Ten Thousand Soul Banner: Deceased, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?-Chapter 955 - 951: A Dream Visit

When Zhang Xingguo was young, he became estranged from his father due to certain events.

But as he grew older, he gradually understood his father’s good intentions. Without his father’s stern discipline, his decisive decisions, or his mother’s willingness to sacrifice, he might just be a farmer scratching out a living from the land today.

Farmers are probably the hardest working people in the world; how could he have his current comfortable life?

So in his heart, he had long forgiven his father, but he never showed it to him, partly because of his pride and partly because of his nature—many words would reach his lips, but he could never say them.

He procrastinated like this until his father passed away, and he never managed to express some things in his heart to him.

And this became a regret buried deep in his heart.

However, he didn’t mind too much, considering life’s regrets are many, and perfection is elusive.

It’s only when in the deep silence of night that he thinks of this and lets out a long sigh.

But when his father’s figure appeared before him, pacing with his hands behind him under the ginkgo tree in front of the house, tears surged uncontrollably from his eyes, even though he hadn’t cried at his father’s passing.

He remembered when he was in school, he used to come home on Friday afternoons and return to school on Sundays, because he was staying in a dormitory.

In his memory, no matter how late he came back on Friday, his father would wait for him under the ginkgo tree with his hands behind his back, reheating the meals on the stove so that he could have a warm meal the moment he returned.

But these memories seemed to be forgotten in the past, never having been cared about, and yet they now surged like a tide.

"Xingguo, you’re back, come inside quickly."

Seeing his son, Zhang Siyuan stopped and smiled kindly.

"Dad~"

Zhang Xingguo called out in a somewhat hoarse voice.

"Hey, come inside and talk," Zhang Siyuan said. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Oh, alright..."

Zhang Xingguo moved a few steps forward but found he couldn’t enter the house, still wandering around the courtyard.

Panic surged in his heart, and then he became clear-headed, but not awake; he simply realized he was dreaming.

Zhang Siyuan looked at his son’s tear-streaked face, his smile fading a little.

"Why are you crying? You’re all grown up now, still shedding tears like a child."

He walked slowly in front of Zhang Xingguo with his hands behind him and wanted to pat his shoulder like he did when he was a child, but his hand stopped halfway and retracted.

Everything seemed so real, making Zhang Xingguo doubt that this was a dream.

"Dad, I..."

Zhang Xingguo opened his mouth, words stuck in his throat, finally only turning into a sob, "I’m sorry."

"Silly boy, what are you sorry for?"

Zhang Siyuan shook his head and his gaze landed on the old ginkgo tree in the courtyard, its leaves gently swaying in the dream’s wind.

"Actually, it’s me who should be apologizing. I was too strict with you. Your mother secretly slipped you boiled eggs, and I scolded her for spoiling you; you wanted to become a civil servant, but I insisted you join the army. Now it seems you were right..."

Zhang Xingguo looked up abruptly, tears flowing even more fiercely.

"No, Dad! I never blamed you! If you hadn’t forced me to study, I would still be farming in the village now; how could I have the life I have today? It was me who was immature, always thinking you were too strict, thinking you were cold-blooded and gave up on treating Mom..."

Maybe because he knew he was dreaming, Zhang Xingguo cried without restraint.

He remembered the year his father passed away. He was on a business trip, and by the time he rushed home, the mourning hall was already set up.

He didn’t cry then, only felt a void in his heart, but today, seeing his father in his dream, all his guilt and regret surged up at once.

Zhang Siyuan looked at his son’s remorseful expression and let out a gentle sigh.

"Let’s not talk about the past. I know you’ve suffered in your heart. In fact, I later regretted being so harsh with you, but the family conditions were poor at that time, and I was afraid you’d follow my old path, toiling in the dirt all your life; it was too hard."

He paused, a slight tremor in his voice.

"I know, I know it all."

Zhang Xingguo reached out to embrace his father but only grasped a handful of air.

He choked, saying, "Mom told me that every time you sent me to school, you stood at the village entrance until you couldn’t see me anymore, and I know that over these years when I didn’t return, you often went to the village entrance to look. I know it all..."

Zhang Siyuan’s eyes reddened; he turned away to wipe the corners of his eyes before turning back to Zhang Xingguo, his tone softening.

"Let’s not talk about this. I came to find you because there is something I need to tell you. I’ve hidden something for you on the beam of the old house. When you have time, remember to go home.

"The beam?" Zhang Xingguo was stunned.

"Yes, I came to see you this time to tell you about this."

He looked at Zhang Xingguo, his eyes full of expectation.

"When you have time, go back to the old home. I’ve asked your cousin to help take care of it, and the things on the beam are still there. Don’t always be busy with work; take the kid back to have a look. Once the person is gone, the home is gone too..."

Zhang Xingguo nodded forcefully, tears still streaming, but a smile slowly appeared on his face.

"I’ll go back next week, with my wife and children..."

Zhang Siyuan watched his son, a comforting smile spreading across his face, but his figure began to fade slowly.

"Dad!" Zhang Xingguo tried to grasp his father but only caught air.

This cry made Zhang Xingguo sit up abruptly from the sofa, realizing he had just dozed off for a moment, and the documents were still spread on the coffee table. He paused, touched the tears on his face, and recalled his father’s words in the dream, everything seeming so real.

But this shout brought his wife and child out from their rooms.

"What’s wrong with you?"

His wife looked at Zhang Xingguo in surprise. She knew that Zhang Xingguo didn’t have a good relationship with his father, so when Zhang Siyuan passed away, he didn’t cry, but now his face clearly showed tear marks.

"I just dozed off and dreamt... dreamt of my dad..." Zhang Xingguo said, his voice slightly trembling.

"Then this weekend, let’s go back together."

Zhang Xingguo’s wife was not surprised at all by why he suddenly burst into tears.

Some sadness is delayed; when the person is gone, maybe you don’t feel much at first, but at the sight of a toothbrush, a razor, or even the sound of a familiar phrase, emotions resonate, and you truly feel that person is no longer there, forever gone from life.

"Yeah." Zhang Xingguo nodded slightly.

Then he looked at his son and said, "This weekend, come back with us, your... your grandpa might have been missing you too..."

Zhang Xingguo’s wife hesitated, wanting to oppose, considering their son was in high school and couldn’t afford to slack off in his studies.

But seeing the sadness and loneliness in her husband’s eyes, she swallowed her words back down.