Javier was born and raised in Mexico City. He was accustomed to comfort, to viewing life through eyes that valued only money and status. When he married Maria —a charming, unassuming girl from a small town—his friends mocked him, saying he'd "brought a wife from the country." But because she was beautiful, hardworking, and loved him with all her heart, Javier agreed to marry her.
On their wedding day, Maria's father, Don Pedro , a slim, tanned peasant, arrived from his ranch and gave up all his savings to support his daughter. But to Javier, this man was just "a poor, backward man."
After their wedding, Maria sometimes asked her husband to return to the countryside to visit his father, but Javier always made up excuses:
"Why go there? Just dust, fields, and nothing interesting to tell."
Mary was saddened, but did not dare to reproach him.
One day, Don Pedro unexpectedly arrived in town to visit the couple. He arrived in an old bus and brought a gift of several kilograms of sweet potatoes and grapefruits from his garden. As soon as he arrived, María was excited:
"Dad! When did you arrive? Why didn't you let me know so I could pick you up at the main station?"
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