I have a theory: once a person gains an advantage on a particular path, they tend to stick to it. This is commonly known as path dependence.

Here’s an example—a woman, whose story is quite tragic. This incident took place in Anshun, Guizhou Province, China. The man involved, Mr. Zhao, is from a county in Anshun. He met Ms. Wu, a woman from Jiangsu Province, and they married in early 2022 after a whirlwind romance.

However, Mr. Zhao soon discovered Ms. Wu’s troubled past. She was abducted by her father at the age of 14 and sold to another family. She had a tough life. After giving birth to two children for that family, she divorced.

Later, she met another man and got married again, but the marriage ended within two years. This pattern repeated six times.

By the seventh marriage, it was the same process, the same outcome, and she followed the same path. This time, she had a daughter. Things seemed relatively stable before the child was born, but after the birth, she completely let herself go.

She told her husband she wanted to visit her parents, and of course, he couldn’t refuse. However, after she left, she never returned to her marital home. Instead, she stayed with her family and started socializing widely with others.

Now, her seventh husband, Mr. Zhao, hopes she will return to sort out custody and child support issues and finalize their divorce.

Initially, Mr. Zhao genuinely wanted to build a life together with her. However, after learning about her past, he no longer dares to reconcile, fearing she would leave again even if she returned.

This story reflects how, when someone grows up in hardship and lacks proper education or guidance, they may develop behaviors that surprise us. While such individuals can be friends, if you’re considering a long-term relationship, it’s essential to think carefully.

This isn’t about judging someone with prejudice, but about recognizing that during formative years, if someone faces extreme adversity without proper moral education, certain seeds might be planted in their mind.

Even if those seeds don’t align with societal norms, they become the person’s default behavior over time. As a result, their choices tend to follow that trajectory, which influences their future actions.

In Ms. Wu’s case, her pattern of behavior is a clear example of this. Without her previous six marriages and divorces, the seventh one likely wouldn’t have happened.

Looking ahead, it seems unlikely she would settle into a stable marriage with someone for the long term. Is there no exception to this? Some may wonder. The reality is, exceptions are rare.