The New Year's bell is about to ring, and in the lights of thousands of homes, Chen Li is carrying two large boxes of gifts, with a year's hard work and sweat, and finally sets foot on the train home. She looks forward to the warmth of gathering with her parents, fantasizes about the festive Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, and is more concerned about her father's physical condition.
Chen Li only has one chance to go home once a year, and on weekdays, she works hard in other places, busy with work, and can always hear her mother's nagging and her father's coughing on the phone. Every now and then, her heart is like a knife, but she can't do anything.
The train finally arrived, and in the cold wind, there were no parents. Chen Li's heart fluttered, and she couldn't help but speed up her pace, wanting to see them as soon as possible.
"Mom, Dad, I'm back!" pushed open the door, but the house was deserted. Chen Li felt a sense of foreboding, she had been busy for a year, and at this moment when she should be reunited, her heart suddenly lifted.
The phone was dialed continuously, and the empty echo echoed in the ears. Chen Li was so anxious that she tried to call her younger brother Chen Feiyu again.
"Feiyu, do you know where your parents have gone, I'm in a hurry to find them!" her voice was full of eagerness and uneasiness.
"Sister, you finally remembered to call me. On the other end of the phone, Chen Feiyu's voice carried a hint of banter. "Mom and Dad went to my aunt's house, saying it was warm. ”
"Then why didn't they tell me?" Chen Li's heart welled up with a touch of loss.
"Maybe I'm afraid of delaying your work, you also know that Dad's body... Alas. ”
"I..." When the words came to her mouth, Chen Li still endured it and changed to a worried question, "What about the house?
Chen Feiyu hesitated, and it took a long time to say, "Sister, this house... Dad, he transferred it to me. ”
"What?!" Chen Li felt dazed, and an ominous premonition tightly surrounded her. "This house is the brainchild of my parents and the root of our family, why should he give it to you?"
"Haven't you been out of town all the time? I won't need it anyway, and I'm getting married soon. Chen Feiyu tried his best to maintain his calmness, "And Dad said that boys must have a house when they get married, you can also understand." ”
Chen Li's heart suddenly tightened, she knew that it was not just a problem with the house, it was about the pillars, about the memories of those years between her and her parents, and the emotional support of the family.
"I don't believe it!" Chen Li's voice showed firmness, "I want to ask my parents in person." Feiyu, is there anything for you here... Outrageous idea?"
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a while, and then Chen Feiyu said lightly, "Sister, don't think so, everything is for home." With that, the phone was hung up.
Chen Li stood in the empty room, her gaze swept over the photo wall, and behind every smiling face carried her memory. She didn't understand how it could have become like this, all the good things seemed to collapse in this cold morning. In the empty room, Chen Li's mood was as cold as the cold air. Confused and angry, she decided to visit her parents at her aunt's house, and the scenery along the way was lifeless in her eyes.
Pushing open the door of her aunt's house, "Dad, Mom!" Chen Li almost rushed into the room, and the two elders each had a trace of embarrassment on their faces.
"Lili, why did you come all the way here?" the mother's voice was as calm as possible, but she couldn't hide the trembling.
"I'm back, how is my father's illness?" asked Chen Li with concern.
"It's been a long time ago, the doctor said just rest more. The father replied with a pretended lightheartedness.
However, Chen Li can't turn a blind eye like them, "The house... What's going on? My brother said that my father transferred the house to him?"
There was silence for a while, and then Dad sighed, "I discussed it with your mother, the house was left to Feiyu, he is big, he has to gain a foothold." ”
"But why didn't you tell me? You gave the house to my brother, did you think about my feelings?" Chen Li's tone was angry and puzzled.
Mother took Chen Li's hand, "Lili, you also have a house and a home in other places, and your brother is at home, so you always have to think about him." ”
Chen Li's eyes were slightly red, "But, shouldn't it be decided by my parents? Why is it Chen Jie's hands and feet?"
The parents looked at each other, and the mother finally told the truth, "That... That's because we can't get the money for Feiyu's marriage, and Jiejie offered to help, and we were confused for a while..."
"Help, so he used a legal loophole to take my home to his brother?" Chen Li almost gritted her teeth and said this, her heart trembling.
This sudden conflict at home made the already tired father even heavier. He waved his hand, "Lili, it's all over, don't mention it again." ”
"But I can't just leave it at that!" Chen Li said firmly.
Returning to her quiet home, Chen Li could no longer hold back the anger in her heart and decided to confront Chen Jie.
"Chen Jie, how can you do this, why do you want to go home..."She asked Chen Jie, her eyes resolute.
Chen Jie stood in the kitchen, as if preparing dinner, his voice was unhurried, "You know, I'm here for our family." ”
"Our family? What is the meaning of such a home? Have you considered my feelings? This is a decision made behind my back!" Chen Li's emotions became more and more excited.
The opposing atmosphere made the temperature in the kitchen seem to drop, Chen Jie finally stopped what he was doing, and said: "I'm thinking about practical issues, which one needs home more, you or your brother?"
"It's not a question of who needs it, it's a question of you disrespecting me!" Chen Li's tone became more and more firm, "The family should be common, why should you make your own claims?"
"Is it worth arguing with me over something like this?" Chen Jie hugged his arms and said in a cold tone.
"It's worth it! It's about our family, our dignity!" Chen Li almost cried, "I won't just give up!"
Chen Jie looked at her, and finally a wry smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "Chen Li, do you really want to get to this point for a house?"
Chen Li took a deep breath and tried to calm herself, "No, I want to fight for the justice of the family and respect for the rights of every family member!"
This night, Chen Li didn't sleep well, and she began to devise a strategy on how to solve this sudden family crisis. The bell of the Spring Festival has gone away, but the day of family gatherings has come suddenly. Everything in front of Chen Li's eyes is the familiar taste, the aroma of home-cooked dishes, and the frolicking streets of her childhood outside the window. But Chen Li's mood is like the cold weather outside, and there is no warmth.
At the table, the laughter of the family was noisy, but Chen Li's mind had already flown elsewhere. She didn't want to go to this party, but the string in her heart told her that there was always something that needed to be broken.
"Lili, why do you have a sad face?" came from her mother's concerned tone.
Chen Li just barely squeezed out a smile, "It's okay, Mom." It's just that I've been a little tired from work lately. ”
In the middle of the party, Chen Li took advantage of the bathroom to pass by the bedroom door. There was a muffled conversation between Chen Jie and Chen Feiyu from the crack in the door, she wanted to leave directly, but overheard her name.
“... What should I do if I am really entangled by Lili's side?" asked his younger brother Chen Feiyu nervously.
Chen Jie's voice was even more gloomy, "Don't worry, the documents are all legal procedures, no matter how dissatisfied she is, there is nothing she can do about us." ”
"But what if she finds a lawyer?" Chen Feiyu asked worriedly.
"Hmph, who used the money before that? After so many years, what do you see I have done to your family? As long as you keep your mouth tight, this matter is none of your business. Chen Jie's tone was full of contempt.
Chen Li leaned against the wall, her heart beating rapidly. She finally understood that all this was not accidental, but the result of a long period of planning. Her heart was completely cold at this moment.
A few minutes later, Chen Li returned to the dining table. She calmed down, but the fire in her eyes was even hotter.
"Lili, your face is not very good, is there something uncomfortable?" asked her mother with concern.
Chen Li replied calmly, "I'm fine, Mom." I just suddenly remembered that our family's affairs have not been completely resolved. ”
Chen Jie and Chen Feiyu glanced at each other when they heard this, and seemed to be a little flustered. Chen Li continued: "I always thought it was just a misunderstanding. But just now I overheard something..."
The eyes of the whole family were focused on Chen Li. She looked at Chen Jie and Chen Feiyu, "You two, is there something to hide from everyone?"
The atmosphere fell silent all at once. The parents looked at Chen Jie and Chen Feiyu in surprise, waiting for their explanation.
Chen Jie broke the silence first, "Lili, you may have misunderstood. There is nothing we can say between brothers and sisters. ”
Chen Li looked directly into Chen Jie's eyes, "Then why don't we sit down, have a good talk, and spread everything out?"
Chen Jie's face changed slightly, while Chen Feiyu looked extremely uncomfortable. Through eye contact, Chen Li knew that she had hit the point. She intended to uncover the window paper, even if it would tear the last shred of friendship between them. The awkward and silent gathering finally came to an end, and Chen Li's firmness and courage finally allowed Chen Jie and Chen Feiyu to break their long-standing silence. In the face of irrepressible family affection and truth, the truth finally surfaced.
Chen Jie lowered his head bitterly, "Lili, I'm sorry." It was my mistake that I shouldn't have coveted that property, let alone yours. I... I am willing to take all the responsibility. ”
Chen Feiyu's gaze also drifted to the corner, "Sister, it's me who is wrong, I am willing to apologize for making you wronged." ”
The parents listened to the apology of their two sons, the muscles on their faces twitched, and their eyes moistened, "It's all our fault, we didn't discipline it well, and let your relationship be like this." ”
"Mom, Dad, it's okay. Chen Li's voice trembled a little, but it was also relieved, "We are a family, what difficulties can you not sit down and talk about it?"
This sincere conversation seemed to open the knot, and the three brothers and sisters finally spread out the grievances and misunderstandings in their hearts one by one. The uproar over the property problem was finally resolved, and Chen Feiyu insisted on re-transferring the property to Chen Li, but Chen Li resolutely refused, believing that family harmony was more important than real estate.
"Between our brothers and sisters, the relationship should not be affected by the house. Chen Li looked at Chen Feiyu steadily, "I hope you have a happy marriage in the future." ”
Chen Jie was also excited when he saw this, "Lili, thank you for your tolerance, I will compensate with actions." ”
In the days that followed, the family threw themselves into the rush of rearranging their home, and old resentments and misunderstandings seemed to disappear as the furniture was rearranged. The smiles on the faces of the parents are back, and the warmth of home is rejuvenated.
Chen Li looked at her busy family, and her heart was full of warmth. She knows that this family is back on the right track again, and the understanding and support between everyone will be the strongest foundation for this family.
Before the end of the party, Chen Li proposed that the whole family take a group photo together, and everyone stood together with bright smiles. The moment when the shutter freezes not only records their faces, but also engraves the warmth and reunion in their hearts.