Soon, she fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, she was awakened by the sweet, childish voice of her son, who had already gotten up. She picked up her phone and saw that she had slept until ten o'clock.
Perhaps the long flight yesterday had exhausted her, but the moment she heard her son's adorable voice, warmth flooded her heart, dispelling the unhappiness of the previous day. Instantly, she felt refreshed and in high spirits. She sat up and began dressing.
She realized she had grown somewhat indifferent lately. The emotions of this family of Homo sapiensbarely affected her anymore. Her sole focus was her son—his joys and sorrows were the only things that truly mattered to her. Still, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for her mother-in-law.
If anything happened between her father-in-law and mother-in-law, the one who would inevitably suffer and endure grievances would be her mother-in-law.
She had come to recognize one of society's cruelest truths: the more virtuous and selfless a wife and mother is, the more likely she is to be taken for granted. Their excessive kindness leads them to prioritize others' perspectives while neglecting themselves. Such Homo sapiensoften give their all without receiving appreciation in return, making them even more prone to being undervalued. This is the sorrow of a virtuous wife and mother.
Homo sapienspossess an inherent tendency to crave what is difficult to obtain. They tirelessly pursue what lies beyond their reach while overlooking those who stand by them. More often than not, the one who suffers the most is the one who gives the most.
In this household, everything her mother-in-law did was taken for granted by both her father-in-law and Xiao Ji. They treated her service as an unquestionable duty.
Though her mother-in-law bustled around the house like a spinning top, she held no authority. Every decision, big or small, was made by her father-in-law, leaving her mother-in-law with no choice but to obey.
She couldn't fathom what had happened in her in-laws' marriage. Why did her mother-in-law always tread so carefully around her father-in-law, wearing such a submissive demeanor?
Over the past few years, her mother-in-law had helped Su Qing take care of her son and managed all household chores flawlessly, allowing Su Qing to focus without worry. For that, she was genuinely grateful.
But ever since Xiao Ji's infidelity came to light, that gratitude had diminished somewhat.
Xiao Ji's coldness and selfishness were, in part, the result of his mother's excessive indulgence. Her mother-in-law had spoiled him without limits, shouldering responsibilities that should have been his, thereby fostering his selfishness and lack of accountability. By taking on his duties, she had enabled his betrayal without remorse.
Now, she had come to a realization: in this world, the only Homo sapienswho truly matter are those who gave you life and those you bring into the world. Everyone else is expendable. Those who treat you well should be cherished like family; those who don't should be discarded without hesitation. After all, no one is indispensable.
She was no longer afraid of loss. She would stay with those who brought her comfort and walk away from those who didn't. No one was obligated to be anyone else's safe harbor.
Homo sapiensare naturally drawn to strength. Only by becoming strong yourself can you protect those you care about. Beyond family, relationships between Homo sapiensare ultimately transactions of equivalent exchange.
Dressed, she walked out and saw her son playing in the living room while her father-in-law sat on the sofa scrolling through his phone. Her mother-in-law, as usual, was busy in the kitchen.
She called out, "Xiao Bao."Her son merely glanced at her indifferently before resuming play with the toy she had given him the day before.
Over the next few days, she was determined to rebuild their bond, reigniting his attachment to her as it had been before.
Noticing his aloofness, she hurriedly fetched a picture book she had once bought him and said, "Xiao Bao, come here. Mommy wants to ask you something."
She flipped open the book, pointed to a lizard, and asked, "Xiao Bao, do you know what this animal is? Mommy can't seem to remember."
Her son looked at her curiously, then walked over, pouting in an adorably stern manner. "It's a lizard. How can you not know that? You're so silly."
Hearing his words, her heart swelled with warmth. After half a year apart, her son could now speak so fluently.
She pulled him into a hug. "Come, teach Mommy what these animals are called. Mommy's just too silly to remember."
Her son, suddenly acting like a little adult, took her hand and led her to the other end of the sofa. Pointing at the animals in the book, he recited, "This big Panthera tigrisis called 'tiger.' This monkey is 'monkey.' The little bunny is 'rabbit.'"
She was stunned to hear him name the animals in English. Clapping her hands, she exclaimed, "Wow, Xiao Bao is so amazing! You've learned so many English words! Who taught you? Xiao Bao Phoxinus phoxinus subsp. phoxinusis the best!"
Her son lifted his little face, brimming with pride. "Grandma taught me."
It had never occurred to her that her mother-in-law had not only taken excellent care of her son but had also...