Upon hearing the noise, Zhao Shufang and Lin Shanhai quickly came out of the house.
"Oh, Chaosheng! Why are you back? Did something happen?" Zhao Shufang asked anxiously.
Looking at the wrinkles on his mother's and father's faces and their tattered clothes covered in patches, Lin Chaosheng's vision was quickly blurred with tears.
Images of his parents' tragic deaths in his past life flooded his mind.
My father's leg was broken by debt collectors, and he couldn't afford medical treatment, eventually leading to his death from an infection.
Unable to bear the grief of her father's death, the mother eventually jumped into the sea and committed suicide.
All of this was because he, this unfilial son, had accumulated countless high-interest loans through gambling.
Recalling the sins he committed in his past life, Lin Chaosheng couldn't hold back his tears.
When Zhao Shufang and Lin Shanhai saw Lin Chaosheng crying loudly, they assumed that their son had incurred debts again and could not repay them, and their hearts sank.
Lin Shanhai sighed, "Alright, a man doesn't cry easily. As long as you're alive, that's all that matters. Your father is still strong. Let's pay it off together. We'll be able to finish this debt eventually."
“Yes, yes, Mom and Dad are still able-bodied, we will definitely be able to pay off the debt,” Zhao Shufang quickly hugged her son to comfort him.
Seeing that his mother and father were still so kind, Lin Chaosheng knelt down on the ground with a thud.
"Dad, Mom, your son is unfilial! Your son knows he was wrong!"
Lin Chaosheng kowtowed repeatedly on the ground.
Seeing his son's head covered in blood from the banging, Lin Shanhai quickly stepped forward to stop him.
"It's good that you know you were wrong. Stop crying. Let's think of a solution quickly," Lin Shanhai said, pulling Lin Shansheng up from the ground.
Lin Chaosheng could no longer control his emotions and grabbed Lin Shanhai and Zhao Shufang's legs, "Dad, Mom, I'm sorry, I swear I will never gamble again, I will definitely make sure you live a good life!"
Zhao Shufang trembled and tears welled up in her eyes. She exchanged an incredulous glance with Lin Shanhai.
They could hardly believe that their eldest son, who had caused them so much worry for so many years and who had squandered all the family's money, was actually here today swearing that he would never gamble again.
"How much money do you owe, son..." Zhao Shufang asked, covering her face and sobbing.
Lin Chaosheng raised his head and shook it violently, "I really don't owe any money, Mom, I really know I was wrong. I... I dreamt that you and Dad were both because of me..."
Lin Chaosheng choked up, shaking his head desperately, "I've really turned over a new leaf, Dad, Mom, you have to believe me, really!"
Lin Shansheng stood aside, looking at Lin Chaosheng's pained appearance, and couldn't bear it.
He hesitated for a moment before saying, "Dad, Mom, my older brother went fishing early this morning and caught a lot, including..."
"Shut up!" Lin Shan Hai yelled at his youngest son. "Hasn't your brother lied enough times already?"
Lin Shanhai will never forget that day when Lin Chaosheng tricked him into waiting for him at the beach, and then went home and stole the last bit of savings from his family, which he gambled away.
"Dad, hit me, scold me, what I did before was inhuman!" Lin Chaosheng quickly ran to the door and brought in the big fish.
"Dad, Mom, I've really turned over a new leaf this time. These are the fish that Shansheng and I caught this morning."
Lin Chaosheng pulled back the fishing net, revealing a one-meter-long mackerel.
When the large fish was exposed to Zhao Shufang and Lin Shanhai's view, both of them gasped.
Zhao Shufang was so startled she almost lost her balance. Pointing at the large mackerel, she exclaimed, "This... did you really catch this?"
Lin Shanhai squatted down, his hands trembling as he stroked the mackerel, wanting to verify if he was dreaming.
"Did you really catch this?" Lin Shanhai asked incredulously, feeling the slippery texture of the mackerel.
"Shansheng and I caught it together this morning." Lin Chaosheng scratched his head, looking unusually embarrassed.
I was always getting beaten when I was a kid, so I rarely got to be praised like this.
Seeing the surprised expressions on Zhao Shufang and Lin Shanhai's faces, Lin Chaosheng felt happy too.
“I just remember there’s a place where big fish get trapped after the tide comes in. This morning when the tide went out, we went there to try our luck, and we actually caught this mackerel.”
"This...this big fish, you didn't steal it, did you?" Lin Shanhai asked after staring at the big fish for a long time.
"Dad!" Lin Shan stomped his foot angrily. "My older brother and I went out fishing at noon. Many people in the village saw us. If you don't believe me, go and ask them!"
Lin Chaosheng looked down at his toes, feeling a little sad but also understanding.
In his previous life, he stole fish from his neighbor, Old Liu, to exchange for gambling money.
Lin Chaosheng took a deep breath and looked up at Lin Shanhai. "Dad, we did catch this fish this morning. I know that as a gambler, it's hard for people to believe what I'm saying now. However, starting today, I will definitely prove with my actions that I, Lin Chaosheng, have truly reformed."
“Yes, Dad, Mom, this fish was caught by my older brother! He’s not the same as before, he’s very capable now!” Lin Shansheng quickly chimed in.
Zhao Shufang sighed, "Mom believes you, but if this fish really was stolen, you must return it to the owner immediately. We may be poor, but we absolutely cannot do such petty theft!"
Lin Chaosheng grasped Zhao Shufang's hand and solemnly swore, "Mom, don't worry, I definitely caught this fish! I, Lin Chaosheng, swear here and now that if I stole this fish, may I be struck by lightning!"
Seeing that he had made a solemn oath, Zhao Shufang and Lin Shanhai were temporarily relieved.
Seeing that his parents were relieved, Lin Chaosheng quickly picked up the mackerel and prepared to go to the kitchen to cook a good meal for Zhao Shufang and Lin Shanhai to nourish their bodies.
“Hey, we’re both practically dead, we don’t need to eat such good food. Hurry up and take it back for Xiaomei to eat,” Zhao Shufang quickly pulled Lin Chaosheng, who was heading to the kitchen. “Xiaomei has never enjoyed a single day of happiness with you. She’s so young, and she’s so thin and pale from hunger. Hurry up and take it back for her to eat.”
“Your mother is right. Look at what Xiaomei is like now. Take her back quickly,” Lin Shanhai scolded.
Seeing how much his parents cared for Liang Mei, Lin Chaosheng felt a lump in his throat. "Dad, Mom, don't worry, I brought more than just this. Xiao Mei has already made something to eat at home, so don't worry."
“And how could I not feel sorry for her?” Lin Chaosheng’s eyes reddened. “She has sacrificed so much for me. No matter how much of a beast I was before, she never left me.”
Seeing his sincere remorse, Lin Shanhai and Zhao Shufang were finally relieved.
Zhao Shufang stepped forward and took the fish. "Alright, then you should hurry home too. Do you know how to cook this fish? Hurry home and help Xiaomei."
Lin Chaosheng chuckled awkwardly, "Oh, Mom, stop nagging me. You and Dad should have a good meal tonight. Don't save it up, or it'll go bad."
Lin Shanhai glanced at him and said, "You little rascal, don't start wasting your catch after just one fish!"
"Oh no, it's just that Shansheng and I are planning to go hunting in the mountains tomorrow, so there'll be other food available," Lin Chaosheng said.
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