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My name is Li Hua, I am 45 years old and I am a department manager in a medium-sized company. In my memory, my parents have always been the kind of partners who often quarrel but are inseparable. I was born and raised in an ordinary small city in the south, and I have a younger sister who is three years younger than me, Xiaomin. Although the life of our family of four is not rich, it can be regarded as warm and harmonious.
When my father died, I had been working in the north for many years, while Xiao Min stayed in her hometown and became a primary school teacher. It was a rainy spring day, and when I received an anxious call from my sister, it was a weekend morning. On the other end of the phone, Xiao Min choked up and said, "Brother, Dad is very sick, and the doctor said that the situation is not optimistic, you should come back as soon as possible." ”
I immediately bought the fastest train ticket home. When I got home, I found that the atmosphere in the house was unusually heavy. The mother sat on the sofa in the living room, looking out the window with a blank face, and the room was filled with an atmosphere of oppression and silence. I walked in and she didn't even look up.
"Mom, how's Daddy?" I tried to keep my voice calm.
The mother replied lightly, "I'm sleeping." ”
Xiao Min and I walked straight to my father's room, pushed open the door, and the smell of medicine came to my nose. The father was lying on the bed, pale and breathing weakly. Seeing him like this, my heart tugged. I sat on the edge of the bed and held his hand, feeling the coldness of my palm.
Xiao Min stood by the door, her voice trembling: "Brother, Dad hasn't eaten much in the past few days, and the doctor said that his body is already very weak." ”
My heart sank, and I turned my head and asked my mother, "Mom, why hasn't Dad eaten these days?"
The mother still didn't look back, but said lightly, "He doesn't want to eat." ”
I said dissatisfiedly, "But if this continues, we will die!" What should we do?", I felt a strong sense of powerlessness and anger, and my mother's attitude was difficult for me to accept.
My mother finally turned to me and said in a cold tone: "Do you think I didn't do my best? ”
There was no sadness in her eyes, only a deep exhaustion and a hint of indifference that I couldn't read. This shocked me unusually that the relationship between my parents did not seem to be as simple as I thought.
Over the next few days, I tried my best to communicate with the doctor in the hope of finding a way to save my father. And the mother still maintains her routine, and this calmness is almost deliberate, as if nothing has anything to do with her. This contrast has made the contradictions in my heart grow day by day. Whenever I tried to discuss my father's condition and treatment options with her, she always avoided it, which filled me with resentment and questions about her.
The night before my father died, I decided to have an in-depth conversation with my mother in the hope of finding out what she really thought. After dinner, I found my mother, who was sitting alone on a wooden chair in the backyard, staring at the sky in a daze.
"Mom, can we talk?" I sat down next to her, trying to break the unbearable silence.
She nodded, still not looking at me.
"Is there a problem between you and Daddy? Can you tell me what makes you so desperate?" I asked cautiously, lest I touch some forbidden area in her mind.
The mother was silent for a long time before she slowly spoke: "Your father and I do have a lot of problems. Our relationship has been complicated over the years. But it's all about the two of us. ”
"But, no matter what, he is your husband, our father. He is like this, don't you think something should be done?" I was a little excited, and my voice was raised.
My mother finally turned to look at me, and there was an indescribable sadness in her eyes: "Hua, you don't understand. There are some things that you can't just do if you want to. ”
We talked for a long time that night, but there were many things that I still couldn't fully understand. The mother's words were full of helplessness and deep exhaustion, as if she was carrying too many secrets that could not be told.
Father
The last day came suddenly and quietly. Shortly after our conversation ended, my father quietly left this world in his sleep. At that moment, although his heart was full of grief, there was also a sense of relief - at least, he no longer had to endure the pain of his illness.
The arrangements for the funeral naturally fell on the shoulders of Xiao Min and me. During those days, the mother was hardly involved in anything, she just sat quietly and occasionally looked vacantly at the old plane tree in the yard. This made me even more confused and frustrated, I didn't understand why she was so cold, was she really indifferent to her father's death?
On the day of the funeral, relatives arrived one after another, and the house was lively. Xiaomin and I were busy, but my mother was still the same cold look. I noticed that many elders were talking to each other when they saw their mother's attitude. I was extremely embarrassed by this kind of scene.
"Hua, what's wrong with your mother? How can she do this at such a time?" my uncle came over and whispered to me. My uncle had always been outspoken, and he was clearly dissatisfied with his mother's attitude.
I tried to keep my composure and replied, "Uncle, mom... Maybe it's too sad to know how to express emotions. ”
My uncle shook his head, clearly not quite believing my explanation.
At lunchtime, the atmosphere at home is slightly solemn. Xiao Min and I arranged a hearty meal for family and friends, while my mother sat alone on the side, just mechanically taking a few bites of food.
"Mom, eat more. "I tried my best to make my voice sound gentle.
My mother looked up at me, then lowered her head again, and did not speak.
Xiao Min couldn't help it, she put down her chopsticks, leaned over and whispered, "Mom, you have to at least act like a party." Everybody's looking at us, what do you make people think?"
The mother suddenly put down her chopsticks and looked at Xiao Min, her voice was slightly depressed: "What do you want me to do?
Xiao Min was stunned, obviously stopped by her mother's rhetorical question.
I hurriedly played a round: "Okay, Xiaomin, mom may be really tired." Let's let her rest for a while. ”
After the meal, as the guests were leaving, I found an opportunity to take my mother to the backyard where we needed a real exchange.
"Mom, is there something that has been pressing on your heart? Dad has died, you can tell me the truth. Whatever happens, I'll understand. "I try to keep my voice as calm as possible.
Mother was silent for a long time, this time her eyes were full of pain and struggle, and finally, she spoke, her voice trembling and low: "Hua, you know, your father and I have not had a good relationship over the years. But as you may not know, the issues between us are complicated and involve some things about your dad's past that I haven't told you all about. ”
I was shocked, "Mom, what's going on? Is it about Dad's past?"
The mother nodded, and finally decided to open the door that had been sealed for a long time: "When your father was young, he did some things that made him owe a lot of debts, not only in money, but also in ......"
I interjected eagerly, "What, Mom, why haven't you mentioned it before?"
The mother sighed, and there was a hint of mixed emotions in her eyes: "There are also human debts." Some of your dad's friends when he was younger weren't good people. They used to be involved in some illegal businesses, and your dad was involved in it. Although he later quit, those people still come to trouble your dad from time to time. ”
I was shocked to hear this, it was completely unexpected, I never thought that my father would have such an experience when he was young. "That, that's what he is sick about, and your attitude......"
The mother shook her head: "It's all related. Over the years, your father's old friends have come to blackmail from time to time, and your father has been silently enduring it in order to protect us. Part of the reason for his illness is also that this pressure and psychological burden is too heavy. I know he's hard, but I'm also helpless. To outsiders, we are husband and wife, but in fact our relationship has long existed in name only. Over the years, we've been more patient with each other. ”
I was a little shocked and sad at the same time: "Then why don't you tell me or Xiaomin, maybe we can help solve some problems." ”
The mother smiled bitterly: "Tell you, what can I do? Let you also get involved in these troubles? You and Xiaomin have their own lives, and I don't want you to be affected by our problems." ”
I was silent, my heart filled with mixed emotions. Mother continued: "Your father was still dealing with these things a few days before he died. He's always worried that these things will affect you and Min. His condition worsened, partly because of the mental stress. ”
I felt a pang of heartache as my father was still worried about his family in the last moments of his life. "Mom, in that case, why did you behave so coldly when your father was seriously ill?"
My mother looked at me with a hint of pain in her eyes: "Because I'm so tired, Hua." I feel powerless about your father's illness. I knew he was suffering both physically and mentally, and I tried to help him, but in the end I found that I couldn't do anything. This feeling of powerlessness makes me feel hopeless. ”
I held my mother's hand, and even though her hand felt cold and distant, I could feel the helplessness and exhaustion in her heart at the moment.
"Mom, I understand your difficulties. But from now on, how should we deal with these unfinished things?"
The mother pondered for a moment, then spoke slowly: "First of all, we have to deal with your father's funeral, and then I think I will find a lawyer to see if there is a legal way to solve these problems." As for you and Xiaomin, I just hope that you can continue to live and stop being troubled by the old things of these families. ”
I nodded, and although there were still many puzzles and mixed emotions in my heart, at least now I understood my mother's situation better. I promised my mother that no matter what, we would face all this together.
As the night wore on, my mother and I sat quietly in the backyard for a long time. The wind blew gently, taking away the hustle and bustle of the day, leaving only a quiet and a swirling of thoughts. At this moment, I felt that the distance between us was closer than ever. Perhaps, this is the invisible bond between family members, no matter how many ups and downs they experience, they will always support each other at critical moments.
A few days later, we finished my father's funeral, and everything was arranged appropriately and appropriately. After the busyness and sadness subsided, my mother and I began to discuss our next steps. I propose to bring in a lawyer to help us deal with the tedious and potentially legal issues that my father left behind.
My mother agreed to my suggestion, and we quickly found a lawyer with extensive experience in handling such cases, Mr. Zhang. When we first met, my mother and I told him as much detail as possible about my father's life.
After listening carefully to our narrative, Mr. Zhang began to put forward his views and suggestions. "Based on what you have described, the first thing we need to do is sort out all the debt issues, including confirming the authenticity and legal validity of the debt. For those so-called 'friends', if they come back to harass, we can consider taking legal measures to deal with it. ”
The mother listened attentively and nodded occasionally. "I wonder how complicated it would be if there was really a legal action?"
Lawyer Zhang looked at his mother and replied, "It depends on the other party's behavior. If they use illegal means, such as threats or intimidation, we can directly report them to the police. As for debt, as long as there is no formal debt contract, it will be difficult for them to legally bind you. ”
I interjected, "So what do we need to prepare?"
"First of all, all of your father's past financial records, any documents that might prove the debt relationship, including bank transaction records. In addition, if you can provide specific information about these people, such as names, contact details, etc., it will also be very helpful for us to take action. Lawyer Zhang explained.
Over the next few weeks, my mother and I began to sort through the papers and records left behind by our father. The process is extremely tedious and emotionally challenging, and every time you flip through a document, you seem to touch the shadow of my father's life. My mother would often stop what she was doing and look out the window with a confused look, and I knew she had mixed feelings.
While sorting out the documents, I also kept in touch with Mr. Zhang from time to time to update on our progress. Mr. Zhang is very professional, he not only provides us with legal guidance, but also reminds us to pay attention to emotional adjustment.
One night, as my mother and I were at the dinner table discussing our next steps, the doorbell rang. I got up to open the door, and there were two middle-aged men standing outside the door that I had never seen before.
"Hello, are you Li Hua?" one of them asked.
I replied vigilantly, "I am, who are you?"
"We are old friends of your father, and we heard that Mr. Li has passed away, so we came to see it. Incidentally...... I'd like to talk to you about the past, too. Another said.
My heart tightened and I realized that this was exactly what my mother was worried about. "What are the specific things? If necessary, we can make an appointment at the law firm. ”
The two of them looked at each other, obviously not expecting me to respond like this. "Don't bother, we're just trying to settle some unfinished business privately. ”
I said firmly, "I'm sorry, we want to handle any matter formally and transparently, please contact our lawyer, Mr. Zhang." ”
Seeing my resolute attitude, the two of them stopped insisting, left a sentence of "We will contact you again", and turned to leave.
Closing the door, I took a deep breath and turned to see that my mother had walked over to me. "...... was that?"
"It's okay, Mom. I've got them to contact us through a lawyer. We'll be careful. I comforted my mother, even though I was a little apprehensive.
This incident made us realize even more clearly that it was not easy to solve the problems left by our father. But with Mr. Zhang's help, we are at least not alone. This dual protection, both legal and emotional, made my mother and I feel some peace of mind.
A few days later, my mother and I met with the two men again in Mr. Zhang's office. In the presence of Mr. Zhang, the negotiations appear more formal and secure.
The men seemed to realize our firmness and preparation, and this time their attitude changed a lot.
"We just want to solve some of the financial problems left by Lao Li. It was the bearded man who spoke, and his tone was much softer than the last time we met.
Mr. Zhang nodded, and then asked, "What are the specific financial issues you are referring to? ”
Another man, who appeared to be older, took out a stack of papers from his briefcase and handed them to Mr. Zhang. "These are some IOUs and agreements that Mr. Li has made with us before, and we hope to be able to pay them off. ”
Lawyer Zhang took the documents and carefully examined each one, and then his brow gradually furrowed. Most of these IOUs don't have specific dates and detailed instructions for use, and even some of the signatures look suspicious. ”
The bearded man hurriedly explained: "That's because we've all been friends for many years, so we've always been more casual in doing things. ”
Lawyer Zhang shook his head disapprovingly, "Even between friends, financial matters should be formal and transparent. Such a casual record is difficult to use as evidence of debt in law. ”
I interjected, "We understand your desire to resolve the issue, but all of these solutions must be done within the framework of the law." We cannot accept any unsubstantiated financial requests. ”
The older men seemed a little displeased, but with Mr. Zhang's persistence and professionalism, they also seemed to realize that it was impossible to force their initial request.
Mr. Zhang made a compromise proposal: "If both parties agree, we can appoint an independent third party to conduct a review of the authenticity and legality of these IOUs." Based on the results of the review, we will decide on the next steps. ”
The two men exchanged glances, seemingly engaged in a quick discussion in silence. Eventually, the bearded man nodded, "We can accept the offer." ”
In the weeks that followed, everything went according to Mr. Zhang's plan. An independent review revealed that most of the IOUs were indeed problematic and could not be used as valid legal evidence. The result was obviously not good for the two men, but they didn't seem to have any more way to continue to pursue the alleged debt.
After dealing with all this, my mother and I sat at home, and her expression was much more relaxed than before.
"Hua, you see, everything is going in a good direction. Although the process is complicated, at least we see hope. Mother said softly.
I nodded, "Yes, Mom." Everything will be fine. Thank you for your continued strength and courage, and thank you for your help. ”
My mother smiled, the first time I had seen her smile so relieved since my father died. "yes, we all need courage. No matter what difficulties we encounter, as long as we can stick to the right approach, there will always be a day when the problem will be solved. ”
My heart was filled with gratitude, and I felt the peace and hope that I had not felt for a long time as I watched the sunset gradually set outside the window. Whatever challenges lie ahead, at least for the moment, we can take a breather and rejoice in what has been achieved. Our home has experienced ups and downs, but it will eventually usher in a bright future.
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