Once, in a quiet town, the friendship between the two families, the Chen family and the Li family, which has been passed down for generations, is like a small river that flows quietly, and has been passed down for decades. In this town, whenever night falls, under the dim street lamp, you can always see the people of the two families talking and laughing, or supporting each other.
Chen Xiaoming, as the only son of the Chen family, has a personal experience of this deep family friendship. His elder sister, Chen Lihua (Li Hua), married Li Qiang, the eldest son of the Li family, two years ago, and the two families became in-laws. Chen Xiaoming, who has been influenced by traditional education since childhood, knows the significance of family style to a family. In the Chen family, the elders always teach the younger generations that whether it is a festival celebration or a family sacrifice, the whole family should be mobilized, especially when it comes to major events involving the in-laws, and they must do their best.
On this quiet summer night, Chen Xiaoming sat on a wicker chair in the courtyard, his father Chen Guoqiang smoked a long hookah, and his mother Chen Meili chatted softly with the neighbor's mother-in-law Aunt Zhang about the shortcomings of the parents in recent days, and that Aunt Zhang always likes to share the Zhang family's recipes with Chen Meili. The nights in the town are always so long and warm.
The neighbors in the town can often feel the strong family affection between these two families. When there is a happy event, the two families will help each other; If there is a difficulty, you have me, and I have you. Chen Xiaoming has often learned how to maintain this neighborhood relationship that is almost thicker than water.
Whenever he talks about the relationship between his family and the Li family, Chen's father will always smile and pat Chen Xiaoming's shoulder: "Xiao Ming, remember that our family is right, it is a long-standing fate, your sister is married to the Li family, we have to treat this family business as our own." ”
In his memory, Chen Xiaoming is already familiar with such a tutor. Wang Xiuying, the mother-in-law, often brings some handmade snacks to share with Chen Meili when holidays are coming. The women of the two families sit in a circle in the kitchen, cooking traditional snacks from their hometown, chatting about homely cooking, and laughter and fragrant dumplings spread throughout the street.
It is precisely because of the Li family that the life of the town will be more energetic. Whether it is the morning market in the town or the night stall in the evening, you can often see the people of the Chen family and the Li family doing business and walking together. Everyone in the town knows that the friendship between these two families is not ordinarily deep.
In such a small town where tradition and harmony are intertwined, Chen Xiaoming knows that in the coming days, he will once again experience the warmth brought by this deep feeling. Because Li Hua's mother, Wang Xiuying, is about to celebrate her seventh birthday, the entire Li family is busy, and the Chen family is also happily preparing for this. This is not only Li Hua's mother's birthday, but also a grand event of emotional and friendship exchange between families.
On such a night, Chen Xiaoming looked at the starry sky, and his heart was full of expectation and respect. He knows that no matter how many storms there are in the future, this friendship that has been passed down for generations will be like that small river, flowing quietly and never drying up.
Chen Xiaoming remembers that the weather was particularly good that day, with mild sunshine and a gentle breeze. Li Hua at home also seemed very busy, she wondered what kind of birthday banquet could make her mother happy, after all, this was her seventieth birthday.
"Xiaoming, what do you think I'll prepare for my mother?" Li Hua rolled up his sleeves and prepared to start busy, with a deep longing for his mother on his face.
"Sister-in-law, what your mother likes, you know best, our family will definitely go all out." Chen Xiaoming replied as he got up and prepared to help.
On the road in the village, the neighbors mentioned this incident and were willing to lend a hand, and everyone knew that this was a great event worthy of celebration by the whole village. Chen Meili even went to the town to pick out some silk and fabric, and prepared to make a new dress for Wang Xiuying.
However, just when preparations were in full swing, bad news came suddenly - Wang Xiuying was suddenly ill and rushed to the county hospital, and then learned that the old man had passed away. The news was like a thunderbolt from the blue, and the entire Li family fell into deep grief, and even the Chen family felt heavy sadness.
At night, the lights of Chen's house were still on, Chen Meili sat quietly in the dim light, as if she had not recovered from the shock just now, and Chen Guoqiang on the side kept comforting: "Beautiful, you have such a good relationship with Aunt Wang, don't be too sad when she leaves." ”
Chen Meili nodded, but her tears still couldn't stop slipping down, "She is old, and she can be regarded as blessed and long-lived, but she left suddenly, which caught people off guard." This, this birthday feast ......"
The birthday banquet turned into a funeral, more than a month of preparation came to naught, and the congratulations of relatives and friends turned into mourning. As the funeral schedule approached, Chen Meili did not attend the funeral due to physical discomfort and excessive sadness. This is an unprecedented thing for the Li family, the Chen family, and even the entire village. After all, according to custom, the two families, as in-laws, should be treated with all sincerity.
The night before the funeral, Chen's family was still holding an emergency family meeting for the funeral. Chen Xiaoming looked at the busy family, an inexplicable heaviness overwhelmed him, he knew that this mother's absence would disappoint the Li family, how long would it take to heal that subtle tear?
"Mom, if you don't go, your mother-in-law, if it spreads, what will others think of our family?" Chen Xiaoming looked at Chen Meili and was worried.
Chen Meili also seemed to be aware of this problem, and she struggled to sit up straight, "But my body..."
Chen Guoqiang interjected in time, "Don't worry, the people of the Li family are sensible, and our family actually has difficulties." Let's explain it to their family afterwards. ”
At the same time, after the news spread, it also caused an uproar throughout the village. No one expected that these two families, who have always been close to each other, would have a rift at such a moment. Why can't the Chen family attend with the whole family? This has also become a question in everyone's minds.
The early morning fog has not yet cleared, and the sad cries in the courtyard of Li Hua's house have begun to echo. The jet-black mourning flags are particularly vivid against the white confessional band. Li Hua stood in front of the coffin, holding the last bouquet of flowers in her hand, tears slowly sliding down her haggard face.
"Mom, you said you wanted to celebrate your seventieth birthday with me, why did you leave like this......" Li Huasheng burst into tears, at that moment, how she wished that Chen Meimei's kind figure could appear in the position next to her.
Chen Guoqiang stood in the crowd, looking at Li Hua's poignant and strong back, and his heart was filled with layers of guilt. He kept looking for his wife in the crowd, but Chen Meili did not appear. He felt a wave of confusion, and for the first time, he felt powerless and overwhelmed by his family.
Back at home, Chen Guoqiang finally couldn't hold back the excitement in his heart, and said loudly to Chen Meili: "How can you be so selfish and not even go to a funeral?" Aunt Wang is so good to you. ”
Chen Meimei's face was full of tears, and tiredness and reluctance intertwined on her face, "I know I shouldn't, but I ......"
"There are not so many but, today you made me faceless, and the whole family faceless!" Chen Guoqiang couldn't accept this reality, and for the first time he lost his usual gentleness in front of his wife.
Not long after this grief and quarrel, Chen Xiaoming listened to all kinds of whispers in the crowd, and he faintly felt that things were not simple. He lowered his voice and said to Chen Guoqiang: "Dad, not only our family today, but also none of Li Hua's in-laws came. ”
Chen Guoqiang was stunned for a moment, and then Chen Xiaoming continued: "Is there any misunderstanding or other reasons?" The morning light shone through the clouds and on their sad faces.
The sudden strife at home seems to have set off stormy waves in the originally peaceful life. Family affection and responsibility seem so heavy at this moment. Li Hua and the Li family have always been generous and understanding, can they resolve this unexpected entanglement at this moment of pain of losing their loved ones?
At Wang Xiuying's funeral, when the Chen family's position was empty, Li Hua raised his head in grief and looked into the distance, as if waiting for something. She looked at the place where Chen Meimei, who often stood there, should be, the place where she had turned to her countless times in her life. Although the wind chill of the night and the scorching sun of the day, she still longed to feel the warmth of the Chen family in this last moment.
So, in this moment of loneliness and loss, Li Hua stubbornly waited, even though she already had the answer in her heart. In the midst of this sudden change, Chen Guoqiang and Chen Meili must find a way to rebuild trust and understanding in the face of the test of family affection, because they know that this is not only about the honor of the two families, but also a perseverance and inheritance of friendship for generations.
In the days following the funeral, both the Chen and Li families were in an indescribable silence. The emotions eroded by misunderstandings and disputes make the hearts of both parties ache faintly. Chen Meili tossed and turned on her bed in the middle of the night, recalling the absence of the funeral that day, and she knew she had to do something.
After some deep thought, Chen Meili realized that the reason why she did not appear at the funeral was not only because she was unwell, but also because she was misled by the gossip of the neighbors, thinking that her attendance might bring a lot of inconvenience and pressure to the Li family. This misunderstanding made her feel deeply guilty. She decided to find a suitable opportunity to explain the situation to Li Hua and her family in detail.
Chen Xiaoming also became more silent after this incident, and he realized the fragility and tenacity of love and righteousness in the turmoil of this misunderstanding between families. He understands how valuable trust and understanding between family members is, and that it takes extra effort to restore a loss once it is lost.
At the initiative of Chen Guoqiang, the Chen family decided to hold a memorial service for Wang Xiuying to express their apology to the Li family and their nostalgia for Wang Xiuying. On a sunny afternoon, the Chen family came to Li's house early, bringing carefully prepared wreaths and Li Hua's mother's favorite food.
When Li Hua saw the Chen family, tears came out of his eyes again, but this time it contained relief and relief. "Aunt Chen, I understand your feelings, and my mother won't blame you." Li Hua held Chen Meimei's hand tightly.
Chen Meili said with tears in her eyes: "It's me who is wrong, I have involved too many unnecessary considerations, and I have not been able to give your family an explanation in time." ”
"We are a family, what is there that we can't get by?" Li Hua tried his best to make his voice sound strong.
The sincerity and efforts of the Chen family gradually melted away the previous misunderstanding and ice, and the two families reminisced about the past at the memorial service, remembering and remembering Wang Xiuying together. Chen Xiaoming also realized the meaning of mutual support between families and the importance of understanding and communication in the face of conflict.
And in the days to come, the connection between the Chen family and the Li family is even more precious. They realize that no matter how time changes, the tacit understanding and affection between families will always be the most solid support in life. Although the twists and turns caused by this misunderstanding made the two families go through trials, in the end, they also made the two parties understand each other more deeply, and the relationship became stronger.