On summer mornings, the air is filled with a faint scent of flowers, which is fresh and pleasant. Zhang Xiaomei, who had just finished jogging in the morning, wiped the fine sweat on her forehead while walking into the kitchen to prepare breakfast for two people. She and Li Ming have been married for three years, both of whom are urban white-collar workers who believe in independence, and recently, after a bland dinner, they decided to implement the family AA system, which caused quite a stir in their circle of friends.
"Is breakfast ready?" Li Ming wore a suit and tie and walked out of the bedroom.
"Right away, today was a western breakfast with your favorite bacon and omelette. Zhang Xiaomei said as she tossed the fried bacon plate into two plates.
"Sounds good, by the way, Mom is coming next week, do you remember?" Li Ming changed the topic while adjusting his tie.
"Remember, you mentioned it yesterday. Zhang Xiaomei replied calmly, and she divided the cut fruit into two small bowls.
"I thought about it, this month's expenses have to be recalculated, after all, there can be one more person, food, drink, housing and transportation are a lot of expenses. Li Ming voiced his concerns.
"Of course, we all agreed to the AA system, and Mom naturally has to be calculated clearly. Yi Xiaomei looked very natural.
"Do you think it's okay to charge your mother?" Li Ming's brows furrowed slightly.
"Seek truth from facts, besides, it's not that we didn't give her money, it's just that the accounts are clear. Zhang Xiaomei said lightly.
The two of them sat down on the floor and began to enjoy breakfast. While eating, Zhang Xiaomei suddenly said: "I think we will count 30 per meal, and the accommodation fee will be 3,000 a month according to our market price." "
"This ...... Won't there be too much?" Li Ming was a little hesitant, after all, it was his own mother.
"Why, this is still a family price. Zhang Xiaomei did not hesitate to refute.
Li Ming knew that Zhang Xiaomei had always been strict in her reasoning, and she also controlled the family's expenses tightly.
"Okay, then I'll talk to my mom in the evening. Li Ming agreed, but he didn't feel good in his heart.
When the two of them finished breakfast and were about to clean up, the phone rang, and it was Li Ming's mother, Mrs. Li, calling.
"Ming'er, Mom's train ticket for next Monday has been booked, and remember to pick it up if you have time. Mrs. Li's kind voice came from there.
"Good Mom, no problem. Li Ming agreed, and glanced at Zhang Xiaomei, who was washing the dishes, and the contradiction in his heart deepened.
At the end of the call, Zhang Xiaomei wiped her hands, went to the small table in the living room as always, picked up the ledger, turned to a new page and wrote: "Starting next week, 30 yuan per meal, mother's accommodation fee: 3,000 yuan/month." "
What will happen in the coming days? Li Ming didn't know, and Zhang Xiaomei didn't seem to have expected it, but the days would go on, and the trajectory of their lives would change because of their choices. The peaceful life was quietly broken by a train ticket, and the arrival of Mrs. Li was like a pebble thrown into the calm lake, stirring up continuous ripples.
Li Ming stood on the platform of the train station to greet his mother. "Ming'er, this train is really crowded, my old bones are about to fall apart. Mrs. Li got off the train and complained as she handed over the bag to her son.
"Mom, you've worked hard, go home and have a good rest. Li Ming supported his mother with concern.
There was nothing to say all the way, and when she returned home, Li Ming's wife Zhang Xiaomei had already prepared a meal, and the hot dining table looked particularly warm.
"Mother-in-law, please sit down, you must be tired, eat something to replenish your body. Zhang Xiaomei greeted politely.
"It's a good dish, and it makes you feel appetizing when you smell it. Mrs. Li smiled and sat down.
After dinner, Zhang Xiaomei took the opportunity to convey her thoughts on the cost of room and board to Li Ming, who felt that this was a topic that had to be faced, and summoned up the courage to sit down in the living room and communicate openly with his mother.
"Mom, Xiaomei proposed, from now on, our family will start calculating the cost of room and board. Li Ming said cautiously.
"What's the calculation?" Mrs. Li was a little confused.
"It's 30 per meal, and your stay is 3000 a month. Li Ming's voice fell.
"30?3000?" Mrs. Li suddenly felt like an outsider, and the smile on her face gradually disappeared.
"Mom, this is the AA system, Xiaomei and I have lived like this. Li Ming explained while looking at Zhang Xiaomei next to him.
"I'm just a burden, aren't I?" A trace of sadness flashed in Mrs. Li's eyes.
"Mother-in-law, you are mistaken when you say that, we are only doing this for the sake of fairness in life. Zhang Xiaomei tried to explain.
Mrs. Li was silent for a moment, took a deep breath, and suddenly said, "Even so, whether our family can understand each other and support each other to the end, I still have to see." "
An awkward silence enveloped the tiny living room. Li Ming felt unprecedented pressure, he knew the gap in his mother's heart, but he also understood his wife's insistence on pursuing independence.
Over the next few days, the atmosphere in the home became more and more solemn. Zhang Xiaomei is still busy every day, going to work during the day and taking care of housework at night, while Mrs. Li tries to adapt to such rules, she writes down what she eats and lives every day, although it seems to be normal on the face, but the communication between the two is significantly reduced.
"Mom, look at me this week, I've made you a few more of your favorite dishes. Li Ming tried to break the silence during a dinner.
"Well, I saw it, and it tasted good. Mrs. Li responded lightly.
"Look at the less, it's not easy for my mother-in-law to be alone. Zhang Xiaomei whispered to Li Ming in the kitchen.
"Why are you saying it now?" Li Ming shook his head helplessly.
At this moment, a voice came from outside the door, and it turned out to be Uncle Wu next door who came to visit the door.
"Oh, Mrs. Li, are you going back to the countryside?" Uncle Wu looked curiously at the bedding stacked on the sofa.
"No, not in. Mrs. Li replied with a smile, but there was a little confusion in her eyes.
Zhang Xiaomei and Li Ming glanced at each other, and they both saw each other's helplessness. The boat of life is full of ups and downs in everyone's choice and persistence, and along the way, how much is the warmth and understanding we expect? A week has passed, and the daily dinner time at home has gradually turned into a silent contest. That night, in front of a sumptuous dinner, the atmosphere of the family was unusually depressing.
"Mom, take a look at this month's living expenses, if there are any problems, we can talk about them now. Zhang Xiaomei said as she gently pushed a ledger in front of Mrs. Li.
Mrs. Li glanced at the account book and frowned slightly: "I really didn't expect that I would have to read the account book at my son's house." "
"Mother-in-law, this is not aimed at you. Li Ming and I also settled out like this. Zhang Xiaomei tried to explain, but her tone was resolute.
"I have been frugal all my life, just so that my son can have a good life. I didn't expect that in the end, I had to calculate even eating and sleeping. There was a hint of sadness in Mrs. Li's tone.
"Mom, Xiaomei, she is also well-intentioned. Li Ming tried to ease the atmosphere.
"Good intentions? I'm a seventy-year-old lady, how much trouble can I cause you? I raised you and married you, did I get such treatment?" Mrs. Li's voice began to rise.
"Mom, don't say that, we just want to make the family's economy more reasonable. Li Ming looked at Zhang Xiaomei as he spoke, hoping that she would understand.
"Reasonable, Xiaomei, tell me, is your reasonableness also include those debts before your marriage?" Mrs. Li's words carried some sarcasm.
Zhang Xiaomei's face changed, and she had been reluctant to mention this past: "Mother-in-law, that's all in the past, and I'm repaying the loan every month now." "
"Then why should I bear the debts of your young people?" The more Mrs. Li spoke, the more excited she became.
Li Ming didn't know what to do, he sympathized with his mother and understood his wife: "Mom, we can discuss it again, don't do this." "
"Discuss? I am your mother, Ming'er!" Mrs. Li's eyes began to moisten.
Zhang Xiaomei also realized the seriousness of the matter, she was silent for a while, and then said: "I just do it according to the rules of our current society." "
"Rules? Are there any more important rules in the house than blood is thicker than water?" Mrs. Li stood up, and her hand on crutches began to tremble.
Li Ming looked at his mother's pitiful appearance, and the inner struggle became more and more obvious, he didn't know which side he was on, or which side he should be on.
"Mom, I'm ......" Before Li Ming's words were finished, Mrs. Li had already turned around and walked towards her room.
That night, no one ate much. Zhang Xiaomei and Li Ming looked at each other, and the guilt and confusion in their hearts were like a tumbling river, turbulent and agitated. They don't know where such an argument will lead the family, only that such conflict and pain are never what a family should have. After several days of silence and reflection, Li Ming and Zhang Xiaomei realized that they could not let this situation continue, and the warmth and affection of the family could not be replaced by cold numbers. So one night, they decided to sit down again and figure out a way to get the best of both worlds.
"Mom, we want to talk to you about the previous incident again. Li Ming plucked up his courage and said.
Mrs. Li put down the needle and thread in her hand, with expectation in her eyes: "Say, what are you thinking about?"
Zhang Xiaomei sighed softly and said, "Mother-in-law, we didn't think about it before, I'm sorry." "
"yes, Mom. We still decided that our family would not mention the cost of room and board. Li Ming added.
"And what about your economy?" Mrs. Li asked, looking a little worried.
"We'll find another way to solve it. For example, I can do some part-time jobs to supplement my income. Zhang Xiaomei said her plan.
"I also try to control my personal expenses and try to save as much as possible. Li Ming said.
"Children, it's not that Mom doesn't understand your difficulties, my old bones can still move, and I can also go out and find something to do to reduce your burden. Mrs. Li's tone was firm.
"Mom, this is really useless, you have worked hard for most of your life. Li Ming hurriedly said.
"However, we still have to talk about it in the future, and we can't let money hurt our feelings. Zhang Xiaomei expressed her feelings.
"That is, feelings are much more important than money. Mrs. Li's face finally showed a smile.
With this late-night conversation, the atmosphere in the house seemed to slowly begin to soften, and Li Ming and Zhang Xiaomei made concessions and adjustments through their own methods. Mrs. Li also started her own small business, occasionally selling some handicrafts, not to make money, but to make her heart comfortable.
In the days after the turmoil, home became a haven for their souls. They find the true meaning of home through listening, understanding and compromising, and achieve a certain balance between family harmony and individual independence.
However, in modern society, how many families struggle to find a balance between money and emotion, and can they, like Li Ming's family, find their own answers?