Chapter 229: Matchmaker, Matchbreaker

“I think the problem, ma’am, lies with your mindset.”

Xia Yi finally couldn’t hold back any longer:

“Happiness is the kind of thing where you lose a little bit every time you compare yourself to someone else. The more you compare, the more unhappy you’ll feel.”

“You could actually talk to your husband about it, lower your income expectations, and have him find a lower-paying, local job so you two can spend more time together.”

“You don’t necessarily have to get a divorce.”

“Thank you, miss, but I’ve already tried the method you suggested.”

The woman’s gaze shifted back and forth between Zhang Zhe and Xia Yi, an undisguised look of envy on her face.

“You and Matchmaker Zhang must be a couple, right? The way you are is so much like how my husband and I were when we first got married.”

“That same feeling of just bursting with happiness.”

“Mmm—” Xia Yi covered her mouth and giggled, subconsciously snuggling closer to Zhang Zhe.

Zhang Zhe, of course, wasn’t shy. He simply reached back and squeezed Xia Yi’s hand.

“I really envy you two. I’ve experienced that kind of love before, but if I had to choose now, I’d still pick better material conditions.”

“…” Zhang Zhe and Xia Yi exchanged a look, both a little speechless.

The expression on their faces was identical:

‘Is this lady for real?’

‘Our relationship is going so well, and she just has to drop a line like that. Is she completely tactless?’

At this, Xia Yi no longer wanted to talk to the woman. Let her be. She couldn’t be bothered to care whether this kind of person got divorced or not.

Zhang Zhe, however, offered a serious analysis:

“Basically, for any married woman who comes to me for a consultation and says she wants a divorce or a breakup, I usually advise her to just go through with it.”

“Because that’s what you truly want deep down. You’re hesitating now simply because you’re afraid of making the wrong choice.”

“But since you already feel you made a mistake marrying your husband and regret it, what’s the big deal in making another mistake?”

“Yes, that makes sense.” The woman nodded. “Thank you, Brother Zhang. You’re right. I do want a divorce, I’m just a little scared.”

“Now I understand. I can afford to make one more mistake. If I’m wrong again this time, I’ll just accept my fate.”

“Alright. But when you leave, don’t say I’m the one who advised you to get a divorce.” Zhang Zhe’s survival instinct was strong. “I don’t want both of your families blocking my door.”

“I won’t. I’ll explain things clearly to my husband.” The woman stood up, straightened her clothes, and sincerely thanked Zhang Zhe.

From the looks of it, she would probably file for divorce not long after going back.

Xia Yi had intended to walk her out, but after thinking about the woman’s somewhat divisive words earlier, she sat back down.

When Zhang Zhe returned, she hurried over to ask:

“You just advised her to get a divorce. Aren’t you afraid her husband will show up and cause trouble for you?”

“Her husband handed over all the money he worked so hard to earn. Now with a divorce, he stands to lose both his wife and his money. Once he gets anxious and worked up, he’ll come straight here.”

“It’s fine. Even if he gets divorced, he still has a job that pays 300,000 a year.” Zhang Zhe said with a relaxed expression. “The fact that he can earn that much money means he has at least some brains.”

“An idiot couldn’t earn that much just by working. Even Fan Xiaoqin might not have that kind of ability.”

“He should be able to figure it out. I’m just a Matchmaker, not Ximen Qing. I’m not the one who broke them up.”

“Really?” Xia Yi grinned mischievously. “But her husband hands over his salary, you know.”

“I remember a certain someone saying on a livestream that a man handing over his salary after marriage is a sign of being brainless.”

“He’s different.” After saying this, Zhang Zhe himself laughed.

But he really was different.

Because he went from love to marriage, and the couple had struggled together for several years.

“He hands over his salary simply because he feels that he and his wife have been together since their student days, making them different from other couples.”

“Now, reality has proven that they’re no different after all. You could say society has taught him a lesson.”

“Besides, if he really does show up demanding an explanation, I can turn him into a client. With his annual income, in his early thirties, and with no kids, it’s very easy for him to find a wife here in our city.”

“He could even find a girl who’s younger than his wife, has a similar annual income, and wouldn’t require him to hand over his salary.”

The man, for all his faults, still had one redeeming quality: he hadn’t given up on his career.

That was a blessing in disguise.

This way, at least after his wife took half their assets, he would still be capable of living a good life.

After hearing Zhang Zhe’s words, Xia Yi thought for a moment, then tugged on his sleeve, a little embarrassed, and said in a small voice:

“Then… was I wrong just now?”

“I was trying to persuade that woman not to get a divorce. But hearing you talk, I suddenly feel like I might have harmed both of them.”

“You made a tiny little mistake, but it’s not a big deal,” Zhang Zhe comforted her. “I, and that includes you, need to remember that we are just Matchmakers.”

“We only provide advice. It’s not like people will do whatever we say.”

“Think about it. We tell the woman to go back and get a divorce. If she really brings it up, won’t her elders, her relatives and friends, and her husband all try to talk her out of it or win her back?”

“At the very least, there’s the 30-day cooling-off period for divorce.”

“If she still gets divorced after all that, it means she really should have.”

“But if the divorce doesn’t happen—for example, if her husband reawakens her inner truth, goodness, and beauty—isn’t that indirectly helping their marriage by removing a thorn?”

“Oh, right!” Xia Yi’s eyes lit up as she listened. “I get it now. So advising them to break up is the right thing to do.”

“At the very least, during the divorce process, the couple can lay some things out in the open. It’s a form of information exchange!”

“Exactly.” Zhang Zhe gave her a ‘you’re a fast learner’ smile. “But this is for when you’re acting as a Matchmaker. If people around you ask for advice, don’t just tell everyone to break up.”

“I know. Do you think I’m an idiot?” Xia Yi huffed haughtily.

“How could I? You’re brilliant.”

“Heh heh, that’s more like it.”

Xia Yi glanced at the time, realized she had to go, and quickly pulled a piece of paper from her pocket, stuffing it into Zhang Zhe’s hand.

At the same time, she squeezed his hand and instructed, “Wait until I’m gone to read it.”

“Now, it’s your turn to take me home.”

“Alright then, Miss Xia the Elder.” Zhang Zhe played along teasingly, picking up her bag and walking her to the door.

…

After taking Xia Yi home, Zhang Zhe returned to the matchmaking agency and finally looked at the note she had stuffed into his hand.

It wasn’t a love letter, which disappointed Zhang Zhe a little.

But it was the next best thing. On it, Xia Yi had listed her mother’s likes and dislikes.

It was only from reading the intel Xia Yi had written that Zhang Zhe learned that her mother had also played Matchmaker at her school, and was very enthusiastic about setting up her young colleagues.

But ever since Xia Yi graduated with her master’s degree, her mother had stopped playing Matchmaker for people.

This was because Xia Yi’s maternal grandmother often complained that her mother’s constant matchmaking for others was what had delayed her own daughter’s marriage prospects.

Xia Yi’s point was that Zhang Zhe should be a little careful tomorrow and not say things like he wanted to be a Matchmaker for life, because she was afraid her mother shared her grandmother’s view, worrying that being a Matchmaker would affect the next generation.