In the three years since she became a daughter-in-law, she had never let her parents-in-law worry. She had taken care of everything in the house, from big to small, from the meals to the way she treated her relatives. They often praised her as a gentle and well-behaved daughter-in-law, no different from a daughter in the family. But there was only one person who never looked at her with sympathy, that was her uncle – her father-in-law’s younger brother. Every time they met, she had to endure his contemptuous looks and harsh words.

Coming from a poor mountainous area, she was used to hardship. Her parents were farmers who worked hard all year round, rarely having any extra money. However, when she got married, her husband’s parents never once complained about the social status of the couple. On the contrary, they loved her, treated her like their own daughter, and even bought a small house for the couple to live in. That affection made her tell herself to live a worthy life.

Her marriage looked warm on the surface. Her husband was always protective and loving, and their little daughter, just over a year old, chirped, adding laughter to the home. Both sides of the family respected her, except for her uncle, who still held the same prejudice. He was rich, spoke condescendingly, and often brought up her poor past. One time, just because he saw her going to the gym, he took a picture and sent it to his mother in law, along with a malicious fabrication.

“Women who practice like this are preparing to cheat on their husbands,” he texted, making her mother in law worried and telling her to stop. She didn’t want to argue, so she just smiled faintly and quietly stopped practicing. But inside, a feeling of resentment was smoldering, like a wound that would never heal. She thought she was such a good daughter-in-law, why was she still not accepted. Every time she saw that contemptuous gaze, she felt like she had returned to the inferiority complex of a poor girl.

On the anniversary of her grandmother’s death, the whole family gathered at her husband’s parents’ house. The atmosphere was bustling and joyful, she was busy with her mother in law preparing the food, not minding the fatigue. However, when everyone sat down at the table, the uncle deliberately ignited the fire. He raised his glass, sneered, and said something like a knife: “It is foolish for a man to marry a poor wife, he has to support his wife’s whole family, and the children will also suffer. There are many beautiful and rich women, why choose a poor and ugly one, she must be under a spell.”

The whole table was stunned, many people’s eyes turned towards her. Blood rushed to her face, but she could only purse her lips, trying to force a smile. In her heart, the humiliation was like a heavy stone, but she did not dare to react. In the crowd, she told herself to be patient to maintain peace. But her husband sitting next to her could not contain his anger.

He poured more wine, his voice firm: “Don’t talk nonsense. My wife’s family is poor, but they live honestly and kindly, no one has to support the whole family. My father-in-law has been faithful all his life, not promiscuous like someone who took a second wife and was cheated out of hundreds of millions by a girl. To the point of having to go to jail for beating someone in a fit of anger, what glory is there? As for your son, he is happy to marry a rich woman, I just hope he doesn’t repeat the same situation of bankruptcy and divorce that the world will laugh at.”

The atmosphere at the banquet table immediately became tense. The uncle’s face turned pale, his eyes bloodshot as if he wanted to swallow his nephew. He threw the wine cup on the tray, stood up abruptly and walked out, leaving the whole family in shock. The sound of chairs being pushed back was loud, creating a heavy atmosphere. She sat there, her heart pounding, both scared and worried.

After the party, the husband’s parents’ faces were cold as ice. The father-in-law sternly scolded: “You spoke rudely to your uncle in front of so many relatives, making the whole family lose face.” The mother in law just sighed, avoiding her daughter-in-law’s eyes. From that day on, they became cold, no longer as close as before. Every time she visited, the feeling of distance weighed heavily on her shoulders.

The uncle did not stop there. He declared bluntly: “If you do not come and apologize, from now on I will consider you gone, and do not expect me to come back.” His words were like nails in the coffin, putting her in a difficult position. On one side was her husband, who was so proud that he refused to give in. On the other side were her in-laws, who were furious because they thought their son was rude. Both ends were dead ends.

That night, she advised her husband: “Let’s go apologize to him, bring a gift, and let things go. I’m afraid my parents will think I’m stubborn and become even colder.” Her husband frowned and immediately replied: “I didn’t do anything wrong, why should I apologize? He’s the one who’s too much. If you want to go, you can go, but I won’t.” That sentence left her speechless.

She did not blame her husband, because she understood that he was protecting his wife’s honor. But she thought of her in-laws, thought of the distant looks they gave her. Her heart felt like it was being torn in two, not knowing which side to stand on. The so-called harmony in the family was now more fragile than ever. That night, she tossed and turned, holding her child in her arms, tears wetting her pillow.

The next day, her mother in law called, her voice cold: “Daughter-in-law, that day was not a good thing, just worry about advising your husband to come and apologize. Only then will the family be peaceful.” She choked up: “Mom, I want to do that too, but he won’t accept.” The other end of the line was silent for a while, then only a sigh. She felt even more miserable listening.

Many nights, she wondered: is it my fault? If it weren’t for my poor background, perhaps no one would have made fun of me. If it weren’t for her, my husband wouldn’t have argued with me to the point of upsetting his parents. She felt small, like a thorn in her husband’s family. However, she didn’t choose her background.

The little girl learning to walk, taking each step slowly, made her feel a little calmer. That child was the crystallization of the couple’s love, the only motivation for her to stand firm. Looking at her husband’s gentle eyes every time he played with the child, she knew he loved her and her mother more than anything. But love was not enough to ease the family conflict. A knot was still hanging, waiting to explode at any moment.

One afternoon, she brought fruit to her parents-in-law. They accepted it, but were not as warm as before. Her father-in-law only said a few words, and her mother in law avoided her daughter-in-law’s eyes. She felt like an outsider, standing in an invisible distance. On the way home, she slowed down, her heart heavy as if a rock was pressing down on it.

That night, she frankly told her husband: “I am so tired, living without knowing whether I am right or wrong. I am afraid that when our child grows up, he will see his grandparents distant from his parents. Can you be patient for me, for our child, just once?” Her husband was silent for a long time, his fiery eyes suddenly softened. He held his wife’s hand and whispered: “I will think again.”

But the next day, when he arrived at the company, his uncle deliberately blocked him at the gate. In front of everyone, he raised his chin: “You still haven’t apologized? A poor person still has pride, what a waste.” The husband clenched his fists, but in the end he still turned away, not responding. When the news reached her, her heart became even more confused. Forbearance or confrontation, both would break up the family.

She began to think of another way. Instead of pressuring her husband or pleasing her uncle, she wanted to find an opportunity to talk to him directly. Not to apologize, but to explain. Because deep down, she believed that his contempt was just a cover for his wounds. Perhaps it was his past failures that made him resentful towards everyone.

One morning, she took the initiative to visit. The house was large but cold, and her uncle was surprised to see her standing at the door. “What are you doing here?” he growled. She took a breath and replied softly, “I just want to talk, just once.” He frowned, but gave up his seat anyway.

She said slowly: “I know you don’t like me, and I don’t need you to like me. But I just hope you don’t insult me ​​in front of everyone. I’m poor, but I’ve never taken advantage of or made my husband suffer. I just want to keep this family peaceful.” Her voice trembled, but her eyes were determined.

He was silent for a long time, then he laughed sarcastically: “Do you think that if you say a few words, I will change? Being poor is still being poor, there is nothing to be proud of.” She looked straight at him and replied: “Maybe poor in money, but not poor in character. My parents were poor all their lives but never did anything bad. I believe that one day, my husband and I will prove that to you.”

Her words made the uncle pause for a moment. He turned away, saying nothing more, but his voice softened: “Okay, go home, don’t come here again.” She stood up, bowed slightly, and quietly left. On the way, she felt lighter, at least she had said what she had hidden in her heart. Perhaps, that was enough.

When she came back and told the story, her husband hugged her tightly. “I’m sorry, I put you under so much pressure. From now on, I won’t let anyone hurt you anymore.” She leaned on his shoulder, tears rolling down but suddenly felt at peace. Because she knew, no matter what happened to her husband’s family, she would always have her husband by her side to protect her wholeheartedly. And that was the most solid support.