Three Women in the Cage

That day, Yang Yu went to the mountains to chop firewood as usual and returned home in the evening. As soon as he got home, he saw a strange old man in his house. Yang's father came to greet him with a happy face and said with a smile, "Yu'er, put down the firewood and prepare some wine and food. This is your Uncle Zhang. Let's have a good drink today!"

Yang Yu frowned, looking at her father with some concern. He knew that whenever he drank, he would become extremely noisy, sometimes even drunken and crazy, making the whole family restless. But she nodded helplessly and replied, "I know, Dad. I'll go prepare it right away. But you should drink less. Drinking too much is not good for your health."

Yang Yu turned and walked into the kitchen. Mother Yang went to help another neighbor, and her younger sister Yang Su went crazy, and her eldest brother went to fetch water again. The third brother was preparing for the college entrance examination. He planned to apply to a normal university and become a teacher in the future.

In those days, being a teacher was a profession that made the village proud. So, this time, Yang Yu had to cook alone. Perhaps she was already accustomed to cooking while lighting the fire, so she could handle it with ease. After a quick hour of busy work in the kitchen, a table full of dishes was ready.

It was dinner time, and Yang's mother came back on time. She said at the kitchen door, "Yu'er, is the meal ready? I was just about to come back to cook. Come, I'll take these out, you go and have a rest, and call your younger brothers and sisters to eat!" After Yang Yu saw that Yang's mother started to get busy, he went out to call his younger brothers and sisters. At this time, his eldest brother Yang Yi also came back with two full buckets of water.

"Brother, hurry up, dinner is almost ready. Take a break and get ready to eat," said the eldest brother Yang Yi. When Yang Yu brought out a table full of dishes, Uncle Zhang looked up at them with admiration in his eyes. He couldn't help but say, "Brother Yang, you are so lucky. Your daughter is so capable. Unlike my seven sons, the eldest had an accident. Now my six sons are still single. I don't know who will marry your Yu'er in the future."

Father Yang felt a touch of pride when he heard Uncle Zhang's praise, but knowing his family was poor and deeply reluctant about his daughter marrying into that family, he didn't respond. Instead, he consoled him with, "Don't worry, don't worry. Your sons are all promising. You'll definitely find someone." As he spoke, everyone gathered around the dining table. Yang Yu probably knew what Uncle Zhang was up to. Fortunately, Father Yang didn't respond. Besides, he had never met his sons. Free love was the norm these days. Who would want to marry someone they had never even met? Yang Yu thought to herself.

Uncle Zhang wasn't upset. With a smile on his face, he repeatedly clinked glasses with Uncle Yang. After a few drinks, the two of them actually began to chat happily. Their topics ranged from running on the ground to flying in the sky. As they clinked glasses, they chatted non-stop about various things, and from time to time, they would burst into hearty laughter. By the time the drinks were over, Yang's father was reluctant to let Uncle Zhang leave and insisted that he stay at his home for another night, agreeing to continue drinking together tomorrow.

When Uncle Zhang heard this, he had an idea and took the opportunity to say casually: "It would be great if I could become a relative of Brother Yang. I like Brother Yang so much. It's a pity that we met so late!" Father Yang was originally a straightforward person, and with the addition of alcohol, he immediately echoed loudly: "Become a relative, let's get married tomorrow and let them have more contact." After that, he and Uncle Zhang went to the guest bedroom with their arms around each other.

Yang Yu listened to their conversation with a hint of displeasure. She didn't like her father's arbitrary decision about her marriage, even if it was just drunken talk. She also hated Uncle Zhang's ulterior motives for drinking. She was proud of her marriage. Although she was now a grown woman, she didn't want to marry someone she had never met. Seeing her sister's unhappy frown, her eldest brother Yang Yi probably guessed her thoughts. He walked over and patted Yang Yu on the shoulder. "Don't listen to his drunken talk. Dad is drunk. Even if he agrees, I won't. You must be satisfied with your marriage. Don't worry."

Although Yang Yi often appeared aloof and reserved, Yang Yu knew his elder brother still cared deeply about her. "Okay, I understand, brother. Thank you for your support," Yang Yu agreed, feeling a little better. Although Yang Ming rarely paid attention to family matters and rarely expressed himself, he cared deeply about his sister's marriage. He didn't want to be like his mother, who had cared for her, only to marry someone she didn't like and be unhappy. So, upon hearing his elder brother's words, he firmly agreed, "Sister, you're right. I support you, too."

Yang Yu smiled with relief, patted Yang Ming's head, and said, "Why are you meddling in this? My eldest sister can handle her own problems. Just focus on your studies and don't let your imagination run wild." Yang Ming could only lower his head and remain silent. Yang Su didn't quite understand these complicated love affairs. Listening to her brothers and sisters, she blinked in confusion and asked doubtfully, "Brother, eldest sister, what do you mean by marriage? And why do you look so unhappy?"

Hearing Yang Su's question, the eldest brother shook his head, then turned and left the room without answering her question. Yang Ming looked at his younger sister helplessly, smiled, and got up to do his homework.

Yang Yu gently tapped Yang Su's forehead and said sternly, "Little brat, what are you eavesdropping on? Children, don't pry into adult matters, or I'll beat you up!"

Yang Su was actually a little afraid of her elder sister. In her impression, her elder sister was even more fierce than her mother. She playfully stuck out her tongue, made a face, and then quickly ran away.

At this moment, Yang's mother's voice suddenly came from the kitchen: "Yu'er, come and help your mother clean up the table. Your father is drunk again. Really! I want to go over and take a look." At the same time, Yang Yu also heard the noise of noise and falling objects coming from the guest room next door.

Yang Yu helplessly rubbed her forehead, sighing inwardly. She knew this situation all too well. It was always like this. Whenever her father drank, he would turn into a madman. Now, with two drunks at home, it was giving her a headache. Thinking of this, Yang Yu could only shake her head helplessly and prepare to help her mother deal with this chaotic situation.

But Yang Yu didn't know that this unexpected guest was coming for her. This seemingly unintentional drinking was actually intentional. She also didn't know that because of this drinking, her life would be doomed.

Sometimes, she thought, it would be better if some people didn't meet. But some people were pushed forward, destined to meet, and there was no way to avoid or escape.