Homecoming

Xiguang Province.

On a certain highway.

Xiao Tianhao drove his brand-new Mercedes along the road to his hometown, Hetian Village.

As he traveled out of the city and drew closer to home, the scenery around him grew increasingly simple and familiar.

Towering buildings gradually gave way to rolling green mountains and clear waters, and the smooth, wide asphalt road turned into a narrow gravel lane.

Hetian Village was quite far from the city, and its surroundings had suffered little pollution.

The car slowly entered the village. Dense bamboo lined both sides of the road, rustling in the breeze as though whispering a welcome to him.

The bamboo grew lush and thick, its slender branches interweaving into an emerald canopy.

Sunlight spilled through gaps in the leaves, casting patches of dappled light and shadow on the ground like a painting crafted by nature.

Looking at this scene, at once familiar and somewhat unfamiliar, Xiao Tianhao felt a thousand emotions stirring in his heart.

He remembered playing in this bamboo grove with his childhood friends, hiding from one another and raiding birds' nests. Those carefree days felt as though they had been only yesterday.

He continued along the gravel lane, the tires crunching over the stones. The sound rang out especially clearly in the quiet village.

There were few young people in the village at this time. He ran into some familiar faces along the way, greeted them, and continued home.

At last, the car stopped outside his family's two-story, self-built house.

The house was over ten years old, built when he was still in elementary school. Though it did not look dilapidated, it seemed a little dated beside some of the newer houses nearby.

Xiao Tianhao opened the car door and stepped out, drawing a deep breath of air scented with earth and the fresh fragrance of bamboo.

"Big brother!" A bright cry broke the silence as his younger sister, Xiao Miaoqing, ran out of the house, her face beaming with delighted surprise.

She wore a simple floral dress, her hair casually tied into a ponytail, looking youthful and lively.

"Little sis!" Xiao Tianhao spread his arms with a smile and gave her a big hug.

"You're finally back! Ever since they heard you were coming home, Mom and Dad have been talking about it for days," Xiao Miaoqing said excitedly, holding his hand.

Just then, his parents came out of the house too.

His father wore a shirt faded from washing, its sleeves rolled up, and an honest, warm smile on his face. His mother had an apron tied around her waist, her eyes full of affection. "Son, you're home!" His father's voice brimmed with undisguised joy.

"Mom, Dad, I'm home!" Xiao Tianhao stepped forward and gave his parents a warm hug.

Seeing their slightly weathered faces sent a pang through his heart.

He stepped inside. The furnishings were still simple, the furniture the same old pieces. Compared with over a decade ago, very little had been added.

There was no air conditioner or washing machine. They still burned firewood in the kitchen, and smoke stains lingered on the stove.

The family sat in the somewhat dated living room. Xiao Tianhao looked at his parents and began, "Mom, Dad, little sis, I came back this time because there's something I wanted to tell you.

"Over the past few months, I came across an opportunity and started a company. I've been pretty lucky and made some money. I've bought a house and a car now, so I wanted to bring you to the city to live and enjoy an easier life."

His parents exchanged a glance. His father smiled and waved a hand. "Tianhao, we've lived in this village for most of our lives. We're used to it. The city may be nice, but we wouldn't know the place or anyone there. Let's leave it."

His mother nodded in agreement. "That's right, Tianhao. We're doing fine here. Just take good care of yourself in the city."

Xiao Tianhao felt a little helpless, but he understood how his parents felt.

He knew they had an attachment to this land that was hard to sever.

"All right, Mom and Dad. If you don't want to go, I won't force you. But we've been living in this old house for so many years. I'd like to renovate it and get some new furniture."

"Don't waste money on that. This house is still perfectly livable," his father said at once.

"Dad, don't worry about the money. I can earn money now. This is nothing," Xiao Tianhao said with a smile.

"All right, dear. Tianhao is doing this out of love. Stop turning him down."

His mother joined in to persuade him.

After thinking it over, his father nodded in agreement too.

With both his parents agreeing, Xiao Tianhao relaxed. He turned to his sister and asked, "Miaoqing, what about you? How's work going?"

At her brother's question, Xiao Miaoqing's face scrunched up like a bitter melon. "Don't even mention it. You have no idea, big brother. Working at that company is so frustrating I could die.

"That supervisor of mine is absolutely disgusting. He dumps every task on me, takes all the credit, and shoves the blame onto me whenever something goes wrong."

Xiao Tianhao frowned. "Seriously? Then why haven't you reported him to the company?"

Xiao Miaoqing sighed. "Reporting him wouldn't do any good. He's close to the higher-ups. I've been thinking about changing jobs anyway. Since you're back, big brother, could you help me figure something out?"

Xiao Tianhao smiled. "Leave it to me, Miaoqing. I was planning to bring you into my company this time anyway. You can start as a junior supervisor, get familiar with the business, and work your way up."

"Really? You're the best, big brother!" Xiao Miaoqing jumped up excitedly. "At your company, I won't have to worry about being bullied anymore."

"Of course. But once you're there, you'll have to work hard. Don't embarrass your big brother," Xiao Tianhao said with a smile.

"Don't worry, big brother. I'll definitely work hard," Xiao Miaoqing promised, patting her chest.

Over the following days, Xiao Tianhao began renovating the old house.

He went into the city to find a home designer and discussed the renovation plans with him.

Xiao Tianhao decided to renovate the house while preserving its original style.

He remodeled the wood-burning kitchen, installing a brand-new stove and range hood and ordering a beautiful set of custom cabinets.

In the living room, he replaced the sofa with a soft, comfortable one, added a large LCD television, and installed an air conditioner so his parents could stay cool even in the summer heat.

In the bedroom, he got his parents a comfortable large bed, along with brand-new bedding and a wardrobe.

The uneven ground in the courtyard was paved with smooth stone slabs, and flowers and greenery were planted to create a little garden.

During the renovations, Xiao Tianhao spent more and more time talking with his parents and sister.

Every evening, the family gathered to eat the country-style dishes his mother cooked and share the little details of their lives.

His father told him about amusing things that had happened in the village lately-whose child had gotten into college, and how many piglets someone's sow had given birth to.

His mother asked about his life in the city, whether he ate his meals on time, and whether he had met a suitable girl.

As for Xiao Miaoqing, besides complaining about her experiences at her old company, she shared the little worries and joys of her daily life.

For instance, she had recently taken a liking to a new lipstick, but it was too expensive for her to bring herself to buy it. Or she had once come across an adorable stray cat on the street, but unfortunately could not take it back to keep in the company dormitory.

Xiao Tianhao listened to his sister chatter and patiently offered her advice.

He also called the company every day to talk with Huang Shujian, Su Ran, and the others about how things were going and handle the day's business.

The days passed one after another in this warm atmosphere.

In less than three weeks, the old house had taken on a completely new look.

Looking at the renovated house, his parents' faces shone with happy smiles.

"Tianhao, after all your work, I can barely recognize our home," his mother said with feeling.

"As long as you're comfortable living here," Xiao Tianhao replied with a smile.

During his stay with his parents, Xiao Tianhao also drove them and his sister around to explore the surrounding area.

They visited scenic attractions in nearby cities, wandered through bustling markets, and sampled all kinds of local snacks.

His parents and sister sat in the car, gazing at the scenery outside with faces full of wonder and delight.

After a little over two weeks, it was time for Xiao Tianhao to return to the company. Though reluctant to leave, he knew he still had many things to do.

Before leaving, he pressed a bank card into each of his parents' hands. "Mom, Dad, keep these cards. Buy whatever you want. Call me if anything comes up."

His father tried to refuse. "Tianhao, we don't need so much money. You have plenty of expenses in the city. Keep it for yourself."

"Dad, just take it. Earning money is easy for me now, so don't be afraid to spend it." Xiao Tianhao firmly pushed the bank card into his father's hand.

Xiao Miaoqing took Xiao Tianhao's hand. "Big brother, when should I report to your company?"

"In a few days. Once I get back and make the arrangements, I'll call you," Xiao Tianhao said.

"All right, big brother. Don't forget," Xiao Miaoqing reminded him.

Xiao Tianhao slowly drove out of the village. Looking through the window at his home receding into the distance, he silently thought, I have to make more time to come back and be with Mom, Dad, and my little sister.

This trip home made him cherish his time with his family even more. It also made him understand that no matter how much he achieved out in the world, home would always be his warmest harbor.

(This book really has my emotions going up and down. The number of readers keeps rising and falling-oh, my goodness.)

(My new book has set sail! Are there any smart, kind, beautiful, handsome readers willing to give it a follow and tap the update reminder? If possible, please send some free "Power with Love" gifts to support the author. Thank you, everyone.)

(Wishing all my dear readers success in their studies, progress at work, and happy families.)