"Dad, why are you crying?"
Only then did Zhang Erniu realize he was actually in tears.
He quickly wiped his face and scooped up his son: "Dad's not crying, Dad's just happy! Happy!"
"Happy about what?"
Zhang Erniu didn't have time to explain. He just ran out of the house with his son in his arms.
In the yard, Third Aunt was still chatting with his father, going on and on about her son. That woman had talked his mother into leaving, talked him into leaving, and now she was starting on his father, bragging about her son again. Relentless.
"Second Brother, if you ask me, you shouldn't keep yourself cooped up in this countryside forever. Have Erniu take you out for a change of scenery. Look at my Xiaodong—he said in a couple of years he'll take us to see the ocean..."
"Third Aunt!" Zhang Erniu suddenly spoke up, cutting her off.
Third Aunt was in full swing and wasn't pleased at the interruption: "Erniu, what's wrong? Why the sudden shouting?"
"Oh? Erniu, your eyes are red—did you cry?"
"Not that I'm one to lecture you, but even if your job isn't great right now, there's no reason to cry about it, is there?"
Zhang Erniu ignored her and looked at his father sitting on the doorstep, saying excitedly: "Dad, the company just sent out a notice—starting in July, they're organizing trips for employees' family members. We can go south to see the ocean, or head to the capital to watch the flag-raising and see the Great Wall. Seven days total, staying at five-star hotels, eating big meals, and the company covers every single expense!"
The yard fell silent instantly.
Third Aunt couldn't sit still. She shot up from her seat.
"What did you say?"
"The company is inviting your parents on a trip? Did you say that wrong?"
Zhang Erniu looked at Third Aunt's face—like she'd just seen a ghost—and felt an immense satisfaction inside.
"Third Aunt, my company is inviting my parents on a trip. Food, drink, and fun all covered, staying at the finest five-star hotels! And not just my parents—Xiwa gets to go to summer camp too, and visit the aquarium!"
Just to make sure she believed him, he deliberately held out his phone.
"Third Aunt, take a look. This is the letter sent by our company's chairman. The direct relatives of every full-time employee can go—from top management all the way down to ordinary guys like me. Everyone's included!"
Third Aunt couldn't read much, but seeing the neat notice on the phone screen and the bright red official seal stamped at the bottom, she was about seventy or eighty percent convinced.
For a moment, whether from anger or something else, she couldn't even get a word out.
Zhang Erniu's father quickly stood up, also somewhat in disbelief: "Your boss is inviting us on a trip? Really? How much money must that cost?"
Zhang Erniu: "Dad, it's true. No matter how much it costs, the chairman said the company covers everything. We don't pay a penny—it's an employee benefit!"
"Dad, do you want to see the ocean? Then let's head south this time and go look at the sea!"
Zhang Erniu's mother happened to be walking out of the kitchen with a basin of water in her hands. When she heard her son's words, she hurriedly asked: "Erniu, are you serious? The company is inviting us old folks on a trip? And staying in a five, five... five-star hotel?"
"Really, Mom! You and Dad are both going, and Xiwa too. The company even arranged a summer camp for the kids—there'll be staff to take them to the aquarium, the zoo, and places like that. You and Dad can just relax and enjoy yourselves."
"Well... but how much does all this cost?" His mother's reaction matched his father's exactly—her first thought was the money.
"Don't worry about the money, Mom and Dad. The company's got it covered. Our chairman said you've worked hard your whole lives, and you deserve to get out and see the world." Zhang Erniu said.
Tears streamed down Zhang Erniu's mother's face.
She remembered the year she married into the Zhang family—she was only eighteen then, and she'd started working the fields with Erniu's father right away, barely scraping together a few coins year after year.
Then Erniu was born, and things got even tighter.
Later, Erniu dropped out of school, farmed for a few years, and then went off to be a migrant worker—but he never made much money either.
It wasn't until Erniu married and had children that their life started to ease up a little.
But she was already past fifty now.
Over thirty years had slipped by in the blink of an eye. She'd never been anywhere far. The farthest place she'd ever gone was Pearl City, and that had been just to see a doctor.
The ocean. Mountain scenery. Watching the flag-raising in the capital.
Those were things she could only dream about.
But now her son was suddenly saying the company wanted to make those dreams come true.
How could she not be happy, not be moved?
Her son had really found himself a good company!
"Xiwa, did you hear that?"
Zhang Erniu looked down at his son in his arms: "You and Grandma and Grandpa are going to see the ocean for real—the real ocean, blue, stretching as far as the eye can see!"
Zhang Xiwa bounced with joy: "Really, Daddy? I want to go too! I want to pick up seashells by the beach! I want to build sandcastles! I want to see a great big shark!"
"We're all going! Everyone!"
Third Aunt stood off to the side, watching this heartwarming family scene. She'd crushed the melon seeds in her hand into powder, and her face was growing redder by the second.
Just moments ago, she'd been bragging that her son would take her traveling in the future and put her up in a big hotel.
But now, Erniu had turned around and told her the company was covering the whole family's trip—from the grandparents down to the kid—and they didn't have to spend a single cent.
And they'd be staying at some five-star grand hotel, on a seven-day tour, no less.
Her son's company only offered a two-day trip, and family members couldn't even come along.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. The more envious.
Why?
Why was it that her son—a university graduate—had a company whose benefits were worse than Erniu's, a man who did backbreaking labor?
"Erniu, you'd better not be getting scammed. Let me tell you, there are tons of scammers out there these days, and they love preying on honest folks like you."
"Third Aunt, have you ever been on a trip?"
"Erniu, listen to me. Don't go on that trip. Who knows—maybe your boss is just trying to sweet-talk you first and then dock it from your paycheck later."
"Third Aunt, have you ever stayed in a five-star hotel?"
"What does it matter to you whether I've traveled or not?"
"Third Aunt, my parents are about to stay in a five-star grand hotel."
"I..."
"Seven days, six nights. Company's paying for everything."
"I..."
"Third Aunt, when are you going on a trip?"
"You..."
"Third Aunt, I'll have the tour guide take lots of photos of my parents and show them to you."
Third Aunt went fully red in the face: "I... I'm leaving! Talking with your family is just no fun!"
"Take care, Third Aunt. No need to see you out."
After Third Aunt had stormed off in a huff, Zhang Erniu's mother broke into a smile through her tears: "Look at you, getting your Third Aunt all riled up like that—her face was practically black."
Zhang Erniu laughed: "Mom, it's not about comparing with her."
"I know, I know. I'm just happy!"
His mother wiped her tears and looked at Zhang Erniu: "Erniu, that boss of yours—he's a truly good man! You make sure you work hard for him, you hear?"
Zhang Erniu nodded: "Don't worry, Mom. I'll give it my all!"
With that, he glanced down at the signature at the bottom of the letter on his phone screen:
[Chairwoman of Wanlonghui Group: Liu Yutong.]
Seeing that name, five words rose unbidden in his mind.
Through fire and water.
