摘要：苏青葙正在厨房里炖汤，砂锅里翻滚着奶白色的鱼汤，鲜味弥漫了整个屋子。她低头看了一眼腕表，下午五点半，丈夫江逾白差不多也该下班了。她算着时间，准备等他一进门，就能喝上一碗热腾腾的汤，驱散一身的疲惫。
苏青葙正在厨房里炖汤，砂锅里翻滚着奶白色的鱼汤，鲜味弥漫了整个屋子。她低头看了一眼腕表，下午五点半，丈夫江逾白差不多也该下班了。她算着时间，准备等他一进门，就能喝上一碗热腾腾的汤，驱散一身的疲惫。
“青葙啊，你那汤炖给谁的？”婆婆张桂芬的声音从客厅传来，带着一丝理所当然的尖锐。
苏青葙拿着汤勺的手顿了一下，转过身，脸上挂着温和的笑：“妈，给逾白炖的，他最近加班辛苦。您和爸也一起喝点。”
张桂芬趿拉着拖鞋走进来，掀开锅盖闻了闻，脸上却没什么笑意。“给他喝什么，他又不是家里顶梁柱。这鱼是昨天我让你买的吧？正好，一会儿你打包一下，给你小叔子逾明送过去。”
苏青葙的笑容僵在脸上。又是这样。家里但凡有点好东西，婆婆第一个想到的永远是还没成家的小儿子江逾明。
“妈，逾明想喝，我明天再给他买条新鲜的送去。这锅是给逾白留的，他……”
“他什么他？”张桂芬“砰”地一声盖上锅盖，声音陡然拔高，“逾明最近谈女朋友，正是要花钱、要养身体的时候！你当大嫂的，就不能多为他着想一下？一条鱼而已，你至于这么小气吗？我们老江家怎么就娶了你这么个算计的媳妇！”
这顶帽子扣下来，苏青葙觉得胸口一阵发闷。结婚三年，类似的话她听了没有一百遍也有八十遍。一开始她还会争辩，后来发现根本没用。在婆婆眼里，大儿子江逾白是给她养老的工具，小儿子江逾明才是她的心头肉，是命根子。
【算了，一锅汤而已，跟他妈争没意思。只要逾白心里有我，这些委屈都能忍。】
她深吸一口气，从橱柜里拿出最大的保温桶，默默地开始装汤。
张桂芬见她服软，脸色缓和了些，又凑过来说：“对了，跟你说个事。逾明那女朋友家里提要求了，要在市里买婚房，首付还差三十万。你跟逾白不是攒了点钱吗？先拿出来给你弟弟用。”
苏青葙舀汤的手猛地一抖，滚烫的鱼汤溅在手背上，烫起一片红。
“妈，你说什么？”她难以置信地看着婆婆，“三十万？我们哪有那么多钱？”
“没有？你别跟我哭穷！”张桂芬眼睛一瞪，“你俩结婚的时候，你娘家不是给了你二十万的压箱底钱吗？这都三年了，加上你俩的工资，三十万还拿不出来？青葙，做人不能太自私，逾明是你亲小叔子，他结婚是咱们全家的大事，你这个当嫂子的出点力不是应该的吗？”
苏青orat's right. The money from my parents was for us, for our future, for our kids. Not to buy a house for his brother!】
苏青葙的心沉了下去，她放下汤勺，直视着张桂芬：“妈，那二十万是我爸妈给我傍身的，是我们的备用金，不能动。而且逾明买房，应该是你们二老和我公公出钱，我们做哥嫂的，可以帮衬，但没有义务替他付首付。”
“你——你这是什么话！”张桂芬气得脸都涨红了，“什么你的我的？嫁到我们江家，你的人你的钱就都是江家的！江逾白是我儿子，他赚的钱就该给他弟花！我告诉你苏青葙，这钱你今天给也得给，不给也得给！”
正在这时，门锁响了。江逾白回来了。
“妈，青葙，吵什么呢？”他一边换鞋一边问道。
张桂芬像是见到了救星，立刻冲过去拉住他的胳膊，一把鼻涕一把泪地哭诉起来：“儿子，你可回来了！你快管管你媳妇吧！她现在是越来越不把我们老的放在眼里了！我让你弟弟买房出点钱，她就跟我翻脸，说钱是她自己的，跟我们江家没关系！这是要反了天了啊！”
江逾白皱着眉，看向苏青葙。
苏青葙心里憋着一股火，但她还是尽量平静地解释：“逾白，妈要我们拿出三十万给逾明付首付，还点名要动我爸妈给我的那笔钱。我不同意，妈就说我自私。”
她以为丈夫会站在她这边，毕竟他们为了那个小家也一直在努力存钱，计划着未来。
没想到，江逾白沉默了片刻，却叹了口气，对她说：“青葙，妈也是为了逾明好。他是我亲弟弟，他结婚我这个当哥的能不帮忙吗？那笔钱先拿出来应急，以后我们再慢慢赚就是了。”
轰！
苏青葙感觉自己脑子里有什么东西炸开了。她死死地盯着江逾白，这个她爱了五年、嫁了三年的男人，此刻他的脸是那么的陌生。
“你也觉得我应该拿我爸妈的钱去给你弟买房？”她的声音都在发抖。
江逾白避开她的眼神，走过去扶着张桂芬，低声说：“都是一家人，分那么清楚干什么。这件事就这么定了。妈，您别生气了，气坏了身子不值得。”
张桂芬立刻得意地瞥了苏青葙一眼，仿佛在炫耀：看，我儿子还是向着我的。
苏青葙的心，在那一刻，凉得像块冰。她没有再说话，默默地转过身，将剩下的鱼汤倒进了水槽。哗啦啦的水声，像是她心里眼泪流淌的声音。
那一晚，她和江逾白分房睡了。这是他们结婚以来第一次。躺在客房冰冷的床上，苏青葙睁着眼睛，一夜无眠。她反复回想这三年的婚姻，那些她以为的甜蜜和温情，在婆婆无尽的索取和丈夫无底线的“孝顺”面前，显得那么不堪一击。
【这不是家，这是一个无底洞。江逾白不是我的丈夫，他是他**妈和他弟的提款机。】**
第二天一早，苏青葙顶着两个黑眼圈起床，江逾白和婆婆已经坐在餐桌前吃早饭了。见她出来，江逾白有些不自然地开口：“青葙，昨天……是我语气重了点。但逾明的事真的很急，你就当帮我一个忙。”
张桂芬也帮腔：“就是，一家人不说两家话。等你把钱拿出来，我保证以后再也不为难你了。”
苏青葙看着这对母子一唱一和的嘴脸，突然觉得很可笑。她没有理会他们，径直走进卧室，从床头柜最深处拿出了一个牛皮纸袋。
江逾白和张桂芬的眼睛都亮了，以为她妥协了，要去拿存折。
然而，苏青葙拿出来的，却是一叠文件。她将文件重重地拍在餐桌上。
“这是我们婚前财产的公证书，上面写得很清楚，我父母赠予我的二十万，属于我的个人财产。这是我们婚后共同账户的流水，每个月我的工资都比你多两千，家里的开销大部分是我在负责。这是这三年来，你通过各种方式转给你弟江逾明的钱，总共是七万八千六百块。其中最大的一笔三万，是在我们说好要存钱去旅游的时候，你偷偷转给他的。”
她每说一句，江逾白的脸色就白一分。张桂芬更是目瞪口呆，显然没想到苏青葙会把账算得这么清楚。
“江逾白，”苏青葙的声音冷得像冰，“我不是你的提款机，更不是你们家的扶贫办。这三十万，我一分都不会出。不仅如此，你转给你弟弟的那七万八，属于我们的夫妻共同财产，你有义务追回来。如果追不回来，就在我们未来的共同财产里扣除。”
“你……你疯了！”江逾白猛地站起来，指着她，“为了这点钱，你就要跟我算这么清楚？我们还是夫妻吗？”
“当你和你妈联合起来算计我爸妈给我的钱时，你有没有想过我们还是夫妻？”苏青葙冷笑一声，眼中再也没有了往日的温柔。
**“这日子要是这么过下去，我看也没什么意思了。”**
这句话，像一颗炸弹，在大厅里炸响。
张桂芬第一个反应过来，跳起来指着苏青葙的鼻子骂道：“好啊你个苏青葙！翅膀硬了是不是？想离婚？我告诉你，门都没有！想从我们江家拿走一分钱，你想都别想！”
【离婚？或许，这才是唯一的出路。】
这个念头一旦冒出来，就像藤蔓一样疯狂地在苏青葙的心里滋长。她看着眼前这对丑陋的母子，第一次感到前所未有的解脱。
接下来的日子，家里陷入了冷战。张桂芬变着法地折磨苏青葙，不是故意把饭做得齁咸，就是把她的衣服和脏袜子混在一起洗。江逾白则选择了逃避，天天加班到深夜才回来，回来也是直接睡书房。
苏青葙没有哭闹，也没有争吵。她开始默默地收拾自己的东西，整理自己的财务。她联系了一位律师朋友，咨询了离婚财产分割的问题。朋友告诉她，只要她能证明江逾白长期将夫妻共同财产赠予其弟，她就能在分割时占据优势。
于是，她开始更加细致地收集证据。她发现，江逾白不仅转钱，还用自己的信用卡给江逾明买最新款的手机、游戏机，甚至连江逾明女朋友的包，都是江逾白刷的卡。每一笔消费记录，都像一根针，扎在苏青葙的心上。
她曾经以为丈夫只是孝顺，只是心软，现在看来，他根本就是拎不清。在他的认知里，他、他妈、他弟才是一家人，而她苏青葙，不过是一个需要不断付出的外人。
一个月后的一天晚上，江逾白破天荒地提早回来了，还带了一束玫瑰花和苏青葙最喜欢吃的蛋糕。
“青葙，我们谈谈吧。”他把花递给她，语气是久违的温柔。
张桂芬也难得地没有出来作妖，躲在房间里。
苏青葙看着那束花，没有接。“谈什么？”
“别这样，我知道这段时间你受委屈了。”江逾白把花和蛋糕放在桌上，拉着她的手，“我已经想过了，我弟买房的钱，我们不拿你的那二十万。我们……我们去办个信用贷，先凑上，以后我慢慢还。你看这样行吗？”
苏青葙抽出自己的手，平静地看着他：“你凭什么觉得，我还会愿意陪你一起背上给你弟弟买房的贷款？”
江逾白的脸色一僵：“青葙，那是我亲弟弟……”
“我知道。”苏青葙打断他，“但我们的家，已经被你的‘亲弟弟’和你的‘亲妈妈’掏空了。江逾白，我不想再过这样的日子了。”
“你到底想怎么样？”江逾白的声音里带上了不耐烦。
苏青葙从包里拿出早已准备好的另一份文件，推到他面前。
**“我们离婚吧。”**
三个字，轻飘飘的，却重如千斤。
江逾白看着那份《离婚协议书》，整个人都懵了。他从没想过苏青葙会真的要离婚。在他看来，她那么爱他，平时那么温顺，只要他稍微哄一哄，她总会妥协的。
“你……你来真的？”
“你看我像在开玩笑吗？”苏青葙指了指协议，“财产分割我都写清楚了。房子是婚后买的，首付我们两家各出了一半，按市价分割。车子归你，但你要补偿我一半的折旧价。存款，扣除你给你弟弟转走的那部分，我们平分。我的婚前财产，一分不动。如果你同意，我们明天就去民政局。”
江逾白的手都在抖，他拿起协议，越看心越凉。苏青葙把每一笔账都算得清清楚楚，滴水不漏。他这才发现，这个平时看起来温婉安静的妻子，心里竟是一本明账。
“不可能！我不同意离婚！”他把协议撕得粉碎，“苏青葙，你别逼我！”
“我不是在逼你，我是在解脱我自己。”苏青葙看着散落一地的纸屑，眼神没有丝毫波动，“你不同意，那我们就法庭见。江逾白，你觉得你那些转账记录，在法官面前，能为你争取到什么？”
就在这时，张桂芬从房间里冲了出来，一把抢过苏青葙的包，往地上一摔。“你这个毒妇！想离婚分我们家财产？我打死你！”
她张牙舞爪地扑过来，苏青葙下意识地后退一步，却被江逾白一把拉住。
“妈！你别动手！”他嘴上喊着，手上的力道却不小，让苏青葙动弹不得。
张桂芬的巴掌结结实实地扇在了苏青葙的脸上。
啪！
清脆的响声，让整个客厅都安静了。
苏青葙的脸颊火辣辣地疼，但比脸更疼的，是她的心。她看着拉着自己胳膊，任由他母亲施暴的丈夫，最后一丝情分，也在这一个巴掌下，烟消云散。
她没有哭，反而笑了。她抬起另一只手，用尽全身力气，狠狠地回了江逾白一个耳光。
啪！
“这一巴掌，是还你的。”她冷冷地说道，然后挣脱他的手，捡起地上的包，“江逾白，我们法庭见。”
说完，她头也不回地走出了这个让她窒息了三年的家。门在身后重重关上，隔绝了里面的咒骂和咆哮。走在深夜的街道上，冷风吹着她红肿的脸颊，苏青葙却感觉到了前所未有的轻松。
【结束了，一切都该结束了。】
离婚官司打得很不顺利。江家母子在法庭上颠倒黑白，说苏青葙不孝，说那些转账是苏青葙同意的“亲情赠与”。好在苏青葙准备充分，聊天记录、消费凭证，证据链完整。最终，法院的判决基本支持了她的诉求。
拿到判决书的那天，江逾白在法院门口堵住了她。他瘦了，也憔悴了许多，眼中满是血丝和悔意。
“青葙，我们真的……真的不能再回去了吗？我错了，我真的错了。我妈那边我去说，以后我们搬出去住，再也不让她掺和我们的事了。”
苏青葙看着他，心中毫无波澜。“江逾白，你知道你错在哪吗？你错在，你从来没把我当成你的妻子，你的家人。在你心里，我和你的事业、你的前途一样，都是可以为你原生家庭牺牲的东西。破镜难重圆，我们之间，回不去了。”
她绕过他，大步向前走去。阳光照在她身上，仿佛为她镀上了一层金边。
离婚后的苏青葙，搬回了父母家。父母看着女儿憔悴的模样，心疼不已，却什么都没多问，只是默默地为她炖汤，陪她说话。
在家休整了一个月，苏青葙开始思考未来的路。她不能一直这样消沉下去。她大学学的是食品科学与工程，对美食有着天生的热爱和敏感。尤其擅长制作各种酱料和腌菜，那是外婆传下来的手艺，味道一绝。
在婚姻里，她的这项技能只被用来讨好丈夫和婆婆。她做的牛肉酱，江逾白每次都能吃两大碗饭，可张桂芬却总说“费油费钱”，然后偷偷打包一大罐给江逾明送去。
【为什么不把这个做成事业呢？】
一个念头在她脑海里萌生。她拿出离婚分到的十几万，加上自己原本的积蓄，租了一个离家不远的小门面。她将店铺精心装修，取名“青葙手作”，专门卖自己亲手制作的酱料、泡菜和卤味。
创业初期是艰难的。从选材、制作、包装到销售，所有事情都得她一个人亲力亲ว。她每天凌晨四点就去批发市场挑选最新鲜的食材，回来后在闷热的厨房里一待就是一整天。晚上关了店门，还要研究新的口味，处理网上的订单。
一开始，生意并不好。来往的客人大多是附近的邻居，抱着尝一尝的心态买上一点。但苏青葙的手艺是真的好，用料扎实，味道纯正，不添加任何防腐剂。吃过的人都成了回头客，还一传十、十传百地帮她宣传。
渐渐地，“青葙手作”在附近小有名气。很多人宁愿绕远路，也要来买她的酱菜。苏青葙还开通了线上销售渠道，通过美食博主的探店视频，她的网店订单开始暴增。
她忙得脚不沾地，人也累瘦了一圈，但精神却越来越好。每天看着自己的小店生意红火，看着账户里的数字不断增长，她体会到了前所未有的满足感和安全感。这种感觉，是婚姻从未给过她的。
她用赚来的第一笔大利润，给父母换了一台新的按摩椅，又给自己报了一个高级烘焙班。她的世界，不再是围着一个男人和他的家庭打转，而是变得越来越开阔，越来越精彩。
一年后，“青葙手作”已经从一个小作坊，发展成了一个拥有线上商城和三家连锁实体店的品牌。苏青葙注册了公司，有了自己的团队。她不再是那个在厨房里委曲求全的小媳妇，而是员工口中干练果决的“苏总”。
这天，她正在巡视新开的分店，一个熟悉的身影出现在了店门口。
是江逾白。
他比一年前更显落魄，穿着洗得发白的衬衫，头发也有些凌乱。他站在门口，有些局促地看着店里琳琅满目的商品和来来往往的客人，脸上是震惊和难以置信的复杂表情。
一个店员上前招呼他：“先生，您好，想买点什么？我们新出的松茸菌菇酱味道特别好。”
江逾白没有回答，他的目光穿过人群，落在了正在和店长交谈的苏青葙身上。
此刻的苏青葙，穿着一身得体的职业套装，化着淡妆，眉眼间满是自信和从容。那是在他们的婚姻里，他从未见过的光彩。
他鬼使神差地走了进去，站到她面前。
“青葙……”他艰涩地开口。
苏青葙抬起头，看到是他，眼中闪过一丝讶异，但很快就恢复了平静。她像对待一个普通顾客一样，礼貌地笑了笑：“你好，需要点什么？”
这疏离的语气，让江逾白的心像被针扎了一下。“我……我不是来买东西的。我……我看到这家店，就想过来看看。”
“看完了？”苏青葙淡淡地问。
“青葙，你……你现在过得很好。”江逾白的声音里带着一丝苦涩，“我……我搞砸了。我和她……也分了。”
苏青葙心里毫无波澜。【哦，是柳依依啊。意料之中的事。】她后来听说，离婚后不久，江逾白就和一个叫柳依依的年轻女孩在一起了，应该就是江逾明那个谈崩了的女朋友的闺蜜。
“那是你的事，和我没关系。”苏 tsingxiang said indifferently.
"No, it's related," Jiang Yubai's emotions suddenly became agitated, "If it weren't for my mom making a scene back then, if it weren't for me being a muddle-headed fool, we wouldn't have divorced. Qingxiang, I regret it. I really regret it every day for the past year. Can you... can you give me another chance?"
He looked at her with pleading eyes, hoping to see a trace of the old tenderness.
But Su Qingxiang's eyes were as calm as a tranquil lake. She looked at him, and suddenly asked a seemingly unrelated question: "Do you know why my shop is called 'Qingxiang Handcraft'?"
Jiang Yubai was taken aback, not understanding why she asked this.
Su Qingxiang smiled faintly, "Qingxiangzi is a type of Chinese medicinal herb. Its main function is to clear liver fire and improve vision. After leaving you, my vision has truly improved. I can see people clearly, and I can see the road ahead clearly."
Her words were like a sharp knife, piercing through Jiang Yubai's last bit of fantasy.
"So, Jiang Yubai," she continued, her gaze firm and clear, "The answer is no. I will not give you another chance to cloud my vision. Please leave. Don't affect my business."
After she finished speaking, she turned and continued to discuss matters with the store manager, no longer giving him a second glance.
Jiang Yubai stood there in a daze, as if all his strength had been drained. The bustling crowd in the store, the warm aroma of food, and Su Qingxiang's brilliant and dazzling figure, all seemed to form an invisible wall, completely shutting him out. He was just a ridiculous passerby.
He left in despair. The life he once took for granted had become a paradise he could never return to.
But the matter was not over yet.
A few days later, while Su Qingxiang was in her office reviewing financial statements, her former mother-in-law, Zhang Guifen, barged in.
She was much older than a year ago, with more white hair, but her shrewish demeanor had not changed at all. As soon as she entered, she started wailing.
"Su Qingxiang! You heartless woman! You've made a fortune, yet you watch our family go to ruin! Your conscience has been eaten by a dog!"
The employees in the office were all stunned. Su Qingxiang frowned and motioned for security to come over.
"Auntie Zhang, this is my company. If you have something to say, say it. If you're here to make a scene, please leave," Su Qingxiang's voice was cold.
"I won't leave!" Zhang Guifen plopped down on the floor, slapping her thighs and crying, "You have to take responsibility! It's all because of you that my Yubai lost his job! Now he's in debt, and those debt collectors come to our door every day! You have money now, you have to help him! You were once husband and wife!"
Su Qingxiang sneered in her heart. 【Lost his job? In debt? I wonder what foolish things he's done again.】
"He is no longer my husband. His affairs have nothing to do with me."
"How can it have nothing to do with you!" Zhang Guifen's eyes were red with greed, "Let me tell you, if you hadn't divorced my son, this shop, this company, would have half of his share! You're making money with the skills you learned from the Jiang family, so you should give our family a share! I don't want much, just give me two million, and we'll write it off!"
The shamelessness of her words made everyone present gasp.
Su Qingxiang laughed out of extreme anger.
"The skills I learned from the Jiang family?" she walked up to Zhang Guifen, looking down at her, "Let me remind you. This sauce-making skill was passed down from my grandmother. When I was at your house, who was it that said my cooking was a waste of oil and money? Who was it that ate the food I made while scolding me for not knowing how to live frugally?"
"Also," her voice suddenly became stern, "Let me tell you about Jiang Yubai's 'ruin'. He lost his job not because of me, but because he used company funds to please his new girlfriend and was fired. He is in debt not because of me, but because he borrowed from loan sharks to buy a luxury car for that woman and couldn't pay it back. Zhang Guifen, your son's downfall is entirely his own doing! It's because he has a mother like you who only knows how to indulge and demand! It has nothing to do with me!"
Every word she said was like a slap, hitting Zhang Guifen's face hard.
Zhang Guifen was stunned by her words, unable to speak for a long time.
Su Qingxiang no longer wasted her breath on her. She said to the security guards, "Please escort this lady out. From now on, she is not allowed to enter my company, not even half a step."
"Yes, President Su."
The security guards stepped forward and forcibly dragged the wailing Zhang Guifen out. The office finally returned to quiet.
The employees looked at their boss with admiration in their eyes. This decisive and powerful President Su was truly charismatic.
After this incident, Su Qingxiang's life completely returned to peace. The Jiang family mother and son never appeared again. Later, she heard from a former neighbor that because they couldn't pay their debts, their house was taken by the court to be auctioned off. Jiang Yubai and Zhang Guifen had to move back to their old, dilapidated house in the countryside. Jiang Yuming, the precious younger son, fearing being implicated, had long since gone to another city and cut off contact with them.
The family that had once drained Su Qingxiang's blood had finally fallen apart under their own doing.
Su Qingxiang felt no joy, only a sense of relief. She had completely cut off from that unbearable past.
Two years later, "Qingxiang Handcraft" had become a leading brand in the domestic convenience food industry. Su Qingxiang, as a young female entrepreneur, frequently appeared in financial magazines and television programs.
She bought a large penthouse apartment with a view of the entire city's nightscape. She also took her parents on a trip around the world, making up for the companionship she had missed in the past few years.
Her life was full and exciting. She had suitors, many of whom were outstanding young talents, but she was not in a hurry. For her, love was no longer a necessity in life, but a beautiful embellishment. If it came, she would embrace it; if it didn't, she could still live a splendid life on her own.
One afternoon, the sun was just right. Su Qingxiang finished her work and sat on the balcony of her apartment, brewing a pot of Longjing tea.
The green tea leaves slowly unfurled in the hot water, releasing a delicate fragrance. She took a sip, the slightly bitter taste spreading on her taste buds, followed by a sweet aftertaste.
Just like her life.
She looked at the bustling city below, the traffic flowing like a river. She thought of the woman who cried silently in the kitchen three years ago, and then looked at herself now, calm and self-sufficient. It felt like a lifetime ago.
A text message came on her phone. It was from a friend: "Qingxiang, there's a gallery exhibition this weekend, are you interested?"
Su Qingxiang smiled and replied: "Yes."
She put down her phone, picked up her teacup, and took another leisurely sip. The wind blew through her hair, carrying the scent of sunshine. In her eyes, there was no longer the confusion and pain of the past, only a tranquil and firm light.
She had lost a failed marriage, but she had won back her entire life.
And this was just the beginning.
来源：小南粤事