Just as the villagers were flattering Zhao Hu...
Zhao Laosan was pacing back and forth in front of his elder brother's house.
"Dad, maybe we shouldn't borrow it."
Zhao Xiaohua tugged at her father's sleeve, her eyes red as she stared at the tightly closed door.
In ordinary households, it's uncommon to lock the door in the evening.
It was all because the eldest son's wife, upon hearing that he was coming to borrow grain, closed the door from a great distance.
Zhao Laosan looked at his daughter and sighed.
Last year during the rice harvest, the city's officials came to conscript men.
Because his eldest son is not here, they want to find someone to take his place.
After much pleading and persuasion, they finally managed to bribe the soldiers with a load of grain to cover the forced labor.
In winter, my daughter fell ill again, and the medical expenses cost some food.
Our family is almost out of food now.
I'm really desperate, so I'm going to talk to my eldest son about lending me the grain that's meant to be given to my parents this year, just to tide me over.
Before I even reached the door, I saw my sister-in-law close it.
Now, it's a dilemma whether to let Zhao Laosan knock on the door or not.
We can't very well go to the fourth brother's house again to borrow grain.
His snobbish wife is not so easy to talk to.
I borrowed it today, and tomorrow they'll come knocking on my door demanding it back.
Just as he was still hesitating, Zhao Xiaohua's stomach growled a few times.
Hearing this, Zhao Laosan, the father, felt utterly ashamed.
He only regretted his own incompetence, which caused his wife and children to suffer because of him.
Forget about saving face; the important thing is for the family to have a meal together.
He raised his hand and knocked on the door: "Sister-in-law, is sister-in-law home? It's me, the third brother."
"No, my mother said she's asleep."
A childish voice came out, and then Zhao Laosan heard a few puffing sounds coming from inside the house.
It looked like someone was being beaten.
Eventually, things calmed down again.
"well!"
Zhao Laosan sighed and prepared to go visit Lao Si's family.
It's okay if I didn't eat it.
The two children want to eat.
Just as he turned around, the door to the eldest son's house opened a crack, and a cloth bag was handed out.
He turned around and saw his elderly father, with his white hair and thin face, looking at him and his daughter.
"go back."
The old man looked at his son and granddaughter without saying a word, placed the cloth bag in Zhao Laosan's hands, and then closed the door.
He's too old to do anything and he's a burden to his children.
The old man felt a pang of guilt and dared not look at his child any longer. He forced himself to turn away, suppressing his reluctance.
Zhao Laosan's eyes were bloodshot as he looked at the cloth bag full of grain in his hand and kowtowed on the ground.
My father was still as taciturn as ever, but every word he uttered was so heavy.
"Third Uncle, Third Uncle, hurry to the village entrance and see! Hurry, Brother Tiger is back!"
Before Zhao Laosan could get up, he heard a young man from the same village running behind him, shouting as he went.
"What?"
Has my brother come back?
Zhao Xiaohua was shocked and stood frozen in place, unable to move after hearing this.
I'm afraid that if I move, it's just a dream.
My older brother has been gone for over a year, and I haven't heard from him at all.
The villagers all said he died outside.
But she didn't believe it.
My brother said he would buy her candied hawthorns when he came back.
My brother never lies.
Zhao Laosan also realized what was happening and was somewhat incredulous at the young man's words.
"Are you sure you're not mistaken? Is that my Tiger?"
"Hey, come with me quickly, Uncle. Would I lie to you? Tiger is really doing well now. You and Aunt will be enjoying a life of luxury from now on."
As he was speaking, Zhao Laosan was pulled away.
Xiaohua followed behind, tears streaming down her face.
She didn't want to eat candied hawthorns; she wanted her brother to come back.
That way, if other kids bully her, her brother will help her beat them up.
Zhao Laosan didn't even realize what was happening until he arrived at the village entrance.
He was at a loss when he saw Zhao Hu's face.
He held a small bag of coarse grains, looked at his son who was dressed neatly and exuded an air of nobility, and suddenly felt a little unfamiliar with him.
Is this person really my son?
Zhao Hu smiled and dealt with the villagers, but when he turned around and saw a face etched with the marks of time, his nose instantly stung with tears.
He felt that his father really seemed to be getting old.
His back wasn't as straight anymore, and he wasn't as tall.
The determination in his eyes had faded, and when he looked at himself, there was a hint of fear and unease in his gaze.
Zhao Hu raised his head and looked up at the sky.
I want to stop the tears that are welling up in my eyes from falling.
Until a small body rushed over and threw itself into his arms.
"Brother, I miss you so much!"
That familiar voice made him choke up.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"
He patted his little sister's head and apologized again and again.
I don't know if she was speaking to her sister or to the hunched-over man.
Zhao Hu hugged his little sister and took out a candied hawthorn wrapped in oil paper from his pocket: "I promised you, I would buy you candied hawthorn when I came back. I didn't lie to you, did I?"
Holding the candied hawthorn, Zhao Xiaohua burst into tears, crying, "I don't want the candied hawthorn, I want my brother!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Hu secretly wiped away a tear.
Then he walked up to his father and knelt down.
"Your unfilial son, Zhao Hu, kowtows to you, Father."
After saying that, he kowtowed three times on the ground.
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