When men gather, they often start by discussing national affairs, then subtly compare their careers, and finally, inevitably, the conversation turns to women, especially after a few drinks.
Some men like to boast about their many female friends to prove their capabilities. However, having many women around doesn’t necessarily prove one’s charm.
Some oily middle-aged men, with their bellies sticking out and their eyes baggy from excessive drinking and smoking, think they can attract women just because they have power and money.
But one man left a deep impression on me at a gathering. He was the only one who brought his wife, taking care of her attentively throughout the meal.
From his habitual actions, it was clear that he wasn’t trying to show off, but had simply developed a natural habit over the years.
When the gathering started, he explained that he had originally planned to have dinner with his wife but was notified about the gathering and decided to bring her along.
At that moment, all the women present held their breath, gazing at his wife with admiration—an ordinary woman, yet the man was a boss with hundreds of employees.
During dinner, the men were loud and boastful, while the women nodded frequently. The more they tried to impress the women, the more they showed off.
However, the boss, except for occasionally sharing his opinions, mostly listened to his wife’s gentle whispers—a rare and enviable marital life.
Men often shine brightly outside but can’t face their wives with a smile when they return home. Unfortunately, such men are rare in life.
Many men don’t hurry back home after work, using excuses like overtime to play games or browse their phones, while others claim to have important dinners but are actually just socializing.
When asked why they didn’t bring their wives, they nonchalantly say, “Women should be understanding and not clingy…”
What kind of logic is this?
A woman works hard to prepare a meal at home, eagerly waiting for her husband to return, but is suddenly disappointed by a single phone call saying “something came up.”
After a tiring day at work, even full-time mothers are exhausted. Marriage doesn’t bring significant changes to men, but confines women to a narrow space. Can such a marriage be happy?
The answer is definitely no.
If a man’s life only involves his career or friends, why bother with marriage? If he chooses to create a beautiful life with a woman, then she shouldn’t be just an accessory.
One must respect women’s labor and acknowledge their contributions; only then can couples be on the same page and achieve a better life together. Otherwise, life will only get worse.
When I was young, my father had a friend who was very capable.
Every time he attended gatherings, he would boast about his accomplishments, but people only noticed him. He seemed to have some abilities, having “dived into the sea” of business at the right time and earned his first pot of gold, with his career progressing smoothly.
However, he never brought his wife to gatherings, and when asked, he would say, “What’s the point of bringing her? Women should just take care of the family and children; they don’t need to be involved in other things.”
After my father attended the gathering, he, slightly drunk, told my mother and me, “It’s happiest when we’re together as a family, even though we don’t have much money, but we have our joy.”
I didn’t understand this when I was young, but as I grew older, I realized that men who are willing to spend time with their wives and families are truly rare and precious.
My father’s friend eventually got divorced, not appreciating the good life he had, and was later remarried. However, his life took a drastic turn; he didn’t understand that his wife had been silently supporting him from behind, allowing him to charge forward without worrying.
Now, he’s over 50, remarried, and has a young child, around 10 years old, who’s in the rebellious stage. He’s exhausted, and his current wife is not satisfied.
He used to spend time drinking and socializing, but now he’s busy educating his child. His current wife is not happy, and his business has been declining for over a decade, basically living off his past accomplishments.
Looking back, he’s regretful, but what’s the use?
I used to think that men who could call the shots were the most charming, but now I think that men who can both shine in public and accompany their wives are truly capable.
A person’s life is limited, and many people don’t understand what they’re pursuing in life.
It’s actually very simple: one can love many people in a lifetime, but ultimately, only one person will hold hands with you until old age. No matter how much money you earn, it’s just a small plot of land when you’re gone.
What’s the point of living, then? It’s simply having someone who will accompany you through life, no matter what, whether in poverty or wealth, in sickness or in health.
This is what everyone wants.
To achieve this, one doesn’t need much, just to pay more attention, be more patient, and spend more time accompanying others in the limited time and energy of life.