Colorful years

Since returning to his hometown to work, Zhang Cong has always remembered the profound and boundless gratitude his parents owe him for raising him, regardless of whether life has been smooth sailing or bumpy.

This feeling, like the gently flowing river in his hometown, silently nourished his heart, allowing him to always cherish a deep longing and reverence for home on his life's journey.

Let's rewind to the early 1990s, a time full of change and hope. In this large family, six of the eight children had already started their own families and careers, each living their own wonderful stories on the grand stage of life.

Even the youngest brother, Zhang Liang, successfully completed his university studies and embarked on his career full of hope and enthusiasm.

The elderly parents and the deaf-mute older sister were the only ones left at home. The three of them supported each other, kept each other company, and lived a simple yet warm life together.

After years of hard work and struggle, Zhang Zhong and his wife finally enjoyed some easier times. The burdens of life were not as heavy as before.

Even on days like these, the nearly seventy-year-old couple maintained their diligence and resilience. They persisted in contracting five mu of farmland, and every day at dawn, as the first rays of sunlight touched the fields, the father would shoulder his hoe and head towards the path leading to the fields. The mother would not lag behind, carrying a water bottle and dry food, ready to offer her father a thoughtful gesture of care.

Every time Zhang Cong thinks of his parents toiling in the fields under the sun and wind, their backs drenched in sweat, his heart is filled with heartache and reluctance. He knows very well that his parents have exchanged a lifetime of hard work for the stability and harmony of their family, and this kindness is higher than the sky and deeper than the sea.

Therefore, he secretly vowed that he would never let his parents, who had worked hard all their lives, worry about money again.

So, whenever the planting season approached, Zhang Cong would always find a way to send the money needed to buy seeds to his parents. Sometimes, he would drive back to his hometown himself and hand stacks of crisp new banknotes to his father's trembling hands; other times, he would entrust a reliable person to take them back to ensure that his parents could buy high-quality seeds in time.

When the crops reach the critical stage of growth requiring fertilization and pesticide application, Zhang Cong, without his parents even asking, will proactively prepare the necessary funds and deliver them to the two elderly people in a timely manner. He knows that these seemingly insignificant actions are a great comfort and support to his parents.

Moreover, considering that his parents were getting old and would soon be in their seventies, Zhang Cong took the initiative to take on the important task of purchasing wood for making coffins without hesitation.

He knew that this was a responsibility and obligation he should fulfill as a son. In order to find suitable and high-quality timber, he traveled far and wide, inquired from many sources, and even drove hundreds of miles to remote mountain forests to search. After three rounds of selection and comparison, he finally found the timber he wanted.

When he presented this heartfelt gift to his parents, tears welled up in the eyes of the two elderly people, a mixture of emotion and relief.

Although there were eight brothers and sisters in the family, in the 1980s, only Zhang Cong was working. The other brothers and sisters were either in school or farming in the countryside.

In those years, he had to shoulder the burden of taking care of his parents all by himself. Time flies so fast; in the blink of an eye, it was the 1990s, and his older sister and younger brother were already working and earning money.

However, Zhang Cong never thought of sharing the responsibility of being filial to his parents with his other siblings.

He knew perfectly well that everyone's abilities and economic conditions were different. Filial piety depended entirely on individual conscience and conscience. Everyone should just do their best; there was no need to compare.

Speaking of which, Zhang Cong also has a very sensible and good younger brother named Zhang Liang. Since he started working, Zhang Liang has taken the initiative to step forward and help take care of their parents.

He knew his brother had a tough time, so he always tried his best to ease their parents' burden. Whether it was gifts for holidays or small surprises in daily life, Zhang Liang always arranged everything perfectly, warming his parents' hearts. His filial piety greatly reduced Zhang Cong's stress. Together, they dedicated themselves to the harmony and happiness of their family.

In the 1990s, a time of change and hope, Zhang Cong's life also underwent new changes. Not only did he excel in his primary job, but he also worked part-time as a special correspondent and reporter for more than a dozen newspapers and magazines in the central government and the province.

These part-time jobs not only broadened his horizons and increased his knowledge, but also brought him a lot of extra income. Especially before 2000, the allowances he earned from these part-time jobs were even higher than his salary from his main job.

Therefore, Zhang Cong doesn't need to discuss the money needed to support his parents with his wife much. He can always unhesitatingly take out his hard-earned money to give his parents heartfelt gifts.

Whenever holidays approach, Zhang Cong always takes his wife and children back to his hometown to reunite with his parents.

In those days, the house was always filled with laughter and warmth. Father would bring out his treasured wines and share their rich flavors with his sons; Mother would serve up her homemade delicacies, allowing the whole family to enjoy delicious food.

Everyone sat together, chatting about everything under the sun and discussing the future. The relaxed and joyful atmosphere made Zhang Cong feel an unprecedented sense of happiness and satisfaction.

No matter how time changes, or whether he is in good times or bad, Zhang Cong's filial piety and care for his parents have remained unchanged.

……

Under Zhang Cong's leadership, the atmosphere of the entire family has become increasingly harmonious and warm. Although the brothers and sisters are busy with their own lives and work, they always work together to face any major or minor events in the family.

That deep-rooted family bond and unity filled Zhang Cong with joy and pride. He knew that all of this was inseparable from his parents' education and influence, as well as the joint efforts and contributions of his siblings.

Time flies, and Zhang Cong has now entered middle age. Looking back on the past years, his heart is filled with emotion and gratitude. He is grateful to his parents for giving him life and raising him; grateful to his siblings for their companionship and support throughout his life; and grateful to the era for the opportunities and challenges it has presented him with…

In the days to come, Zhang Cong will continue to uphold this spirit of filial piety and responsibility, contributing his strength to the harmony and happiness of his family. Those stories and memories about filial piety will forever be etched in his heart, becoming the most precious wealth and memories of his life.