Colorful years

A hint of helplessness and dissatisfaction flickered in his eyes. However, faced with the inevitable outcome, he could only silently endure it, daring not to utter a single word of objection, and could only accept this reality with a heavy heart.

The half-quilt was clearly too small for the spacious bed, so Grandpa had no choice but to place it in the cradle. It was in this cradle, covered with this inconspicuous quilt, that Congcong gradually grew from an infant in swaddling clothes into a lively and adorable three-year-old child.

This half-quilt, though seemingly insignificant, is like a living history, silently recording the rise and fall, separation and reunion of the family.

Over the course of time, the relationship between grandparents has quietly changed because of this half-quilt, and a slight estrangement has gradually developed.

Deep down, each of them harbored different thoughts and grievances, but these emotions were deeply suppressed and never easily revealed.

Since Congcong turned one year old, his grandmother has shown her love for her grandson in a unique way.

After all, the family had already separated, and Grandma devoted all her thoughts and energy to her fifth son, Zhang Hou's, family.

However, her love for her grandson Congcong remained undiminished. In order to spend more time with Congcong, the grandmother went to great lengths and came up with a unique method.

One morning, Grandma called Congcong to her bedroom and said solemnly, "Congcong, Grandma has a strange illness that can only be cured by drinking your urine. Would you like to help Grandma with this?"

"Grandma, I'm willing to do anything to cure your illness!" Congcong was overjoyed when he heard that his urine could cure his grandmother's illness and agreed without hesitation.

"Congcong, starting tomorrow, come to Grandma's room every morning after you get up," Grandma said softly, looking at Congcong with affection.

"Congcong, this is a secret between us, grandmother and grandson. You must not tell anyone else!" Grandma said with an unusually serious expression.

"Grandma, I understand!" Congcong nodded solemnly.

From then on, the first thing Congcong did every morning after waking up was to run to his grandmother's room and urinate into her special porcelain bowl. Then, his grandmother would pick up the bowl and drink it all in one gulp. Day after day, year after year, until Congcong was six years old, this never stopped.

As the years have passed, this little secret between Congcong and his grandmother has flowed quietly in their hearts like a hidden and warm river.

Spring goes and autumn comes, seasons change, and in Grandma's room, there is always a special and indescribable atmosphere, which is the unique memory and emotion between Congcong and Grandma.

Every morning when the first rays of sunlight stream through the window and fall upon Grandma's kind face, Congcong knows it's time to fulfill his little promise.

As Congcong grew older, his childlike innocence did not fade with time; instead, it was replaced by worry and concern for his grandmother's illness.

He began to inquire everywhere whether there really was a miraculous folk remedy that "children's urine can cure diseases".

Some of the village elders shook their heads and smiled bitterly, believing it to be superstition of the older generation; others were skeptical, recounting various ancient legends and secret recipes.

Although Congcong only had a vague understanding of these legends, his love and desire to protect his grandmother made him firmly believe that his urine, even if there was only a sliver of hope, could bring health and comfort to his grandmother.

In the blink of an eye, Congcong has grown into a bright and clever young boy who can run and jump. He has begun to learn to read and write, and has absorbed a lot of scientific knowledge from books. He has learned about the composition and function of human urine, and has come to understand that the claim that "children's urine can cure diseases" has no scientific basis.

However, whenever the night is quiet and Congcong lies in bed tossing and turning, an indescribable emotion always wells up in his heart—it is a deep love and reluctance for his grandmother, as well as a persistence and belief in himself that he has held for many years.

Finally, one day, Congcong mustered up his courage and decided to have an honest conversation with his grandmother.

It was a gentle evening, the setting sun painting the sky a brilliant orange-red. Grandma sat in the yard, needle and thread in her hand, carefully mending Congcong's old clothes.

Congcong walked to his grandmother's side, sat down gently, took a deep breath, and mustered his courage to slowly say, "Grandma, there's something I want to discuss with you."

Grandma looked up at Congcong, her eyes filled with tenderness and love. She put down her needlework and gently patted Congcong's hand: "Go on, Congcong, Grandma is listening."

Congcong lowered his head, his voice tinged with trepidation and unease: "Grandma, I... I know that boy's urine can't really cure your illness. Over the years, I've secretly asked the old man in the village and consulted many books myself, but actually, none of them have any scientific basis."

But Grandma, I'm willing to continue doing this because I want you to feel my love and know that no matter how difficult things get, I'll be by your side.

Upon hearing this, Grandma's eyes reddened slightly. She reached out and hugged Congcong tightly, gently stroking his hair: "Silly child, how could Grandma not know? Grandma just wanted to find an opportunity to get closer to you."