Three Women in the Cage

My eldest sister is only eight years older than me. She is in the prime of her youth. Because she has to take care of the family, she has not married yet and has been working hard at home to help.

While Yang Ming was lost in thought, Yang Yu suddenly hit him on the forehead. "Hey, what are you doing, little brat? Why aren't you studying hard in the study?" "Eldest sister, have you prepared dinner? Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"No! Everything is done. We don't need your help. Just help me study hard. Go and study quickly. Our family is counting on you to make a name for yourself. Leave the work to your eldest sister, okay?" Yang Yu looked at her third brother with a smile, her face full of doting.

Yang Ming felt extremely relieved, as if with his elder sister around, he didn't have to worry about anything. After taking a deep look at his elder sister who was like a mother to him, Yang Ming turned and walked out.

Suddenly, a reckless figure rushed over. Before she could react, she heard the voice of her elder sister, "Susu, why are you always so reckless? What should I do if I fall and get hurt? You..." She pinched her little nose. "Eldest sister, I'm hungry. When will dinner be served?" Yang Su said coquettishly.

"It's almost time, it's almost time. I'll go call Mom and Dad and big brother back. Go to the yard and scoop some food for the chickens and ducks. After you feed them, we can eat." After that, Yang Su ran to scoop some food. Yang Yu watched her sister run away, turned around and saw Yang Ming still at the door. She couldn't help but said anxiously, "Xiao Ming, why haven't you gone to study yet? Go quickly. I'll go call Mom and Dad. We can have dinner when you come back." Only then did Yang Ming go back into the study.

After watching Yang Ming enter the study, Yang Yu also left. The sun was blazing brightly, and Yang Yu arrived at his parents' workplace, breathless under the blazing heat. Seeing his sweat-drenched parents and older brother toiling away, Yang Yu shouted, "Dad, Mom, and older brother, you can come home for dinner now."

Seeing their daughter coming, Yang's parents looked up with great relief and replied, "She's here, it will be over soon." At this time, a neighbor uncle who happened to be passing by said, "Brother Yang, your Xiaoyu is here to invite you to dinner again? She is so capable. You are so lucky. I just don't know who will marry this beautiful girl in the future!" The uncle looked at Yang Yu with unconcealed admiration.

Hearing the praise for their daughter, Yang's parents looked up, a faint smile crossing their faces. "Ah, thanks to Xiaoyu's help at home these past few years, taking care of her younger siblings, she's delayed marriage. We were thinking of finding her a good match in a few years." They sighed, knowing they owed their daughter so much. They were reluctant to let her marry so early, and selfishly wanted to stay a few more years to help her siblings.

"Dad, Mom, what are you talking about? Let's go, my younger brothers and sisters are hungry and clamoring to eat." As he said that, Yang Yu took the initiative to carry the burden in his parents' hands and walked home. The eldest brother Yang Yi also packed up his tools and prepared to go together. When he came to Yang Yu, Yang Yu threw a kettle to him and said, "Brother, cold water, it's very cool, you drink some."

He casually took it, the cool water flowing down his throat, a refreshing feeling. The eldest brother, Yang Yi, glanced at his sister and walked forward without saying anything. "Brother, wait for me. You always walk so fast. I won't bring you any cold water next time," Yang Yu threatened. Yang Yi curled his lips, shook his head, and slowed down his pace.

When I was almost home, I saw my little sister Yang Su standing at the door and shouting, "Third brother, come out quickly, mom and dad are back, it's time to eat, hula, hula." Putting down the paper airplane in her hand, Yang Su excitedly ran to her parents and said, "Dad, Mom, you are finally back. Look, my belly is so hungry." As she said this, she touched her belly in a serious manner.

"You're just naughty. We know our little naughty girl is starving. Go wash your hands and have dinner," Yang Su's parents rubbed her little head lovingly. Yang Su, singing and laughing, ran to wash her hands. Hearing the noise, Yang Ming also left the study. Just as he was about to step out the door, Yang Su's parents looked up and saw him. They waved at Yang Ming, "Ming'er, how's your homework going?" "Almost. I just need to finish my little essay," Yang Ming sensibly massaged his parents' shoulders.

Yang's parents nodded in satisfaction. They knew their third son always gave them peace of mind. He was the only child in the family who loved studying and the hope of escaping the mountains. "After dinner, go write your essay. Your mission is to study. You are the hope of our family and the village." Yang's parents took Yang Ming's hand, placed it in their palm, and patted it. "I understand. Don't worry, Mom and Dad," Yang Ming silently agreed.

As they spoke, Yang Yu had already brought the food to the dining table outside the courtyard. "Come and eat, everyone! You're all starving," Yang Yu said cheerfully, looking at his family. Soon, everyone gathered around, took their bowls, and the family began to eat with hearty mouthfuls of satisfaction.

"Mom and Dad, eat some meat. You've worked so hard," Yang Su said sweetly, picking up some food for them. They smiled cheerfully and said, "Okay, okay, you should eat more too." Turning to Yang Ming, they said, "Ming'er, eat more meat to get more nutrition so you can keep up with your studies. No one should go hungry, not even our Ming'er." They then placed a piece of meat in Yang Ming's bowl.

Yang Su smacked his lips, realizing that his third brother was different from the others. He stopped worrying and continued eating. Yang Ming looked at his eldest brother and sister, thinking that they were the ones who contributed the most to the family. Just as he was about to pass the meat to them, Yang Yu said, "Yes, Mom and Dad are right. Third brother needs to be well-nourished so he can study better, right, big brother?" He smiled dotingly at Yang Ming.

The eldest brother, Yang Yi, didn't usually express himself, simply saying "hmm." Everyone was used to Yang Yi's attitude, and knowing that his eldest brother wasn't good at talking, Yang Ming didn't refuse and put the meat into his mouth. He decided not to let his family down, and he had to leave the mountains and let them enjoy a better life with him.

When we were little, our wishes were always so simple. We always thought that when we grew up, we could lead our family out of suffering and enjoy happiness with us. However, we didn’t realize that after we grew up and started our own families and careers, the vows and original intentions we had made were gradually drifting away with the powerlessness of reality. We could not only not help our parents, our brothers and sisters, but also ourselves.

In the bitter sea of ​​life, we drift up and down, unable to control ourselves, and driven by conflicting tendencies. Finally, we realize that all hope was but a fleeting obsession, a relic of the past that sustained a relationship. When all hopes run counter to our own, and our wishes are not fulfilled, resentment becomes the norm, bickering becomes daily routine, and finally, we resolutely part ways, becoming familiar strangers. Life is often both joyful and tragic, but despite all our regrets and frustrations, we still cannot achieve our dreams.