Chapter 474 Fatherly Love and Filial Piety (Including a Short Play)

Chapter 474: A Loving Father and Devoted Son (Including a Bonus Scene)

It was Fu Zhengtu’s first day off.

Actually, he had just arrived and still had a lot to adjust to. Normally, he wouldn’t have taken time off, but now things were different—his mother, younger brother, wife, and child were all waiting for him at home.

Over the years, aside from business trips, Fu Zhengtu had never gone so long without seeing his family. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he was longing to get back.

Colleague A joked, “Didn’t expect Fu to be such a family guy!”

Colleague B added, “Who wouldn’t want a cozy home with the wife and kids? After the New Year, I’ll bring mine over too.”

Since they lived in the suburbs, it was already 9 p.m. when Fu Zhengtu arrived home.

As soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he heard his son’s excited voice: “Grandma, where’s Daddy? Why isn’t he home yet? I can’t wait—I want to go meet him!”

Zhou Linglan replied, “Chenchen, don’t go out. It’s cold.”

Before she finished speaking, Chenchen was suddenly lifted into the air.

“Wow! Daddy! You’re finally here!” Chenchen gave him a big smooch on the cheek. “Daddy, I missed you so much!”

A kid who grew up surrounded by love knows how to show it freely.

Fu Zhengtu hugged him back just as tightly:

“I missed you too, buddy.”

Father and son held onto each other for a while.

Zhou Linglan spoke up, “There’s food warming in the pot. I’ll go get it for you.”

Fu Zhengtu set his son down. “Mom, don’t get up—I’ve got it.”

Chenchen reached out, still wanting to be held. “I want to go with Daddy!”

Fu Zhengtu bent down to pick him up again, wrapping him up in a hat and scarf before carrying him to the kitchen.

Su Taotao’s cooking was just as amazing as always. Since Zhou Linglan had moved in with them, Su Taotao rarely cooked, only doing so when she felt like it.

Fu Zhengtu had really missed her cooking. She had left generous portions, and between him and his son taking turns, they just about finished it all.

“Where are Mom and Uncle?” Fu Zhengtu asked while washing dishes.

Chenchen rubbed his round little belly. “They’re in Uncle’s room planning the renovations. Daddy, Mom said tomorrow she’ll take us to see the new house and then we’re going to eat at the old man’s house—the one who sold it to us.”

Fu Zhengtu rinsed a cloth with warm water and wiped Chenchen’s mouth.

“We’ll do what Mom says.”

After cleaning his son’s face and hands, he picked him up again. “Let’s go find Mom.”

The little one was getting heavier every day. Su Taotao could barely carry him anymore, and soon Fu Zhengtu wouldn’t be able to either. He had to cherish the moments he could still hold his son.

“Mommy!” As soon as they entered the room, the child stretched his arms toward Su Taotao.

Su Taotao took off Chenchen’s shoes, scarf, and hat, then snuggled him into the warm bed.

She looked at Fu Zhengtu: "Have you had enough?"

Fu Zhengtu looked at his wife and smiled slightly: "I’ve had enough."

Chenchen rolled on the heated bed and patted his belly: "Mom, I’m full too!"

Su Taotao pinched the child’s cheek: "If you eat too much, you might not sleep well tonight."

Chenchen puffed his cheeks: "I didn’t eat that much, just enough to be full."

Su Taotao told Fu Zhengtu about their plan to try out their cooking at Old Man Du’s house the next day.

Fu Zhengtu nodded: "Whatever you say. I won’t leave until the morning after tomorrow."

Back then, only Sundays were rest days, and even that limited time was carved out from Fu’s endless overtime.

"As the saying goes, 'absence makes the heart grow fonder.'” The couple cherished their once-a-week time together, completely lost in each other. Even in the freezing snowy weather, their passion burned so intensely that they worked up a sweat.

By the end, Su Taotao lay with her eyes half-closed, too worn out to lift a finger.

Worried she might catch a cold, Fu Zhengtu brought warm water and carefully wiped her clean, bundling her into the warm covers before finally feeling at ease.

By the time Fu Zhengtu returned after pouring out the water, Su Taotao was already asleep. He gently pulled her into his arms, and that warm, contented feeling came back.

In the past, he never considered himself the sentimental type, but now? He wished he could take her everywhere.

Fu Zhengtu tilted his head and kissed Su Taotao’s hair. The work site was too far away—he couldn’t come home every day, and soon Su Taotao would be staying at school. What were they to do?

He drifted off to sleep in a haze.

Early the next morning, Chenchen, the human alarm clock, arrived right on time.

The little one came barreling in like a cannonball onto his parents’ bedding:

"Mom! Dad! Time to get up!"

Fu Zhengtu reacted quickly, catching the child with one arm: "Shh, let Mom sleep a little longer."

With that, he grabbed his coat, got up, and carried the child out.

Chenchen clung to his father’s neck: "But Dad, we still have to buy groceries!"

Fu Zhengtu: "Little Uncle has the shopping list. We’ll go buy them."

Chenchen: "Alright then."

…

Su Taotao and Fu Yuanhang had already discussed the menu the night before—nothing too complicated, just dishes like braised pork, stir-fried three delicacies, spicy bean sprouts, shredded tofu... all testing basic culinary skills.

By the time the three men returned with the groceries, Su Taotao was just lazily getting out of bed.

Fu Zhengtu’s endurance was incredible—after storing up energy all week, he unleashed it in one night, leaving her barely able to keep up.

Seeing her son and daughter-in-law so happily in sync, Zhou Linglan was naturally delighted. As soon as Su Taotao got up, she prepared breakfast for her, smiling as she ate:

"Tao Tao, no hurry. Let’s eat our fill before we leave."

Su Taotao, bright-eyed and glowing, nodded: "Thanks, Mom."

It was somewhat inconvenient for the whole family to travel with so much food.

Fu Zhengtu decided to borrow a car from Old Master Hu.

When Fu Zhengtu arrived, Old Master Tang was there too, along with another elderly man he didn’t know—Old Master Chen. The three were playing Go.

Old Master Hu cheerfully introduced him:

"Zhengtu, let me introduce you—this is Old Master Chen, the chief instructor of the Go Association. He once tried to recruit Chenchen into Go, but unfortunately, Chenchen refused."

Fu Zhengtu greeted him respectfully.

Old Master Chen still wouldn’t give up: "Chenchen is a rare talent, with remarkable composure and temperament. If he’s willing to compete, he’ll surely shine and bring glory to our country. What do you think, Fu Zhengtu?"

Fu Zhengtu replied, "Our family raises children with freedom, without interfering too much in their personal interests. If he wants to go, we won’t stop him. If he doesn’t, we won’t push either. We respect his wishes."

Old Master Hu chuckled, "Told you so! Give it up, Old Chen. Both father and son are the same—once they decide against something, no one can change their minds."

He had once tried to persuade Fu Zhengtu to learn painting from Old Master Tang, but failed. Later, he took Fu’s younger brother as his last apprentice, which at least fulfilled that connection.

Old Master Tang added, "Exactly. Their family values democracy. When Ah Hang came to me to learn painting, it was entirely his choice. If he hadn’t been willing, I wouldn’t have found such an excellent final apprentice."

Old Master Chen sighed, "So I’ll have to try three times like Liu Bei?"

Old Master Tang waved his hand, "Don’t bother. Don’t put the child in a difficult position—you can’t force these things.

Even if the child softens and agrees to compete, he won’t be happy.

It’s better for Chenchen to grow up happy and carefree."

The old masters genuinely adored Chenchen.

Fu Zhengtu thanked the three elders for their understanding. As he took the car keys, he thought to himself—perhaps like attracts like. Su Taotao, Chenchen, and Ah Hang had a positive aura about them, and wherever they went, they encountered kind souls who treated them sincerely.

He wondered what kind of person this Old Master Du they were about to meet would be.

Old Master Du and the delicate child who looked like he had stepped out of a painting stared at each other wide-eyed.

Only when he faintly recognized a trace of Su Taotao in the boy’s features did he come to his senses.

"Is this your son?"

Su Taotao nodded, "Yes, my son Chenchen. This is my mother-in-law, Madam Zhou, and my husband, Fu Zhengtu.

Zhengtu, this is Old Master Du, the one I mentioned."

"Hello, Grandpa Du!" Chenchen greeted brightly.

Zhou Linglan gave a slight nod.

Fu Zhengtu also inclined his head slightly, "Good day, sir."

Old Master Du tutted, opened the big door wide, and muttered,

"Seems all the good-looking people have ended up in your family—young and old, every single one. Simply unbelievable..."

The cook Old Master Du introduced to them was named He Feng—an unassuming and good-natured man who appeared to be in his early forties.

"He endured difficult times with me during the Cultural Revolution in the labor camp. Though his right ear has impaired hearing from that period, he's otherwise physically sound—a diligent and dependable man."

"Just tell him how you want your dishes cooked—stand on his left side and speak at a normal volume.

The kitchen is over there. He Feng knows the place well, so go with him," said Old Man Du.

Su Taotao nodded. "Alright." She turned to Fu Yuanhang and said, "Sister-in-law, take them next door to look around, and see if you can buy some fruit on the way back."

Fu Yuanhang replied, "I’d rather stay and help you."

Su Taotao shook her head. "No need. These dishes won’t take long. Just come back by 11:30 for lunch."

Seeing there wasn’t much water in the sink, Fu Zhengtu said to Fu Yuanhang, "You go ahead. I’ll catch up later."

Then he turned to Su Taotao. "I’ll pump some water first."

Su Taotao nodded. "Fetch some hot water from the kitchen—the pump’s probably frozen."

Fu Yuanhang took Zhou Linglan and Chenchen next door while Fu Zhengtu started working right away.

……

……

This chapter is too short, so here’s a little extra—

Everyone knew Fu doted on his wife and son, sharing an especially close bond with the boy. But just how close? No one really knew—until one day, Fu brought his sixth-grade son to the lab.

Well, how do I say this…

He looked like a normal sixth-grader. But wasn’t Fu’s son a child prodigy who’d skipped grades? Why did he look like any other sixth-grader?

When asked his age—eight years old???

No mistake? What eight-year-old is that tall these days???

Then everyone glanced at Fu, who stood nearly a head taller than them, and suddenly it made sense.

Must run in the family.

"Chenchen, double-check these numbers for me. There’s a 0.002 discrepancy in the comparisons."

Chenchen took the papers, skimmed them, and smiled.

"Sure, Dad. Oh, can I use that abacus you taught me last time? I want to play with it today."

Fu Zhengtu said, "That’s way slower than doing it in your head. I need this data urgently—try it next time."

If it weren’t urgent, he wouldn’t have enlisted his son’s free labor.

Chenchen pouted. "What about the calculator instead?"

*(Note: Calculators did exist in the early 1970s—not making this up! They were just expensive and not widely used yet. Someone like Fu, with his high-end job, naturally got one early. Most folks still relied on abacuses.

No exaggeration—my own dad was still click-clacking away on an abacus well into the '90s. That huge old abacus is still at my folks’ house.)*

Fu Zhengtu shook his head, patting his son’s head. "Still slower than your mental math. Be a good boy—do it in your head."

Chenchen relented. "Fine. But Dad, can I use the abacus when we’re done?"

Fu Zhengtu pulled out his abacus and handed it to him, ruffling his hair: "Sure, help Dad check the data first."

Chenchen patted the small abacus: "Aye aye, Dad!"

The people around were floored! They all thought they were hallucinating!!

What kind of crazy talk was this? An eight-year-old doing math in his head faster than an abacus or a machine?!

Then they recalled Fu's usual calculation speed and it made sense.

Guess it runs in the family!

When Chenchen really concentrated, his mental math was indeed much faster than a calculator.

He finished calculations in less than half the time others would take, and immediately spotted the error in that set of data, saving Fu plenty of time.

Chenchen had overworked his brain and was dragging a bit in the afternoon.

Fu Zhengtu had him drink some glucose water.

Chenchen held out his arms and complained to his dad: "Dad, I can't walk anymore!"

Fu Zhengtu smiled and dropped to one knee with his back to his son: "Climb on up, Dad'll carry you back."

Chenchen lit up. In front of his tall, burly father, he had no clue at all that he'd already grown up—taller than many teenagers—and scrambled happily onto his father's back:

"Dad, it's been so long since you carried me last."

Fu Zhengtu touched his son's still-chubby little hands, just like when he was little:

"Anytime you want Dad to carry you, as long as these old bones can handle it."

Chenchen tilted his head and smacked a kiss on his dad's handsome face: "Dad, Chenchen loves you!"

Fu Zhengtu gave his hand a squeeze: "Dad loves you too."

Father and son never held back from expressing their love for each other.

To outsiders, Fu Zhengtu seemed reserved, aloof—even standoffish.

But with his wife and son, he was even-keeled, always gentle and patient.

So from being utterly shocked, everyone gradually accepted it, and got a clear picture of how Fu spoiled his son.

Now they were curious—if Fu was like this with his son, how much more indulgent must he be with his wife?

Fu Zhengtu, standing well over six feet tall, carrying Chenchen who was nearly five feet—this sight had people doing double-takes.

Some still found it unbelievable: "Isn't he babying his kid too much? Carrying him at that age?"

Someone from Fu's team scoffed: "Hmph, if I had a son like Chenchen, I’d put him on a pedestal—even call him 'Dad' if he wanted! What's it to ya?"

The other person asked: "But won’t that spoil the kid?"

Fu’s teammate gave him a pitying look: "Did you not see Chenchen's face just now, or do you not know who he is?"

"I didn't get a good look, and I've never spoken to him," the man replied.

Fu's colleague patted his shoulder: "Go chat with Chenchen sometime. You won't say such things afterward—might even do your brain some good."

Still scratching his head, baffled, the man watched the intimate scene of father and son fade into the distance:

"What does that mean???"

...

End of scene.