The night was already very late. Suddenly, Li Qingqing stood behind me and asked why I was still not sleeping. I was engrossed in reading the book "The Three Pure Ones" in my hands and said, "Ku Daxian gave me this amazing book! It's so fascinating!" Li Qingqing leaned over to take a look and furrowed her brows involuntarily, saying, "I feel like I can't understand anything!"

As the winter night grew colder, I pulled the blanket from the bed and wrapped myself tightly while continuing to read. Li Qingqing said, "Are you hungry? Let me get you something to eat!" She disappeared in a flash.

When Li Qingqing reappeared by my side, she was holding a bowl of steaming hot scrambled eggs, and they were made with sugared yolks, fragrant and delicious. I quickly ate them and praised, "You're a great cook!"

Li Qingqing yawned and crawled into the bed, saying, "I'm going to sleep now. Take your time reading, but be careful not to catch a cold!"

My heart felt warm, not only because of the scrambled eggs, but also because of Li Qingqing. Although I was naturally unlucky and would be plagued by dirty things all my life, at least fate had compensated me by giving me a beautiful wife to take care of me at the age of thirteen or fourteen.

After eating the scrambled eggs, I felt even more energetic, and I studied harder than ever before. When the rooster crowed outside, I finally looked up from the world of "The Three Pure Ones". I stretched lazily, and all my bones crackled. I realized that it was already dawn.

"You stayed up all night?" Li Qingqing sat on the bed, astonished.

I nodded, closed "The Three Pure Ones," and carefully placed it on the desk. This book had become my treasure, and I valued it greatly. I vowed never to use it as a table leg again.

My mother called me outside the door to have breakfast. As I walked out of the bedroom, I noticed that the sky was overcast and cold. It seemed like it would snow soon.

Our family sat together for breakfast. My father slurped his corn porridge and told my mother, "You don't need to prepare my lunch. I'm going to work at the west end of the village today and won't be back until evening."

My mother nodded and asked, "Are you going to help Luo Lao San build his house?"

My father replied, "It's almost Chinese New Year, and Luo Lao San wants to move into his new house before the holiday. Only the roof is missing, and once it's finished, the job will be done!"

My mother remarked, "It seems like Luo Lao San is making good money working outside. In just two or three years, he's come back and is building a new house. I remember they used to live in a thatched hut, poor as can be!"

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My father said, "I heard Luo Lao San followed a boss in Guangzhou. He has indeed made a lot of money these past two years. Now he even smokes Zhonghua cigarettes, and the pay is good too. They settle accounts daily, earning more than 100 or 200 yuan per day!"

My father looked up and handed me his bowl, saying, "Cheng'er, help me refill it with rice. I'll eat another bowl so I'm full for work!"

I turned to the kitchen and filled a bowl of porridge for my father. As I handed it to him, I instinctively observed his face. Last night, I had learned some physiognomy skills from "The Three Pure Ones," so I decided to take a look at my father. But the moment I looked, I was startled.

I saw that there was a faint blackness between my father's eyebrows, unlike the brightness of the others. I could even see a vertical line on his nose, like a dark streak.

This kind of face was a typical sign of great misfortune. It was very likely that something unexpected would happen.

My heart skipped a beat, and my wrist trembled, causing the corn porridge to spill onto my father's hand.

My mother quickly handed a cloth to my father to wipe his hand, saying, "Cheng'er, are you still half-asleep? Why are you so absent-minded?"

I stood there motionless, feeling anxious.

At this moment, our neighbor, Xie Lao Er, appeared at the door, urging my father to leave. He was also going to Luo Lao San's house to help with the construction. Xie Lao Er lived not far from us, so he came to pick up my father along the way.

My father responded, quickly finished the watery porridge in three gulps, put down the bowl, and put on his coat to head out.

He turned back and patted my shoulder, saying, "What are you daydreaming about so early in the morning? If you're not awake yet, go back to sleep. I'm leaving!"

As I watched my father walk towards the gate, my heart beat faster. Seeing him about to leave the yard, I couldn't stand still any longer. I ran up to him in three strides, grabbed his clothes, and begged, "Dad, how about... you don't go to work today?"

"Why?" my father asked.

"Because..." I didn't know how to answer. I couldn't just tell him that he had an ominous sign on his face, right?

"Big brother, hurry up!" Xie Lao Er called from the courtyard gate.

My father patted my head and said with a smile, "Alright, go inside quickly. I have to go work. How can we earn money to buy New Year goods if I don't work? I'll buy you delicious food later!"

My father shook off my hand and continued walking towards the door.

I became anxious and said, "Dad, please don't go!"

My mother came over and pulled me into the house, saying, "You silly child, if your dad doesn't go to work, how can we survive? We have two hundred yuan, which is enough for us to celebrate the New Year!"

I knew that it would be difficult to stop my father this way, so I came up with a plan. My eyes rolled in my head, and suddenly I covered my stomach and fell to the ground.

My mother was startled and asked what happened.

I held my stomach and groaned, "My stomach hurts... it hurts..."

My mother asked, "Weren't you fine just now?"

To enhance the drama, I pretended to roll on the ground while wailing, "It hurts... it's killing me..."

I hadn't slept the whole night, so my complexion wasn't good, and I looked pale.

Seeing that my complexion was off, my mother quickly stopped my father and said, "Dad, why don't you skip work and take Cheng'er to the clinic? Maybe he ate something bad!"

I glanced at my father and continued my exaggerated performance on the ground.

My father hesitated for a moment, sighed, and said to Uncle Xie, "Uncle Xie, I'm sorry. You see, my son is sick, so I have to take him to see a doctor. I won't come over today."

Uncle Xie said, "Leaving behind two hundred yuan without earning it is such a pity!"

My father said, "There's nothing to be done. My son's health is more important. Money can be earned anytime!"

My father walked over and helped me up, carrying me on his back.

Uncle Xie said, "Alright, I'll go first. See you later!"

My father carried me on his back and ran to the clinic.

The weather was cold, and my father's breath formed white smoke as he panted.

I lay on my father's broad shoulders and truly felt what "father's love is like a mountain" meant.

I was pretending to be sick, so after a check-up at the clinic, nothing was found. They just gave me some medicine for my stomach and told me to drink plenty of water and rest in bed.

The whole day, my father stayed at home, taking care of me and not going to work.

As evening approached, we heard commotion outside, with people shouting, "Something happened! Something happened!"