Chapter 104: A Child Never Truly Grows Up
That evening, dinner at Third Uncle's house included not only his own elders but also many cousins, both older and younger, who had been working in other regions. With the New Year fast approaching, they had naturally hurried back from afar.
Of course, not all the young people working away from home had returned. Some were still on their way back for various reasons, while others, having not fared well in their distant ventures over the years, had decided not to come home for the New Year.
Overall, Third Uncle's house was lively during dinner, yet this bustling atmosphere lacked any sense of festivity. Instead, it was tinged with a heavy, oppressive silence and the sorrow of loss.
After dinner, Yang Haoran did not leave immediately. His gaze remained fixed on his Second Uncle's coffin, lost in thought.
It wasn't until close to midnight that Yang Haoran finally relaxed, convinced that he had been overthinking things. Only then did he leave Third Uncle's house and return home.
The reason he hadn't left immediately after dinner was not because he enjoyed the melancholic and oppressive atmosphere, but because a lingering worry gnawed at him, though he couldn't quite pinpoint its cause.
However, as midnight approached, Second Uncle's coffin remained quietly in place, and Zhou Daoshi, cross-legged before it, continued to chant scriptures. Everything seemed perfectly normal, which finally put his mind at ease, confirming he had indeed been thinking too much.
He returned home with his parents, and when the two elders saw the imposing SUV, they both froze in place.
Upon learning that the vehicle belonged to their precious son, Yang Father's stern face broke into a smile, his eyes filled with profound relief.
To this, Yang Haoran merely chuckled noncommittally, saying nothing more.
It wasn't that Yang Mother was materialistic; it was simply the reality of the situation. If he were just a penniless bum doing nothing all day, why would anyone entrust their daughter to him? Regardless of the girl's feelings, her elders would almost certainly disapprove.
Going on a blind date barefoot and in ragged clothes was certainly different from going dressed smartly and driving a car. At the very least, the latter would leave a far better impression on the girl's elders than the former.
After returning home and taking out the Death God statue he had brought back, Yang Haoran performed his worship promptly at midnight, under the surprised gazes of his parents. He then offered them a quick, casual explanation before collapsing into sleep, citing his upcoming blind date as an excuse.
He had originally planned to sneak out and see if there were any wandering spirits near Yangjiawan that needed guiding, but to avoid worrying his parents, he decided against it.
The night passed uneventfully. The next day, Yang Haoran woke up early and prepared to make breakfast for his parents in the kitchen. Unable to be by their side normally, now that he was back, he naturally wanted to share as much of their burden as possible.
However, to his surprise, when he arrived in the kitchen, he found his mother already bustling with activity, stoking the fire, cooking dishes, and simultaneously boiling pig feed for the family's several fat pigs.
Doing so many things at once, Yang Mother was neither flustered nor chaotic; instead, she was incredibly skilled, everything done in perfect order. This wasn't an innate talent, but rather a proficiency gained from enduring such a life for so long.
Noticing Yang Haoran, Yang Mother merely glanced at him, then, without pausing her work, said, "Go wake your dad for breakfast."
As Yang Haoran walked towards the stove, he replied, "It's not even light yet. Are we eating breakfast this early?"
Saying this, Yang Haoran added some dry kindling to the two stove holes, each with a pot above it—one for human food, the other for pig feed.
"Early? We have a lot to do today. Your dad and I need to go help at Third Uncle's house. If we don't eat breakfast early, we won't have time. And you have a blind date; going early shows your sincerity. If you go too late, they'll think you're just there to scrounge lunch, and that would completely shame our Yang family! " Yang Mother spoke, her hands never stopping.
Yang Haoran smiled, saying nothing, simply continuing to add dry kindling to the stove holes.
"Silly boy, the food will be ready any minute now, why are you still adding so much kindling? Don't stand around here messing things up and being a hindrance. Go quickly and wake your dad! What time is it, and he's still sleeping?"
Yang Haoran dared not defy his mother's wishes. He acknowledged her, then went to wake his father. Moments later, Yang Haoran returned to the kitchen, intending to help his mother with something else, but before he could speak, Yang Mother interrupted him.
"Don't just stand there idly! Go wash up quickly. Honestly, you're such a big man, yet you have no plan for anything. I have to teach you everything. I really don't know when you'll finally grow up."
In the eyes of parents, their children, regardless of success or age, will always be the children who never truly grow up. This sentiment was fully embodied by Yang Mother at that moment.
What could Yang Haoran do but offer a wry smile and agree? He could only go wash up at his mother's urging.
By the time he finished, the food was already laid out on the table: steaming hot porridge, a plate of pickled mustard greens, a plate of sausage, and a plate of cured meat.
Meanwhile, Yang Mother was carrying buckets of pig feed to tend to the pigs. In her eyes, whether the pigs had eaten well was far more important than whether the people had.
Yang Haoran observed all of this. He wasn't surprised by his mother's actions, as she had been doing things this way since he could remember. Her attitude and routine hadn't changed in all these years.
The only change was that her once youthful and radiant face had now grown dull, her eyes lined with visible wrinkles, and her lustrous black hair gradually turning gray.
She had aged, significantly so.
Yang Haoran felt a heavy heart. Though he had worked hard over the years, he hadn't achieved great success or contributed much to the family. Instead, his parents had given too much, still toiling for the family even at their current age. As the only son, he naturally felt awful about it.
"After the New Year, I'll buy a house and immediately move my parents there to enjoy their golden years. This must end."
He had made this decision before returning home. If not for the tight schedule, he would have wanted to finalize it before the New Year and bring his parents to the city. He truly didn't want to see them continue to toil for the family. This burden should have fallen on him long ago, but due to his own incompetence, he had dragged it out until now.
After worshipping the Death God, the family of three shared breakfast. Yang Mother chattered incessantly, Yang Father occasionally interjected a few words, while Yang Haoran remained silent, simply nodding and smiling in response, regardless of whether his parents' words were good or bad, right or wrong.
Breakfast concluded, and the sunlight had begun to dispel some of the darkness. Although it wasn't fully bright yet, Yang Mother had already locked the door and seen Yang Haoran off to his car.
"Rascal, you absolutely must make your mother proud! Seal the deal with that girl! Your dad and I will be waiting for good news! " Yang Mother instructed, standing outside the car window.
"Don't worry, Mom, I'll do my best," Yang Haoran replied with a smile.
"Your best? Your best, my foot! Don't you dare string your mother along with such nonsense. I want to see you seal the deal with that girl, not hear some empty talk about 'doing your best. ' Let me tell you, while your father and I aren't too old yet, you'd best get married quickly. That way, we can help you raise the child when the time comes, and you and your wife can focus on earning money. If you don't step up and we get too old, then when the child is born, you two will have to raise it yourselves. How do you think you'll manage then? " Yang Mother nagged, clearly dissatisfied.
Yang Haoran nodded with a wry smile, saying, "I know, I really do know. Just rest assured, Mom. . ."
Yang Mother wanted to continue nagging, but Yang Father stopped her. His face showed annoyance as he complained to Yang Mother, "Stop your endless nagging. Third Uncle's family has a lot going on. He knows his own affairs; you don't need to worry yourself sick."
Upon hearing Yang Father's words, Yang Mother immediately grew displeased, ready to argue, but Yang Father seemed prepared. Knowing how to handle his wife's nagging, he gave her no chance to speak, turning his gaze to Yang Haoran instead. "You hurry and go to that address. Remember, don't go empty-handed; that would be too rude. Do you have enough money? If not, let your mother give you some."
"I have money, I have money! I'm a boss now, how could I not have money? I'll head over now then."
With those words, Yang Haoran floored the accelerator as if his life depended on it, gradually disappearing from his parents' sight.
To outsiders, Yang Mother told everyone that her son was now doing business in the city and was a big boss. From this, it was clear that Yang Mother was very proud, even boastful, of her son. That was why Yang Haoran had just said he was a boss and had money, so his parents wouldn't worry too much.
In truth, Yang Haoran was indeed a boss, after all, he ran a convenience store in the city. Although the store was small and dilapidated, it was still a business, and he was its sole owner.
The laughable part was that this "boss" had no employees. He was both the boss and the employee.
In the car, Yang Haoran secretly resolved that he must approach this blind date seriously, not as a joke. He could feel how much his parents valued this occasion, and to avoid disappointing them, and to settle his own life's major event, he absolutely had to handle this blind date well.
He first drove to the town to buy many gifts, then headed towards the address his mother had given him. As the car sped down the road, his destination grew closer and closer.
As he neared his destination, Yang Haoran's mood suddenly became anxious, then nervous. This feeling was not unfamiliar to him; every time he went on a blind date, he would experience such emotions.
Despite his usual calm and composed demeanor when facing people or situations, when it came to blind dates, he truly couldn't control the nervousness in his heart.
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