.
The more he thought about the things he had witnessed back in his own high school days, the more anxious Li Bin became. He slammed his foot on the accelerator, and the small car roared as it sped away.
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