I Have a Lake as I Walk Through the Courtyard

In a farmhouse courtyard in Hebei, He Daqing squatted alone at the door, trembling as he pulled out a crumpled cigarette from his pocket.

He found a sheltered spot, lit the last match, and, smelling the aroma of food wafting from the house, squatted in a corner, gazing blankly into the distance.

Looking at her two sons, the white widow finally couldn't bear it and served herself a bowl of rice with some vegetables.

"Mom! Why are you still bothered with that guy?"

"After all, you've been husband and wife; you can't just watch him go hungry! If something really happens, you won't be able to escape responsibility either."

"It's not that we're heartless, but that old bastard actually dared to call the police! It got me disciplined by the factory..."

The eldest son slammed his chopsticks on the table in anger. "I finally found someone, and they won't even give me a little bit of my retirement pension!"

"Your dad probably has no money left..."

"He's not my dad! Don't mention him to me again!" The eldest son said, snatching the rice from his mother's bowl.

"If you want to eat, you have to pay..."

Looking at her two sons, the widow didn't bother to persuade them anymore. After finishing her meal, she silently cleared away the dishes.

As darkness fell, He Daqing stamped his feet, stretched his body, and slowly walked into the house.

"What are you doing in here? Get out!"

"This is my home, why can't I come in?"

"Your house? The property certificate is in my mother's name."

"you...."

He Daqing was old after all, and when the two young men pushed him, he lost his balance and fell to the ground.

Hearing the commotion, the white widow rushed to the courtyard. "Daqing! Go to the guesthouse for the night, and come back after the children have calmed down!"

He Daqing listened to Widow Bai's words in disbelief. "Little Bai, how could you do this?"

"Didn't you hear what your mother said? Get out of here right now! You even called the police..."

The courtyard gate slammed shut. Two lines of tears streamed down He Daqing's face. He tucked his hands into his sleeves and slowly walked toward his workplace, the textile factory!

In the factory's kitchen, the gatekeeper, Old Guan, patted He Daqing on the shoulder with a sigh. "Did you argue with your son again?"

"Don't even mention it! Is there anything to eat?"

Lao Guan's dormitory was small; there wasn't much space left after putting in a single bed. He Daqing made do with a makeshift bed on the floor for the night.

"This won't work, Lao He. We've known each other for decades. Why don't you go to Beijing and find your son and daughter? Those two ingrates won't take care of you."

He Daqing didn't say anything, just smoked the cigarette that Grandpa Guan handed him, and sat quietly by the coal stove.

The music started, signaling the start of work at the factory. Grandpa Guan glanced at He Daqing.

"The key's on the windowsill! Your apprentice's eating in the kitchen, so I won't worry about him. If I can help, come find me at the gatehouse!"

He Daqing nodded. "Thanks!"

"No need to thank me! We've been brothers for decades..."

In the capital city, Yu Shui arrived at her brother's restaurant and called Sha Zhu into the alley behind the kitchen. "We're going to Hebei tomorrow to pick up Dad. Are you coming?"

"No way! I don't have the time..."

"You... he's still our father!"

"Don't mention him to me, he's been gone for 20 years! I don't have a father like that!"

Rain stomped his feet in frustration, and Li Jianguo persuaded him to move away.

The next morning, Yu Shui and his wife boarded the train to Baoding, and did not arrive at the train station until 4 p.m.

"Shall we go to his house?"

Rain shook his head. "I don't want to see that widow. Go to my dad's factory..."

"He should be retired by now, he shouldn't be working at the factory anymore!"

"Many people in the factory know him, so he can always pass on news!"

The couple made up their minds and went to the textile factory. He Daqing, who was eating in the kitchen, heard Old Man Guan shouting.

"Great Qing, what are you still eating? Your daughter and son-in-law are here! They've come from the capital!"

Upon hearing this, He Daqing paused in his eating, his chopsticks fell onto the table, and a few minutes later he suddenly stood up.

The two arrived at the factory gate in a hurry. When He Daqing saw his middle-aged daughter standing in the gatehouse, tears immediately blurred his vision.

"Is that you, Rainwater?"

"Father!" Seeing He Daqing's aged appearance, Yu Shui felt a surge of sorrow.

"Hey! My dear daughter, don't cry, don't cry! Did Zhu Zi bully you again...?"

"No!" Yu Shui wiped away her tears. "Dad, this is Jian Guo!"

"Good, good!" He Daqing looked his son-in-law over and over, his eyes filled with undisguised satisfaction.

"Dad, how are you doing here?"

As a police officer, Li Jianguo quickly discerned something from the details. "This isn't the place to talk in the rain!"

"Yes!" He Daqing also realized, and his hand unconsciously reached into his pocket, hesitating for a moment.

"Father-in-law! Are there any decent restaurants around here? I'd like to show my filial piety..."

He Daqing gave a wry smile. "Come with me!"

Inside the restaurant, He Daqing wolfed down his food. He had no need to pretend in front of his daughter and told her the whole story.

"We can't just let those two wolf cubs get away with this!"

Li Jianguo pondered for a moment. "Father-in-law! I think you can't stay here anymore. Come back with us and let us take care of you in your old age."

"This..." He Daqing hesitated.

"Dad! What are you hesitating for? Do you want to be beaten to death by those two ingrates? If that widow were truly kind and righteous, would you be eating in the cafeteria now?"

He Daqing sighed, his last shred of hope extinguished by his daughter's words, and patted the dust off his legs.

"We've been married for decades! It's time to go... But we need to get the marriage certificate done before we leave! Let's part amicably!"

Rainwater was seething with anger. "This is what happens when you form alliances! It's the same for me, and it's the same for me too! None of you will give up until this happens!"

Li Jianguo tugged at his wife's arm. "Say less, your father is already feeling very uncomfortable!"

Upon hearing Yu Shui's words, He Daqing seemed to have lost his soul. "So, Zhu Zi has finally come to this?"

"Your son, doesn't he resemble you? I already told you that in my letter!"

"Didn't Qin Huairu promise to leave an heir for the He family?"

"With her mother-in-law around, do you think it's possible? I reckon my brother's almost as old as you are!"

He Daqing was so angry his face turned red. "So you're saying my He family line is over..."

Rain nodded. "In my brother's family, besides him, nobody else has the surname He!"

"That bastard!" He Daqing calculated his son's age, his face filled with despair. "Unfilial son, unfilial son!"

"Father-in-law! Getting angry now won't help. Let's finish dealing with things here first!"

"Yes, yes..." He Daqing stood up, but Li Jianguo grabbed him.

"Father-in-law, what are your plans to do?"

He Daqing sighed. "What else can we do? The money's already spent, what chance do we have of getting it back?"

Li Jianguo smiled. "That's not necessarily true!"