In a quaint small town, Chen Yong and Zhao Jing originally lived an ordinary and happy life. As soon as the sky was bright, Chen Yong sat up from the bed, looked out the window, and looked down at the sleeping baby in his arms, his little face was quiet and sweet, this was their angel, Chen Lele.
"Lao Zhao, you can sleep more." Chen Yong said to his sleeping wife as softly as he could, for fear of waking her and the child.
Zhao Jing felt a little chill in her confusion, and snuggled up to her husband's chest to find warmth. "How's Lele?"
"Obediently, like a little angel." He replied softly.
Lele is the treasure of the Chen family and the hope of this small family. Two months ago, her birth filled the whole family with joy, but recently Lele began to develop fever and cough, Zhao Jing and Chen Yong were so anxious that they went door-to-door to find a doctor to prescribe medicine, but they were never cured.
Early this morning, Chen Yong noticed that Lele's breathing was a little short, and his forehead was slightly hot. He couldn't help frowning, and got up lightly to warm Lele's milk.
"Zhao Jing, I'll go boil some boiling water." Chen Yong's voice was low and anxious.
The atmosphere in the small home suddenly became tense. Zhao Jing opened her hazy eyes and got up tiredly, "I'll look at her, she was fine last night." ”
After getting up, Zhao Jing walked to the side of the crib and gently stroked Lele's little face, and the baby's heat made her heart drum. Chen Yong hurriedly fetched warm water from the kitchen, and the couple carefully wiped Lele's body with a small cotton cloth, hoping to cool her down.
"Yong'er, why don't we take her to the county hospital, I think she seems to be heavier today than yesterday." Zhao Jing held Lele who was slightly hot in her arms, and her eyes revealed her mother's unique anxiety and worry.
Chen Yong nodded, he was also worried, "Okay, I'll go prepare the car, let's hurry up." ”
However, at this very moment, tragedy struck. Lele's body suddenly trembled in her mother's arms, and her little mouth began to foam. Zhao Jing and Chen Yong panicked, saw doctors one by one, and called for help. The house was immediately in chaos, and time passed minute by minute, and when the emergency responders came, Lele was no longer breathing.
"Help her, please!" Zhao Jing almost collapsed, tears accompanied by pleading and despair.
However, it was already too late. In this small city, which was supposed to be a peaceful morning, the sky of the Chen family seemed to have darkened overnight, and Lele, their precious daughter, left them like this, which seemed to the young parents as if the whole world had lost color in an instant. The light shone dimly on Chen Yong's face, his eyes were empty and painful, and he held Lele tightly in his hands. This small body, once the laughter and laughter of the family, is now cold and quiet. Chen Yong can't accept this tragic reality, his world is crumbling, but he is determined to accompany Lele through this last dark night.
"Old Chen, you... What are you doing here? Zhao Jing was choked through the door, her eyes were red and swollen, and she was puzzled in grief.
"I... I don't want Lele to be alone there. Chen Yong's voice was hoarse, and he couldn't bear to let his daughter sleep alone in that cold room.
Zhao Jing walked in, her eyes were blank, her hands and feet were cold, and she tried to touch her daughter's cold little hands. "Lele, Mommy's good baby, I... I'm so sorry for you. ”
"It's not your fault, and it's not anyone's fault." Chen Yong tried his best to calm down, but tears were uncontrollably falling.
As the night deepened, the sorrow and depression in the family came to the face. In the room on the other side, the voice of the old man of the Chen family suddenly sounded, mixed with unconcealable anger and disappointment, "It's all fate!" It would be nice to be a boy. ”
These words struck Zhao Jing's heart, and it was painful. In the pain of losing her child, she also has to face the family's deep-rooted patriarchal concept, which makes her heart full of struggle and unwillingness.
"Mom, Lele is our child, what's the difference between a boy and a girl, is it just because she's a girl..."Zhao Jing's emotions began to get out of control, and anger and powerlessness were intertwined in her heart.
"Don't say it, Zhao Jing." Chen Yong took Zhao Jing's hand, "I know you feel uncomfortable, but it is not good for anyone to make trouble at home at this time." ”
"But I'm not reconciled, Yong'er, I don't want our daughter to be ignored like this, just because she is a girl!" Zhao Jing's tears slipped silently like broken thread jewelry.
Chen Yong had tears in his eyes, and he hugged his wife tightly in his arms with a heartache, "I know, so do I." Lele is our baby no matter what, boys and girls alike. It's just..."
The conversation between the two is interrupted by the sighs of the elders in the family, and their traditional ideas and Chen Yong's modern ideas form a clear opposition, which further complicates the emotional tear of the family.
It was late at night, and the lights of the Chen family were still faintly visible. Chen Yong hugged his small body tightly and hummed a lullaby in a low voice, which was the melody that Lele once liked. Zhao Jing leaned against the door, crying silently, her heart was torn apart by sadness and complex family concepts, and the silence of the night seemed extremely heavy in the sorrow of the family. The light of dawn shone through the gaps in the curtains and shone on Chen Yong and Zhao Jing's home, but this light did not bring hope and warmth. Chen Yong woke up from a heavy sleep, his mind still echoing with Lele's laughter, and vaguely dreamed that she was playing. When his consciousness gradually became clear, the warmth in his dream was instantly torn apart by the cruelty of reality, Chen Yong looked at the small body in his arms in a daze, and his heart was like a knife.
He stood up slowly, his legs stiffened, and the tears in the corners of his eyes had dried up. At the moment when he turned around, he suddenly saw Zhao Jing sitting in the corner of the room, staring blankly ahead, his body trembling slightly, as if he was a shell that had lost his soul.
"Quiet... Zhao Jing! Chen Yong strode over, his voice filled with eagerness and panic, "What's wrong with you?" You've been sitting here all night? ”
Zhao Jing raised her head, and the eyes that were full of sadness and sorrow last night now became blank. "Lele, she... Where did she go? The voice was faint and confused.
"Quiet, Lele her... She has left us. Chen Yong's voice also began to choke, and he sat stiffly next to Zhao Jing, holding her hand and trying to give her some warmth.
"Leave... It's me who is bad, I didn't... Didn't take good care of her. Zhao Jing's tears rolled down again, and her pain and self-blame were deeply rooted in her face.
"No, you're the best mother, this... It's not your fault. Chen Yong tried to stay strong, but his voice was shaking.
Just when the two were grief-stricken, the old man of the Chen family walked in. Their expressions were a mixture of sadness and mixed emotions, "What are you two still messing around here?" The neighbors outside know about our family, is it a shame to be ashamed? ”
"Dad, this... How can this be a shameful thing..."Chen Yong retorted dissatisfiedly.
"Silence!" The old man's voice was tough, "Now is the time to grieve, and crying and crying will not solve the problem." You have to be strong, and we have to look forward. ”
Zhao Jing stood up tremblingly, her eyes gradually changed from confusion to determination, "Yes, we have to be strong, but not because of the eyes of our neighbors, but for Lele, and all of us." ”
Chen Yong hugged Zhao Jing tightly, proud of her strength, "Yes, Jing, we have to live for happiness, and we can't let outdated concepts bind our lives." ”
At this moment, the tragedy within the family is transformed into a public topic. Lele's death and the couple's attitude have aroused discussions among the neighbors, and the conflict of ideas and the sharing of responsibilities have become the focus of continuous discussion in people's mouths. Time is like a medicine that heals the wounds of the soul, but at the same time, it also requires people's efforts to drive the process. The development of things exceeded the imagination of the neighbors, Chen Yong and Zhao Jing did not indulge in the deep grief, they chose to stand up and face life.
"Yong'er, I think we should see a psychiatrist." Zhao Jing said to Chen Yong after some careful consideration, and there was a glimmer of hope in her voice.
"Well, you're right, we need help and we can't let grief keep trapping us." Chen Yong was inspired by his wife, and his mood gradually became cheerful.
Relatives and friends saw the changes in Chen Yong and his wife and began to take the initiative to help. "We will bear the travel and treatment expenses for you to see a doctor." Chen Yong's friend Xiao Zhang patted him on the shoulder and said.
"Yes, although Lele is gone, we are still here, and we are your eternal backing." The neighbor's aunt's warm words made Zhao Jing feel very comforted.
The treatment process was long and difficult, but they persevered. With the help of the treatment, Chen Yong and Zhao Jing regained their courage and hope in life. What's even more exciting is that they are actively involved in the community and advocate for equal parenting.
"Actually, gender has never been a determinant of happiness." At a community lecture, Chen Yong spoke to the crowd about his feelings.
"We can't let the injustice suffered by Lele be repeated to other children." Zhao Jing's voice was firm and powerful.
This kind of advocacy is gradually accepted and recognized by more people, those outdated ideas are beginning to be abandoned by people, and new ideas are blowing like a spring breeze in this small town, bringing people new hope and vitality for life.
However, change takes time, and the efforts of Chen Yong and Zhao Jing are only the first step in a long journey. Their experiences have prompted people to reflect on whether the actions and choices of each of us are the fundamental forces that will shape the society of the future.