Chapter 25 Huihui and the father-in-law

Huihui is my cousin who is two years younger than me and lives in the building opposite my grandmother's house.When she was born, a medical accident caused a cerebellar hemorrhage, resulting in motor nerve paralysis.She can't walk, can't talk, she can only make a sound of um, yah, yah, yah.I used to think that a mentally handicapped child was the most pitiful, but it was only in Huihui that I discovered that a child with a sound brain and even a clever mind clearly sees his physical disability, fully understands the difference between himself and other children, and knows that his mother The look in the eyes is called helplessness, and it is the cruelest thing.She clearly had something to say and something to ask, but she could only utter a few incomprehensible and indistinct cries; she clearly had something to complain about, and she had something to complain about, but she could only use her slender, pale fists. Hitting the edge of the bed, even her fingers were too stiff to form a fist.

As a young and lively person, every time I went to see this cousin with my grandma, I would become very obedient.Huihui's bedside is the place where I never dare to act like a baby.Huihui's eyes are beautiful, so clear that they can be used as a mirror, and they always shock my "sister".When I don't understand what she means, I often want to find the answer in those bright eyes.Every time I went to see her, she would push all the white rabbit toffee on the pillow to me, nodding her head and insisting that I eat them all.That is a luxury for me.I was seduced, but I clearly felt that I should not ask for anything from this little sister.So the two young sisters were at loggerheads until the grandmother came to mediate.

We grew up year by year, and she was always two years younger than me.We see each other every one or two years.Every time there is her happy smiling face, and her best food recommended to me.In a blink of an eye, she was in her twenties, she had grown taller, and her face had a youthful ruddy and even charming face.She still can't walk, can't speak, and her eyes are still as pure as a mirror.But now she has opened the seal of language.She can read.So the conversations between her and me are often carried out in newspapers and dictionaries.She pointed to the typefaces with her stiff fingers, and then looked at me eagerly, waiting for my answer.If she was a healthy girl, how many whispers would we have to share.I carefully searched my feelings for her, and found that apart from deep sympathy, there was also deep admiration: the world hurt her, but she gave the world flawless cherishment.When us normal people complain about others in the swamp of life, what a weak soul accepts all injustices, and at the same time seeks happiness in giving and communicating.

Her big, bright black eyes make me quiet. Huihui has been raised and cared for by a thin, thin old lady wearing gold-rimmed glasses. Because she has never been married, we call her "father-in-law" for men.She was born in a wealthy family in Shanghai. She was the third young lady in her family. She had attended a girls' school run by a church and was proficient in English.Her elegant demeanor was very different from the other women in the alley.But she lives in harmony with this environment with a characteristic serenity and kindness. According to the old people, when her best girlfriend suffered from marriage misfortune and was unable to raise a pair of children, she moved into this family that had no blood relationship with her and promised to raise the two children.

A promise of gold. She saw through the indifference and hypocrisy of the big family, broke away from it, and lived an independent life as a primary school teacher.It is not difficult to imagine how much criticism and cold eyes there will be in the family and neighbors for an unmarried young woman who lives alone with two children.Relying on the income of an elementary school teacher to maintain food and clothing for the family, the hardships and ups and downs are not difficult for her who is used to being a young lady.People are always guessing where this weak woman's body has such great perseverance and wisdom. People only know that she is tired and stooped, but the two children are well-grown and promising.One of the boys became Huihui's father.

When Huihui's tragedy struck, she, who had already retired, took the initiative to take on the important task of raising Huihui.Another promise, another child who has no blood relationship with her, and decades of hard work.This time, it was a child with a disability.She feeds her spoon by spoon, comforts her grief year after year, and enlightens her mind word by word.She undoubtedly has a fraternal and kind heart.But instead of running any high-profile charity, she chose to raise one child after another. In my memory of Houjialu, there is always such a picture: the sun shines through the window, a neat old woman wearing gold-rimmed glasses comforts a girl with big eyes, and teaches her how to Eat with a spoon by yourself, tell her the happiest fairy tale, and let her know that every soul in the world is equal.Neither of them has a man in their lives, one chooses this life, the other has to accept it; both of them keep a distance from the world, and this distance makes them have a certain detachment; neither of them because of Hatred against God for his own misfortune, one for knowing too much, one for knowing too little.I found that the eyes of their grandparents and grandchildren are so calm.