After a full day of hard work on the yard, Tang Ziyi had finally completed the task he was hired for. He knocked on Li Chen's door, finding him seated and browsing his phone. With respect, Tang Ziyi addressed him, "Sir, I am done."
Li Chen, with a friendly disposition, replied, "Please call me Li Chen. I prefer that over being called 'sir'."
Tang Ziyi hesitated but smiled, "Well, you seem older than me, so I'll call you Brother Chen."
Li Chen chuckled, appreciating the informal address, "That's much better than 'sir'."
Tang Ziyi, a bit nervous, urged Li Chen to inspect his work, "Well, Brother Chen, you can check and see if you're happy with my work."
Li Chen stood up and strolled outside, with Tang Ziyi following closely. Li Chen scrutinized the work, nodding with approval, "Impressive, you did a great job. Please give me your account number so I can transfer your payment."
Tang Ziyi excitedly recited his account number and waited anxiously as Li Chen worked on his phone. Within minutes, Tang Ziyi received a notification. He checked his phone and was utterly shocked by the amount Li Chen had transferred to his account. Stuttering, Tang Ziyi protested, "Brother Chen, this is too much. I can't accept it."
Li Chen responded firmly, "You have to accept it. You did a fantastic job, and that's the payment you deserve."
Tang Ziyi was still baffled, "But this is 10,000 yuan. Your yard isn't even that big."
Li Chen insisted with a warm smile, "Consider it a gift from me. Don't dwell on it."
Tang Ziyi's gratitude was evident as he bowed in thanks, "Thank you so much."
Li Chen then asked for Tang Ziyi's phone number, saying, "Give me your number, so I can call you when I need your services again."
They quickly exchanged numbers, but Li Chen, with a serious expression, added, "Don't ever bow to me again, understand?"
Tang Ziyi, a bit embarrassed, replied, "I'm sorry."
With their business concluded, they bid farewell, and Tang Ziyi left Li Chen's home with a radiant smile on his face, grateful for the generous payment.
As Tang Ziyi walked the long distance home, he couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected turn of events today. Li Chen's generosity had left him with a sense of awe, and the payment he had received felt like a small fortune to him.
The journey through the 6th district streets was a familiar one, as he had spent most of his life in this neighborhood. He passed by other houses that had seen better days, with peeling paint, rusty roofs, and chipped windows, all standing as silent witnesses to the district's economic struggles.
Finally, he reached his home, the two-bedroom house that had been in his family for generations. It may have appeared weathered and modest, but it held a special place in his heart. As he stepped inside, he was greeted by the comforting ambiance of familiarity.
Tang Ziyi's mother was in the living room, sewing a tear in an old piece of clothing. She looked up and smiled warmly when she saw her son. "You're back, Ziyi. How was your day?" she asked in a gentle tone.
Tang Ziyi couldn't contain his excitement as he shared the day's events with his mother. He told her about the yard work, the generous payment he had received, and how he had met a kind man named Li Chen.
His mother listened intently, her eyes filled with pride for her son. "Ziyi, it's wonderful that you met such a kind person. You've always been a hardworking and respectful young man, and I'm glad to see that good things are coming your way."
Tang Ziyi's older brother, Tang Junjie, had been confined to a wheelchair after a construction site accident that occurred a year ago. His injury had brought many challenges to the Tang family, but they faced them together. Their mother, Madame Tang, had been a widow for a decade, and she decided to dedicate her life to raising her two sons in a peaceful and nurturing environment.
Madame Tang had worked as a maid in various households for years but stopped working after Tang Junjie's accident. She focused her energy on taking care of her son, ensuring that he received the care he needed while Tang Ziyi worked tirelessly to support the family by taking on yard work.
Tang Ziyi looked at his older brother with a determined expression and said, "Brother, I made enough money today. I can finally get you some medicine to help ease your pain."
Tang Junjie, unable to contain his curiosity, asked, "How much did you make today, Ziyi?"
Tang Ziyi shared the heartwarming story of his encounter with Li Chen, the kind stranger he had met while working in a yard. He described the generous payment and Li Chen's unwavering kindness, which had left a profound impact on him.
Tang Junjie's eyes filled with appreciation and hope as he listened to his brother's story. He couldn't help but smile and said, "It's hard to believe that there are still such kind-hearted people in this world. You were truly fortunate to meet him, Ziyi."
Tang Ziyi nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude for the unexpected blessing that had come their way. It was moments like these that strengthened their family bonds, and they realized that kindness and generosity could shine even in the most challenging of circumstances.
Madame Tang, appreciative of Tang Ziyi's efforts to provide for the family, said, "Well, I'll start making dinner."
However, Tang Ziyi quickly chimed in, "No, Mum, you've done so much already. You deserve a break tonight. I'll order something special to celebrate."
Madame Tang, ever mindful of their limited resources, replied, "We can't spend money like that, Ziyi."
Tang Ziyi reassured her, "Don't worry, Mum. Brother Chen said he would have more work for me soon, so we'll be fine."
Intrigued, Madame Tang asked, "Brother Chen? Who's that?"
Tang Ziyi smiled warmly and explained, "His name is Li Chen, Mum, the kind stranger I met today."
Madame Tang's curiosity piqued, and she inquired further, "How old is this Li Chen you're talking about?"
Tang Ziyi thought for a moment and replied, "I'm not entirely sure, but he seemed to be around Big Brother's age."
Madame Tang nodded in understanding and said, "It's quite rare to find young people who are so kind these days."
Tang Ziyi eagerly shared, "You know, he even offered me food. I worked with a full stomach today."
Tang Junjie, their eyes filled with gratitude and appreciation, added, "He certainly sounds like a genuinely kind person."
The Tang family had never been blessed with material wealth, but they cherished the happiness they found in each other. Their father, a diligent security guard, left behind only modest savings, most of which went into providing the best education they could afford for the two boys. Madame Tang, although of equally humble origins, was a kind-hearted woman with a passion for sewing and embroidery. She had long harbored the dream of starting a small business but had set it aside due to their financial constraints.
Tang Junjie, upon completing high school, ventured into the workforce, joining Dream Scape Properties to undertake construction work. He had worked hard to support his family, ensuring that Tang Ziyi had the opportunity to attend college. Luckily, Tang Ziyi managed to secure a fully paid scholarship. Tragedy struck a year ago when an accident at the construction site injured several workers, with some losing their lives. The company, in a desperate bid to evade responsibility, concocted a false narrative, blaming the workers for negligence when, in reality, the accident had resulted from the use of subpar cement. The company not only avoided compensation but also refused to cover the workers' mounting medical bills. Among the survivors, Tang Junjie remained the sole victim confined to a wheelchair.
During dinner, Madame Tang gazed at her two sons with a mixture of pride and sympathy. She marveled at how swiftly Tang Ziyi had matured and how remarkably sensible he had become. Yet, she couldn't help but feel the weight of her eldest son's shattered dreams and the injustice he had endured.
Tang Junjie, after savoring the meal, couldn't help but express his delight. "Can't even remember the last time I had such a nice meal," he remarked. Madame Tang, her motherly heart heavy with guilt, responded, "I'm sorry; I feel like I've failed as a mother."
Tang Junjie, ever the considerate older brother, quickly reassured her. "No, Mum, you haven't failed. Life has just been unfairly hard on us," he said.
Tang Ziyi, the family's beacon of hope, chimed in with determination, "Don't worry, Mum. One day, I'll find a job, and we can move out of this old house. You, Brother, can get the best medical care. Maybe you can walk again."
Tang Junjie, touched by his brother's optimism, spoke with a hint of realism, "You're still young, Brother. I didn't get good care when I was first injured. It might be difficult for me to walk again."
Undeterred, Tang Ziyi suggested, "But I'm sure surgery could fix it. Once you walk, you can pursue your dream of acting and become famous worldwide."
Madame Tang and Tang Junjie couldn't help but laugh. Madame Tang looked at her younger son, her heart swelling with affection. "You have such a high spirit, my son."
Tang Ziyi's optimism never wavered as he continued, "Don't worry, Mum. It'll all get better one day. Maybe you can remarry."
The mention of her remarrying caught Madame Tang off guard. She had never considered it, and the thought of her sons bringing it up left her ears reddened with embarrassment. Their laughter and the warmth of their shared dreams filled the old house with hope, dispelling the shadows of their past hardships. In that fleeting moment, the future felt just a little bit brighter, and they held onto the belief that they could overcome the odds stacked against them.
In their modest home, the family had retired to their respective rooms, each bearing a happy smile. Tang Ziyi and Tang Junjie, who shared a room due to the house's limited space, settled into their beds. The room was not large, but it accommodated two single beds.
Once they were alone, Tang Ziyi couldn't help but raise a thoughtful question. "Brother, do you think Mum might be lonely?"
Tang Junjie, considering their mother's situation, replied, "I'm sure she is. She's still young, only 45 years old. She can still remarry and be happy."
Tang Ziyi, perhaps prompted by his curiosity about his older brother's future, inquired, "What about you, Brother? A wife, a family?"
Tang Junjie, who seemed to be diverting the conversation, replied, "Go to sleep."
Noting the subtle shift in his brother's tone, Tang Ziyi decided not to press the matter further. He wished his brother a good night and pulled his well-worn quilt over himself, ready to drift into slumber.