In that not spacious living room, where the sunlight outside the window shines quietly on the ground through the thin curtains, Wang Li sits on the old sofa, frowning slightly, her eyes mixed with expectation and worry. She played with the old passbook in her hand, and had a big decision planned in her mind.
"Mom, I'm coming back this time to discuss a problem with you." Wang Fang stood in front of her mother, with a hint of resoluteness in her voice, "I want to use the money I have accumulated over the years to further improve myself, and maybe I will consider studying abroad." ”
Wang Li raised her head and looked into her daughter's eyes, her tone was firm and ruthless: "Fangfang, as the eldest sister in the family, you should understand the situation at home. Your brother Wang Qiang's career is the future of our family, and your money should support your brother. ”
"Mom, this is what I earned by my own hard work, why should I ......" Wang Fang was interrupted by Wang Li before she finished speaking.
"The girls in our family have always been virtuous and virtuous, and filial piety for the elderly, aren't they? What's wrong with your money, which will also be for your own dowry in the future, and now take it out to support your brother? Wang Li's voice was resolute and unquestionable.
"But my brother is ......" Wang Fang wanted to defend herself, but seeing her mother's expression, she knew that this topic was no longer negotiable.
During this time, Wang Li would always involuntarily mention her husband Wang Gang, whose health was deteriorating, and the family's economic situation. Every now and then, she will mention Wang Qiang in a voice of expectation, hoping that he can lead the family out of the predicament and become what others call a "promising youth".
After dinner, Wang Fang hid in her room, feeling very complicated. She knew that her father did need more care and medical expenses, and that the family did not have enough money. However, should her dreams and plans be sacrificed like this? Wang Fang felt that her heart was full of struggle and powerlessness.
Wang Fang, who had not slept all night, made a decision in the early morning of the next day. She decided to leave enough money to support her father's treatment, and she had to plan for her future with the rest. She didn't want to bring it up abruptly, so she could only choose to communicate the matter with her parents in the gentlest way possible.
But it backfired, Wang Li insisted that her daughter should fully support her younger brother, and any rebuttal was considered unfilial. Wang Fang couldn't understand why her mother always blindly favored her younger brother and ignored her feelings and needs.
As the atmosphere at home becomes increasingly tense, Wang Fang finds herself synonymous with the burden of family. The daily life that relieved her father's illness was not relieved by her dedication, but became heavier by the tension between the families.
"Fangfang, haven't you yet started a family? Isn't it your honor to give the money to your brother now, and when his brother will have a chance in the future? Wang Li brought up this old topic again and again at a family dinner table.
Wang Fang didn't respond directly, she just silently lowered her head and fiddled with the food in the bowl. At that moment, she realized that this home could no longer give her room to grow and be free.
In the days that followed, Wang Fang tried to avoid this topic, but she also brewed a bigger decision in her heart - to leave this home that left her breathless and started her real life, no matter how difficult the road was.
That night, the atmosphere in the home was tense again. As soon as Wang Fang came back from working overtime in the company, she found Wang Li standing at the door with the familiar passbook, waiting for her.
"Fangfang, you're back." Wang Li got straight to the point, "Can your savings be given to my brother now?" He's been working on a big project lately, and now it's time to run out of money. ”
Wang Fang sighed in her heart, put her handbag lightly on the shoe cabinet, and looked around the dim corridor, "Mom, can we stop talking about this for the time being?" I'm really tired today and want to take a break first. ”
Wang Li's face sank, and she accused: "Why are you so selfish? How can you do this when your family needs you? ”
Wang Fang leaned against the wall and took off her high heels, she felt tired and aggrieved, "Mom, I also have my life, I can't always worry about the family." ”
Wang Qiang walked out of the room, and when he saw the scene of the dispute, he was silent for a while, "Sister, Dad is not in good health, you can help." ”
Wang Fang turned her head and looked at her younger brother, "I know, but I also have my own plans." I can't go around this house all the time. ”
At this moment, his father, Wang Gang, slowly walked out of the room, his face was pale, and his hands were holding his chest, "Dad! Wang Fang shouted loudly and immediately stepped forward to help.
Wang Li helped Wang Gang in time, "Quick, help your dad sit down!" Wang Qiang also hurriedly stepped forward, and the family helped Wang Gang to the sofa in a hurry.
Between gasps, Wang Gang whispered: "Don't quarrel, I feel uncomfortable seeing you like this." Wang Fang looked at her father silently, and at that moment, she understood that her persistence had also added a lot of pressure to the family.
"Fangfang, no matter what, we are all family." Wang Gang said with difficulty, "I don't want to see you guys make trouble because of money. ”
Wang Li stuffed the passbook in her hand to Wang Fang, "You can look at it yourself." With that, she walked back to Wang Gang's room with tears in her eyes.
That night, Wang Fang sat alone at the desk in her room, looking out the window into deep thought. The position that I have always adhered to is constantly shaken by the expectations and needs of my family. Although the amount of money in the bank is small, it carries all her hopes for the future.
She opened the passbook, and those few numbers seemed to tell the toil and sweat of the past. She began to ask herself, can unity and harmony really only be achieved at the expense of individual dreams? Her father, Wang Gang's physical condition, made her unable not to consider the harshness of reality.
A few days flew by, and Wang Fang tried to talk to Wang Li about her predicament, but no matter how she explained, her mother always used the future of the family and her father's health as bargaining chips.
It wasn't until that afternoon that Wang Li suddenly hurried into Wang Fang's room, "Fangfang, go and see your father, he suddenly had a terrible pain in his chest." Hearing this news, Wang Fang's heart was like a knife, and all her persistence and plans became no longer important.
They took Wang Gang to the hospital, where the diagnosis was worrying, and the doctor said that he needed immediate surgery. In the face of astronomical medical expenses, the family's savings are just a drop in the bucket.
Wang Li, who held the last ray of hope, looked panicked and found Wang Fang, "Child, now I really need your savings to save your father." ”
Wang Fang looked at her father on the hospital bed and asked, "This time, can you really only rely on those savings?" Her eyes were full of complexity.
Wang Li pursed her lips and nodded. Eventually, Wang Fang made a decision, she chose to put her dreams on hold for the time being and put her savings into her father's surgery.
But shortly after that, Wang Fang packed her bags and quietly left the house. She wrote on a message piece that she had decided to go out and develop, hoping to come back one day to make up for today's shortcomings. Her back disappeared outside the door, leaving behind endless melancholy and resolute footsteps.
Since Wang Fang left home, the atmosphere at home has suddenly become solemn. Wang Li called her daughter's phone many times, but was always told that "the number you dialed is down". The message was sent, but it was like a stone sinking into the sea, and there was no response. She tried to understand the situation through Wang Fang's friends, and everyone had an innocent and surprised expression, "Wang Fang? She hasn't been in touch with us for a long time. ”
In the midst of nervousness and anxiety, the days passed. It wasn't until that sunny afternoon that Wang Li was chatting with her neighbors that she unexpectedly learned the news that made her heart twist - Wang Fang had moved out of the city half a year earlier, and did not leave a new address and contact information.
This news is undoubtedly a bolt from the blue for Wang Li. She instantly felt that the scenery around her had darkened, and her legs had lost strength and she had almost fallen to the ground. She never thought that her daughter would leave so quietly.
"Wang Fang, how could she ......" Wang Li hesitated, her voice choked, and the pain and uneasiness of being betrayed surged from the bottom of her heart, "Why did she leave, was she frightened by something?" Wang Li thought about a lot of possibilities, but she was always unwilling to admit that this was related to her many hard requirements.
When she returned home, Wang Li faced her husband and son, speechless. Wang Gang looked at his wife's haggard face and understood what was going on, "Lili, is it Fangfang's business?" ”
Fangfang she ...... She's gone, and I can't find her. Wang Li burst into tears, her voice full of despair.
Wang Gang sat in a wheelchair with a pale face, he didn't blame his wife, nor did he get angry, he just quietly looked out the window, lost his soul.
Wang Qiang stood silently aside, he knew that this must have something to do with him. His heart was full of guilt, "Dad, Mom, it's my fault, I shouldn't just care about my career and ignore my sister's feelings." ”
Wang Li shook her head, "It's not your fault, it's my mother who didn't do a good job, I ...... I'm so selfish......" Her voice grew deeper and deeper.
The three people in the room were silent, they looked at each other, their eyes full of confusion and remorse.
The sunlight outside the window slanted in, and the warm light did not illuminate the gloom of this home. Wang Li raised her mobile phone and looked at the number that could no longer be reached. She can't remember the last time she was really honest with her daughter.
The once warm and harmonious atmosphere at home because of family affection seemed to be withdrawn in an instant, leaving only endless regrets.
At night, when night falls and the lights of the city begin to flicker, Wang Li wanders around the room with a lot of thoughts. She thought of her teachings and expectations for so many years, of her daughter's crisp laughter and those sweet promises from her childhood. Tears blurred her vision, and she knew that from now on, there would never be Wang Fang in the house again.
Wang Li sat in the living room, the photo in her hand silently telling the happiness and warmth of the past, passing away like a dream. She has tried all possible methods to track down the whereabouts of her daughter Wang Fang, but all her efforts have come to naught, and they will be shattered when touched.
"Lili, don't do this." Wang Gang on the hospital bed said weakly, although his voice was hoarse, he was still concerned.
Wang Li turned her head, tears rolling in her eyes. "It's my fault, I only care about my son......" She wanted to be strong, but in the end she couldn't suppress her emotions in front of her husband and couldn't cry.
The spacious ward seemed empty and deserted, and Wang Gang clearly felt the pain in his wife's heart. Although the illness tormented his body, Wang Gang's mind became clearer and clearer. "Lili, if we make a mistake, we have to change it, we are too attached to traditional concepts and ignore Fangfang's feelings."
Wang Li stopped crying and looked up at the bright moon in the night sky. "Just now, don't worry, I'll find a way to make it up, no matter what."
The door of the ward slowly opened, and Wang Qiang walked in slowly with a cup of hot water. "Mom, Dad." When he saw the scene in front of him, his heart was full of self-blame, "It's me who is wrong, I shouldn't ignore my sister." ”
Wang Gang smiled at his son, albeit pale. "Qiangqiang, do you remember that the family should be united...... Harmony is the most important thing. ”
Wang Li sat up straight again and took out a tissue to wipe away her tears. "We have always taught our children to be filial to their parents and take care of their families...... As a result, we forget that children have their own voices. ”
In the moonlight, Wang Gang smiled and held his wife's hand. "It's okay for Fangfang to go her own way...... At least she's brave. Although his tone was light, it was his inner relief and relief.
The next day, Wang Gang's surgery was successfully completed, and he was lying in the ward, his face much better than before. Wang Li sat on the edge of the bed and quietly accompanied her. The two talked about Wang Fang from time to time, with a faint nostalgia and expectation between their words, "She will live well." ”
"Qiangqiang, you have to learn from your sister and be more independent." Wang Gang said to his son.
Wang Qiang nodded, thinking while feeding water: "Sister, where are you?" ”
Time continues to flow like a stream, and Wang Fang's news seems to be frozen by time, and there are no more waves. Although the family did not have Wang Fang's laughter, Wang Li felt more understanding and respect in her heart after reflection. She is determined to change, and no matter what happens in the future, she must listen to the voice of every family member, so that love is not only a responsibility, but also communication and understanding.
In a letter from afar, Wang Li and Wang Gang learned that Wang Fang had found a new job abroad and started a new life. Although they have not been able to communicate face-to-face, knowing that their daughter is well, this crumbling family has finally ushered in a glimmer of peace.
Home is no longer just a place to live, but a haven of love where every heart can find belonging and peace.