My name is Xiao Ming, I am 38 years old, and I am the eldest in my family. Ever since my mother died, I have been living in an old house with my wife, children, father, and sister-in-law. Although my sister-in-law sometimes has an odd temper, in general, our family is happy and gets along harmoniously.
One day, my sister-in-law happily told us the great news that their hometown homestead had been demolished, and the compensation was as high as several million! My family was very happy for her, after all, this money is definitely a big help for those of us who are old.
"How can there ever be a 'take it out'?" My eldest brother was embarrassed and said, "This house is my parents' old house, and our brothers grew up here." My mother-in-law has been living here with us all the time. If you want to buy a house in the city and live on your own, that's your business, but don't want to get a piece of the pie. "
My sister-in-law's face sank, and she said coldly: "You are quite ruthless! This is my own family's demolition money, and I should decide how I want to spend it." "
I saw that this was a bane, so I hurriedly played a round: "Sister-in-law, don't be angry. What the big brother means is that this old house is too monumental for us. Why don't you discuss it again?"
The sister-in-law snorted, turned around and left. I know it's far from over.
The mother-in-law pondered for a moment, and then said kindly, "Alas, you young people, you should indeed live in a new house. Let's leave this old house for me to live alone, it just so happens that I am old, and I don't need too much space. "
I immediately found my mother-in-law and said sincerely, "Mother-in-law, I know that you are doing this for the sake of the harmony of the whole family. However, our children have grown up, so you don't have to work like you used to. In this house, you are the master. "
The mother-in-law smiled and shook her head: "Silly child, don't worry about it." My old bones are the same wherever I live. As long as your family is harmonious and beautiful, I will rest assured. "
In the past few days when I was struggling with pain, my sister-in-law didn't seem to be idle. One day, she came directly to the door and yelled at her mother-in-law.
"Mom, don't trouble us young people. There is so much money for the demolition of our family, you can give most of the house to me and my eldest brother to live in. The little bit that remains, it's more than enough for you to live alone. "
"Sister-in-law, you are too much! How can you hurt her heart like this when your mother-in-law treats us as her own children? You are not qualified to ask for anything in this old house!"
But I couldn't calm down at all, and there was nowhere to vent the anger in my heart. I shook off my mother-in-law's hand, looked directly into my sister-in-law's eyes, gritted my teeth and said, "Sister-in-law, if you hurt your mother-in-law like this again, I will never forgive you easily! I would rather move out and live in it than let my mother-in-law suffer a loss!"
With that, I walked out without looking back. I felt worse than ever, and I really felt the pain of being hurt by my family.
After that day, the sister-in-law seemed to realize her mistake. She didn't dwell on the matter of separating the house anymore, but obediently lived with her eldest brother and children.
As for me, in order not to cause more trouble to my family, I decided to move out of the old house and live in another rented house. Although my wife and children were reluctant to give up, I made up my mind that I had to let my mother-in-law live in peace in this old house that she was familiar with.
On the day of the move, my mother-in-law held my hand, her eyes full of distress: "Child, don't worry so much about my old bones." I'm old, where do I need such a big house? You can live with the master, I'm here by myself, and I'm very comfortable. "
Tears oozed from the corners of my mother-in-law's eyes, and she trembled her palms and gently patted my cheek, silently shedding tears.
In this way, I moved out of my old house and began to live a life of separation from my wife and children.
Living alone in an old house, my mother-in-law's heart often swells with happy or sad thoughts. Sometimes, she would sit in the courtyard and look at the towering tree. The tree accompanied her throughout her life, witnessing her children grow up, start a family, and have children. She often spends an afternoon sitting on a sun lounger under a tree, reminiscing about the past and watching three generations of people play in the yard.
However, she is the only one left in the old house. Her sons and daughters have their own homes and families. The only thing that makes her happy is that her youngest son, Xiao Ming's family, lives nearby and comes to visit her every day. Xiao Ming is as filial to her as his biological mother, and his wives and children are also sensible and enthusiastic, and treat her as a family member.
However, the mother-in-law sometimes feels melancholy for Xiao Ming's situation. In order to let her live in the old house with peace of mind, Xiao Ming had to temporarily separate from his wife and children and rent another house. Mother-in-law knows that Xiao Ming must be very painful and entangled in his heart. He cherished his wife and children so much, but now he had to make such a difficult choice.
Xiao Ming himself couldn't sleep at night in the newly rented house. He misses the days in the old house and the warm scene of the family's happiness. However, in order to let his mother-in-law enjoy his old age in peace, he had to temporarily leave the place he was worried about. He was so conflicted and painful, yet unable to confide in anyone.
In this way, a family that loves each other was torn apart into a three-legged situation by the sister-in-law's willfulness and impulsiveness.
Fortunately, this situation did not last long. At a family gathering, the sister-in-law saw the embarrassment of Xiao Ming's wife and her mother-in-law's life, and finally felt a strong sense of guilt in her heart.
That day, she took the initiative to find her mother-in-law and lowered her head.
The mother-in-law shook her head and said kindly: "Silly child, you are still young, and it is inevitable that you will do something wrong. As long as you are sensible in the future. "
As she spoke, her mother-in-law took her sister-in-law's hand and held it warmly in her palm. My sister-in-law finally couldn't help it, and tears rained down.
Since then, the family has been reunited in the old house, happy and harmonious. Xiao Ming's family also moved back, and they talked and laughed every day, and it was lively.
One night, I stood in the yard and stared at the old tree. I remembered the scenes from the past, and tears flowed involuntarily. Yes, this is our home, always warm and full of love.
Since that family gathering, my sister-in-law's attitude has changed 180 degrees. She began to take the initiative to care about her mother-in-law's daily life, and would cook herself every day and carefully cook her favorite hometown dishes for her mother-in-law. Sometimes, she would even take her mother-in-law to walk and chat in the yard and ask her about her physical condition.
Seeing my sister-in-law take care of my mother-in-law so dedicatedly, a big stone finally unloaded from my heart. I know that my sister-in-law is truly repentant, and she finally realizes the importance of family and the great contribution that my mother-in-law has made to us.
The mother-in-law shook her head gently, patted the back of her sister-in-law's hand, and comforted: "Silly child, you are young and vigorous, and it is inevitable that you will do something wrong." As long as you are sensible in the future. Mom treats you as her own children, and she will never doubt your love for me. "
I sighed secretly. The mother-in-law's tolerance and kindness are really unmatched. If it were me, it would have been difficult to forgive my sister-in-law for her hurtful words so quickly.
And myself, I have been in a painful tangle during this time.
As the eldest in my family, I have been loved by my parents and mother-in-law since I was a child. They treated me like a jewel in the palm of their hands, and they took good care of me. When I grew up, I tried my best to repay them with filial piety. However, in order for my mother-in-law to live in the old house with peace of mind, I have to temporarily separate myself from my wife and children and rent another apartment.
This is really a huge ordeal for a man who is over thirty years old. I cherish my wife and children so much, they are my greatest concern and support in this life. However, in order to give my mother-in-law the respect and peace she deserves, I had to make such a difficult choice.
At night, I often tossed and turned, unable to sleep. I miss the grass and trees in the old house, and the warm scene of the family's happiness. However, that place now belongs to the mother-in-law alone. For the sake of her tranquility, I had no choice but to leave there for the time being.
Sometimes, I would subconsciously call my wife just to hear her familiar voice. Whenever she told me to pay attention to my body on the phone, I would always hold back the sourness in my heart and barely squeeze out a smile.
"Well, don't worry about me. My departure from you is only temporary. When my mother-in-law settles down, we will soon be able to reunite. "
I tried to say this, but I couldn't hide the pain in my heart. I miss my wife and children so much, and I long so much to be able to live with them again. However, the harmony of the family is more important than anything else. I can only try to suppress my inner struggle and wait for the time to come.
While I was struggling in pain, an unexpected piece of good news finally came.
"Xiao Ming, I'm sorry, I'm too willful and make the family unhappy. You must have had a hard time leaving your wife and children for the sake of your mother-in-law, right? It's because I'm confused that you suffer like this. "
I hurriedly waved my hand to stop her from continuing, and said gently, "Sister-in-law, this is all in the past. The most important thing now is that we reunite and live our lives well. "
The sister-in-law nodded, and then said, "I have already decided, let my mother-in-law continue to live in the old house." She is so old, and she will not get used to it when she changes to a new environment. It is more suitable for us young people to rent another house. "
Hearing these words, my heart finally lifted the last burden. It seems that my sister-in-law has truly repented, and she has finally learned to respect her elders and cherish the warmth of her family.
Since then, our family has moved back to the old house and lived happily ever after. Every morning, I am awakened by the smell of my mother-in-law's hometown food. At noon, our family would sit around the big tree in the courtyard and chat. In the evenings, the mother-in-law will patiently help the children with their homework, as always considerate.
Sometimes, I would walk into the yard at night and gaze at the old tree that had seen my family grow for generations. The corners of my eyes moistened, because I had regained that warmth and peace. Yes, this is our home, always full of love and warmth.
Let's keep it forever, forever, until we grow old, and then the next generation will continue this warm home.