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Zhong's Marriage                                                                    ( Fiction  Part 3)                                                                        By Lisa Lee                                                  Contents

Zhong still loved Jin Tao. He strove to rescue his marriage. He forgave her rudeness and did not mention it to anyone. Jin Tao seemed aware that her behavior was excessive. She acted like normal, only became quiet and treated the members of Lan’s family indifferently.

One day, Zhong found two bank books in the drawer. He discovered that sixty percent of their savings was transferred to Jin Tao’s own account. He wanted to ask Jin Tao why. Then he thought that keeping money for herself might be the instinct of women; or maybe Jin Tao wanted to send some money to her parents. Anyway, he really did not want to argue with his wife about money.

The alteration of Zhong’s marriage was not obvious, but nothing escaped Dak and Lan’s notice. They want to help Zhong. Once, when Dak and Zhong went to the library, Dak asked, “Zhong, what’s happening between you and Jin Tao?’

Zhong smiled bitterly, “Nothing. You know women get irritated easily a few days every month.”

Dak said, “Oh yes! I remember something. Last Wednesday afternoon, I saw Jin Tao walking with a young man on Fifth Avenue. Do you know who he is?”

Zhong answered nervously, “No. Jin Tao told me that a friend was helping her to learn the citizenship manual for her naturalization.”

Dak asked, “Why didn’t she ask us for help?”

Zhong did not know how to answer.

Lan also wanted to help her brother. She talked to Jin Tao nicely. “You will be naturalized as a citizen. Do you plan to have a baby? To tell you a secret, I became pregnant two months ago and”

Jin Tao interrupted impatiently. “I’m still young. I don’t want to have a baby as a burden.” Then she continued to read her fashion magazine. Lan left but worried inwardly.

As the day approached when Jin Tao would be naturalized as a citizen, Zhong arranged a candlelight dinner for them to celebrate her success and to cement their diminishing love. At 8:30pm, Jin Tao came home. She did not even take a look at the decorated table and went straight to the closet. She took out a suitcase and handed Zhong a paper. Jin Tao said coolly, “I want a divorce. My lawyer needs you to sign here.” She pointed at blank with “X”.

It happened so unexpectedly that Zhong stood there as if he were frozen. Jin Tao threw the paper on the sofa and turned toward the door.

Zhong implored, “Jin Tao, don’t you care about our three-year marriage?”

Jin Tao answered unmercifully, “Three-year marriage! I just waited for those three years to get rid of it. Frankly, I used you as a gangplank for my immigration. Now, I’m not afraid of deportation. I need my true happy life!” She laughed, and walked away.

Zhong’s knees turned to jelly and he sank into the sofa. In pain and desperation Zhong wanted to yell, to kick, to throw all the food he had prepared. Instead, he only sat there and swallowed the bitterness by himself, because he did not want his family to be stunned with the sudden bad news, especially his parents.

Next morning, Zhong’s parents were astonished because their son looked abnormally pale and quiet. But Lan and Dak were immediately aware that the worst thing had happened. Dak was very angry and wanted to teach this tricky woman a lesson. Zhong stopped him. “Jin Tao had a skeleton in the closet for a long time. From the very beginning, I thought she planned to leave me. We can’t keep an unfaithful heart.”

After the divorce, Zhong swore that he should not be beaten by the broken marriage. He concentrated on working and studying. Two years later, Zhong graduated from college and got an electrician’s license. He was hired by Con Edison company. For his skill and hard work, he soon got a promotion. He was a supervisor and worked happily with his co-workers.

One windy evening, as Zhong was walking home, someone patted his shoulder. Zhong turned around and saw Jin Tao. She had changed a lot. She was thin and sallow. She said, “Zhong, can you give me a minute?” Her eyes were tearful.

Zhong said, “What do you want? We got divorced.”

Jin Tao said, “I very much regret having done such a stupid thing. You are the best man I have ever known. Please forgive me and give me another chance, would you?”

Apparently, Zhong still had a little bit of sympathy for his ex-wife. “I can’t answer you right now.”

Jin Tao managed a smile. “Surely, I can wait.”

On Sunday afternoon, Zhong went to a café and sat in a corner seat, sipping coffee and reading the newspaper. Suddenly he heard a familiar voice say, “Mary, my ex-husband Zhong and I will reunite.”

A woman asked, “How come? You told me he is a terrible bore. Then, will you leave your handsome Peter?”

“You know, Zhong is a supervisor now. I don’t love the idiot but I do love his money. Why would I be so foolish as to stay with a waiter?”

“You shameless gold digger! Jin To, I’m totally disappointed in you. Reunite? No way!” shouted Zhong. Then he walked away and never looked back.

The two women were struck dumb with astonishment.

It was a failed marriage, but a good lesson for me. Thought Zhong. Now he was really released from his inner confusion and would prospect confidently for the “Second Spring”.

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