Li Qiang dragged his tired body and pushed open the door. He had just finished a day's overtime, and he thought he could enjoy the warmth of home, but he didn't expect to be greeted by a mess. In the living room, his wife Zhang Ting and her mother-in-law, Aunt Wang, were arguing, and there were several pieces of clothing and overturned water glasses scattered on the floor.
"Mom, can't you be considerate of Li Qiang? He is so tired from work, we can take our time with these housework. Zhang Ting's voice carried a hint of pleading.
Aunt Wang did not give up, her voice was sharp and powerful: "Considerate? I am teaching you how to live! You young people just don't know how to run a house." ”
Li Qiang took a deep breath and tried to calm the anger of the two: "Mom, Tingting, stop arguing." I'm back, and we'll talk about something. ”
Aunt Wang turned her head, her eyes full of displeasure: "Li Qiang, look at this family, what is the mess? Tell me, how did you become a husband?"
Li Qiang felt helpless for a while, he knew that his mother-in-law's temper was difficult to calm down once it flares up. He responded in a calm tone as much as possible: "Mom, I know that the house is a little messy, but Tingting is also very tired, we both have jobs, and sometimes we really can't take care of it." ”
"How much money do you make from that job?" you can't even afford a decent house!" Aunt Wang's words became more and more sharp.
Zhang Ting's face turned pale, she knew that Li Qiang was sensitive to this topic. She hurriedly played a round: "Mom, Li Qiang has worked hard, let's take our time, everything will be fine." ”
"Take your time, you've been married for a few years, and you don't even have a child, is that like a word?" Aunt Wang's words pierced the hearts of the two like needles.
Li Qiang felt suffocated for a while, and he tried his best to control his emotions: "Mom, we have our own plans for the child's affairs, so don't worry about it." ”
"How can I not worry about it, I'm doing this for your own good!" Aunt Wang's voice grew louder and higher, and her displeasure echoed throughout the room.
Li Qiang felt powerless, and he knew that it would be useless for him to say anything. He turned and walked into the kitchen, trying to find something to do, to distract himself. In the kitchen, the sink was full of unwashed dishes and chopsticks, and he sighed and began to wash the dishes silently.
Behind him, the dispute between Zhang Ting and Aunt Wang continued, but Li Qiang no longer had the strength to persuade him. He only hoped that this endless quarrel would end soon and bring some peace back to the family.
Time is like flowing water, and several months have passed in a blink of an eye, but Aunt Wang's dissatisfaction with Li Qiang has not decreased with the passage of time, but has accumulated like a snowball. The family gathering has become a stage for her to show her dissatisfaction, and every time Li Qiang has become the target of public criticism.
A family dinner on the weekend, the table was full of hearty dishes, but the atmosphere was unusually heavy. Aunt Wang started her criticism again in front of all her relatives: "Look at Li Qiang, after working for so many years, he is still a small clerk, and he is not even a department manager. ”
Li Qiang smiled awkwardly and tried to ease the atmosphere: "Mom, take your time at work, I've been working hard." ”
"Work hard, why haven't I seen results?" Aunt Wang's tone was full of sarcasm.
Zhang Ting felt very embarrassed, and she tried to defend her husband: "Mom, Li Qiang works very hard, and he often works overtime until late. ”
"What's the use of working overtime? If his salary doesn't go up, and his position doesn't rise, I think he just doesn't have the ability. Aunt Wang's words were like knives, piercing Li Qiang's heart sentence by sentence.
Li Qiang's face became ugly, and he tried his best to suppress the anger in his heart: "Mom, it's not fair for you to say this, everyone's development speed is different. ”
"It's not fair? I think you're just making excuses. "Aunt Wang's anger is getting bigger and bigger.
Zhang Ting felt very helpless, she didn't know what to do, so she could only bow her head silently.
After the dinner, Zhang Ting pulled Li Qiang aside and comforted him softly: "Don't go to your heart, mom, she is a knife mouth tofu heart." ”
Li Qiang smiled bitterly and shook his head: "I know, but I really can't stand it." Every time I get to a party, I'm really going to break down. ”
Zhang Ting's tears swirled in her eyes, and she didn't know what to do. She loves Li Qiang and her mother, but the conflict between the two makes her in a dilemma.
The atmosphere of the family is becoming more and more tense, and Zhang Ting feels very depressed. She began to wonder how long the marriage would last. And Li Qiang also felt unprecedented confusion and helplessness in his heart.
The atmosphere of the family gathering became tense again, and Aunt Wang's questioning voice sounded again, this time, her words were even sharper, pointing directly at Li Qiang's weakness.
"Li Qiang, tell me, what contribution do you have to this family? I know my work all day long, and I don't care about things at home, you are irresponsible!" Aunt Wang's voice echoed in the living room.
Li Qiang felt a tightness in his chest, and he tried his best to stay calm: "Mom, I admit that I didn't do well enough, but I'm also trying." ”
"Work hard, why didn't I see the results?" Aunt Wang didn't give up.
Zhang Ting looked at the two nervously, she knew that Li Qiang's patience had reached the limit, and she tried to ease the atmosphere: "Mom, Li Qiang is really not easy, don't force him." ”
Aunt Wang didn't buy it, she turned to Zhang Ting: "Tingting, look at him, he doesn't have any man's responsibility, what good life can you have with him?"
Li Qiang's face turned pale, he felt that his dignity was trampled on, he took a deep breath and plucked up his courage: "Mom, I know that I am not good enough, but I also have my own difficulties. Can you give me a little understanding and support?"
"Understand and support, I think you are evading your responsibility!" Aunt Wang's words pierced Li Qiang's heart like a needle.
Li Qiang's patience finally reached the limit, and his emotions erupted like a volcano: "Mom, I really can't stand it! Please take Tingting home, I really can't do anything!"
The audience was silent, Zhang Ting's tears burst out of her eyes, and Aunt Wang was also stunned, she didn't expect Li Qiang to say such a thing.
Li Qiang's words exploded like a bombshell in everyone's hearts. He himself was shocked, he didn't expect him to say such a thing, but there was a sense of relief in his heart.
Li Qiang's words froze in the air, and the atmosphere of the family gathering instantly dropped to freezing. Zhang Ting's tears slipped silently, and she felt that she was caught between her mother and her husband, unable to move. Her voice trembled, with a hint of desperation: "Li Qiang, we... We need to talk. ”
Li Qiang's heart was like a knife, he realized that his impulse might have hurt Zhang Ting, he hurriedly explained: "Tingting, I didn't mean that, I just... It's just too much pressure. ”
Aunt Wang's face was pale, she didn't expect the situation to develop to this point, her voice was angry: "Tingting, don't listen to him, this kind of man is not worth your time." ”
Zhang Ting's tears were even more turbulent, and she felt that her heart was torn in half: "Mom, don't say it, please don't say it." I... I need time, I need to think about it. ”
Li Qiang felt an unprecedented panic, he was afraid of losing Zhang Ting, and his voice was pleading: "Tingting, don't be like this, we can solve the problem together, we can." ”
Zhang Ting had already made up her mind, she wiped away her tears and said firmly: "No, Li Qiang, I need time." Maybe... Maybe we all need time to think. ”
Li Qiang's heart sank to the bottom, and he knew that he had made an irreparable mistake. He looked at Zhang Ting, his eyes full of guilt and remorse: "Tingting, I was wrong, I was really wrong." Give me a chance and I'll change. ”
Zhang Ting had already turned around and left, leaving Li Qiang alone in the cold living room. Aunt Wang's anger did not subside, but seeing Li Qiang's desperate eyes, her voice couldn't help but soften: "Li Qiang, you have to understand that marriage is not child's play, you can't be so willful." ”
Li Qiang nodded silently, he knew that he needed to reflect well. He began to think back to the bits and pieces of himself and Zhang Ting, and recalled the joy and happiness they had had. He realized that he couldn't just give up, and he had to work hard to save Zhang Ting's heart.
With the passage of time, both Li Qiang and Zhang Ting have experienced deep reflection. After a cooling-off period, the two sat down together and decided to have an in-depth conversation. In front of them was a cup of tea that had cooled, and the room was filled with a faint bitter taste.
"Li Qiang, I know you are under a lot of pressure, but I also need support. Zhang Ting's voice was calm, but there was a hint of firmness.
Li Qiang held Zhang Ting's hand tightly, his eyes were full of sincerity: "Tingting, I was wrong. I shouldn't vent my pressure on you and Mom, I should be stronger and more understanding of you. ”
A trace of tears flashed in Zhang Ting's eyes, and she knew that Li Qiang was sincere: "We all need to change, maybe we should seek some help." ”
Li Qiang nodded in agreement: "I heard that there is professional family counseling, we can try it." ”
The two decide to face the problem together and seek outside help. And Aunt Wang also experienced her own thinking during this time. She began to realize the impact she had on her daughter's family, and her attitude began to soften.
"Tingting, Li Qiang, I may have gone too far before. Aunt Wang's voice trembled a little, and she rarely expressed her emotions like this.
Zhang Ting and Li Qiang were surprised, but at the same time there was a hint of warmth. They know that change won't happen overnight, but at least they've taken the first steps on the right path.
After several family consultations, the atmosphere in the home gradually became harmonious. Li Qiang and Zhang Ting learned to communicate and understand better, and Aunt Wang began to respect their personal space and decisions.
The story ends with a hearty dinner. The three of them sat around the table, talking and laughing, and although there were occasional small frictions, they all knew that as long as they understood and supported each other, nothing could not be solved.
"Home is about love, understanding, and tolerance. Li Qiang meditated in his heart, and he felt unprecedented ease and happiness.
This article is a microfiction, please do not sit in the opposite seat.