Zhang Xiaoxiao's parents live in a quiet town, where the pace of life is always not as fast as the hustle and bustle of the big city. His father, Zhang Haibo, is a retired veteran worker who has experienced the hard years of the production line; Her mother, Liu Fen, was a skilled tailor who once owned her own clothing shop in the town. Once upon a time, the Zhang family was a model in the town, the two elders lived in harmony, and their children were filial.
However, with factories closing and clothing shops closed due to the onslaught of chain brands, the two had to rely on meager subsidies and occasional remittances from their children to make ends meet. Although Xiaoxiao has a good income in the city, she and her husband Wang Qiang also need to support their family, and their children's education expenses, their own mortgage, and monthly expenses are already stretched.
Xiaoxiao's husband Wang Qiang is a man who doesn't talk much, but there is no need for much speech between husband and wife. Xiaoxiao makes soup on weekends on her days off, and Wang Qiang always silently stays by her side, hurriedly helping.
"Xiaoxiao, your mother still has to go to the hospital for a comprehensive examination, and she can't keep delaying." Wang Qiang looked at Xiaoxiao, and his words were full of concern.
Xiaoxiao paused her chopsticks, "I know, Lao Wang." I'm busy with work these days, so I want to wait until this month and try to find time to go back to accompany them at the end of the year. ”
"Well, don't be too tired." Wang Qiang frowned lightly, and his heart was not finished.
"Listen to you, I will." Xiaoxiao smiled back, but there was a hidden worry in her smile.
Unfortunately, Liu Fen suddenly felt pain in her shoulders and back, and her condition deteriorated due to the delay in treatment, and she had to undergo a more expensive operation. The savings of the two elders are like water in a cup, and it is difficult to cope with sudden changes. Xiaoxiao received a call, and her mother's voice was weak and anxious: "Xiaoxiao, Mom doesn't dare to tell your father, this operation costs a lot of money, what should we do?" ”
Wang Qiang wrung out the rag and wiped the freshly washed dishes, "Don't worry, let's sort it out first and see what we can borrow." ”
"But...... What if we take the little money we have saved? Xiaoxiao's heart is mixed, and the well-being of her parents and the responsibilities of the family are intertwined into a knot that is difficult to untie.
Late one night, Xiaoxiao and Wang Qiang were lying on the bed, and the silence between the two was more oppressive than usual.
"What do your parents think?" Xiaoxiao said the apprehension in her heart.
Wang Qiang turned around and wrapped his arms around Xiaoxiao, "Dad said, those who can help will never shirk." He and my mom are also old, and all of us should share more for this family. ”
Xiaoxiao remembered that every time she went home, her mother-in-law Li Xiuying would prepare her favorite dishes in advance, "My mother-in-law is so good." ”
"Of course, we're family." There was firmness in Wang Qiang's tone, "Xiaoxiao, don't think too much, everything will be fine." ”
That being said, Xiaoxiao knew in her heart that everything was unknown. The two families, originally unrelated to each other, are closely linked at this moment, facing the trials brought by life together.
Zhang Xiaoxiao rummaged through every drawer in her home in a panic, and those small pieces of paper and invoices that seemed useless on weekdays became her hope for fundraising at this moment. Wang Qiang stood nervously on the sidelines, holding the phone in one hand, and was communicating with the bank about possible loan methods. The atmosphere in the room was tense and solemn, and both men realized the preciousness of time.
"Xiaoxiao, I asked, and the bank said that our credit is good, so we can try to apply for a small loan first." Wang Qiang put down the phone, with a hint of hope in his voice.
Zhang Xiaoxiao pursed her lower lip, her eyes were full of complicated emotions, "Then let's try it, after all, we still have a lot of expenses on hand to maintain." ”
At this time, the concerned voice of her mother-in-law Li Xiuying came from the other end of the phone, "Xiaoxiao, I heard Wang Qiang say that your mother is not very good, and we can help a little bit here." ”
Listening to the words on the other end of the phone, Zhang Xiaoxiao felt a sour nose, "Thank you, mother-in-law, we don't want to trouble you in our own affairs." ”
"Oh, it's my own business, don't say these unseemly things." Li Xiu's tone was firm, "If your mother needs it, we can make up some here, after all, the weather is cold, and the body is the capital of the revolution." ”
Wang Qiang looked at Zhang Xiaoxiao, his eyes showing deep gratitude. In this moment of confusion, the support of family members undoubtedly gave them great courage and confidence.
In the next few days, Zhang Xiaoxiao and Wang Qiang did not stop. They reached out to everyone they could, from distant relatives to old classmates they hadn't seen in years, and every call was made with anticipation, and every response received gave them a glimmer of hope.
At the same time, Wang Qiang persuaded Xiaoxiao to reduce her expenses and cancel the planned family trip and the children's interest classes. "Every penny can now be converted into life-saving medicine, and we have to think about it." Wang Qiang unfolded a detailed family bill in front of Xiaoxiao.
After the prince of the family, Dashan, learned of the situation, he also sent some of the saved money one after another. "Xiaoxiao, your mother-in-law, I said okay, save money and make up enough money. It's not a lot of money, but let's use it all. ”
Zhang Xiaoxiao took the thick stack of banknotes handed over by Wang Dashan with mixed emotions, and her heart was full of excitement and gratitude. "Thank you, thank you, thank you so much."
In the living room of Wang Qiang's house, a blank piece of paper records every money raised. The clock on the wall ticks, as if to remind them of the importance of every minute.
Zhang Xiaoxiao returned home with a new passbook, although her face was a little tired, but her eyes flashed with the determination to not give up. "Wang Qiang, I told my sister that she can lend us some."
Wang Qiang nodded, knowing that every step was like walking on thin ice all the way, "Okay, let's continue to work hard." ”
Although a small amount of money has been raised, there is still a significant gap between the cost of expensive surgeries. Every night, Zhang Xiaoxiao and Wang Qiang lay in bed, always thinking about what else they could do and how they could make up the rest of the treatment money faster. In the dead of night, the two often hold each other's hands, silently conveying strength and support.
Every time she went to the hospital, Zhang Xiaoxiao could feel the strong smell of disinfectant water stimulating her nerves, and the pain revealed on her mother's face made Zhang Xiaoxiao's heart twist. At home, Zhang Haibo paced back and forth worriedly, looking up at the clock from time to time, as if time had become unusually long in his world. "Xiaoxiao, the doctor just said that your mother will have surgery immediately, otherwise..." On the other end of the phone, my father's voice choked up, and he couldn't go on.
"Dad, I know, I'll get the rest of the money as soon as possible." Zhang Xiaoxiao's eyes were red, but she knew that she couldn't be fragile at the moment, her mother needed her to be strong.
The cost of the operation is like a bottomless pit, devouring all the hopes and efforts of Zhang Xiaoxiao and Wang Qiang. They have done their best to help, but they are still a drop in the bucket. Xiaoxiao's heart sank to the bottom, and panic spread in her heart.
"Mother-in-law, I really can't help it this time, even the house..." Zhang Xiaoxiao talked to Li Xiuying, her voice trembling slightly.
"Xiaoxiao, don't worry, give me some more time, I'll think of a way." Li Xiuying comforted, although she was also anxious in her heart.
At the most difficult moment, there was a sudden ray of light, and a distant relative of Wang Qiang called, "Qiang, I heard that something happened to your family, and my colleague works in a hospital where a new treatment trial is being done, maybe it can help Xiaoxiao's mother." ”
"Really? This... That's great! Wang Qiang asked excitedly, "But we..."
"Don't worry about the cost, it's free, it's just that the treatment effect is not guaranteed." Relatives explained.
There was no time to hesitate, Xiaoxiao and Wang Qiang immediately took action, and they greeted this possibility with hope. Liu Fen went to that hospital accompanied by Wang Qiang, and the anxiety in the family's hearts was magnified at every step of the treatment.
On the day of treatment, Xiaoxiao held her mother's hand tightly and kept saying words of encouragement, "Mom, you must be strong, you will definitely get better."
Liu Fen slowly opened her eyes and wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead, "Xiaoxiao, Mom believes in you, I will insist." ”
The door of the treatment room slowly closed, and Xiaoxiao and Wang Qiang sat tightly on the bench in the corridor. The uncertainty of the disease, the uncertainty of the treatment, and the future made the burden on the two families even heavier. However, at this moment, all the quarrels, contradictions, worries are no longer important, the important thing is that they did not give up, did not give up the desire for life and the pursuit of a better future.
At this moment, they understand that no matter what the outcome, along the way, each other's dependence and deep family affection have given them the strength to overcome all difficulties. Hanging their heads and pondering, they still have a desire for miracles in their hearts, waiting for the miracle that belongs to them.
When the doctors walked out of the treatment room with a relaxed smile on their faces, a warm current surged through the hearts of Zhang Xiaoxiao and Wang Qiang. The experiment was successful, Liu Fen's condition was alleviated, the originally oppressive clouds finally dispersed, and the sun shone on the small family again.
They bowed deeply to the doctor, and after endless toil and sleepless nights, the success of this moment made it all worth it. Li Xiuying and Wang Dashan also rushed to the hospital, and when they heard the good news, the two old men hugged each other tightly, and tears and laughter intertwined in the ward.
"Xiaoxiao, you guys did a good job." Wang Dashan held his daughter-in-law's hand, and his eyes flashed with recognition and gratitude.
"It's all because of the confidence given by my father-in-law, and our family can get to this point." Zhang Xiaoxiao also had tears in her eyes, but at this moment it was tears of joy, and the heavy stone in her heart finally landed.
Outside the hospital, the afterglow of the setting sun shone on the family, who sat around the benches, enjoying the peace they had not seen for a long time. Wang Qiang and Zhang Xiaoxiao looked at each other, with gratitude and cherishment written in their eyes, and the difficulty of life made them deeply understand how important the warmth of the family is.
"I'll make your favorite braised pork in the evening, and we'll celebrate it as a family." Zhang Xiaoxiao said with a smile.
Wang Qiang nodded and happily agreed, "Okay!" Tonight, we have to thank life for keeping us through to the present. ”
Zhang Haibo and Liu Fen looked at their children quietly, their hearts full of peace. They learn to accept the fact that they cannot be changed, but the love and gratitude for their children is deep and lasting.
In the days following this crisis, the tacit understanding and cooperation of the family have become more sophisticated. On weekdays, whether they sit around the dinner table or handle chores at home together, they value every minute of each other more. The fragrant kitchen, the crisp laughter of the children, Li Xiuying's gentle nagging, Wang Dashan's relieved patting on the shoulder, every simple piece of life has become extremely precious.
Xiaoxiao's parents, with the care and company of their children, enjoy every day peacefully, and they know that the love of their family is the confidence to face any difficulties. Wang Qiang and Zhang Xiaoxiao understood that the emotions of their families are the most solid cornerstone in life. This experience has become a precious memory for the whole family, which will always shine in their hearts, reminding them that where there is love, there is endless hope and strength.