Chapter 30

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

x

No Plagiarism!A7s21SNnA6QaQ44R0EGXposted on PＥNAＮＡ The son asked, ‘Why do we go tomb sweeping during the Mid-Autumn Festival?’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq46ZMm1hR 維尼

Father answered, ‘Because Mummy passed away during the festival.’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuFzEKVDC2 維尼

‘Why do you use the lunar calendar, but not the western one?’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ahht54qWj 維尼

‘Why read the western one when you have the lunar calendar?’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xxGzk4R7C 維尼

‘If you read the Western calendar, then I’ll get to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in the park with my friends tonight! They promised they’ll share the snowy mooncakes with the latest flavour with me!’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDuPQ3MSa3 維尼

The father was stunned. He couldn’t help but to admit his selfishness. To overlook his son’s wish! As a traditionalist, he had set his heart on the ‘getting together’ moral of the Mid-Autumn Festival and was hoping to spend time together as a family.8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡOanzDqMT6l 維尼

He desperately tried to convince himself. Every day, I work hard to feed my family. Is it really that unreasonable to make my son spend Mid-Autumn Festival with me? Yet, at the same time, he was aware that he already owed his son ten happy Mid-Autumn festivals.8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9k9Pwp3Bo 維尼

The father then responded, ‘Snowy mooncakes… I’ll buy them for you tomorrow! Now let’s go and pay respects to your mother.’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSfujSUxQX 維尼

The son said, ‘Okay… ’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7xetWavO7 維尼

After a forty-five-minute walk, the two finally reached the tombstone, which was choked with weeds. The father pulled out the weeds and picked up the rubbish, while the son took out a small mobile furnace from his backpack along with the offerings. He placed them in front of the grave and arranged them orderly. On top of the hill surrounded by pitch-blackness, the sparks of fire seemed to be particularly dazzling. The expressions of both father and son were eerily gentle under the flickering flames. Their contours were sharp yet blurry.8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2FucIASRX 維尼

The father said, ‘Honey! We’re here to visit you again!’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmOgMOeBBf 維尼

The son added, ‘We’ve brought a white-lotus-seed-paste-flavoured mooncake for you, Mummy.’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡCszOj6IWSE 維尼

‘We’ve even bought you a “cotton-padded jacket”! It’s to ward off the chill in winter. The weather report says that there will be a few cold waves this winter so the temperature’s gonna be pretty low. Take care my dear! Keep yourself warm. Don’t freeze yourself off!’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfPlagfSKt 維尼

‘Don’t worry, Daddy! Mummy’s been dead for so many years. Her flesh has long been eaten by maggots. She won’t feel cold.’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3ZE7poFFF 維尼

The father found himself stunned once more. He’s right! But he still wouldn’t accept the fact that his beloved wife had returned to bones. His beautiful, gentle wife who ignored her family’s opposition and gave up everything, so as to run off with him, a poor fellow. Day and night, calluses started to grow on her slim, tender fingers. Not a word of complaint was said whenever there were challenges, but only a smile and words of comforts for him… The father could hide his sorrow no more, and he covered his mouth while weeping. 8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoz23WC1OR 維尼

The son said, ‘I’m sorry. I said too much.’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gZVr4CZz0 維尼

The father replied, ‘You did say too much, but you’re right… ‘8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZy3Nr3ZVd 維尼

The son was taken aback, not knowing what to say. ‘Saying too much’ was wrong. ‘Saying the right thing’ was right. Could one act be both right and wrong at the same time? Then should I apologise? Or should I do a half-apology? But how so? ‘I am sor-’? Or ‘Am sorry?’ How do I split up three words into two sections?8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrSoX6TG55 維尼

The father urged his son, ‘Hurry up and cut the mooncake into three pieces. Let’s share them with Mummy.’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVz5hhQZyF 維尼

‘Okay.’ 8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeSDXiu1rK 維尼

The father’s instructions pulled the son out of the spirals of perplexity and chaos. The son hurriedly took out a small paring knife and cut the mooncake. Cutting it into three portions wasn’t a problem, but cutting it into three equal portions was a huge challenge. One is not divisible by three. What should I do? And there aren’t any measuring tools here. I guess I can only make a rough estimation by my eyes… Seeing his son being hesitant, the father couldn’t help but get mad. Without a word, he snatched the knife from his hand and cut the mooncake himself. 8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAwpLr6azE 維尼

The son exclaimed, ‘They’re all in different sizes! They’re not even equal!’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡeA90ISLS6w 維尼

The father argued, ‘They don’t have to be the exact size! Why are you so stubborn?’ 8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzCUgvrcew 維尼

‘Just now you said that you want three equal pieces! Somebody’s suddenly changed their mind about not being stubborn now! You have such a fickle heart! I can’t keep up with you!’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2wXpc0UEW 維尼

Watching his son almost bursting into tears, the father was left speechless once more. It turned out that he did say he wanted three equal pieces. Maybe he blurted out the word ‘equal’ without thinking. But he never intended to ‘divide the mooncake evenly’ to start with. Words, even when spoken without the intention to, could hurt sometimes. Should the speaker take responsibility? Or was the listener too touchy? He let out a sigh. It was all his fault. He obviously knew his son didn’t understand how to read faces and only stuck to his one-sided thinking. Why didn’t he remind himself to be more aware of his own words and actions? 8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1WEjA7xTM 維尼

The father said apologetically, ‘I’m sorry, son. Daddy made a mistake. Please forgive me.’ 8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlnob9rNkU 維尼

‘Am I stupid, Daddy?’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQfuZ7Phla 維尼

‘No, son. You’re not stupid at all. It’s all Daddy’s fault…’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXuGowiI6Q 維尼

There was a double entendre hidden in his words. HIs mind was filled with thoughts of his son’s dim-witted sleeping face, as well as his wife’s pale grey embalmer makeup. Their faces kept changing quickly, as if they belonged to the same person. The same eyes, ears, nose and mouth. The same contour. They drove him crazy and stressed out.8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwOjjzsxx9 維尼

‘It’s all Daddy’s fault…It's all Daddy's fault… It’s all Daddy’s fault…’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YUKkgTPZG 維尼

His wife died of a difficult labour, leaving their bawling son behind. He didn’t understand why this little punk, barely a month old, could be so irritating. He didn’t understand why this brat had to be the one who survived instead of his dear wife. He didn’t understand why his usually rational mind would sprout such a thought. He knew his mental state had plunged into instability for a long time. Still though, he couldn’t care less. He let that wild dog capriciously bite all over the boy. Relief washed over his body… 8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0WVPFLXb1 維尼

‘It’s all Daddy’s fault!’ 8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡx23OGdBd9Q 維尼

Covered in blood, the boy’s face had turned purple by the time he arrived at the hospital. The doctors saved him, but his injuries were so severe that he could never recover fully. His limbs were not agile anymore. His speech was slurred, and his intelligence was greatly challenged.8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcRkzGHy2s 維尼

‘I’m sorry, son!’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31hsTzoDVs 維尼

‘Daddy, you only made one mistake. One apology would be enough. You don’t have to repeat it over and over again.’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFYE50rzKD 維尼

‘...’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WRqzs7rKp 維尼

‘I wanna eat the mooncake.’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYOxsJb3Yn 維尼

The son bashfully pointed at the smallest piece of mooncake. The father rubbed the corner of his eyes, and fed his son the second largest piece. 8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5SSdGHjwg 維尼

‘Can I eat this piece, Daddy?’ 8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tGyDYTMrP 維尼

‘Yes, you can.’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGIziENScl 維尼

The son happily chowed down his piece. Satisfied, a smile was spotted across his face.8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkBFjRmghI 維尼

‘Yummy!’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzvMYlWCaB 維尼

‘You can have another one if you like it. It’s a white-lotus-seed-paste-flavoured mooncake. Eat this and you’ll have a wonderful life!’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡm80ATs6BAU 維尼

A young woman approached both father and son, without making any sound. She handed a sealed pack of mooncake to the pair. Decorous with dignity, her smile was amiable. The shock and realisation of his elapsed love drove the father’s eyes to wander all over her face, and his mind had completely forgotten to stop his son from taking the box.8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkxwMsRzup 維尼

‘Thank you!’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7E0or4duwJ 維尼

‘You’re welcome, dear.’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdN4uQuq9E 維尼

The woman gently patted the boy’s head, telling him that he was the best child in the world. She also told the father to take good care of him. Hot tears brimmed the father’s eyes, yet not a word came out from his mouth. Seeing him not knowing how to react, the woman fed him the largest piece of mooncake. 8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82PARsiBY3 維尼

The father said, ‘This piece is for you.’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRKtfsqMra 維尼

‘I will save the best of everything for you.’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡGje3csmJTH 維尼

‘I will cherish and treasure it greatly.’8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwDg1Xroi5 維尼

The father ate the piece of mooncake, nodding and saying how delicious it was. A kind smile grew on her face. After eating the last piece, she immediately turned away and left with quick steps. It was like a small breeze, or like wisps of smoke. In the blink of an eye, her slim figure had already disappeared.8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcGWfl1CGz 維尼

After exchanging looks, both father and son continued to pay their respects… 8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuJy5wCmtK 維尼

Since that night, the father stopped furrowing his eyebrows. He became more friendly and was more lenient with people. Many said that his personality became that of his deceased wife. Meanwhile, the son became more nimble. He could now catch up with his classmates during sports class. Besides, he also stopped fumbling with his words. He was even recommended to join the school’s debate team. His vision became clear, and his view of the world started to stand out from the others. 8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJiYcQUQCx 維尼

He could see his father’s love and his mother’s blessing.219Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSHxNWo87c

8964 copyright protection215ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlJHkUixJz 維尼

5.161.97.5

ns5.161.97.5da2