Colorful years

Hearing his younger brother Zhang Cong's voice, a mixture of concern and anxiety, on the other end of the phone, Zhang Ming felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

He was secretly pleased, thinking, "At least you have some conscience, you still know to call home and check on your old man."

However, this relief was soon replaced by a problem. His parents had repeatedly told him to keep his father's hospitalization a secret from Congcong, so as not to distract him from his studies.

At this moment, Zhang Ming's mind felt like it was tightly tangled in a mess, his thoughts a jumbled mess.

He knew his younger brother, Congcong, was at a crucial stage preparing for the college entrance examination, and he couldn't let him worry, lest it affect his future. He had to keep this secret about the family's predicament, and not let his parents' hard work go to waste.

Zhang Ming frowned, his gaze fixed on the distance, lost in deep thought.

He pondered repeatedly in his mind how to phrase things in a way that would both soothe his younger brother's tender heart and cleverly conceal the truth. Time passed second by second, and fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on Zhang Ming's forehead.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the phone, Zhang Cong's wait grew increasingly long and agonizing. He noticed his older brother's silence and a sense of unease and suspicion rose within him.

Logically, if Father's leg injury had healed, Elder Brother's answer should have been decisive and without hesitation. But the fact that he hesitated for so long clearly indicates that things are not so simple.

Various guesses and worries began to surface in Zhang Cong's mind. His father's injuries must have worsened. Thinking of this, Zhang Cong felt a tightness in his heart and was extremely anxious.

Finally, unable to contain his anxiety any longer, he spoke urgently into the phone:

"Brother, please stop torturing yourself. I know Dad's leg injury hasn't healed at all; in fact, it's gotten worse. He might even be in the hospital now. You don't need to go to all this trouble to hide it from me anymore. Just tell me the truth!"

Zhang Cong spoke rapidly, like a machine gun, getting straight to the heart of the matter. His voice was filled with concern for his family, and also revealed an undeniable firmness.

Hearing his younger brother's words, Zhang Ming was slightly taken aback, then sighed helplessly. He knew that there was no point in hiding it any longer. So, he could only tell Zhang Cong the truth about their father's hospitalization.

"Sigh, alright, since you've already guessed, I won't hide it anymore. Yes, Father is indeed in the hospital." Zhang Ming's words carried a hint of helplessness and guilt. "Father repeatedly told me to keep it from you, not wanting you to worry. But in the end, I still couldn't hide it."

Hearing this, Zhang Cong's voice immediately became tense and anxious, "Big brother, how is Father now? Is it serious? What did the doctor say?"

Zhang Ming took a deep breath, trying to keep his tone calm. He told Zhang Cong everything he knew about his father's illness.

It turned out that because his father's leg injury had not been cleaned and treated for inflammation in time, the wound gradually became infected and festered. What was worse, his father actually endured the pain and walked over a hundred miles with his injured leg! This undoubtedly made his already serious injury even worse.

Recalling the night his father returned home, Zhang Ming still feels lingering fear. That night, his father suddenly developed a high fever, and his temperature continued to rise without any sign of abating. The family was extremely anxious but helpless.

They could only watch helplessly as their father succumbed to illness, his face becoming gaunt and his mind clouded. That feeling of helplessness and despair remains unforgettable for Zhang Ming to this day.

Left with no other option, the next morning they rushed their father to a nearby clinic and admitted him to the hospital. They hoped that professional medical care would help him recover as soon as possible.

However, despite being hospitalized for several days, Zhang Ming had no idea whether his father's condition had improved.

His elder brother's words struck Zhang Cong like a bolt from the blue. He was instantly filled with worry and concern for his father.

He knew that his father had always been very loving towards him, and now that his father was seriously ill, how could he just sit idly by?

After careful consideration, Zhang Cong made a decisive decision—he wanted to ask for leave to go home and visit his seriously ill father.

He knew that doing this might interfere with his studies, but in his view, his family's health and happiness were far more important than his studies.

So Zhang Cong immediately called his homeroom teacher, Ms. Chen. He told Ms. Chen about his situation and asked to go home on leave.

After listening, Teacher Chen expressed her understanding and urged Zhang Cong to take good care of his family and not to fall too far behind in his studies.

On his way home, Zhang Cong felt unusually heavy-hearted. He kept recalling his father's usual voice, smile, and the love and care he had given him.

He secretly vowed to take good care of his father and help him recover his health as soon as possible. At the same time, he also began to think about his own future path and choices.

He realized that his family was his strongest support and most precious asset, and that he could not easily give up or back down no matter what difficulties and challenges he encountered.

Finally, Zhang Cong returned home. He rushed to the hospital to visit his father.