After four years of living alone after marrying far away, he went back to his parents' home and

As Lan Yujuan got out of the taxi, carrying her daughter, the sky was already beginning to lighten.

The entrance to the residential area was quiet, and the rhythmic sweeping sounds of sanitation workers could be heard from afar on the street.

The little one rubbed his eyes, lifted his head from his mother's arms, and curiously looked around at the unfamiliar environment.

"Mom, are we there yet?"

Lan Yujuan nodded, her voice choked with emotion. "Yes, we've arrived."

She held her daughter, tossed her up in the air, and then walked straight towards the home she hadn't been back to in five years.

The Lan family lives in a residential compound allocated to the Lan father by his work unit. As you walk into the compound, you can already see early risers heading out for morning exercise or grocery shopping.

The apartment building has six floors, and the Lan family lives on the third floor.

Lan Yujuan led her daughter slowly up to the third floor. The closer she got to her home, the more uneasy and anxious she became.

Since a violent argument in Beijing four years ago, Lan Yujuan has lost contact with her parents.

Her father said that if she dared to marry Liu Zhiyuan, he would sever all ties with her.

Lan Yujuan was determined and refused to back down. She was determined to make a name for herself and prove to her family that her choice was right!

However, later on, various experiences in life completely crushed her spirit.

The truth of life, however, is proving step by step that what Dad said, though harsh, was right.

But by then, her daughter had already been born, and she could no longer see the way back.

Since nothing can be changed, contacting parents will only increase their worries and anxieties, so it's better not to contact them at all.

At least, it allows my parents to continue their peaceful retirement life, as if she, their daughter, is still studying in another city.

She hadn't contacted her family for four years, and her parents hadn't looked for her either.

When Lan Yujuan reached her doorstep, she stopped.

She saw brightly colored Spring Festival couplets pasted on the familiar front door. The familiar handwriting was clearly her father's.

Lan Yujuan gently stroked the characters on the Spring Festival couplets, a smile appearing on her lips, but tears silently welled up in her eyes.

"This old man's handwriting is getting uglier and uglier..." Lan Yujuan murmured softly.

The little one standing beside her, holding her hand, couldn't wait any longer and looked up anxiously to ask:

"Mom, is this the place?"

"Is this my grandparents' house?"

Lan Yujuan quickly wiped her eyes and nodded gently, "Yes, that's right."

The next second, the little guy started excitedly banging on the door.

"Grandpa!"

"grandmother!"

"Open the door!"

"Baby's back!"

Lan Yujuan was startled and quickly stopped the little one, "Shh! Keep your voice down, the neighbors are still sleeping!"

The little guy was also confused. After realizing what had happened, he started whispering to the door, gently knocking on the door while repeating what he had just said.

Looking at her daughter's adorable appearance, Lan Yujuan was both amused and exasperated.

"You're speaking so softly, the people inside can't hear you!"

The little one was frustrated, snuggled into her mother's arms, and whined, "What should we do then?"

Lan Yujuan pinched her daughter's cheek, a smile flashing in her eyes, "It's okay, Mommy has a way!"

Immediately afterwards, she tiptoed and reached out to feel around on the door frame. After a short while, her eyes lit up.

"Found it!"

Just like before, there was a spare key hidden on the door frame.

Lan Yujuan clapped her hands, carefully inserted the key, and slowly opened the door.

The next second, all four people inside and outside the door were stunned.

Lan Yujuan's eyes were still wet when she saw her mother staring intently at her while kicking her father's cane.

"Teacher Lan, am I dreaming again?"

*

Back home, everything was as before.

Even his room is still the same as it was when he was in college.

Lan Yujuan reached out and touched the dressing table; the tabletop was clean and spotless.

She put down her backpack, sat on the edge of the bed, closed her eyes, and lay back in a starfish position, instantly enveloped by the fragrant and soft bedding.

Even the scent of laundry detergent on the sheets was her favorite lavender scent!

"Juan'er, how many days are you planning to stay at home this time?" Mother Lan asked softly, her voice trembling slightly, as she stood at the doorway.

Even though the elderly couple had already confirmed with each other that their daughter had really come back this time!

But when Lan's mother spoke, she still didn't dare to speak too loudly, for fear of waking up her sweet dream.

Lan Yujuan rolled over on the bed, then sat up on the other side and said seriously:

"I'm not leaving!"

"Mom, I want a divorce."

Lan Yujuan hadn't really figured out how to discuss this with her parents yet, so she decided to just take it one step at a time!

Anyway, she now has some savings.

In addition, she receives a relatively substantial monthly royalty income, though it is not always stable.

The worst-case scenario is that my parents kick me out of the house and I have to rent a place to live on my own.

She also believed in herself and that she was capable of supporting herself and her daughter.

Could things get any worse than in Xiahe Village? Definitely not!

Mrs. Lan was stunned for a moment, then belatedly realized, "You want a divorce?"

Lan's mother silently turned around and glanced at her granddaughter, who was sitting obediently in the living room, watching cartoons intently.

And his restless wife, leaning on her cane, kept circling around her granddaughter.

It's easy to see that Teacher Lan really wants to get close to this granddaughter, and even desperately wants to establish a close and friendly grandmother-granddaughter relationship with her in a short period of time.

But after searching for a long time, I still couldn't find a starting point.

Finally, he noticed that his mother was secretly watching him, and a look of embarrassment flashed across his face.

He quietly sat down next to the little guy, stared at the TV with a serious expression, and watched cartoons with him.

"Divorce, fine!" Mrs. Lan turned her head and blurted out almost immediately.

"Yujuan, whatever you want to do, your parents will support you from now on!"

"In recent years, Mom and Dad have come to terms with it. As long as you're doing well, they don't care what happens!"

Lan Yujuan sat on the edge of the bed, pouting. All the grievances she had accumulated over the years seemed to surge into her heart in an instant.

Seeing this, Lan's mother felt heartbroken and came over to hug her daughter tightly.

But she dared not ask another question, for fear of reopening her daughter's wounds.

As she stroked her daughter's long hair, tears streaming down her face, Lan's mother softly comforted her:

"Good child, don't be afraid~"

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you and the children are back!"

When the mother and daughter wiped away their tears and came out of the room, the living room was quiet.

Even the animated films that were playing were muted.

The little guy had been restless all night, but finally settled down at home and fell asleep in his grandfather's arms without realizing it.

The father held the little one with practiced ease, his cane placed beside him, and he dared not move an inch.

Lan Yujuan walked over with red and swollen eyes, and spoke softly and with difficulty:

"Dad, Xiaoman is asleep. Let me carry her back to her room!"

Mr. Lan's back trembled, and he didn't look up for a long time. Finally, he muttered in a low, hoarse voice:

"I don't need you to carry me, I'll do it!"

Then, without taking the cane, she carefully picked up the little one and stood up. She stumbled, which startled Lan's mother, who quickly stepped forward to support her.

"Never mind, let me hold him!" Mother Lan gently advised.

Mr. Lan stubbornly turned away, refusing to budge an inch. "You go ahead and do your thing, I can manage!"

"Weren't you getting ready to go grocery shopping? Hurry up, hurry up!"

"Oh, right, I suddenly want to try those chocolate coins. Could you stop by the supermarket on your way and buy me a few pounds?"

Lan Yujuan glanced at the TV next to her, which was showing the episode where Grandpa Pig led Peppa and the others to dig for treasure and found chocolate coins. She quickly shook her head at her mother.

Good heavens! After eating several pounds of chocolate, will my teeth even survive?

Although he wasn't using crutches, Mr. Lan carefully carried his child and walked slowly and steadily, step by step.

Lan Yujuan watched as her father carried her daughter toward the master bedroom in the north, and quickly spoke up to remind him:

"Dad, you've come to the wrong room. My room is on the south side!"

Without turning his head, Lan's father muttered:

"That small room is too bright during the day, how can the baby sleep... What if he rolls off the bed?"

Lan Yujuan was speechless when she heard this lame excuse.

Seeing this, Lan's mother quickly patted her daughter's back and coaxed, "Let him be!"

"Now that you're finally home, your dad just wants you to get a good night's sleep!"

"Don't worry, the child's parents will definitely take good care of him!"

Lan Yujuan's heart softened. She leaned her head on her mother's shoulder, looked at the cane beside the sofa, and asked sadly:

"Mom, what's wrong with Dad?"

"He's always been in good health, so why is he using a cane so soon after retirement?"

It's only been four years since I last saw my parents, but they look like they've aged more than ten years.

My mother, who used to have a head of long, black hair, is now showing white streaks...