Three Women in the Cage

Yang Yu stayed at her parents' home for a week, helping with farm work every day. She found her life quite comfortable. Being away from the cold, cage-like life made her feel particularly relaxed mentally and emotionally.

Until one day, Yang Yu felt inexplicably nauseous, followed by a burst of vomiting. At the time, she thought it was just a stomach upset and didn't take it seriously. But after several days of nausea and vomiting, Yang Yu thought she had some strange illness. She went to ask her mother, and after hearing her reaction, her mother frowned and tried to ask, "Yu'er, have you had your period this month?" Yang Yu replied, puzzled, "It seems like it hasn't come yet this month."

Yang Yu didn't quite understand what was going on. "Why are you asking?" she asked, bewildered. "Oh, I'm afraid you're pregnant. This is such a bad time, what should I do?" Yang's mother asked worriedly. "Pregnant... what do you mean?" "You silly child, you're almost going to be a mother, and you're still so silly," Yang's mother said anxiously.

"Mother" Yang Yu was stunned where she was. She had not thought about it at all and was not prepared. Moreover, at this time, she had made up her mind not to have anything to do with them. Now that this happened, she didn't know what to do.

Seeing Yang Yu's dazed look, Yang's mother comforted her, "Don't worry, come back in the evening and I'll discuss it with your dad. By the way, the hens at home just laid some eggs, I'll cook them for you tonight to nourish your body. No matter what, take care of yourself first." "Okay, I see," Yang Yu agreed helplessly. But her thoughts drifted away. She thought, if she didn't go back, would people gossip about her in her parents' home with a big belly? Giving birth to a child would add to the burden on her parents' home. But if she went back, facing such a cold-hearted family and having to serve them with delicious food, she felt a chill in her heart. After thinking about it, she couldn't think of a way to have the best of both worlds. She suddenly felt a headache.

That night, when Father Yang came back, Mother Yang hurriedly pulled him over to explain the situation. Father Yang shouted excitedly, "How can this be? We must go and ask them for an explanation. It was fine before, but now it's like this. If I live in my mother's house with a big belly, won't the neighbors spit on me? I'm afraid I won't know how to put my face when I go out in the future. No, no, I have to go and ask them tomorrow." Father Yang became more and more excited as he spoke, and he paced back and forth in the house anxiously.

Yang's mother said unwillingly, "Let's lower our posture for now, so that we won't be bullied by them in the future. If you want to say anything more, it will be of no use."

"So what do you think we should do? Hmm? It's not fair to let a child be born without a father. Besides, they had a party in front of everyone, and separating them like this will only lead to gossip." Yang's father sighed, slumped down on the stool, and paid no attention. "Yu'er, what do you think, huh? Mom and Dad, let me hear your thoughts?" Yang's mother looked at the stunned Yang Yu with a worried look on her face. After all, she still had to live her life on her own, and she wanted to know what her daughter thought.

Yang Yu came to her senses and thought carefully. Yes, she had to live her own life, and the child was innocent after all. She thought about having the child again, but she didn't want to go back. If she didn't go back, she would be gossiped about. If she went back, she would be trapped in the cage that bound her. She didn't want to go forward, and she didn't want to go back. What should she do? She covered her head and burst into tears. "Mom and Dad, I don't know. I really don't know. I need to think about it carefully. Let me think about it again."

Seeing their daughter like this, Yang's parents could only sigh and walk out, leaving her to calm down first.

For the next few days, no one mentioned the topic again, apparently waiting for Yang Yu to figure things out. Every day, Yang's mother still prepared eggs for her to nourish her body, and Yang Yu continued to stay for the time being to recuperate.

"Eldest sister, why do you eat eggs every day? Is it because of the baby in your belly?" Yang Su asked seriously. Yang Yu couldn't help but burst out laughing and said, "You little brat, who told you that?"

"I knew it. Don't treat me as a child, sister. Just stay at home and wait for my nephew to be born. I will take him out to play. Don't care about what those people say." Sighing, Yang Yu said helplessly, "It's not as simple as you think. I can't think of a way out now. You are still young and don't understand these things." After a while, he took Yang Su's hand and said to her seriously, "Susu, listen to me. In the future, don't be fooled by those good-looking, honest and simple men. They are the best at making people think of things. They will let you fall into the trap, and it will be difficult to climb out."

"Don't worry, elder sister. I won't be fooled by them. What's more, I just want our family to stay together like this for the rest of our lives. My elder brother and his family won't marry, and we won't get married either. We can always stay with our parents, oh, and my little nephew. It's a wonderful thought," Yang Su said with a smile.

"What are you thinking about? Men should marry and women should marry. This is the rule left by our ancestors. Otherwise, I will laugh at you, girl." Yang Yu just thought she was being naughty and talking nonsense.

But come to think of it, if you can't find someone who truly loves you, you might as well stay with your parents forever. But in those days, who could escape the rule that men should marry and women should marry? Everyone lived blindly according to fixed rules.

Time passed like this. Because Zhang Erfa and the others did not come over immediately, they would probably have to come over in person later. Yang Yu had gradually forgotten about the people over there.

But on this day, Zhang's father and mother suddenly came over with Zhang Erfa and Zhang Sanmao, carrying gifts in their hands. Hearing the noise outside, Yang Yu walked out first. When he saw them, he immediately turned around and went back into the house and closed the door. Zhang's father gave Zhang Erfa a look, and Zhang Erfa had to bite the bullet and knock on the door. "Yu'er, open the door first. Look, my parents brought me and Sanmao here today to apologize to you. If you open the door, you can beat us or scold us. If you leave us outside like this, the neighbors will see it, and you will be embarrassed."

At this time, Yang Su heard the sound and ran to Yang Yu anxiously, "Sister, brother and parents are not at home, let's not open the door for them. What if they attack you again, you are pregnant and the baby is still there, what shall we do?" Yang Ming, who was doing his homework at home, also ran over anxiously, "Sister, they are too bullying. They even dared to come to my house. I'm going to fight them outside." "Don't go, continue to do your homework, don't get involved in my business, study hard, and I don't want you to get hurt. Your body is not suitable for fighting. Don't worry, I don't want to pay attention to them for the time being, let them stay outside", Yang Yu said disapprovingly.

Yang Yu knew that family's true colors too well. They always put on a show, but she would never fall for their tricks again.