My name is Li Xiaomei, and my husband Wang Qiang is my neighbor. We were high school alumni and naturally got together after college. After I got married, I moved to Wang Qiang's hometown and lived with my father-in-law Liu Qi and my mother-in-law Liu Fang.
Liu Fang is an old lady with a broken mouth, she likes to point fingers, and often counts that my cooking is not to her taste. "Xiaomei, your dish is too light, it's tasteless! "This meat is too old to chew! "She always looks like I owe her 80,000. I'm actually good at cooking, but she likes heavy flavors, so I can't cook it to her liking.
In fact, I am most worried about my father-in-law's diet, but Liu Fang is an elderly person with good physique, so it doesn't matter if she eats bland. So I will take care of my father-in-law's taste first and cook some light and easy dishes for him. Liu Fang didn't care about this, she only knew that she was greedy.
In the early years, I would clash with Liu Fang, but later when I saw that she was older, I didn't have the same knowledge as her, I just listened to her count. She was happy to say I'd just let her go, I had more important things to do.
It's the New Year soon, and my husband is sent abroad for a month, so this year's Chinese New Year's Eve dinner is for me to go back to my mother's house and ** him for the New Year. I told Liu Qi in advance that I would go back to my parents' house on the night of the first day of the new year, and he knew that I missed my mother's family, so he agreed.
Yesterday, Liu Fang came to me again: "Xiaomei, you said that you and Wang Qiang celebrated the New Year, and you went back to your parents' house when they were not at home, so who will make my New Year's dumplings?" You are so unfilial! ”
Liu Fang snorted and said, "Four hundred dumplings are enough?" You think beautifully! I can eat 500 alone. You go back to your parents' house, and I will ask you to come back and make dumplings on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. ”
I knew she was deliberately embarrassing me, but it was not good to argue with her at this time, so I could only say, "Mom, I've been making dumplings all night, it's really not easy." You can barely eat some, anyway, I'll come back to accompany you during the New Year. ”
I don't care if you come back or not, I don't care if you don't have you for the New Year. It's just a dumpling matter, you unfilial daughter-in-law have to think clearly! Liu Fang said confidently.
I took a deep breath and didn't reply. It's not that I have to go back to my parents' house, it's clear that Liu Fang deliberately made a stumbling block, and it seems unfilial to me to go back to my parents' house for the New Year. I usually care so much about her and my father-in-law, she is good and talks about me going back to my parents' house.
Forget it, I don't have the same knowledge as her, as long as she's happy. I just went back to my mother's house to visit my parents, and then came back for the New Year to cook a sumptuous Chinese New Year's Eve dinner for her.
So, on New Year's Day, I got up early and ordered two large tables of delicious food for Liu Fang and my father-in-law. They all said that I was good at workmanship, but I didn't hear Liu Fang praise me. After lunch, I began to pack my bags and prepare to go to the train station to take the bus back to my parents' house.
Liu Fang saw that I was about to leave with my bag, and couldn't help but say, "Go, go, come back on the fifteenth day of the first month." I'll eat these dumplings myself, so I don't need you. ”
I ignored her and said to my father-in-law, "Father-in-law, you and your mother have a good time enjoying New Year's Day, and I will be back in two days." You must be safe and hit me if something happens**.
My father-in-law knew that I was filial to them and said, "Good boy, be careful on the road." We're fine here, and you should take care of yourself outside. ”
I nodded, respectfully kowtowed goodbye to my father-in-law and Liu Fang, and then went to the car with my suitcase. I know that Liu Fang just wants me to be upset when she says this, but she can't really stop eating the dumplings I made. I'm used to her always being so petty.
When I returned to my parents' home, I was finally able to unload my burden and reunite with my family. My mother knew that my mother-in-law was rude, and she often sighed and said that I had suffered too much. I just smiled and didn't want her to worry about it.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, I sent a ** greeting to my father-in-law Liu Qi for a good New Year, and he was very happy, saying that Liu Fang had eaten dumplings very well these days. I laughed and said that would be good.
When I was about to give Liu Fang a New Year's greeting**, an old neighbor came to see my mother with a gift. Talking about family life, she said that she went to Liu Fang's house to eat dumplings a few days ago, and Liu Fang said while eating that my skills in making dumplings are not good, the skin is too thick, and it is not as delicious as her own wrapping.
When I heard this, my heart was not happy. I stayed up for most of the night to make more than 400 dumplings, and she ate them all in her stomach, and it was too much to slander my craftsmanship.
After repeated inquiries, the neighbor's aunt said that Liu Fang said this at the time: "The dumpling skin of our Xiaomei bun is too thick and not thin enough." I taught her many times and didn't change it, it was just clumsy. If it weren't for my guidance, would she be able to eat the dumplings? ”
I thought to myself, Liu Fang is obviously my handbag, ** came here to point out? It was obvious that she deliberately spoke ill of me in front of outsiders, making me feel as if I owed her a favor.
Seeing that my face was not good, my aunt persuaded me: "Xiaomei, don't mind, we all know that you treat your mother-in-law very well." Liu Fang is just a little mean-mouthed, don't take it to heart. ”
I barely managed to squeeze out a smile and sent my aunt away. As soon as she left, I was angry. Liu Fang is too much to do this, I have already given her face as a daughter-in-law, she is good, she said bad things about me in front of other relatives and neighbors, it is like killing me!
I originally planned to go back and make dumplings for her, but now it seems that I have to teach her a lesson and let her know that I, Li Xiaomei, am not easy to bully!
When I went home for the Chinese New Year, I greeted my father-in-law as usual and said some homely words to him. Liu Fang pouted on the side, and I ignored her directly, as if she didn't exist.
During the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, my father-in-law praised my skills for improving again, and I said with a smile: "Father-in-law, I thought that your old man can't eat too greasy, so I made a lighter dish, I hope you like it." ”
Liu Fang interjected curtly: "Xiaomei, where are my dumplings?" Why didn't you do it at all? ”
I glanced at her coldly and said, "Mom, I thought about making dumplings too time-consuming, so I made some simple vegetarian dishes." You also know that my craftsmanship is not good, and you are not used to eating the dumplings. I happened to read a report recently that dumplings are not environmentally friendly, so I just made some green vegetable and tofu soup, which is light and light, can you try it? ”
Liu Fang's face turned red, and she said loudly: "What are you talking about!" Not making dumplings for the New Year is simply ruining our customs. Do you want to kill me? ”
I put down the dishes and chopsticks and said in a calm tone, "Mom, I really wanted to prepare some dumplings for you." However, my craftsmanship is too poor, and I am afraid that you will not be used to it. If I take the liberty of making crusty dumplings, it would be unfilial. Since my craftsmanship is not up to your standards, I have no choice but to give in. If you really want to eat it, how about I ask you to guide me next year? ”
Liu Fang was so blocked by me that she couldn't speak, and her face turned purple. She knew that I was gossiping about me behind my back before insinuating her, and she didn't know how to refute it for a while.
The father-in-law hurriedly persuaded: "Okay, okay, don't fight." That's it for this year, and we'll talk about it next year. ”
Liu Fang didn't get the dumplings, and she was not happy with her stomach. I ate very well, and told my father-in-law about my interesting things in my hometown, with a relaxed and happy attitude.
After the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, Liu Fang pulled me to the courtyard to talk. I let my father-in-law rest in the house before I followed her outside.
Xiaomei, did you take the wrong medicine today? didn't make dumplings for me, and contradicted me, do you think you are the housewife of the family now? Liu Fang fired directly.
I said neither humbly nor arrogantly: "Mom, I have always been very filial to you, and I never contradict what you say I have done badly." I don't make dumplings today purely because of my poor skills, and I'm afraid of disappointing you. As for the collision, I ** hit you? ”
I continued, "Mom, I know you're very critical of my craft. But you can just tell me, why bother to say I'm bad in front of other people? You say that I am clumsy and make too thick skin, which is belittling me and making me very shameless in front of others. I have been a daughter-in-law for so many years, and I have treated you well, why do you say this about me? ”
Liu Fang understood everything now, and her face was embarrassed and at a loss. She knew that she was upsetting me by gossiping about me in front of her relatives, and she didn't know what to say for a while.
I saw that she had already realized her mistake, and her tone softened slightly: "Mom, I know that you respect and be filial to you. It's just this kind of thing, please tell me directly in the future, and don't say it in front of others. I will humbly accept your advice and improve myself. Let's get along well and don't let people see jokes, okay? ”
Liu Fang nodded with a red face and said nothing more. Now she should know that I, Li Xiaomei, am not the master who can be bullied.
Afterwards, my father-in-law called me to me and said softly, "Xiaomei, I have heard your mother-in-law talk about you and Liu Fang." You're doing the right thing, but you still have to be more tolerant of her in the future. Your mother-in-law is mean-mouthed, but she is not bad, she has been like this since she was a child. I used to lecture her because of her broken mouth, but now I let her go. You try not to be like her, and some things still have to be tactful, you know? ”
I listened to my father-in-law's preaching, and I also felt that my tone at that time might be a little heavy, so I said, "Father-in-law, I was wrong, you are right." I should have been more patient and shouldn't have talked back to my mother-in-law. ”
The father-in-law nodded with satisfaction and said, "My mother-in-law apologized to me, and it is not easy for her to reflect on herself these days." You still have to be considerate of her in the future, and don't be like the old man. ”
I see, father-in-law. I'll tell my mother-in-law when I go back, and we'll live in harmony. Don't worry about it. "Once again, I express my remorse.
Mom, you're up for breakfast. I specially bought your favorite vegetable buns and fruits, and also warmed soy milk, try it. "I graciously served breakfast as it was.
Liu Fang was a little flattered and said, "There are so many good things, are they for entertaining guests?" ”
I smiled and said, "It's all for you, I heard my father-in-law say that your mouth hasn't been very good lately, and you may need to replenish your nutrition." Eat it quickly, it tastes best when it's hot. ”
I saw that her attitude softened, and I didn't care about her previous words, and said directly: "Mom, let's be together as a family, don't always remember the past." I'll take care of you and my father-in-law, just let me know if you need anything. ”
Liu Fang ate the dim sum I bought, her eyes were a little red, but she couldn't hold back her tears. I thoughtfully didn't break it, and turned to some everyday topics, and chatted with her warmly for a while.
Since then, Liu Fang's attitude towards me has eased a lot. She no longer bothered me for no reason, and if she had something to say, she would think about it first before she said it, and she wouldn't blame me before anyone else. I also learned to deal with her difficulties with wisdom and patience, and not to confront her head-on.
Although her caustic temper is difficult to completely change, the improvement of the way I get along with me has found a new balance in my relationship with Liu Fang. My father-in-law was also very pleased, praising me for being mature and steady, and that I would resolve family conflicts.
This incident became a turning point in our mother-son relationship. Since then, I have had a better enlightenment in terms of getting along with my mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Resolve apathy with warmth and treat paranoia with wisdom, and we will eventually find a sense of belonging.