We helped untie my father from the tree trunk. His hands and feet were bound for too long and had lost their responsiveness, leaving him stiff as he stood there.
I dotingly massaged his arms, tears welling up in my eyes.
The demoness stood not far away. She didn't approach, but my father still noticed her. However, he didn't show much anger. He just turned his head and said to me, "Let's go home."
I supported him as we slowly walked out of the yard. Da Kui had already reversed the car. Several of his men helped me and together we helped my father into the car.
I said, "Let's not go back to our old home yet. I've rented a place in the West City. I've already sent someone to pick up Mom. We'll stay there first."
Father closed his eyes and didn't speak. After this incident, he might have forgiven me and accepted everything I had done for him.
Before we left, we asked Jing Lei to send someone to pick up my mother from her workplace. They should have already arrived at the house Jing Lei helped me rent. We didn't go home; we asked Da Kui to drive to the new place.
I called Jing Lei. She told me everything was arranged and asked how things were on my end. I said my father and I were on our way home.
Jing Lei said she had ordered food from a restaurant and asked them to send it over now.
She mentioned that the kitchen wasn't stocked with ingredients yet and that once they had everything ready tomorrow, we could start cooking at home.
I hung up the phone, and my father said with great effort, "Let's go back. It's not good to trouble others so much, is it?"
I replied, "I rented that place with my own money. It's like our own home, just that we haven't had time to furnish it yet. Please, live there comfortably and don't worry about anything else. I've found a lead regarding your work situation. Even if you don't go back to work, I'll clear your name and make sure the bad guys are punished accordingly!"
Father said, "You don't need to interfere with my affairs. What does it matter if my name is cleared or not? I'm old now, I don't care about these things anymore."
I said, "If you don't care, do others not care either? As long as you are alive, they won't leave us in peace. Do you know why they found us at home and arrested you today?"
Father asked, "Didn't you offend someone outside, and they are retaliating?"
I said, "It's true that I offended someone, but who told them my phone number and home address? It was that Mr. Sun from your school! For this, I even hit Zhou Yingying, but she said it wasn't her. She heard Mr. Sun talking to the Crown Prince on the phone!"
Father closed his eyes again, sighed deeply, and said, "He had some items in my possession. He initially tried to bribe me to keep me silent and get the items back. I refused, so he arranged for Zhou Yingying to approach me. That day, I was preparing lessons in my office. Zhou Yingying came in, took off her clothes, and sat on my lap. Then Mr. Sun walked in and started shouting that I was raping a student, attracting teachers from other offices to witness. That's how my so-called attempted rape charge came about. Many people can testify that there were indeed only the two of us in my room, and Zhou Yingying's clothes were never fully on, leaving her half-naked. Even with a hundred mouths, I couldn't explain it. In the end, it was my entire class who testified to my character in writing that saved me from criminal charges, though I was still dismissed from public service."
I never knew the details of my father's predicament. At that time, I was in the ninth grade, and Zhou Yingying was a year ahead of me, meaning she had just enrolled when Mr. Sun exploited her.
As the saying goes, it takes two to clap a hand. Zhou Yingying was definitely an egg with a crack, attracting Mr. Sun, that fly.
Neither of them was a good person!
The car stopped downstairs. Da Kui opened the car door and helped my father out. Then, the two of us, one on each side, supported him up to the second floor.
The first floor was the garage. The second and third floors were living spaces. It was a connected villa, with the first, second, and third floors constituting one unit, totaling over two hundred square meters.
Mom and Jing Lei were busy in the rooms. To my surprise, Xiao Pang and Wang Xin were also there. They were cleaning, and with so many rooms, they were both sweating profusely.
Father stood at the doorway, looking a bit stunned. I had mentioned renting a place, but he probably didn't expect it to be this large.
The second and third floors alone had five bedrooms. The second floor had a large living room with two bedrooms, and the third floor had a small living room and three bedrooms.
I asked my parents to take the bedrooms on the second floor, and I would stay on the third.
The food Jing Lei had ordered had arrived. My mother and Jing Lei were setting the table in the dining room and then invited us to eat.
Father had already gone to the bathroom to wash up and change into the new clothes Jing Lei and my mother had bought him from the store. He walked out somewhat uncomfortably. For over a year, he had lived like a ghost, always wearing that worn-out grey cadre uniform, his hair disheveled, his face grimy. Now, so neat and tidy, he seemed unaccustomed to it.
I went over to call Wang Xin and Xiao Pang, asking them to put down their mops and wash their hands quickly to eat.
Seeing my family in harmony, Wang Xin's furrowed brow relaxed. For such a long time, she had worried about our family and my future. Perhaps, seeing things this way today, she was the happiest.
The dinner was very rich. Jing Lei brought out wine and poured a little for everyone. Father, however, quickly declined, saying, "I won't touch this anymore. You all drink."
Jing Lei said, "Uncle, drinking today has a different meaning. First, it's for the safe return of you and your son, and second, it's a housewarming. You must show some acknowledgement, otherwise, we juniors wouldn't dare raise our glasses."
Father couldn't refuse and let her pour him half a glass. He poured a glass for my mother. Wang Xin and Xiao Pang were still students, so they poured a small sip each, while I and Jing Lei had a full glass.
Everyone was very excited today, especially my mother, who had been blushing and didn't know what to say. My father, however, raised his glass and said, "For the past year, I've misunderstood Xiao Hua, thinking he wasn't on the right path. I was angry with him, hating that he wasn't achieving anything. Today's events have given me a new perspective. My son hasn't gone bad or strayed. He has also done many good deeds. I've also understood the detention. You sacrificed yourself for the greater good. I'm old and my mind is muddled. I hope you don't hold it against me. Come, I propose we all drink this glass of wine and let our lives start anew!"
I suddenly had a strange impulse. I wanted to thank the Crown Prince. Although he tried to put both me and my father to death, he unexpectedly helped us reconcile and brought our family back together.
My mother wiped away her tears, and Wang Xin's eyes were also red. She knew best about our family's misfortunes over the past year. She had long hoped for this outcome today and didn't expect it to arrive so suddenly.
She raised her glass and drank it down in one gulp. I quickly tried to stop her, but she had already put down the empty glass.
Xiao Pang hesitated, then drank his small portion.
Jing Lei said, "You two kids should drink juice. Don't drink anymore."
Saying this, she opened a bottle of orange juice and poured a glass for each of them.
After dinner, Jing Lei took them home. I told my parents to get some rest early, and I followed Jing Lei out. I had to go to work at the Great World.