Siheyuan: The Era of Struggle

Chapter 373 Father and Son

Zhang Zhao thought that He Yuanchao was a flatterer and didn't want to pay any attention to him. However, he had to rely on Zhang Lide to solve a lot of problems. After thinking for a while, he reluctantly turned sideways and motioned for the two to go into the house.

Zhang Lide didn't think too much when he saw this. He greeted He Yuanchao and walked into the house. When he passed by Zhang Zhao, he smelled the smoke all over him and couldn't help but snorted heavily.

I have been a hero all my life, but how could I give birth to such an irresponsible thing? If I had known this would happen, I should have shot this bastard into the wall.

He Yuanchao looked at Zhang Lide and Zhang Zhao, both of whom were looking at each other with sullen faces and ignoring each other, and didn't say a word.

On one side is the father-in-law, and on the other side is the elder brother-in-law. It would not be good to take sides. If the two of them reconcile in the future, he will be the one who suffers. He does not want to be the victim.

With this idea in mind, He Yuanchao no longer paid much attention to Zhang Lide and Zhang Zhao, father and son, and followed them into the house.

The style of Zhang Zhao's father-in-law's house is a bit similar to the Siheyuan in Kyoto, but it has no side rooms or back houses. It is simply two bungalows in front and back, with a small courtyard connected by a wall in the middle.

There is an empty area similar to a doorway as you enter the house in front, and the living area is next to it.

When they entered the front room where Zhang Zhao lived, the smell of smoke in the room almost made Zhang Lide and He Yuanchao fall over.

Looking at the cigarette butts scattered all over the floor and the unmade bedding on the bed, Zhang Lide was filled with disappointment. He could no longer suppress his anger and pointed at the messy room and shouted:

"Look at you. You're a grown man, but you make mistakes at work and your life is a mess. What else can you do? Why did I raise a useless thing like you..."

Zhang Zhao needed a favor from someone, so he originally wanted to endure it and wait until the matter was resolved. However, Zhang Lide's scolding became more and more unpleasant, and he finally couldn't hold it in any longer.

"I'm screwed, I'm useless, so why don't you tell me who caused all this.

When I was a child, I didn't grow up with you. When our family was finally together, you were busy with work all day, and it was difficult for me to say a word to you.

You've always had the final say over everything I've done since I was little. Have you ever considered my feelings? I clearly didn't want to join the army, but you forced me to do it. When something went wrong, you always blamed me for everything.

It sounds good, you raised me, but ask yourself, have you fulfilled your responsibilities as a father? ..."

When Zhang Zhao first started speaking, his tone was a little aggrieved, but when he said the last sentence, his expression suddenly became ferocious, as if Zhang Lide was not his biological father, but his sworn enemy.

Faced with Zhang Zhao's accusation, Zhang Lide was stunned for a moment, and his face gradually turned from angry to pale.

Thinking about the little things he had done with his son Zhang Zhao over the years, Zhang Lide opened his mouth several times but said nothing.

After He Yuanchao entered the room and opened the window, he originally wanted to move a small stool to sit down and eat melon, but when he saw that the father and son were in a stalemate after just a few words, he lost interest in watching the fun.

He had originally decided not to get involved in the affairs of the Zhang family, but after seeing this, he was really afraid that Zhang Lide would be so angry that he would not be able to explain to his mother-in-law when he returned.

"Dad, we are here to solve the problem. It's useless for you to scold my brother now. It's better to talk calmly."

As he spoke, He Yuanchao pulled Zhang Lidra to the chair by the window, then picked up the thermos and teacup on the table and started working.

"Hmph, a bootlicker." Zhang Zhao couldn't help but complain in his heart as he watched He Yuanchao busying around his father and fawning on him. At the same time, he looked down upon his cheap brother-in-law even more.

Zhang Lide had also experienced many ups and downs, and he knew that intensifying conflicts would not solve anything. After listening to his brother-in-law's words, he took the opportunity to sit on the chair next to him.

Zhang Lide took the cup of water handed over by He Yuanchao, drank two sips of water, and calmed down his mood. Then he looked up at Zhang Zhao standing beside the bed and said:

"There are three people in your family. You are a battalion-level officer with a salary of 101 yuan a month. Even if you help your father-in-law, you can still make ends meet. Tell me why you got so much food from the army? Did you gamble? Or did you go to whores?"

Zhang Zhao had long been fed up with the loving father and filial son relationship between He Yuanchao and Zhang Lide. When he heard these words, he immediately became like a cat whose tail was stepped on.

"I also gambled and prostituted. If you, Director Zhang, feel ashamed, just go back to Kyoto. I will take care of all the debts for gambling and prostitution, and I will not implicate you..."

Looking at Zhang Zhao who was yelling at him with a red face, Zhang Lide was filled with disappointment and wanted to turn around and leave. But when he remembered what his son said when he entered the room, the anger in his heart instantly disappeared.

It seems that I have never communicated well with my son over the years. I always think that I am right and always impose my ideas on him. I think everything I do is for his good. I have never asked my son what he thinks, nor thought about his feelings.

Thinking of this, Zhang Lide felt guilty and a little self-blaming.

He silently picked up the teacup, drank the water slowly, and listened to Zhang Zhao's complaints without saying a word.

Zhang Zhao roared at the top of his lungs for a while, but when he saw that his father did not interrupt or scold him as usual, he felt a little flustered. While he was thinking about the reason, his emotions gradually calmed down.

Looking at his father who was drinking water, and then at He Yuanchao who was sitting silently on the chair on the other side of the table, Zhang Zhao felt a little embarrassed and had no intention of talking anymore. He took a step back, sat down on the bed and said no more. The room instantly became quiet.

After about four or five minutes, Zhang Lide finished drinking the water in the teacup, then he looked at Zhang Zhao again and spoke calmly:

"I don't mean to blame you. I just want to understand the situation in detail and see if there is any room for recovery."

Zhang Lide knew the general situation of the matter and the army's punishment decision, but he still wanted to hear what Zhang Zhao had to say. Subconsciously, he still had some expectations.

Let’s not talk about the trivial things that happened in the past. This time such a big thing happened. I wonder if my son is still as stubborn as before.

If his son is still devoted to his father-in-law's family, then he will not repeat the same old tune and will immediately turn around and return to Kyoto after getting the hole in the army. But if his son has changed his mind, then he will have to think carefully about his son's future life and work.

Zhang Zhao had no idea what Zhang Lide was thinking, nor did he know that the quality of his answer would affect the fate of the rest of his life.

As far as he could remember, this was the first time his father spoke to him in such a friendly manner. Zhang Zhao was a little overwhelmed for a moment, and when he came to his senses, his eyes immediately turned red.

Holding back the tears that were about to fall, Zhang Zhao said in a hoarse voice:
"That's the general situation. As for the specific situation, it's my brother-in-law..."

Bang~~
Before Zhang Zhao could finish his words, he was interrupted by the sound of the door hitting the wall.

Hearing the noise, the three people in the room looked towards the door at the same time.

(End of this chapter)