This sentence profoundly reveals the reality in interpersonal relationships. In a small county town in Shandong, the family experience between my cousin and me tells a bumpy and touching story. My cousin was seven years older than me and was the first person in our family to successfully graduate from 211 University. However, behind the success is the hard work of the family and the test of time.
When I was a child, my uncle's family faced the problem of disparity between men and women, and the eldest mother experienced many twists and turns in order to give birth to a son. In the summer when my cousin was 5 years old, my eldest mother was in danger because of the wheat harvest. On a day of thunderstorms, the eldest lady rushed home desperately in order to protect the harvested wheat, but unfortunately fell into the ditch and finally died. This tragedy left my cousin an orphan, and my home became a place of refuge for him.
After the death of his eldest mother, the uncle fell into mental distress and indulged in alcohol, often hitting his three daughters. In order to help the family, my cousin studied hard since elementary school and became a top student in the village. However, life in the countryside was not easy, and my cousin's three older sisters dropped out of school early, and in order to provide for my cousin's education, the eldest sister even went to work in a factory.
My cousin's efforts were not in vain, he was admitted to a 211 university in Shanghai, and after graduation, he successfully entered a certain bureau to work. This made my uncle majestic in the village, and my house became a place where my cousin occasionally returned. However, as time passed, the uncle gradually became proud and arrogant, and even his attitude towards my family changed dramatically. When I was in high school, he laughed at my cousin's poor academics and offered to give me all the land in my family so that I could go home to farm.
Although I rejected the offer, I understood that the uncle's attitude had changed. Social changes have made people more and more realistic, and power and money have become the yardstick to measure a person's worth. The people in the village suggested that I go to my cousin to help arrange a job, but I refused, choosing to work my own. When I was working for a company, although the position and income were not high, I broadened my horizons by traveling from south to north.
However, my relationship with my cousin gradually drifted apart over and over again. Uncle's pride and disdain made me feel uncomfortable. During the Spring Festival, my dad gave a case of wine to my uncle, but he dismissed it and said that the wine was not worth much. This incident made the relationship between the two families more and more estranged, and the former family relationship gradually drifted apart.
After the death of the uncle, the cousin's status was even higher. He became the deputy director and walked majestically in the village, while me and my family became even less valued. Every time I went back to my hometown, my cousin was notified in advance, and there was an endless stream of people to receive him, and my family's status was gradually marginalized.
On an occasion when his cousin returned to his hometown, his colleagues sent expensive gifts, but his cousin's attitude towards them was cold and ruthless. I went to celebrate my birthday with a case of wine and cabbage, but I was met with a cold reception. My cousin's wife even asked me to bring the gift back, saying that I didn't need it at home. This made me feel deeply embarrassed and helpless, and the gap between family affection and reality made me feel insurmountable.
All these changes have made me deeply appreciate the indifference of society and the transformation of family affection. While chasing money and status, people often ignore the original family affection and humanity. The innocent joy and carefree of childhood are long gone, and the once kinship has become distant and complicated.
In the end, I returned to the city with the embarrassment and helplessness given by my cousin. I deeply understand that although the real society is full of various tests, family affection is always irreplaceable. Maybe we can't change the indifference of society, but we can protect our family affection and let the taste of home always exist.
In this indifferent society, we must learn to stick to the original innocence and protect the feelings between family members. No matter where you are, family affection is the most real and valuable wealth.