The sun had not yet fully risen, and the faint morning light shone on the green bricks of the old house, and Li Xiao walked lightly into the courtyard of the Wang family. This is a scene she has imagined countless times in the days after deciding to return the bride price. She thought about all kinds of possibilities, and the Wang family's refusal, quarrel, and even the use of legal means were all in her plan. However, when she stepped into this once familiar space, she was greeted by a picture of harmony that she had not expected.
"Ex-boyfriend" Wang Gang did not sit in the living room waiting for her as Li Xiao imagined, but squatted next to a wooden basin under the eaves, holding a soft towel in his hand, gently scrubbing the feet of an old man with silver hair. The clear and warm gaze, occasionally rippling on the water, reveals a strong filial piety and patience.
"Grandmother" Wang Guiying sat on an old-fashioned wooden chair that was slightly shaky, watching the young man wash her feet, with a smile of relief on her face. In the courtyard of the Wang family, time seems to have slowed down, and everything is like the quiet years in the old photos.
Li Xiao stood aside, and the list of bride prices in her hand seemed to become extremely heavy. This scene touched her heart, and with all her memories and emotions about this home, began to surge in her heart. The resoluteness and resentment on her face became blurred at this moment, and she even began to wonder if her decision to return the bride price was really that strong.
"Ex-girlfriend, you're here." Wang Gang didn't look up, his tone was unexpectedly calm. Li Xiao hadn't recovered from the sudden calm, and hesitated for a moment before responding, "Yes, I'm here." ”
When Wang Guiying heard the voice, she slowly raised her head, and a warm smile appeared on her wrinkled face, "It's Xiao Li, right?" Come and sit, don't stand. ”
Li Xiao didn't move, she pursed her lips tightly, her eyes swaying between the kind old man and Wang Gang's figure. She thought that this would be a process of drawing a line and resolutely returning, but she didn't expect that she would hesitate and waver on such an occasion and at such a time.
"I, I'd better get down to business first." Li Xiao's voice was a little dry, but Wang Guiying didn't show the surprise she expected, just nodded slowly.
Li Xiao took a deep breath and handed the list in his hand to Wang Gang, "This is the list and amount of the previous bride price, I hope to return it." ”
Wang Gang quietly took the list, and the tenderness in his eyes did not weaken in the slightest. "Since you've decided, of course we'll respect you." His answer was surprisingly simple, without the dispute Li Xiao expected.
Li Xiao was stunned for a moment, looked around, this familiar and unfamiliar home, it felt like all the anger and dissatisfaction that had been suddenly washed away. At this time, the old grandmother Wang Guiying spoke again: "Ex-girlfriend, my feet are a little inconvenient, and I always cause trouble just now." Can you help me wipe my other foot? The tone of his voice was a very sincere request.
Li Xiao looked at Wang Gang, then at Wang Guiying, and finally, she walked over, squatted down, took the towel, and began to gently wash Wang Guiying. The bride price, dignity, past grievances, at this moment, are no longer so important.
In the yard, the sun is warm, the morning breeze is gentle, and everything looks peaceful and warm. Li Xiao's movements became softer and softer, and the wall of her heart was also quietly being demolished little by little......
Time is like a slowly flowing bead, falling drop by drop through the gaps in the eaves, but in the courtyard of the Wang family, it seems that there are different rhythms slowly unfolding. The list of bride prices in front of Li Xiao, just like her resoluteness and contradictions, became heavier and heavier in this old house.
"Ex-girlfriend, sit down and drink some tea and calm down." Wang Gang's voice broke the silence in the courtyard, without a trace of displeasure and resistance, his expression was surprisingly peaceful. Wang Gang handed Li Xiao a cup of freshly brewed hot tea, the steaming heat and the chill of the morning were intertwined, symbolizing the biting embarrassment and gentle tenderness.
Li Xiao took the teacup, his fingers trembling slightly. She hesitated for a moment, then finally sat down on the wooden chair. The scene in front of him made Li Xiao can't help but recall the past time with Wang Gang, those subtle warmth and misunderstanding, and the intertwining of love and pain.
"Grandma, I'm here today, mainly for the previous bride price......" Li Xiao said with difficulty, but he didn't know how to continue.
Wang Guiying smiled and waved her hand, "I know, I heard it just mentioned." But since you're here, don't rush to mention these things yet. You see, early in the morning, the cold is heavy, so warm up first. ”
Li Xiao's throat seemed to be blocked by something, and the seriousness and determination were self-defeating in Wang Guiying's kind gaze and smile. Wang Gang stood quietly aside, not interjecting, his gaze moving back and forth between Li Xiao and Wang Guiying, full of understanding and waiting.
The atmosphere in the courtyard gradually changed from tense to calm, and Li Xiao's mood was slowly relieved in this warmth. She put down the teacup in her hand, took a deep breath, and said slowly: "I thought today would be a difficult day, and I even prepared a lot of words to say......"
"Ex-boyfriend, why can you be so calm? Don't you feel indebted to me? Li Xiao's eyes began to redden, but after all, he still couldn't hold back the grievances and doubts in his heart.
Wang Gang stepped forward, took the list of bride prices from Li Xiao's hand, looked at it seriously, slowly raised his head, and looked directly at Li Xiao with deep eyes: "I know that there are a lot of misunderstandings and unpleasantness between us, and I have also thought many times about whether there is something I have not done well enough." But ......"
He paused, smiled and added, "I think we all need some time to calm down and think, and it's the same for me." In any case, I respect your decision. ”
After saying these words, Wang Gang did not rush to say anything more, but silently put the list aside, turned his head to Wang Guiying and said, "Grandma, Xiaoxiao is coming from afar, I will go to the kitchen to prepare something for her." ”
Li Xiao looked at Wang Gang's back, and suddenly felt a little overwhelmed, and then she felt a kind of calmness and tolerance emanating from Wang Gang. Under the warm sunshine of the Wang family, her persistence and list seem to have become less important.
Wang Guiying smiled kindly and said to Li Xiao: "Xiaoxiao, you are a good boy, no matter what happens between you, grandma will bless you." If you really decide, it's a big deal that grandma will find you a good girl in the future. She seems to regard Li Xiao as her own family, and that open-mindedness and kindness have further collapsed Li Xiao's heart wall.
Li Xiao smiled slightly, and an inexplicable feeling surged in his heart. She looked at the old man and once again felt the warmth and affection of home, perhaps, this is what she is most reluctant to lose......
The courtyard of the Wang family has the autumn sunshine and the familiar atmosphere of home, Li Xiao sat down next to Wang Guiying, holding the list of bride prices that made her tangled, and her ex-boyfriend Wang Gang also returned to her sight.
Wang Gang squatted back at Wang Guiying's feet, his technique gentle and careful, not at all like the movements of rough hands that had done farm work. This delicacy and patience made Li Xiao can't help but recall the bits and pieces when the two were together, and Wang Gang at that time always took care of her patiently and considerate of her.
"Ex-girlfriend, if you don't feel comfortable, you can go." Wang Gang didn't raise his head, still concentrating on helping Wang Guiying wash his feet, but there was a soft insistence in his tone.
Li Xiao shook her head, she realized that she should no longer run away from this past, and the relationship between her and Wang Gang was far more than a bride price: "No, I'm not leaving, we have to have an explanation." ”
Grandma Wang Guiying seemed to notice the change in the atmosphere, her eyes crossed the faces of the two young people, and she said calmly: "Just now, Xiaoxiao, you are all good children, there is something you can't sit down and talk about slowly." ”
At this moment, Li Xiao's heart wall began to collapse, she involuntarily squatted down, took the soft towel that was soaking in Wang Gang's hand, and began to gently help Wang Guiying wash her other foot. Wang Guiying watched Li Xiao's movements, with gratitude in her eyes, and Wang Gang's rare smile also made the ice in her heart begin to melt.
At this time, the bride price was no longer what Li Xiao cared about the most, and she found that whether it was the expectation in her grandmother's eyes or the trust just now, it made her feel more warm and precious than the bride price.
"You know, ex-boyfriend, we could have faced our problems in many ways, and the bride price, it's really that heavy?" Li Xiao's voice was choked with a hint of choking, this was the first time she had shown such sincere emotions in front of Wang Gang.
Wang Gang finally raised his head, his eyes were full of tenderness: "I know, I've been thinking that if we can understand more and care less, maybe the result will be different." But, at least for now, we are facing our hearts head-on. ”
The eyes of the two people met in this pale golden afternoon, and each other's hearts were in silent communication. Wang Guiying next to her no longer spoke, but silently blessed the two children in her heart, no matter what their future would be.
At the moment when the shackles of this marriage transaction were let go, the emotion and understanding in Li Xiao and Wang Gang's hearts seemed to have found resonance, and they had the power to let go and move forward with each other. The bride price, the past, the intricate emotions became clear at this moment, it turned out that all they needed was understanding and tolerance.
In Wang Guiying's gentle gaze and Wang Gang's tolerant smile, Li Xiao felt that his heart gradually calmed down. During that period of silence, the tension between the two families was completely resolved, no longer the material symbol of the bride price, but the respect and understanding of each other's former feelings.
After all, the affection between men and women cannot be offset by the numbers in the account books. Li Xiao quietly folded the list of bride prices in his hand and gently placed it on the table beside him. Wang Gang looked at her, and the two looked at each other and smiled, no words, but a thousand words were worth a thousand words.
The bride price is no longer an obstacle in the relationship between two people, and there are only expectations for the future and relief for the past. Li Xiao looked at Wang Gang deeply, and then turned to Wang Guiying, she smiled with a hint of emotion: "Grandma, thank you, it was you who made me understand a lot of truths in life, I think I got something more important than the bride price." ”
Wang Guiying nodded lovingly and smiled with satisfaction: "Xiaoxiao, grandma believes that your road will be wider and wider in the future, you are a smart and kind child." ”
Wang Gang looked at Li Xiao and said gently: "Your visit today has made me aware of some of the previous problems, and I still need to face and untie the knot, thank you for giving me this opportunity." ”
The conversation between the two is like a long-dusted window opening a gap, allowing light and fresh air to pour into their hearts, and it turns out that mutual understanding is more precious and important than any possessions.
The bride price incident is a thing of the past, and now they have a new understanding and understanding. Li Xiao stood up and bowed to Wang Guiying and Wang Gang, she knew that the farewell at this moment was not only the farewell of the two people who had planned to spend the rest of their lives together, but also the farewell to her past youthful years.
The farewell is not only the bride price, but also a story that teaches her to cherish and be grateful. On this sunny afternoon, Li Xiao carried the meaning of growth and liberation, and traveled lightly to his new life. As for Wang Gang, he will continue his simple life in the warm afternoon, never forget his original intention, and adhere to his attitude towards life.
After experiencing this twist and turn, the two young people have new revelations and insights in each other's hearts, even if their life paths will go their separate ways, but this experience will definitely become an indelible and cherished part of their memories. The reconciliation in the depths of their hearts is the best commemoration of that entanglement, and it is also the most precious fruit of growth.