In an old residential building in Beijing, three generations are living together in Zhao Yongzhi's home. Xiaofen is the daughter-in-law of this family, and she doesn't interact much with her mother-in-law in her daily life. The work rhythm of leaving early and returning late makes her little time to sit down and communicate with her mother-in-law, Zhao Yongzhi. Zhao Yongzhi, on the other hand, enjoys her leisure time after retirement, gathering with friends in the community every day, either playing chess or chatting about family life.
One weekend, Xiaofen came home from overtime as usual, and saw her mother-in-law and husband sitting on the sofa in the living room watching the evening news, and the atmosphere at home was peaceful and warm. Zhao Yongzhi smiled slightly and motioned for Xiaofen to sit down and rest for a while. Xiaofen sat down and looked out the window, her eyes full of the glint of the city's night.
"It's hard to work overtime today, right?" Zhao Yongzhi asked with concern.
"It's okay, I'm just a little tired." Xiaofen didn't say much, and her eyes were tired.
"It's hard work, our family Xiaofen works so hard, my mother-in-law sees it in her eyes, but she feels distressed." Zhao Yongzhi said to Xiaofen's husband.
Xiaofen's husband nodded slightly, but did not say much, it was a night that did not need to be said, and everyone was content with this tranquility. However, Xiaofen has unspeakable boredom in her heart, the pressure of the workplace, the burden of the family, and the idea that she dare not bring up to her mother-in-law.
At the dinner table, three members of the family sit together. After dinner, Xiaofen made a suggestion: "Mother-in-law, in fact, your health is still very good, and there are not too many trivial things to deal with at home, if you can go out and find a light job......"
Before the words fell, Zhao Yongzhi's eyes showed a hint of surprise: "This... Xiaofen, I'm already retired, what do I do again? "
Xiaofen paused for a moment and explained embarrassedly: "That's the case, life is stressful now, and my salary alone is not very high, if the family can have more income......"
"Xiaofen, you don't have to worry too much about the family's finances, you have worked hard." The mother-in-law interrupted Xiaofen's words, and her tone was mixed with some faint displeasure.
When cleaning the dishes and chopsticks after the meal, Xiaofen's husband quietly said to his mother-in-law: "Mom, in fact, Xiaofen's proposal is not unreasonable, you see ......."
"That's what you mean?" Zhao Yongzhi turned his head and was startled.
"No, I just think ......" The husband was clearly hesitant.
Throughout the evening, it seemed to be enveloped in a subtle atmosphere. Obviously, there was no quarrel, but there was a slight silence and embarrassment at home. Xiaofen's guilt grew stronger and stronger, she felt that she shouldn't have asked so bluntly, after all, it was a break for her mother-in-law after a hard life.
In the dead of night, the competition in the workplace and the trivial matters of the family are like the lights of the city, flickering in Xiaofen's heart from afar. She looked at her sleeping husband and her mother-in-law in the bedroom, and her thoughts were full of thoughts. Xiaofen knows that her mother-in-law's retirement life cannot be changed by her own words, and she needs to find a better way to reduce the burden of life instead of letting others carry the burden on her own life.
In Zhao Yongzhi's spacious and warm home, a birthday party was held as scheduled. Relatives and friends gathered together, and the living room of the Zhao family was lit up with lights, and the atmosphere was lively. As the elders sit around and grab their glasses, the conversation shifts from the children's upbringing to the distribution of household chores and the enjoyment of retirement.
"It's not easy for children nowadays, and the pressure is so great, our generation has to help take care of grandchildren and do housework." An uncle sighed.
"That's it, let's do whatever we can." The other aunt nodded in agreement.
Xiaofen listened quietly, and couldn't help but turn her mind around. The pressure at work has always been with her, and although she doesn't want to admit it, she does crave more support at home.
On the way home, Xiaofen confided in her husband, who had always supported her: "Husband, did you feel anything about what the uncles and aunts said today? "
"Feel what?" Her husband looked at her suspiciously.
"It's just... Those words about the family, about the mother. Xiaofen made up her mind and finally said what she thought in her heart, "I'm thinking, how nice it would be if my mother-in-law could come out to help share the pressure on the family's finances." "
"It's... Xiaofen, you know that my mother's life is not easy, she has retired. The husband looked a little uneasy.
"I know, I understand, but... I always feel that the income of the two of us is still a little reluctant to support our small family. Xiaofen said, with a hint of anticipation in her eyes.
The next day, her husband relayed Xiaofen's idea to Zhao Yongzhi. Zhao Yongzhi didn't speak for a long time after hearing this, and the expression on his face was elusive. The atmosphere in the room suddenly became heavy, and a subtle tension was spreading.
"Xiaofen, what do you mean by that? Does she really want me to go out to work? Zhao Yongzhi finally spoke, his tone a little disappointed.
"Mom, don't get me wrong, Xiaofen doesn't mean anything else, she just thinks ......" The husband hurriedly explained.
"I know, I know." Zhao Yongzhi's voice seemed to tremble a little, "But I think she should also know that I am not young anymore, and there are not many job opportunities now...... Did she think about my feelings? "
In the following days, the originally harmonious Zhao family seemed to have an indescribable estrangement. There is less communication between the daughter-in-law and the mother-in-law, and they are busy, but they inevitably need to face this problem.
Doesn't the happiness of the family include the stability of the old and the progress of the young? Xiaofen's heart is full of contradictions. She began to wonder if she was too reckless, bringing her personal predicament into the family, and disturbing the peace that the Zhao family should have.
One night, Xiaofen sat on the balcony, looking at the busy street, and her heart was full of waves. She longs to understand and be understood, to be supported and supported, but none of this should come at the expense of her mother-in-law's retirement. Family harmony is the most important thing, this is the principle of the Zhao family, and it is also the truth that Xiaofen needs to remember.
At the dinner table, the atmosphere was as harmonious as ever, and Zhao Yongzhi's carefully prepared dinner was wafting with an enticing aroma. However, the family's financial problems, like a hidden undercurrent, finally surfaced on an inadvertent night.
Li Xiaofen raised her concerns, "Mother-in-law, I think our family's financial pressure is a bit big now, if you can come out to help share it, find a job that is not too tiring......" Although the words are understated, the tone still reveals some helplessness and expectation.
Zhao Yongzhi stopped what he was doing, and his tone was a little firm, "Xiaofen, I know you work hard, but I'm afraid to work at my age...... I think you, as young people, should be more energetic to face these challenges, shouldn't you? "
Xiaofen didn't expect her mother-in-law to be so direct, and she couldn't help but feel a little lost in her heart, "Mother-in-law, I understand your thoughts, but I really think it's ......"
"Child," Zhao Yongzhi interrupted her, "I can also see your current state, there is a lot of pressure, but this is not your way of coping with pressure. "
"So what should I do?" Xiaofen's eyes were slightly red, and her voice was choked.
"Xiaofen, what I said is not that I don't support you, but that I also have my considerations." Zhao Yongzhi looked for a more gentle tone, "We can think of other ways together, can't we?" "
As dinner ended, the conversation about the family economy came to an end, but the tension in the air did not dissipate. After a while, Xiaofen and her husband thought separately, while Zhao Yongzhi silently cleaned up the dishes.
One afternoon a few days later, Xiaofen sat on the balcony and watched her mother-in-law play with the neighbors in the community. Suddenly, she realizes that her proposal may be stressful for her mother-in-law, and the embarrassment and guilt begin to creep through her heart.
"Perhaps, we should think of another way......" Xiaofen whispered to herself, she knew that she couldn't be selfish anymore, and she couldn't let her mother-in-law bear the burden she shouldn't have.
That night, Xiaofen talked to her husband for a long time, and the two finally agreed that the harmony of the family must not be affected by her momentary words. Xiaofen decided to re-examine her work and family, looking for a balance that would make everyone feel comfortable and satisfied.
The smoke of tension and controversy faded into the night sky, Xiaofen was immersed in self-reflection, and Zhao Yongzhi's eyes began to glow with understanding and relief. Family harmony requires everyone's efforts and understanding, and this is exactly what she is trying to achieve.
As the turmoil of family controversy gradually subsided, Li Xiaofen gradually realized that every family member, especially Zhao Yongzhi's mother-in-law, had the inalienable right to choose the life they wanted to live. Xiaofen knows that even if the family is under financial pressure, she should not force her mother-in-law to give up her precious retirement time.
"Mother-in-law, I'm sorry, I'm too willful." After a warm family dinner, Xiaofen sincerely apologized to Zhao Yongzhi.
Zhao Yongzhi stroked Xiaofen's hand and stared at the young woman with tolerant eyes, "Child, I can understand your hardship, the financial pressure is indeed not small, but we can always find other ways to solve the problem, can't we?" "
Xiaofen nodded, and the heaviness in her heart was gradually replaced by a warm current, and she realized that family harmony was far more important than short-term financial hardship. She began to think about other possible avenues, such as side hustles and saving on expenses, so that the family could balance their finances without sacrificing the happiness and comfort of their family.
That night, Xiaofen and her husband worked together to carefully calculate the family budget, and the two planned the future together. The frank communication between the husband and wife made up for the previous misunderstandings and contradictions, and made Xiaofen deeply realize how precious the understanding and support between family members is.
Time moves forward like flowing water, the dilemma of the family economy is slowly resolved by wisdom and hard work, and Zhao Yongzhi's retirement life is still quiet and warm. Since then, Xiaofen has been more respectful of the ideas and choices of everyone in her family, she has learned to listen, learned to be tolerant, and has re-recognized the true meaning of family.
Family harmony has become Li Xiaofen's new goal, and she understands that the most valuable thing for a family is not money, but the understanding and support between family members. Xiaofen silently promised in her heart that no matter what difficulties the family encounters in the future, she will unite with her family and face them together.
When night falls, the windows of Zhao's house are filled with warm lights, Xiaofen, with the encouragement of her mother-in-law, begins to plan her side hustle, and Zhao Yongzhi continues to enjoy her retirement, and the laughter between her grandmother and daughter-in-law echoes in this small family space, filled with the warmth and happiness of home.