From Zero to Farm Hero: A New Life in the Alps

"What? Three million?" Qin Li exclaimed, her voice rising in shock.

"Shhh!" Her mother glanced around nervously to make sure no one was listening, then relaxed. "It's just three million for a small apartment in a prime area. It's not much."

"Not much?" Qin Li felt incredulous. "Do you know how many people won't make that much money in their entire lives?"

Her mother forced a smile, her tone placating. "You might not earn that much, but Sun Yi definitely can. He must've made tens of millions by now. Taking out three million to buy his mother-in-law a house is the least he can do."

Qin Li let out a cold laugh. "This isn't for you. Let me guess—it's for my brother, right? Did my sister-in-law put this idea in your head?"

Her mother raised her hands in protest. "No, absolutely not."

"Not even three hundred thousand, let alone three million," Qin Li said firmly.

Her mother, undeterred, coaxed, "Alright, what if we put the house under your name? Once your father and I are gone, it'll still belong to you. Think of it as buying yourself a place for retirement."

Qin Li sneered. "For myself? More like for my brother. Don't think I don't know that you already transferred the title of the old family home to him and Haohao. That house is no longer mine to consider."

Her mother froze, stunned. "How did you find out?"

"Sister-in-law was so pleased with herself she let it slip," Qin Li replied bitterly. She looked at her mother with a mix of disappointment and frustration. "I'm your child too. If you can't treat us equally, at least don't make it so obvious."

Caught red-handed, her mother grew defensive, her tone turning sharp. "Watch how you talk to your mother! I raised you, spent money and effort on you. Now I'm asking for a house, and you act like I'm asking for the moon. It's not even for someone else—it'll be in your name! Think of it as an investment. When property prices go up, you'll thank me."

"I don't need a house for retirement," Qin Li replied coldly. "I don't even know where I'll be in the future."

"Nonsense! Your home is here, and so are you. Be a good girl and talk to Sun Yi about it. Look at Old Liang's daughter across the street—she married someone not even half as successful as Sun Yi and already bought her parents a villa. I'm not asking for a villa, just a modest two-bedroom apartment."

"That's not happening," Qin Li said flatly.

Her mother frowned. "Why not?"

"I don't have the money."

"Then ask Sun Yi for it," her mother said, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. Suddenly, she remembered Qin Li's earlier mention of divorce during their phone call and softened her tone. "You're upset with him, aren't you? Men have their pride. Just apologize, sweet-talk him a little, and everything will be fine. What couple doesn't argue and make up?"

Qin Li sighed, her voice heavy. "Mom, I'm not happy."

Her mother looked puzzled. "What do you mean you're not happy?"

"Sun Yi doesn't even come home once a month. When we do see each other, all we do is fight or sit in silence. This marriage is unbearable. I want a divorce."

Her mother's face darkened. "Don't say such things. Where are you going to find another man as good as Sun Yi?"

Qin Li, frustrated by her mother's blind adoration of Sun Yi, lost control of her emotions. "He has another woman! How is he still good?"

Her mother froze, her expression disbelieving. "Sun Yi's cheating? Are you sure?"

Tears welled up in Qin Li's eyes. "I saw it with my own eyes."

After a moment of silence, her mother exploded. "That heartless man! Does he not remember how you supported him all these years? You sacrificed so much for his success—even gave up having children for his career! And now that he's made it, he thinks he can discard you? How dare he!"

Her mother's words struck Qin Li like a knife, each one cutting deeper. Choking back sobs, she begged, "Mom, please stop."

But her mother was too furious to stop. "This ungrateful bastard! I'm going to his office, and I'm going to confront him—and that mistress!"

Qin Li grabbed her mother's arm. "Mom, if you do that, how am I supposed to face people afterward?"

Her mother frowned. "Then what's your plan?"

"I want a divorce," Qin Li said, her voice trembling but resolute.

Her mother shook her head firmly. "No. You'll lose everything if you get divorced. People will laugh at you."

Deep down, Qin Li knew her mother's concern wasn't entirely selfless. She was afraid of losing face herself. She had raised two children, and while her son was a disappointment, her daughter had married a man who became successful. If Qin Li divorced, all the benefits and pride tied to Sun Yi would vanish, leaving her mother's dreams in ruins.

"Mom, stop thinking only about yourself," Qin Li said tiredly.

"I'm not thinking about myself," her mother shot back. "I'm thinking about you. You're almost thirty, divorced, and unable to have children. Do you know what people will say? You'll be seen as a worthless woman, a withered flower. Without any special talents, how will you survive alone?"

Seeing Qin Li's dark expression, her mother softened her tone. "I know this sounds harsh, but it's the truth. The world isn't kind. If you divorce him, how will you deal with the gossip and judgment?"

Qin Li's voice was cold. "You mean you can't handle the gossip."

Her mother sighed and pleaded, "I'm just trying to help. I'm old, almost in my grave, but you still have your whole life ahead of you. Listen to me, Li Li. Life doesn't have to be perfect. No one's life is. Close one eye, open the other, and get through the days. Men with money are easily tempted, but as long as he doesn't ask for a divorce, you shouldn't either. Understand?"

Her mother's message was clear: endure the life you have, no matter how hollow it feels.

Qin Li's mind was in turmoil as she muttered dismissively to her mother, "I'll think about it."

But her mother wasn't ready to let the conversation drop. "Think carefully. Feelings are unreliable—money is what you can count on. If you divorce now, you'll just be letting that mistress walk away with everything. After all these years of hardship, now that things are finally looking up, you can't just hand it all to her on a silver platter."

Qin Li sighed. "Mom, I understand."

Her mother pressed on, "I'm speaking the truth, even if it's unpleasant to hear. Don't act on impulse, alright?"

Qin Li nodded perfunctorily, desperate to escape the conversation. She hurriedly flagged down a taxi and left, unable to stay a moment longer.

Watching her daughter's retreating figure, Qin Li's mother sighed with worry. She returned to the banquet hall, now nearly empty except for the immediate family.

Her daughter-in-law was helping Haohao into his jacket, her husband was packing up leftovers, and Qin Ming was stubbing out his cigarette as his mother entered.

"How did it go? Did she agree to buy the house?" Qin Ming asked, his tone eager.

His mother shot him an annoyed look. "She said she doesn't have money."

"She doesn't have money, but her husband does! Sun Yi—"

"Stop going on about Sun Yi," his mother interrupted sharply. "His last name is Sun, not Qin. Whatever money he has has nothing to do with you."

"How does it not? We're family, aren't we?"

His mother sighed deeply. "This family connection might not last much longer."

"What do you mean?"

She hesitated before explaining, "Sun Yi has a mistress. Qin Li wants a divorce."

Qin Ming's face fell. "If she divorces him, what happens to the house?"

His mother rolled her eyes at him. "You have hands and feet. Go earn your own money and buy a house yourself."

"Are you kidding? Three million? It'll take me forever to save that much!"

"Then just stay home with us," his mother snapped. "Stop dreaming."

Unwilling to give up, Qin Ming suggested, "What if I talk to Sun Yi? Warn him—if he dares dump my sister, I'll make him pay!"

His mother slapped him on the back of the head. "Don't be an idiot and make things worse."

"Fine, then I'll go after the mistress—"

His wife grabbed his arm, cutting him off. "Enough! Let Mom handle it. Don't make a scene."

After leaving the restaurant, Qin Li had nowhere to go. She couldn't bear returning to that cold, empty home, so she directed the taxi back to her office.

When she arrived, Zhang Fen was just finishing up and looked surprised to see her. "Sister Li? You're back again?"

"I wasn't sure everything was in order, so I came to check," Qin Li said casually, brushing past her. "Did you finish the quote revisions?"

Zhang Fen nodded. "Yes, I've double-checked everything this time. There won't be any mistakes."

"Good. Go home and get some rest," Qin Li said, dismissing her with a wave.

After Zhang Fen left, Qin Li sat alone in the quiet office. She opened the quote file and flipped through a few pages, but her mind was elsewhere.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Sun Yi holding hands with that woman, the same carefree smile he had worn on their first date seven years ago. Time had taken much from them, but some feelings lingered. She had thought she no longer cared, no longer loved, but his betrayal had reopened wounds she didn't know still existed. The pain was raw, the reality impossible to accept.

She picked up her phone and dialed Sun Yi again. No answer. She began to wonder if he had blocked her. To test her suspicion, she used the office landline to call him instead.

After several rings, he answered.

"Who's calling?" he asked, his voice distant yet familiar.

Her heart clenched, and for a moment, she couldn't speak. So, he had blocked her. How had their marriage come to this?

"It's me," she finally said.

Sun Yi paused. "Qin Li?"

She let out a bitter laugh. "You're avoiding my calls now?"

Caught off guard, Sun Yi chuckled awkwardly. "No, it's not like that. I just didn't hear the ringtone earlier. Don't overthink it."

"Where are you right now?" she asked.

"I'm at the office. I've got to work late tonight, so I won't be coming home," he replied.

"Are you alone?"

His voice grew impatient. "Who else would be here? If there's nothing urgent, I'll hang up."

His dismissive tone snapped the last thread of her restraint. "Is someone else there? Someone younger, prettier, more charming? Sun Yi, how could you do this to me?"

Silence hung on the line before he finally said, "There's no one else. Don't let your imagination run wild."

Qin Li knew that if she wanted to salvage her marriage, she should have pretended not to know. Even if she didn't want to reconcile, she should have stayed calm and collected evidence for the divorce. But in this moment, her anger and pain overwhelmed her, cutting through her reason like a blade.

"No one else? Who are you trying to fool? I saw you with her. The way you held her, the way you smiled—it's disgusting. Don't tell me she's just your sister."

Sun Yi's voice dropped. "So, you saw."

"Yes, I saw," Qin Li said, her voice shaking with fury. "I never thought you'd stoop so low. How could you betray me like this?"

There was no point in denying it anymore. Sun Yi sighed and admitted, "You're right. I have someone else. Qin Li, let's get a divorce."

The word "divorce" hit her like a sledgehammer. She had thought she wanted it, but hearing it from him was a different kind of pain.

When she didn't respond, Sun Yi continued, "It's better for both of us this way."

Better? For whom? She clenched her fists. "You want a divorce so you can marry her, don't you? Well, I'm not giving you one. As long as I'm your wife, she'll always be a mistress. You'll never make it legitimate."

Sun Yi's voice grew cold. "What do you want, then? Qin Li, I don't love you anymore. Keeping this marriage alive will only hurt us both. What's the point?"

"What's the point? That's not for you to decide!"

"Fine, it's not up to me," he said with a sigh. "But I hope you'll think it over. Let's not make this uglier than it has to be."

"Sun Yi, you're the biggest mistake of my life," she spat.

His patience snapped. "Then it's not too late to fix it. Look, you're upset right now. I'll give you some time to cool off. We'll talk again in a few days."

Before she could respond, he hung up.

The line went dead, leaving only the harsh beep of a disconnected call.

Fury, grief, and helplessness swirled within Qin Li. She hurled the phone across the room, buried her face in her arms on the desk, and sobbed. The quiet office echoed with the sound of her cries, a release of her heartbreak, anger, and despair.