My name is Xiao Li and I am 35 years old. My wife, Xiao Zhang, and I met in college, and after many years of love, we finally achieved positive results. We have an 8-year-old daughter, Xiaomei, who is our heart. I work for a company, and Xiao Zhang is a full-time housewife. Our family of three lives an ordinary and happy life.
My mother-in-law's name is Lao Wang, and she is 65 years old. Since my dad died, she has been living alone in the countryside of her hometown. The mother-in-law has an eccentric temper, is stubborn, and has a very conservative style of life. She has a lot of criticism about me and Xiao Zhang's modern lifestyle, and she is always picky about this and that. However, we all understand her good intentions and try to avoid getting into too many arguments with her.
I'm more easy-going and not too calculating. Zhang is a bit more aggressive than I am and is often outspoken. However, she is sincere and neat in her work. Xiaomei is like a microcosm of us, with both my meekness and Xiao Zhang's liveliness.
As for the mother-in-law, her personality is much tougher. She rests on her laurels and doesn't quite understand and accept the modern way of life. She felt that our lives were too extravagant and wasteful, and always asked us to live her traditional, thrifty lifestyle. Although her concept is a bit old-fashioned, her original intention is good, for our good.
On the thirtieth day of the Chinese New Year's Eve, I received a call from my mother-in-law. She said to me in a serious tone: "Xiao Li, it's the New Year, your family of four will come back for me for the New Year! Our hometown is the place for the New Year, and it is not good for you to celebrate the New Year outside." "
Hearing this, I subconsciously looked at Xiao Zhang. I saw her frowning, as if she was very dissatisfied with her mother-in-law's request. I hurriedly played the round: "Mother-in-law, don't worry, we will definitely go back." It's just that it's too far away, and we have to be prepared in advance. "
"Then hurry up and prepare!" The mother-in-law's tone softened slightly, "You guys are spending the New Year outside, and it's not interesting for my old man to be at home." Let's have a good New Year as a family. "
Hearing Xiao Zhang's words, her mother-in-law seemed to be a little unhappy. She interrupted Xiao Zhang's words, and her tone became stern again: "What is not difficult? The family should be reunited during the Chinese New Year, this is a tradition for thousands of years! Where do you young people have some traditional concepts now?"
I hurriedly played the round: "Mother-in-law, you are right. Of course we want to go back and celebrate the New Year with you, but it's too far to go, and we have to prepare in advance. Besides, Xiaomei has to take leave to leave school, and she must prepare her homework in advance. "
"Then start preparing now!" The mother-in-law's tone softened, "Don't push back, don't let me be disappointed when the time comes." "
"Don't worry, mother-in-law, we will prepare as soon as possible. "I promised again and again.
After hanging up the phone, Xiao Zhang began to complain: "Really, my mother-in-law is like this every year." She was completely inconsiderate of our difficulties and insisted that we celebrate the New Year in her way. "
I patted her on the shoulder and comforted, "Mother-in-law is old after all, so we can't worry too much." It is also a good thing to reunite the whole family during the New Year, and it is also good for Xiaomei's growth. "
Xiao Zhang sighed: "I understand my mother-in-law's thoughts, but she is always so stubborn and doesn't respect our way of life at all. Didn't she get mad at us last year for eating steak at Chinese New Year's Eve?"
I smiled helplessly, thinking that my mother-in-law was indeed a little too conservative. However, for the sake of family reunion, we should still try to accommodate her. So I began to discuss with Xiao Zhang how to prepare for this trip home for the Chinese New Year.
It was a seven-hour train ride from the city to our hometown. For the sake of convenience, we decided to leave on the day of the Chinese New Year's Eve. Early in the morning, we packed up and set out on the journey home.
Xiaomei is extremely excited to go back to her grandmother's house for the New Year. She looked around in the car, giggling and sharing her expectations with us. Seeing this, a smile finally appeared on Xiao Zhang's face.
In the evening, we finally arrived at the train station in our hometown. My mother-in-law and other relatives had been waiting at the exit for a long time. Seeing our figure, my mother-in-law waved excitedly, her face filled with joy.
"Ouch, you're here!" The mother-in-law looked us up and down, and seemed to be a little dissatisfied with our way of life as always, "Why does even Xiaomei cut her hair so short? "
I was about to explain, but Xiao Zhang spoke first: "Mother-in-law, children now have this hairstyle, and besides, Xiaomei is so energetic, how good." "
The mother-in-law obviously didn't agree, but she didn't say anything more. She took Xiaomei's hand and said with an amiable expression: "Okay, good, you should be happy during the New Year." Let's hurry home, I've got you covered for years!"
As soon as he entered his mother-in-law's old house, Xiao Zhang frowned. The old musty smell of the hay mats in the house made her a little unbearable. I hurriedly opened the window to ventilate, but my mother-in-law stopped me: "What kind of window to open, so the wind and cold have come in, beware of the cold." "
I had no choice but to give up and comfort Xiao Zhang and said, "It's okay, let's just stay here for a few days, and we'll be fine." "
At night, it bothered Xiao Zhang even more. My mother-in-law insisted that the family live in her small room on the grounds that it would be "reunited". Xiao Zhang looked at me helplessly, and I had to agree to come down.
Xiao Zhang was deeply annoyed by her mother-in-law's words, and she retorted: "Mother-in-law, we are also busy working in the city, how can we be as idle as you say? "
"Ouch, you young people are just too squeamish!" The mother-in-law didn't understand Xiao Zhang's thoughts at all, "In our hometown, you have to start working on the first day of the Lunar New Year to live up to this year's harvest." If you stay in bed again, you won't be able to prepare well for this year's New Year. "
I saw that Xiao Zhang was a little unbearable, so I hurriedly said, "Okay, okay, since my mother-in-law said so, then let's start working quickly." "
Since that day, her mother-in-law has been painstakingly "educating" Xiao Zhang how to be a traditional good wife and mother. But her approach always disgusted Xiao Zhang.
For example, when preparing New Year's dishes, her mother-in-law blindly asked Xiao Zhang to learn her ancient way of cooking. She didn't allow Xiao Zhang to use any modern electrical appliances, and she had to operate step by step according to the craftsmanship of her ancestors.
"The dishes that come out of this way are authentic and have a New Year's flavor!" "You young people are so dependent on modernity that you don't know the joy of crafts. "
Xiao Zhang really couldn't listen to it anymore, and she finally retorted unbearably: "Mother-in-law, I understand your dedication to tradition, but now it's a new era." We should take the essence and remove the dross, not be completely retro. "
"What do you little girl know?" The mother-in-law didn't understand Xiao Zhang's thoughts at all, "I've been like this all my life, how can you young people be qualified to make irresponsible remarks?"
The two quarreled over this trivial matter, and the scene was very tense for a while. I can only secretly ask for help from my mother-in-law's younger siblings, hoping that they will be able to play a round.
Although the sisters-in-law reluctantly suppressed the dispute, the source of the conflict still exists. I can clearly feel that Xiao Zhang's antipathy to this way of life is deepening.
In this way, for a few days, the contradiction between Xiao Zhang and his mother-in-law intensified. Once, Xiao Zhang couldn't stand the reprimand of her mother-in-law, and finally cried to me with red eyes: "Husband, I really can't stand my mother-in-law! She doesn't respect our way of life at all, and always asks us to do what she wants." How have you spent this year?"
Seeing my lover's tears made my heart extremely painful. I know my mother-in-law is a little too complacent, but she has good intentions. However, if they blindly accommodate her, Xiao Zhang and Xiao Mei will only be more miserable.
After some careful consideration, I finally made up my mind and said to Xiao Zhang, "Wife, I understand your feelings. The mother-in-law's approach is indeed a bit excessive, and we should not completely accommodate her. It's better to go back to the city for the New Year in advance. "
I nodded firmly: "I'll talk to my mother-in-law so that she can understand our struggle." After all, you and I are an independent family, and we have the right to choose our own way of life. "
Seeing my determined appearance, Xiao Zhang's eyes finally flashed again. She nodded vigorously, as if determined to break free from her mother-in-law's constraints.
That night, I went to my mother-in-law alone and solemnly stated my thoughts to her. Unexpectedly, the mother-in-law did not get angry, but nodded thoughtfully.
"Mother-in-law, I know you have good intentions and hope that we can live the traditional life you want. "But times are different, and so are our ways of life." You should respect our choices and not force us to live exactly your way. "
The mother-in-law was silent for a long time, and then sighed heavily: "I know, I'm a bit too much of an old woman." Just when I see you young people, I'm afraid that you will forget your roots and forget the traditional culture of our older generation. "
I nodded my head again and again to express my understanding, and promised that I would definitely inherit the excellent culture of the Chinese nation. My mother-in-law reluctantly agreed with our decision to go back to the city early, but her eyes were full of disappointment and sadness.
Seeing my mother-in-law's sad appearance, my heart was full of self-blame and guilt. But I know that this is the right choice, the way to truly respect each other.