As they spoke, the car pulled up to the alley courtyard, and Zhang Guoqing stopped talking. If it weren't for something big happening soon, he would have planned to go back home this year to see his parents.

The farther away he is, the longer the time goes by, and the more he misses his parents. He doesn't know if his mother is really as his father said, that everything is going well.

It's been a while since I've been back, and his little warehouse must be empty again. I guess he didn't even bother to eat any of the meat coupons, so he gave them all to the younger generation. I wonder if he's really thin?

There is a kind of regret called "A son wants to support his parents but they are no longer there." This feeling is so helpless and sad that he never wants to try it again.

When we were little, we were naughty and pestered our parents, not wanting them to work in the fields all day, and begged them to stay and play with us for a while.

When we grow up, our parents become our children instead. Every time they write to us, they repeat their concern over and over again, and always ask vaguely at the end of the letter: When can you have a long vacation?

It is true that social pressure is indeed great, and busy work and socializing consume most of our energy. In addition to realizing our dreams and giving our families a better life, working hard is also about making our parents feel at ease. But is sending some money or writing a few letters really filial piety?

Zhang Guoqing sighed inwardly. He could not forget those eyes that lit up every time they saw him, and even more so, those eyes that held tears when he left.

The more his mother missed him, the more guilty he felt. At the end of the year, it was time to take a long vacation and visit his mother. Even if leaving her again would make her cry, it was time to go back...

It was summer, and although there were no more branches of fruit trees extending from the walls of the courtyards in the alley, the area was still much busier with people coming and going.

Since some elderly people were reinstated and regained some power a few years ago, their fighting has not affected the lives of ordinary people, but their lives have become much better.

Mr. Tan from the next yard was holding a palm-leaf fan. When he heard the sound of a car outside the door, he shook the fan and walked out quickly. When he saw that it was really Zhang Guoqing's family, he immediately laughed out loud.

Zhang Guoqing opened the car door, heard the laughter, turned to look at the old man, and asked, "Is your father home today?"

Mr. Tan smiled and nodded, then asked, "Have you eaten?"

No matter who you meet in the old alley, or whether it is time for dinner, everyone seems to like to ask this question. Zhang Guoqing has gotten used to it and asked back, "Have you eaten yet?"

They greeted each other and were still chatting. Ping'an called out to someone and walked in with the sack after Zhou Jiao opened the door.

Although Dr. Hu and Aunt Ya, the elderly couple, were not living in the yard during this period, the yard was clean because Zhang Guoqing and his wife came there every weekend.

The small stump left by the uprooted pomegranate tree has begun to grow new branches and leaves. Perhaps in a few years, it will bloom again and be reborn.

It's a pity about the several jujube trees at the base of the yard wall. I was thoughtful enough to remove the roots and leave only the stumps, but for some reason they gradually withered and died and there was no movement anymore.

Ping'an put all the medicinal herbs into the pharmacy one by one. When he and Zhou Jiao hurriedly packed up and left the yard, Mr. Tan and Zhang Guoqing were still chatting outside.

Of course it was Mr. Tan who kept showing off Zhang Guoqing.

The old man was speaking excitedly at this moment, "... After six years, a full six years, the child finally came back. You didn't see how thin he was. But he's quite capable. He got up early in the morning and in less than an hour, the yard was tidy and cleaned by this silly child..."

Hearing this, Zhou Jiao understood that the old man's grandson had returned to the city after working in the countryside. He must have had a lot of connections to come back at this time.

But it’s good that he can come back. This is already a very lucky thing. After all, I heard not long ago that Grandma Tan was worried that her grandson would get married and never come back.

Sure enough, we talked about this topic.

"...I have to come back. If I delay any longer, my child will really have to find a wife and settle down in the countryside. He's the only one of the dozen or so children who came here with him who doesn't dare to start a family. I heard that many children get registered as local hukou as soon as they reach the age. How can I come back after I get registered?"

Hearing the old man's words, Zhang Guoqing smiled approvingly and said, "That's because your grandson listens to you, old man. How filial he is! If you don't agree, then I'll listen to you. If we marry in the countryside, we can save a lot of work. Now that the child is back, we must reward him well."

"Haha... I've been lining up early this morning. I have to give my son some nutrition before he goes to work. Otherwise, I'm really worried that his body won't be able to handle it."

After Mr. Tan finished speaking, he saw Zhou Jiao and his son had already left. Knowing that time was running out, he immediately lowered his voice and looked around with his old eyes. "Xiao Wu, I heard that some old comrades want to be rehabilitated and come back. Is this true?"

Zhang Guoqing paused after hearing this, then followed suit, leaning down and asking quietly, "Where did you hear this news? Are you worried about us, old friend?"

"Well, to be honest, not far from this alley, there's a family that used to be my colleague. They're very kind-hearted, but they can't control their mouths. Just because they said something wrong, their whole family was sent to the countryside. They're still living near the production team that my grandson used to lead."

Zhang Guoqing pondered his words, but he didn't intend to hide it from him. He whispered vaguely, "That's true, but it will take time. There's no rush."

Old Master Tan had been pestering him, wanting to know this bit of news. He immediately understood what he meant, and excitedly touched the corners of his eyes. He nodded happily like a child, "That's good, that's good. I'm not afraid of how long it takes, as long as there's hope, that's good."

"Old man, please hold on. Be patient and wait. Things will only get better from now on. There's no reason for them to get worse. Isn't that what you always say?"

"Good boy! Thanks."

Zhang Guoqing waved his hand dismissively, "Anything else? If not, I have to go home."

"No more, go back quickly, your family must be waiting anxiously. Bring the kids to my house to play when you have time. Tell them that my kids are waiting for them to go fishing together in the back."

Zhang Guoqing said goodbye to him happily, and the family of three got back into the car.

"Dad, has my grandpa been busy with these things with you recently?" With Ping'an's hearing, there was certainly no problem in hearing what Grandpa Tan said.

Zhang Guoqing naturally wouldn't hide anything from his son, and replied softly, "Well, prepare the necessary information first. Any help is appreciated. The most important thing is to wait for the right time. It's almost time."

"Just let me know if you need my help."

Zhang Guoqing heard his wife say this and asked with a smile, "Did you get the meaning?"

"Dad, you know how smart my mom is. She'll figure it out in a second. You can't hide it from her."

"You little bastard! If you want to flatter your mother, don't step on your father."

"Haha, I'm being realistic. But, Dad, you're not bad either, otherwise how could you give birth to such an outstanding son like me? Don't you think so?"

"That makes sense! You follow me in many ways..."

In the back seat, Zhou Jiao listened to the father and son flatter each other and laughed heartily. It turned out that narcissism was passed down from generation to generation.