The flight landed on X city .
The family took a taxi and loaded their package into the trunk with the help of the diligent driver.
After filling all the necessary procedure, Father Yu handed his black card to the receptionist.
....
The receptionist lady didn't know how to tell the old man that his card was declined. But as a veteran, she quickly made up an excuse inorder not to embarrassed anyone. Life is hard for everyone so there is no need to make things difficult for each other.
"Sir, I think there may be a problem with our system, do you perhaps have another card you could use?"
Yuzhen didn't think any further and handed over his secondary card.
The next morning, leaving the weak, disabled and Yu Lan behind, Yuzhen went to real estate company.
He decided on 2000 sq feet house . After completing all the procedure, Yuzhan handed over his card to the agent.
" Sir, your card is declined, do you have any other payment method?"
Yuzhen was stunned. He suddenly recalled what the hotel receptionist said yesterday. His heart began palpitating with anxiety. He hurriedly took out his phone . When he saw the glaring zero balance , he began to experience chest pain and shortness of breath.
In the hotel, Mother Yu was standing in the balcony lost in her thoughts.
A call interrupted her.
" Hello!"
" Am I taking to Mrs Yu, wife of Mr Yuzhen?"
" Yes, this is she."
--------
Knock, knock,..
Yu Lan saw her pale and haggard mother at the her door.
"Mom, what's wrong?"
" I'm going to the hospital.Your dad is admitted to ICU. Take care of yourself and your brother."
Yu Lan was shocked . Her father was perfectly fine this morning. How can he be hospitalized within few hours of separation. She anxiously inquired her mom.
" Mom! What's wrong with dad?"
" They say it's heart attack. Go and tell your brother. "
Then she hurriedly left for the hospital.
After five years.
Yuxuan was strolling on the street of X city. He stopped outside an old modest house. Though he knew their overall condition, it was still shocking to see them change from living in a big Mansion to such a small house. Yuxuan was curious to know how four adult man can be accommodated in such a small living space.
He knocked on the door . The door was opened by a thin old women wearing a simple home dress.
Mother Yu was shocked to see Yuxuan here. Looking at her tall and handsome son wearing high end clothes , she became dazed . He seemed to be living well. Their life was also once so glamorous; wearing the best , eating the best and living in a big Mansion. But now they were reduced to living in such a small place that they once looked down upon.
"Who is it?"
Yuzhen voice came from behind.
The sound brought back her attention.
" Come in."
She stepped aside, giving him space to come inside the house.
In the past three years of poverty, Meng Yao had thought many times of how a little help from Yuxuan could improved their living condition significantly. But after years of not putting him in her eyes ,she couldn't bring herself to asked him for help. Infact, she had even forgotten the last time she called out his name.
The twins relationship with Yuxuan was even worst than with her. She thought, fortunately, they still have Yuzhen. Unfortunately their hope shattered when they couldn't get to Yuxuan.
Yuxuan changed his number as he knew they would call him.
Yuzhen was stunned when he saw his eldest son walking inside the house. Looking at his tall and strong son, he was overwhelmed by emotions.
Honestly, he had never taken his eldest son seriously . He always thought why Yuxuan was so mediocre unlike his smart younger brother even though they were both born to same parents. But now the situation had completely reversed. Unlike Yu Lan who could only do some odd jobs with his lame leg, Yuxuan life look successful in every way.
" How have you been?"
" Couldn't be better ."
Looking around , Yuxuan continued.
" But you don't seemed be living well."
Yu Zhen felt embarrassed by his blunt remark. His old wrinkled face became red .
Yuxuan gave an exaggerated gasp when a wrinkled thin hand placed a cup of steaming tea infront of him.
" Are you sure you made this for me?"
Meng Yao knew he was making fun of her but she had no capital to get mad.
" I made it for you."
" Well, let me experience how a Mother's home made tea taste like."
" Hmmm .. It's nothing special . '
He just took a sip and didn't drink the rest.
He didn't pay attention to her after that . Yuxuan wasn't deliberately trying to embarrassed her but he just felt uncomfortable talking with her. She was like a weird stranger that you feel uncomfortable talking with.
He asked his father.
"Where are the twins?"
Yuzhen felt embarrassed to let Yuxuan know about the twins job. Yu Lan job wasn't bad . He works as a delivery man. Though he didn't earn much but it wasn't a shameful job.
YuWen, on the other hand had completely given up on herself. She works in a bar and sometimes even brings a man home. They had scolded her ,beaten her and had even locked her for a day without giving her food but she doesn't listen to them anymore .
Poverty had made them lost their affection for each other. Now their family is only held together by a thin thread.
" ... They went to work . Why are you here?"
Yuxuan could hear him trying to avoid the topic . But he knew everything about them . They hadn't left his sight all these years. So he just went along with him.
" I have something important to tell the four of you. Let's wait for the twins to come home."
" What's so important for you to come so far?"
" You will know after the twins comes home."
Yuzhen could only give up as he knew he couldn't force it out of him.