Zhang Zhiyuan stood in the hallway, trying to compose himself, when the phone in his pocket rang.


    He answered. It was the school security guard.


    "Zhuang Zi''ang, the security guard at the gate says there''s an old man looking for you."


    "An old man?" Zhuang Zi''ang wondered.


    "He looks to be in his seventies. You should go and take a look," Zhang Zhiyuan said.


    Zhuang Zi''ang sprinted to the school gate. When he saw the old man squatting in front of the guardhouse, tears immediately welled up in his eyes and streamed down his face.


    The old man was over seventy years old, with sparse, completely white hair and a deeply wrinkled face. He was wearing a blue Mao suit, black cloth shoes, and carrying a bamboo basket.


    "Grandpa, why are you here?"


    Zhuang Jianguo stood up excitedly. "Zi''ang, Grandpa was worried about you. I had to come and see you."


    The old man lived in the countryside and had to transfer buses three times to get to the city. He didn''t know how to use a mobile phone and had to ask for directions all the way to the school, only knowing that his grandson''s name was Zhuang Zi''ang. The security guard entered Zhuang Zi''ang''s name into the computer, found his homeroom teacher Zhang Zhiyuan, and contacted him.


    Zhuang Zi''ang hurried over and hugged his frail grandfather, sobbing uncontrollably.


    When he was five years old, his parents divorced. Zhuang Zi''ang was sent to the countryside to live with his grandparents for half a year. In that short six months, the kind old couple gave him a rare taste of familial warmth. A deep bond formed between grandfather and grandson.


    Later, Zhuang Zi''ang was sent back to the city. Knowing his grandson''s difficult situation at home, Zhuang Jianguo would have him stay in the countryside during the winter and summer holidays. Over the past decade, most of Zhuang Zi''ang''s living expenses came from the old man''s meager earnings from farming. He was Zhuang Zi''ang''s true guardian.


    These past two days, Zhuang Jianguo had been extremely anxious after learning that Zhuang Zi''ang refused to go home. He urged Zhuang Wenzhao to go find him, but Zhuang Wenzhao was always evasive. In desperation, he decided to come to the city himself. He needed to see with his own eyes that Zhuang Zi''ang was safe.


    "Grandpa, I''m sorry. I was being immature and made you worry," Zhuang Zi''ang choked out.


    "It''s okay, child. I know you must have been wronged at home. Don''t be afraid, Grandpa will stand up for you," Zhuang Jianguo said, affectionately stroking Zhuang Zi''ang''s back. He knew his grandson to be kind and good-natured. To do something so rebellious, he must have been deeply hurt and completely disappointed in his father.


    But he didn''t know about the other devastating news.


    Zhuang Zi''ang didn''t dare tell him the truth.


    Just then, Zhang Zhiyuan arrived. Seeing the grandfather and grandson embracing and crying, and thinking of Zhuang Zi''ang''s illness, his eyes reddened again.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Zhuang Zi''ang wiped away his tears and said to Zhuang Jianguo, "Grandpa, this is my homeroom teacher, Mr. Zhang."


    Zhuang Jianguo quickly bowed deeply to Zhang Zhiyuan. "Teacher, thank you for taking care of our Zi''ang."


    Zhang Zhiyuan hurriedly returned the gesture. "Oh, please, sir, there''s no need for that. Zhuang Zi''ang is the most outstanding student I''ve ever taught. I''m very proud of him."


    Zhuang Jianguo took out a few eggs from his bamboo basket and tried to give them to Zhang Zhiyuan. "Mr. Zhang, country folk don''t have much to offer. These are fresh eggs from our own chickens. Please take them."


    "No, no, we have rules. We can''t accept gifts," Zhang Zhiyuan quickly refused.


    "Our Zi''ang is a pitiful child. His parents don''t care much for him. Please look after him," Zhuang Jianguo pleaded.


    "Sir, I will," Zhang Zhiyuan said, his voice trembling. He turned away to wipe his eyes. He couldn''t imagine how heartbroken the old man would be if he knew the cruel truth.


    The security guard was also deeply moved by the genuine and simple old man.


    After Zhuang Zi''ang calmed down, he said to Zhang Zhiyuan, "Mr. Zhang, I''m going to take my grandpa to lunch. If I''m late for afternoon classes..."


    "It''s okay, go ahead!" Zhang Zhiyuan said kindly.


    Zhuang Jianguo thanked Zhang Zhiyuan and the security guards again before leaving the school with Zhuang Zi''ang.


    It was lunchtime. Zhuang Zi''ang suggested going to a restaurant, but the old man refused, worried about the cost. Zhuang Zi''ang conceded and went with him to buy two bitter melons. With the eggs his grandpa brought, they returned to Xu Hui''s two-bedroom apartment and made a dish of scrambled eggs with bitter melon.


    Zhuang Jianguo ate with gusto, complimenting Zhuang Zi''ang on his cooking skills.


    "Grandpa, I''m doing well here. It''s close to school, and I can sleep in a bit longer in the mornings. Don''t try to convince me to go back," Zhuang Zi''ang said cautiously.


    Zhuang Jianguo looked around the small but tidy apartment and sighed. "Your mom is hardly ever home, I worry about you being out here all alone."


    "I''m not alone! I have a lot of friends at school. Everyone likes me."


    "But friends are no substitute for family!"


    Zhuang Jianguo wanted to persuade Zhuang Zi''ang to go back, but he also knew that his grandson''s situation in that house was very awkward. Zhuang Zi''ang was already eighteen, an adult, and had the right to choose his own life.


    "Your dad said you hit Yuhang yesterday. Is that true?"


    Zhuang Zi''ang nodded. "He insulted my friend first."


    Zhuang Jianguo''s expression turned serious. "After lunch, I''ll take you back to clear up this misunderstanding. If you didn''t do anything wrong, Grandpa will back you up."


    Zhuang Zi''ang hesitated for a moment but agreed. He didn''t want his seventy-year-old grandfather to worry about his problems. As for what would happen in three months, he would just have to cross that bridge when he came to it.


    ...


    Zhuang Wenzhao was surprised to see his father and son at the door.


    "Dad, why are you here? You should have told me. I would have picked you up."


    Zhuang Jianguo said angrily, "You drove Zi''ang out of the house. Am I not allowed to come and see him?"


    "We didn''t drive him out. He refused to come back," Qin Shulan said, greeting the old man with a forced smile.


    It wasn''t time for afternoon classes yet, so Zhuang Yuhang was also at home. Both mother and son looked at Zhuang Zi''ang with resentment.


    After closing the door, Zhuang Wenzhao roared at Zhuang Zi''ang, "Look what you''ve done! Your grandpa is so old. What if something happened to him on the way here? Could you live with yourself?"


    "Who are you yelling at my grandson for? I came to see him because I wanted to," Zhuang Jianguo slammed his hand on the coffee table.


    The old man certainly knew how to put his son in his place. Zhuang Wenzhao quieted down, hanging his head and not saying a word.


    Zhuang Jianguo, still fuming, questioned him, "You have two sons, both your own flesh and blood. How can you be so biased as a father?"


    Zhuang Wenzhao defended himself, "I''m his father. I was disciplining him."


    "You call this being a father? You have no right to discipline him!" Zhuang Jianguo was determined to stand up for Zhuang Zi''ang.


    Zhuang Wenzhao fell silent again.


    Qin Shulan chimed in, "Dad, you need to be fair. Yuhang is also your grandson. He was slapped by Zhuang Zi''ang. What do you say about that?"


    Zhuang Yuhang added, "That''s right, my face still hurts. I don''t know what his problem is."


    "Shut up! He''s your older brother!" Zhuang Jianguo said furiously. He couldn''t understand how this couple could have spoiled their child so badly. The younger brother had no respect for his older brother at all.