On a drizzly spring afternoon, the vegetable markets of small towns are bustling with cries of selling and bargaining. Young Li Ming held a menu in his hand, ready to buy fresh ingredients for tonight's family dinner. His brow furrowed, because tonight's feast was to celebrate his father's 60th birthday, and it was customary to say that it was supposed to be a time of joy. But he knew in his heart that there was a rift between his uncle Li Gang and his father for many years.
Just when Li Ming was unsettled, there was a sudden noise in his ears. "Li Gang, you old thing, you know how to take advantage!" A piercing shout made Li Ming's feet pause. The voice came from their neighbor, Zhang Hua, a middle-aged man known for his toughness, who was openly insulting Li Ming's uncle.
Li Gang is the kind of traditional elder, majestic and self-respecting, he held his back pole upright, and his face was pale: "Zhang Hua, you don't talk nonsense here, I didn't take a penny from you!" ”
"Hmph, you still dare to quibble!" Zhang Hua became more and more excited, and everyone around cast curious and worried eyes. "Don't think that your brother is a face-saving person, you can pretend to be an uncle here!"
Li Ming clenched his fists, and a wave of righteous indignation rose in his heart, although he knew the stubbornness of the uncle, and the grudge between the uncle and his father had always been a sad mystery to him. He stepped closer to the two, wanting to stop Zhang Hua's vexatious trouble.
Zhang Hua obviously didn't notice Li Ming's approach, the more he talked, the more excited he became, and his fingers almost poked the tip of Li Gang's nose. "I can tell you, if you don't give an explanation today, don't want to mix up in this vegetable market!"
Although Li Gang is old, he is unwilling to show weakness, and his voice is still firm: "I have lived for so many years, why do you let this junior show me a face here?" ”
Several vegetable vendors began to watch, and some tried to come forward to pull the rack. "Okay, okay, Zhang Hua, Brother Li didn't do anything, so don't make trouble."
"Shut up!" Zhang Hua roared angrily, and then aimed his anger at Li Gang again, "You person, you have to give an explanation today!" ”
Seeing more and more people watching, Li Ming knew that if he didn't say anything, he would lose control. He strode forward, stood beside the uncle, and said in a deep voice: "Zhang Hua, can you try to say another word?" His voice was deep and powerful, and despite his nervousness, he showed a calm appearance.
The noise in the market stopped abruptly, and all eyes turned to this brave young man. Li Gang looked at Li Ming, a trace of surprise and tenderness flashed in his eyes, he didn't expect that his nephew would come out to defend him at such a time.
Zhang Hua was obviously also shocked by Li Ming's momentum, he smiled stiffly, trying to ease the atmosphere, "Xiao Ming, why do you bother, don't interfere in my affairs with your uncle." ”
"That's right, I'm going to intervene because you're bullying my family." Li Ming's tone was firm, his eyes looked directly at Zhang Hua, and there was no trace of flinching in his eyes. "Do you think it's honorable for a big man to bully an old man?"
The people around began to talk about it, some nodded secretly for Li Ming, and some tried to ease the sudden conflict. But Li Ming has made a decision, and no matter what the outcome, he can't let this bullying continue.
After the confrontation, Li Ming escorted his uncle Li Gang home, and his heart was full of heavy entanglements. As soon as the door closed, the silence of the room contrasted sharply with the noise of the vegetable market, and for a moment both fell silent.
That night, Li Ming tossed and turned, his heart was like a drum, and he decided to mediate the conflict at home first. "Uncle, can you sit down and talk about this misunderstanding between you and your father?" He tried to break the silence at lunch.
Uncle took a sip of soup and shook his head, "Alas, this was all a long time ago, and it doesn't make sense to talk about it." ”
"But my father is also old, and you are no longer young, so you can't go on like this, right?" Li Ming's voice was full of pleading.
The uncle's eyes showed complex emotions, "Child, you don't understand, your father's temperament is tendoned to the end." ”
"I know." Li Ming nodded, "So I will do the work, as long as you want, I believe that my father will also soften." ”
Uncle pondered for a long time, and finally nodded, "Okay, I'll give it a try, it's time too." ”
Mediating between family members is not an easy task, but Li Ming knows it has to be done. He began the arduous work of communication, with a stubborn father on one side and a self-respecting uncle on the other, and he was like a boat shuttling between icebergs, in danger of running aground and sinking at any time.
After several twists and turns, Li Ming finally persuaded his father to try to talk to his uncle about the old things and try to resolve the misunderstanding. "I knew what happened when I was young." Although his father's tone was still hard, Li Ming knew that his heart had loosened.
In this process, Li Ming did not forget Zhang Hua's insult to his uncle, and he began to pay attention to Zhang Hua's every move, hoping to find a way to stop him. In between work, Li Ming made a careful observation and found that although Zhang Hua was rude, he liked to participate in the community's seed chess competitions, and whenever the competition day came, he was always in high spirits.
One sunny afternoon, Li Ming found an opportunity to be alone with Zhang Hua. "Uncle Zhang Hua, I heard that you are very good at chess." Li Ming tried to find common ground.
Zhang Hua burst into tears and laughed, "Young man, you also understand this?" It's completely different from your uncle. ”
"It's really different, but when you play chess, you rely on your brain and patience." Li Ming replied with a smile.
Through these daily exchanges, Zhang Hua gradually let down his guard, and Li Ming also took the opportunity to persuade him to "make money in harmony", and not to make trouble because of a trivial matter.
After some deliberation, Zhang Hua began to restrain his provocation against Li Gang under Li Ming's sincere attitude and smooth negotiations, and the order of the vegetable market also returned to calm. The uncle also felt Li Ming's efforts to mend the family relationship, and the ice in his heart began to melt.
"Xiao Ming, if you do this, your uncle will know." There was a hint of warmth in the uncle's words.
Li Ming smiled faintly, "Uncle, in fact, I think that the family and everything is prosperous, those things in the past, let it pass." He also did not forget to send some homely warm words to the uncle, hoping to see the uncle and his father sitting together at the dinner tonight.
Although Zhang Hua has been restrained for a while, occasionally his temper will burst out. At this stage when the relationship between his father and uncle gradually eased, Zhang Hua made trouble for Li Gang in public.
On that day, a small celebration was held in the community, and the residents came together to enjoy the festive time. Li Gang was also in the crowd, and he wanted to lower the schedule, but unexpectedly encountered Zhang Hua's troubles.
"I said Li Gang, why are you so excited today, are you here to take advantage again?" Zhang Hua's voice was higher than the surrounding hustle and bustle, making people hear it clearly.
Li Gang frowned, he didn't want to have any more arguments with Zhang Hua, so he tried to turn around and leave. "Zhang Hua, just spare me, I don't want to quarrel today."
"Yo, this is going to slip away?" Zhang Hua did not give up, and stepped forward to block Li Gang's way.
At this moment, the crowd parted ways, and Li Ming walked over quickly, standing beside the uncle with a serious expression. He faced Zhang Hua and said in a firm tone: "Uncle Zhang Hua, today is a good day, everyone is happy, you can't do this." ”
Zhang Hua looked at Li Ming, as if he wanted to find some reason to refute. "Xiao Ming, you don't know much, your uncle..."
"What's wrong with my uncle?" Li Ming interrupted him, "Uncle is an elder, you speak to him like this, right?" ”
"I..." Zhang Hua was a little speechless, because Li Ming's words made him realize that his behavior was indeed not very decent.
The surrounding residents also began to whisper, as if expressing their dissatisfaction with Zhang Hua's behavior. "Zhang Hua, it's not okay for you to be like this all the time, no one has messed with you."
"That's right, Zhang Hua, don't go too far, Uncle Li is a good person."
In full view of everyone, Zhang Hua's prestige gradually faded, and his attitude began to soften, "Okay, maybe I'm a little too much." ”
Li Ming took the opportunity to ease the atmosphere, "Uncle Zhang Hua, I know that you are for the good of the community, and so is your uncle." If there is a misunderstanding, let's sit down and talk about how to solve it. ”
Zhang Hua smacked his lips, and the residents next to him also began to nod and praise Li Ming's handling of it.
"Well, that's fine." Zhang Hua nodded reluctantly and no longer pursued.
Li Ming smiled, turned to the uncle and said, "Uncle, let's go, let's go see other activities." ”
Li Gang nodded slightly, grateful for Li Ming's wit and courage. On the way home, the uncle sighed, "Xiao Ming, I didn't expect you to come forward, and even Zhang Hua took his mouth." ”
Li Ming smiled and shook his head, "Uncle, in fact, what each of us wants in our hearts is peace and respect. I'm just reminding you. ”
That festival, thanks to Li Ming's bravery and wisdom, not only resolved a dispute, but also promoted harmony in the community. As a result, the residents' favorability and trust in Li Ming increased, and his reputation spread more and more loudly in the small towns.
After the celebration, the atmosphere throughout the small town became more harmonious. Li Ming's behavior, like a spring breeze and rain, silently moistened the relationship between neighbors, and also repaired the emotional rift in the family.
After dinner, Li Ming took out a box of old photo albums in the living room, and his father and uncle sat around the sofa, full of dusty memories unfolding page by page. The father pointed to a yellowed photo and sighed softly, "Look at this is when you were young, when we brothers were always together. ”
Uncle's eyes flashed with a complicated light, "It's been so long, and there's nothing you can't put down." ”
The father pursed his lips and finally held the uncle's hand, "It's because I was too stubborn back then, and I've been unfair to you all these years, and I'm very happy that you can come." ”
"Brother, don't say it." There was a tremor in the uncle's voice, "We still have time, let's make up for the past." ”
Li Ming stood aside, his heart surging warmly. He walked up to the two elders and smiled, "Father, uncle, it's a pleasure to have you sit down and talk." ”
Looking at the harmony and laughter of the two elders, Li Ming quietly stepped aside, silently observing the long-lost warmth of the family. The album pages continue to flip, and they reminisce about the past and plan for the future. There was more laughter at home that night, and even the mother-in-law at home shook her head with a smile, "This Xiao Ming is really a naughty mischief, but it has brought us so much happiness." ”
Time passed, and I went to the market again with my uncle on the afternoon of the weekend. Zhang Hua saw them from a distance and nodded in greeting. The uncle smiled at Li Ming, and was undoubtedly extremely satisfied with this change.
"Xiao Ming, all of this is thanks to you." Uncle patted Li Ming's shoulder, his eyes showing heartfelt gratitude.
"Uncle, these are all things that should be done." Li Ming replied with a simple smile, "As the saying goes, 'home and everything is prosperous', isn't it?" ”
There will always be some bumps in the road of life, and sometimes a word, a decision, can turn a conflict into a jade silk. Li Ming just did what he thought was right, but did he think that a gentle and brave heart would have such strength?
This content is a fictional short story, please read it rationally, and do not sit in the right seat