Chapter 115: This Matter Is Quite Troublesome

Chapter 115: This Matter Is a Bit Troubling

Time flies like an arrow, and the days slip away like a shuttle weaving through the fabric of life. Moments keep passing, and slowly, our parents grow older... Where does all the time go?

That year’s Spring Festival Gala, Zhang Le touched our hearts with a song that showed us: as we grow day by day, our parents age day by day as well. We are like fresh sprouts, growing rapidly, while our parents are like ancient trees, gradually withering.

A truly good song possesses vibrant life. Zhang Le’s simple and unpretentious lyrics reached deep within the soul, expressing parental love with a power that moved hearts. The gentle melody flowed tenderly, carrying this love softly through the air.

Home — an eternal, unchanging theme. No matter where we are, home is always a sanctuary of happiness. The support and concern of parents and family give those of us who wander far from home the strength to keep moving forward.

Zhang Le, who penned and composed the song, and Yang Xiner, who sang it, conveyed this message clearly in “Come Home Often”: those of us who toil away in distant places should take time to return home. Parents ask for nothing more than your presence, your company for a while.

The river of time flows quietly on, carrying away the irretrievable years. The rings of time quietly add up, one after another. No longer do we ask where time has gone — it is always here, in our hands. We must cherish the bloom of youth!

The Spring Festival Gala ended, but its impact continued to ferment. Zhang Le’s deeply moving song, “Where Has the Time Gone,” carried a gentle melancholy. Though its tone clashed with the festive atmosphere of the gala, it became the highlight of the entire event and sparked widespread discussion.

This song became the gala’s most beloved performance.

Where has the time gone? The lament over the aging of parents ultimately evolved into a profound reflection on the value of time itself, sparking heated debate on how young people ought to arrange their lives.

Despite the enormous response to Zhang Le and Yang Xiner’s two songs on the gala stage, neither paid much mind. Early on Lunar New Year’s Day, the two hurried to the airport, flew straight to Jin City, and then drove directly back to their hometowns.

By the time they arrived home, it was already afternoon.

“Xiner, help me bring the gift I bought for my nephew!” Zhang Le teased his little nephew, smiling as he spoke to Yang Xiner.

As soon as he stepped inside, Zhang Le scooped up his nephew, leaving the task of handing out the gifts to Yang Xiner.

She said nothing, simply taking the jade pendant Zhang Le had bought for his nephew.

“Put it on him, put it on! Look, the little guy seems to like it. Not a bad choice, huh? See, his eyes are shining. He’s smiling, he’s smiling!” Zhang Le laughed.

“The kid’s still too young to wear a jade pendant. Let your sister-in-law keep it safe. When he’s older, he can wear it,” Yang Xiner said with a playful glare, handing the pendant to Lin Yun instead of placing it on the child.

“Let me hold him!” Yang Xiner snatched the child from Zhang Le’s hands.

“You two like kids so much, why don’t you have your own?” Lin Yun took the pendant from Yang Xiner and joked with a smile.

She didn’t understand much about jade pendants but knew that a gift from Zhang Le to his nephew must be valuable.

The worth of the gift was secondary; what truly pleased her was seeing Zhang Le’s genuine affection for her son. Having such an uncle meant her son at least had a promising path ahead.

“Le, you came at just the right time!”

Zhang Le entered the kitchen to see if his parents, busy preparing dinner, needed any help — only to be stopped by his mother.

“It seems there’s no room left,” Zhang Le said with a smile. The rural kitchen was much larger than those in the city; even with four or five people, it wouldn’t feel cramped. But too many hands can be a hindrance when cooking dinner.

“Tomorrow, Xiao Yun’s parents are coming,” Yu Guihua spoke.

“Oh? Uncle and Auntie are coming? Then I’ll go with my elder brother to pick them up,” Zhang Le said cheerfully.

“I’m not telling you or your brother to pick them up! Your brother has a car, and even though Xiao Yun’s younger brother is coming, there’s still enough space,” Yu Guihua shot Zhang Le a sharp glance. “What I mean is, you and Xiner have been together for quite a while. It’s about time our families met, had a meal together, and got to know each other.”

“This might be a bit troublesome,” Zhang Le said hesitantly.

He and Yang Xiner had been together long enough to have met each other’s parents, who had given their blessing. It was only natural for their families to socialize. But in their case, neither family had met yet — which was indeed a little awkward.

“Troublesome? What trouble?” Zhang Yongli interjected. “Are you thinking of something else? Let me tell you, if you dare wrong Xiner, I’ll break your legs.”

“Mom, listen to what Dad’s saying!” Zhang Le was speechless. After all, it was his father speaking — no arguing back. He looked to his mother, hoping she would judge fairly.

“Breaking your legs would be the mildest punishment. Xiner is such a good girl. When she was with you, you were a nobody. Now that you’ve made something of yourself, if you betray her, I won’t recognize you as my son!” Yu Guihua said sternly.

Zhang Le was dumbfounded. What on earth were they imagining? Their minds were running wild.

“What are you all thinking? I said ‘a bit troublesome’ — it’s not my problem, but Xiner’s family situation is somewhat special,” Zhang Le said with a wry smile.

“Oh!” Yu Guihua glanced awkwardly at Zhang Yongli, who looked equally uneasy. They had already accepted Yang Xiner as their daughter-in-law in their hearts; the thought of anyone else was unthinkable.

“What’s so special about Xiner’s family? Could it be...” Zhang Yongli began to ask.

Though he didn’t finish the sentence, Zhang Le could guess what he meant from the expression — and again, he was speechless.

“Xiner’s parents are very busy with work; it’s hard for them to find time. Her grandfather is retired, but he’s quite old, and his status is special. It’s difficult for him to leave Beijing, so he probably can’t come here. If you go to Yanjing, you might meet her grandfather, but her parents — not so much,” Zhang Le shook his head.

“What does Xiner’s family do?” Yu Guihua frowned, curious.

“I remember you used to like a TV drama called ‘General Yang Ke,’” Zhang Le suddenly said.

“Why are we talking about TV dramas now?” Yu Guihua rolled her eyes. “We’re discussing Xiner’s family.”

“Yang Ke... Yang Xiner?” Zhang Yongli muttered, eyes widening as he looked at Zhang Le, speechless.

A father knows his child best! Once Zhang Le mentioned that drama, the connection became clear.

“Xiner’s grandfather is the founding General Yang Ke,” Zhang Le said calmly. “Her father is now the commander of the Yanjing Military District, recently promoted to general. Her mother is a senior official in the Ministry of Culture. They’re so busy they can hardly see Xiner, let alone have time for much else.”

“Ah!” Both Zhang Yongli and Yu Guihua were stunned, unable to say a word, feeling somewhat helpless.

Not just them — Zhang Le himself had been dumbfounded when he first learned this.