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墨書 Inktalez
Well, the result was that no matter how terrible my husband’s cooking was, Father-in-law didn’t complain anymore.
But then a new problem arose: Father-in-law actually asked me to do his laundry. I looked at the pile of clothes, and anger surged within me. How disrespectful! I tossed the laundry basket right in front of my husband.
“Tell Dad to wash his own clothes,” I said.
My husband looked at me, clearly in a difficult position. “Siqi, don’t make a fuss. Dad is getting old and doesn’t know how to use the washing machine. Just do it this once.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “Me? There are his underwear in there! How can I wash that?”
He sighed and replied, “Siqi, don’t be so calculative. Older people have their habits, and besides, Mom used to do the laundry for him. It’s hard for him to change overnight.”
I thought about how my mother-in-law had passed away several years ago. If he hadn’t done laundry in all that time while living alone in the countryside, was he trying to pull a fast one on me?
Seeing that I had fallen silent, my husband picked up the basket and went out.
In the following days, Father-in-law didn’t make any more unreasonable requests, so it seemed my husband had managed to talk him down. I felt a wave of relief; it meant my husband was reliable after all. I thought our relationship with Father-in-law would gradually improve.
But I was wrong.
When I got home from work one day, my mother called me. She said she was coming to visit! I quickly bought some groceries in preparation, but when she arrived, her face didn’t look good.
During dinner, Father-in-law seemed like he wanted to say something but held back. After we finished eating, I chatted with my mother while my husband washed the dishes, and Father-in-law sat nearby with a grim expression.
When it was time to leave, my mother asked my husband to see her off.
When I returned, my husband gave me a strange look before pulling Father-in-law into the room, where the sounds fluctuated between loud and soft.
I vaguely heard a few snippets.
"Troublesome."
"No way."
"Got it."
Ding... A message came through on my phone. It was from my mother.
She mentioned that she had heard some unpleasant remarks in our neighborhood. I thought perhaps the residents didn’t recognize her, which is why they spoke without considering her presence. Many people in the neighborhood knew me, so I hadn’t heard those comments.
Some said I was disrespectful to my elders. Others claimed I didn’t want to take care of Father-in-law and wanted to drive him out. My mother also said she had warned my husband that if a man cannot protect his own woman...
I felt happy to be protected by my mother. For a woman, having a job is empowering, and having family support is also empowering.
Thinking about the snippets of conversation I had just overheard from the bedroom, I decided to stoke the fire further. When I saw them come out of the room, I smiled and said, "It’s been a while since I visited; I think I’ll stay at my Maternal Family for a few days."
My husband and Father-in-law turned pale. He quickly replied, "Siqi, don’t say that. Dad is just a bit picky; don’t take it too seriously."
I let out a cold laugh and said, "Just a bit picky? Do you know what people outside are saying about me? They say I want to drive Dad away; they say I look down on him. Those words must have come from Dad himself! They say family shame should not be aired outside, but Dad seems eager for everyone to know and spreads it around."
Do they really think they can treat me however they like? Family should understand and tolerate each other. It’s mutual, not just me being understanding and tolerant alone.
My husband sighed and said, "Siqi, don't get worked up. I'll have a good talk with Dad."
I shook my head. "Talk, talk, talk. How many times have we talked? Has anything ever been resolved?"
He looked at me, his eyes filled with complexity.
"Siqi!"
Oh, still trying to act cute? It won't work. He didn't appreciate my patience when he had the chance, and now he's coming to me for help. Why should I give him a lesson? How else would he learn?
"What? I shouldn't go see my parents?"
"You should! You definitely should!"
Satisfied, I packed my things and took a taxi back to my maternal family that very night.
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