Lin Feifei and I walked into the yard carrying the gifts, and my seven aunts and eight aunts whom I hadn't seen for a long time came out to welcome us.
They said they were welcoming her, but actually they were here to watch Lin Feifei.
Lin Feifei's temperament and beauty immediately aroused exclamations of exclamation. Her relatives pulled her to do some household chores, and their enthusiasm made her a little uncomfortable.
Based on my many years of struggle with gatherings with relatives, the fastest way to consume family ties is through New Year gatherings. In fact, I am half acquainted with them, so when we get together, I feel on pins and needles.
During the meal, there were two tables for men and women. I didn’t drink, and I was afraid that Lin Feifei would not be able to cope with so many relatives, so I took the initiative to sit with her.
It was the first time that Lin Feifei came to my house to celebrate the New Year. It was like the stars over the moon. At this time, my fifth uncle came over with a wine glass and asked me to have a drink. He patted my shoulder encouragingly and asked with a mouth full of wine: " Binzi, when are you and Feifei going to get married?".
I couldn't help but be stunned, and my mouth was secretly bitter. After all, this question still didn't go away.
As soon as he spoke, the world seemed to suddenly become quiet. Everyone looked at me, waiting for my answer.
I sighed helplessly. Every time during the Chinese New Year, my life-long events would be brought to court.
I didn’t understand them before. How could I worry about other people’s life-long affairs even though I was living a miserable life? But I gradually understood that these relatives in our family essentially don’t want to see you live well, and they only see you every year. Once or twice, I opened and closed my mouth just to ask about my salary, my job, and when I would get married. In fact, I wanted to make my presence felt on my body, but my parents felt that if I didn't get married, they wouldn't be able to hold their heads high in front of relatives.
I smiled calmly, looked into his eyes and replied: "Feifei and I are discussing this matter! You also know that both of us work in the city and are planning to buy a house! If we keep renting, the rent will be higher every year. It’s quite a lot. We might as well repay the loan if we have this money! So our task this year is to get a down payment. If we are close to it, we will have to trouble you to help us.”
The smile on the fifth uncle's face suddenly froze. He was stunned for a long time, and he advised me earnestly: "Actually, don't put so much pressure on yourself. Renting is quite good. The house prices are so expensive now, and I don't want to see you either." too much stress."
Sure enough, borrowing money still had an effect, it was immediate. As soon as I mentioned borrowing money, he no longer mentioned marriage. Once this trump card was used, not only did he become honest, but other relatives were also deterred, and they never mentioned urging me to get married. thing.
Every year when I go home during the Chinese New Year, my relatives’ problems are closely centered around getting married and having children, buying a car and a house, and there is no sense of boundaries at all. I usually just say haha and pass. They don’t really care about me, and I don’t either. I will really take it to my heart and live my life for myself, not for others to see. Unfortunately, my parents don’t understand this truth.
It is indispensable to be interrogated at relatives gatherings. Their methods usually include suppressing first and then promoting, being careless, showing off in reverse, and asking and answering questions to improve themselves and undermine others.
My fifth uncle had just been defeated, and my aunt started to say in a weird voice again: "Oh, Binzi, you have to cherish this time! Feifei is much better than the last Kuang Like. You and she have been good friends for nine years." It’s hard to let go of her, but don’t think about her all the time, slowly forget about her, and live your life well.”
Suddenly, the originally lively atmosphere suddenly cooled down.
When she said this, I was immediately speechless. I knew why she said this deliberately. Every year when relatives get together, her daughter-in-law is the most dazzling presence in our generation.
Her daughter-in-law is beautiful and has a good job, but when Lin Feifei came this year, she immediately replaced her daughter-in-law's position in the hearts of the people. It is normal for her to feel unbalanced.
Everyone looked at each other, and I saw my mother lowering her head, shrugging her shoulders, and then showing a wry smile. My father also had a hint of helplessness in his eyes, but he just sat here quietly without saying anything.
I curled my lips, stared at my aunt's sinister face, and said with a smile, "I really can't forget her. I can think of her every time I pass by the crematorium."
Hahaha……
There was a burst of laughter in the room, and I easily resolved the embarrassment, but I didn’t pursue the victory. Anyway, we meet every year.
Once, there is no need to take this kind of plastic family affection to heart. There is no need to break up if you hate someone. The best way for adults to end a relationship is to silently alienate.
I ate this meal in peace with the world. There was no close combat like in previous years. I felt calmer than ever before. I re-examined myself. Maybe growth begins with silence.
The hardships life gives us have taught me to live with a mask. The beauty and truth behind the mask should only be reserved for those who deserve it.
As soon as I got home after dealing with my relatives, the old man "sneakily" called me to the kitchen and offered me a cigarette.
My heart suddenly skipped a beat. It seemed like my dad was going to talk to me again.
He held a lit cigarette in his thin and wrinkled hands. His eyes followed the smoke and he did not look at me. It took him a long time before he said hesitantly: "How much is the bride price at Feifei's house?" ?」
I was stunned for a moment, as if my heart had been hit hard by a heavy hammer. The old man's voice was very soft, but there was a sense of weakness and caution, as if he was afraid of being crushed by the numbers I said.
I felt a little uncomfortable in my heart. When he carefully discussed it with me, it proved that he was already old.
In the past, the old man in our family always had his own say on everything and acted arbitrarily. Today, he suddenly spoke to me in a consultative tone, which made me feel a little uncomfortable.
I pondered for a while and began to give him some psychological comfort: "I'll ask Feifei about this, but her family doesn't ask for a lot of bride price. It's not as exaggerated as you think. It seems to be tens of thousands!"
I actually lied to my dad. In fact, the moment the word "betrothal gift" came out of his mouth, I felt even more pressure. But I didn't want him to think about this pressure, so I made up a white lie.
The old man gave me a sideways glance, "Bullshit! Do you think I don't use the Internet? Our village is famous. He is only one year older than you. He married a second marriage with a baby girl, and the bride price was 200,000 yuan."
He suddenly sighed and said with a sad face: "Feifei is beautiful, has a good job, and has better family conditions than ours, so the bride price must be much more!"
The old man's tired eyes made me feel the struggle and heaviness in his heart, just like the dead tree outside the door, its branches and leaves swaying in the cold wind, but unable to break free from the shackles of fate.
I smiled and said, "I'm serious! Don't compare Daliang with our family. Every family's life is different. Feifei talked to me before and said that her family doesn't pay much attention to bride gifts, and they don't sell gifts. Daughter, you can’t bargain between the two families!”
