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Zhang Zhiyuan stood in the corridor, trying to calm himself down when his phone rang in his pocket.
He picked it up; it was a call from the school gate security office.
“Zhuang Zi’ang, the security guard at the gate, said there’s an old man looking for you.”
“An old man?” Zhuang Zi’ang was puzzled.
“They say he’s over seventy years old. You should go take a look!” Zhang Zhiyuan said.
Zhuang Zi’ang jogged all the way to the school gate, and when he saw the old man squatting in front of the security office, tears immediately began to flow down his face.
The old man was well over seventy, with sparse white hair and a face full of wrinkles.
He wore a blue Zhongshan suit, black cloth shoes with layered soles, and was holding a bamboo basket.
“Grandpa, why are you here?”
Zhuang Jianguo stood up excitedly, “Zi’ang, Grandpa couldn’t stop worrying about you. I had to come see you.”
Living in the countryside, it took him three transfers just to get into the city.
He didn’t know how to use a phone and had asked around to find the school, only knowing that his grandson was named Zhuang Zi’ang.
The security guard input Zhuang Zi’ang’s name into the computer, found his class teacher Zhang Zhiyuan, and then notified him.
Zhuang Zi’ang quickly stepped forward and hugged his frail grandfather tightly, crying uncontrollably.
When he was five years old, his parents divorced.
Zhuang Zi’ang was sent to live with his grandparents in the countryside for six months.
In those brief six months, the kind-hearted elderly couple provided him with the warmth of family love.
A deep bond was formed between grandfather and grandson.
Later, when Zhuang Zi’ang was sent back to the city, Zhuang Jianguo knew his grandson was facing difficulties at home and would always have him return to the countryside for a while during winter and summer breaks.
For over ten years, most of Zhuang Zi’ang’s living expenses came from the crops his grandfather harvested.
He was Zhuang Zi’ang’s true guardian.
In recent days, upon hearing that Zhuang Zi’ang had run away from home, Zhuang Jianguo became anxious and restless.
He urged Zhuang Wen Zhao to go find him, but Zhuang Wen Zhao always brushed him off.
Left with no choice, he decided to come to the city himself to see with his own eyes that Zhuang Zi’ang was safe.
“I’m sorry, Grandpa. It’s my fault for being immature and making you worry,” Zhuang Zi’ang choked out.
“Good boy, I know. You must have suffered at home. Don’t be afraid; Grandpa will seek justice for you,” Zhuang Jianguo said lovingly, patting Zhuang Zi’ang’s back.
He understood his grandson well—Zhuang Zi’ang was pure-hearted and kind to others.
To have done something so rebellious, he must have endured significant grievances and felt utterly disappointed in his father and stepmother.
However, he was unaware that there was a huge piece of bad news looming over him.
Zhuang Zi’ang didn’t dare to tell his grandfather the truth.
At that moment, Zhang Zhiyuan approached and, seeing the weeping grandfather and grandson, thought of Zhuang Zi’ang’s condition, causing his eyes to redden again.
Wiping his tears away, Zhuang Zi’ang introduced, “Grandpa, this is my homeroom teacher, Mr. Zhang.”
Zhuang Jianguo quickly bowed to Zhang Zhiyuan, “Teacher, I apologize for the trouble my grandson has caused you.”
Zhang Zhiyuan hurriedly returned the gesture, “No need to be so formal. Zhuang Zi’ang is the most outstanding student I’ve taught, and I’m particularly proud of him.”
Zhuang Jianguo took several eggs from the bamboo basket and stuffed them into Zhang Zhiyuan’s hands.
“Mr. Zhang, we rural folks don’t have much to offer. These are homegrown eggs from our chickens; please take some home to try.”
“No, no, we have rules against accepting gifts,” Zhang Zhiyuan quickly declined.
“Our Zhuang Zi’ang doesn’t have a mother, and his father doesn’t care for him. I hope you can look after him more,” Zhuang Jianguo pleaded.
“Old man, I will,” Zhang Zhiyuan said, unable to hold back his emotions any longer, turning away to wipe his eyes.
He couldn’t bear to imagine how heartbroken the old man would be if he learned the cruel truth.
The security guard at the gate was also deeply moved by the honest and simple old man.
Once Zhuang Zi’ang calmed down, he told Zhang Zhiyuan, “Mr. Zhang, I’ll take my grandpa out for lunch. If we’re delayed in the afternoon…”
“It’s fine, you go ahead!” Zhang Zhiyuan replied kindly.
Zhuang Jianguo thanked Zhang Zhiyuan and the security guards one by one before leaving with Zhuang Zi’ang.
When it was time for lunch, Zhuang Zi’ang suggested going to a restaurant, but the old man insisted against it, worrying about the cost.
Reluctantly, Zhuang Zi’ang accompanied him to buy two bitter melons, and with the eggs he brought, he cooked a dish of scrambled eggs with bitter melon in their rental apartment.
Zhuang Jianguo ate heartily, praising Zhuang Zi’ang’s cooking skills.
“Grandpa, I’m doing just fine living here; it’s close to school, and I can sleep a bit longer in the mornings. Please don’t try to convince me to go back,” Zhuang Zi’ang said carefully.
Zhuang Jianguo looked around the small but tidy rental room, sighing, “Thinking about you being all alone out here makes my heart ache.”
“I’m not alone! I have many friends at school, and everyone likes me.”
“But friends aren’t family after all!”
Zhuang Jianguo wanted to persuade Zhuang Zi’ang to return, but he also understood that in that household, Zhuang Zi’ang’s situation was quite awkward.
Zhuang Zi’ang was already eighteen, an adult, and had the right to choose the life he wanted.
“Did your dad say you hit Yuhang yesterday? Is that true?”
Zhuang Zi’ang nodded. “He was the one who cursed at me and my friends first.”
Zhuang Jianguo’s expression grew serious. “After we finish eating, I’ll take you back and clarify this matter. As long as you haven’t done anything wrong, Grandpa will back you up.”
Zhuang Zi’ang hesitated for a moment but eventually agreed.
He didn’t want his seventy-year-old grandfather to worry about such a trivial matter on his behalf.
As for the incident three months from now, he would just have to take it one day at a time.
…
When the grandfather and grandson appeared at the door, Zhuang Wen Zhao was taken aback.
“Dad, what are you doing here? If you had told me earlier, I could have come to pick you up.”
Zhuang Jianguo retorted angrily, “You kicked my grandson out of the house, and I’m not allowed to come see him?”
Qin Shulan came out, greeting them with a forced smile.
It wasn’t yet time for afternoon school, and Zhuang Yuhang was also at home.
The mother and son looked at Zhuang Zi’ang with resentment in their eyes.
Once the door was closed, Zhuang Wen Zhao yelled at Zhuang Zi’ang, “Look at the trouble you’ve caused! Your grandfather is so old; if something happened to him on the way here, could you bear the responsibility?”
“Who told you to yell at my grandson? I’m here to see him because I want to,” Zhuang Jianguo slammed his hand on the coffee table.
With that, Zhuang Wen Zhao fell silent, keeping his head down and not saying a word for a long time.
Zhuang Jianguo, still seething with anger, questioned, “Did you hit Zi’ang? He’s your own son. How could you do that? Besides, you shouldn’t hit someone in the face.”
Zhuang Wen Zhao defended himself, “I’m his father; I have the obligation to discipline him.”
“Look at you; you don’t have a fatherly demeanor at all. What right do you have to discipline him?” Zhuang Jianguo was determined to stand up for Zhuang Zi’ang.
Zhuang Wen Zhao fell silent again.
Qin Shulan interjected, “Dad, you have to be fair; Yuhang is also your grandson. He was slapped by Zhuang Zi’ang—what do you have to say about that?”
Zhuang Yuhang added, “Exactly, that coward seems to have gone mad lately.”
“Shut up! He is your brother!” Zhuang Jianguo roared in anger.
He couldn’t understand how this couple had spoiled their child so much.
How could a younger brother talk down to his older brother, calling him a coward like this?