Li Hua stood in his old living room, playing with a worn chess piece in his hand, and his ears seemed to echo the hustle and bustle of the chessboard in the park in the past. Through the mottled iron fence outside the window, he looked at the bustling figures in the alley, and couldn't help but feel an inexplicable loneliness in his heart.
"Gang'er, are you okay outside?" Li Hua muttered to himself, with a touch of love and worry in his voice.
Loneliness is often the shadow of the elderly, and his son Li Gang has been working hard in other places for many years, and the communication between father and son can only rely on the cold telephone line. Although Li Gang occasionally calls back, almost every time he hangs up in a hurry because he is busy with work, the deep family communication seems to have been diluted by time and distance.
"Dad, I've been very busy at work lately, so I won't talk about it much." On the other end of the phone, Li Gang always said this.
Li Hua remembers that he was a serious father, with the hardships and expectations of raising his son alone. In fact, he also longs for more communication and warm time with his son, but perhaps it is the strictness of the parenting style that makes them always lack that relaxed intimacy.
"Lao Li, why hasn't your son come back to take a look?" The neighbor's aunt walked slowly over on crutches and asked with concern.
"Oh, he's very busy out there, it's not easy." Li Hua tried his best to maintain a calm tone, but he couldn't hide his loss between his eyebrows.
The park is where Li Hua spends his time every day, where playing chess and chatting have become his way of communicating with his old friends. When they get together, they always talk about their families and about their children's troubles and joys.
"Lao Li, you can't always be so hard, you have to try to understand what the children are thinking now." Uncle Zhang, a chess friend, opened a new game and persuaded while playing chess.
Times have changed, new ideas and concepts are spreading among young people, and Li Hua sometimes has difficulty paying attention to those behaviors and ideas that have an impact on traditional tutoring. He always prayed silently, hoping that his strictness would make Gang'er a useful talent.
"The truth I taught just now doesn't need to be in vain." Li Hua said to Uncle Zhang, but there was always a small gap in his heart, and he always felt that there was an invisible wall between the two generations.
Time passed day by day, Li Hua's gray hair quietly increased, and the wrinkles on his face became deeper and deeper. He often stood at the door of his house, looking out into the depths of the alley, as if waiting for someone to return. However, all that came back was the afterglow of the setting sun and the ringing of the phones, which were gradually distant.
Today, he still adheres to the traditional family concept, silently waiting for the son who once made him proud to return home. But there are always unsatisfactory things in life, Li Hua is faintly looking forward to a deeper understanding and communication with his son, and he believes that one day this sincere father's love can melt away the lonely old house behind him.
A sudden serious illness hit Li Hua's life like a storm. The torture of illness forced him to be admitted to the hospital, and in the bright ward, the contrast between the white sheets and the walls, Li Hua felt that life had never been so fragile. In front of his eyes, he always remembers the night when he told Gang'er stories as a child, and at that time, Gang'er always snuggled up to him and listened to it with relish.
"Doctor, can I be cured?" Li Hua's voice was weak and trembling.
"You don't have to worry too much, the condition is improving, but you should take your medicine on time and continue to treat it." The doctor's words gave him some comfort, but the high medical bills weighed on him like a mountain.
The three meals a day in the hospital have become boring, and Li Hua knows that although he has a pension, it is still difficult to bear this sudden burden. He remembered Gang'er and might be able to get some help from his son.
After some struggle, he finally dialed the familiar but distant number. "Gang'er, Dad is very sick this time, can you lend me 500 yuan? I...... I don't have enough medical bills. Li Hua tried his best not to make his voice seem so shaky.
There was silence on the phone for a while, and then Li Gang's voice came: "Dad, I've been really tight on money recently, and the company's project funds have invested a lot... I can't take it out at the moment. ”
This short conversation was like ice in the cold wind, stinging Li Hua's heart. This was the first time he asked his son for help, and he thought that the family affection that blood was thicker than water could make Gang'er understand his difficulties, but the reality gave him a heavy blow.
Hanging up the phone, the empty ward beside Li Hua seemed even quieter. He sighed deeply, and the loneliness and disappointment in his heart merged into a tide of sadness, and he began to wonder if his hard-working son really understood the depth of his father's love.
"Old man, you don't look good." Lao Zhang, who was in the same ward, asked with concern.
"Yes, old man, after this illness, I can see the warmth and coldness of people." Li Hua said helplessly.
The son's refusal was not only a rejection of the 500 yuan, but also a rejection of the care and high hopes of a father. This experience made the gap between the two generations become prominent, and Li Hua began to reflect on whether there was something wrong with him in the process of educating his children.
The chessboard in the park, the hustle and bustle of the past is gone. Li Hua sat quietly on the bench alone, the chess pieces in his hand blurred with tears. Gang'er, why is there such a gap between us?
During this time, Li Hua's mood was like the lonely path under his feet, without the crowds of the past, only loneliness and sadness echoed in his heart. The indifference of the lonely old man and his estranged son made him feel a deep despair that he had never felt before, and perhaps this was the reality he had to face.
After falling ill, Li Hua began a months-long reflection on his own. He re-examines his relationship with Gang'er, and also tries to get to know the younger generation from whom he has gradually become estranged. He listened to the small talk of his fellow patients, and silently pondered in his heart the struggles and pressures of Gang'er in the busy city.
"Actually, it's not easy for Gang'er, maybe I should think about the problem from his point of view." Lao Zhang, who was in the same room, heard Li Hua's self-talk and nodded in agreement.
During this period of introspection, Li Hua slowly began to understand that the burden on Gang'er's shoulders may be much heavier than the one on his old shoulders. In the past, he always expected Gang'er to grow up to be what he wanted, but he ignored that Gang'er also had his own dreams and pursuits.
Just when Li Hua was about to re-communicate with Gang'er and try to mend the rift between father and son, an unexpected thing happened. His handicraft shop, which was just a small investment for interest many years ago, suddenly became popular due to a series of hot online products, and its income exceeded the million mark.
The moment he received the notification of account income, Li Hua felt a little dazed. He hadn't had much hope for the extra investment, after all, he had been focusing on Gang'er. But now, it was as if he had seen a new glimmer of hope.
"I want to use this money to let Gang'er understand that no matter how life changes, the warmth of home will never disappear." Li Hua dialed Gang'er's phone, and his voice was full of determination.
Gang'er on the other end of the phone heard Li Hua's voice and was a little surprised: "Dad, how are you feeling lately?" ”
"Gang'er, Dad wants to talk to you about family matters." Li Hua said.
"A matter of home?" Gang'er was confused, and didn't know what Li Hua's sudden seriousness meant.
Li Hua was reluctant to tell Gang'er directly about the windfall. He devised a plan to show Gang'er the importance and preciousness of family and father-son relationships.
A few days later, Gang'er received a courier and opened it to see a ticket to his hometown and a letter. "Gang'er, there is nothing difficult in the world, but I am afraid of people with hearts. Dad wants you to come back, and we're going to do something big together. There was no more explanation in the letter, only Li Hua's expectant demeanor.
After Gang'er rushed back to his hometown full of doubts, Li Hua took him to the small handicraft shop. "Here, it may be the starting point for our father and son." Li Hua handed him a contract, "I want to work with you to do something meaningful with this money, not just for money." ”
Gang'er looked at Li Hua's eyes, which were the firmness and warmth he had not seen for a long time. He began to understand Li Hua's intentions, what his father wanted to express with this 1 million was not only his trust, but also the importance of his family and the relationship between father and son.
This reunion of father and son is more like a new beginning, although it started a little late, but this touching is incomparable to any tearful picture.
During that time, Li Hua's life began to change dramatically. But he didn't immediately tell Gang'er about the sudden huge amount of money, but chose a more modest way. He quietly improved his living conditions and bought some new furniture, and the dilapidated objects were replaced by fresh and welcoming environments.
When Gang'er returned to his hometown, he gradually noticed the changes. "Dad, what are you?" His eyes widened as he looked at the new home in front of him.
"Gang'er, it's all a small thing. More importantly, I want you to understand the value of home. Li Hua took Gang'er's hand and sat on the sofa.
Under Li Hua's careful design, Gang'er experienced a series of "accidents". "Gang'er, look at this document." Li Hua handed Gang'er a drawing.
"What is this?" Gang'er looked curiously at the drawings in his hand.
"A senior care centre that we built with the help of father and son. I have learned that many elderly people are experiencing difficulties in their later years and want to do what they can. Li Hua's tone was firm and sincere.
Gang'er was shocked and touched by Li Hua's love. "Dad, I was so selfish before, I couldn't understand your hard work."
"People always make mistakes, but the most important thing is to be aware and correct. The importance of family affection cannot be measured by money. Li Hua said, there was deep love in his eyes.
Li Hua and Gang'er invested in the preparation of the foundation together, and Li Hua injected his years of life wisdom and love into it. And Gang'er gradually understood the greatness of his father's love and began to learn to cherish those emotions that he had ignored.
With the establishment of the Foundation, the relationship between father and son was repaired and reshaped. In his own way, Li Hua made Gang'er understand the importance of family and let him learn how to think and act as a responsible adult.
When the door of the foundation was officially opened to the society, the warm light not only illuminated the elderly in need, but also made the family imprint in Gang'er's heart clearer. Li Hua looked at Gang'er's busy and satisfied back, and knew that everything he did was worth it.
The years are quiet, and it is always because someone is carrying the weight forward. And Li Hua used his wisdom and love to sow harmony and warmth for Gang'er and those in need.
The deep love between father and son and the harmony of the family are the precious wealth that Li Hua wants to inherit from Gang'er, and it is also the warm feedback he wants to give to the world.