A Man at Forty, Starting Over: Passion Ablaze

After five years as a special forces soldier, he had no choice but to leave the military because of his poor education. He returned home, but with so many brothers in the family and so little money, he had to go out and find work. Nothing came of his jobs, and eventually, through an introduction, he reluctantly became a live-in son-in-law. He worked as an auxiliary police officer and as a city-management officer, but soon realized neither job suited him. He might as well deliver takeout and earn twice as much as before.

After more than ten years as a live-in son-in-law, he had grown used to a comfortable life. Though he was strong and worked day and night in bed, nothing came of it. It turned out his wife had had an abortion while she was at university, leaving her permanently infertile. He could silently endure it and pretend not to know. But his wife, Bai Lian, went too far, blaming him for being useless. Her whole family felt deeply indebted to him, and his sisters-in-law did their best to help him through it.

He could always start over. Perhaps Heaven was looking out for him, or perhaps justice finally prevailed. After leaving the marriage with nothing, his luck turned, and romantic encounters came one after another. Beautiful women around him vied for attention.

He looked up at the sky and sighed. “Niu Zida, nothing ever goes right when you get involved with a white lotus. From now on, I’ll walk my own path, go where I want, do what I love, and do what I choose. Even if they’re all white lotuses, they won’t get the better of me, Niu Zida.”