My name is Li Xiaofeng, and I am an ordinary middle-aged man living an ordinary life. I have a daughter named Xiaoyu, who is the jewel of my wife and me. Our family lives in a small courtyard on the outskirts of Beijing, and although we are not rich, we are also warm and happy.
The conflict began with an ordinary family dinner. That day, my wife and I prepared a sumptuous dinner and wanted to have a good chat with our daughter Xiaoyu. Xiaoyu is a smart and clever girl, but lately we have noticed that she is a little strange, always looking restless, and her words reveal a vague anxiety.
"Xiaoyu, what's going on lately?, is there something bothering?" I asked with concern, looking at my daughter fiddling with chopsticks in her hand, feeling a little uneasy.
Xiaoyu raised her head and looked embarrassed: "Parents, in fact, I've been a little worried lately, I'm ...... with Fengbao."
"Feng Bao, which Feng Bao is it?" I interrupted, and several possible names flashed through my mind, but none of them felt quite right.
"It's that Feng Bao from our school, everyone calls him Feng Bao Nan. Xiaoyu said a little shyly.
My wife and I exchanged glances and chuckled. Feng Baonan, this name is not unfamiliar to me, but it makes me feel a little uneasy. I heard that he was the "school grass" in school, with good grades and a superior family background, but I heard that he also had some playboy personality, so I didn't feel too comfortable with him.
"Xiaoyu, you and Feng Bao...... How deep?" said his wife's voice, worried and uneasy.
"I ...... I don't know yet. Xiaoyu lowered her head and said softly.
"Well, let's not be in a hurry, let's eat first, and we'll talk about it after eating. "I tried to calm the atmosphere, after all, my daughter's future is at stake, and I can't be impulsive.
Dinner was a bit dull, and my wife and I were thinking about our daughter's thoughts. But we also know that forcing the question now may be counterproductive, so we can only stand still and wait for the right moment.
After eating, my wife and I sat in the living room, Xiaoyu walked around with her mobile phone, not knowing what she was thinking. I coughed lightly, attracting her attention.
"Xiaoyu, can you talk to your parents about what happened?" I tried to start the awkward topic.
Xiaoyu stopped and looked at us, a little confused in his eyes: "Actually...... Feng Bao and I ...... Maybe it's going to be together. ”
"Maybe?" asked my wife and I at the same time, feeling even more uneasy.
"Yes, he's been chasing me lately, and I think he's pretty good, so ...... Probably together. Xiaoyu said a little crampedly.
My wife and I looked at each other, and we both had an indescribable feeling in our hearts. Feng Baonan, he doesn't give us a very good impression, but we can't completely deny his excellence and charm. This is a test for us, a test of our trust and support for our daughter.
"Xiaoyu, we will not interfere with your emotional choices, but I hope you will consider it carefully and not be easily influenced by others. The wife said in a serious tone.
"I know, Mom and Dad. Xiaoyu nodded, as if she understood our concerns.
I took a deep breath and made up my mind: "Okay, since you have thought about it, then we will respect your choice." However, we want you to cherish yourself and not trust others easily and not make promises easily. ”
Xiaoyu looked at us, with a hint of gratitude and understanding in her eyes: "Thank you Dad, thank you Mom, I will think about it." ”
We talked for a long time that night, and although we were still a little uneasy, at least we expressed our worries and expectations. When our daughter grows up, it is time for us to let her make her own choices, but as parents, we will still do our best to protect her and guide her on the right path. This is the beginning of a contradiction and a new challenge.
As time passed, the relationship between Xiaoyu and Feng Baonan gradually deepened. My wife and I try to be as neutral as possible, neither being overly intrusive nor deliberately avoiding the topic. However, there was always a faint uneasiness in my heart, as if I had a premonition that a storm was coming.
One day, I was about to go out to work, and my wife suddenly called, and her voice was full of anxiety: "Xiaofeng, you go home soon, Xiaoyu has an accident!"
I hurriedly put down what I was doing and hurried home. When I arrived at the door, I saw several people gathered at the door, and the sound of noisy conversation came into my ears. My heart sank, and I hurried in.
"What's going on?" I asked, scanning my surroundings.
My wife nervously grabbed my hand: "That's the case, Feng Baonan's family found us and said that they wanted to discuss something with us. ”
My heart tightened, and the sense of foreboding grew stronger. I walked into the living room and saw Feng Baonan's parents sitting on the sofa with serious expressions.
"What are you looking for me?" I asked, already speculating in my mind about the possible cause.
Feng Baonan's father stood up and said in an indifferent tone: "We came to you because we have something to discuss, your daughter has been with our family Feng Bao for a while, and we feel that it is time to talk." ”
My heart tightened, and I felt an ominous aura. I know that this must have something to do with the relationship between Xiaoyu and Feng Baonan.
"Speak. I said calmly.
Feng Baonan's mother continued: "We feel that since the two children are already together, there should be a clear plan for the future. Our family Fengbao will inherit the family business in the future, and we hope that he can find a girl who can be worthy of him. ”
When I heard this, my heart sank. The meaning of their family is obvious, that is, they hope that Xiaoyu can become their daughter-in-law.
"What do you mean?" I tried to suppress the anger in my heart, but I couldn't.
"We hope that you can support this relationship, and we will do everything we can to help you and give Xiaoyu a happy future. Feng Baonan's father said it rightly.
My wife and I looked at each other, and we both felt a sense of powerlessness. This sudden request left us helpless, and we could neither forcibly interfere with our daughter's feelings, nor stay out of it.
"We'll think about it. I barely said it, but I knew in my heart that it was an inevitable challenge.
Feng Baonan's parents left our house, leaving a room of silence. My wife and I looked at each other, knowing that this was not the end of the story, but a new beginning. This escalation of contradictions makes us feel extremely anxious and helpless.
Feng Baonan's proposal fell on our family like a bombshell, triggering an unprecedented crisis. My wife and I stayed up all night, thinking about how to deal with the sudden change.
The next day, I decided to talk to my daughter Xiaoyu to find out what she was thinking and feeling. I found her, and she was sitting at her desk writing something, looking a little confused.
"Xiaoyu, I want to talk to you about last night. I sat across from her and whispered.
Xiaoyu raised her head and looked at me, her eyes full of confusion: "Dad, are you talking about Feng Baonan's family?"
I nodded, my heart aching. In my daughter's eyes, I saw a kind of helplessness and confusion, which made my heart ache even more.
"Daddy wasn't trying to interfere with your emotional choices, but the offer was so sudden that we needed time to think about it. "I tried to lighten the mood.
Xiaoyu lowered her head and listened to me silently. I know that she is also conflicted in her heart, maybe she doesn't want to break up with Feng Baonan, but she doesn't know how to face his family's proposal.
"Daddy, I'...... I don't know what to do either. Xiaoyu said softly.
I reached out and took her hand: "Child, you must know that we parents will always support you, and no matter what choice you make, we will stand behind you. ”
Xiaoyu raised her head, tears flashing in her eyes: "Thank you, Dad." ”
I patted her hand gently, my heart full of helplessness and distress. At this age, a child is in the confusion and contradictions of adolescence, and we, as parents, can only try our best to understand and support her, give her enough time and space, and let her make the right choice by herself.
Back in the living room, my wife and I began to discuss what to do. We are well aware that this problem cannot be solved overnight, and we need to think carefully and try to avoid hurting our daughter's feelings and self-esteem.
"Xiaofeng, what do you think we should do?" my wife held my hand tightly, her eyes full of anxiety and uneasiness.
I pondered for a moment and said, "I think we need to have a good talk with Xiaoyu first to understand her true thoughts and feelings. We can then communicate with Feng Baonan's family and express our thoughts and concerns. ”
The wife nodded and agreed: "Yes, we can't blindly run away, we must face this problem and find a suitable solution." ”
We decided to communicate with Xiaoyu first, listen to her opinion, and then decide on the next move. Facing this unexpected challenge, I was filled with anxiety and worry, but at the same time, I was determined to do my best to protect my daughter.
My wife and I decided to have an in-depth conversation with Xiaoyu to hear her thoughts and feelings. After dinner, we found a quiet moment, sat in the living room, and started this conversation.
"Xiaoyu, we want to talk to you about you and Feng Baonan. "I tried to get the conversation started.
Xiaoyu nodded a little nervously and motioned for us to continue.
"What do you think of Feng Baonan's proposal?" asked his wife gently.
Xiaoyu was silent for a while, and then said softly, "I...... Actually, I don't know what to do. I don't know exactly what his family means, but I don't want to affect our relationship because of that. ”
My wife and I looked at each other, and I couldn't help but feel a little worried. Our daughter's words revealed her hesitation and confusion, which made us even more anxious.
"Xiaoyu, we won't force you to do anything you don't want to do. But we want you to think rationally and not make regretful choices because of the spur of the moment. "I tried to persuade her.
Xiaoyu was silent for a while, then raised her head, her eyes flashing with determination: "Mom and Dad, I understand your worries, but I don't think the relationship between me and Feng Baonan is so superficial. I am willing to face the challenges of the future with him, and no matter what happens, I will not regret it. ”
After listening to my daughter's words, I felt a mixed emotion welling up in my heart. As parents, we always want our daughters to be happy, but the reality is so complex that we can't fully control everything.
"Xiaoyu, we understand your thoughts, but we also hope that you can think carefully and don't make promises lightly. The wife said in a firm tone.
Xiaoyu nodded, indicating that she understood our concerns. Although the conversation did not lead to any concrete results, it at least gave us a better understanding of our daughter's inner thoughts and also made her aware of our concerns and expectations.
In the evening, my wife and I sat in the living room, silently thinking about what to do next. This problem is not something that can be solved overnight, and we need to be patient, while also trying to protect our daughter's feelings and self-esteem.
"Xiaofeng, what do you think we should do?" his wife's voice revealed a hint of helplessness and anxiety.
I took a deep breath and relieved my tense nerves: "We can try to communicate with Feng Baonan's family first and express our thoughts and concerns. Perhaps a compromise can be found. ”
The wife nodded in agreement: "Yes, we can't be helpless, we must actively look for solutions to problems." ”
In the face of this sudden challenge, I knew that we could not back down and that we had to face it bravely and do everything we could to protect my daughter's well-being. This escalation of contradictions has made us deeply aware that as parents, what we have to do is not only love, but also protection and guidance.
A few days later, my wife and I decided to have a formal meeting with Feng Baonan's family for an in-depth discussion about our daughter and their family's proposal. We invited them to our house and sat down for a serious conversation.
Feng Baonan's parents are resolute, they think that the two children have long been in love with each other, and they should confirm the relationship as soon as possible. My wife and I are worried about our daughter's future and that she will lose more because of her relationship.
"Don't you think such an offer is a bit hasty?" I tried to lighten the mood, but my heart was filled with anxiety.
Feng Baonan's father's face sank: "I don't think it's a rush, but a conformity with the times." The children are all adults and should have their own decisions. ”
My wife and I exchanged a look, and we both knew in our hearts that this conversation was not going to be easy.
"It's not that we don't support the children's feelings, we just want to be able to give them enough time and space to think about it and not rush into a decision. The wife said in a firm tone.
Feng Baonan's mother frowned when she heard this: "What does time and space mean? Don't you think our family's Feng Bao is not good enough?"
I quickly explained: "That's not what I mean, we just feel that this matter needs to be carefully considered and not acted hastily." ”
Feng Baonan's parents were obviously dissatisfied with our attitude, and the atmosphere became more and more tense.
"We will not force the children, but we hope that you will give them more support and blessings. Feng Baonan's father had a hint of impatience in his voice.
My wife and I exchanged a helpless look, knowing that it would be difficult to make a breakthrough in this conversation.
"We will consider your proposals, but I hope you will understand our concerns. "I tried to put an end to this awkward situation.
Feng Baonan's family got up to say goodbye, leaving a room of silence. My wife and I looked at each other, filled with helplessness and uneasiness.
Although this conversation did not lead to any concrete results, at least it gave us a clear understanding of each other's positions and ideas. Our daughter's future is of paramount importance to us, and we must do everything we can to protect her from any harm.
In the evening, my wife and I sat in the living room, immersed in thought. Far from being solved, this problem has become more intractable. But we can't be helpless, we must find a suitable solution that will allow our daughter to be happy and protect her future. It's a test, but it's also an experience of growth.