Era: Rise from the Wilderness

"I'm going home first. I need to talk to my mom about this today; we absolutely have to get a new mobile phone!"

Fu Chao waved, hopped on his brand-new mountain bike, and pedaled away unsteadily.

"I have to go back too; I still need to help my parents with the chores!"

Ding Dong also walked in another direction, his back looking somewhat thin in the elongated light and shadow.

"I...I'm going home too."

Li Wanting looked at Li Yunjing: "Is your leg really okay? Remember to change the dressing on time."

"It's alright, don't worry."

Thank you so much for today.

Li Yunjing thanked him again earnestly.

"I told you, you're welcome! I'm off!"

Li Wanting smiled at him, then turned and walked towards a relatively tidy residential area not far away.

Her family was clearly well-off; they lived in an apartment building.

Watching his companions' figures disappear into the twilight, Li Yunjing let out a long sigh of relief.

He felt the seven yuan and fifty cents he had left in his pocket, turned around, and walked towards his family's small shop.

At the entrance of the convenience store, the dim incandescent light had already been turned on, casting a small, warm glow in the deepening night.

Father Li Hongfeng was squatting at the door, wiping the exterior of the freezer with a rag.

The mother, He Ling, was tidying up the shelves behind the counter, rearranging the somewhat messy instant noodles and sausages.

"What's wrong?"

Hearing footsteps, Li Hongfeng looked up and saw his son limping towards him, his leg wrapped in conspicuous bandages. He immediately frowned: "What happened to your leg?"

"Cloudscape!"

He Ling quickly came out from behind the counter, looking at her with concern: "What happened to your leg? Did you get into a fight?"

"No, Mom, Dad, don't worry."

Li Yunjing quickly explained, "I accidentally fell while playing ball this afternoon and scraped my skin a little. I've already gone to the clinic to get it treated, and it's nothing."

Li Hongfeng looked him up and down a few times. Seeing that apart from his leg injury, he seemed to be in a normal mood and there were no signs of a fight on his body, he was slightly relieved. However, his tone was still reproachful: "How old are you? You don't even know how to play ball properly! Let your mother see."

"You'd better be more careful next time."

He Ling had already squatted down and carefully lifted a corner of the gauze to take a look. Seeing that the wound had indeed been cleaned and bandaged, she breathed a sigh of relief: "Are you hungry? The food is warming up in the pot."

"I'm not hungry, I've already eaten!"

Li Yunjing shook his head, not mentioning the harrowing lunch he had experienced at noon. "Dad, Mom, is everything alright at the shop?"

"What could possibly happen? Same as always."

Li Hongfeng threw the rag into the basin of water, stood up, and patted the dust off his hands. "Business is pretty good today, just like before."

He spoke casually, not understanding the meaning behind Li Yunjing's words.

"oh."

Li Yunjing didn't show it on his face, but simply said, "Mom and Dad, please be more careful and close up shop earlier."

"I know, your mom nags about it every day."

Li Hongfeng waved his hand, "Alright, pack up and close up. With your leg like that, can you still ride a bike? Or should I give you a ride home?"

"No need, Dad, I can walk, just slowly."

Li Yunjing quickly replied.

Getting a little hurt or bleeding is nothing; everyone gets bumps and bruises sometimes.

He's not that dramatic!

The family tidied up the shop briefly.

Li Hongfeng pushed the freezer into the room and locked the door.

He Ling counted the change and carefully wrapped it in a handkerchief.

Then, Li Hongfeng pushed out the old-fashioned bicycle, let He Ling sit on the back seat, and Li Yunjing rode the bicycle alongside, slowly walking home.

The night was as dark as ink, with only a few scattered lights illuminating the streets.

Father Li Hongfeng pedaled his old-fashioned bicycle, carrying Mother He Ling in front. The wheels made a slight "clunk" sound as they rolled over the potholes.

Li Yunjing followed behind on another old bicycle. The wound on his leg throbbed with each pedaling motion, but he gritted his teeth and remained silent.

The evening breeze carried a cool breeze, dispelling the day's heat and easing the slight restlessness in my heart.

Back in my bungalow in the factory's residential compound, the dim light shone through the window, illuminating a small, clean cement patch in front of the door.

After getting out of the car, He Ling, the mother, immediately took out her keys to open the door, muttering, "Hurry up and come inside. Yun Jing, you need to rest your leg. Don't move around too much."

"Yun Jing, sit down and rest for a bit."

He Ling turned and went into the kitchen. "I'll go reheat the food. You must not have eaten enough."

"Mom, really, you don't need to. I've already eaten out with my classmates, and I'm quite full."

Li Yunjing quickly called out to her.

Li Hongfeng pushed the bicycle into the cramped foyer, dusted himself off, and looked at his son: "You really ate it? What did you eat?"

"The food... was stir-fried vegetables and rice, which was quite good."

Li Yunjing glossed over the matter, not wanting to go into details to avoid his parents asking further questions.

He paused for a moment and said, "Dad, wait a minute."

After saying that, he turned and went into his even smaller bedroom.

He dug out his "secret stash" from under the bed.

He took out a fifty-yuan note, walked out of the bedroom, and went to his father, who was pouring water in the living room.

"Dad, here you go."

He handed over the money.

Li Hongfeng paused, looking at the money in his son's hand, then at him, and asked, "What's this...?"

"The fifty I got from you at noon."

Li Yunjing explained, "I wanted to treat my classmates to a meal, but I didn't get to use it, so I brought it back."

"Didn't you treat your classmate to dinner?"

Li Hongfeng didn't answer, his brow furrowing slightly: "Why didn't you spend any money? Or..."

"Others are rushing to settle the accounts."

Li Yunjing stuffed the money into her father's hand, "We ate at a small restaurant on the street, ordered a few dishes, and it didn't cost much."

"You silly child, I'm giving this to you so you can spend it."

He Ling peeked out from the kitchen and saw the scene. She wiped her hands and came over: "Don't be stingy when you're with your classmates."

"Mom, I'm not being stingy, I just didn't get the chance to pay the bill. I'll treat you next time."

Li Yunjing smiled and said, "Keep this money, use it for buying goods or for your household. I'm in school now, so I don't need much money."

Li Hongfeng held the stack of banknotes, still warm from his son's touch, and felt a pang of sadness.

My son has grown up, become sensible, and knows how to be considerate of the family.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he just nodded, carefully folded the money, put it in his shirt pocket, and patted it: "Okay, if you need it later, just tell Dad."

"Um."

Li Yunjing responded and breathed a sigh of relief.

Once the money was returned, the matter was considered closed.

As for the thrilling events that occurred during the day, he decided to keep them to himself.

What good would it do to tell my parents, other than to make them worry and cause them unnecessary trouble?

Ma Youcai has been arrested, and the matter will most likely be handled fairly.

"I'm going to wash my face."

As Li Yunjing spoke, he walked towards the water tap in the yard.