Li Xiaomei sat on a white plastic chair in the hospital, holding her father's hand tightly. The sky outside the window was getting darker, and the lights in the hospital room were particularly harsh. She looked at her father's pale face, and an indescribable taste welled up in her heart. The mobile phone rang suddenly, and a text message came into view: "The old house is demolished, go home quickly to discuss." Xiaomei's brow furrowed, and she felt that she was once again marginalized.
"Dad, there's news from the family, the old mansion is going to be demolished." Xiaomei whispered to her father.
Father Li Guoqiang opened his eyes weakly, and his voice was hoarse: "Demolition? That's a big deal. ”
Xiaomei nodded, but there was something unpleasant in her heart: "Yes, but they don't seem to plan to let me participate." ”
Li Guoqiang sighed: "Xiaomei, your brother Xiaodong is at home, he can represent us." ”
Xiaomei smiled bitterly: "Dad, every time there is something at home, I run before and after, but when it comes to dividing the family property, I can't even see a shadow." ”
Li Guoqiang was silent, he knew that his daughter had been wronged, but traditional ideas made it difficult for him to speak.
Xiaomei stood up and prepared to leave: "Dad, I'll go back and have a look first, and you can rest first." ”
Li Guoqiang looked at his daughter's back, and his heart was mixed.
Xiaomei walked out of the hospital, and the night breeze carried a hint of coolness. She dialed her brother's phone: "Xiaodong, do you know about the demolition of the old house?" ”
Li Xiaodong's voice came from the other end of the phone: "I know, Mom and Dad have already discussed, I will go back tomorrow." ”
Xiaomei's heart sank: "Have you discussed?" Why didn't anyone tell me? ”
Li Xiaodong disagreed: "Sister, aren't you busy taking care of your father, besides, you don't care about this." ”
Xiaomei's heart seemed to be pricked by a needle, what she cared about was not money, but the feeling of being ignored by her family: "Xiaodong, this is not just a matter of money, it is respect." ”
Li Xiaodong was a little impatient: "Sister, don't worry about it, let's talk about it when we come back." ”
Xiaomei hung up the phone, panicked. She looked up at the night sky, dotted with stars, but it couldn't illuminate the gloom in her heart.
Xiaomei stepped into the house, and the living room was already full of people. Mother, younger brother Li Xiaodong, and several relatives were all there, and discussions broke out one after another. Her arrival did not seem to attract much attention, and the topic of compensation for demolition was still hotly discussed.
"Xiaodong, you came just in time, we are talking about how to distribute the compensation." The mother stretched out and pulled Xiaodong to the center of the discussion.
Xiaomei stood quietly to the side, feeling as if she was an outsider. She cleared her throat and tried to get attention: "Mom, I have something to say too. ”
The mother glanced up at her, and quickly turned her gaze back to Xiaodong: "Xiaomei, you sit down for a while, we are busy here." ”
Xiaomei's heart was not happy, she insisted: "Mom, I am also a member of the family, and I also have the right to participate in the demolition." ”
Xiaodong glanced at Xiaomei with some impatience: "Sister, don't make a mess, you don't understand these things." ”
Xiaomei's anger came up: "Why don't I understand? What has not been my concern about my family over the years? ”
The relatives began to whisper, and the mother hurriedly played a round: "Xiaomei, look at you, the adults are discussing things, don't intervene." ”
Xiaomei took a deep breath, she knew that her voice was trembling: "Mom, I'm not interjecting, I'm fighting for my rights." ”
At this time, his father, Li Guoqiang, who had been silent, spoke: "Xiaomei, you sit down first, and we will talk slowly." ”
Xiaomei sat down, but there was a fire burning in her heart. For the first time, she looked at these family members, who usually turned a blind eye to her, and felt a deep sense of powerlessness and frustration.
The discussion continued, but Xiaomei's heart was no longer there. She began to wonder what she was in this family. She has given so much for this family, why can't she get even the most basic respect in the end?
Late at night, the discussion finally ended. Xiaomei sat alone in the courtyard, staring at the starry sky in a daze. Her heart, like the night sky, was deep and confused.
The atmosphere of the family gathering was supposed to be warm and harmonious, but the dissatisfaction in Li Xiaomei's heart surged like an undercurrent, and finally broke out at the dinner table. The dinner table was full of sumptuous dishes, but Xiaomei's mind was not on food at all.
"Xiaodong, how did you discuss the demolition?" Xiaomei's mother tried to break the silence and bring the conversation back to the demolition.
Xiaodong replied proudly: "Almost, Mom, you don't have to worry about it." ”
Xiaomei put down her chopsticks and took a deep breath: "Almost? So why don't I know at all? ”
Xiaodong was a little displeased: "Sister, you are here again, you are always like this, every time you discuss something at home, you have to intervene." ”
Xiaomei's tone became firm: "Because I am also part of this family, I also have the right to know. ”
Father Li Guoqiang tried to ease the atmosphere: "Xiaomei, we should really let you participate in the demolition." ”
Xiaomei looked her father in the eye: "Dad, I don't just want to participate, I want to be fair." Over the years, I have paid no less than anyone else for this family, why did I become an outsider when it came time to divide the property? ”
The relatives at the dinner table looked at each other, and the atmosphere became awkward. Xiaomei's mother tried to change the subject, but Xiaomei didn't budge: "I don't ask for much, I just want to get what I deserve." ”
Li Guoqiang was silent, his eyes dodged, and he didn't dare to look directly at his daughter. Xiaomei's younger brother and relatives were also silent, and no one knew how to respond.
Xiaomei stood up, her voice trembling a little: "If you can't even be fair, then what's the point of this family?" With that, she turned away from the table, leaving a room of silence.
Xiaomei's departure froze the atmosphere at the dinner table, and the silence between the family members was heavier than ever. Li Guoqiang's face was full of mixed emotions, and his gaze wandered over everyone at the dinner table, and finally fixed on Xiaodong.
"Xiaodong, your sister is right," Li Guoqiang's voice was low and powerful, "Over the years, Xiaomei has paid a lot for this family, and we can't ignore her feelings. ”
Xiaodong was stunned, he didn't expect his father to say this: "Dad, but... She's a daughter after all, a tradition in the family..."
"Tradition?" Li Guoqiang interrupted him, "Tradition should also be fair and reasonable. ”
Xiaomei's mother also seemed a little uneasy, and she tried to justify: "We didn't mean to ignore Xiaomei, it's just... Just get used to it. ”
Li Guoqiang shook his head: "Habit doesn't mean it's right, we can't let Xiaomei be wronged again." ”
Relatives at the dinner table also began to whisper, some nodding in agreement, others looking embarrassed.
Xiaomei listened quietly outside the door, her heart full of mixed feelings. She didn't expect her father to stand up and speak for herself, which surprised and touched her at the same time.
Li Guoqiang stood up and walked to the door, he looked at Xiaomei, his eyes were full of apologies: "Xiaomei, it's my father who is not good and has wronged you." ”
Xiaomei's tears rolled in her eyes, and she choked up: "Dad, I just want a fair chance." ”
Li Guoqiang took a deep breath, he turned to the whole family and said, "From today onwards, Xiaomei's opinions and decisions must be respected. We cannot ignore her contribution to this family. ”
Xiaodong also stood up, he looked at Xiaomei, with a hint of guilt in his tone: "Sister, I'm sorry, I used to be too selfish." ”
Xiaomei wiped her tears, she smiled: "It's okay, Xiaodong, I just hope we can face problems together like a family." ”
The atmosphere at the dinner table gradually eased, and although it was still a little awkward, at least everyone began to reflect and began to try to understand and respect each other.
With Li Guoqiang's words, the atmosphere at home began to change slowly. Xiaomei stood quietly in the doorway, feeling this belated respect. She knows that this is not only a personal respect for her, but also a recognition of a woman's place in the family.
"Xiaomei, let's renegotiate the matter of demolition compensation." Li Guoqiang said seriously, "Your opinion is very important. ”
Xiaomei's mother also came over and held Xiaomei's hand: "Xiaomei, Mom didn't think about it well before, let's discuss family matters in the future." ”
Xiaodong also sincerely apologized to Xiaomei: "Sister, I was wrong, I should have stood on your side earlier." ”
Xiaomei's heart is full of warmth, and she knows that this is not just a simple apology, it is a recognition of her family's efforts over the years.
"Thank you," Xiaomei's voice trembled slightly, "I don't want much compensation, I just want a fair chance." ”
The family members began to revisit the distribution of compensation for the demolition, and this time, everyone listened carefully to Xiaomei's opinion. Xiaomei also put forward her own suggestions, and her idea was unanimously approved by her family.
"Xiaomei, your idea is very good, we agree." Li Guoqiang said, "In the future, you should also participate more in family affairs." ”
Xiaomei felt more satisfied than ever, and she knew that this was not only an affirmation of personal value, but also a redefinition of the role of women in the family.
After some discussion, the family finally reached a consensus. Xiaomei was treated with due respect and compensation, and family ties were repaired as a result.
At night, Xiaomei sat alone in the courtyard, looking at the starry sky, her heart full of hope. She knew that from now on, she would no longer be a marginal figure in her family, but an integral part of her family's decision-making.
This article is a microfiction, please do not sit in the opposite seat