My husband Li Ming and I have been married for two years, and although we have a stable life, I have always felt uncomfortable with his family relationship.
That day, I was tidying up my house when I heard a knock on the door. When I opened it, it turned out to be Li Ming's parents visiting.
"Hello, daughter-in-law, let's take a look at your new home. The father-in-law greeted him warmly.
"Well, thank you, father-in-law, please come in. "I kept busy inviting them in.
The mother-in-law looked around at our nest and frowned: "Hey, this house is too small, how can you live in the future?" "
"It's okay mother-in-law, let's live here for the time being, and when the job is stable in the future, we will find a bigger house. I hurriedly explained.
"Hmph, both of you don't have a high salary, where can you afford to buy a big house? The mother-in-law snorted coldly.
I was a little embarrassed and didn't know how to answer. Fortunately, Li Ming came back at this time.
"Dad, Mom, you're here. Li Ming stepped forward with a smile.
"Son, we're here to see your new home. However, this house is too small, right, how will I live in the future?" The mother-in-law immediately complained to Li Ming.
"It's okay Mom, we're fine now. When the job is stable, we will slowly look for a bigger house. Li Ming replied patiently.
"Hmph, your salary is like that, where can you save money to buy a big house? Otherwise, you can keep your salary card for me, and I will save some money for you. The mother-in-law suddenly made such a request.
I was startled and hurriedly said, "No need mother-in-law, let's just save our own money." "
But the mother-in-law insisted: "Where do you young people know how to save money, let me keep it, and I will take care of it." "
As she spoke, she reached out to ask for Li Ming's salary card. Li Ming hesitated for a moment, but finally took out his salary card and handed it to his mother-in-law.
I was a little uneasy, but I didn't want to say much. In this way, the mother-in-law began to regularly go to the bank with our payroll card and withdraw a large sum of money each time. We would occasionally ask her, but my mother-in-law would always say that she would save up and buy us a house.
As the days passed, our savings did not increase much, and my mother-in-law did not seem to have any plans to buy a house. Sometimes, I can't help but ask my mother-in-law where she spends her money.
"What do you care about so much, I'll leave you a sum of money anyway. "My mother-in-law always perfunctory me like this.
I was helpless and wanted to talk to my husband about it, but Li Ming seemed to ignore it and always excused himself and said that he didn't know much about it. I can't help but wonder if Li Ming acquiesced to his mother-in-law's doing.
Just then, an accident happened.
One day, I received a call from Li Ming, who anxiously told me that my father-in-law was suddenly admitted to the hospital and was in serious condition. I hurriedly followed Li Ming to visit the hospital.
When I entered the ward, I saw my father-in-law lying on the hospital bed, his face was pale and he looked very sick. Li Ming held his father-in-law's hand, his eyes were red: "Dad, how are you?"
The father-in-law said weakly: "It's okay, it's just that I'm a little unwell." The doctor said that he would need to be hospitalized for a few days. "
I hurriedly asked, "Father-in-law, do you need any medicine, and do you need us to help you with any procedures?"
The father-in-law shook his head: "It's not a big deal, don't worry. By the way, I heard that your house is not big, do you want to change to a better house? "
We hurriedly said that it didn't matter, and said that we would fully cooperate with my father-in-law's treatment. Before leaving, my father-in-law instructed us again: "By the way, you remember to tell your mother and let her come to see me." "
When we walked out of the ward, Li was obviously a little worried: "Why hasn't my mother come yet, my father-in-law is so old and hospitalized, why hasn't she come to see it." "
I comforted, "Don't worry, my father-in-law said, you remember to tell your mother." Let's go home first, and call her later. "
When I got home, I quickly called my mother-in-law and told her about my father-in-law's situation. Unexpectedly, the cold voice of the mother-in-law came from the other end of the phone: "I know, I'll go to the hospital to see him later." "
After hanging up the phone, I wondered, "Why does my mother-in-law sound so cold? "
Li Ming also felt strange: "I don't know, my mother usually cares about my father." She always had her own ideas, though. "
In the next few days, my mother-in-law did go to the hospital to visit her father-in-law, but every time she came back, her expression was cold, and she seemed to be in a bad mood. One day, she suddenly said to me: "Son, you have to pay your father-in-law's medical expenses first, I am really overwhelmed these days and have no time to handle it." "
I was a little nervous: "Medical expenses? But didn't my father-in-law tell us to pay in advance? Now we have just gotten married, and we don't have much savings." "
"Hmph, then hurry up and find a way to make money, my father-in-law's illness can't be delayed. The combined salaries of the two of you should be able to pay in advance. The mother-in-law said coldly.
I looked at Li Ming pleadingly, but he just nodded silently. In the end, we had to go to the bank for a loan and barely scraped together the medical expenses of our father-in-law.
In the days that followed, every time my mother-in-law came back from a visit to her father-in-law, she always looked sad. She said that her father-in-law's condition had not improved, and even revealed to us that the doctor said that some surgeries were still needed, and the cost was higher.
We went to the bank again for a loan and borrowed more money to pay for my father-in-law's medical bills. During this period, my mother-in-law kept nagging and telling us to pay back the money as soon as possible.
One day, I couldn't hold it anymore and couldn't help but ask my mother-in-law, "We have used all our savings to pay for my father-in-law's medical expenses, why do you still ask us to borrow money? What are you doing with our salary cards?"
My mother-in-law looked at me coldly: "What are you doing with so much? Anyway, my father-in-law's condition can be improved, and you don't have to worry about money." "
I said angrily, "But now we can't even make up our own living expenses, but you keep taking our money away, how can we live like this?"
The mother-in-law narrowed her eyes and sneered: "Hmph, do you think that your money is used to support yourself? Isn't that money just for you to save for the bride price of your marriage? I never intended to let you spend it yourself." "
I froze, looking at her in disbelief. It turned out that all the money we had saved so hard over the years had been taken by my mother-in-law and used to prepare our bride price! I felt extremely angry and helpless.
"However, this is all my and Li Ming's hard-earned money! Why did you take it without permission?" I couldn't help but ask.
The mother-in-law sneered: "Hmph, what do you think you can save with this salary? That money is just a fraction, what's wrong with me using it to prepare a bride price for you? You don't need it anyway." "
I said angrily, "But what about my father-in-law's hospitalization? We have used all our savings, and now we are almost unable to make up for our own living expenses." "
The mother-in-law said coldly: "I will handle my father-in-law's affairs by myself." All you have to do is give me your payroll card, you don't have to worry about it. "
Hearing this, I felt more and more angry and helpless. Over the years, our hard-earned savings have been taken by our mother-in-law for herself and used to prepare our bride price, and now even our father-in-law's medical expenses are borne by us. I felt deceived and exploited, and my heart was filled with anger.
"No, we can't go on like this! This money is all earned by us, and it should not be misappropriated by you. We shouldn't be responsible for my father-in-law's medical expenses, it's so unfair!" I said angrily.
"Hmph, what do you know? Do you think you two young people can worry about our old couple? Father-in-law's affairs, I said that I would handle it myself, and you don't talk too much. As for money, you can just give me your salary card obediently, and don't talk too much. "The mother-in-law still looks unquestionable.
I looked at Li Ming, who had been silent, and said pleadingly: "Li Ming, you say something, how can we live like this?"
Li Ming hesitated for a moment and whispered, "Mom is also reasonable, we should also try our best to help my father-in-law's medical expenses." As for the money, let's follow what my mother said for the time being, and wait until my father-in-law is ready. "
I glared at Li Ming angrily, feeling betrayed by him. I know that he has always acquiesced to his mother-in-law's actions, and even thought it was the right thing to do. I felt mixed feelings and grief and anger.
"You two are the same! You don't take me seriously at all, you just care about accommodating your parents! Over the years, our money has been taken away by you, and even your own living expenses are almost out of order, but you still make me accept this fact? I don't accept it, I want to resist!" I couldn't control my anger and questioned them loudly.
Despite my repeated opposition, my mother-in-law and Li Ming were unmoved and still maintained a tough attitude. It wasn't until a month later that my father-in-law's condition finally took a turn for the better and passed the dangerous period smoothly. But the hospital's bills were in the millions, and we had to take out loans from banks again, sinking deeper into debt.
During this period, I kept trying to communicate with Li Ming, trying to make him see how unreasonable my mother-in-law's behavior was. However, every conversation ended in a quarrel, and Li Ming always chose to obey his mother-in-law's wishes. I felt like my reason was being drained little by little, and the anger in my heart was burning brighter and brighter.
Finally, one day I couldn't bear it anymore and yelled at Li Ming: "I've had enough! You just let your mother occupy our lives, deprive us of our autonomy, and make us bear such a huge debt, do you just look at it like this? Don't you have a little bit of your own opinion?"
Li Ming lowered his head and said hesitantly: "I know how you feel, but you also know that my mother is so old, and we should respect and take care of her more." As for the money, I believe that as long as we continue to work hard, we will pay it off slowly. "
I was so angry that I trembled: "Work hard? Do you think we haven't worked hard all these years? But every time the money we earn is used by your mother to do her own thing, and we can't even make up our own living expenses, you still let us continue to endure it?" Li Ming, who are you on?"
Li Ming was silent for a long time, and finally said, "I understand that your situation is not easy, but I also understand my mother's thoughts. We are a family, and we should help each other. I believe that as long as we are considerate of each other, we will be able to get through this together. "
I said angrily, "Then tell me, is it right for your mother to do this, why is she taking our money and saddling us with huge debts? Is this what is called mutual help?"
Li Ming still couldn't give a clear answer, so he could only say hesitantly: "My mother is for our good after all, so don't blame her too much." If we work together, we will be able to get through it. "
I finally couldn't hold back my tears: "Li Ming, I've really had enough. Why can't you stand on my side? Why do you always protect your mother and ignore my feelings? Don't you have your own opinions?"
Li Ming wanted to speak again and again, and finally just whispered: "I'm sorry, I'm also helpless." But I still hope you understand my mom's approach and give us some time to fix this. "
I shook my head in despair, "What would I do if I gave you time? You two don't take me seriously at all, you just blindly obey your mother's wishes." It seems that I married someone like you for nothing, and our marriage is doomed. "
With that, I turned to leave. Li Ming hurriedly grabbed me: "Sakura, don't be like this, let's have a good talk." I really love you and I am willing to work with you to find ways to solve these problems. "
However, in my opinion, Li Ming's remarks are nothing more than empty words. I have completely lost my trust in him and can no longer tolerate this life of exploitation and oppression.
"Li Ming, I'm sorry, I've really had enough. Let's break up, I want to live my life on my own. I said these words with difficulty, and the tears could not stop flowing.
Li Ming's eyes widened, obviously not expecting me to make such a decisive choice. He said eagerly, "Sakura-chan, calm down, let's have a good talk, we will definitely be able to find a way." Please don't leave me, I really need you!"
But I had already made up my mind that I would never regain my trust in him. We parted ways in an argument, and I packed my bags and left the home where I was so tormented.
I was able to re-rent a small apartment on my own and I was finally able to catch my breath. However, when I think back on the suffering I have suffered over the years, I still feel a sour feeling in my heart. I originally thought that my marriage with Li Ming would be a happy one, but I didn't expect it to come to such a point.
I don't know how long later, Li Ming suddenly appeared in front of my apartment door, his face full of anxiety and apology: "Sakura-chan, it's been several months since you left me, and I miss you so much." I know it's all my fault that this time has caused you so much pain and suffering. I've had a good talk with my mom and she finally agreed to give us back our pay card and will respect our lives. Sakura-chan, can you forgive me? I really love you, please give us a chance to start over. "
After listening to his words, I had mixed feelings. Of course, I am grateful to Li Ming for making a change, but the hurt and trauma over the years is difficult to forgive easily. I said hesitantly: "Li Ming, I really appreciate your change, but you have to understand that the pain of these years cannot be made up for overnight. The good things we once had have have been completely destroyed by your mother's actions. I need some time to recuperate now, can you give me this chance?"
Li Ming sighed deeply, tears rolling in his eyes: "I understand, it's all my fault." Sakura-chan, I'll give you plenty of time, if you can trust me again and give us a chance to start over. I will try to prove myself and let you see the change in me. "
Looking at Li Ming, who was full of hope in front of me, I had mixed feelings in my heart. Despite all the hardships in our marriage, I still love him dearly. Perhaps, as long as we give each other some time and opportunities, we still have the possibility of repairing the relationship.