This saying is a moral injunction against divorcing or mistreating a spouse who stood by you during hard times. It emphasizes loyalty, gratitude, and the sacredness of the marital bond, especially when it was forged through shared struggle.
Historically, this saying was used to criticize men who rose to wealth or power and then discarded their humble wives for younger or more glamorous partners. It reflects the Confucian value of loyalty (义) and the importance of family stability.
This saying serves as a social check on ingratitude and selfishness, reinforcing the idea that relationships are built on shared history, not just present convenience. It signals that the speaker values loyalty and sees marriage as a moral commitment, not a transactional arrangement.
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