In the dim main room, Li Guifang suddenly pulled over a mottled bench and pushed Li Mingjuan to sit down. Her movements were so rough that there was not a trace of gentleness at all.
"There's been a lot going on at home lately. Let me start from the beginning, so listen carefully!"
Li Mingjuan was a little confused by her mother's sudden action, but she couldn't get up, so she could only frown and stare at her mother with dissatisfaction.
Li Guifang took a deep breath and began to talk non-stop: "Your brother Li Mingyu was recently taken advantage of by Wang Shanshan from Hongqi Street.
The woman insisted that your brother had gotten her pregnant and wanted him to be a father. Your brother refused to agree, and the two of them went to the police station.
Finally, the hospital checked and found out that your brother is not doing well in that area! You said this, should I go and tell you with all my heart?
When Li Mingjuan heard this, her face was filled with shock. She was about to ask something, but was glared back at by Li Guifang. "Just listen now!"
Li Guifang didn't even give her a chance to speak and continued, "Another thing, your nephew had a fight with the kids from Jijia Hutong next door.
I went to ask for an explanation, but the woman from the Ji family came up and grabbed me and knocked me unconscious. Your sister-in-law went to stop the fight, but was beaten by the woman.
Your father was attacked, and this time the incident has reached the hospital and the police station. Tell me, should I go to your in-laws' house and get someone to fight back?
Li Mingjuan listened to her mother's words, frowning more and more, and her heart ached. Then she listened to Li Guifang continue to say,
"And you know this: your brother wants to go to graduate school, and he wants the family to sell everything they have to support him.
I said I had no money to go to Beijing, and I was making a scene every day at home. Your sister-in-law, Lin Yaqin, was even more aggressive. She directly demanded a divorce and even brought her mistress to my house.
Tell me, how can I tell you about these things?
Well, so many bad things have happened in our family in the past month. How do you think I should tell you?
"You keep saying you need to respect others, but have you ever thought about how much energy you have to spend every day trying to go to work, do housework, take care of the children, and deal with the people and things in your in-laws' family?
You want your family to tell you whenever something happens, but do you have the energy to handle it?
You said that I treated you as an outsider, but the truth is, I don’t want you to be bothered by trivial matters because I feel sorry for you.
I'm already overwhelmed dealing with these things every day, so why should I take the initiative to let you worry about them?
And with your personality, you can't hide things. Many things can be solved directly, but you insist on making a fuss so that everyone knows about it. Don't you think our family is embarrassing enough?"
Li Guifang became more and more excited as she spoke, pointing her finger at Li Mingjuan and spitting almost on her face.
Li Mingjuan was a little overwhelmed by her mother's series of questions. She opened her mouth and wanted to make a few excuses, but she didn't know where to start.
Li Guifang didn't give her a chance to breathe and continued, "Oh, your third brother Li Minghua is going to open a car repair shop. Now that you know, what can you do?
Do you have the money to support him or do you have the technology to invest?
Your sister Li Mingli's middle school is just down the street from you. She is in her third year of high school, which is a critical time for her. Shouldn't you visit her every day?
Give her warmth and try to get into a good university. As far as I know, you haven't been there, right?"
Li Mingjuan's face turned red and white. She lowered her head, not daring to look her in the eye. She whispered, "Mom, I... I've been very busy with work lately, and I have two children to take care of at home..."
Li Guifang sneered, "Now you know you have no energy because you are busy with work?
Your husband is a policeman and he has no time to take care of the family. In addition to going to work every day, you have to take care of two children by yourself.
Rui'er is naughty and Nian'er is weak. You wish you had three heads and six arms, but your life is still a mess.
As your mother, please tell me, how can I bear to make you worry about more things?
Li Mingjuan, tell me. I kept this a secret from you just to make your life easier. Was I wrong?
Li Mingjuan was speechless after hearing her mother's words, tears welled up in her eyes. She never thought that her mother didn't tell her anything because she was afraid of troubling her and tiring her.
She had never thought about this problem from this perspective.
She thought her mother was like many others, that a daughter who was married off was like spilled water and had no right to take care of her mother's family affairs.
Li Mingjuan's tears were like a flood that had been released from the dam. They fell down her cheeks and slid into her mouth. When she sipped it, it tasted salty and bitter.
She plopped down on her knees in front of her mother as if she was worshipping a Buddha, clutching the corner of Li Guifang's clothes tightly with both hands, and cried in a hoarse voice, "Mom, don't think I'm here to cause trouble! I really want to share the burden with you!"
Although I don't have much talent, I can at least listen to your complaints, offer you a cup of hot water, and rub your shoulders. Isn't it the responsibility of a family to share the hardships?
You're carrying everything on your own, and it hurts me like a knife."
Li Guifang looked at her daughter's tearful face, and a flicker of hesitation flashed across her eyes, but she immediately hardened her heart, turned her head, and said stubbornly:
"Hey, stop being so sentimental! Your own life is a mess, and you're still worrying about family matters? No in-laws would like their daughter-in-law to go back to her parents' house all day long!
I don't want you to mess up your life because of this little thing at home!"
Li Mingjuan shook her head vigorously, tears still on her cheeks but her eyes were shining!
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