Married or not, no matter how busy you are, this is worth reading. It’s a story about the art of living as a couple, showing how small details reveal love and understanding — all through the simple act of eating half a watermelon.
A quarrel sparked by half a watermelon
One sweltering afternoon, a husband came home from work, drenched in sweat. Opening the fridge, he was delighted to find half a chilled watermelon and quickly ate it all.
Not long after, his wife, Xu Man, returned home, also hot and thirsty. She opened the fridge and froze when she saw that the watermelon was gone.
When her husband casually said he had eaten it, a trace of displeasure crossed her face. She turned to pour some water, but found the kettle empty. Frustrated, she asked why he hadn’t boiled water even though he had been home for a while. He snapped back: “Why should I do everything?”
The small quarrel grew into a week-long cold war.
A father’s wisdom
That weekend, the husband visited his parents alone and mentioned the argument to them. His mother scolded him for being selfish, while his father smiled and told him to bring Xu Man over the next day.
When they arrived, the father handed his son half a watermelon and reminded him: “If you can’t finish it, save some for your wife.” At lunch, he placed two half-eaten watermelons on the table and asked his son to compare them.
The husband looked closely, but couldn’t see any difference.
A lesson in marriage
One half had been eaten by him, and the other by Xu Man. His half had been scooped from the center, leaving only the pale rind behind. Xu Man’s half had been eaten from the sides, saving the sweetest part for someone else.
The father said gently: “Marriage is built on these small details. If you only think of yourself, over time, the other’s heart will grow cold. If Xu Man were like you, how would you feel?”
The husband’s face turned red.
Awakening and change
Those words struck him. Suddenly, he realized the many little things he had taken for granted: slippers waiting by the door, a cup of tea on the table, an umbrella ready when it rained. All these quiet acts of love were his wife’s way of caring for him. Yet he had been careless, rarely noticing or giving back.
Ashamed, he placed his bowl of dumplings — already cooled — in front of Xu Man and said: “Mine’s not hot anymore, you eat first.” She laughed and teased: “Stop putting on an act in front of Mom and Dad.”
His father chuckled and added: “If you can keep up this act for a lifetime, you’ll be a good husband.”
What true happiness looks like
Love is mutual. We should try to understand our partners and reflect on our own shortcomings, instead of dismissing their feelings as unreasonable.
Happiness does not depend on the size of the house or the luxury of the car. It is found in the laughter shared at home, the safe return of loved ones, and the radiant smile of your partner.
True happiness is when, in your saddest moments, someone is there to say: “Don’t worry, I’m here with you.”
Translated by Cecilia
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