Li Ming sat on the sofa in the living room, holding his mother Zhang Hua's bank statement in his hand, his brows furrowed. His gaze scanned back and forth over the numbers, his mind full of doubts. He remembered that his mother had never mentioned the pension insurance, but the monthly entry of 2,000 yuan on the bill was clearly visible.
"Mom, what's going on?" Li Ming couldn't help but ask, handing the bill to his mother, who was busy in the kitchen.
Zhang Hua wiped his hands, took the bill, and showed an embarrassed smile on his face, "Oh, this, it's... A friend's grant. ”
"Friend, which friend?" asked Li Ming, who had never heard of his mother having such a friend.
Zhang Hua hesitated for a moment, as if considering how to answer, "This... It's a long story, so don't ask. ”
Li Ming's curiosity was completely aroused, and he decided to find out. He began to keep an eye out at family gatherings, trying to find clues from the conversations of his relatives. However, neither the aunt nor the cousins seem to know where the money came from.
"Dad, do you know what happened to the 2,000 yuan my mother received every month?" Li Ming asked his father, who was reading the newspaper, instead.
Father Li Dashan raised his head and pushed his glasses, "I never ask about your mother's affairs." She has her own plans. ”
Li Ming felt a hint of frustration, but he didn't give up. He began to observe his mother's daily behavior, hoping to find some clues. He noticed that the day before the bill day, his mother would always go out alone and always come back with an envelope in her hand.
"Mom, what do you do every time you go out?" asked Li Ming, pretending to be inadvertent.
Zhang Hua smiled, did not answer directly, but changed the topic, "Ming, how are you doing lately? I heard that your company has been very busy recently. ”
Li Ming knew that his mother was avoiding him, but he didn't continue to ask. He decided to go the other way, and that was to follow his mother directly to see where she had gone.
The next day, Zhang Hua went out as usual. Li Ming quietly followed behind, keeping a certain distance. He saw his mother walk into a bank, and after a while, came out with an envelope in her hand.
Li Ming's heart was full of doubts, and he decided to figure it all out.
Li Ming's mind was full of questions, and he decided to dig deeper into the truth of this mysterious payment. He began to visit his relatives one by one, hoping to get some clues from them.
"Auntie, do you know what happened to the money my mother received every month?" Li Ming asked cautiously at the family gathering on the weekend, taking advantage of his aunt's break.
My aunt shook her head blankly, "Oh, I really don't know about this, your mother never mentioned it to me." ”
Li Ming was not discouraged, he continued to ask other relatives, "Uncle, do you know? My mother has a monthly payment, but she never says who gave it. ”
Uncle frowned and pondered for a moment, "This... I haven't heard of it, but your mother has always been very independent, and she rarely talks to us about things. ”
Li Ming's investigation seems to have reached an impasse, but he has not given up. He began to expand his investigation, even contacting his mother's friends and former colleagues, but the answers he received were nothing.
"Xiao Zhang, when your mother used to work in our unit, she was a very capable person, but she never mentioned it. Aunt Wang, an old colleague of my mother, said on the phone.
Li Ming felt a little frustrated, but his curiosity drove him to continue searching for answers. He began to pay attention to his mother's behavior, hoping to find clues in it.
One night, Li Ming saw his mother flipping through an old photo album in her room, with a faint smile on her face. He walked over, sat down next to his mother, and asked softly, "Mom, what are you looking at?"
Zhang Hua raised his head, smiled and said, "Oh, this is a photo of me when I was young, when my father and I had just gotten married, and although our lives were simple, we were very happy." ”
Li Ming took the opportunity to ask, "Mom, did you have any special friends when you were young, or... Is there a special story?"
Zhang Hua's eyes suddenly flickered, she gently closed the photo album, and sighed, "Ming, there are some things, let it pass." People always have to look forward. ”
Li Ming realized that his mother seemed to be avoiding something, which made him even more convinced that there must be an untold story behind the money.
When Li Ming was sorting out the old things at home, he accidentally found a dusty diary, and some faded handwriting on the cover read "Zhang Hua". Out of curiosity, he opened the diary and read page by page the thoughts and dreams of his mother's youth.
In her diary, Zhang Hua recorded her dreams when she was young, she wanted to become a teacher, she wanted to travel the world, and she also had a small wish to open her own bookstore. But as the diary deepened, Li Ming read about the sacrifices her mother made for the sake of the family, and she gave up her dream and chose to take care of the family and children at home full-time.
"Mom, what was your dream when you were young?" Li Ming couldn't help but ask Zhang Hua during dinner.
Zhang Hua stopped the chopsticks in his hand and smiled slightly, "Dream, that was a long time ago." Now, my dream is for you to be healthy and happy. ”
A complicated emotion surged in Li Ming's heart, and he continued to ask, "What is the dream fund mentioned in this diary?"
Zhang Hua was stunned for a moment, and then sighed softly, "That's an old friend of mine, he knew that I liked to read, so he helped me set up a fund, saying that it was to support my dream." ”
"Then who is he?" asked Li Ming eagerly.
Zhang Hua shook his head, "Don't ask about this, he doesn't want people to know." ”
Li Ming's heart was full of doubts, but he saw that his mother was unwilling to say more, so he didn't ask any more. He decides to find out the identity of this mysterious friend himself.
A few days later, on the last page of his diary, Li Ming found a yellowed photograph of Zhang Hua and a young man with the words "Wang Qiang, Forever Friend" written on the back. Li Ming's heart moved, and he realized that this Wang Qiang might be that mysterious "friend".
"Mom, do you remember Wang Qiang?" asked Zhang Hua with the photo.
Zhang Hua took the photo, and a trace of nostalgia flashed in his eyes, "Wang Qiang, he is a good person, but unfortunately he hasn't been in touch for many years." ”
Li Ming decided to find Wang Qiang to understand the ins and outs of this fund. He began to search the Internet for information about Wang Qiang, hoping to find some clues.
Li Ming stood in front of Wang Qiang's house, nervous and expectant. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door. The door slowly opened, revealing Wang Qiang's weather-beaten face.
"Are you?" Wang Qiang's voice was a little hoarse.
"Hello, my name is Li Ming, and I am Zhang Hua's son. Li Ming politely introduced himself.
A hint of surprise flashed in Wang Qiang's eyes, and then he softened, "Oh, Zhang Hua's child, come in and sit." ”
Li Ming followed Wang Qiang into the house and looked around, the furnishings in the house were simple, but they revealed a kind of precipitation of the years.
"Do you know my mother?" asked Li Ming bluntly.
Wang Qiang nodded, with a hint of memory in his eyes, "Of course, your mother is an amazing woman. We were colleagues and good friends when we were younger. ”
Li Ming took out the yellowed photo and handed it to Wang Qiang, "This is what I found in my mother's diary, and your name is written on the back of the photo." ”
Wang Qiang took the photo and gently stroked himself and Zhang Hua in the photo, "Yes, this is a group photo of us when we were young." Your mother was talented when she was young, and her dream was to open a bookstore. ”
"What about this money..."Li Ming couldn't help but ask.
Wang Qiang sighed and began to narrate, "Your mother worked very hard when she was young, and she saved a sum of money to realize her dreams. But later, she gave up this dream for the sake of her family. I saw how hard she was working and offered to help her manage the money. ”
Li Ming listened attentively, he didn't expect his mother to have such a story when she was young.
"Every month I take a portion of this money and put it into your mother's account. Wang Qiang continued, "Your mother never knew that I was helping her, she always thought it was her dream fund when she was young. ”
A warm current surged in Li Ming's heart, and he finally understood his mother's persistence and sacrifice.
"Thank you, Uncle Wang. Li Ming said gratefully.
Wang Qiang waved his hand, "Don't thank me, it's your mother who deserves respect." She gave up a lot for the sake of her family. ”
Li Ming stood up and bowed deeply to Wang Qiang, "I understand, I will take good care of my mother." ”
Li Ming returned home with a new understanding of his mother and a deep sense of gratitude. He sat in the living room, his heart full of guilt and love. He decided to have a good talk with his mother and use the money to help her realize her dreams when she was younger.
"Mom, I'm back. There was a hint of choking in Li Ming's voice.
Zhang Hua poked his head out of the kitchen, smiled and said, "Come back, wash your hands and get ready to eat." ”
Li Ming walked into the kitchen, looked at his busy mother, and an impulse surged in his heart, "Mom, I want to talk to you." ”
Zhang Hua put down the spoon in his hand and looked at his son with some surprise, "What's wrong, Ming?
Li Ming took a deep breath and said seriously: "Mom, I already know the origin of that money, and I also know your dreams when you were young. ”
A trace of complicated emotions flashed in Zhang Hua's eyes, and she whispered, "Those are all in the past." ”
"No, Mom," Li Ming interrupted her, "those dreams shouldn't just be in the past. I want to help you make them happen. ”
Zhang Hua was stunned, she looked at her son's firm eyes, and a warm current surged in her heart, "Ming, you really ......"
"Yes, Mom," Li Ming shook his mother's hand, "We can use this money to open a bookstore, just like you dreamed of when you were young." ”
Zhang Hua's eyes flashed with tears, and she choked up and said, "Ming, you have really grown up and know how to think about others." ”
Li Ming hugged his mother tightly, "Mom, let's work together, for your dreams, and for our future." ”
In the next few days, Li Ming and Zhang Hua worked together to plan the blueprint of the bookstore. They discussed the name of the bookstore, its location, and the style of its décor, and every detail was full of enthusiasm and anticipation.
"Mom, what do you think of this location?" Li Ming pointed to a point on the map.
Zhang Hua took a closer look and nodded, "It's good here, there is a lot of traffic, and there are schools nearby." ”
"Then we'll choose this place. Li Ming said excitedly.
Zhang Hua's face was filled with a happy smile, and she said with emotion: "Ming, it's good to have you." ”
Li Ming and Zhang Hua were busy together, their hearts full of hopes and dreams. The story slowly ends in the heartwarming scene where they plan the future together and pursue their dreams.
This article is a microfiction, please do not sit in the opposite seat