Feng Ping

“Our children are 24 years old. No wonder we grow old,” aunt laughed. My eyes were wet. I looked around and saw these familiar faces around me, which were written with threads of time.

“In twenty years, we will be 60. I am afraid to think about this. We are old indeed,” dad said. Uncle was toasting a glass with father. Everyone laughed.

“Wei Wei changed a lot in his character. He is more mature and kind. He is a real man, tall, rich and handsome,” mum praised Wei Wei to aunt sincerely. That was also what I thought,

“Um,” aunty laughed. “Yes, he changed. After serving the army, he is not a dandy who is addicted to drinking and Internet any more.” Aunty continued, “I am saved because of his changes. You remember his college entrance exam? Yes, the failure of his schooling gave him shocks. He couldn’t answer a single question, and was even humiliated by invigilators in the exam room. When he was back home, he cried very hard. I gave up my hope of saving him from ruins at that time, and I just talked to him like this, ‘Wei Wei, mum is unable to find a way out to save you. Mum’s heart is broken. You are ruined. If you can’t quit playing Internet, mum will go to Wutai Mountain to be a nun.’ Those days, I have eyes, but I couldn’t recognize anyone. I was going mad, until one day, Wei Wei told me ‘mum, I want to be a solider. I promise I will be a man.’ I said this to his father, who said downheartedly that it was a waste of money to let Wei Wei join the army. But Wei Wei promised his father. We finally agreed. Later, Wei Wei wrote in a letter home that tears were rolling in his eyes at that time but he restrained himself, being afraid we would worry about him. He had never been an army deserter during the two years. Then you see what he is.”

I listened to the story carefully, and thought of my rebellious high school years too. Indeed, it was not hard for a good person to keep virtue, but it was hard for a bad person to turn a new leaf. Now, both families enjoyed the hardly gained peace and happiness. Everything would prosper even if there were still many hardships waiting for us. Tomorrow is always a better day.

I clearly knew the reason and result for Wei Wei’s changes from an obedient boy, to an Internet addict, and to a responsible adult child in the end. I understood it from my own experiences.

That was a secret, but I would revel one, “The miracle is Love.” It is love that can change everything, and destroy all the evils. In this world, only love can endure the test of time, and is not afraid of bad fortune, or God’s changeable temper. It was the soul of the universe.

After dinner, we chatted casually. We departed three hours later. I said to Wei Wei, “If you have time, welcome to my home.”

Wei Wei was a little disappointed with my civilities. I was a little regretful. Between true friends, holiday words were not welcome at all. If so, that meant we were intimate friends no more. We looked at each other, both feeling lost. We searched for the childhood memories, but I only vaguely remembered that we always laughed together.

Parents and I were on the way home. This was the beginning of the New Year. Indeed, everything would turn better.