On a bright spring afternoon, my grandmother and I walked slowly down the country road to the market. Grandma was wearing her old blue cloth padded jacket today, with a warm smile on her face, and we chatted about family life as we walked. I know that in this small village, Grandma Li is respected not only because of her age, but also because of her kindness and kindness.
Before we knew it, we were in a bustling market. The crowd was full of voices, and the hawkers shouted one after another. Grandma Lee was in charge of picking the vegetables, and I was on the side to help carry the things. Suddenly, the silence was shattered by the sound of hurried footsteps. In the blink of an eye, I saw that the village overlord had just accidentally bumped into his grandmother. Although it was just a casual little friction, Wang Gang had a tough attitude and refused to apologize, and blamed his grandmother for blocking his way.
"Wang Gang, if you don't see the road, how can you do this?" Grandma's voice was soft, but full of reproach.
"Old lady, where did my Wang Gang look at you?" Wang Gang responded arrogantly, not taking his grandmother in his eyes at all.
I hurriedly stood in front of my grandmother, "Wang Gang, how can you be so rude?" "I know in my heart that a head-on conflict with Wang Gang will not end well, but how can I back down when I see my grandmother being offended.
Wang Gang looked at me, a trace of disdain flashed in his eyes, "Young man, do you know who I am?" ”
Seeing this, the other villagers in the bazaar all looked this way, some shook their heads, some sighed, and seemed to have long been accustomed to Wang Gang's arrogance. I could feel the discomfort and grievance that my grandmother felt because of this sudden conflict. In the distance, several uncles and aunts began to whisper, although they were dissatisfied with Wang Gang's behavior, but they also seemed to accept the reality of Wang Gang's rampant and domineering behavior in the village.
"Let's go, Grandma." I whispered to my grandmother that I didn't want to continue this unnecessary argument.
"Grandson, I'm fine." Grandma waved her hand and smiled comfortingly, but I could see the sadness hidden in her eyes.
On the way home, my grandmother told me: "Qiangqiang, don't worry about Wang Gang, which person in the village doesn't know his temperament?" Grandma's words revealed the helplessness of not offending Wang Gang.
I gritted my teeth and secretly swore in my heart that if Wang Gang dared to be rude to my grandmother again, I would never let it go. Although I am just an ordinary rural teenager, I also have the determination to protect my family and maintain the dignity of my family.
As night fell, in the silence of the village, I sat in the courtyard, playing with the old whetstone my father had left me. Under the starry sky overhead, I remembered what my father used to say: "People, no matter what, should do something and not do something." "What happened to my grandmother today made these words echo in my heart repeatedly.
After that unpleasant time at the bazaar, the atmosphere in the village became tense. Wang Gang's provocative face can be seen in a corner of the village almost every day, and his attitude towards his grandmother is getting worse and worse. Whenever my grandmother carried the basket to buy groceries, she could always hear the malicious snickering behind her. I know that Wang Gang is stirring up, he is fanning the flames and trying to provoke new disputes.
"Grandma, don't worry, I'm here." I tried to shield her from the wind and rain with my immature chest.
Once, I saw Wang Gang disrespectful to his grandmother in the market again, he pointed to his grandmother's nose and said in a deep voice: "You are really unguardable, you go everywhere, do you want the whole village to know how hard you are?" ”
"Son, how can you talk like that? They are all from the same village, and they are a little virtuous when they speak. Lee's face was a little serious, but his voice was as calm as water.
There were more and more onlookers, many of whom looked at the grandmother sympathetically. At this time, I could no longer hold back the anger in my heart, and pushed sideways in front of my grandmother. "Wang Gang, even if he is a bully in the village, he has no right to humiliate an old man like this!"
"Oh, the young man is not small, who do you think you are?!" Wang Gang's voice grew louder and louder, and almost the entire market was watching us.
The other villagers were either questioning Wang Gang's unreasonableness or comforting his grandmother. There were even a few aunts who began to blame Wang Gang: "Look at you as an adult, and you still don't go with an old lady, is it interesting?" ”
But the villagers' accusations did not make Wang Gang relent, but became more arrogant, not only did he not apologize to his grandmother, but became more and more arrogant. The atmosphere in the village began to become oppressive, and Wang Gang's attitude of ignoring it made me feel even more angry than I had ever felt before.
This meeting made me feel more and more that for a village tyrant like Wang Gang, simple tolerance and harmony would only make him worse. Although I am still a teenager who has not left society, the dignity of my family and the peace of my grandmother are far more important than my youth. I began to wonder how I could make Wang Gang more restrained, at least let him know that although we were gentle, we were by no means without backbone.
"Grandma, don't be afraid." I squeezed my grandmother's trembling hand and said softly but firmly, "We can't let this kind of person look down on me." I will find a way to let Wang Gang know that what he is doing cannot be condoned. ”
Grandma looked at me with a hint of hesitation in her eyes. But eventually, she nodded, and an indescribable affection and trust flashed in her eyes. At that moment, I understood my responsibility to protect my family, to defend the dignity of the family, and not to allow anyone to violate the peace and respect that we deserve.
The climax occurred on that sunny afternoon, when Grandma Li went to the well at the head of the village to fetch water as usual. And I happened to be there to help Lao Zhang in the village repair the fence. Suddenly, a hoarse scolding voice pierced the warm atmosphere, and I looked up to see that it was Wang Gang, who was standing arrogantly in front of my grandmother as usual, pointing at her nose with one hand.
"Li, you're getting in my way again!" Wang Gang said rudely.
The bucket that Grandma was holding in her hand fell instantly, splashing all over the ground. She tried to keep her calm, but it was not difficult to see the panic in her eyes, "Wang Gang, I'm fetching water here, can't you go around?" ”
The villagers also gathered around, and the voices of discussion came one after another. I put down my tools and walked briskly over to my grandmother, a wave of anger that could not be quelled.
"Wang Gang! You're bullying people too much! "I stood in front of my grandmother and stared at him.
Wang Gang laughed, "Young man, why are you talking to me like that?" Your grandmother is in my way, and I'm just going to be fair. ”
The matter turned out to be a situation where Wang Gang did something to his grandmother in public, and he rudely pushed his grandmother, and a commotion immediately broke out in the crowd. I was furious, but I knew that rushing to confront Wang Gang would only bring more trouble.
That night, I lay in bed tossing and turning, Wang Gang's evil deeds replaying in my mind like a picture. I made a decision - I had to do something for the sake of the dignity of my family. I am reminded of the old knife that my father once left behind, which witnessed the glory and downfall of our family, and now it will be a proof of my dignity.
At dawn the next day, I picked up a knife and a whetstone and resolutely arrived at Wang Gang's doorstep. My movements are strong, silent, but firm as a rock. The sonorous sound of sharpening knives echoed in the early morning air, as if to herald justice to come.
On the first day, my actions attracted onlookers from the villagers, who whispered and did not understand my intentions. I didn't say a word, just focused on sharpening my knife and so on until sunset.
The next day, my persistence brought more villagers together. They started talking about what Wang Gang had done, and my actions began to affect them.
On the third day, Wang Gang finally appeared, his face full of doubts and irritability. I looked up at him, my eyes firm and bright. Wang Gang finally realized that I would not just give in to his intimidation and bullying.
"Xiao Li, what do you want to do?" Wang Gang's voice was mixed with panic that was difficult to hide.
I stood up slowly, "Wang Gang, I just want everyone to know that grandma shouldn't be treated like this by you, and she also has her dignity." ”
My words were like a gust of wind, blowing a fire in the hearts of the gathered villagers - dignity and justice cannot be trampled on. At that moment, I clearly saw the flame of hope ignited in the hearts of the villagers.
With the three days and three nights of knife sharpening, I became the focus of discussion in the whole village. I, Li Qiang, an ordinary village boy, in the face of my firm actions, even a village tyrant like Wang Gang had to bow his head. After the incident, the whole village was full of chatter, everyone was talking about the persistence of the knife, and they were all singing about the scene of Wang Gang being forced to apologize publicly to my grandmother.
On the day of the apology, the village was full of people under the big banyan tree. Wang Gang's face was full of reluctance, but in full view of everyone, he had to bow his head to my grandmother, Li.
"Old lady, I was wrong before." Wang Gang's voice was low and helpless, his attitude was not sincere, but this was at least the beginning, the first time he admitted his mistake.
Grandma Li's expression was calm, "Wang Gang, we are all from the village, and we will get along in harmony in the future." ”
The onlookers nodded or smiled at each other, and the long-lost harmony in the village seemed to be slowly being restored. I watched this scene silently, with both relief and deep pride in my heart. The villagers gave me approving looks, and some of them even stepped forward to gently pat me on the shoulder to pay respect.
"Good job, Li Qiang, you are the pride of our village!" Lao Zhang said this, and there was not only appreciation in his words, but also sincere respect for justice.
"Thank you, guys." I responded with a smile, but secretly swore in my heart that I would never let my grandmother be wronged in the slightest.
Afterwards, I often walked alone on the village path, thinking about what this series of events had taught me. Neither dignity nor justice is an empty word, it is deeply rooted in action. In the face of oppression and injustice, concession and patience are not the best strategies, and sometimes we need to stand up and defend with concrete actions. At least, my behavior changed Wang Gang and made him know how to respect.
And for me, this event is not only a victory, but more like a rite of growth. It made me realize that to be a man is not only to have strength and courage, but also to be responsible and responsible. True strength comes from the protection of the family and the defense of the dignity of the family.
Now, every time I see my grandmother's peaceful smile and the harmony restored to the village, I feel deep satisfaction. I know that I did the right thing, and no matter what the future holds, I will stick to this belief, because protecting my family is my eternal responsibility.