In an inconspicuous small county town in Hunan, Zhang Hua's family was very busy with their daughter Zhang Wei's marriage. Zhang Wei is a bit of a willful girl, she has been pampered by her parents since she was a child, and she has her own firm views on the upcoming marriage: "Don't marry without 80,000 fares, this is my bottom line!"
"Weiwei, where do we have so many currents in this small place? 80,000 yuan to get off the bus, how can the Li family get it!"
"Mom, don't make excuses for them, if he really loves me, he should pay for me!" Zhang Wei replied stubbornly, clasping her hands and her eyes firm.
Wang Fang turned to her husband Zhang Hua, her eyes were full of helplessness: "Look at your daughter, you can't talk about her?"
Zhang Hua took a long puff of cigarette, pondered for a long time, and whispered: "Weiwei, it's not good for everyone for you to do this. Although it is a new era now, it is difficult for Li Zhiqiang's family to ask for this. 80,000 yuan is not a small number for them. ”
"Dad, it's not about money. This is a matter of principle! I heard my sisters say that now there are more than 100,000 people in the city who are embarrassed to speak!" Zhang Wei did not relent, and there was a little rebellion in her tone.
"So what, we're not from the city. Zhang Hua was a little angry, "Let's talk about human feelings, just a little heart." ”
"Dad, why don't you understand?" Zhang Wei's emotions began to get excited.
At this time, Li Hong, the aunt next door, pushed the door in and hurriedly said, "Zhang's family, you guys talk about Weiwei, this is a happy day, how can you just because of this little thing..."
Zhang Wei interrupted Li Hong's words: "Auntie, since you know everything, do you think my request is too much?"
Li Hong looked at Zhang Wei embarrassedly, and then looked at Zhang Hua and Wang Fang, "This... I think the little couple is fine, and we adults shouldn't worry too much about money. ”
The room fell silent for a moment, except for the "ticking" of the clock. Zhang Hua suddenly stood up and said solemnly: "80,000 yuan is not a fixed number, we might as well discuss it again, but if you insist on this amount, it may hurt the harmony with the Li family." ”
Zhang Wei stopped talking and turned to walk to the window, the noise outside contrasting sharply with the silence at home. She knew in her heart that this might be a test for her marriage, but she didn't want to compromise on it.
Finally, the night before the wedding, Zhang Wei sat in front of the dresser and muttered to herself in the mirror: "This is my choice, no matter what the result is, I will not regret it." And the night outside seems to be waiting for a new story to begin. On the day of the wedding, the rising sun sprinkled the courtyard of Zhang Wei's family. Zhang Wei put on a carefully selected wedding dress and stood outside the banquet hall to greet her relatives, waiting alone. She got up early, and the makeup on her face was delicate and generous. But there was a hint of anxiety and uncertainty in her eyes, which was waiting for the groom Li Zhiqiang.
It was the appointed time, but the ceremonial firecrackers and shouts had not been sounded for a long time. Zhang Hua and Wang Fang also became nervous, looking back and forth at the door of their homes.
"Could it be that there is something on the Li family's side that is delayed?" Wang Fang tried to find some reason.
Zhang Hua frowned, picked up his mobile phone and called Li Zhiqiang's home. On the other end of the phone was Li Zhiqiang's father, and his voice was a little hoarse: "Brother Zhang, I'm really embarrassed, Xiaoqiang... He was reluctant to come now. ”
Zhang Hua immediately showed a stern expression: "What's the matter?
"That's right, Xiaoqiang was very dissatisfied with Weiwei's 'getting off fee' request, and we persuaded him for a long time, but he didn't listen. Li Zhiqiang's father's tone was full of helplessness.
Zhang Hua walked up to Zhang Wei and whispered, "Weiwei, look, things have come to this point, shouldn't you think about your attitude again?"
Zhang Wei shook her head and said firmly: "Dad, I have already said it, this is my principle. ”
At this time, Wang Fang was already anxious: "Don't be stubborn Weiwei, everyone is waiting for this wedding, if you are softer now, Xiaoqiang will definitely express something." ”
Zhang Wei couldn't help but reddened her eyes: "Mom, you have never been on my side." ”
The parents of both sides decided to meet and negotiate, so Zhang Hua and Wang Fang hurried to Li's house. When they arrived at Li's house, the parents of both sides sat in the living room, the atmosphere was tense but silent.
Li Zhiqiang's mother's eyes were red, and her voice trembled a little: "The Zhang family, we are also kind, 80,000 yuan is not a small amount, we are also a family, why embarrass each other?"
Zhang Hua was silent for a moment, and then said: "Then let's not mention today's matter, let's go back and communicate with Weiwei well, and strive to have a successful outcome in this matter." ”
The Li family and the Zhang family's parents returned to the Zhang family together, and Zhang Wei was still standing at the door, her face full of anticipation turned to disappointment.
"Weiwei, mom knows that you have your thoughts, but you should also listen to your parents' persuasion, after all, this is related to the future of the two families. Wang Fang said earnestly.
"Yes, there is no obstacle in the world that cannot be overcome, everyone calmly speaks, and the problem will always be solved. Zhang Hua tried to comfort lightly.
At this moment, a roar suddenly sounded in front of the house. But it wasn't the wedding car, but Zhang Wei's friend Xiaomei rushed in on an electric car: "Weiwei, I just came back from the banquet hall, you have something to know." ”
Zhang Wei asked eagerly, "What's the matter?"
Xiaomei pursed her lips: "Groom Li Zhiqiang, he... He had another wedding there, and the bride ... The bride is not you. Hearing Xiaomei's words, Zhang Wei felt unprecedented shock and humiliation. She held Xiaomei's hand tightly, as if she wanted to find a trace of support and comfort in it. "How... How is that possible? Didn't we make an appointment? How... How could he do this to me?" Zhang Wei's voice choked, and tears finally burst out of her eyes.
Zhang Hua and Wang Fang looked at each other, they couldn't believe that this was true, but they also understood that such a fact could not be escaped. "Go, let's go to the banquet hall and have a look!" Zhang Hua decided to find out the situation in person.
The family hurried to the banquet hall, which was supposed to be the venue for Zhang Wei's wedding, but was now replaced by the festive decoration of another bride, Li Xiao. Cheerful music played in the banquet hall to welcome the guests. Looking at all this, Zhang Wei felt that her heart was sinking little by little.
Zhang Hua stepped forward and talked with the staff at the reception desk, and the staff explained a little embarrassedly: "I'm sorry, this is indeed the wedding of Mr. Li and Miss Li." ”
"What about my daughter Zhang Wei?" Zhang Hua's voice rose.
"Miss Zhang Wei, I'm sorry, we only have Miss Li Xiao's reservation here. "The staff seemed at a loss.
At this time, a familiar figure came out of the crowd, it was Zhang Wei's best friend Xiao Liu. "Vivi, what you need most now is to calm down. Xiao Liu gently took her hand.
"Calm down, how can I be calm?" Zhang Wei was sad and angry, "I gave it all to him, but he treated me like this!"
At this moment, Li Zhiqiang appeared at the door of the banquet and stood side by side with Li Xiao. Li Zhiqiang's eyes were a little evasive, and he didn't dare to look directly at Zhang Wei.
"Can you tell me what the hell is going on?" Zhang Hua pressed forward step by step, his voice full of reproach.
Li Xiao lowered his head shyly, and Li Zhiqiang finally spoke, "Uncle Zhang, I know I'm sorry for Weiwei for doing this." However, I don't want to get married because of money, I want to spend my life with someone who can overcome difficulties together. ”
Hearing these words, Wang Fang felt very disappointed, "You... Are you kidding us?"
"No, Aunt Wang, I..." Li Xiao tried to explain, but was interrupted by Li Zhiqiang.
"Xiaoxiao is my high school classmate, and we know each other. I'm sorry, I made the choice. Although Li Zhiqiang had an apology in his voice, he was more resolute.
Zhang Wei's lips trembled, she understood, all this was just because of the 80,000 yuan "getting off fee" she insisted on. The bottom line she insisted on eventually made her lose her love.
At this climactic moment, Zhang Wei's heart is full of complex emotions: anger, sadness, and helplessness. But at the same time, she realized how fragile and powerless her persistence was.
"Well, if this is your choice, then I can only wish you happiness. With a hint of despair in her words, Zhang Wei turned around and prepared to leave, leaving all this pain and humiliation.
Zhang Hua and Wang Fang followed closely behind their daughter, although they were full of reluctance and resentment, they both knew that in this irreparable situation, accompanying and supporting their daughter was the most important thing. Those tears of anger and sadness are long gone, and Zhang Wei, with the love and support of her family and friends, began a process of self-reflection and repair.
"Weiwei, you have to understand that money is something outside the body, and feelings are the most valuable. Mother Wang Fang often said when comforting her daughter.
"Yes, daughter, let it pass. There's still a long way ahead of you. Father Zhang Hua is always afraid that his daughter will not be able to think about it, and he is always encouraging her.
During this time, Zhang Wei also re-examined herself and the world around her. She began to meet different people, experience different lives, and discovered her passion for social work.
One sunny afternoon, Zhang Wei was busy in the community center, consulting and solving problems for the elderly in need. At such times, she felt more satisfied and happy than ever.
Xiao Liu came to visit Zhang Wei in the community center, and when he saw her so fulfilling, he couldn't help but praise: "Look at your current spirit, that little thing at the beginning is really like a cloud of smoke." ”
Zhang Wei responded with a smile: "Yes, in retrospect now, those insistences and calculations are really a bit ridiculous." But it's because of that experience that I'm here today. ”
As the days passed, Zhang Wei not only made progress in her work, but also relearned how to love and be loved. Her parents were both relieved and proud to see their daughter's growth and change.
In Zhang Wei's growth journey, Li Zhiqiang and Li Xiao's married life also gave her a lot of inspiration. Through observation and listening, she knew that they were not without difficulties and quarrels, but they were all trying to face and solve problems together.
At the end of a family gathering, Wang Fang handed Zhang Wei a cup of tea and said softly: "You see, even Li Zhiqiang and Li Xiao, they have their own difficulties, how can there be a flawless life in this world." ”
Zhang Wei held the teacup, pondered, and looked out the window, where there was the laughter of children and the afterglow of the sunset on her face. Then she said softly: "Yes, Mom, everyone's happiness is felt and defined by themselves. Maybe what really matters is not what you have, but who you become. ”
The quiet night gradually fell, and Zhang Wei drank the cup of warm tea. Her life gradually brightened up in a serious life bit by bit. She knows that no matter how the outside world changes, happiness is always in her heart, as long as she cherishes and discovers.