My name is Li Xiaomei, and I remember stepping into the threshold of my in-law's house for the first time, and my heart was full of beautiful visions for the future.
On that day, the sun shone through the light gauze curtains on the carefully arranged dining table, and the smile of my mother-in-law Aunt Wang was warm and warm, and she held the braised pork she made by herself in her hand, and said to me: "Xiaomei, come, try Mom's craftsmanship." ”
I shyly took the chopsticks, and secretly made up my mind that I must be a good daughter-in-law of this family.
Zhang Hao, my husband, is the only son in the family, and his eyes always have endless doting on me.
Uncle Li, the father-in-law, is the kind of traditional parent, who doesn't talk much, but every sentence is a thousand words.
At the dinner table, he always casually mentions the glory and tradition of the family, and his words reveal his expectations for this family.
I remember that night, when the moonlight was like water, Zhang Hao and I made a promise for the future on the balcony.
I whispered to him, "I'll do my best, for our family, for you." ”
He held my hand tightly, and his eyes flashed with determination: "I believe in you, Xiaomei. ”
At that time, I never imagined that this expectation and longing would encounter realistic challenges in the near future.
But at least on that hearty night, I believed I was able to fit into the family and become an integral part of their hearts.
As time went on, I began to realize that life in my in-laws' family was not as simple as I first thought.
Every morning, when the first rays of sunlight shine through the curtains, I start my busy day.
Aunt Wang is a picky person, her requirements for housework are almost harsh, every corner must be wiped clean, not even a trace of dust can be spared.
I tried my best to adapt, but I always felt like I wasn't good enough.
Once, when I was busy preparing dinner in the kitchen, Aunt Wang walked in and frowned at my way of chopping vegetables: "Xiaomei, why do you cut like this?" That's not how it is cut in our homes. ”
I smiled awkwardly, but my heart was mixed. I knew she wasn't trying to embarrass me, but this invisible pressure suffocated me.
Zhang Hao is busy with work, often working overtime until late at night, I try to share these unhappiness with him, but he always comforts me tiredly: "Don't take it too seriously, Mom is such a person." "I understand his hard work, but I also want more support.
Uncle Li is the silent man in the family, he always observes everything silently, but rarely expresses his opinion.
Whenever the atmosphere in the house became tense, he would always use the phrase "home and everything is prosperous" to ease the atmosphere, but I could feel that behind his words was a deep hope for family harmony.
I began to try to communicate, trying to find a way to get along with Aunt Wang, but every conversation seemed to touch her sensitive nerves invisibly.
I felt lost and helpless, and I didn't know how long this life would last. I gradually put away my smile and became silent, and the expectation and longing in my heart were slowly disappearing.
As time passed, the conflicts in the family became more and more apparent.
At a family gathering, relatives sat around the living room, laughing and whispering to me.
Aunt Wang mentioned my work in front of everyone, with dissatisfaction in her tone: "Xiaomei, women should still put their families first, how can they take care of their families when they are so busy with work?" ”
I felt a pang of embarrassment, a stiff smile on my face, but blood was dripping from my heart.
After returning home that night, I finally couldn't help but confide in Zhang Hao about my grievances.
He was silent for a while after hearing this, and then said helplessly: "You know Mom's character, so you can take care of it more." ”
I froze, feeling a loneliness I had never felt before. Can I only be an outsider in this home forever?
Seeing this, Uncle Li sighed and tried to ease the atmosphere: "Xiaomei, every family has a scripture that is difficult to read, and we are all trying to adapt to it. Don't be too upset. ”
His words were mild, but I knew it was only a temporary comfort and that the problem wasn't really resolved.
I lay in bed tossing and turning, with a lot of thoughts. I was reminded of my dreams and plans for the future, but now I am bound to this conflicting family.
I felt a deep sense of powerlessness, as if my efforts would never be recognized. That night, tears quietly slipped down, and the rift in my heart grew bigger and bigger.
Finally, one day, the long-pent-up emotions erupted like a volcano.
It was a weekend morning, I was preparing breakfast in the kitchen, Aunt Wang suddenly came in, and when she saw me in a hurry, her face suddenly sank: "Xiaomei, why are you so careless?" Even making a mess for breakfast! ”
My mood was extremely depressed, and when I heard such words, I finally couldn't bear it anymore.
I put down the spatula in my hand, took a deep breath, and responded calmly but firmly: "Mom, I've done my best." It's not that I don't want to do well, but I also have my own difficulties and pressures. ”
Aunt Wang was stunned, obviously not expecting me to refute it directly.
Zhang Hao heard the argument in the kitchen and hurriedly ran over. Seeing our stalemate, he tried to mediate: "Mom, Xiaomei is not easy, don't be too harsh on her." ”
But Aunt Wang seemed to have been carried away by emotion, and she retorted angrily: "Why am I harsh? I'm teaching her how to be a qualified daughter-in-law! ”
The atmosphere became tense for a while. Uncle Li heard the commotion and walked out of the study. He looked at us and sighed, "Let's all calm down, and have something to say." But his words were no longer enough to calm the storm.
I felt a sense of despair that I had never felt before. I knew that if I didn't speak up for myself, I would lose my right to stand in this family forever.
I looked Aunt Wang in the eye: "Mom, I respect you, but I also want to be respected." I'm not an appendage of you, I have my own thoughts and feelings. With that, I turned and left the kitchen, leaving a dead silence.
After that day, the atmosphere in the home became even more dreary. My relationship with Aunt Wang has reached a freezing point, and the rift between me and Zhang Hao is getting deeper and deeper. I know that this marriage has reached a dangerous point.
After that conflict, I went back to my parents' home, where I grew up and where I felt most at ease.
Seeing my haggard appearance, my father patted me on the shoulder in distress: "Child, no matter what difficulties you encounter, this will always be your home." The mother's eyes were full of worry: "Xiaomei, you have to be strong, no matter what, we will support you." ”
With the support of my family, I began to reflect on my life. I realized that I couldn't always passively accept the arrangements and criticisms of my in-laws, and I needed to find my voice.
A few days later, I mustered up the courage to send a long letter to Zhang Hao. In the letter, I expressed my feelings and thoughts: "My dear, I know that you are also hard, but our marriage cannot be all about patience and sacrifice. We need to understand and support each other in order to face life's difficulties together. ”
Zhang Hao was silent for a long time after receiving the letter. Eventually, he replied to me: "Xiaomei, I read your letter and I realized that there is indeed a problem between us. I am willing to work with you to find a solution. His words made me feel a little warm, maybe our marriage can still be saved.
During that time, I began to re-examine my life goals and values.
I am no longer the daughter-in-law who is submissive and afraid to express herself, but an independent woman who is assertive and dares to pursue happiness. I know there's still a long way to go, but at least I've taken the first step.
As for the future, I don't regret my decision now and live for myself.