My name is Zhang Lei, I am 27 years old, and I work for a company in another place. Although the salary is only 8,000 yuan, it can barely make ends meet for a young man who has just joined the workforce. Although my income is not high, I have always cherished a nostalgia for my hometown. There is the land where I grew up, there are my parents and relatives, and there are many good memories. Every holiday or holiday, I will try to find time to go back and see.
My father, Zhang Jianguo, is 52 years old. He is a traditional rural man with a stubborn personality but integrity. The family's economic situation is average, and they rely on farming to make a living. My father always wanted me to get ahead and live a better life than theirs. He has high hopes for me, and he also has a strong sense of self-esteem, and he is not willing to show weakness in front of his relatives.
On the morning of the second day of the Lunar New Year, I took the green train to my hometown with my luggage and nostalgia for my hometown. Outside the car window, the fields are dyed golden yellow, and the plum blossoms on the roadside are in full bloom. I was so excited that I was finally able to go back to my parents after more than two years away from home.
On the way, I kept thinking about what to say when I saw my relatives. Alas, I heard that several aunts and aunts in the village are still so gossipy and gossip, but I am afraid that they will definitely inquire about my work and income to the bottom of it.
When I got home, as I expected, my relatives asked questions. I was about to answer truthfully, but my father was the first to exaggerate: "My son is a big boss now, and his annual income is more than one million!"
I was stunned at the time, what are you kidding? Father, have you forgotten that my salary is only 8,000 yuan? I was just about to explain, but my father stopped me with his eyes, and it seemed that he was deliberately trying to tell this lie.
My father's lies were like dropping a bomb, and the relatives were in an uproar. Someone had wide-eyed eyes and a half-open mouth, as if incredulous. What's more, they laughed out loud, with disdain and mockery written on their faces.
"Hahaha, Uncle Zhang, your son only has a salary of 8,000 yuan, how did he become a big boss with an annual income of one million?"
"yes, yes, you have to make it clear, could it be that he opened a company outside?"
"Ouch, isn't this fooling people? I say, why do you look the same as before, you don't look like a rich person at all!"
Seeing this, the father retorted with confidence: "Don't you believe it? My son is now in business, relying on his own brains and hard work to make money, how can it be as simple as you say!"
I was completely crushed by my father's lies. Seeing the ridicule of my relatives one by one, my self-esteem was hit and I was ashamed. I began to hate my father, how could he ruin my reputation like this? I really wanted to expose his lies on the spot, but when I thought of his face, I felt that I could not do it.
I began to wonder if I had really done something wrong, but my father should not have lied so blatantly anyway! I was in a worse mood than ever before, and a great sense of frustration came over me, and I almost wanted to leave this place at once, never to come back.
Naturally, the relatives will not stop there. As I paced around the yard, I heard them discussing in the house.
"Hey, what do you say Uncle Zhang is going on? His son looks like an ordinary office worker, how can he earn a million a year?"
"Who knows, maybe it's some kind of business? "
"How do I remember that in the past, their family was just farming a little land, and their life was very ordinary, how did they get rich?"
"Do you still remember how willful Zhang Jianguo used to be? It's just that he loves face too much, and he is afraid of others gossiping, so he brags!"
"I see, his son has been dragged down by him, you see how much he has just now, it's so pitiful!"
Listening to these words, my heart became even heavier. My professional ethics and my personal dignity were all questioned and doubted by my relatives. And everything is to blame on the father's nonsense. I couldn't take it anymore and decided to find my father's theory.
"Dad, why are you lying?" As soon as I entered the house, I couldn't wait to ask, "Look, my relatives are now speaking ill of me behind my back, I'm so embarrassed!"
The father frowned, and retorted with a straight face: "Aren't you worthy of my pride if you are so unproductive at such a young age? Where did I say wrong? If you can make so much money, we don't have to be looked down upon anymore!"
"But you're obviously fooling people! I have so much salary, why don't you seek truth from facts?" My anger is also gradually rising.
"You don't understand! You don't understand!" The father suddenly raised his voice, "I'm here to give you a long face and impress your relatives!
"That can't be the case!" I yelled almost hysterically, "Look at me, my relatives are now speaking ill of me behind my back, I'm so shameless! Are you doing it for me, or for yourself?"
My father was stunned by my words, and immediately lowered his head, his face full of frustration. And I struck while the iron was hot, and continued to complain: "I work hard so that I can live a good life in the future, but you want to make fun of my profession, I am so sad! Why do you look down on my work?"
"Lei'er, I'm sorry I caused you so much trouble. I know I'm wrong, but I really didn't mean to ruin your reputation. "
The father paused, his eyes gloomy and sad: "It's me who is too selfish, I have always had high hopes for you, hoping that you can get ahead and live a better life than us." But when my relatives were so cold about your work, my self-esteem was greatly hurt. "
"I don't want to show weakness in front of them, I don't want them to underestimate you and our family. But the more I tried to cover it up, the more I messed things up. The father lowered his head and said in a tone of self-reproach, "Son, I'm sorry, I'm too willful, I really don't deserve to be your father." "
I looked at my father's old face, and my heart was mixed. It turned out that everything was due to his expectations of me and his self-esteem for his family! I began to have a complicated feeling in my heart, as if I had a new understanding of my father's lies.
"Dad, I know you have good intentions, but you shouldn't do it either!" I stepped forward, shook my father's big rough hand, and said earnestly, "I am very touched that you are proud of my future. But I am really sad that you lied and made my relatives roll their eyes at me. "
The father nodded, showing a self-deprecating smile: "At my age, my temper is still so impulsive." But you see, I did this because I cared too much about the decency of my family. "
The father nodded vigorously, his eyes a little firmer: "Okay, I promise you, never again." "
After listening to my father's confession, my mood finally calmed down. I began to reflect on my previous words and deeds, was I too complacent, too selfish? My father did something wrong, but his intentions were kind. He just values his family's decency too much, and he desperates for me to get ahead.
When I think of this, I can't help but be in awe of my father. Yes, how can a son not want his parents to be proud? Although the father's behavior is a bit excessive, the motive behind it is selfless love. Our generation of young people tends to place too much emphasis on individualism and ignore the importance of family and affection.
"Hey, it turns out that Uncle Zhang is trying to give Lei'er a long face!"
"No wonder he was so insistent at that time, it seems that he loves face too much!"
"But you can't do that, Zhang Lei'er, this kid is doing a very good job, and he should be praised!"
"That's it, how can we have an annual income of one million in our village? Uncle Zhang, you can fool us all!"
Relatives, you joked with me, and the atmosphere gradually became harmonious. Looking at their smiling expressions, my heart also warmed. It turns out that the reason why they said that was also out of good intentions, hoping that I would be brave enough to face the reality and not be blinded by my father's lies.
At this moment, an old aunt stepped forward and patted me on the shoulder, and said kindly: "Lei'er, you have a very good job, and you will definitely be able to earn the amount that Uncle Zhang said in the future! As long as you work hard, we will cheer for you!"
Hearing these words, my eyes couldn't help but moisten. Yes, this is the warmth of home, this is the power of family affection. With the support and encouragement of my family, I will be able to go further and further in my future work!
That evening, my father approached me and bowed solemnly.
"Lei'er, I'm sorry, I caused you such a big disaster. "
I hurriedly helped my father up and said sincerely, "Dad, it's all over, I forgive you." You have good intentions, and I understand that. "
The father nodded, but two lines of tears oozed from the corners of his eyes. Looking at his appearance, my heart was sour, and the past anger and mustard suddenly disappeared. I stepped forward and hugged my father tightly, tears welling up in my eyes.
In this way, our father and son hugged in the yard for a long time, and we both cried loudly on each other's shoulders. At that moment, I seemed to re-acquaint myself with my father and the value of family affection.
This experience has allowed me to grow a lot. I realized that family affection is a kind of selfless love, and parents will always be our most solid backing. And we, as children, should also be more considerate of our parents' feelings and make them proud and proud with our actions.