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Never Give Up on Each Other
墨書 Inktalez
Every New Year, I feel a deep sadness.
From Jiangcheng to Yunyang, picking up my Sister-in-law and In-laws means I have to drive an extra 400 miles in the opposite direction. It's not that I'm worried about the tolls and gas money; it's mainly because none of them ever treat us kindly. They constantly nag and complain about me, my wife, and my son.
Why is that?
Because my wife has always been obedient, tirelessly helping her younger sister and parents, making her easy to manipulate. As for me, I'm an "in-law," a son-in-law who married into their family. My wife's gentle nature makes me feel even smaller; in the eyes of my In-laws, I'm less likable than their dog.
Five years ago, my wife went back to her hometown alone to visit her parents. While shopping in town, she had an accident. By the time I rushed back with our son, all I found was her cold body. I heard my Mother-in-law's vicious curses: "She lived her life as a coward; even in death, she can't bring peace!" Then she turned on me with a harsh voice: "Just burn her; it was her fault anyway! Her death is meaningless!"
My son was crying on his mother's body, heartbroken, when the old lady kicked him hard: "When someone dies, it's like a light going out; crying won't bring them back! Stop wailing!"
At that time, my son Cheng Cheng was only seven years old. The two of us have managed to survive in the city with a small plumbing materials shop ever since.
Now, Cheng Cheng is twelve. He may not talk much like me, but he is very understanding.
This morning, we set out early and drove for over two hours to reach Dongyang, my Sister-in-law's house. When we arrived, my Mother-in-law opened the door and coldly said, "I just mopped the floor; don't come in yet. Put those two suitcases on the car first."
The two suitcases were almost as tall as my son.
Cheng Cheng wanted to help me, but I couldn't let him do too much. I took one suitcase in each hand and carried them down from the fourth floor.
After loading the suitcases onto the roof rack of the car, just as I was about to catch my breath, my Sister-in-law called: "What are you dawdling for? Hurry up and come back to grab more stuff!"
Breathless again, we climbed back up. The five of us—four adults and one child—competed to hang our bags on us.
As we stumbled forward, my Sister-in-law and Mother-in-law were behind us cracking sunflower seeds and urging us on: "You two need to hurry up!"
A Load to Carry and Father-in-law were smoking in the back seat, walking ahead without a care.
Once we started driving, my Mother-in-law began complaining about my van that usually carries goods without its back seat: "It's already a piece of junk! Knowing we would be riding in your car, you didn't even bother to clean it; it smells like engine oil!"
Father-in-law and A Load to Carry kept smoking in the cramped space filled with smoke.
Cheng Cheng coughed for a while before he couldn't help but say: "Grandma, that's clearly cigarette smoke; it's not engine oil!"
My Sister-in-law slapped him on the back of his head: "You little brat! How can you talk to adults like that?"
Cheng Cheng looked at me with grievance. At that moment when he cried out in pain, my heart ached fiercely.
But since it was New Year’s at home, I wanted to hold back: "Cheng Cheng, have you forgotten about respecting your elders?"
He bit his lip and struggled to hold back tears but still managed to choke out: "Did they respect me?"
It was as if a firecracker had been lit. My Mother-in-law and Sister-in-law transformed into two ferocious tigers, unleashing a barrage of insults.
"How did such a little brat turn out this way without any guidance?"
"Just like your deadbeat mother, weak and pathetic!"
"Don't talk about my mom! Don't talk about my mom!" My son cried out in distress.
"Who do you think you're being tough with?" Suddenly, my Father-in-law stood up from the back seat, slamming his thermos cup hard against my son's face as he turned away, causing not only visible injuries but also blood to pour from his nose.
"Everyone, quiet down!" I felt as if a fire had ignited within me, burning through my chest.
"Let him get out!" "A Load to Carry" said coldly.
We were on the highway, over 200 miles from home. Was it normal for someone to abandon a child in the middle of the road?
"Don't take it out on a kid; I'll deal with him when we get home!" I tried to mediate the situation.
"No way! If you don't let him out, I will!" My Mother-in-law's face trembled with rage as she spoke, reaching for my son and trying to open the car door.
I was drenched in cold sweat; falling from a car moving at 100 kilometers per hour could be fatal!
I quickly activated the hazard lights and pulled over onto the emergency lane.
"Get out!"
"Get lost!"
"Do you want me to drag you out?"
My son looked at me with pleading eyes. In my previous life, I had pushed him out under similar circumstances: "Get out and take a cab!"
My Mother-in-law unbuckled my son's seatbelt and yanked him out forcefully, pushing him towards the barrier, causing him to tumble down the embankment.
As the car door slammed shut, my Mother-in-law fastened her seatbelt and ordered, "What are you waiting for? Drive!"
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