Wang Qiang pushed open the door, and the room was quiet, his wife Li Jing was sitting on the sofa, holding an old magazine in her hand, but her gaze seemed to pass through the pages, staring at some distant place. He gently lowered his briefcase and changed into slippers, a scene that had been played out almost every day for the past fifteen years, methodically and meticulously.
"It's late, and there are a lot of chores on the customer's side today. Wang Qiang rubbed his hands together, trying to break the suffocating tranquility, he knew that Li Jing's appearance usually meant that she was preoccupied.
Li Jing smiled slightly and raised her eyes to look at him, "Busy people always have a reason, are you hungry? ”
Wang Qiang shook his head, he was not hungry, but he felt a little bad in his heart. "Quietly, is there something between us?" he tried to see.
Li Jing was stunned for a moment, then lowered her head and returned to the magazine, "It's nothing, you think too much." There was a hint of tiredness in his voice, as if he was avoiding something.
Wang Qiang knows that she has recently become extremely sensitive to dealing with neighbors, and everyone used to meet in the community, either nodding or greeting a few words, but now it has become a scene that Li Jing deliberately avoids.
"I saw Aunt Zhang this morning, she greeted you, but you didn't hear it. Wang Qiang said tentatively, but his voice was mixed with irrepressible confusion.
"Oh, really? I probably didn't notice. Li Jing's answer seemed boring, she stood up and walked slowly to the kitchen.
Following her into the kitchen, Wang Qiang watched Li Jing prepare dinner for him, and in the steaming heat, he tried to speak again: "Jingjing, if something is pressed in our hearts, we can face it together." Don't hold it alone. ”
Li Jing stopped the movement in her hand and took a deep breath, as if she was mustering up her courage, "Husband, it's me who is wrong, there are some things that have made me feel bad recently, which may have affected my relationship with my neighbors, I will adjust it myself." ”
Wang Qiang took the chopsticks, but the doubts in his heart couldn't be lightened, "Jingjing, we are husband and wife, we are a family, what can't we say?"
Her body trembled slightly, "Husband, you know that I am a straight person, and there are some things that I really can't see." Those neighbors, it's not as simple as we think. ”
Wang Qiang immediately sensed the seriousness of the matter, he had never seen Li Jing so excited. Sighing heavily, he stepped forward and hugged her gently, "No matter what happens, we'll face it together." You're not alone. ”
Li Jing let Wang Qiang hug her, and a little relief flashed in her eyes, but more of a confused and helpless person. For her, home has always been a warm harbor, a place where she can let her guard down and release her true feelings. But at this time, every corner of Lian's house seemed to remind her of that incident, that secret.
Wang Qiang didn't know that in addition to the distant and vague stories in the magazine, in the calm little world of him and Li Jing, there was actually a hidden storm ready to go.
After dinner, Li Jing washed the dishes as usual, and Wang Qiang sat at the dining table, flipping through the news. He noticed that Li Jing's movements of washing dishes were more rapid than usual. Wang Qiang suddenly spoke, interrupting the silence of the room: "Jingjing, we need to talk." ”
Li Jing stopped what she was doing, turned around, and a touch of nervousness swept over her face. Wang Qiang felt uneasy and rose from the bottom of his heart. "I've noticed that you've been not getting along well with your neighbors lately, is there any reason for that?"
"Husband, you don't understand, some people have a set on the surface and a set behind them, and there are such people in our community. Li Jing's voice seemed to be referential.
"Did something unpleasant happen, or did someone do something to you?" Wang Qiang continued to ask.
"No, it's not against me, it's those things that I can't stand it. Li Jing's eyes dodged, obviously not wanting to continue the topic.
Wang Qiang shook his head, "Jingjing, we are husband and wife, I have the right to know if you have troubles, don't carry everything by yourself." ”
Li Jing looked at Wang Qiang, tears gradually appeared in her eyes, but she still couldn't reveal the secret in her heart. Wang Qiang's heart tightened, when did it start, there was such a high wall between them.
A few days later, late one night, Li Jing sat on the sofa in the living room with a pillow, the tears in the corners of her eyes had not yet dried. Wang Qiang rubbed his eyes and staggered over: "What's wrong with you? Why don't you sleep here again?"
"Husband... I don't know what to do. Li Jing's trembling voice revealed despair, "I feel that it is becoming more and more difficult for me to deal with myself in this home." ”
Wang Qiang walked up to Li Jing and squatted down, his voice was full of worry: "Did you think of divorce?"
Li Jing didn't look directly into Wang Qiang's eyes, but quietly took out a card from his pocket and handed it to him. The card is a divorce lawyer's business card that looks crumpled and crumpled.
"I, I don't really want to get to this point, but those neighbors, their things make me sick. I'm afraid that all of this will affect us one day. Li Jing finally spoke, although vague, but it made Wang Qiang feel the seriousness of the problem.
"No matter what they do, they can't affect us unless we allow it. Wang Qiang clasped Li Jing's hand, "I don't want to lose you, and I don't want to ruin our home because of some inexplicable things." ”
Wang Qiang's firmness made Li Jing's defense begin to loosen, and she looked up at Wang Qiang with a half-choked voice: "But I'm afraid, I'm afraid that this home is no longer our safe haven." ”
That night, neither of them slept until dawn, they sat quietly, and neither of them spoke again. There was an indescribable smell in the air, a calm after a conflict, and even more so a calm before a storm.
Wang Qiang stayed up almost all night, and he felt that something had to be done. The next day, he began to keep an eye out for the neighbors who usually accosted them. In between work, he even secretly observed their movements, hoping to find clues.
Li Jing came to the community garden, and seemed to be avoiding the greetings of the neighbors again. Wang Qiang watched from a distance, only to see her leave in a hurry. He had doubts in his heart and decided to follow. Chasing him to the corner, he vaguely heard several residents whispering about the scandal at the home of an elderly person in the community. At this moment, Wang Qiang seemed to have been struck by lightning, and the "scandal" that the neighbors said was something that Li Jing was unwilling to mention?
Late at night, Wang Qiang sat on the sofa, waiting for Li Jing's return. As soon as the door opened, a hint of surprise flashed across Li Jing's nervous face. "Husband, why don't you rest?" she tried to keep her composure.
Wang Qiang looked her in the eye, "Jingjing, I heard something about the neighbor today. He spoke slowly, "Did someone spread bad news and you accidentally found out about it?"
After hesitating for a moment, Li Jing finally collapsed, "Yes, I heard something about the old Zhou family. That thing was so embarrassing. Now, the whole community is talking about it. ”
"You're afraid that this will affect our family, right?" asked Wang Qiang softly.
Li Jing nodded, her eyes full of fear, "Husband, I don't know what we should do." If a child hears these rumors, they don't know how they will be affected. ”
Wang Qiang took Li Jing's hand and gave her a deep hug, "Our family has nothing to do with others. These rumors will not affect us, let alone destroy our homes. ”
The two hugged each other tightly on the couch while the rain began to fall heavier outside. Li Jing's tears and rain are intertwined, and all secrets and fears are slowly released with the rain. At this moment, Wang Qiang truly understood Li Jing's forbearance and silence in those days.
This night, they meet to start over and rebuild the spiritual harbor that belongs to the two of them. They know that as long as there is love in each other's hearts, any storm in the outside world is just a passing cloud, and they believe that they can work together to overcome this storm.
After experiencing that storm, the relationship between Wang Qiang and Li Jing seems to have a new understanding and trust. They sat on the couch in the living room, holding hands, and planned the future together.
"Husband, thank you for your understanding and support. Li Jing said sincerely, her eyes full of gratitude.
"Quietly, this is what I should do. Home is our common responsibility. We will face everything together. Wang Qiang held Li Jing's hand tightly, and his voice was firm and powerful.
The two were relatively silent, but their hearts were getting closer and closer. Wang Qiang recalled the years he had walked with Li Jing, every laughter and tears. He suddenly realized that home is not just a house, but a warm harbor for two people to walk together.
He took a deep breath and made a new decision in his heart: "In the days to come, I will spend more time at home, with you and children." Work is important, but family is my lighthouse. ”
"Me too," Li Jing gently leaned on Wang Qiang's shoulder, "I will let go of the fear in my heart and work with you to fill our home with love and warmth." ”
With their words, the atmosphere of the home becomes more welcoming. The rising sun outside the window sprinkled the warm morning light on this small home, giving new hope and beginnings.
The misunderstandings and conflicts of the past have disappeared, Wang Qiang and Li Jing looked at each other and smiled again, and they had a common promise in their hearts: no matter how noisy the outside world is, they will protect this quiet world of their own.
Finally, Wang Qiang re-examines his relationship with his wife, enriching and deepening his understanding of home. They looked at each other, and their eyes reflected each other's reflections - all this is what life is truly worth cherishing.