Giving a Lesson to My Wicked Husband and Mother in-law

I was in charge of grocery shopping this month. At the dinner table, Jackie handed me a supermarket gift card.

"It's a year-end bonus from my colleague's company, 20% off. Do you want it?"

We usually split our expenses, so a 20% discount at the supermarket was a good deal. I transferred the money, accepted the card, and unconsciously picked up a piece of pork with my chopsticks.

My mother-in-law, sitting next to me, suddenly exploded. She flipped the table, threw the dishes and chopsticks in my face, and pointed at me and cursed.

"I knew you were a tough woman. I counted twelve slices of meat today, four for each person. And just now you ate one extra slice! Do you think my son won’t be skinny after a year?”

She sneered at me while talking to Jackie, “Divorce her, Jackie! Listen to me. We can't keep a disrespect woman like her!"

I looked at Jackie, and he spoke in a sullen tone, "Then let's divorce. Our family can't afford a wasteful woman like you."

The AA Marriage System, an automated program that tracks and splits every household expense equally between husband and wife, suddenly popped up before us:

[Divorce intention detected. Do you want to confirm the divorce? Preparing to settle living expenses—]

Jackie, who had been impatient just now, suddenly changed his expression.

——

"I agree to the divorce." I said in calm tone.

After I said this with a scowl, the system's large red text appeared before Jackie and me: [Please agree to begin settling living expenses.]

"We can just divorce. Why are you still asking for this? We've been living together for so many years, how every penny can be so fair!" Jackie's face suddenly changed.

Furiously, he stood up and interrupted the system, "Alright, alright! We're not getting a divorce. She was just joking!"

Jackie interrupted the system hastily and spoke to me in a grouchy tone, "Lilian, what's wrong with you? You clearly ate an extra piece of meat, and you're throwing a tantrum."

"Just admit it, what's wrong with you giving in?"

My mother-in-law folded her arms and said sarcastically, "I caught you eating an extra piece today. I don't know how much more meat you've eaten in the past!"

"Jackie, listen to me. Just divorce her! There are plenty of other women out there! She's old and ugly, and you're still in your prime, son."

Divorce? What kind of outdated idea is that? I couldn’t hold back my anger anymore. “Fine, let’s divorce. Jackie, do you think I even want to live with you?”

Jackie was so anxious, he seemed deaf and couldn't hear me.

Instead, he went about coaxing my mother-in-law, "Okay, Mom, Lilian didn't mean it."

"How about this? Let Lilian cover this month's living expenses. Consider it an apology. Can you forgive her just once?"

"What did you say?" I couldn't believe my ears.

Just because a piece of meat, I had to pay for a month's living expenses?!

He was being a goody-goody. Seeing my sullen expression, Jackie grew impatient.

"Lilian, can you please stop being so ungrateful! We don't even have to get a divorce, what else do you want? Is a monthly living allowance a lot for you? You earn so much, what's wrong with spending a little more on your family?"

Seeing my expression darken, Jackie just crossed his arms and looked down at me like he was giving a lecture.

"Look at other wives. They don't have the same luxury you do. Their husbands earn money while their mothers-in-law take care of the children! You just spent a little money and have such a happy family, yet you're not happy and insist on breaking it up?"

Seeing Jackie acting like he'd given me a great gift, I was furious.