Uncle Li sat in the house he had just moved, holding the familiar bank card tightly in his hand, with a balance of exactly three thousand, which was his pension this month. He looked around, this simple old rural house, although the facilities are simple, but it is full of the atmosphere of long-lost home. Years of busy life in the city have finally come to an end at this moment.
"Dad, what do you think of here, how good the air is!" Uncle Li's daughter Xiaomin came from the window excitedly, and helped her father take the things in his hand and put them on the table as she spoke.
Uncle Li nodded lightly, "The air is good, but I've been used to the convenience of the city all these years, and suddenly living a rural life, it's really..."
"I know you're not used to it, but the house in the city has been sold, the cost of living here is low, and your pension is much more than enough. Xiao Min stood beside Uncle Li, with a bit of persistence in his tone.
"What's not enough, just live a good life, just be happy. As he spoke, Uncle Li stood up, opened the window and took a deep breath of fresh air. "Instead of being urged around the city, it is better to come back to your hometown and live a leisurely life. ”
Uncle Li went out and walked around the courtyard, although the yard was small, a few vegetables and a few fruit trees were planted, which Xiao Min and his daughter-in-law had prepared in advance.
"Dad, you see that the vegetables here are growing well, if you grow your own vegetables and flowers, time will pass. Xiao Min followed, carrying a pot of flowers in her hand.
"It's too, it's too..." Uncle Li nodded and smiled, thinking to himself that he actually likes gardening a lot.
At this time, the door next door creaked open, and an old man came out, who was Uncle Li's brother, Uncle Li.
"Brother, you're finally back! I haven't seen you for so many years, and I see that you're in good spirits. Li Bo greeted him with a smile.
"Yes, brother, your health is the best. Uncle Li stepped forward and shook his brother's hand, feeling the long-lost family affection.
The two sat in the courtyard chatting and recounting their experiences over the years. Uncle Li could hear that there was a bit of bitterness in his brother's voice, and he knew in his heart that his brother's life might not be easy all these years.
"Not to mention anything else, in the future, our brothers can get together more here, which can be regarded as making up for the past. Lieber's voice was full of anticipation.
The afterglow of the setting sun shines through the branches and leaves of the old locust tree and sprinkles on the vicissitudes of life on the faces of the two old men. At this moment, Uncle Li felt that perhaps, this was the quiet and comfortable retirement life he was looking forward to. Time flies, and a few months have passed in the blink of an eye. The initial novelty was gradually replaced by blandness, and Uncle Li began to truly integrate into the slow life of this rural area. During the day, he helped his brother Li Bo take care of the orchard, and in the evening, they walked around the village together, occasionally playing chess and drinking tea with old friends in the village.
At the beginning, Uncle Li would borrow some money from Uncle Li from time to time, saying that it was to help the children pay for their tuition fees or repair the old house, but Uncle Li never thought much about it, and readily agreed every time. But as time went on, Lieber borrowed more and more money more and more, and the amount he borrowed became larger and larger.
"Brother, this time it's really a bit urgent, can you borrow me 2,000 yuan first? As soon as my child's salary is paid next month, I will pay you back immediately." One day, Uncle Li found Uncle Li again, looking embarrassed.
Although Uncle Li was a little unhappy in his heart, he still nodded and agreed when he thought of the family affection that blood was thicker than water.
However, Uncle Li waited for several months to get back only a small part of the money he lent to his brother. When Uncle Li approached Uncle Li to discuss the repayment, Uncle Li's attitude surprised him.
"Brother, I really need to use that money, you help me for a while, I don't want to pay it back. Besides, don't we have an old saying, brothers settle accounts, right?"
Uncle Li was stunned, "That's right, but..."
"Can't you be generous? I'm short on money right now, and I'm worried about money..."
Uncle Li frowned, thinking to himself that he was just begging for an explanation, why was this like this. Contradictions began to take root in his heart.
As the days passed, Uncle Li found that his brother's borrowing behavior not only did not stop, but even began to find a reason to knock Uncle Li's savings. Whenever Uncle Li brings up the difference, Uncle Li always has the attitude that you owe me and I don't owe you.
These days, Uncle Li's mood is getting worse and worse, and he begins to wonder if going back to the countryside is really the right choice. Although every time he mentioned borrowing money to Uncle Li, Uncle Li could give all kinds of explanations that sounded reasonable, but a sense of disappointment continued to rise in Uncle Li's heart.
One weekend afternoon, Uncle Li couldn't sit still again.
"Brother, the three hundred yuan, you said you gave it to me this month last time..."Uncle Li tried to mention it again.
"I know, I know, why are you so worried about me?" said Lieber's voice with obvious impatience.
"I'm not worried about money, I'm not worried about you, you see you borrowed a few more times this month, but what are your plans?" Uncle Li's tone revealed helplessness.
"Of course I have a plan, you don't care. You can't stop urging me!"
This time the conversation did not reach any consensus, and the atmosphere became even more awkward. Uncle Li had a realization in his heart, and if this continued, his life would become more and more difficult.
At night, Uncle Li sat alone in the courtyard, the cigarette in his hand was lit, and the rising smoke seemed to look even more desolate in the moonlight. His heart was full of questions and sorrows about the future, about this hometown that he thought would allow him to spend his old age in peace. That night, Uncle Li's mood could hardly calm down. He sat in the dark, his thoughts rushing like a tide. One thought lingered: it was time to check your savings. Li Bo's behavior is becoming more and more unpredictable, and Uncle Li needs to determine his own way out.
Quietly, he walked over to the old wooden box where his savings were hidden, and opened the small secret compartment that only he knew, but saw that it was empty. The stack of banknotes was gone, leaving only the faint scent of wood and the sound of Uncle Li's heavy breathing.
"How so..." His voice echoed through the empty room, a sense of powerlessness and shock.
The next morning, Uncle Li came to see Uncle Li as usual, and his expression seemed to be the same.
"Brother, did you go to my room last night?" Uncle Li's voice was calm with a hint of sharpness.
"Why should I go to your room?" Lieber looked surprised.
"My money is gone. Uncle Li stared into Lieber's eyes, trying to read something out of it.
Li Bo's expression slowly changed from surprise to embarrassment, and finally, he lowered his head, his voice so small that he could barely be heard: "To tell you the truth, last night, I... I took some to bet... I thought I could win it back..."
Hearing this, Uncle Li was stunned. There was no longer the peace just now, and the pain of being betrayed by his own brother made his heart completely cold.
"Brother, how can you do this! That's all my savings!" Uncle Li's voice began to tremble.
"I knew I was wrong, I really thought... Who knows that at the table today..." Li Bo was stumbling and looked embarrassed.
Uncle Li stood up, his face expressionless, and the anger and disappointment in his heart were beyond measure: "I don't want to hear any more explanations. This time, you've really let me down!"
That day, Uncle Li didn't say a word to Uncle Li again. He began to silently pack his bags, deciding to quietly leave the place that had left him disheartened.
"You... Where are you going?" Lieber finally couldn't help but ask before leaving.
"You don't care. I don't want to be in a place where even my own brother can ignore my dignity and trust. Uncle Li's answer was short and decisive.
When night fell, Uncle Li's lightly moving figure dissolved into the silent night, and there was only a desire for a new life and a cut of the past in his heart. On a hazy moonlit night, Uncle Li sat in the dim light, holding a pen in his hand, and in the letters he left for his children, he depicted his state of mind one by one.
"My dear children, by the time you read this letter, I may no longer be in this home. You always say that my dad is a person who doesn't give up easily, but this time, I'm tired, I really can't support it anymore..."
In the letter, Uncle Li did not blame anyone, but calmly recounted his mental journey during this period of time. He told the children that they had decided to start a new life in the city and find the peace and dignity that belonged to him.
Early in the morning, when Xiao Min received the letter left by his father, the whole person was stunned, and tears unconsciously crossed his cheeks.
"Dad, where are you going? The city is so chaotic, what should you do alone?" Xiao Min's voice trembled on the other end of the phone, and the whole person was like falling into an ice cellar.
Only Uncle Li's calm but firm voice came from the phone: "Child, Dad has thought it through." Here, even the most basic respects are not guaranteed, and I don't want to endure such days anymore. In the city, at least I have my space and I can breathe freely. "
Xiao Min was silent, she knew that once her father made up his mind, he would not change easily. And the only thing she, as a daughter, can do is support.
"Dad, then take care, you must tell us if you need anything. She tried her best to calm her emotions and said in as gentle a voice as she could.
When Li Bo learned the news, his heart felt like he had been hit with a hammer, and he regretted it. He finally realizes that his selfishness and mistakes endanger the affection between his brothers.
"Brother, you're gone, how should I face myself..." Uncle Li stood alone in the courtyard, looking at the direction of Uncle Li's departure, his voice full of remorse.
Uncle Li's back disappeared on the way to the rising sun, he never regretted his love and dedication to his family, even now, even if it was so difficult. He stepped on the train and headed into the unknown distance, his heart full of anticipation and hope for the future.
The story ends with Uncle Li's reflection and hope, perhaps, this is the answer that every ordinary person is constantly looking for in the stormy life: is home a responsibility or a haven from the wind?