Li Ming stood in the kitchen, holding a wok in his hand, but his eyes glanced out of the window from time to time. The afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the windowsill, warm. He was both expectant and nervous, after all, after five years, his nephew Zhang Qiang was finally going home.
"Dad, are you sure Qiangzi will come today?" her daughter Xiaomei walked into the kitchen from the living room, holding a note full of words in her hand.
Of course, he called last night to confirm. Li Ming replied, stir-frying the dishes in the pot while wiping the sweat beads on his forehead with his apron.
"Hopefully he'll stay a few more days this time. Xiaomei said, sticking a note to the refrigerator, which listed tonight's menu.
Li Ming sighed, "Yes, last time he was in too much of a hurry and didn't even say hello." ”
"Knock knock", there was a knock on the door, and Li Ming hurriedly put down the shovel in his hand and walked quickly to the door.
As soon as the door opened, Zhang Qiang stood outside the door, holding a large bag of gifts in his hand, with a long-lost smile on his face, "Uncle, I'm back." ”
"Qiangzi!" Li Ming hugged his nephew excitedly, a trace of tears flashed in his eyes.
Xiaomei also greeted her and took the gift from Zhang Qiang's hand, "Brother Qiangzi, you are finally back, we miss you very much." ”
Zhang Qiang touched Xiaomei's head with a smile, "Xiaomei has grown so tall, time flies so fast." ”
Li Ming pulled Zhang Qiang into the living room, and the family sat around the dining table, which was full of sumptuous dishes.
"Come on, come on, sit down, and try your uncle's handiwork. Li Ming greeted warmly.
Zhang Qiang sat down with a smile and looked around, "The family is still the same, it hasn't changed at all." ”
"People haven't changed, how can the family change?" Li Ming responded with a smile.
At the dinner table, everyone said a word, and the atmosphere was warm and harmonious. Li Ming kept serving Zhang Qiang vegetables, and Zhang Qiang also accepted it with a smile, and for a while, it seemed that the misunderstandings and estrangements in the past had disappeared.
However, as the conversation progressed, some subtle changes began to creep through the air. Zhang Qiang talked about his life in the field, his career, and his dreams, while Li Ming was more concerned about Zhang Qiang's personal issues, such as when to get married and when to have children.
"Qiangzi, you are not too young, it's time to think about personal problems. Li Ming said earnestly.
Zhang Qiang's smile was a little stiff, "Uncle, I'm still young and want to fight for my career first." ”
Li Ming frowned, "Career is important, but family can't be delayed." ”
Zhang Qiang didn't answer, just ate silently, and the atmosphere suddenly became a little awkward.
Zhang Qiang sat at the dining table of Li Ming's house, playing with exquisite chopsticks in his hand, and his eyes swept over the faces of his family members from time to time. The gift he had brought was already placed in a corner of the living room, the wrapping paper glowing softly in the light.
"Qiangzi, are these your choices?" Li Ming's wife, Zhang Qiang's aunt, pointed to the gifts, her face full of joy.
"Well, I know that my uncle likes to drink tea, so he specially brought back some good dragon wells from outside. Zhang Qiang replied with a smile, his eyes wandering between his family, trying to find the long-lost closeness.
"Come, try this first, you loved to eat the braised pork I made when you were a child. Li Ming pointed to a bowl of dishes on the table, his eyes full of anticipation.
Zhang Qiang picked up a piece of meat, put it in his mouth, and chewed it carefully, "Well, it's still the same taste, and my aunt's craftsmanship hasn't changed at all." ”
At the dinner table, everyone chatted while eating, and the atmosphere seemed to be back to the past. But as the topic deepened, some subtle cracks began to appear.
"Qiangzi, have you met a suitable girl in the past few years outside?" Li Ming's wife asked with a smile, with a hint of concern in her eyes.
Zhang Qiang's smile froze slightly, "Auntie, I'm very busy with work now, and I haven't thought much about emotional matters." ”
"No matter how busy you are at work, you can't delay your life's events. Li Ming interjected, with a hint of reproach in his tone.
Zhang Qiang put down his chopsticks and took a deep breath, "Uncle, I know you are doing it for my good, but I don't think it's time yet." ”
"And when are you going to do it?" asked Li Ming's wife, her brow furrowed slightly.
Zhang Qiang was silent, his eyes flickering a little, as if he was avoiding something. The atmosphere at the table suddenly became a little heavy, and Zhang Qiang's silence was like a heavy stone, pressing on everyone's hearts.
"Okay, okay, let's eat, we'll talk about that later. Li Ming tried to lighten the mood, but it was clear that the topic had touched on a sensitive point for Zhang Qiang.
Dinner continued, but the warmth of the previous was gone, replaced by an indescribable embarrassment and silence.
After dinner, the family sat on the sofa in the living room, and the Longjing tea brought by Zhang Qiang was placed on the coffee table, and the faint fragrance of tea filled the air. There was a relaxing variety show on the TV, but the atmosphere in the living room was not relaxed.
"Qiangzi, tell me, what are your plans for the future?" Li Ming picked up the teacup and took a sip, his tone was calm, but his eyes were serious.
Zhang Qiang leaned on the sofa and tapped his fingers lightly on the coffee table, "Uncle, I want to stabilize my career first and then think about anything else." ”
"Stabilize your career, you've been here for five years, and you haven't stabilized yet?" Li Ming's wife couldn't help but interject, with a hint of dissatisfaction in her tone.
Zhang Qiang frowned, "Auntie, it's not easy for me to work hard outside, I want to make some achievements." ”
"What have you done in the past five years?" Li Ming put down the teacup and raised his voice a few points.
"I..." Zhang Qiang was speechless for a moment, he felt that his choice was questioned, even belittled.
"Look at Xiaomei, after graduating from college, she found a stable job, how good it is now. Li Ming's wife pointed to Xiaomei, who was watching TV.
Zhang Qiang glanced at Xiaomei, and there seemed to be some confusion and confusion in her eyes. He took a deep breath, "Uncle, aunt, I know you want me to do well, but everyone's path is different. ”
"It's different, then why do you want to be different?" Li Ming's tone became a little sharp.
"I want to pursue my dream, even if it doesn't seem so stable. Zhang Qiang's voice was firm, but there was a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
"Dreams, can your dreams be eaten?" Li Ming's wife sneered.
Zhang Qiang stood up, and he felt that his ideas were misunderstood and even belittled. He looked at Li Ming, his voice trembling a little, "Uncle, I... I probably shouldn't have come. ”
The atmosphere froze suddenly, and Li Ming and his wife glanced at each other, as if they also realized something. Xiaomei stood up, walked to Zhang Qiang's side, and whispered, "Brother Qiangzi, don't be angry, we're just worried about you." ”
Zhang Qiang shook his head, he felt that the distance between himself and this home was getting farther and farther away. He turned and walked to the door, picking up his coat, "Uncle, aunt, I'll go first." ”
"Qiangzi, you..." Li Ming stood up, but swallowed back when the words came to his lips.
Zhang Qiang didn't look back, he opened the door and walked out, leaving only a heavy sound of the door closing echoing in the living room.
The air in the living room seemed to freeze, and Zhang Qiang's departure plunged the originally warm family gathering into a dead silence. Li Ming sat on the sofa, his hand covering his forehead, his expression full of helplessness and self-blame.
"Look, what are you doing here?" Li Ming's wife's voice was crying, she looked at Li Ming, her eyes were full of disappointment, "Can't you talk well?"
Xiaomei also stood up, walked to Li Ming's side, and patted him lightly on the shoulder, "Dad, Brother Qiangzi may just be impulsive." ”
Li Ming raised his head, his eyes full of confusion, "I... I just hope he's good. ”
"But have you ever wondered what he wants?" Xiaomei's voice was very soft, but it was like a heavy hammer, hitting Li Ming's heart.
Li Ming was silent, he stood up, walked to the window, and looked in the direction Zhang Qiang left. In the night, Zhang Qiang's figure had disappeared on the street corner.
"You will never understand me!" Zhang Qiang's words echoed in Li Ming's ears, like a thorn, piercing deep into his heart.
"Maybe... We were really wrong. Li Ming's voice trembled a little, he turned around and looked at his wife and daughter, "Should we listen to his thoughts?"
Xiaomei nodded and walked to Li Ming's side, "Dad, we can't just think about things from our own perspective. ”
Li Ming's wife also came over and gently held Li Ming's hand, "We... Are we being too selfish?"
The three of them stood in front of the window, and the city was brightly lit at night, but Li Ming's heart was confused. He knew that they needed to reflect well, to understand Zhang Qiang, and to mend the rift between the families.
The lighting in the room was particularly soft, but Li Ming's heart seemed to be shrouded in night. Zhang Qiang's words of leaving angrily were like a heavy stone pressing on his chest, making him breathless. He sat on the couch, staring blankly at the teacup on the coffee table, which had already cooled.
"Dad, are you alright?" Xiaomei asked softly, she sat next to Li Ming, her hand lightly resting on his shoulder.
Li Ming shook his head, his voice a little hoarse, "I... I may have really done it wrong. ”
"Everyone has their own ideas and pursuits, and we can't always measure others by our own standards. There was a hint of maturity in Xiaomei's tone, and her words made Li Ming fall into deep thought.
Li Ming's wife also came over, sat on the other side of him, and held his hand, "Should we give Qiangzi some space and let him think it through for himself?"
Li Ming took a deep breath and nodded, "Yes, we can't always force him. Maybe... Maybe I should really try to understand him. ”
"So what are we going to do?" asked Mei, her eyes full of concern.
Li Ming stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the starry sky outside the window, "I will write him a letter, tell him what I think, and listen to his heart." ”
"That's fine. The wife echoed softly, she stood up, walked to Li Ming's side, and looked out the window together.
Xiaomei also walked over, and the three of them stood quietly in front of the window, the city was still brightly lit at night, but there was more expectation and hope in their hearts.
Li Ming turned around, took out a pen and paper from the drawer, sat down at the desk, and began to write. The tip of his pen slid across the paper, every word filled with his apologies and anticipation.
"Qiangzi, uncle is wrong, uncle wants to hear what you say in his heart..."Li Ming's voice echoed in the quiet room, with a hint of trembling.
After the letter was written, Li Ming folded it and put it in an envelope. He knew that the letter might not get an immediate response, but he believed that as long as they were willing to understand, one day, Zhang Qiang would feel the sincerity.
This article is a microfiction, please do not sit in the opposite seat