I think of the middle-aged man's appearance; he doesn't seem like a hypocrite.
I asked, puzzled, "You say he's not your biological father, what proof do you have?"
Huang Tao rolled up his clothes, pointed to the 20-centimeter-long, twisted and hideous stitch on his stomach, and said hatefully.
“I was in a car accident and needed a lot of blood transfusions, but his blood type didn’t match mine, so I knew he wasn’t my biological father.”
"And then what?"
Huang Tao lit a cigarette and sneered, "But I learned by chance that shortly after my biological father died, he and a woman took the pension. In the second year of my marriage, he even brought that woman to me and told me that he wanted to live with her."
“But when I was three years old, he told me that my mother died to save him, so he would never get married.”
Huang Tao became more and more agitated as he spoke: "But why does he want to marry her now? It's obvious that he killed my biological parents, embezzled their compensation money, and when I found out, he couldn't keep up the act anymore, so he wanted to marry that woman and run away."
It sounds reasonable, but I still feel like something's not quite right.
At this moment, Huang Tao's wife ran out of the room, holding an old savings book and a yellowed diary.
"Xiao Tao, there really is a savings book under the bed."
Upon seeing the passbook, Huang Tao's eyes seemed to spit fire, and he snatched the passbook, intending to throw it away.
However, his wife stopped him.
"Xiao Tao, I think... why don't you take a look at this diary first? Maybe we really misunderstood your dad."
"What misunderstanding? He's a hypocrite, a deadbeat liar!"
Huang Tao snatched the diary while cursing and flipped to the first page.
He was initially watching and cursing, but then he fell silent and his body began to tremble violently.
I glanced over from the side and was also drawn in.
December 3, 1998, sunny.
Xiao Tao has been living with us for two years, and this year for his birthday he said he wanted a bicycle.
But he didn't know that the economy was bad that year, and I was laid off. I had to be careful with every penny I spent, so buying a bicycle was simply beyond my means.
But how could I bear to disappoint this little guy? He is the brightest light in my life.
Using the excuse of going to work, I secretly went to that dusty construction site on the outskirts of the city, where I carried bricks and cement under the scorching sun.
My hands were sore from being rubbed by the bricks, and blisters soon formed. Carrying heavy loads of cement, my back ached every day, and every step felt like walking on a knife's edge.
But every time I think of Xiao Tao's smiling face, I feel a surge of energy.
Fortunately, the bicycle was purchased on Xiao Tao's birthday.
The moment I saw the little one laugh happily, all the fatigue and soreness seemed to melt away like snow in spring.
I feel that doing anything for this little guy is the happiest thing in the world. I only wish that time will always treat him gently and protect this innocence and happiness, year after year.
...
March 15, 2005, cloudy turning sunny.
Xiao Tao started junior high school and became rebellious. He started fighting and smoking, and I gave him a good beating.
But he didn't know that I was in even more pain than he was, but I didn't dare to show it, for fear that he would go astray. As long as he could get on the right path, I didn't care if he hated me.
...
April 4, 2008, cloudy.
Xiao Tao stabbed someone with a knife, and the other party demanded 50,000 yuan in compensation from us, or they would put Xiao Tao in jail.
Xiao Tao is just as stubborn as his father. He said he'd rather go to jail than apologize, but I can't just stand by and watch him go to jail.
I knelt down on my back and begged them to write a letter of understanding. I said I would do anything as long as they released Xiao Tao.
...
The beginning of this diary records Huang Tao's life from childhood to adulthood, including his joys, sorrows, and every expense.
Until 2018.
July 15, 2018, cloudy.
I told Xiuping that Xiaotao has grown up, so why don't we be honest with him?
But Xiuping said that since they've kept it a secret for so long, why not keep it a secret forever? Otherwise, how sad would the child be if he knew the truth?
I feel very sorry for Xiuping. After all, she is my rightful wife, but because of a promise I made, she can only hide in the shadows like a mistress. Her family also does not agree to our adoption of Xiaotao.
...
September 7, 2018, cloudy.
Xiao Tao was in a car accident and needed a blood transfusion. I was so anxious that I forgot I wasn't his biological father.
Although he didn't say anything afterward, I sensed that he must have been suspicious.
...
January 3, 2019, sunny.
Today is Xiao Tao's second wedding anniversary. I took Xiuping to see Xiao Tao, hoping to receive his blessing.
He's grown up now and has his own family, so I can rest assured.
But that day, my son and I had another fierce argument. Xiao Tao said that I had killed his parents, that I was a hypocrite and a liar, and that he wanted to sever ties with me.
February 16, 2020, sunny.
Today is Lunar New Year's Eve, but Xiao Tao hasn't come back. We haven't been in touch for a year.
But as long as he's doing well, I'm content.
...
April 17, 2020, cloudy.
Xiuping never came back up after trying to save the child who had fallen into the water.
The woman who waited for me her whole life never got to see me officially hold her hand and appear before Xiao Tao openly and honestly, just like on our wedding day, to receive his blessing.
The following records also include some trivial matters, as well as the compensation paid by Huang Tao's biological parents.
The total is 235,307.80 yuan.
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