When the train arrived in Fengri County, Pang Xiaonan got off the train, said goodbye to Pang Qianjin and Du Haoran one by one, and then turned to the long-distance bus stop. He had to transfer the train back to the countryside.

After riding in the bus for half an hour, Pang Xiaonan finally returned to his hometown after half a year of absence.

It is already cold winter now. Fengri County is located in the western part of China. The terrain is several thousand meters higher than Huahai City, so the temperature is much lower accordingly. The trees have withered and withered, and a desolate weather.

Pang Xiaonan walked on the familiar path and arrived at Aunt Wang's house for the first time.

Aunt Wang was washing rice in the kitchen. When she heard Pang Xiaonan calling her, she couldn't help but turn around and said happily: "It's Xiaonan, why are you back? Is it the winter vacation still early?"

In order to make the crowd less crowded, Pang Xiaonan actually went home half a month early, which means that everyone else is still in school, and he has come back early now. No wonder Aunt Wang feels strange.

"Our school was put on earlier during the winter vacation." In order to reassure Aunt Wang, Pang Xiaonan made up a kind lie, and there was no reason why students skipped classes to go home early.

"That's right, it's good to come back. By the way, don't leave at noon, just have dinner at Aunt Wang's house!" Aunt Wang turned around and wanted to go to Jiami, but was grabbed by Pang Xiaonan.

"No, Aunt Wang, I'd better go home for dinner. I have no other intentions when I come here, I just want to see you first." Pang Xiaonan took out a cell phone from his bag and handed it to Aunt Wang.

Aunt Wang looked at Pang Xiaonan in confusion, "What is this for?"

"Aunt Wang, I brought you a mobile phone from Huahai City. Change the card to see, this is a smartphone."

"This kid, I have a cell phone. What are you wasting that money? It's very expensive?" Aunt Wang insisted on pushing the cell phone to Pang Xiaonan.

Pang Xiaonan said: "This is a second-hand mobile phone, which can't cost a lot of money, but your phone is really too broken. Listen to me and change it."

"It's really not expensive?" Aunt Wang looked at Pang Xiaonan suspiciously, "Where did you get the money?"

"Don't worry, the money I earn from working in school was not stolen." Pang Xiaonan explained with a smile.

"You kid, I either doubt you, I just told you not to waste money." Aunt Wang couldn't resist Pang Xiaonan, so she had to answer the phone, and then said with a smile, "My phone really has to be changed, and the speaker is not ringing. I originally planned to go to the town to change one recently, but I didn't expect that you came back and brought me a new phone."

"It's not a new phone, it's a second-hand one. I can't afford the new one. You can change the card quickly and I'll teach you how to use it."

"Okay, I'll change it now."

After delaying for a while at Aunt Wang's house, Pang Xiaonan returned to his home.

It is almost noon now, and Pang Xiaonan's home is quiet. Pang Xiaonan probably hasn't returned home yet, because at this time, he should still be working in the village factory.

When I opened the door, I found that only my father was lying on the bed.

"Dad, I'm back." Pang Xiaonan's nose felt sour. He saw his father tilting his head and leaning weakly against the head of the bed.

Pang Xiaonan's father Pang Tong has been lying in bed for countless years. He had nothing to do in handicrafts before, but the more he went back, the more he felt that life had no meaning and gradually he did nothing.

Pang Tong's legs were hit by a car accident, and he had no sense of anything below his knees. He usually stayed in bed all day long. Only when Pang Xiaonan's mother came back did he lift him down and took him out to a wheelchair for a walk.

Hearing Pang Xiaonan's voice, Pang Tong opened his turbid eyes, "Xiao Nan? You... are back."

Pang Tong was a little excited, but his body couldn't move. He could only reach out and greet Pang Xiaonan.

Pang Xiaonan quickly took a step, walked to the bed, held Pang Tong's hand, and said, "Yes, Dad, I'm back, are you okay?"

It is obvious to everyone that Pang Tong's situation is not good, and he has already given up on himself. Pang Xiaonan has been admitted to the military academy and his son is promising, but Pang Tong himself also feels that he has fulfilled his obligations and can no longer drag the mother and son down. However, in his case, it is difficult to even commit suicide.

"What's good? That's it, you... have you eaten?" The father and son didn't talk much before. Now Pang Xiaonan has been away for half a year and looks even more unfamiliar. Pang Tong doesn't know how to chat with his son.

"Not yet, where is mom?" Pang Xiaonan put down his backpack and stood by the bed again.

"Your mother hasn't come back yet, why don't you call the factory and ask her to come back early to cook." The moment Pang Tong saw Pang Xiaonan, his eyes went from listless to spiritual, but not long after, it became dimmed again.

"No need, I'll cook." After that, Pang Xiaonan settled Pang Tong and walked into the simple kitchen.

From childhood to adulthood, when his mother went out to work and make money, Pang Xiaonan took care of her father at home. At first, Pang Tong was proud of having such a sensible son, but gradually, he felt that he had dragged down the whole family, so his spirit began to dissipate and he was listless all day long. Even when facing Pang Xiaonan, his sensible son, he forced a smile.

It was almost lunch, and Pang Xiaonan's mother came back.

As soon as my mother came home, she first went to see Pang Tong. This was her habit for many years to see if her husband had any requirements, such as whether he had to go to the bathroom and wanted to eat something at noon. Today, my mother learned from Pang Tong that Pang Xiaonan was coming home.

So, my mother hurried into the kitchen and saw Pang Xiaonan cooking. She couldn't help but shed tears: "Xiaonan, you are back, rest soon, wait for my mother to cook for you."

Pang Xiaonan turned around and saw his mother, feeling that her mother seemed to be a few decades older, and he was also moved, "Mom, you should rest, the meal is almost ready, I just have to cook a few dishes."

The mother said that she would not let Pang Xiaonan do anything. She was worried about her son’s journey, not to mention that Pang Xiaonan had been away from home for half a year before she got home. How could a mother bear to make her son tired?

Pang Xiaonan had no choice but to hand in the spatula, and stayed with her honestly, talking to her mother.

"Mom, are you still working in the village factory?" Pang Xiaonan accidentally glanced at his mother's hand. The palms were thick and the skin was rough, and the cracks in his nails were covered with black mud.

"Yes, otherwise where can I go? In your father's case, I can't go far." The mother skillfully threw a handful of cabbage into the pot.

Pang Xiaonan’s family still uses firewood stoves. As soon as the cabbage is in the pot, it is fried and the fragrance of green vegetables floats.

Pang Xiaonan's mother was a big beauty when she was young, but her figure was distorted by the burden of life. Pang Xiaonan couldn't help but compare her mother to Zhang Ping's mother, who were both classmates, and she was about the same age as her wealthy and noble mistress, with elegant temperament, and she was really in the sky and the earth.

Pang Xiaonan secretly made up his mind that he would not let his mother suffer any more.

After dinner, Pang Xiaonan took out two mobile phones, one for his mother and the other for his father.

"What do I want to do with my phone?" Pang Tong threw the phone on the bed. Although he knew it was his son's wish, he felt that he was a disabled person and he didn't go out normally, and it was a waste to get a phone.

"Dad, this is a smartphone. If you have nothing to do in the future, you can use it to read books, videos, etc., so as to pass the time." Pang Xiaonan opened his phone and demonstrated it to Pang Tong. Pang Tong's face slowly stretched out.

In fact, when Pang Tong was young, he was also a literary youth and wrote and sang, but since he became ill, he has lost these hobbies.

Seeing that smartphones can do so many things, Pang Tong couldn't put it down.

"Does these cost money to see?" Pang Tong was a little worried. How could such a good thing be there? You can know the world without leaving your home, and you can see whatever you want.

"It's not expensive, it's just consuming some traffic, but don't worry, I'm going to get an unlimited traffic package for you, just watch it." Pang Xiaonan applied for two mobile phone cards for his parents when he was in Huahai City, both of which were unlimited traffic. His parents are old and worried about traffic when they see something, which is so unhappy.

Huahai City has a very developed network infrastructure. Even in a small mountain village like Pang Xiaonan's family, it has mobile signal coverage, and the signal strength is not bad.

Pang Xiaonan's mother held the phone and didn't know how to use it. Pang Xiaonan taught her step by step. Fortunately, smartphones are relatively smart and humane and easy to get started. Soon, her mother also began to fall in love with smartphones.

"Xiao Nan, it's enough to have a mobile phone at home. Isn't it a waste of money to buy so much?" In fact, Pang Xiaonan's mother has always wanted to buy a mobile phone, and she has to borrow Aunt Wang's mobile phone every time she calls. It's so troublesome.

Although mobile phones are not a rare thing now, my mother later thought that she could not make many calls a month, so she had to pay the phone bill to buy a mobile phone. Her family still owed so much money to pay, so she didn't think about this.

"Mom, now it's the information age. It's a must for everyone to have a mobile phone. Many people have a few mobile phones. Besides, if you have a mobile phone and dad have a mobile phone, if you don't get together in the future, you will know what's going on. It's so convenient!" Pang Xiaonan taught Pang Tong how to sing and record songs, and the whole family is happy.

"This mobile phone is good, but... it's very expensive, right?" My mother usually uses Aunt Wang's mobile phone, which is an elderly phone. She can only make phone calls and can't do anything.

"Oh my mom, don't care whether it's expensive or not, it's easy to use. Besides, these are all second-hand machines and they don't cost much." Pang Xiaonan taught his mother how to watch short videos. Over the years, his mother has not had any entertainment activities at home, and it is not an exaggeration to say that she is ignorant.

After taking his parents to play with their cell phones for a while, Pang Xiaonan called his mother out of the house and came to the kitchen.

There is a firewood stove in the kitchen, so there is naturally a brazier, with a few pieces of bacon hanging on the brazier and a pot of water burning.

The mother and mother sat around the brazier, and Pang Xiaonan was preparing to plan the family affairs with her mother.

This time, Pang Xiaonan's main purpose was to improve the living conditions at home.

My mother saw that Pang Xiaonan’s temperament was completely different when she came back this time. When she went out, she was an honest rural child. But this time she came back, she was simply a mature adult, and even had a bit of awesomeness.

Pang Xiaonan put a large piece of firewood in the brazier and said to his mother: "Mom, I'm back this time, I'm going to let you enjoy your happiness."

"Enjoy happiness?" The mother was stunned. The son had only been out for half a year and was going to study. When he came back, he let his parents enjoy their happiness. This was a bit of a fantasy. "Xiao Nan, if you can go to such a good school, your mother will enjoy it. Don't have any burden. Parents don't have to worry about..."

"Mom, listen to me," Pang Xiaonan interrupted his mother, "I made a lot of money. You may doubt me. Why did I make so much money? I can't explain this for the time being. Maybe this is the case. When school started, I met a noble man. He took me to make a lot of money. The money was clean and it was definitely not obtained by illegal crimes. You know this is enough."

After saying that, Pang Xiaonan took out a bank card and handed it to his mother.

"You are..." The mother hesitantly took the bank card, "Xiao Nan, has something happened to you?"

The first thing my mother thought of was whether the country recruited Pang Xiaonan into the army and gave him a settlement fee.

"Mom, you can collect the card. There are hundreds of thousands of dollars in it. You can renovate the house or buy some things for your home. This little money is enough." Pang Xiaonan originally planned to save millions of dollars, but he was afraid that he would scare his parents, so he only saved hundreds of thousands.

But these hundreds of thousands also scared my mother, "To be honest, is the country going to send you to the front line? This is the pension given to you by the state?" Although my mother knew that the word pension was unlucky, she couldn't help but say it.

"Mom, where do you want to go? I'm not dead, where can I get the pension?" Although Pang Xiaonan has the opportunity to join the Hailong Commando, it is still in the to be decided and he doesn't have to sacrifice his life for the country. "Don't worry, this is the money I earn in business."

After Pang Xiaonan's explanation for a long time, his mother reluctantly accepted the card.

"Xiaonan, you should still focus on studying and making money and then consider it after graduation," said Pang Xiaonan, the mother, who was very serious about educating Pang Xiaonan. "Although your father and I live a hard life, our lives are better now, and we are not short of food and clothing. The country also provides relief funds. Just take good care of yourself."

"Mom, what you said, your son can make money now, can you still get relief funds?" Pang Xiaonan plucked the firewood in the brazier and emptyed the wood ash in the middle. The flame suddenly became prosperous. "As far as I said, don't go to work, rest at home, grow vegetables and raise chickens, and make money, let me do it!"

"How can that be? You are still young, and I can't do it. Let me retire now, and I can't rest." My mother has become a hardworking housewife since she married Pang Tong, and she is so nervous that she doesn't do anything for a day.

Seeing that he couldn't convince his mother, Pang Xiaonan had to talk about another topic, "Mom, I'm going to cure his father's feet."

"How to treat it?" In fact, my mother knew that technology is very developed now, and Pang Tong's feet are just unconscious of their calves, so she has a way to stand up.

"Don't worry about this, I have my own way." Pang Xiaonan had to wait until he checked Pang Tong's condition before he could determine what solution to use.

"Well, I believe you." The mother patted Pang Xiaonan's thigh, "Since you can make money, if your father's legs need money, you can use this card."

My mother wanted to return the bank card that Pang Xiaonan gave her to Pang Xiaonan, but Pang Xiaonan pushed it back, "This card is for you, I have the money for treating my dad!"

"Okay, if you don't have enough time, you'll ask me for it," my mother knew that if Pang Tong's legs could be restored to stand, it would definitely cost a lot of money. "It's getting late. You've been in the car for so long. You're tired, so take a break early."

My mother took the tongs and covered the wood ash with some red charcoal. She fed Pang Xiaonan hot water and told him to go to bed early after washing up, so she went to clean Pang Xiaonan's room.

The next morning, Pang Xiaonan got up very early and went to the back mountain to absorb spiritual energy. What he didn't expect was that the back mountain of his home was also a place with rich spiritual energy. It was far away from the city and was not polluted too much.

These days, Pang Xiaonan always feels that he is about to break through to the level of a master. The feeling of being broken but not being broken makes people look forward to it.

"It seems that absorbing spiritual energy alone is not enough." After Pang Xiaonan was about to collect some rare medicinal materials after returning to Huahai City, he would collect some rare medicinal materials, assist his cultivation through elixirs, and break through to the master's realm as soon as possible.

Thinking of this, Pang Xiaonan couldn't help but think of Oda Lima's human body strengthening plan. If Oda Lima's scientific research results could be released early, he could also learn from them. Maybe just one injection can reach a level.

The early birds were chirping, and the sun's light also spread to the ground through the layers of leaves in the woods. Pang Xiaonan took the initiative and walked towards his home.
To be continued...