There’s a saying: “I’d rather cry in a BMW than smile on a bicycle.”

Material wealth is important, but is it the only measure when choosing a partner? Not really. What truly matters in a man is not his wealth, but his sense of responsibility and commitment, especially at a young age.

Recently, I received a letter from a reader. Here’s what she wrote:

I’ve been dating my boyfriend for five years. We met in college when I was a junior and he was a senior. Initially, we were drawn to each other because of our personalities.

As time flew by, we both graduated and decided to stay in the same place to build our careers. My boyfriend had been honest with me about his family’s financial situation during college. Despite that, I admired his hardworking nature. However, things changed after graduation.

My family is relatively well-off compared to his, and they occasionally support me financially even though I have a job. In my boyfriend’s eyes, I’m seen as someone who’s pampered and unable to endure hardships, but I know better.

I’m willing to make sacrifices for him. However, he has started to rely on our parents for everything, including our future together. He even hinted that my parents should buy us a house after we get married, instead of us working together to build a home.

This difference in attitude led to many conflicts between us. Eventually, after five years, we decided to break up because I realized he was no longer the person I wanted. I need a man who can provide emotional support, not just material possessions.

Being poor is not an excuse for a man to shirk his responsibilities. A man can be poor, but he should not take it for granted. We need someone who can bring us happiness, and material wealth is not everything.

Never marry a man who only complains about being poor, and never pity such a man. A man’s sense of responsibility and commitment are essential.

It’s okay to be poor, but taking it for granted is not. Being poor is not shameful, but using it as an excuse for not trying hard will only lead to failure.

Being poor is not scary; what’s truly frightening is lack of ambition and effort. Such a person is beyond help in the end.