The Temptation of Neighbors - Chapter 15

I knew Fan Qili had been persuaded. I smiled secretly, a smile of triumph, but I couldn’t let her see it, because it was a smile based on her compromise.

At this moment, I suddenly thought of Luo Fu’s “Women and Poetry”: “The flavor of womanhood truly needs to be read, but different stages require different methods and attitudes. A girl is a passionate poem full of interest, suitable for any reading; a young woman is a poetic drama, not only with poetic qualities but also with conflict and climax, and it is best to read it calmly to avoid being overwhelmed; a middle-aged woman is a nagging epic, with little poetic flavor, only history, and is best read with the attitude of a historian; as for an old woman, it becomes a metaphysical poem, which can only be contemplated, not read with admiration.”

Fan Qili and her two good sisters are in the second stage of their transformation as women. In facing the complex relationship between us, I have to remain calm and composed, otherwise it will be easy to be finished.

After my wife and I took turns showering, I stopped going into the study to write and instead leaned against the headboard of the bed to chat with her. This kind of chat was a heart-to-heart exchange, a blend of love and affection. Living together, couples need to constantly communicate like this.

“Qiao Jiayi was attracted to Wu Jiancheng’s wealth, and Yuan Yaojin was attracted to Zhang Songping’s power. What do you like about me?” I asked.

“Of course I like your silliness,” she replied,

half-heartedly. “You’re stupid for following me even though you know I’m stupid,” I retorted.

“You, a dog can’t say anything nice.” She raised her fist high, landing it lightly on my shoulder.

I smiled triumphantly and reached out to pull Fan Qili into my arms.

“If someone offered me a thousand yuan a day for a month, would you be willing?” I broached another fresh topic.

“A thousand a day, that’s thirty thousand a month. Of course I’d be willing,” she replied briskly.

“Really?” I glanced sideways at her.

My wife smiled, thought for a moment, and replied, “Of course I will. If anyone’s willing to give me 30,000, I’ll lend them my husband for a month.”

“You’ve been spending all day with Qiao Jiayi and Yuan Yaojin, you’ve become a gold digger.” I shook my head and chuckled bitterly.

“If someone offered 30 million for you to sleep with them for a night, I wouldn’t want to,” I said sincerely.

Fan Qili smiled again, a smug smile. She asked foolishly, “Why is that?”

“Because I value feelings, and you value money.”

“What you say isn’t what you mean. You definitely don’t love me as deeply as I do,” she said, her expression unfathomable.

“How deeply do you love me?” I asked provocatively.

“I’ll allow you to do anything you like. I won’t restrict your freedom. To love someone means to make them happy. Not many women can achieve that,” she said confidently.

“Does not restricting my freedom include having an affair?” I asked jokingly.

“Yes, I can do anything you like,” she said, looking up at me.

“You’re being indulgent and irresponsible in your marriage,” I argued.

“Some women repeatedly forbid their husbands from visiting prostitutes, but what happens? They still go in secret even if they want to. Do these prohibitions work?” my wife asked with interest.

“So you really allow me to visit prostitutes?” I asked, even more surprised.

“Yes, as long as I need it.” A sneer crossed her lips.

“Your concept is very sophisticated and fashionable. What is it called?” I asked.

“It’s called a ‘free-range marriage,'” she summarized.

“Who came up with it?” I asked with interest.

“I figured it out on my own, so what’s wrong with that?” She glanced at me.

“Okay, can you elaborate?” I put my hand on her shoulders.

“People like ‘confinement marriages,’ but what happens? It can easily lead to problems. You restrict my freedom, and I restrict yours. Over time, lovers become enemies, and it ends in a bad mood,” Fan’s wife explained.

“Can a ‘free-range marriage’ prevent these problems?”

“Of course. As the saying goes, ‘If you respect me an inch, I’ll respect you a yard.’ If you want freedom in front of your husband, you must first give him enough freedom. Freedom is exchanged, and then both of you can live a relaxed life. The most important thing is to be happy…”

“Oh my god, when did you become a philosopher?”

“I learned this from social studies. A considerable number of children in our kindergarten are either fatherless or motherless. These dysfunctional families harm the children.” Fan Qili shook her head helplessly.

“Do you and your two best friends also instill this kind of thinking?” I asked.

“Yes, they agree with me.”

“Your ‘free-range marriage’ is also prone to problems,” I said thoughtfully.

“What kind of problems?” my wife asked, turning her head.

“You’re corrupting them in disguise.” I didn’t dare meet Fan Qili’s eyes, afraid she would see something from my expression.

“Have they become bad?” my wife asked doubtfully.

“How should I know?” I said with a smirk.

“If you don’t know, don’t let me tell you.” My wife turned her head away.

“After talking to you for so long, I finally have some idea,” I said.

“What do you mean?” my wife asked, turning her head.

“You want freedom, so you’re so indifferent to me…” I said calmly.

“Be clear, I don’t understand what you mean.” My wife leaned her face closer to mine.

“This is just a discussion. Don’t get angry when I say this,” I said, glancing at her.

“Okay, go ahead.” Fan Qili’s round eyes fixed on me.

I boldly speculated, “Are you trying to please someone so you’re letting your guard down and trying to find something to hold against me…” Sure enough,

my wife rubbed her hands and punched me in the chest, saying, “You’ve been with me for so many years, and you still don’t understand me. Am I that kind of person?”

I quickly tried to soothe her, saying lightly, “Of course not, of course not. This is just a hypothesis.”

“Hypothesis won’t work either. I’m practicing ‘free rein’ with you in my marriage. Even if something goes wrong one day and you don’t want me anymore, I’ll never marry someone else,” my wife said sincerely.

“Why?” I tried to speak in a gentle tone.

“I’ve been so good to you, and you betrayed me. Then there will be no more reliable men in the world.” My wife leaned on my chest and listened to my heartbeat with her ears.

“What if there comes such a day? Oh, this is also a hypothesis.” I said with some concern.

“If there comes such a day, you give your daughter to me, and you can be happy alone!” My wife said with pursed lips. When

I heard my wife say this

, sadness, touching, and annoyance suddenly flooded my heart. I was convinced. Where can I find such a good woman!

I can’t imagine what life would be like without my wife and daughter. It must be worse than death…