Li Fang and Zhang Qiang's married life is like a pool of stagnant water, and on the surface it is not alarming, but Li Fang knows in her heart that there are unspeakable worries hidden behind this calm. Her mother, who is over the age and her health is getting worse day by day, lives alone in an old house on the outskirts of the city. Every time Li Fang thought of her mother's lonely figure, her heart tightened for a while.
"Qiangzi, why don't we take my mother over and live there, she's alone over there, I'm really not at ease." Li Fang proposed softly at the dinner table, her eyes full of anticipation.
Zhang Qiang stopped the chopsticks in his hand and frowned slightly, "Fang, you know my mother's temper, she has never liked outsiders to live at home. Besides, our little house is also crowded. ”
"But, that's my mother, she's getting worse and worse now, what if there are three longs and two shorts?" There was a hint of pleading in Li Fang's voice.
Zhang Qiang sighed, didn't speak again, and just continued to eat silently. Li Fang knew that this topic had touched on a sensitive point in their marriage.
At night, Li Fang lay on the bed tossing and turning, she thought of her mother's expectant eyes, and her heart felt like being pricked by a needle. She decided to try to communicate with Zhang Qiang again.
"Hadron, I know it's going to be hard for you, but I really can't do it any other way." There was a hint of tremor in Li Fang's voice.
Zhang Qiang turned around and looked at Li Fang, a trace of helplessness flashed in his eyes, "Fang, I'm not unfilial, it's just... Can we think of an individual solution? Like hiring a babysitter, or sending your mom to a nursing home? ”
"Babysitting? Rest home? How can that work! That's my mom, not an outsider! Li Fang's emotions suddenly became excited, and her voice also raised a few points.
Zhang Qiang didn't argue anymore, he knew Li Fang's temper, once he decided something, it would be difficult to change. But he also knew in his heart that if this matter was not handled well, their marriage might face a crisis.
The next day, Li Fang's mother called out of the blue, saying that she was not feeling well and needed to be taken care of. Li Fang was so anxious that she knew she couldn't wait any longer.
"Qiangzi, no matter what this time, I'm going to take my mother over." Li Fang's tone was firm, and there was no room for negotiation.
Zhang Qiang was silent for a while, and finally nodded helplessly, "Okay, I agreed." But you know, my mom's... I'll try to convince her. ”
Li Fang's heart finally breathed a sigh of relief, but she knew that this was just the beginning, and greater challenges were yet to come.
Li Fang's heart was full of anxiety, she knew that her mother's situation could not be delayed any longer, but Zhang Qiang's refusal made her feel an unprecedented sense of powerlessness. She decided to try again, this time with more directness and firmness.
"Qiangzi, I know what you're worried about, but Mom's side really can't wait any longer." Li Fang sat on the sofa with a hint of unquestionable seriousness in her tone.
Zhang Qiang raised his head from the newspaper and frowned, "Fang, it's not that I don't care about my mother, but you also know that the space in our house is limited, besides, my mother ...... her."
"I know, I know my mother-in-law may not be very happy, but this is a matter of human life!" Li Fang interrupted Zhang Qiang's words, her eyes flashing with tears, "We can't just leave it alone. ”
Zhang Qiang was silent, he knew that Li Fang was telling the truth, but the situation at home also made him in a dilemma. He sighed, "Fang, can we think of another way?" For example, find a better nursing home, or hire a professional nurse? ”
"Caregivers? Rest home? Li Fang's voice raised, and she felt a kind of helpless anger, "How is that the same?" That's my mom, not just an outsider who can take care of it. ”
Zhang Qiang looked at Li Fang, a trace of guilt flashed in his eyes, "Fang, calm down, let's discuss it again and see if there is a better solution." ”
But Li Fang couldn't calm down anymore, she stood up, her voice firm, "There's nothing to discuss, Qiangzi." If my mother can't come, then I'll go back to take care of her, and there will be no place for me in our family. ”
Zhang Qiang was stunned, he didn't expect Li Fang to say this. He looked at Li Fang, his eyes full of complicated emotions, "Fang, are you threatening me?" ”
Li Fang took a deep breath, she knew that her words were heavy, but she had no way out, "Qiangzi, I'm not threatening you, I just want you to know how important my mother is to me." ”
There was silence in the room, save for the clock ticking on the wall. Zhang Qiang's heart is mixed, he loves Li Fang, but he also knows that if this problem is not handled well, their marriage may come to an end.
In the end, Zhang Qiang still compromised, he didn't want to lose Li Fang because of this matter, "Okay, Fang, I agree to let my mother move over, but you have to promise me that we will try not to let this matter affect our lives." ”
A hint of surprise flashed in Li Fang's eyes, and she held Zhang Qiang's hand tightly, "Thank you, Qiangzi, I promise you, I will try my best to deal with all this." ”
Li Fang's heart was full of disappointment, although Zhang Qiang agreed on the surface, she knew that if her mother-in-law's opposition was not really resolved, her mother's life would not be peaceful. She needed a clearer commitment, a guarantee that would ensure that mothers were well cared for. After another late-night tossing and turning, Li Fang made a difficult decision.
The next day, the atmosphere at home was unusually heavy. Zhang Qiang sensed Li Fang's strangeness, and he asked cautiously, "Fang, what's wrong with you?" There's something we can work out together. ”
Li Fang took a deep breath, her eyes were firm and sad, "Qiangzi, if my mother can't come, our marriage will be meaningless." I'm not scaring you, I'm serious. ”
Zhang Qiang was stunned, he didn't expect Li Fang to say this, and he didn't know how to respond for a while. "Fang, what are you...... Are you threatening a divorce? ”
"No, I'm not a threat." Li Fang's voice was a little choked, "I just think that if even my mother can't take care of it, what's the point of our marriage?" ”
Zhang Qiang felt unprecedented pressure, he loved Li Fang, but he also knew his mother's stubbornness. "Fang, you make me think about it, it's too sudden."
Li Fang's tears began to roll in her eyes, but she held back to prevent them from falling, "I don't have time for you to think about it, Mom can't afford to wait." ”
Zhang Qiang was silent, his heart struggling. He knew that if he didn't agree, he might lose Li Fang, but if he agreed, how could he face his mother?
Time passed minute by minute, Zhang Qiang finally spoke, his voice low and firm, "Fang, I agreed, but you have to promise that this will not be the end of our marriage." ”
A complicated emotion surged in Li Fang's heart, and she knew how difficult this decision was for Zhang Qiang, "I promise, Qiangzi, I will do my best to keep our marriage going." ”
Zhang Qiang nodded, although he was still uneasy in his heart, he believed in Li Fang and believed that their love could overcome all difficulties.
Zhang Qiang's consent did not bring the expected harmony, on the contrary, the mother-in-law's attitude became a new problem in the family. Not long after Li Fang's mother moved in, she felt her mother-in-law's difficulties and indifference, which made her feel extremely uncomfortable.
"Fang, am I causing you trouble?" Li Fang's mother held Li Fang's hand after a dinner, her eyes full of uneasiness.
"Mom, what are you talking about, this is your home, why are you causing trouble?" Li Fang comforted her mother, but her heart felt like she had been pricked by a needle.
However, her mother-in-law's cold words and deliberate neglect made Li Fang's mother feel more and more isolated at home. Once, Li Fang overheard her mother-in-law saying to a neighbor in the kitchen: "It's really uncomfortable to have an outsider in the house." ”
Li Fang's heart sank to the bottom, she found Zhang Qiang, with a hint of despair in her voice, "Qiangzi, mother-in-law goes on like this, how can my mother live?" ”
Zhang Qiang also looked helpless, "Fang, I'll talk to my mother again, but you know her temper, and I can't push it too hard." ”
Li Fang felt unprecedented powerlessness, she didn't want her mother to be wronged, and she didn't want Zhang Qiang to be embarrassed. But the reality was so cruel that she felt herself in a dilemma.
Finally, one early morning, Li Fang's mother made a decision. "Fang, I'd better move back, I don't want to make your husband and wife discord because of me." Her voice was calm, but Li Fang could feel the heartache behind it.
Li Fang hugged her mother tightly, tears couldn't stop flowing, "Mom, it's me who is not good, I didn't protect you well." ”
Zhang Qiang stood aside, also with a look of guilt and helplessness. He tried to speak, "Mom, think about it again, we can ......"
"No need, Qiangzi," Li Fang's mother interrupted him, "I don't want to be a burden between you. ”
On the day Li Fang's mother moved out, the atmosphere in the house was extremely heavy. The moment Li Fang sent her mother to the car and waved goodbye, her heart was full of self-blame and reflection. She began to wonder if what she was doing was really right, and whether she had found a balance between family harmony and filial piety.
Li Fang watched the back of her mother's departure, and her heart was full of complicated emotions. She returned to her empty home and sat on the couch with a confused look in her eyes. Zhang Qiang sat beside her gently, held her hand, and asked softly, "Fang, what are you thinking?" ”
"I'm wondering if we're doing something wrong." Li Fang's voice was low, with a hint of confusion and self-blame, "Filial piety and family harmony, can't you have both?" ”
Zhang Qiang was silent for a while, then looked at Li Fang seriously, "Fang, we all want to do our best, but sometimes things are not as simple as we think. ”
Li Fang nodded, she knew she needed to rethink and find a solution that would take care of her mother without harming family harmony. She took a deep breath and said firmly, "Hadron, we can't go on like this. We need a better way. ”
Zhang Qiang looked at her supportively, "No matter what you decide to do, I will support you." ”
Li Fang glanced at Zhang Qiang gratefully, and she gradually had an idea in her heart. She decided to have a sincere conversation with her mother-in-law with Zhang Qiang, hoping to untie each other's knots.
The next day, Li Fang and Zhang Qiang sat in front of their mother-in-law, and Li Fang said sincerely: "Mom, I know that you may not be used to having one more person in the family, but Mom is old and needs our care." Can we try to understand and adapt to each other? ”
The mother-in-law looked at Li Fang, a trace of complicated emotions flashed in her eyes, she was silent for a while, and then slowly spoke: "Fang, I know that you are filial, and I also understand your difficulties. I'm not unreasonable, I'm just ......"
"Mom, we're willing to make some changes to make you feel comfortable." Zhang Qiang added.
The mother-in-law sighed and finally nodded, "Then let's try it." ”
Li Fang and Zhang Qiang looked at each other and smiled, they knew that this was just the beginning, but at least they had taken the first step to solve the problem. Li Fang's heart is full of hope, and she believes that as long as there is love and understanding between family members, there is no difficulty that cannot be overcome.
This article is a microfiction, please do not sit in the opposite seat