Because of my arrival with Mi Cai, everyone added more ingredients into the hotpot, turned up the heat, and soon the broth was boiling again. The rising steam blurred everyone’s nearby faces. Mi Cai and I seemed to find a sense of security in this blurriness, keeping our heads down eating. We had only eaten some biscuits to stave off hunger during our long journey, so after temporarily easing the awkwardness, physical hunger began to take control of us again.
Baba and Mama seemed to intentionally give us space; throughout the meal, they barely spoke to us, occasionally chatting with Li Xiaoyun and her husband about what had happened at the mahjong table today.
Sensing the relaxed atmosphere, I finally let my guard down and picked some delicious ingredients from the hotpot for Mi Cai, telling her to make herself at home and not hold back. It was then that Mama finally shot me a stern look, as if warning me not to push my luck. Baba remained silent, yet this silence felt like a mysterious force that encouraged me to go even further. This came from my understanding of him—over the years, he had always appeared strict with me, but had embedded all his care and tolerance within this silence. I could truly feel his fatherly love!
Shortly after, Mi Cai and I finally finished dinner. In unison, we stood up and took the dishes to the kitchen to wash, but Baba stopped us. He finally spoke to me, asking, “Zhaoyang, talk to us first. What is your purpose for coming home this time?”
Before I could answer, Li Xiaoyun gave me a meaningful glance, but I didn’t understand her intention, so I hesitated, finding it difficult to respond, afraid I might say the wrong thing.
Unexpectedly, Mi Cai spoke up at this moment, addressing Baba on my behalf: “Uncle, Zhaoyang and I have given up everything in Suzhou and are preparing to return to Xuzhou to live. In the past, I indeed made some wrong choices, hurting Zhaoyang and betraying your trust. I dare not hope you will forgive me immediately, but I will strive to earn your acceptance again.”
Mi Cai’s words were sincere. After speaking, she earnestly looked at Baba and Mama. Naturally, I couldn’t let her shoulder all the blame alone. After a moment of silent contemplation, I added, addressing Baba and Mama: “Mom and Dad, the main responsibility for what happened between Mi Cai and me lies with me. Sometimes I acted immaturely and lacked responsibility, leading me to make wrong decisions and say hurtful things. However, we genuinely love each other, and after experiencing so much turmoil, we still chose to be together. In the future, we want to settle down in Xuzhou and live peacefully. We have nothing to bring back from Suzhou except each other. We hope you can forgive us and accept us, a couple longing for a family and no longer wanting to wander.”
Baba and Mama exchanged glances. Finally, Baba asked me, “Zhaoyang, after all that has happened, tell me and your mother—have you really matured? Can you now distinguish clearly between games and life?”
I felt this question was too serious, yet I had to face it. After a pause, I replied, “I can tell the difference now. Living in Xuzhou will be my life from now on. But life in Suzhou wasn’t entirely a game either—it had elements of real life too. I lost all my wealth in that game, but in real life, I’ve decided to stay with Mi Cai and build a future together!”
My answer seemed far from satisfactory to Baba and Mama. Their expressions turned even grimmer, increasing my anxiety. The atmosphere froze in an instant, prompting Mi Cai and me instinctively to move closer together, already anticipating the worst possible outcome.
At this moment, Li Xiaoyun, who hadn’t left, smiled and said to us, “Alright then… you two have already been so sincere in expressing your thoughts. How could Uncle and Auntie not forgive you? Actually, we know quite a bit about what happened to you in Suzhou, especially after Zhaoyang left the company—we guessed you would return to Xuzhou eventually. With how advanced information is these days, your uncle and auntie, being your closest family, how could they not follow your movements? So, Uncle and Auntie are just giving you a hard time—they’ve already forgiven and accepted you in their hearts. After all, returning to Xuzhou is a filial choice. How could they not understand your intentions?”
Li Xiaoyun’s words finally helped me understand why she had given me that meaningful glance earlier. She hoped I would be honest with Baba and Mama, because they had already known most of what had happened to us in Suzhou.
Finally, I felt a sense of joy and looked toward Baba and Mama. Indeed, their faces no longer showed harsh expressions. Mama walked over to me, gently hitting my arm while tearfully saying, “You silly son… you’re our child. Once you walked through the door, your parents didn’t even get a greeting from you. You were too busy putting on a show, as if we wouldn’t feel sorry for you? If it weren’t for Xiaoyun saying you’d definitely return to Xuzhou, your father and I were planning to go to Suzhou ourselves to find you, to ask you how you felt? Why stay there suffering instead of coming back here?”
Happiness came suddenly, making my nose tingle. While enduring Mama’s gentle hitting, I said, “Aren’t you two also putting on a show yourselves? Making it feel like a family spy movie!”
Mama almost wanted to hit me with a feather duster, saying, “What family spy movie? We were just giving ourselves a way to save face. Did you expect us to apologize to you first?”
“That would be absurd! Of course, it should be us apologizing first…” I said, pulling Mi Cai closer and pointing to the simply decorated room, telling her, “See this? This will be your home from now on. It’s not spacious or wealthy, but it can hold our new life… I hope you like it!”
Perhaps before returning, Mi Cai had endured greater psychological pressure than me. I held back my tears, but she cried, using this way to tell us: she truly loved this place.
…
After resolving this emotional knot, I began to taste the flavor of a new life on a spiritual level. My family and parents were forgiving, and their tolerance laid the foundation for our new beginning. I was also grateful to have a friend like Li Xiaoyun, who still acted like a lubricant, smoothly easing my previously rusted life. I never denied she was a kind-hearted, good woman!
Her husband, Wang Zheng, shared her interpersonal wisdom. He understood the art of human relationships, so he suggested that since Mi Cai and I were exhausted from our long journey, everyone should go together to a bathhouse to shower and get massages, with him footing the bill. Naturally, this was a gender-sensitive arrangement, giving Mi Cai and Mama a chance for private conversation. With Li Xiaoyun mediating, I believed they could resolve some past misunderstandings… and I also needed time alone with Baba to share my future plans.
I wanted to open a unique coffee shop in Xuzhou, one that would definitely make money and support our life. Actually, this would be difficult! Running a distinctive coffee shop outside of tourist attractions or travel cities, in an industrial city, would be a risky venture… Perhaps this would be the first challenge I faced upon returning to Xuzhou, testing the experience and marketing skills I had accumulated over these years in business!
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