mtlumby2d Chapter 645 Father's Hands Are Like an Umbrella
Chapter 645 Father's Hands Are Like an Umbrella
Just when Zhan Mengyan was on the verge of collapse.
An elderly man with a white beard stepped out from the crowd.
“I said, Yan Jinguo’s wife, why are you making things so difficult for a child? You can’t use her money even if you detain her for a few days. Just ask her where she’s from, call the village office, and have her parents come over. Wouldn’t that solve the problem?”
As the old man spoke, he twirled his white beard with his hand.
"Yeah, yeah, this girl has made me so angry I'm out of my mind. Tell me! Where are you from?"
As the stall owner spoke, she picked up Zhan Mengyan, who was squatting on the ground.
“I… I live in Xinxing Village, Xinxing Township. My father’s name is Zhan Yu and my mother’s name is Yun Qing.”
When Zhan Mengyan spoke, she looked timidly at the stall owner.
"Oh, you're Zhan Yu and Yun Qing's daughter? Your father is an old military doctor? Your mother can paint?"
As the white-bearded old man spoke, he grasped Zhan Mengyan's hand with delight.
"Ah."
Zhan Mengyan widened her eyes and hummed in agreement.
“Yan Jinguo’s wife, please stop being so harsh on this girl. Her father is a well-known doctor in our surrounding villages. He even treated my husband’s shingles years ago. Little girl, I know your parents. Don’t be afraid. I’ll go to the village and call Zhan Yu over.”
"Everyone, please disperse! You've made the young lady blush." The white-bearded old man said with a smile as he turned and went to make a phone call at the nearby village office.
"Little girl, why didn't you say you were Zhan Yu's daughter earlier? Don't be afraid, the old man with the white beard was my third great-uncle. With him vouching for you, there's no problem. Just sit and wait for your father to come."
The stall owner's tone softened as she spoke, and she handed Zhan Mengyan a small stool.
Zhan Mengyan took the stool and sat down to calm herself down.
After waiting for an hour, Zhan Mengyan saw a familiar figure.
"Mengyan! Mengyan!" The voice was anxious, like a thin rope suddenly tugging at Zhan Mengyan's heart. She looked up and saw her father riding his old bicycle with a brand-new aluminum basin hanging from the handlebars, its edge gleaming silver like a small moon. Her father's face was glistening with sweat, and the white hair at his temples clung wetly to his skin. He jumped off the bicycle and rushed over, pulling Zhan Mengyan up in one swift motion: "Did you fall? Does it hurt?" Zhan Yu's voice was deep and powerful, like a mountain, steadily supporting Zhan Mengyan's shaky heart. Zhan Yu's palms were rough, yet they carried a reassuring warmth.
The road surface, splattered with soda, reflected the light in the aluminum basin, casting two long shadows stretched by the setting sun, one tall and the other petite, clinging tightly together. Zhan Mengyan rested her head on her father's shoulder, smelling the familiar scent of sweat and soap on his body—the smell of home, the smell of safety.
Finally, Zhan Mengyan threw herself into her father's arms, tears finally overflowing. The tears, mixed with the sweetness of the soda, streamed down her face like a river, washing away all the fear and exhaustion. Zhan Yu gently patted her back and turned to the paralyzed man: "Little sister, I'll pay for this. My daughter didn't do it on purpose."
Zhan Yu took the aluminum basin off the handlebars and pulled out some change. "Take this basin and use it. If you need more, we'll make up the difference." The greedy man was stunned for a moment. He looked at the new basin, then at Zhan Mengyan's red and swollen eyes, and suddenly grinned. "Alright, I'll let it go for your dad's sake." She bent down to pick up the scattered bottles and put them back in the basin, her movements showing more tolerance.
Zhan Yu took Zhan Mengyan's hand and turned to walk home. The sunlight was still dazzling, but Mengyan felt that her father's hand was like an umbrella, blocking all the heat and unease.