Hard work after winning the lottery

Si'an tugged at Zhou Yanjin's sleeve, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears, red like a little rabbit.

He tilted his head back, and asked cautiously, his voice trembling with tears:

"Dad, will you... will you come back to fly kites with us?"

The kite that flew high over the grassy slope and was eventually taken down from the tree by his father is his most precious memory.

Zhou Yanjin's heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by a small hand, both sour and swollen.

He knelt down, pulled his son into his arms, and rubbed his chin against his son's little face.

Of course.

His voice sounded somewhat hoarse as he tried his best to suppress his emotions.

"Dad promises, next time we come back, we'll fly an even bigger kite than last time, okay?"

Si'an nodded vigorously, but tears still rolled down her cheeks and landed on Zhou Yanjin's hot hand.

Zhou Yanjin's heart was scalded by that tear.

He didn't say anything more, but simply hugged each of his three children tightly.

The sadness of parting, like a thick fog, enveloped the entire Hua family courtyard.

The entire Hua family mobilized and escorted them all the way to the old locust tree at the village entrance.

Hua Shu was an honest and simple man, not good with words, and didn't know what to say. He just kept helping to stuff things into the trunk.

Li Guifen and Grandma Hua's eyes were already red with tears. They turned their reluctance to part with their grandson-in-law and future in-laws into the most simple and sincere actions.

"Yan Jin, this is homemade cured pork. You can't buy this flavor in the city. Let your parents try it when we get back."

"And these dried bamboo shoots, picked from the mountains in autumn, are the best for making soup."

"This freshly harvested rice is perfect for making porridge; it's very nourishing. You're busy with work, so please take good care of yourself."

As they muttered to themselves, they deftly stuffed the tightly bound packages, wrapped in cloth bags, into the spacious trunk of the SUV, filling almost every nook and cranny.

It wasn't anything valuable, but it represented the Hua family's most sincere and passionate heart.

As Zhou Yanjin watched all this, a warm, moist feeling welled up in her eyes, and she solemnly agreed to each of them.

"Okay, Auntie, Grandma Hua."

Zhou Yinchuan stood by the car, leaning on his cane, looking at his three beautifully sculpted great-grandchildren. His face, which had never shown any emotion even on the battlefield, was now filled with tenderness and reluctance.

He picked up the three little ones one by one and held them in his arms.

When he held Si'an in his arms, he patted his great-grandson's strong back, his voice filled with satisfaction.

"Good boy, you are the eldest brother, you should help Mom take good care of your younger brother and sister."

When it was Sile's turn, he rubbed his rough cheek against his grandson's little face.

"Sile should listen to Big Brother Hua!"

Finally, it was Si Tao's turn. The little guy was still sobbing, so he lifted his great-grandson a little higher and gently pricked his cheek with his stubble.

"A real man doesn't cry! Great-Grandpa will be back soon to see you build your new giant robot!"

The old man's eyes finally welled up with tears, and his voice trembled with emotion.

He looked at his three children and gave them instructions again and again.

"Listen to your mother, and listen to your great-grandparents too. Eat well and study hard!"

"Great-grandfather promises to come see you again very soon!"

The children nodded as if they understood, their little hands gripping his clothes tightly, unwilling to let go.

Seeing this, Zhou Yanjin stepped forward and took the child from his grandfather's arms.

He didn't get into the car immediately, but instead squatted down again and hugged the triplets tightly in his arms.

The children's soft little bodies smelled of milk, like three kittens clinging to him.

He could clearly feel their affection and reluctance to part with him. This feeling made his heart ache and soften, but it also filled him with unprecedented strength.

His voice was deep and firm, as if he were making a sacred vow.

"Dad promises you."

He looked into Si'an's eyes.

"I'll definitely be back to see you soon. Starting today, we'll have a video call every night at eight o'clock, and Dad will check your math homework."

He then turned to Sile.

"Daddy wants to hear Sile tell us about the interesting things that happened at kindergarten, and the new stories you made up."

Finally, his gaze fell on Si Tao.

"Sitao has finished assembling her new robot and wants to be the first to show it to Dad in the video, okay?"

He didn't just say vague things like "I miss you all," but instead made his promise concrete in the everyday details of life.

This gave the children an instant sense of reality, as if their father had simply moved to a different place but was still involved in their lives.

The three little heads nodded vigorously.

Zhou Yanjin then slowly stood up, her gaze passing over the children's heads, and looked deeply, deeply at Hua Yun.

There were so many emotions churning in those deep black eyes.

Reluctance, longing, worry, and an overwhelming, deep affection.

All the words in the world ultimately boiled down to a tight hug.

He held her tightly, so tightly, in his arms, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones and take away her essence.

He buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling the faint scent of grass that brought him peace of mind.

"Take good care of yourself."

He whispered in her ear, his voice hoarse and barely audible.

"wait for me."

Hua Yun suppressed the soreness rising in her nose and buried her face in his chest.

This embrace, firm and warm, is now her most secure haven.

She could feel his steady, powerful heartbeat in his chest, and she could also feel his arms trembling slightly as he hugged her.

She reached out and hugged his strong waist, nodding gently.

"Um."

No matter how much more I want to say, I can't bring myself to say it.

She looked up to meet his gaze, trying to make her voice sound steady.

"Take care on the road. Let me know when you arrive safely."

Zhou Yanzhen looked at her one last time, as if trying to etch her image into the depths of his soul, then resolutely turned around and opened the car door.

The SUV gave a deep roar and slowly started, kicking up a cloud of dust.

As the car window rolled down, the faces of Zhou Yanjin and Zhou Yinchuan, one old and one young, were filled with reluctance.

The triplets broke free from the adults' hands and ran a few steps after the car.

They waved their little hands frantically and shouted with all their might.

Goodbye, Daddy!

Goodbye, Great-Grandpa!

Sile was the most emotional of all. As the car drove further and further away, she finally couldn't hold back and let out a soft sob.

Si'an pursed his lips tightly, remaining silent, but his large, red, and stubborn eyes betrayed all his emotions.

Only Si Tao shouted at the top of his lungs, over and over again.

"Goodbye, Dad! Goodbye, Great-Grandpa—!"

That innocent child's voice, tinged with sobs, echoed through the empty village entrance, breaking hearts in its wake.

The car rounded a bend and finally disappeared from sight, leaving only a wisp of dust that gradually faded away.

Hua Yun stared at the direction the car had gone, remaining motionless for a long time.

The departure of Zhou Yinchuan and Zhou Yanjin brought the Hua family courtyard, which had been bustling for over a month, back to its usual tranquility.

The two bamboo chairs under the grape trellis, where the old man used to sit, are now empty.

The man's deep voice on the phone could no longer be heard in the east wing.

In the courtyard, the laughter of children chasing after a tall figure and calling "Dad" was no longer heard.

Life seems to have returned to its original course.

Yet it seems that something has changed completely.