As the old saying goes, men should marry when they are young, and women should marry when they are young. There are three types of unfilial piety, and the worst is not having an heir.

Fang Wei's parents were very envious when they saw other people's families full of children and grandchildren, happy and happy. When they thought about their own son not getting married and starting a family, they felt bad and a little sad.

Fang Wei blamed himself for not living up to expectations. He had lived in vain for more than 20 years. His parents had worked hard to support him, so he had to save money to support his education. He worked in his hometown factory for several years, but he didn't save much money.

The county-run factory where Fang Wei worked was on the verge of bankruptcy due to the general environment and poor management. It was unable to pay wages and was struggling to survive, forcing the workers to find other options.

Fang Wei's family background was not good, and there were various other reasons. The key was because he was poor, and few girls were willing to marry him, so no matchmaker came to propose marriage.

Even if there were some girls who, seeing Fang Wei's good looks, willingly agreed to the marriage, they couldn't stand the girl's parents coming to inquire. They went to Fang Wei's village to find an acquaintance, and the secret was revealed when they asked. The family of seven still lived in the same house during the land reform period.

Three old houses, I had no choice but to give up.

Fang Wei's sister is about to get married, but Fang Wei hasn't even found a partner yet, which makes his parents sigh and worry about him all day long.

When the mother saw that Fang Wei kept his head down and said nothing, she felt that he was incompetent as a parent and instead blamed his son. This really wronged him and made her feel bad.

The mother thought to herself that her son had just arrived home, he hadn’t eaten a bite of food, he hadn’t even taken a breath, and he kept nagging and spoke a little harshly, and she began to feel sorry for her son again.

The mother quickly turned the topic elsewhere and said, "Xiaowei, the meal is already ready. I'm just waiting for you to get home to eat. I've been talking to you and forgot about the meal. I'll bring it to you right now."

Fang Wei said, "Mom, don't worry about it. I ate it on the train. I don't want to eat it now and I'm not hungry."

The mother was silent. The father saw that his son was a little unhappy and said quickly, "Xiaowei, you are tired from taking the train. Go and sleep for a while. Your mother has already tidied up the room for you, and your favorite meals have been prepared.

Eat whenever you wake up."

Fang Wei was indeed a little sleepy. He rubbed his eyes, greeted his parents, and walked into his room. The walls had been whitewashed with lime, and several New Year pictures were hung. Two roosters cut out of red paper were pasted on the window glass.

He raised his neck and seemed to be snoring.

Fang Wei lay down on the thick and soft bed that his mother had already prepared for him. He began to think wildly in his mind. It was right for his mother to nag him a few words. Who would let him, a son, not live up to expectations and make his parents worry so much?

Concerned.

In the past year, Fang Wei has been doing some small business in addition to working part-time. His family's economic conditions have improved slightly, and some people have come to propose marriage. It has been an immediate success. He feels a little unhappy. He feels that people nowadays are really too realistic. Poor people are

Without dignity.

Fang Wei thought a lot, but was worried about the blind date arranged by his father for him after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. He was not mentally prepared at all, and he couldn't go against his parents' wishes. This would be difficult for him. He thought about it, but he didn't

If you want to come up with a good idea, why not just stop thinking about it and just take it one step at a time.

Fang Wei wanted to force himself to forget those troubling things, but his mind was still out of control. He kept thinking about it, but he couldn't figure out anything. He thought, how can he find a girl he has never met before?

It was really hard for him to accept the common language they came from.

Fang Wei was helpless. Then he thought, since his parents had already made an agreement with the matchmaker and he couldn't refute it, he would just deal with it first. If it didn't work, he would find an excuse and run away in advance.

………………

In the blink of an eye, the New Year has passed, Fang Wei is busy preparing for a blind date in his hometown, and Xiaoli is not idle either.

Since the first day of the Lunar New Year, there has been an endless stream of guests coming to pay New Year's greetings to Xiaoli's father, ranging from municipal party committee leaders to government office clerks, as well as Xiaoli's father's old comrades-in-arms.

People kept socializing for several days and didn't stop until the fifth day of the lunar month.

The three sisters Xiaoli accompanied their parents and had a lot of fun for a few days. The two nephews ran around the adults lively, bringing joy to the whole family.

As soon as the two children opened their eyes, they ran all over the floor, throwing toys everywhere, and making the living room a mess. It was too late to clean up after them. They stayed with their grandparents all day long, asking them to tell stories about the war in the past.

The old man had no choice but to hold his grandson in his arms and talk to the guests.

Xiaoli's parents held their grandson in their arms, feeling extremely distressed. They would kiss their cheeks, touch their heads, and put their hands into their grandson's armpits to scratch them a few times, making the child laugh. This is what people often say.

Let’s kiss each other.

After dinner on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the whole family played with the two children for a while. The two little guys were sleepy, lying in the arms of grandma and grandpa, and fell asleep one after another. Xiaoli's two brothers-in-law each held their own children and returned to

their room.

The two exhausted old men finally relaxed and took a breath, thankful to have got rid of the two "little devils".

The eldest sister spoke first, "I've been back for a few days. I've been busy with the visiting guests. I've been entertaining them all day, and I didn't have any spare time to greet them. I sat down to talk to my parents. I finally have some free time tonight. Now the two of us are free."

The children have also gone to bed, and no one will disturb them anymore. The three of us sisters can have a good chat with our parents."

The second sister looked at Xiaoli and said, "The eldest sister and I are usually busy with our own affairs. We live far away and come back rarely. It is difficult for the whole family to get together. Only on holidays can the whole family get together. It is the responsibility of taking care of our parents.

, it fell on the third child, and my eldest sister and I felt ashamed and really regretful."

Xiaoli said with a smile: "You two are married and have your own lives. Besides, you have children, which is enough for you to keep busy. I am not married and have a family, so of course I will accompany my parents. Old people often talk about it.

There is a saying on the side: "The old in the world follow the young." Big sister and second sister, are you right?"

The eldest sister smiled and said, "You're really fooling around, as if your second sister and I are superfluous and dispensable. Is that what you mean?"

The eldest sister looked at her parents and continued, "The second child and I have done something wrong. We need to reflect on it. We should go home more often and spend more time with you."

The second sister looked at Xiaoli and said, "You are not married now, so you can live with your parents. When you get married in the future, you can't live with your parents. Who should accompany your parents by then? You should consider this matter."

Have you passed?"

Xiaoli glanced at the eldest sister and the second sister, then looked back at her parents and said, "Dad, mom, you guys are going to comment. I only said a few words and there was nothing wrong with them. Look at the eldest sister and the second sister.

You are targeting me alone, what are you doing?"

The parents laughed and said to Xiaoli, "Boss, the second brother is right. You will get married sooner or later. This is also true. They didn't say anything else, just to see how anxious you are."

The mother glanced at her eldest daughter and continued, "It's time to consider Xiaoli's marriage. Is this what you two meant?"

The second sister looked at Xiaoli and said, "That's what I mean. Third, you are not young anymore. You should find a partner as soon as possible. You can no longer let your parents worry about your marriage."

The eldest sister asked her parents: "Dad, Mom, Xiao Wang and his parents came to our house the day before yesterday. Did you ask Xiao Wang's parents what they thought of Xiao Li?"

The mother looked at Xiaoli and lowered her head, hesitated and said, "The main problem now is not with Xiao Wang. We have to ask Xiaoli, what is her attitude?"

Xiaoli felt that the whole family's eyes were focused on her alone, and she became more and more uncomfortable. The eldest sister suddenly mentioned the matter between her and Xiao Wang, which caught her off guard and she didn't know how to deal with it.

Xiaoli thought to herself that it was rare for the whole family to be together. They could only be reunited during the Chinese New Year, and they couldn't get together during ordinary holidays. She and Xiao Wang had been getting along for a while, and they still hadn't given their family a clear attitude. Her parents must be anxious.

It's really a helpless move to explain the progress of her discussion with Xiao Wang in front of the whole family tonight.

Xiaoli wants to wait until the first lunar month to decide whether she can tell her parents what's in her heart and whether she should go against their wishes. It's not the New Year yet, so she must not show her trump card and make her elders angry.

Xiaoli knew that Xiao Wang was good to her, but since she and Xiao Wang officially got along, she could never find that feeling. She couldn't tell her parents about these things, and she couldn't give a clear answer. Xiaoli was in a dilemma.

.

Xiaoli had already considered that in order not to make her parents angry, she had to deal with Xiao Wang first, and then make her attitude clear when the time was right. Thinking of this, Xiaoli looked up at her parents and said ambiguously; "

Our family has such a good relationship with Xiao Wang's family. I know Xiao Wang very well, and I also know what the elders of the two families think. They want our relationship to be settled as soon as possible. However, from acquaintanceship to marriage discussion, let's transfer this

I'm afraid it's a bit difficult, it will take time, Dad, Mom, are you right?"

The father took the words, looked at Xiaoli and said, "Xiao Wang has been in the army for several years, and he has only come back to visit relatives a few times. You have had little contact in the past two years, only letters. He did not come back during the Spring Festival this year. I heard his father said

, Xiao Wang wants to retire from the army, then wait for him to come back, and you two can get along for a while. But, then again, the world is changing, and people's hearts are also changing. As for the outcome of your discussion, as parents, we don't care.

It will interfere too much. But there is a principle. Xiaoli’s satisfaction is the most basic condition, and your mother means the same."

The father also pulled the mother in. The mother was a little unable to react for a moment. She didn't know how to deal with this problem. She thought for a while and said with a vague meaning: "What your father said makes some sense. The child is older."

, the changes have been huge, and this may or may not be true. Some children, who were quite lovable when they were young, completely change and become unreasonable when they grow up. However, I watched Xiao Wang grow up, and I still understand.

Xiao Wang’s parents are very strict with him, and he has been training in the army for so many years, but he has not changed much.”

The eldest sister understood that her mother's words meant to affirm Xiao Wang, glanced at Xiao Li, and said reluctantly: "Since the whole family agrees, the third child and Xiao Wang will continue to talk. Whether the final result is successful or not, everything is decided by the two of them.

."

The eldest sister paused and said, "Xiao Li, if you have anything to say, don't keep it in your heart. It's all family members. Say it in front of your parents."

Xiaoli hesitated for a moment and said, "I respect everyone's opinions! Now that everything has been said, let's wait until Xiao Wang comes back, let us get along for a while, and then make a decision based on the situation."

When the mother heard Xiaoli's ambiguous words, she had a vague feeling of ominous premonition. She wanted to add a few more words, but hesitated a little. Seeing that the old man and the two eldest daughters all agreed, she stopped talking.

The father said to his three daughters: "It's getting late, you should go and have a rest early."

The eldest sister and the second sister went back to their room. Xiaoli stood up and was about to leave. Her mother stopped her and said, "Don't leave yet. Sit down in front of me and talk to me for a while."

Xiaoli had no choice but to sit next to her mother, who held her in her arms and said earnestly, "I'll say a few more words, so don't think I'm nagging you. Your dad and I have always been worried about your marriage.

I wanted to say a few more words to you, but seeing the unhappy look on your face, I didn’t dare to speak anymore. Your eldest and second sisters have been here these days. I would like to take this opportunity to make your matter clear and attract your attention. I and I

Your father won't force you. It's up to you to decide on the important matters of marriage. What I mean is that it is best to finalize the marriage within a year or two. If you delay it any longer, your father and I will live to the end of our lives and we may not be able to wait any longer.

You are the youngest in our family, and only if you get married and have a family can all the big things in our family be settled, and your dad and I can get rid of a worry and go to see Marx with peace of mind."

Xiaoli leaned close to her mother, listening to her mother's words quietly, looking up at her white-haired mother, the wrinkles on her aging face deepened. Her parents, who were already old and dear to her, were still worrying about their marriages.

, unforgivable self-blame welled up in my heart.

When Xiaoli heard her mother say that her life was about to end, her heart tightened, pain like needles spread throughout her body, and tears welled up in her eyes.

Xiaoli moved a little in her mother's arms to calm down her emotions, control the reason she was about to lose, and prevent tears from flowing out.

The father saw the tears in his daughter's eyes from the side, and his heart softened. He realized that his wife said too much, and the words were too serious. What a big impact this seemingly indifferent words would have on his daughter.

Under pressure, he immediately changed the subject and said, "Don't listen to your mother's nagging. It's getting late. If you have anything to say, we'll talk about it tomorrow. You can go to bed."

Xiaoli got up and said hello to her parents, went upstairs to her room, turned on the lamp, leaned on the desk, held her chin with her left hand, and stared at herself in the mirror.

It had been a long time since Xiaoli had sat at the table and looked at herself carefully like she did today. Tonight, her cheeks had lost their color and looked a little pale and sad.
To be continued...