At seven o'clock in the morning, the sunlight shines through the gaps in the curtains and spills onto the bedroom floor, creating dappled light and shadow. I was immersed in a peaceful dream when I was suddenly interrupted by a rapid phone ringing.
I fumbled with my phone, and the screen showed my son-in-law's name. I felt a little unhappy in my heart, because I was dissatisfied with some of my daughter's and son-in-law's behavior, and I was reluctant to answer, but the phone kept ringing, as if to tell some urgency.
I hesitated, but pressed the answer button.
"What's the matter?" My voice was cold, without a hint of emotion.
"Dad, we plan to change Xiaohui's surname today, so that he can have your surname Tang. What do you think of the name Tang Hui? Or are there any good suggestions? ”
My son-in-law's words stunned me, but I quickly regained my composure: "There's no need. ”
"Dad, don't be angry, we really respect and appreciate you." The son-in-law explained eagerly, with a hint of tremor in his voice.
"I'm not angry, I'm cold." I sighed, a mixed emotion welling up in my heart. Hanging up, I sat on my bed, looking out the window at the sky, full of thoughts.
I was born in 1960 in a remote mountain village, where the mountains and rivers are beautiful, but I can't hide the hardships of life.
My family was not wealthy, and my parents were simple farmers who worked hard but could barely make ends meet.
Nevertheless, I have shown a thirst for knowledge since I was a child, and I always use all the time available to read and study voraciously.
"Jianhua, you are so smart, you will definitely be able to make a difference in the future." My mother always encouraged me like this, her eyes were full of anticipation, and I was also very encouraged to believe that I could change the fate of poverty.
Although I didn't get the chance to go to university, that didn't stop me from pursuing knowledge. I have taught myself a lot of knowledge, from books to practice, I am like a sponge, constantly absorbing everything around me.
When I was 20 years old, I left my hometown with a vision for the future and embarked on a journey of adventure.
"Jianhua, the outside world is very big, you have to take care of yourself." When my father saw me off at the station, his eyes were full of reluctance.
I started from scratch and started the hard road of entrepreneurship. Not long after I went out, I met my lover who was also eager to change my fate, and I worked hard with my lover to start from a small stall and gradually develop into a large-scale store. We saved up our wealth, bought a house in Zhejiang, and had our own family business.
In 1984, I welcomed my first child, a lively and lovely son. His arrival has brought infinite joy and hope to my life and that of my lover.
We spent many happy times together, I taught him to read and write, took him to climb the mountains, went to the river to catch fish, and I didn't want to miss every moment of growth. However, fate has dealt us a heavy blow.
When my son was 8 years old, he was diagnosed with a rare disease that doctors told us was difficult to cure.
My wife and I couldn't accept this fact, and we went to the doctor, giving everything we could in the hope of finding a silver lining. However, no matter how hard we tried, the disease still ruthlessly took my son's life.
On the day of my son's death, it was drizzling in the sky, as if even the heavens were weeping for our sorrows.
I hugged my son's tiny body tightly, tears blurring my vision. At that moment, my heart felt as if it had been hollowed out, and the feeling of heartache is still unforgettable.
The lover is also grief-stricken, and we snuggle up to each other and silently bear the pain of losing our beloved son.
During that time, the home was filled with sadness and silence, and every corner seemed to echo with the laughter of his son, reminding us of his former existence.
I often walked alone to my son's room in the dead of night, looking at the toys and books he left behind, and my heart was filled with endless thoughts and sorrows.
In 1996, the lover became pregnant again and gave birth to a daughter. The birth of our daughter has brought us new hope and joy.
My lover and I love this child wholeheartedly and give her a happy childhood.
The daughter has been smart and clever since she was a child, and her eyes flashed with curiosity and longing for the world. My love for her is as pure and deep as a mountain spring.
I tried my best to fulfill her every wish, buy her the most beautiful clothes, the funniest toys, and take her to the most interesting places. Whenever I see her happy smile, my heart is filled with satisfaction and happiness.
As her daughter grows up, her interests become more and more extensive. She likes to draw, so I bought her the best painting tools; She loves music, so I hired the best teacher to teach her to play the piano. I encourage her to pursue her dreams, and I will give her full support wherever she wants to do.
However, my parents thought traditionally, and they always wanted to hold their grandchildren. Although my love for my daughter has not diminished in the slightest, I inevitably have some regrets when I think that I have no children and grandchildren. I often look out the window at the starry sky in the dead of night, thinking about the gains, losses and meanings of life.
"Jianhua, you have to relax, your daughter is also our baby." My lover always comforts me like this, and her understanding and support is my greatest support.
In the spring of 2018, her daughter returned home with her college classmates, who were also her beloved.
They sat on the sofa in the living room, their daughter's hand clasping her son-in-law's hand, their eyes shining with a vision for the future. I know that this is an important moment in her life and she wants our blessings and support.
The son-in-law, a young man from a small mountain village, graduated from an ordinary university, although he is diligent and honest, his family conditions are average, his parents are working outside the home, and he has no house or car. I was a little hesitant in my heart, can he really give my daughter happiness?
"Dad, Mom, this is Cuong, we have decided to get married." There was a tremor in her daughter's voice, but more of a firmness.
My wife and I looked at each other, and we both saw the helplessness in each other's eyes. Our daughter, we have always regarded as the pearl of our palms, and we hope that she can find a better home. But our daughter's insistence forced us to reconsider our position.
"Ah Qiang, can you really give Xiaoxue happiness?" My voice was a little heavy, and I needed to hear his answer.
"Uncle, aunt, although my current conditions are average, I will work hard to give Xiaoxue a happy home." The son-in-law's voice was not loud, but it exuded firmness.
The daughter's eyes were full of gratitude, and she held her son-in-law's hand tightly, as if to tell us that she had made her choice.
I know that as parents, we can't make decisions for our children, we can only give them support and blessings. My wife and I finally agreed to the affair, although there were still some apprehensions.
In the process of preparing for the wedding, an idea suddenly occurred to me. I have a cousin who also has only a daughter, and he gave his daughter's second child his surname. This idea inspired me, and I decided to make a pact with my son-in-law.
"Ah Qiang, I have discussed with your aunt, we don't want a bride price, and we will give you a three-bedroom house, but there is one condition." I looked at my son-in-law in a firm tone.
"Uncle, you say." There was a hint of doubt in the son-in-law's eyes, but more of respect.
"I hope that if Xiaoxue has a second child in the future, both men and women can have my surname." As soon as my words fell, a hint of surprise flashed in my son-in-law's eyes, and he obviously did not anticipate this request.
He was silent for a while, and then said to me seriously: "Uncle, this matter is very important to me, and I need to discuss it with my parents. ”
I understand his concerns, after all, in China, a child's surname is an important decision for a family. I gave him the time and space to go and communicate with his family.
Three days later, my son-in-law came to my house again, with determination and determination in his eyes.
"Uncle, I have discussed it with my family, and we agree to your request." The son-in-law's words were full of sincerity, and I knew that he was a trustworthy person.
I was so satisfied that I paid for a romantic wedding for my daughter and gave a three-bedroom apartment in my name to my daughter and son-in-law. I told them that when a child with my surname was born, the house would be transferred to their name.
In 2021, my daughter gave birth to a grandson, although this child is not my surname, but in order to let my daughter recover well, I still asked my wife to take care of my daughter's confinement.
Two months ago, a new little life was ushered into the family, my little grandson.
The joy in my heart to learn that it was a boy was indescribable. I chose a name full of hope and strength for my little grandson - Tang Rui, which means that his future life will be auspicious.
A month ago, my son-in-law mentioned the transfer of the house at a family gathering, and I promised them that it would be done within the year and the transfer of the house would be completed to them.
Unexpectedly, during the May Day holiday, his wife went to visit her daughter and son-in-law, but she returned home crying the next day. Her voice was choked, and tears couldn't stop flowing: "Jianhua, we were deceived, the little grandson is not surnamed Tang, his surname is Lin." ”
I was stunned, and an inexplicable sense of loss and anger welled up in my heart.
The wife told me that she overheard a conversation between her son-in-law and his father and learned the truth. Unable to believe it, she questioned her daughter and asked to see her household register. The daughter couldn't shirk it, so she had to agree, but the household registration book clearly wrote the surname of the little grandson - Lin.
"How can they do this!" I slapped the table angrily, feeling betrayed.
The wife cried and said: "The daughter said that the in-laws did not agree with the child's surname, and even forced him to die, and the son-in-law could not do anything." ”
When I called my daughter, she was crying and pretending to be pitiful, complaining that we didn't understand her difficulties and that we were going to ruin her marriage.
I was completely disappointed and chilled. I decided to sell the house and take my wife out on a trip, away from it all, and no longer care about my daughter's business.
The daughter and son-in-law panicked, and they called to beg for mercy. The daughter cried on the phone, saying that if I really did this and let the family sleep on the streets, the son-in-law would divorce and she would not be able to support her two sons alone. My wife and I were deeply entangled, and she couldn't bear to see her daughter's family break up.
"Jianhua, what should we do?" The wife's eyes were filled with helplessness and worry.
I looked out the window, mixed feelings. I knew I couldn't just make a decision that I might regret because of a moment of anger. I need to calm down and think well.
After my friend found out, he suggested that I should not count on the child's surname, and that the house should be given to them for the time being, but it would definitely not be a household. In the future, we can rely on money to support the elderly, and our daughters and sons-in-law let them work their own! Perhaps, this is the best way to go.