My name is Xiao Fang, I am 28 years old, and I married my husband Xiao Ming two years ago. After marriage, I have been living with my in-laws and sister-in-law Xiaohong. Although there are some small contradictions in the family's relationship, they are generally harmonious. My parents-in-law have always treated me well and love me as if I were my own daughter. However, there are times when they are more doting and pampering to Xiaohong than they are to me, which often makes me feel a little uncomfortable.
For the next two years of marriage, I lived in a small room at home. Although the room is not big, as newlyweds, Xiao Ming and I can barely get along. But recently, my in-laws suddenly offered to give up my room to Xiaohong, on the grounds that Xiaohong was about to take the college entrance examination and needed an independent learning environment.
"Xiaofang, you see that Xiaohong is about to take the college entrance examination, and she needs a quiet environment to concentrate on reviewing her homework. You and Xiao Ming let her live in the room, and the two of you can make do with it. That's what my father-in-law said to me.
I knew what she meant, but I still pretended not to understand: "What do you mean? What kind of independent environment do you need?"
"Ouch, don't quibble!" The mother-in-law was a little impatient, "We are asking you to give the room to Xiaohong, and it is always okay for the two of you to squeeze together." "
When I heard this, my anger rushed up. Obviously it was me and Xiao Ming's room, why did she have to let it out? And Xiao Hong's room was not small, so she could review her homework in her own room.
"Mother-in-law, that's not going to work. I said categorically, "That's my room with Xiao Ming, and we newlyweds should have our own private space." "
"What a private space is not a private space!" At this time, the father-in-law interjected, "Xiaohong is going to be admitted to university, this is the most important thing!
I saw Xiao Ming bowing his head on the side and didn't speak. It seems that he is starting to wobble again.
"That's not going to work!" I insisted, "If you want to give the room to Xiaohong, then we will have to charge at least 4,000 yuan in rent every month!"
"What did you say?" The two in-laws seemed stunned by my words.
That's what it means. I gritted my teeth and said, "If you give up our room, you'll have to pay us four thousand dollars in rent." "
"Are you crazy?" Mother-in-law's eyes widened, "That's our own house, and you still want to collect rent from us?"
"Then don't think about leaving the room. I looked her in the eye and never showed weakness.
"What's your attitude?" The father-in-law's face also turned pale, "We are so small for the sake of the children in the family?"
"That's my room with Xiao Ming. I repeated, "If you want to give it up, of course you have to pay a price." The rent of 4,000 yuan is still very reasonable. "
"Hmph, you useless daughter-in-law!" The mother-in-law scolded, "You actually extorted rent from us! Have you forgotten whose house this is?"
"That's it, if you make any more unreasonable trouble, we'll kick you out!" The father-in-law also glared angrily.
I glanced at Xiao Ming, who still kept his head down and didn't say a word.
"If you have to leave the room, then we have no other choice. I took a deep breath and tried to keep myself calm, "Four thousand dollars in rent, I think it's reasonable. "
"You...... You ......" My in-laws seemed to be completely annoyed by my determination, and for a moment they were at a loss, and could only repeat the same words.
I looked at Xiao Ming on the side, his head still bowed, as if he was avoiding the dispute. I know he's always been a submissive person, but this time the stakes are high, and I hope he can stand up and support his wife.
"Xiao Ming, you can say something!" I stopped him.
Xiao Ming raised his head, looked at me with helpless eyes, and stopped talking.
"Or else...... You still listen to your mother-in-law......" In the end, he chose to compromise.
My mood sank again.
"Hmph, even your own husband doesn't support you!" When her mother-in-law saw Xiao Ming standing on her side, she said triumphantly, "It seems that you are determined to do the right thing." "
"I didn't do anything against it. I said calmly, "I'm just defending my dignity and rights as a human being." "
"Dignity?rights?" My father-in-law seemed to be irritated by my words, "We gave up the room to Xiaohong, for the sake of her future. It's disgusting that you're trying to profit from it!"
"If you insist on leaving the room, you're going to have to pay the price. I said firmly, "I think the rent of 4,000 yuan a month is very fair and reasonable." "
"You can't make sense!" The mother-in-law was furious, "This is our own house, we can use it as we like! What kind of thing are you, and you want to extort rent from us?"
"That's it!" The father-in-law also chimed in, "If you are unreasonable again, we will kick you out now!"
I looked at Xiao Ming, hoping that he would step up and help me out. But he still stood there helplessly with his head bowed.
"Then get me out. I took a deep breath and said, "I can't stand your atrocities anyway." "
"You...... You ...... "My in-laws were speechless by my determination.
"Since you've all said so, I'm going to move out now!" I turned around and walked to my room and began to pack.
"Where are you going?" Xiao Ming finally asked.
"I rent my own house. Without looking back, I said, "Anyway, we have saved some money, and we can still live independently for the time being." "
"Look at it, you've pushed your daughter-in-law to this point!" Xiao Ming seemed to be a little angry with me.
"It's all her own who doesn't know what to do!" The mother-in-law scolded, "I'm embarrassed to say that we forced her!
I ignored her and concentrated on packing my things. Xiao Ming watched from the sidelines, wanting to speak and stopping.
"You two stop me!" At this moment, the father-in-law suddenly scolded him.
Xiao Ming and I were both startled by his voice and involuntarily stopped.
"Xiaofang, you listen to me well!" My father-in-law pointed his finger at me, and his face was bruised, "This is our house, and of course we have the right to decide how to use it! You are so arrogant that you want to charge us rent and treat the house as if it were yours! I have never seen such a bad daughter-in-law like yours!"
"That's right, you're too arrogant!" The mother-in-law also gritted her teeth, "We gave up the room to Xiaohong, it was for the sake of her future! You actually went against us for this little thing, it is simply ungrateful and shameless!"
"I'm just ......" I tried to explain, but my father-in-law interrupted.
"Don't quibble with me!" He shouted and scolded, "You daughter-in-law, you really broke our hearts! In that case, then you can get out of here, and don't let me see you from now on!"
"Yes, yes, you oblivion, get out of here immediately!" The mother-in-law also roared, "Otherwise, we will kick you out!"
"Enough!" At this moment, Xiao Ming finally spoke, and he stood beside me, his face extremely ugly.
"Dad, Mom, can't you be considerate and considerate of Xiaofang?" Xiao Ming looked at his in-laws, his tone was full of helplessness, "She just wants to defend her rights, why are you so aggressive?"
"Be considerate of her, she should be considerate of us!" The father-in-law's eyes widened angrily, "We gave up the room to Xiaohong to live in, and that was for the sake of her future." Xiao Fang actually opened her mouth to us lions for such a trivial matter, and demanded rent from us, it is simply unreasonable!"
"That's right, son!" The mother-in-law also tried her best to do Xiao Ming's work, "Just look at the daughter-in-law you married, it's just too arrogant! We gave up the room to Xiaohong, it was for the sake of the future of the whole family." She turned against us for a trivial matter, and kicked us out, it's so ungrateful, I don't know what to do!"
"But, Mom......" Xiao Ming seemed to be convinced, and his tone began to waver.
"Hmph, don't talk to her!" The father-in-law said angrily, "If she is unreasonable again, we will kick her out now!
I looked at Xiao Ming, and my eyes revealed helplessness. I thought he would finally come forward and help me out this time, but he was still in a dilemma and at a loss.
I stared at Xiao Ming tightly, for fear that he would eventually choose to bow to his in-laws. At this critical juncture, he finally mustered up the courage to come forward.
"Dad, Mom, can't you put yourself in Xiaofang's shoes?" Xiao Ming looked at her in-laws and said in a firm tone, "She has just stepped into this family, how wronged will she be if you treat her like this? Even if she thinks about Xiaohong's future, she can't hurt her daughter-in-law's dignity like this!"
"What are you talking about?" The father-in-law seemed to be stunned by Xiao Ming's words, and his face was embarrassed.
That's what it means. Xiao Ming didn't flinch, "Xiao Fang offered to charge 4,000 yuan in rent, which I think is very reasonable." It's too much for you to force their husband and wife out of their room without taking her feelings into account!"
"Nonsense!" The mother-in-law scolded, "That's our own house, we can use it however we like! Xiaofang is so arrogant that she wants to charge us rent, it's just unreasonable!"
"Vexatious?" Xiao Ming asked rhetorically, "Is it natural for you to forcibly occupy our room? Even if it is for Xiaohong's sake, you can't hurt Xiaofang's self-esteem like this!"
I looked at Xiao Ming, and my eyes couldn't help but moisten. Unexpectedly, at this critical juncture, he finally mustered up the courage to turn the tide.
"Nonsense! The father-in-law seemed to be annoyed by Xiao Ming's words, and pointed to his nose and scolded, "You white-eyed wolf, you actually openly contradicted Lao Tzu! It seems that you have been completely bewitched by the scourge of your daughter-in-law!"
"Dad, don't talk about Xiaofang like that. Xiao Ming's tone was still firm, "She just wants to defend her rights, and she hasn't done anything wrong." "
"Hmph, you two are the same raccoon dog!" The mother-in-law also opened her eyes angrily, "Since you look down on us so much, then get out of here! From now on, we will cut off your in-laws!"
"Mom, don't you be so ruthless, okay?" Xiao Ming persuaded, "We are a family after all." "
"A family?" The father-in-law sneered, "You two ungrateful things, are you still worthy of being members of our family? Hurry up and get out of here, otherwise we will do it ourselves!"
I looked at Xiao Ming with mixed feelings in my heart. I didn't expect that in order to protect my rights, he would not hesitate to break with his biological parents. And the in-laws were also completely annoyed by his determination, and the contradictions between the two sides have become white-hot, and there is a possibility of breaking up at any time.
"Mom, Dad, don't be so ruthless, okay?" Xiao Ming's tone finally wavered a little, "We are a family after all." Can't you understand Xiaofang's situation?"
"Considerate?" Father-in-law snorted coldly, "We gave up the room to Xiaohong, it was for the sake of her future." You two are talking to us lions about this little thing, why should we be considerate of you?"
"That's it!" The mother-in-law also gritted her teeth, "You are those ungrateful things! It is really unreasonable to oppose us for a trivial matter!"
"However, you can't hurt Xiao Fang's self-esteem like this!" Xiao Ming's tone was firm, "She just wants to defend her rights, and she hasn't done anything wrong." If you insist on leaving the room, you should give her reasonable compensation. "
"Hmph, compensation, you're blackmailing us!" My father-in-law's eyes widened with rage, "How can this be true! You should think about it for me, who did it wrong, is it for the sake of the children in the family, or are we two ungrateful things?"
"Mom and Dad, don't say that. Xiao Ming's tone finally shook a little, "We are all a family, why bother to do things absolutely? Why don't you give up the room to Xiao Hong for the time being, and after she finishes the exam, we will discuss other arrangements, how about it?"
The in-laws seemed to be moved by Xiao Ming's words, and their faces were embarrassed. I can see that they don't want to break the conflict to the point of breaking up.
"I promise you. Xiao Ming nodded.
I looked at Xiao Ming with mixed feelings in my heart. Unexpectedly, in order to resolve this contradiction, he had to make such a compromise. However, his family and everything is prosperous, and he may have no choice but to do so.
"Then it's decided. The father-in-law sighed, and seemed to be relieved, "But you have to remember that this is only a stopgap measure. After Xiaohong finishes the exam, you will have to move out and live on your own. "
"Okay, Dad. Xiao Ming nodded.
I looked at him with mixed feelings. Although this conflict has been temporarily resolved, the rift in the family has been left behind. What will happen to life in the future is really worrying.
Back in my room, I couldn't help but redden. In order to assert my rights, I had to have such a violent conflict with my in-laws. And Xiao Ming also did not hesitate to fall out with his biological parents in order to support me. Thinking of this, my heart is filled with guilt and self-blame.
I'm not a particularly stubborn person, but this time my in-laws did too much. They forcibly demanded that my room with Xiao Ming be vacated, but they didn't consider our feelings at all. What is even more ridiculous is that they think that our offer of reasonable compensation is "blackmail".