On the banks of the Yellow River, which has been carved into magnificent waves by the years, the afterglow of the setting sun shines on the independent old house, giving it a wordless tranquility. This is Li Yaozu's home, 77 years old, he was an engineer, and he sweated to his heart's content in that era that best reflects the value of people. Nowadays, his figure is particularly lonely in this old house, and his children have long gone their separate ways because of the pressure of work or life, and the frequency of returning home is only a handful.
The trivialities of life piled up in the old man's heart, and Li Yaozu always missed the laughter and laughter of the past, and now he could only talk to his own shadow in this small courtyard that was so quiet that he could almost hear the passage of time. In such days, it was not until the 33-year-old nanny Xiaoyu appeared that there was a new turnaround.
Xiaoyu, a woman who has never left footprints on the college campus, but life has taught her a lot. She is not tall, often wears light-colored dresses, and always has the simplicity and gentleness of the countryside between her eyebrows and eyes. Her voice was soft and her smile was warm - it was these that made Li Yaozu gradually open his heart.
"Lao Li, I have prepared your medicine for you on time today. Xiaoyu held a glass of water and a few pills in her hand and said softly.
Li Yaozu took the medicine and nodded, "Thank you Xiaoyu, this family is really getting more and more popular with you." ”
"I'm glad I can help you wherever I can. Xiaoyu smiled softly, "What do you want to eat at night?" I'll go to the market and buy it for you." ”
"Just come with something light, my old stomach is not good, don't be too greasy. ”
The dialogue is simple and ordinary, but it reveals a faint homely warmth. It is these seemingly inconspicuous details that make people more aware of the importance of Xiaoyu's role in this family.
However, although Li Yaozu enjoyed the care brought by Xiaoyu, he also knew in his heart that she was an outsider after all. Every time in the dead of night, staring at the family photo on the wall, the loneliness and helplessness in my heart are stronger than ever. Li Yaozu may never be able to untie this knot - in his heart, the real warmth can only be those relatives who are connected by blood.
"It's all said to raise children to prevent old age, look at the current situation-" Li Yaozu muttered to himself, with bitterness in his tone, but he never wanted to show it in front of Xiaoyu. At least in front of her, he is a dignified old engineer Li, not just an old man forgotten by the times.
Xiaoyu also seemed to understand this, she never asked too much about Li Yaozu's private affairs, but just quietly did her job and made the old man feel as comfortable as possible. This is the lubricant in the lives of ordinary people, and it is also the most intimate comfort.
And behind all this calm, there are changes that Li Yaozu's children did not expect.
Time passes quietly like a long stream of water, and unconsciously, the relationship between Li Yaozu and Xiaoyu seems to have undergone subtle changes. What was once a simple conversation over a meal has slowly evolved into a mutual concern and communication. Maybe it's because of loneliness, or maybe it's because of the long time together, there are more and more topics between the two, and the smiles are becoming more and more sincere.
However, the children who were busy outside did not understand the changes in the family, and once Li Yaozu was sick and hospitalized, the whole family gathered together, and the scandal spread inadvertently.
"Have you heard, our father and nanny ......" The eldest daughter Li Jing called her brothers and sisters together, her face was full of displeasure, and she whispered.
"How is this possible! The old man is so old, don't talk nonsense. Li Zhiqiang, as the eldest son in the family, retorted firmly.
"Ouch, Brother Qiang, you look at your old-fashioned old man, nothing has happened these years!" the second daughter Li Hua teased, "But we have to be careful, don't let the family property be taken by outsiders at that time." ”
It is this kind of unfounded suspicion that makes the already thin family relationship even more fragile. The old man Li Yaozu was anxious, he wanted to enjoy his old age quietly, but he didn't know that he had set off a monstrous wave.
"I said you guys, don't look for trouble. Although the old Chinese tone was gentle, the seriousness in his words was obvious, "Xiaoyu is good to me, I know in my heart, don't talk nonsense." ”
Li Yaozu tried to explain, but the daughters' eyes were full of doubts, and there was interrogation in their words.
"Dad, it's not that we don't trust you, but you also know what people outside think of this kind of thing. The eldest daughter, Li Jing, tried her best to suppress the anger in her heart, trying to make her tone softer, "The profession of nanny, who guarantees that she has no other ideas?"
The eldest son, Li Zhiqiang, maintained his original position: "At this age, there are still some of these things that are not available." Dad, you too, you should find something serious. ”
Hua and his third daughter Li Mei just watched from the sidelines, they were equally suspicious, but they couldn't bear to say it directly.
The family meeting ended in cold silence, and Li Yaozu's heart fell into a deep helplessness, and after that, there was a little more worry in his expression.
Xiaoyu didn't know anything about this, she still didn't lack three meals a day, cleaned neatly, and took care of the elderly without diminishing. Until one day, she asked Li Yaozu with doubts: "Uncle, what's wrong with you? Is there something wrong with what I'm doing? Why does the gloom on your face keep going?"
Li Yaozu sighed deeply, shook his head, and did not answer. He knows that Xiaoyu is innocent, and all misunderstandings and suspicions are caused by social prejudice and children's incomprehension.
Under such a haze, Xiaoyu's belly slowly bulged. And this news was like a stone thrown into the Silent Lake, setting off a monstrous wave, and those unconfirmed speculations turned into rumors that were believed to be true.
"She's pregnant!" the fourth daughter, Li Na, called her family in disbelief, "whose child is it?"
At this moment, family conflicts surged out like a flood of beasts, and all the hidden dissatisfaction and doubts poured into my heart. The old man realized the seriousness of the situation, he needed to explain it as soon as possible, and he also needed to calm the hearts of every child.
But did he really know? How could he have predicted that the truth would be more complicated than he imagined.
The sudden turmoil in the family made everyone's emotions surging like a tide. Xiaoyu's child was born, and the sound of the baby's cry made the tense atmosphere even heavier. Xiaoyu insisted that the child belonged to Li Yaozu, and the news exploded in everyone's hearts like a bombshell.
"This can't be! it's ridiculous!" the eldest daughter Li Jing was the first to react, her tone full of anger and disbelief.
"She clearly wants to fight for the inheritance!" Li Zhiqiang's fists clenched, and his voice was full of resentment.
The old man Li Yaozu's face was pale, his eyes gradually froze in confusion and anxiety, and his hands on crutches began to tremble. "You ...... You think I'm going to do something like this?" his voice was almost crying, "I...... I ......"
"Dad, it's not that we don't believe you, but there has to be an explanation, right? Li Hua tried to suppress his confusion.
"Yes, paternity test!" Li Mei chimed in, "We need to figure out what the hell is going on." ”
In this way, amid strong controversy and suspicion, the family conducted a paternity test. The waiting days were extremely long, Li Yaozu fell silent, Xiaoyu didn't say much, and the whole family seemed to be frozen in ice.
On the day the results came out, the sun was shining and the hearts were heavy. The baby is indeed Li Yaozu's bloodline, and this result is like a thunderbolt from the sky, spreading in the family.
"How is this possible!" The fourth daughter, Li Na, was stunned, and the whole person seemed to have lost her soul.
"Then what should we do?" asked Li Mei in a trembling voice, her face not only shocked, but also panicked.
"What should I do? What's the use of asking this now?" Li Zhiqiang was furious, "How much can the inheritance leave us?"
The atmosphere was so tense that it was about to explode, Li Yaozu was in tears, he didn't expect it to fall to such a point. But he knew he had to stand up and explain everything.
"The child is mine, but there is nothing between me and Xiaoyu as you think. Li Yaozu said solemnly, "This child is IVF that I decided to do with her." ”
This unexpected truth caused the air in the room to freeze, and everyone had incomprehensible expressions.
"IVF?" Li Jing asked, "Why?"
Li Yaozu looked at his children who cast all kinds of glances at him, and felt bitter: "I'm old, you all have your own lives, I'm afraid that no one cares about you when you're old." Xiaoyu, she is willing to ......"
He didn't finish his words, and he was already choked up.
The tension is gradually replaced by tears of conflict, and as time passes, the family may be able to move towards a new understanding and reconciliation as the children settle down and reflect. But at that moment, everyone fell silent.
Li Yaozu's body finally couldn't support it in this storm, and a sudden serious illness locked him tightly on the hospital bed. This time, all the children rushed back, and the hospital room was often full of people and whispers of worry and unease.
"Dad, we're all here, you have to be strong. Li Jing held Li Yaozu's hand tightly, and the corners of her eyes were moist.
Li Yaozu nodded weakly, it was already difficult to speak, "I know... You're all... Good boy..."
"Uncle, don't speak, save some strength. Xiaoyu stood beside the bed, her face was a rare panic.
In the face of illness and threats to life, all grievances seem to be no longer important, and the children of the Li family gradually realize the preciousness of family affection and the greatness of father's love.
"Dad, all these years... I can't stand you. Li Zhiqiang's voice was hoarse and emotionally fragile.
Li Yaozu shook his head weakly, signaling that he didn't have to blame himself, and the corners of his mouth tried to pull out a smile, "Okay...... Everyone has their own difficulties......"
The nephews and nieces also gathered outside the door, and the children did not understand why the adults had tears in their eyes, but muttered quietly, "What's wrong with grandpa?"
In the last days of the family, Li Yaozu seemed to have changed back into the wise and loving parent, he comforted and encouraged everyone, and he showed his persistence in life and love for his family in a few words. Gradually, the children's mindset changed, they began to understand their father, and they began to respect his choice.
Li Yaozu left this world in the last morning of his life, and in that last moment, he saw the love on the faces of the people around him, and at that moment, perhaps, he found the peace and joy that he had not seen for a long time.
Xiaoyu also gained the acceptance of her family in this turmoil, and the members of the Li family seemed to be reweaving the network of relationships after the chaos. After all, family affection is stronger than any misunderstanding, and closer than any estrangement.
At the end of this story, when our memories are slowly diluted by the years, there are some things that will not change - that is, the warmth of home and the bond between loved ones. In the red dust of the impermanence of the world and the fickleness of people's hearts, we may have a deeper understanding of all this. However, home is always our final destination, isn't it?