Chapter 145: Prospects
In the blink of an eye, it is the end of another year.
Lin Yan and I, who were extremely busy, finally took a break from the piles of work and papers and rushed home to celebrate the New Year.
Compared to last year's nervousness and the vague scrutiny from people around me, the atmosphere when I went home this year was obviously different.
My father, Comrade Lao Chen, always has a smile on his face.
It turned out that many of my neighbors and relatives had seen my previous interview video, and when they saw him, they praised him:
"Old Chen, your son is incredible! He was on TV! And he caused such a big stir!"
"I heard that he's started his own company and is now the boss? He's really young and promising!"
"Mr. Chen, you are so lucky! Your son is so promising!"
This made my dad very proud, and he felt like he stood up straighter.
He specially bought two bottles of good wine that he would never drink normally. As soon as Lin Yan and I entered the door, he couldn't wait to take them out to show off and asked to have a drink with us.
I felt both funny and warm inside.
When I went home last year, I could still vaguely hear some rumors about my relationship with Lin Yan. But this year, because of the little achievements I made in my career, those voices seemed to disappear overnight, and were replaced by envy and praise.
As expected, strength is the best voice, and this sentence applies everywhere.
I heard that my uncle, who always loves to compare and show off, is very jealous this time.
When someone deliberately praised me in front of him, he would stammer and look very unhappy.
After all, he used to be able to justify his decision by saying, "What's the point of studying well? It's still just..." But now he has lost even this sense of superiority.
Even in the eyes of some people, the label of "homosexuality" seems to have been gilded with a layer of gilded light because of "career success" and has become "fashionable".
Even my usually calm and composed mother brought this up with me, a rare moment of sarcasm. "Your uncle, Chen Jianguo, heard you're doing so well, and he's got mixed feelings. On the one hand, he feels you're not doing what he wanted, and that's embarrassing him. On the other hand, he seems to be using this as an excuse to smooth things over. He probably thinks you'll make a lot of money someday and get some of the credit."
My mother snorted coldly: "I don't bother to pay attention to him. I just blocked his number and had peace and quiet."
The atmosphere at the New Year’s Eve dinner table is warm and lively.
Seeing my parents' temples covered in gray hair, I felt a pang of emotion. I put down my chopsticks and spoke seriously, "Dad, Mom, when you retire in two years, come and live with us in City A. I'll buy you a house closer to us so it's easier for us to take care of you."
When my parents heard this, they looked at each other with some hesitation on their faces.
My dad spoke first: "Xiao Rui, I know how you feel. But living in a big city... we might not be able to get used to it. We don't know anyone upstairs or downstairs, and there's so much traffic and people going out that it's dizzying. Our small county is developing quite well now, with everything. We old friends are all here, and we're free."
I felt a little helpless: "Dad, you have to give me a chance to honor you properly, right?"
At this time, my mother spoke, her tone calm but firm: "Xiao Rui, your father and I really appreciate your kindness. But we both have pensions and are not short of money. You and Lin Yan are just starting your careers now, so you are busy and under a lot of pressure. You don't have to think about us all the time. If you can come back to visit us during the holidays, we will be satisfied."
She paused, looked at me, then at Lin Yan, and said more bluntly: "There's no need for us to go to the big city all of a sudden. First, you two... don't have any children for us to take care of (her tone was very natural when she said this, without any dissatisfaction). Secondly, we have lived here for most of our lives and are used to this slow pace. The fast pace of big cities is too much for us old people to handle. Going there would only be a burden on you."
Hearing this, I felt a little uncomfortable. It felt like my filial piety was blocked, and the corners of my mouth drooped unconsciously.
Lin Yan, who had been listening quietly, gently shook my hand under the table. Then, smiling, he said to my parents, "Dad, Mom, Ruirui always cares about you two and wants the best for you. So, let's look around for a house first, and make a reservation if we find a suitable one. You can just think of City A as your home. Whenever you miss your son or want a change of scenery for a vacation, you can come and stay for a while. City A is developing very well now, with many parks and a good environment. It's very suitable for elderly people to take a walk and recuperate. Just treat it as a trip."
Lin Yan's words were very soothing. They not only fulfilled my filial piety, but also gave my parents ample room for maneuver and choice.
My dad was convinced. After pondering for a moment, he smiled and nodded, "Xiao Lin, that makes sense! Okay! My son is such a great guy, why shouldn't I enjoy the good life? Hehe, I'll go stay for a couple of days, take some pictures and post them on WeChat Moments. They'll envy Old Li and the others to death!"
My mother's expression softened. She gave me a deep look, a look that showed relief and the open-mindedness of letting us go. "Alright, since you two kids are so thoughtful, your father and I will respectfully obey. Once you're settled, we'll go warm up the pot for you when we have time."
"Okay!" I finally felt happy again and raised my glass. "Dad, Mom, everything will get better and better from now on! Happy New Year!"
"Happy New Year!" The four wine glasses clinked together, making a crisp sound, and the room was filled with warmth and reunion.
After celebrating the New Year in a lively atmosphere, Lin Yan and I returned to City A, filled with warmth and family instructions, and re-entered our respective battlefields - the school's graduation thesis entered a critical stage, the company's projects were also booming, and there were a lot of things that needed to be decided.
We didn't even have time to spend a few days together before we were back in action.
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