Volume 2: Storm Rising 2015 Chapter 090: A prodigal son’s return is worth more than gold?
"Mom, I'm back!" Zhou Dongsheng pushed open the door of his house skillfully and shouted loudly. He could already smell the fragrance coming out of the house.
After listening to Zhang Xuhui’s report on the company’s situation, it was already time for lunch, and I had to eat this first meal at home.
Although the new house has been built, according to local customs, you generally cannot make a fire and cook before moving into the new house, so we are still in the old house.
Zhou Dongsheng has never been interested in these customs, but he still follows his mother's wishes. What is most important is that the old lady is happy.
"Dongsheng is back. Just wash your hands and you can eat." Liu Huaiying's voice came from the kitchen. Zhou Dongsheng washed his hands and looked at the dining table. The dishes were particularly rich.
There was a dish of Chaozhou-style braised goose, a plate of fried kale with dried fish, and Liu Huaiying came out with a plate of fried clams with satay sauce, with a happy smile on his face. After looking at Zhou Dongsheng, his smile became even bigger.
Since the construction of the house began, in the past two or three months, the words Liu Huaiying heard most often were "Your son is successful now", "You have endured so many years, you can enjoy your life in the future", "Marry another wife and give birth to a big fat grandson"...
Liu Huaiying's face was covered with wrinkles from laughing so much. It felt like he hadn't laughed as much as he did in the past twenty years. Life really did pay off after all the hardship.
"Wow, today's dishes are so rich, aren't they? Did mom prepare the New Year's Eve dinner in advance?" Zhou Dongsheng said glibly.
"My son has become successful now. There are more dishes for the New Year's Eve dinner. At least we have to give your mother a whole lobster to satisfy her craving, right?" Liu Huaiying continued with a smile.
"There's not enough lobsters, we'll have to get you shark fin and abalone!"
"Let's eat quickly. Mom has already picked a good day. It will be a good day in two days. We can move into the new house and start cooking. Do you have any plans?" Liu Huaiying asked while eating.
"Several friends from Guangzhou are coming over, and employees from the company will also be coming. I estimate we will have to set up more than ten or twenty tables by then." Zhou Dongsheng said casually.
"So many people? There are more than a hundred people at a table of 8. This will cost a lot of money." Liu Huaiying began to feel sorry for the money at the first moment.
"It's more lively when there are more people, and it will add popularity to the new house. We still have to spend this money. Does mom know a banquet chef?" Zhou Dongsheng spoke in a very firm tone.
"This is not a big deal. Since you have already invited all the employees, do you want to invite some relatives? And... your father's side?" Liu Huaiying asked hesitantly.
"Mom can invite whoever she wants, but don't invite anyone from Desheng." Zhou Dongsheng called him by his name and refused him outright.
"You kid, he is your father after all..." Liu Huaiying said with some resentment .
"Stop talking, mom. A man who gives birth to a child but doesn't raise it, and who abandons his wife and children, has no right to be my father, and I don't acknowledge him as his father!" Zhou Dongsheng said with his neck stiff .
"You brought me out of that family with nothing, and raised me with great difficulty. When did they ever give me any help? Now you expect me to hire them? Dream on!"
Zhou Dongsheng got angry when talking about this, and he just said it all at once.
"Just tell mom this, but don't tell anyone else. You're running your own business now, and if you want to gain a foothold in society, reputation is still very important..."
Liu Huaiying was particularly relieved, knowing that Zhou Dongsheng wanted to stand up for her, but she also didn't want her son to be branded as an unfilial son.
"He can abandon his wife and children, so why can't I disown him? Not to mention disowning him, even if he dies, I can't help collect his body." Zhou Dongsheng said decisively.
"Hey, child, you are still young. Some truths are not that simple. No matter how old your biological father is, he is still your biological father. People who don't recognize their biological father will be despised by society..." Liu Huaiying said earnestly.
"Mom, it's scum like him who should be despised, not me. Anyway, I've already fought for you. It's no use for you to persuade me!" Zhou Dongsheng said in a firm and confident tone.
"Well, forget it. If you don't want to invite me, then don't. We'll talk about the future later." Liu Huaiying was a little helpless, but she suddenly realized that her son had indeed grown up.
Not only is she capable, she also has her own ideas, which are not something I can influence. Just the fact that Zhou Dongsheng firmly stands by her side and speaks for her makes Liu Huaiying feel that all her efforts are worth it.
Zhou Dongsheng’s resentment was not without reason. If his “father” acted like a human being, he would not be so angry.
Not only is he good at eating, drinking, gambling, whoring and smoking, he is also a drug addict. He gave birth to a child but abandoned his wife and children. He is neither a good husband nor a good father.
Don't be fooled by his good appearance. He is all show and no substance. Calling him a scum is an understatement. We can only say that he is not worthy of being a human being.
Zhou Dongsheng didn't admit it in his previous life, so it's naturally impossible for him to admit it in this life when he is so confident.
The meal was finished in a not-so-pleasant atmosphere, and the day for moving into the new house was set for the day after tomorrow, so the necessary procedures still had to be followed.
…
On the other side, there was also an old house with a table full of people, all laughing and talking happily.
In addition to Zhou Desheng and his brother, there was also a kind-faced old lady, two middle-aged women and a young man.
"Uncle, let me toast you!" The young man raised his glass with a smile. Zhou Desheng also smiled and said to Fusheng, "Your son can drink quite well. He has a promising future!"
After drinking a cup, Zhou Xiaomei beside him also asked with a smile: "Brother, you will leave after the Chinese New Year this time, right?"
"My return this time is like celebrating the New Year in advance. The construction site is short of someone to look after it during the New Year, so I have to go up and get triple the salary," Zhou Desheng said with a smile.
"Why are you still making money? Your son has become successful now, why don't you just wait and enjoy your life?"
"Indeed, I heard that Dongsheng's business is quite big. Not only did he buy a car, he also built a flying tiger down the mountain. It's quite impressive." Fusheng's son Zhou Jiahe echoed.
"Oh? Dongsheng is so capable! Uncle is so lucky." Fusheng's wife said dryly.
"Well, he just did a small business, it's no big deal. As a father, I can't help, so I won't cause him any trouble." Zhou Desheng couldn't hide his smile, but said nonchalantly.
"How can that be called causing trouble? You are his biological father, and it is his duty for him to respect you." Fusheng said unhappily.
"That's right, uncle. Why are you still going out to look after construction sites? Just retire early." Jiahe said as a matter of course.
"Don't you want to see Dongsheng? You haven't seen him for several years, right? That guy is taller than you now and looks a bit like you when you were young." Zhou Xiaomei continued.
"I haven't seen him for many years. He was so young when we divorced. I only saw him once or twice after that. So many years have passed in the blink of an eye." Zhou Desheng sighed.
“Let’s find some time to go and see it some other day. Maybe I won’t be able to recognize it!” Zhou Desheng smiled particularly happily, as if he had already seen the reunion scene of a loving father and filial son.
Everything seemed to be taken for granted in the eyes of the Zhou family. After all, how could a son not recognize his biological father? Even if this biological father was a drug addict, abandoned his wife and children, and went in and out of drug rehabilitation three times...
But as long as the prodigal son returns, he is worth more than gold. But no one has ever thought about it. Why?
…
