Colorful years

The young couple had always been respectful and harmonious after their marriage, but unexpectedly, their first major argument occurred after their daughter turned one month old. The root of the problem lay in the crucial question of who should be responsible for caring for the child.

Rewind a few months. Wang Li was nearing her due date, so she applied for maternity leave from her workplace and happily returned to her parents' home in Lanxi, Yiyang, to await the birth of her baby. After a long wait, the moment of her baby's arrival finally arrived.

That day, the baby was born safely at Lanxi Town Health Center after reaching full term. Because the little one weighed a full nine pounds, making him overweight, the delivery was exceptionally difficult for Wang Li. From the afternoon she was admitted to the hospital until noon the next day, she endured countless painful contractions and agonizing labor before the baby was safely delivered into the world.

Unfortunately, just as Wang Li was struggling to give birth in the delivery room, her husband Zhang Cong was unable to be by her side due to work commitments.

It turned out that Zhang Cong was busy writing a crucial document at that time, a task that was urgent and carried great responsibility, and he simply couldn't spare the time to go to the hospital. Nevertheless, not being able to witness his daughter's birth filled Zhang Cong with deep self-blame and guilt.

Fortunately, once the important document was finally completed, Zhang Cong immediately rushed to Lanxi to visit his wife, who had just gone through the pain of childbirth, and their newborn daughter. Looking at the weak but happy Wang Li, and the adorable little one, Zhang Cong secretly vowed to make up for his previous absence.

As time flew by, their daughter turned one month old in the blink of an eye. Zhang Cong personally took the mother and daughter back to their home in Jishou, and the family happily began a new chapter in their lives…

Time flies, and Wang Li's maternity leave was over in the blink of an eye. She had to return to work. However, this change brought a serious problem to their once happy family—who would take care of their young daughter?

Hiring a professional nanny seems like the most direct and simplest solution, but the harsh reality is that they don't have the financial means to afford it. Therefore, this option has to be reluctantly abandoned.

Wang Li's mother was a highly respected backbone teacher at a primary school. With a heavy teaching load, it was impossible for her to take time off from school to help take care of her child.

Therefore, their only option was to ask Zhang Cong's mother, Shi Daya, for help. Shi Daya had always lived in the countryside; she was a simple, unassuming, and illiterate peasant woman. Now nearing sixty, she and her husband relied on each other, making a living by diligently cultivating the fields and raising pigs, and she too had her own reasons for being unable to leave.

Despite the numerous difficulties, after some discussion, the young couple decided to have Shi Daya come and help take care of the child.

Wang Li lay wearily on the soft sofa in her home in Jishou, staring blankly out the window. The last rays of sunlight were gradually swallowed by darkness, and the sky grew darker. Her mood, like the fading light, was a jumble of emotions, a chaotic mess.

Today marks her daughter's one-month birthday. This should have been a joyous and celebratory day for the whole family. However, Wang Li felt no joy at all. Instead, she was overwhelmed by waves of fatigue and anxiety.

Her maternity leave flew by, and tomorrow she would be saying goodbye to the days she spent with her daughter and returning to work. However, a crucial question weighed heavily on her mind like a mountain, making it hard to breathe—who would take care of her daughter? This question swirled in her mind, refusing to leave.

Just then, Zhang Cong gently pushed open the door and walked in, carrying a bag of baby supplies he had just carefully selected from the supermarket. He carefully put down the bag, then slowly walked to Wang Li's side, his eyes full of concern. He gently patted her shoulder and said softly, "Are you tired? Do you want to rest for a bit?"

Wang Li seemed not to hear Zhang Cong's words, still staring blankly out the window, only muttering softly, "I have to go to work tomorrow, what will happen to the child?" Her voice was full of helplessness and confusion.

Zhang Cong fell silent, the air seeming to freeze for a moment. After a while, he sighed deeply and said helplessly, "My mother... will have to wait another month before she can come over."

"A month?" Wang Li looked up abruptly as if she had been electrocuted, a hint of dissatisfaction and anger flashing in her eyes. "We've been waiting for a month! Does your mother even care about us?" Her voice trembled slightly.

Zhang Cong frowned, a troubled look on his face, and his tone became somewhat stiff: "My mother has her own difficulties. There are many complicated and trivial things at home, and she can't just leave whenever she wants."

"Difficulties? Who doesn't have difficulties?" Wang Li's emotions grew increasingly agitated, and her voice suddenly rose. "My mother is a primary school teacher, and she's so busy with work every day that she can't even take a day off. What about your mother? Is farming and raising pigs that important? Is she more important than her own granddaughter?" Her eyes were full of accusation.

Zhang Cong's face instantly darkened, and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes: "Wang Li, don't say that. My mother is getting old, and she really can't do without her for things at home. Besides, it's not that she doesn't want to come, she just needs some time to settle things at home."

"Time? We've waited so long!" Wang Li's emotions finally erupted. Her voice was like a sharp sword, piercing the quiet air. "Do you know how tiring it is for me to take care of the child alone? You're always busy with work and don't care about anything at home! Now even your mother won't help. What are we supposed to do?" Tears welled up in her eyes, and her voice became hoarse.

Zhang Cong's brows furrowed deeper, and his tone hardened: "Wang Li, don't be unreasonable. My mother isn't unwilling to help; she just needs time. What you're saying isn't fair to her."

“Unfair?” Wang Li sneered, her eyes filled with despair and anger. “Is that fair to us? The child is both ours, but now all the pressure is ruthlessly weighing on me alone! If your mother doesn’t come, we have to figure it out ourselves. But where are we going to get that much money to hire a nanny?” Her voice was filled with helplessness and sorrow.

Zhang Cong's face turned ashen, and his voice rose several decibels: "Wang Li, don't go too far! My mother isn't our nanny; she has her own life. You can't throw a tantrum at her just because she can't come right away!"

"I'm being unreasonable?" Wang Li's voice was almost a scream, her body trembling slightly with anger. "Zhang Cong, get this straight, we desperately need help right now! If your mother doesn't come, we'll have to shoulder the burden ourselves. But you're busy with work all day and don't care about anything at home! Do you know how difficult it is for me to raise the child alone?" Her tears flowed like a burst dam.

Zhang Cong clenched his fists tightly, the veins on the back of his hands clearly visible, and a flash of anger crossed his eyes: "Wang Li, stop being unreasonable! My mother isn't unwilling to come, she just needs time. If you keep this up, I really can't take it anymore!"

Wang Li suddenly stood up, her eyes filled with disappointment and determination, and tears welling up in them: "Zhang Cong, what kind of attitude is this? Am I being unreasonable? I just want our lives to be a little easier! If your mother doesn't come, we have to figure things out ourselves. But what about you? You don't care at all!"

Zhang Cong's anger was completely ignited, and he shouted, "Wang Li, stop pushing me! My mother isn't our nanny; she has her own life. If you keep this up, I really can't take it anymore!"