Family

Low salary, living on wife's land, worker suffers bitter fate

VN (according to Vietnamnet) April 19, 2025 12:26

Thinking about being looked down upon by my wife's family, I just wanted to leave everything behind and return to the countryside to live with my old parents.

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Tired of living on wife's land (illustrative photo)

I have been a shoe factory worker for nearly 20 years, and am used to the noise of machines, dust, and the smell of sweat... Every day after work, I look at myself in the mirror to encourage myself to try harder and provide a comfortable life for my wife and children.

My wife's parents accepted my marriage to their daughter, because I was gentle and worked in my wife's hometown. They wanted me to settle down here so my wife could live close to them.

On our wedding day, my wife’s parents gave us a small plot of land near her parents’ house for convenience. At that time, my wife’s salary was low, while mine was better, so no one objected. Living near my parents’ house, I had someone to help me when I needed it.

I thought a small house, a wife, and children were enough. But then everything changed. My wife got promoted, her job was busier than before, and her income was several times higher than mine. As for me, I was still a worker for many years.

She comes home late, I cook. My child attends extra classes, I take him to and pick him up. She is busy, I don't blame her. I try to share, just hoping she won't be tired.

There were times when I wanted to share my work pressure with my wife, but as soon as I opened my mouth, she brushed it off: "My work is all about numbers, what do you know?" I told my wife to do less, but she glared at me: "If I don't do it, how can you take care of this house?"

I understand in my wife's mind, I am a loser.

Because of that, my wife no longer talked to me as much as before. Meals passed quietly. She was not angry but her eyes were full of distance. I knew that in her heart, I was becoming less and less worthy and insignificant.

I used to be the breadwinner, loved by my wife's parents. Now it's different, they see me as a parasite, living on their land, eating their cooking, leaving their daughter to support the family finances.

Whenever my wife's family had something to do, her rich sister was always the first to be mentioned. She was rich and was willing to lend me a few hundred million. As for me, I came from a poor hometown and my parents were old and weak. Sending a few million was already a great effort.

I couldn't help her so she looked down on me. Her relatives always thought I was just a "freeloader".

The longer I live in this house, the more I feel... this is not my home. Even though I built it myself, it doesn't feel familiar.

I just want a peaceful life, a proper home, a warm meal, a sympathetic look. But even that, it seems like I'm losing it.

Sometimes, I think about leaving, but where to go? Returning home empty-handed, leaving my children behind, I can't do it. I'm still a father, a husband, even if I'm not a worthy husband in my wife's eyes.

I write these lines, not to complain. But just to tell myself, I want to choose a peaceful life like that, without storms, without competition, without having to work too hard to earn money.

VN (according to Vietnamnet)
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Low salary, living on wife's land, worker suffers bitter fate