Colorful years

Zhang Ying dragged his injured right foot, each step incredibly difficult. Despite this, he moved cautiously, afraid of falling. Watching his faltering figure, Zhang Cong felt a pang of sorrow. Without allowing himself even a moment's rest, he forced himself to stand up again, despite the pain throughout his body, picked up the load, and followed closely behind with heavy steps.

Although Zhang Ying's foot injury made movement difficult, she never stopped moving forward. Step by step, slowly but firmly, she walked towards home. Each small step felt like crossing an insurmountable chasm.

Even so, he bit his lip tightly, clenched his fists, and persevered with unwavering willpower. Deep in his heart, he always remembered his grandfather's profound love for him, and he told himself that he must never betray this weighty sentiment.

Finally, just as Zhang Cong successfully carried both loads of firewood safely back home, Zhang Ying also arrived at her doorstep after a difficult journey.

Hearing the commotion, Zhang Ying's mother rushed out of the house to greet her. When she saw Zhang Ying's injured foot and Zhang Cong's exhausted figure, her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

She hurried over to the two men, taking three steps at a time. She carefully supported Zhang Ying with one hand, while gently placing her other hand on Zhang Ying's shoulder, all the while murmuring something to herself.

"Slow down, slow down, be careful..." In this way, she slowly helped Zhang Ying into the house and let her lie down on the bed to rest.

Then, she turned around and thanked Zhang Cong, who was standing to the side, repeatedly saying, "Uncle Cong, we really owe you a lot this time! If it weren't for your help, we don't know when our Ying'er would have been able to return home safely! Our whole family will remember this kindness." As she spoke, her eyes reddened slightly, and her voice was full of sincere emotion.

Zhang Cong smiled slightly, waved his hand gently, and replied in a mild tone, "Ying'er's mother, aren't you being too formal? We're family, so helping each other out is only natural."

Just then, Zhang Ying's father, Zhang Xun, also rushed out of the house upon hearing the news. When he saw Zhang Cong's clothes, soaked with sweat and clinging tightly to his body, a deep sense of gratitude welled up in his heart.

He strode up to Zhang Cong and said with deep emotion, "Uncle Cong, our Ying'er was in trouble this time, but fortunately you came to her rescue in time. This is a great blessing for her! I really don't know how to repay you."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Cong blushed slightly, scratched the back of his head somewhat embarrassedly, and replied humbly, "Nephew Xun, please don't say that. I was just doing my bit. I'm happy to be able to help Ying'er."

At this moment, Zhang Ying, who had been resting on the bed in the room for a while, was still experiencing piercing pain in her ankle, but after this period of relief, she was finally able to move around a little.

Looking at Zhang Cong's exhausted figure and body covered in sweat, he felt a pang of guilt and gratitude. He struggled to his feet, walked to Zhang Cong's side, and said, "Grandpa Cong, I'm so sorry! It's all because of me that you've suffered so much."

Zhang Cong smiled and shook his head, saying, "Ying'er, what are you saying? We're family, it's only right that we help each other."

With a smile on her face, Zhang Ying's mother carefully carried two steaming bowls of soup out of the kitchen. She gently placed the soup on the table and said to the two children in a gentle tone, "Come, come, children, it's so cold, quickly drink a bowl of hot soup to warm yourselves up! I've been simmering this for a long time."

Upon hearing this, the two quickly reached out and took the two bowls of steaming hot soup. They eagerly picked up the bowls and gulped down the delicious broth.

With each sip of hot soup that slid down my throat, a warm current instantly spread throughout my body, gradually warming up my initially chilly body.

Soon, the two bowls of hot soup were empty. Zhang Cong put down his empty bowl with satisfaction, stood up, thanked Zhang Ying and her parents, and said goodbye.

Zhang Ying and his parents walked to the door and stood there quietly, their eyes following Zhang Cong's receding figure.

As night deepened, a vast black silk ribbon enveloped the entire earth. Inside the Zhang family's small house, however, the lights shone brightly, radiating a warm glow.

Zhang Ying was lying comfortably on the soft bed, his eyes slightly closed, his mind replaying the events of the day. Those beautiful scenes flashed before his eyes like a captivating movie, filling him with waves of warm and powerful energy.

At that very moment, in another small house not far from the Zhang family's house, Zhang Cong, who was also resting in bed, was reminiscing about the events of the day.

After a long day of busy work, he felt as if his body had been completely drained, utterly exhausted. However, despite his physical exhaustion, his heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and joy.