Reunion

In the southeast corner of the slum, there is a dilapidated hut.

Strictly speaking, this can't be considered a cabin at all, but rather a dilapidated shack. Several bamboo poles serve as pillars, supporting a colorful sky for a middle-aged couple living in this less than 4-square-meter space.

There is nothing in the small shack except for a bed.

Of course, if that thing wrapped in a few stools and plastic woven bags can also be considered a "bed".

However, the middle-aged couple seemed to have their minds elsewhere and did not pay attention to what was in front of them.

The sky is dark early in December, and this couple has already lit an oil lamp at the head of the bed.

Under the dim light, the thin figure of the woman is reflected, her back hunched, with an unstoppable weariness in her expression. She looks at the flickering candle in the cold wind and slowly says, "I wonder how my child Huan Chu is doing now." "

The slightly chubby middle-aged man took off his coat and put it on his wife. His silhouette was clear and seemed to exude a tough aura. But time is a ruthless knife, carving traces of vicissitudes on his forehead.

He bent down, shielding the candlelight with his hand, and said, "Don't worry, that child Huan Chu, good people have their own fortunes. I guarantee he is living well in some corner now, and we don't even know where." "

Although his hair had turned gray, the voice of the middle-aged man remained firm and strong, just like in his youth.

However, these words had no effect on the long-time wife. Thinking of her son who was in a life-and-death situation, tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. "That child, that child, if only I hadn't let him work so far away." What is the future of a career, always less important than his safety...

Although the middle-aged man's face also showed a trace of sorrow, he still forced himself to comfort her, saying, "Yes, when Huan Chu comes back this time, don't let him go out again." "

The middle-aged man looked around the shack again and sighed, "Ah, he's been pampered since childhood. I wonder if he can adapt to living in this place..."

The woman wiped the corners of her eyes with a slightly worn sleeve, then took out a Buddha statue from the head of the bed, palms together, and whispered, "Dear God, please bless Huan Chu to be safe and sound. As a mother, I don't expect him to come back, as long as he is safe, even if it means I have to shorten my life by ten years... no, twenty years, I am willing to do so willingly! "

As he spoke, his voice became choked with emotion.

The middle-aged man obviously was accustomed to the scene before him, just sighed lightly, walked to the edge of the bed and sat down, subconsciously reached into his chest pocket for a cigarette, only to find it empty. It was then he realized that he hadn't touched tobacco for a long time since the zombie outbreak.

Huan Chu had been standing outside the shack for a long time, and even Chen Wenwen did not approach to disturb him.

Near the hometown, feeling even more timid, dare not ask about the coming person.

When he saw this small shack, Huan Chu felt a wave of sadness in his heart. He hated himself for coming back so late, causing his parents so much worry.

He was even more afraid that when he lifted the thick curtain, all he would see were the bodies of his parents.

Therefore, he, who has always been decisive, hesitated and stood still half a meter away from the hut, just listening quietly to the voices inside.

He heard his mother's worries, his father's comfort; he heard his mother's prayers, his father's sighs; he heard even more the worries and concerns in his parents' hearts... …

Until the last sigh of his father came, Huanchu's eyes were already filled with tears without him realizing it.

In the lonely night, the silhouette is cut by the solitary lamp, the eyes are like a dragon, and the gaze soars into the sky.

The frost drifts lightly on the temples, spring beneath the waist, autumn above the eyebrows.

Thirty-two years of wind and rain, after the rain and clouds clear, the worries are like tides.

Parents have worked hard for half their lives, kneeling down to feed their children, and repaying them today.

Huan Chu couldn't wait for a second longer, he pushed aside the door curtain directly, rushed in with quick steps, and gazed at the elderly figures under the light in silence for a long time.

In just half a month, parents have aged so much. The black hair at the temples of the mother has been dyed with frost, and the father's upright figure has also bent down.

The middle-aged couple did not look up when someone suddenly burst in.

The middle-aged man sat on the bed, still staring quietly ahead, and simply said, "Take whatever you want, but there's nothing valuable left anyway." "

The woman, however, tightly embraced the Buddha statue in front of her, without saying a word.

Huan Chu could no longer hold back, looking at the familiar faces in front of him, feeling the surging heat in his body, and trembling from the depths of his throat, he uttered a voice: "Mom... Dad..."

The middle-aged couple were struck as if by lightning, their bodies stiffening as they turned their heads to see the figure standing proudly in the cold wind. The familiar aura, the familiar gaze, and even the feeling of blood connection in their hearts.

"Crack! Mother unknowingly loosened her grip, and the Buddha statue fell from her arms, shattering into pieces.

Just now, she had shown an extremely devout expression, but she did not notice at all. She stood up slowly, walked to Huan Chu's side, tremblingly reached out her hand, approached Huan Chu's cheek, but hesitated to touch it: "Am I not dreaming... Old man, is it really Huan Chu who has come back? What if I touch it and it disappears...

Huan Chu's eyes were filled with tears, and he grabbed his mother's slightly cracked hands and pressed them against his face, saying, "Mom, I'm back!" I'm back! "

The mother finally confirmed that her son, whose life or death was unknown, was standing alive in front of her. She held Huan Chu in her arms, tears streaming down uncontrollably, saying, "As long as you're alive, it's all that matters... If you were gone... how could Mom go on living..."

The father also trembled as he got up from the bed, unable to control his emotions any longer. He opened his arms and embraced the mother and son tightly. His slightly stooped figure now seemed to have such broad arms: "Yes, your mother is right, it's good to be alive, it's good to be alive." If you were gone, Mom and Dad wouldn't be able to go on living...

The people outside the shack naturally knew what was happening inside, and they were all very tactful not to disturb them, just waiting quietly in the cold wind for the boss to appear.

...

Time passes quietly.

When Huan Chu walked out of the shack with his parents, there was no trace of tears on his face.

Dad, mom! Lin Maomao was the first to rush into the arms of Huan Chu's parents.

Seeing not only their son living well, but also half of a daughter still lively in front of them, the father and mother naturally felt greatly relieved, constantly looking at the muddy Lin Maomao and asking about her recent situation. But there is a strong sense of family and warmth in reverse.

Chen Wenwen looked at the heartwarming scene in front of her, feeling melancholy, as if she wanted to take a few steps back and hide in the shadows.

But her delicate wrist was grabbed by a pair of big hands. Looking up, she saw Huan Chu looking at her warmly. The gaze was not passionate or ambiguous, but filled with endless warmth and care.

If one day I die, will you shed tears for me? "Chen Wenwen suddenly whispered softly in Huan Chu's ear."

This was the first time Queen Chen showed weakness in front of Huan Chu. He was deeply shaken and quickly supported her shoulder, saying, "I won't let this happen!" The only way you could have died is if I was walking in front of you. "

Chen Wenwen buried her face on his shoulder and began to sob softly.

Huan Chu suddenly felt that the girl in front of him was very sad. She lost her parents early and struggled alone in this ruthless society with the inheritance left by her parents. It is unknown how many grievances and sorrows she has experienced. Therefore, she wraps herself up like a hedgehog, ready to fiercely prick anyone who tries to get close.

In the end times, although the two of them depended on each other for a period of time, she received very little of Han Chu's care and comfort. After all, in this dangerous world, Huan Chu constantly thinks about how to survive, how to survive with her, but never thought about how much psychological pressure a woman struggling in such a world has, how much frustration is accumulated in her heart.

In such a world, Huan Chu must always maintain the identity of the leader of the entire team, while also maintaining the dignity of the team's boss lady. For her, even leaning on Huan Chu's shoulder and crying like today has become a luxury.

When Chen Wenwen finally calmed down, Huan Chu gently wiped her face with a tissue and said, "Luckily you're not wearing makeup, otherwise with tears streaming down like this, you would have turned into a little crying kitten." "

The queen was about to coquettishly complain, but was interrupted by Huan Chu: "Let's go, shall I take you to meet my parents?" "

Ah? I'm not ready yet! Queen Chen suddenly panicked, combing her hair carefully in front of the mirror while asking, "Huan Chu, I didn't bring anything with me, what should I do?" Do you have anything that can be used as a gift, lend it to me? "

Huan Chu couldn't stand it anymore, and didn't bother to listen to her nonsense. He directly grabbed her hand, saying, "Even an ugly daughter-in-law must meet her in-laws," and pulled her in front of his parents, wrapping his arms around Chen Wenwen's waist, "Dad, Mom, this is my girlfriend, Chen Wenwen." "

Father chuckled and took a closer look at the person in front of him, Chen Wenwen. The tall girl in front of me is not only beautiful like a fairy, but also elegant in temperament. She really has the look of a 'daughter-in-law', the more I look, the more satisfied I feel.

Seeing Chen Wenwen blushing, her mother naturally knew that the young girl was feeling embarrassed. She quickly sent her son and the old man away, then pulled Chen Wenwen and Lin Maomao into the house. It was unclear what the three generations of women were talking about, but the sound of Chen Wenwen's laughter, like silver bells, could be heard from the shack from time to time.

Huan Chu's lips curled into a faint smile, about to gather everyone to introduce his father one by one, but suddenly caught a glimpse of a flash of fire in the dark night sky, followed by the sound of a gunshot in his ear.

"Oops! "