I rushed home after receiving a tense message from my parents, but what happened next kept me laughing for days.

Since my sister and I were born, my dad has always been teased by everyone around as the “handsomest in the house.” Living in a family full of women, my dad would occasionally sigh, wishing he had a son. But my mom was determined not to have more children, and our family stayed at four members.

Everyone thought my sister and I were spoiled like princesses, but the truth is my mom was the most powerful “princess” in the house.

My dad indulged my mom unconditionally. Whatever she liked, my dad would fulfill right away. For bigger things, like buying gold or a car, he would remember and get them for her when he could afford it.

Throughout the year, my dad never forgot any holidays, anniversaries, or birthdays related to my mom. He always bought her gifts, making my sister and me extremely envious. In fact, every year on my birthday, my dad would keep asking to confirm the date because he could only remember the month, not the day!

My parents always call each other “babe” sweetly. When my dad sees an elderly couple addressing each other formally or just simply calling each other’s name in public, he “criticizes” them for lacking affection. He believes that the longer couples are together, the more they should love and bond with each other to set an example for their children and grandchildren.

My sister and I often tease that out of 100 couples married for 40 years, only one couple is like our parents. The rest might “split up” after less than four years, so there’s no love left to call each other “anh” and “em.” Then my dad takes the opportunity to lecture us, saying that we should love and cherish our husbands, and learn from how our parents live together.

I admit I am envious of their happiness. Although my husband and I rarely argue, there are times we dislike each other like cats and dogs. My sister, after quarreling with her husband, doesn’t dare to confide in our parents, fearing they’d scold her and “open a class” on marital conduct.

However, no matter how harmonious a couple is, there are still moments of discord. My dad has a gentle personality, and my mom is sweet. When they are upset with each other, they “sulk” silently and text their children to act as intermediaries.

Every time my sister and I help reconcile them, we wonder how they have shared a bed for all these years without ever sleeping separately or moving to another place. My dad winks and says it’s their secret to maintaining their marriage.