I'm an introvert and rarely take the initiative to talk to people. Early in the morning on Chinese New Year's Eve, my mother woke me up.
"Get up and pack our things, we need to go to your uncle's house today." Mother said.
I was a little puzzled, "What are you going to do at my uncle's house? Isn't it supposed to be at home for the New Year?"
"Your father hasn't been back for ten years, and this year he said he was coming back. A faint smile appeared on her mother's face, "I must have gone to your uncle first." "
My heart pounded. It's been ten years, and I'm almost losing sight of what my father looked like. He is a very strong man, who left his hometown ten years ago to make a living and does manual work outside. At first, he was able to come back once a year, but then it became less and less. In recent years, except for the occasional remittance of some money, he has not been heard from.
"Your father must have missed us. My mother saw my apprehension and comforted, "Come, pack up your things, and we'll leave at noon." "
I nodded mechanically, mixed feelings. I want to see my father's mood surging up, but I am afraid that my life over the years has changed him beyond recognition.
Packing up our things, we hit the road at noon. Along the way, we were silent, and we all seemed to be focused on this long-lost reunion. In the evening, we arrived at my uncle's house.
"Hey, you're here!" My uncle greeted me warmly, and he led my mother and me into the house.
I was a little shy and nodded my head repeatedly. Although my aunt and uncle are close relatives, we rarely have the opportunity to see each other because we have been living in other places for a long time. At the moment, I only feel a little restrained and rusty.
We had a brief dinner and a few small talks. My uncle saw my inadversity and took the initiative to talk to us enthusiastically.
"You've had a hard time along the way. Your dad came here a few days ago and lives alone in my house. The uncle said, "It has not been easy for him to work outside all these years, and his body has been injured a lot inside and out." "
When I heard the news of my father, I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, I am glad that he can finally come back, but on the other hand, I am worried about his physical condition. The mother also looked worried, nodded and sighed again and again.
"You guys have a good rest first, and we'll see you when your dad comes back. Uncle saw our mood and smiled and comforted.
At night, I tossed and turned, and I couldn't sleep. The figure of his father kept coming to mind, imagining the hardships he had been outside all these years. As the eldest son, I know that the reason why he left home to work hard was to support his family. But it is really distressing to be separated from his family for ten years in this way.
"Dad!" I jumped forward excitedly and hugged him tightly. But the father in his arms is skinny, skinny, and strong in his memory.
My father's eyes were also full of tears, he trembled his hands, and gently patted my back: "Son, Dad is finally back." Over the years, I've worked hard for you. "
We hugged each other and cried bitterly, and we were speechless for a long time. At this moment, my mother and aunts and uncles also rushed over. When the mother saw her father, tears welled up in her eyes and she threw herself into his arms, muttering incoherently. The uncle and aunt watched from the sidelines, and they all burst into tears.
At this moment, it was as if time had traveled back to that night ten years ago. The first time my father left home to work hard, we were so reluctant to hug each other and cry. It's just that we were all young at that time, and now we have gray temples and diamond stripes.
"Don't cry, we're finally reunited. It was a long time before my father spoke softly, his tone full of exhaustion.
Only then did I react and hurriedly helped my father to sit on the kang. The family said everything I said, and talked about the things of the past ten years.
It turned out that my father had been doing manual work on the construction site in other places all these years. As he grew older, his health became more and more unbearable, and his salary was running out, so he decided to go home to recuperate. On the way, he came to his uncle's house first, planning to wait for Chinese New Year's Eve when our family would gather again.
"Dad, don't go out in the future, rest at home. "I watched my father's thinning body, and my eyes were hot.
My father shook his head with a smile: "At my age, it's hard to find a way to live." But with you by my side, it's enough. "
The mother snorted and cried, and complained incoherently: "Look at you, tossing yourself like this, I will have to serve you well when I go back with you!"
My uncle and aunt and I just watched from the sidelines, and we had mixed feelings. As children, we all feel guilty for our parents' efforts. At the same time, we are very happy to be reunited with our parents.
In this way, the family recounts the ups and downs of the past ten years. Occasionally, my father would interject a sentence or two about his experiences outside. We cried and laughed until it was dark.
"We're all hungry, let's eat. Auntie finally interrupted our conversation.
The family sat around the dinner table and ate the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner with laughter and laughter. Although the dishes are simple, they make people feel warm and happy like never before.
"Dad, you can eat more. While the mother was picking up vegetables, she shushed and persuaded her father warmly.
Father smiled and nodded, but only ate in small bites. It seems that the fatigue of these years has long since made him lose his appetite. I watched from the sidelines and couldn't help but feel distressed.
"Dad, you have to pay attention to your body. I also opened my mouth to comfort, "You have been away for so many years, our family wants to kill you." "
"Yes, Dad, you're going to make us miserable. Uncle also chimed in, "If it weren't for you, our family wouldn't have broken up like this." "
The father nodded silently, his eyes gloomy. I realized that my words seemed hurtful, and quickly changed the subject: "But you're finally back, and that's all that matters." When our family is together, it is the greatest happiness. "
When my father heard this, a smile finally appeared on his face and he nodded. I looked at him with mixed feelings.
This once heroic and strong father is now gray and yellow-skinned. His hands were covered with thick calluses from years of physical exertion, and his cheeks were sunken deeply. But even so, the warmth and kindness in his eyes never changed.
"Dad, you can rest at home in the future. I said earnestly, "You've been working for us for so many years, it's time to take a break." "
My father shook his head and said earnestly, "At my age, how can I live?" but I am content to be reunited with you. "
"However, you are not too young, and your future life ......" I wanted to say but stopped.
"It's okay, just have you here. My father smiled and patted the back of my hand, "You're all grown up, I'm relieved." "
I nodded silently, but my heart was full of self-reproach and regret. As the eldest son, I should share more for the family, rather than leaving my father to work hard at this age.
"Hey, don't even talk about those sad things. My aunt seemed to see my emotions and hurriedly said, "Today is Chinese New Year's Eve, so I should be happy." "
"Yes, yes, let's have two drinks!" Uncle also chimed in and poured everyone a full bottle of wine.
In this way, in the laughter of the family, we spent a warm and unforgettable Chinese New Year's Eve. The family was happy, as if all these years of separation and bitterness had disappeared.
"Happy New Year! I wish you all a prosperous and prosperous new year!" Auntie said with a smile.
We looked at each other and smiled and said "Happy New Year" one after another. Looking at the smiles on the faces of my parents and uncles and aunts, I couldn't help but feel a warm feeling in my heart.
In the morning, my father suddenly took me for a walk in the yard. Looking at his hesitant appearance, I couldn't help but be a little surprised.
"Son, I have something to say to you. The father took a deep breath and looked solemn.
I nodded hurriedly and motioned for him to continue.
"I know that your family has had a hard time these years. The father said, "If it weren't for the breadwinners, how could I have been away from you for so long?"
"But now that I'm back, I won't leave you again. "But I'm also old, and I don't have much ability to earn money to support my family." "
I hurriedly waved my hand: "Dad, you can rest at home, I am here for the affairs of the family." "
The father shook his head, his eyes firm: "I'm a man, I can't rely on my son all day long, right?" I think that when my body rests a little, I will find something to do within my ability. "
"Dad, you've been working hard for your family all your life, and it's time to rest. I shook my head repeatedly, "If you really can't rest assured, why don't you find an easy job near home? "
The father didn't seem to listen, and still shook his head stubbornly: "No, I can't lie at home all day with nothing to do." I am a man, the head of a family, how can I be supported by my sons?"
I was speechless and could only accompany my father side by side in the yard. For a moment, neither of us spoke, only the sound of footsteps echoed in the silence.
I looked at my father's long-lost back, and my heart was full of mixed feelings. As a son, I certainly hope that my father will be able to spend his old age in peace and recuperate. But I also know that my father is an old scalper in his bones, the kind of person who never gives up and never admits defeat. It is this tenacity and perseverance that enabled our family to survive those difficult years.
"Dad, you're right. After a long time, I finally spoke, "You are the head of the family, and you have been working for the family, and we are all grateful to you. But it's time for you to think about yourself and get some rest. When you really want to do something, we'll talk about what to do. "
My father turned his head to look at me with relief in his eyes. He nodded vigorously, seemingly agreeing with my thoughts.
In this way, we walked side by side and chatted about family matters. My father talked about the experiences and ups and downs of working outside the home in the past ten years, and I listened patiently. More than an hour later, we had circled the yard countless times, but we still couldn't get enough of it.
"Dad, you can tell us more about your experience in the future. I said from the bottom of my heart, "You've been out there for so many years, and we don't know anything about your life." "
The father smiled and nodded: "Okay, there will be time to talk slowly in the future." "
When we got back to the house, my mother and aunt had already prepared a hearty lunch. I couldn't help but feel a pang of my appetite as I looked at the delicious food on the table.
"Come and try this dish, it's my specialty!" Auntie said with a smile.
Everyone, you and I said a word, and soon we were happy to eat. At this moment, there was a sudden burst of childish cries outside. It turned out that the child next door was making a fuss.
"Alas, children are just tossing. Uncle shook his head helplessly.
The child's crying became louder and louder, as if he was playing a trick. I looked at my father, and saw that his expression was darkened, and his eyes were full of melancholy.
"What's the matter, Dad, did it scare you?" I asked hurriedly.
My father shook his head, sighed, and said, "It's nothing, it's just a moment of remembering what happened when you were a child." You guys are like kids at home, tossing and turning every day. "
It dawned on me that my heart ached. Yes, my father has been working hard outside for the past ten years, and he has missed our growth over the years. As children, we have been deprived of our father's companionship and care since we were young.
"That was all in the past. I hurriedly comforted, "Now that you have returned, there will be time to make up for it in the future." "
When my father heard this, a smile finally bloomed on his face and he nodded.
In this way, in a scene of laughter, we spent a happy New Year. When my father returned, the atmosphere in the house was much more lively. He is no longer the gloomy and lonely old man, but has changed back to the optimistic, cheerful, talkative and humorous father he used to be.
Sometimes, my mother would inadvertently mention my father's hard work back then, but my father would always smile and wave his hand and say, "That's all in the past, there's nothing to mention again." I'm doing well now, so don't think about it. "
Yes, my father has suffered a lot in the past ten years, but he has never shown the slightest complaint in front of us. As the head of the family, he will always be the strong pillar of the family, guarding the family in his own way.
With my father by our side, our family seems to be alive again. Even though life is still poor, our hearts are full of unprecedented warmth and happiness. As long as the whole family is together, even on the most ordinary days, we feel that we are the happiest people in the world.
Since then, my father has never mentioned that he wants to go out to work. He finally relieved himself of the burden he had been shouldering for the past ten years and recuperated at home with peace of mind. Occasionally, he would find some work near his home to earn some pocket money. We, the children, will also support our parents in a timely manner and do our best to honor them.
In this way, in the atmosphere of family reunion, we spent peaceful days one by one. My father's body also slowly recovered under the careful care of his family. Looking at his increasingly healthy appearance, we are all sincerely gratified.
Yes, maybe the family is ordinary, maybe our life is very simple. But as long as the whole family loves each other and is happy, it is the greatest happiness in the world. With the return of my father, our family is truly complete. From then on, he will never leave, and our family will always be together for the rest of our lives.