A warmth spread through Wen Xiu's heart at the thought of her eldest son. Years ago, out of sheer kindness, he had secretly helped and even saved an old cadre who had been sent down to their village after graduating high school. Later, after that cadre was politically rehabilitated, her son had the chance to get a job in the city. But he refused to go far, all because he was worried about his old parents.
In the end, the cadre, unable to persuade him, had no choice but to regretfully arrange a position for him as a warehouse keeper at the town's grain station instead.
Among her three sons, the eldest was the most filial to his parents, and he also cared the most for his only younger sister.
He was unwilling to leave the side of his two old folks, which made her both happy and sad.