The Two of You

On the road, there were three missed calls on his phone, from website owner Zeng Jun, Dong Yong and Su He's mother.

"Hello, mom..."

"Stinky boy, not answering my call again."

"Mom, what's the matter?"

"Su He, do you still care about this family? You've been out for half a year and not coming back, others may think you went abroad!"

"How serious is it? Hello...mom..."

The phone was hung up by his old mom. Su He quickly changed direction and rode home.

Su He's home was also in Jinnan City, but over 20 kilometers away from the downtown, taking one and a half hours by electric bike.

On the way, Su He called Zeng Jun to ask for leave, and called back Ma Mingzhe. It was just a small matter, asking Su He to bring some tasty food from home.

Halfway through, the bike ran out of power. There was no one around. Su He took out a spare battery he got as a reward and replaced it, trying to put the old battery back in but couldn't fit it in so he just put it on the bike.

The gate of Su's home was wide open. He rode right in and parked the bike, rushing into the house.

"Mom, where's dad? Where did dad fall? Is it serious?"

Su He's mom was called Zhao Shaomei. She was sitting on the sofa cracking melon seeds and watching TV, with three women beside her - one was Zhang Auntie, the famous matchmaker in the village, and he didn't recognize the other two.

Zhao Shaomei glanced at Su He. "Willing to come back huh? Pretty fast!"

Su He was anxious all the way here. Seeing his mother angry, he couldn't help asking: "Mom, what time is this, where's dad? Gone to the hospital?"

At this moment, the door inside opened, and Su He's dad Su Jianguo shook his clothes and walked out, saying: "What hospital, just fell off the bike in the field, came back to change clothes..."

"Zhao Shaomei, you told me earlier your son works at a top 500 global company, with company car and housing. An internet catering industry supply chain online food business operations manager. Turns out he's just a delivery boy!" The woman in her forties saw Su He in his yellow delivery uniform, pulled her daughter and walked out.

"Stinky boy, you should change your clothes when you come back..." Zhao Shaomei whispered a complaint when she passed Su He. She hurriedly chased after them: "Du Chunhua, don't go! You came all the way, let the young people chat!"

"A delivery boy can earn little. Not even enough for my girl's clothes and makeup... Many people in the city are chasing my girl. We'd be laughed at if others know she's meeting a delivery boy..." Du Chunhua kept walking while talking.

"Good for you, Du Chunhua. Your girl is short, flat nose, no chest, no butt... My Su He is tall and handsome yet he doesn't care for her..." As Du Chunhua looked down on her son's delivery job, Zhao Shaomei also tore her polite face and scolded back.

"Zhao Shaomei, I'll tear your mouth!"

"Come on, who's afraid of you!"

Seeing the two about to fight, Su He rushed over, grabbed Du Chunhua's hand and gently pushed. Du Chunhua staggered back two steps and sat on the ground.

"Assault! The Su family wants to beat me to death! Help!" Sitting on the ground, Du Chunhua yelled loudly after a brief stunned moment, refusing to get up and making a scene.

Seeing this, Zhao Shaomei also wanted to lie on the ground, but was grabbed by Su He: "Mom, it's dirty on the ground, don't stain your clothes."

Du Chunhua's screams were piercing. Neighbors all came out to watch the commotion.

Du Chunhua's daughter wanted to pull her up but she stubbornly refused.

Matchmaker Zhang Auntie was also persuading her to no avail. Du Chunhua kept cursing Zhao Shaomei.

Su He had seen his mom Zhao Shaomei's scolding skills grow up over the years. Few within ten li (5 km) of eight villages could defeat her. But Du Chunhua was a strong match, both sprayed saliva with vicious curses.

A group of men watched with hands in pockets. Everyone knew it wouldn't turn into a fight.

Soon, the village women's director and village chief came to persuade them to leave after much effort.

The still indignant Zhao Shaomei turned and walked into the room.

As soon as the door closed, Zhao Shaomei twisted Su He's ear and said: "Stinky boy, are you deliberately trying to anger me to death, so your dad can find you a stepmom? Why wear that yellow outfit, see, yellowish skin!" (pun on yellow uniform and sallow complexion)

"Mom...it hurts...Dad, what are you laughing at?" Su He quickly diverted Zhao Shaomei's attention.

"Who's laughing, wife, don't listen to his nonsense!" Su Jianguo turned around and left.

"Stop right there!" Zhao Shaomei let go and put her hands on her hips. "You two are the same. Go get me a glass of water, my mouth is dry from all the scolding!"

At noon, Zhao Shaomei cooked a table full of dishes. Just after bringing them to the table, seeing Su He still wearing his helmet, she said: "It's meal time, why are you still wearing your helmet?"

"Ha ha...used to it." Su He spoke but did no action, picking up his chopsticks and started eating heartily, praising: "Mom, still your cooking tastes the best."

Zhao Shaomei stood with hands on hips, glaring at Su He: "Take off that helmet!"

"Mom, come eat, food is getting cold." Su He still did not move.

"Pa!" Zhao Shaomei slapped the table, staring angrily at Su He. "Su Jianguo, take off your son's helmet. I want to see what he can't show people. Since young, whenever he lies, he doesn't dare look me in the eye."

"Mom, I just changed my hairstyle, doesn't look good..." Su He still argued. Su Jianguo directly went over and took off his helmet.

"Son, what happened to your head...when did you get injured, serious?" As Zhao Shaomei saw the bandage around Su He's head and his shaved back head from the wound treatment, she started tearing up. She walked over and hugged Su He.

"Mom, I'm fine now, just accidentally knocked into a wall. A small wound, doctor said it's nothing..." Seeing his mom crying, Su He hugged Zhao Shaomei.

"Stinky boy, you never listen. I told you to find a stable job, but you insisted on delivery. Riding an electric bike in the city is so dangerous, don't think I don't know. You give all your earned money to the Shen family. You're twenty four now, time to think about yourself. Shen Yue is in a vegetative state. You can't keep doing this!"

"Mom, Shen Yue will recover..."

Zhao Shaomei sighed, sitting silently in the chair for a minute before looking up: "Su Jianguo, bring the bank book for our son. Might as well give to him, it was saved for his wedding anyway..."

Su Jianguo put the bank book in Su He's hand, laughing: "Son, dad knows you've been upset this year. Since you've decided on that girl, dad supports you."

Seeing 200,000 yuan in the book, Su He instantly teared up and hugged Su Jianguo, crying out "Dad!"

"Why are you two men hugging, eat!" Zhao Shaomei glared.

"It's ok to hug my son..." Su Jianguo mumbled softly.

"Say that again..."

"Wife, your cooking today is so delicious!"