Li Dawei, a teacher who has been retired for many years, enjoys playing a few games of chess with his old friends in the garden of the community. His wife, Lao Chen, also enjoys retirement, and the busiest time of the day is to choose the freshest dishes in the vegetable market and add a variety of delicious dishes to the dinner table in the evening.
Their son Xiaowei, who works hard in the metropolis thousands of miles away, will send back 2,000 yuan to his parents on time every month, although it is not much, but for Li Dawei's family, this is not only a financial support, but also a son's deep filial piety.
One morning, Lao Chen was fiddling with the pots and pans in the kitchen as usual, while Li Dawei spread out the letter he had just received on the dining table.
"This Xiaowei, he's doing well now." Lao Chen said, bringing a bowl of steaming porridge to Li Dawei.
"Yes, with a monthly salary of 20,000 yuan, it is not easy to have such a salary outside." Li Dawei sighed while drinking porridge.
"You say, 'Did he send us enough money for his own use?' The prices outside are so high, he is still young, and sometimes he wants to enjoy it. Lao Chen picked up the soup spoon and slowly stirred the fish soup in the pot.
"Xiaowei is sensible, he knows that we won't spend money indiscriminately." Li Dawei put down the bowl, "Besides, we don't lack this money, every time I tell him to send less and save it for later." "
"Hey, when you say that, your heart is not happy. Our own children are filial, which is our greatest blessing. Lao Chen smiled, his voice full of satisfaction and pride.
"Indeed, we didn't work hard back then, and Xiaowei can be where he is today, and we have worked hard to teach." Li Dawei's voice carried a hint of self-satisfaction.
"Okay, let's summarize some nonsensical things, go and invite your old men over for dinner, and I will order you fish soup today, don't waste it." Lao Chen said with a smile.
Li Dawei nodded, and was just about to get up and go to the community park to call someone, when Aunt Li from the opposite house suddenly walked over leisurely.
"Dawei, yesterday I saw Xiaowei's status posted on the Internet, the work is very hard, and I am working overtime until late at night, do you know?" Aunt Li asked with concern.
"Huh? Is that so? Li Dawei and Lao Chen glanced at each other, and a trace of confusion flashed in their eyes.
"Yes, the pressure on young people is not small now, and so is my son, who often works overtime, and we parents are distressed to watch." Aunt Li sighed, empathy written all over her face.
"We really don't know, Xiaowei never mentioned this to us." Lao Chen said softly, his hands unconsciously clenching the soup spoon.
"Dawei, we'll have to talk to Xiaowei later, don't you say?" Lao Chen turned to her husband, and her eyes revealed worry.
"Well, we have to talk." Li Dawei nodded, he realized that behind this "two thousand per month", there may be hidden hardships and dedication that they don't know. The food and clothing of life are there, but the happiness of their son, they never seem to have really understood. The Spring Festival is approaching, Li Dawei and his wife's home is full of red blessing characters and Spring Festival couplets, and there is a pot of freshly opened narcissus on the windowsill, which is refreshing. Lao Chen was busy preparing the materials for the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, while Li Dawei was sorting out the special products sent back by Xiaowei on the sofa in the living room, boxes of mountain goods, dry goods and some popular small electrical appliances.
"This Xiaowei is quite sensible, and I know that our old couple loves to eat these." Lao Chen rubbed his hands and said with relief.
"That's right, our Xiaowei is careful." Li Dawei opened a delicate packaging box, which contained a few pieces of thermal underwear, "He still remembers to add clothes to us." "
"This Xiaowei, why don't you come back for the New Year, you can't talk to our old couple." Lao Chen complained a little, picked up the phone and hesitated to dial.
Li Dawei waved his hand: "Don't fight, Xiaowei is so busy, what are we going to do if we disturb him." He must have wanted to come back, too. "
The phone rang suddenly, and it was Xiaowei calling.
"Dad, Mom, did you get the package? Everything in it fits, right? Xiaowei's voice on the phone sounded a little hurried and tired.
"Got it, got it, we all liked what you picked out, thank you, kid." Lao Chen held the phone, and the wrinkles on his face stretched.
"By the way, why didn't you come back for the New Year this year?" Li Dawei took the opportunity to ask, trying to find out one or two.
"Ah, this... I'm too busy at work, and the company closes at the end of the year, so I may have to work overtime. Xiaowei's voice trembled a little, "Mom, I'm sorry, I'll definitely go back to accompany you another day." "
During the call, Li Dawei and Lao Chen looked at each other, and they could see each other's worries.
After hanging up the phone, Li Dawei was exhausted and fell into deep thought. "For years, he said that every time. How long can we wait? "
"We have to understand that we can't let the child carry it alone." Lao Chen said, getting up and preparing to call Xiaowei's friend.
"Wait, don't worry, let's have a Chinese New Year's Eve dinner at night, and slowly think of a way." Li Dawei grabbed Lao Chen, his face confused.
After the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, the two sat in front of the TV, watching the Spring Festival Gala, and their hearts were uneasy. At this moment, there was a knock on the door with a "knock knock", and it was Aunt Zhang who lived upstairs who came in.
"Dawei, Aunt Chen, I heard that Xiaowei won't come back this year?" Aunt Zhang asked as she took off her shoes.
"yes, I'm busy with work, I can't help it." Li Dawei coped.
"I'll tell you the truth, during this time, I have seen a lot of his circle of friends, and all the photos he posted are overtime. Xiao Chinese New Year's Eve is working overtime, how can it be so busy? Aunt Zhang sighed.
"That's... He didn't tell us that. Lao Chen was a little overwhelmed.
"He's probably afraid to worry you. These days, young people are under a lot of pressure. Aunt Zhang comforted.
"Thank you, Aunt Zhang, we know." Li Dawei smiled back with an embarrassed smile.
After Aunt Zhang left, Li Dawei's brows were tightly locked, and Lao Chen sat on the sofa, silently picking up needles and threads to mend socks, and their hearts drifted to their sons who were far away.
"Aunt Chen, should we... Would you like to take a trip? Go see Xiaowei? Li Dawei hesitated to propose.
Lao Chen raised his head, saw Li Dawei's serious expression, and nodded: "Just go, we have to break our hearts so far away." "
So, Li Dawei and his wife began to take care of their bags, preparing to go to Xiaowei's city to learn about their son's real life in person. This may be a new beginning for them, and it is also a redefinition of family affection. The luggage was almost packed, and Li Dawei and his wife sat on the old sofa, carefully examining their plans. Early tomorrow morning, they will board a train to Xiaowei's city.
"Dawei, you said that we went suddenly, would Xiaowei be unhappy?" Lao Chen asked with some concern.
"No, we're here to help, not to add to the trouble. Besides, how can a son be unhappy when he sees his parents. Li Dawei comforted.
Just as they were discussing, Xiaowei's call came again.
"Hey, Xiaowei, you haven't slept yet?" Li Dawei picked up the phone and tried to make his voice sound as relaxed as possible.
"Dad, I'm sorry, I've been a little lately... It's a little not good, it's too tiring to work. On the other end of the phone, Xiaowei's voice was low and tired.
"Isn't it too hard? Do you want to take a few days off and adjust. Lao Chen took the phone and asked with concern.
"I want to too, but, but taking leave at this time will make it more difficult to work, and my colleagues in the team are also watching me..." Xiao Wei sighed as he spoke.
"Xiaowei, if you're really tired, your parents will go over to help you for a while, how about it?" Li Dawei tentatively proposed.
"No, no, I... I can handle it myself. Really, don't worry about me..." Xiao Wei's voice seemed to tremble a little, as if he was holding back something.
"Kid, what's wrong with you? We are a family, what can't we say? Lao Chen joined the conversation.
"Mom, I... I do not know... I just feel so tired, and my heart, my heart is like a stone. Xiaowei finally couldn't help but confide in his heart.
Li Dawei's heart trembled, he and Lao Chen glanced at each other, and both saw the shock in each other's eyes.
"Xiaowei, you listen to Dad, this way, you don't have to worry about work, we will go to you tomorrow, not to make trouble for you, but to be with you and help you share something." Li Dawei said firmly.
"Dad, Mom..." There was a hint of relief in Xiaowei's voice, "That's, that's okay." In fact... I really miss you guys, I miss home..."
Xiaowei couldn't suppress the sobbing sound on the phone, Li Dawei and his wife listened to it like a knife, and at this moment, they really felt the helplessness and longing in the hearts of their son who crossed the phone line.
"Xiaowei, what are you crying about, manly man." Lao Chen's voice began to choke, "Didn't your father make up his mind to go?" Let's be together, what difficulties can't be solved! "
"Thank you, Dad, Mom." Xiao Wei stopped crying, "When you come, I don't think anything will matter." I've been thinking about one thing for so many years..."
"What's the matter, child, you say!" Li Dawei asked urgently.
"It's me... I never really seem to be relaxed, I've been pursuing, I've been trying. Now I suddenly feel so tired... I just want a home... Home with Mom and Dad..." Xiao Wei's voice gradually deepened.
"Then let's work together to make you feel the warmth of home." Li Dawei clenched the phone, and a determined light flashed in his eyes, "We are more determined now, and we will go over early tomorrow morning!" "
"Okay, Mom and Dad. I'll wait for you..." A smile appeared on the corner of Xiaowei's mouth, he knew that what was waiting for him would not only be the warmth of family affection, but also the understanding and support of his parents. The train slowly entered the station, and Li Dawei and his wife dragged their luggage out of the train station. Looking at the bustling crowd, they were both nervous and expectant. Xiaowei stood in the crowd, his eyes anxiously searching, and finally, the eyes of the three people met, and at that moment, the air was full of warmth.
"Xiaowei, I see that you have lost a lot of weight, have you not eaten well?" Lao Chen wiped his tears and was disgusted.
"Mom, Dad, why are you really here..." Xiaowei hugged his parents tightly, and his words were full of gratitude.
In the following days, Li Dawei and Lao Chen devoted themselves to Xiaowei's daily life, buying vegetables at the market, cooking at home, and walking and talking together. With the care and companionship of his parents, Xiaowei's face began to relax and his smile increased.
"Dad, Mom, I feel much more relaxed with you here." One day after dinner, Xiaowei said involuntarily.
"Silly boy, home is just for people to live together, you are suffering outside alone, can we feel comfortable?" Li Dawei hugged his son's shoulders and said with a smile.
"Yes, money is important, but the warmth of the family and the health of the body and mind are the most precious." Lao Chen walked over with a plate of freshly fried vegetables and added earnestly.
After thinking about it for a long time, Xiaowei finally made up his mind to quit his high-pressure job and find a job with the right amount of work and less stress, and spend more time with his family. The three of them sat around the dinner table as usual, talking about family life, and laughter filled the room.
Gradually, Xiaowei and his parents discussed ways to balance work and life, and he began to realize that true happiness in life comes from these simple daily routines, not just financial abundance.
One evening, the lights in the house were warmly on, and the three of them sat on the balcony, the neon lights flickering in the distance.
"You say, isn't it good that we have a simple life like this?" Xiao Wei asked rhetorically, his face filled with satisfaction and serenity that he had never felt before.
"Yes, child, the family is together, even if the wind and rain outside the window, the heart is warm." Lao Chen gently hugged Xiaowei.
Li Dawei looked at the stars in the sky and sighed with emotion: "How many times can you fight in life, isn't this family the most important?" "
Under the quiet night sky, the happiness of Li Dawei and his wife and Xiaowei's family is more real and warm than the twinkling starlight. Isn't that what we seek to be happy?