Chapter 0003: Roasting

If nothing is done, these parents are likely to continue their endless worries, and they may even gain a few more gray hairs... But what can I do myself?

The afternoon sunlight streamed intensely through the gaps in the curtains, forming beams of light that projected into this tightly enclosed small bedroom. Countless specks of dust danced in the interplay of light and shadow, gently settling on my slender and agile hands

Liu Shufen thought this idea was quite good, but she was worried that without savings, they might end up consuming their resources. She quietly discussed not to bring up the topic of work again.

Liu Shufen glanced at her husband before speaking, gently holding Buck's hand: "You are still young, and there are many days ahead. You should make plans early. In the future, you will start a company and accomplish great things, right?"

This has also become the most familiar and frequently encountered food for everyone living in those regions, especially the famous Caucasian barbecue from that area, which is truly one of the few delicious memories of the past years for Buck

Rubbing his neck and looking around, the allocation of the two units, both inside and outside, is just these two rooms. If it weren't for the firm refusal right after returning, the elderly couple would have given up the bedroom inside for their son to live in. Now, the new sofa bed, television, and even the air conditioner outside were all newly installed during these few days of their return

Occasional daydreaming or reminiscing about past life experiences will elicit doubled concern from my parents

Buck was extremely frustrated; he used to be a powerful figure who could command the winds and the rain. How is it that in his mother's eyes, he is utterly incapable? He couldn't explain himself and could only roll his eyes: "You really know how to turn black into white. My grades certainly caused quite a stir, leading to my father punishing me severely."

After the result was achieved, I was drenched in sweat, sitting in a tricycle with my leg in a plaster cast, having just returned from buying a fan, when I heard my son muttering, "I am going to set up a night market barbecue stall."

Liu Shufen also looked forward to: "Xiaoming, what advanced technology did you learn abroad? Take it out to scare them..." but was interrupted by Ba Dacheng: "Zhimin, try the clothes at hetushu.com, do you want to buy a car? Take this savings book, we still have some savings. Your mother only used it to buy you a house, and there is still some money left inside. I haven't checked how much there is." In this family, Ba Dacheng used to be the one who spoke with absolute authority and a rough demeanor, but now he only has the heart of a loving father, wanting to give his son the best of everything. This huge transformation is also the hardest for Ba Ke to adapt to.

While sitting on the street enjoying an ice pop and smoking a cigarette, my mother's call came as if it were a shadow: "Xiao Ming, would you like to come back and have some lotus seed and white fungus soup? It's already in the refrigerator; come back and see if it's sweet..."

The most bizarre thing is that the corner of the outer room was originally the corner where I studied during my middle school years, retaining the original textbooks, stationery, and even stickers from my student days from over a decade ago, all of which indicate how much my ordinary parents missed me during the days I was not there

That resounding voice made Buck's temples throb in resonance, and he helplessly reached up to cover his head. As he turned the corner, a large group of middle-aged women scattered at the sight of him. Then, Liu Shufen's voice immediately lowered, returning to its normal cheerful tone: "Xiaoming is back... come here, come here, your dad asked me to buy you new clothes..."

Buck also sat in the shade of a tree, holding an ice pop to cool off, but even though he was under the shade by the roadside, he was still enveloped by the high temperature, with every pore on his body sweating profusely. Yet he preferred to stay here, for it was only in this place that he could escape the fervent enthusiasm of his parents, which rivaled the current heat.

Too sweet

Bada Cheng, leaning on his cane, still held the same view: "A steady stream of water flows slowly; the money you earn while studying and working abroad is not easy to come by. Buying a house is for you to start a family. We old folks have lived this way our whole lives, and we are used to it. If you want to stand out, of course, you need to dress appropriately. This suit, they say, is a brand name, over 1,000 for a set. Do you think it is of sufficient quality?"

As I walked along the shaded roadside and just entered the dormitory area, I heard my mother's sharp voice around the corner: "What does it matter to you whether Zhiming is successful or not! He sends money home, and it's in US dollars! Otherwise, how would I have money to buy a house? A garden villa, no less! Who said he is just washing dishes in America! Who said that! If you name names, I will tear their mouths apart! These wretched women have nothing better to do than gossip!" Where is the slightest trace of a primary school teacher's demeanor?

Put the clothes away in the wardrobe in the inner room. My father's build is about the same as mine, and I wanted to let Ba Dacheng wear them, but I accidentally got too close to the window at the back of the inner room and overheard my father speaking in a low voice, trying to cover up his reprimand of Liu Shufen with the sound of rushing water: "Why do you ask him what he is studying for? As long as he comes back, it doesn't matter what he does outside. As long as he is willing to work with his hands, that's all that matters. You see, he must have suffered a lot, looking so exhausted, always in a bad mood, often sitting there in a daze. If you don't feel sorry for him, I do. How can we just push him to work immediately? If it really doesn't work... that house is enough for him to eat and drink for a while!" As long as he comes back, it doesn't matter what he does outside. As long as he is willing to work with his hands, that's all that matters. You see, he must have suffered a lot, looking so exhausted, always in a bad mood, often sitting there in a daze. If you don't feel sorry for him, I do. How can we just push him to work immediately? If it really doesn't work... that house is enough for him to eat and drink for a while!

Grilled meat skewers are popular in the country, but the most famous are the lamb skewers from Northern Xinjiang and the grilled skewers from the north. However, compared to the grilled meat skewers from Central Asia, the original home of cumin, there is likely still a significant gap.

A bit surprised, the couple exchanged a knowing glance and nodded vigorously in agreement. Ba Dacheng, who was working in the repair workshop, immediately decided to go to the workshop with his son to make a barbecue grill

Facing the hail of bullets without flinching, Buck felt a bit dizzy. The sofa was covered with various patterned shirts, suits, and T-shirts, contrasting sharply with the old shirt his father wore, which had been washed to a bright sheen. Buck's forehead showed signs of tension: "Dad... since we all live here now, let's sell the house. You should buy yourself some nice clothes, eat well, and let Mom enjoy herself too. You don't have to tutor students anymore, and you don't need to work so hard at www..hetushucomcom, okay?" He returned his mother's counterfeit phone, realizing he had no need for a phone now, as there was no one to contact except for family.

Most importantly, this concern made it impossible for Buck to leave abruptly. Just the thought of the disappointment and sadness his departure would bring to his parents compelled him to set aside his hardened heart, leaving him in a state of helplessness at home.

The kind of affection that has accumulated over the years, interrupted for several years, is completely mismatched with Buck's current emotions towards his son

Oh?

Buck alleviated his mother's emotions: "No, no, I will stay at home from now on, and I will definitely work hard. You all just wait to enjoy yourselves!" In recent days, Buck has been contemplating what he can do, but more importantly, he is adjusting his physical and mental state. After all, one must sharpen their tools before engaging in work; Buck, who has studied abroad for half a year, understands this principle.

In July, the scorching sun beats down on the concrete jungle of the city

Upon seeing her son in this state, Liu Shufen, who had just brought in the clothes, felt even more heartbroken and refrained from mentioning any tasks: "Mom has calculated for you; there is still quite a bit of money on the card. You could buy a car, or perhaps renovate the new house. You can move over there, and I will come over every day to cook for you. You can just enjoy yourself, alright?"

I can only kill and save people

Baker spoke earnestly: "I have money, and I still have money abroad..." Liu Shufen immediately became anxious: "Are you going abroad again?" Ba Dacheng did not respond, but his raised eyebrows indicated his concern.

For someone like Buck, who returns from the chaos of war with complex emotions, such familial affection is truly too sweet, almost unaccustomed to it

This is truly not a whimsical thought from Buck; a casual remark from a mother reminded him that this is one of the very few non-war skills he learned abroad

This is Buck's simplest idea

Buck even wondered if he had become a burden to his parents, helplessly standing up to tidy the new clothes spread out on the sofa, all of which were heavy with parental affection, causing a slight smile to appear on his face, a comforting smile

Just as his father had transformed from a middle-aged man filled with rage to an elderly man with deep affection for his children, Buck also deeply felt the responsibility of being a son. Having already lost a love, he truly wished to preserve this familial bond, feeling that there was nowhere else to go. Thus, he responded with a lazy acknowledgment, carelessly discarded his cigarette butt, and slipped on his slippers to head home

Baker's head was about to smoke as he sat down on the narrow bench in the room: "Dad, Mom, I have said many times that this money is for your living expenses, not for me... I will find a way to work, and our family has enough to eat and drink. Since Mom has bought a house, how about we move there to live?"

Liu Shufen, feeling wronged, said: "All the neighbors and coworkers know that he has returned from abroad... I just want to stand up for myself!"

Buck found it somewhat amusing; it seemed that his parents truly believed he had learned nothing after going abroad. It was understandable, as he had never heard of any talents emerging from the so-called Eastern European university he attended. Returning home in such a disheveled and destitute state, anyone would feel that they had not fared well in life

Being embraced by her son, who is a head taller than her, Liu Shufen felt very content: "You have always been the best since you were little, don't worry, you can overcome any obstacle, your parents will always have a home for you"

Not seeking to earn a substantial amount of money, but rather wanting to have something to do for myself first, to put my parents' minds at ease

The somewhat troubled former mercenary expert sat by his parents' bedside, lost in thought

What a pity that a kind mother raises a wayward son; truly, even in a poor family, a prodigal child has emerged. Even abroad, Buck is not the type to indulge in debauchery. It is truly a situation that elicits both laughter and tears as he reaches out to embrace his mother’s shoulders and says: "Mom, I have hands and feet; let me think about it..."

Liu Shufen wanted to say something else, but Ba Dacheng held onto his wife and pushed her out to do the laundry: "Zhiming, you should rest well, take as long as you need. If you want to stay at the new house, that's fine too. The conditions here are a bit poor; otherwise, we can buy a fan!" The elderly couple supported each other as they spoke and walked out the door, leaving Ba Ke with a bitter smile on his face

Buck blinked his eyes once

In the underdeveloped regions of Eastern Europe to Central Asia, almost every household and restaurant regards grilled meat as their signature dish, often serving only this dish. It is as renowned as the hot pot of Chongqing, the Goubuli buns of Tianjin, and the Peking duck. They grill meat for weddings, for childbirth celebrations, for funerals, and even go to the ancestral graves to grill meat, sing, and drink during ancestral worship. Parties and gatherings are no exception; in short, grilling meat can be done for any occasion. Perhaps it is due to the high-altitude regions requiring a substantial amount of meat for heat, or it may simply be because it is relatively easy to prepare and does not require much effort.

Ba Dacheng was angry: "Who dares to speak recklessly? I will go to their door and make a scene. Zhiming has worked hard and honestly for this, let him buy a car, and then no one in the neighborhood will dare to say anything!" In the end, he added with bravado: "Buy a good car worth 100,000! Just like the one our manager has!"

The outdoor surface temperature of forty-five degrees has resulted in very few pedestrians on the streets. Those who have to go out try to use transportation, and the best choice is to stay in shaded areas or air-conditioned spaces

Liu Shufen enjoys herself greatly, relying on her son's shoulders: "When you were studying, your grades were a bit poor, but your character was good, right? You were a bit lazy, didn't like to work, and had a bit of a fondness for food. That year, your father hit you because you took the little pork we had at home to make lamb skewers..." Is that still considered good character?

Looking at my own hands, it is indeed with these hands that I have earned my money. However, aside from those bloody means, what have I truly learned during these years abroad?

Children of the poor take on responsibilities early; in this railway dormitory village, the majority have average economic conditions. There are quite a few who set up night markets in the evenings, which is nothing unusual. However, has my son really been grilling skewers abroad all these years?