Li Ming sat in a rocking chair by the window, holding an old book in his hand, but his eyes were not between the lines, but drifted out of the window. The days after retirement are quiet and monotonous, and although the scenery of the town is beautiful, it can't hide the emptiness in his heart. His son, Li Qiang, a busy IT engineer in the bustling city, hasn't been home for a long time.
The "May Day" holiday is getting closer and closer, and Li Ming's heart is full of expectations, but also some worries. During the Spring Festival last year, when Li Qiang went home, the father and son had an argument over some trivial matters, and that unpleasant memory still makes Li Ming's heart palpitate.
"Dad, I'll go home to see you on May Day. Li Qiang's voice on the phone interrupted Li Ming's thoughts.
"Oh, okay, stay safe on the road. Li Ming tried his best to make his voice sound calm, but in his heart, it was like knocking over a five-flavor bottle.
Hanging up the phone, Li Ming's eyes fell on the calendar on the wall, and the date of May Day was circled with a red pen, which was particularly eye-catching. He stood up, walked to the bookshelf, gently pulled out a dusty photo album, and flipped through the pages, recalling the bits and pieces of Li Qiang's childhood to adulthood.
"Lao Li, what do you want?" Uncle Wang's voice came from the door, he was holding a pair of chess pieces in his hand, and a warm smile was on his face.
"Oh, Uncle Wang, come on, come on, put a plate. Li Ming greeted him with a smile, and the two sat down in front of the chessboard, and between the ups and downs of the chess pieces, Li Ming poured out the concerns in his heart.
"Between father and son, how can there be a knot that cannot be untied? Try to communicate with Qiangzi, maybe things are not as bad as you think. Uncle Wang left a son and said earnestly.
Li Ming nodded, feeling a little relieved in his heart. In the evening, he sat at his desk, the pen paused for a long time on the paper, and finally, he began to write letters to Li Qiang, which were full of a father's thoughts about his son and reflections on his stern attitude in the past.
The letter was written, but Li Ming hesitated, he didn't know if such communication could really solve the problem. He put the letter in an envelope and placed it on the table, but his heart was like a stone.
The next day, while walking in the park, Li Ming met a tour leader, who was enthusiastically introducing the upcoming tour route to passers-by.
"Sir, do you want to think about it, go out for a walk, and change your mood?" the leader's eyes flashed with enthusiasm.
Li Ming's heart moved slightly, he thought of Li Qiang's upcoming visit, and the hesitation in his heart came to his heart again. He didn't say yes immediately, but the idea quietly took root in his heart like a seed.
In the evening, Li Ming sat at the desk again, he picked up the letter addressed to Li Qiang, gently stroked the envelope, and his eyes showed complicated emotions. He knows that no matter which way he chooses, he longs for understanding and harmony with his son.
The moonlight outside the window sprinkled on the envelope, quiet and peaceful, Li Ming's heart gradually calmed down, and he believed that no matter what, love can always overcome all obstacles.
Li Ming's gaze wandered over the letterhead, the tip of the pen paused for a long time on the last sentence, and finally, he took a deep breath and signed his name. The envelope was carefully sealed, as if it also sealed all Li Ming's emotions and expectations.
The next day, Li Ming put the letter into the mailbox, feeling both a relief and an indescribable nervousness in his heart. He didn't know how his son would react to reading the letter, or whether it would be the beginning of an improvement in their relationship.
A few days later, Li Ming received a reply from Li Qiang. In the letter, Li Qiang expressed his longing for his father, and also revealed his exhaustion under the pressure of work and his longing for home. He hopes that this time he can go home and have a good talk with his father and untie the knot between each other. Li Ming read his son's letter, his eyes couldn't help but burst into tears, and a warm current surged in his heart. But at the same time, he also felt a little uneasy, and he feared that face-to-face communication would get out of control again, making the already fragile relationship even worse.
During a chance walk in the park, Li Ming met a tour leader who was enthusiastically introducing the upcoming tour route. Li Ming was attracted by her enthusiasm, and a thought suddenly came to his heart: perhaps, he could give himself and his son some space and time, so that both parties had the opportunity to think calmly.
After some thought, Li Ming decided to sign up for a group tour. The decision made him both excited and apprehensive, and he didn't know if it was the right choice or what he would encounter on the journey. But he knew that he needed to give himself a chance, and also give his son a chance.
During the tour, Li Ming met several travel companions of the same age, and they shared their respective family stories, which gave Li Ming a new inspiration. He began to reflect on his own actions and try to understand his pressures and challenges from his son's point of view. With the beautiful scenery of the journey and the company of his travel companions, Li Ming's heart gradually relaxed, and he began to look forward to the reunion with his son, looking forward to establishing a more harmonious father-son relationship with his son.
Li Ming's fingers gently rubbed his son Li Qiang's reply, and the warmth revealed between the lines made the corners of his eyes moisten involuntarily. In the letter, Li Qiang mentioned the challenges he encountered at work, as well as the deep longing for home, and he longed to sit down with his father and have a good conversation, hoping that they could reconcile.
"Son, you have suffered. Li Ming muttered to himself, his heart full of guilt and love. He began to wonder about his decision to use travel as a way to escape face-to-face contact with his son. But when he thought of the dispute during the Spring Festival last year, Li Ming's heart sank again, he was afraid of hurting his son again, and he was also afraid that he would not be able to control his emotions.
On a bench in the park, Li Ming met a tour leader who was enthusiastically introducing the upcoming tour route to passers-by. Li Ming was attracted by her enthusiasm, and a thought suddenly came to his heart: perhaps, he could give himself and his son some space and time, so that both parties had the opportunity to think calmly.
"Sir, you seem to have something on your mind. Do you want to consider going out for a walk and changing your mood?" the team leader noticed Li Ming and took the initiative to talk.
Li Ming raised his head and looked at the energetic smiling face of the team leader, and the hesitation in his heart slowly dissipated. He nodded and decided to give himself a chance, as well as his son.
During the tour, Li Ming met several travel companions of the same age, and they shared their respective family stories, which gave Li Ming a new inspiration. He began to reflect on his own actions and try to understand his pressures and challenges from his son's point of view. With the beautiful scenery of the journey and the company of his travel companions, Li Ming's heart gradually relaxed, and he began to look forward to the reunion with his son, looking forward to establishing a more harmonious father-son relationship with his son.
Li Ming's journey was full of emotion and thinking, and he used his diary to record what he saw and felt every day, and prepared to use the insights of this trip as a new starting point for communicating with his son.
Li Ming's trip is over, and he returns home with a bag full of memories. Everything in the family seems to have changed, but for Li Ming, everything has taken on a new meaning. He walked into the house and saw that his son Li Qiang had been waiting for him there for a long time.
"Dad, you're back. Li Qiang's voice trembled a little, and he stood up and greeted his father.
Li Ming looked at his son, a warm current surged in his heart, he nodded, his eyes were full of tenderness: "Son, I'm back." ”
The two sat down and began an in-depth conversation. Li Ming broke the silence first, talking about what he saw and felt during the trip, as well as his new understanding of his family and son. Li Qiang also candidly expressed his work pressure and longing for home, and he hopes to rebuild trust and understanding with his father.
"Dad, I know I did something wrong in the past, and I hope you can forgive me. There was a hint of choking in Li Qiang's voice.
Li Ming held his son's hand tightly: "Son, we have all made mistakes, but the important thing is that we are willing to correct them." I am willing to work with you. ”
The conversation between father and son lasted for a long time, and they shared their travel experiences and work lives, and found new topics in common. They came to a consensus and decided to work together to repair and strengthen their relationship.
At the end of the story, in the kitchen, father and son prepare dinner together. Li Ming was cutting the vegetables, while Li Qiang was helping to do it, and the two talked from time to time, laughter and the sound of pots and pans colliding intertwined, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.
Li Ming realized in his heart that no matter how the times change, understanding and communication between family members are always the key to maintaining relationships. He believes that as long as they are willing to listen to each other and understand each other, their father-son relationship will be stronger.