My Alleged Husband

Chapter 456 - 435: Zhang Zhentian Returns to the Country_1

Ever since Xia Jing refused to continue living with Zhang Zhentian a few years ago, Zhang Zhentian disappeared. He went abroad alone from home, visiting every place Xia Jing had been to abroad. He felt that, no matter what, he had to visit all those places. As days passed, five years swiftly went by. Throughout these five years, Zhang Zhentian thought about his wife every single day, yet he didn’t know where she was. No matter how hard he searched, she never responded to his pleas, and his wife refused to come back to his side, even when he begged her earnestly.

It was rumored that Zhang Zhentian had returned to the country; he wanted to come back to look for his wife, having learned that Xia Jing had already returned from abroad. He thought he should try his luck, maybe he could find where his wife was.

Right after Zhang Zhentian returned home, Old Master Zhang summoned him.

"Dad, so many years have gone by, I don’t know how you have been during this time. Are you still healthy? I know I have been an unfilial son, never have I served by your side in these years, nor have I fulfilled the slightest bit of filial piety towards you. I also haven’t taken on half the responsibility I should have, and that’s a dereliction of duty on my part as a son. But now that I’ve returned and see you safe and sound, it reassures me that my dad is still very healthy, which brings me some happiness and comfort. I’ve always been unsure how to face you, Dad, because I don’t know how to face those I’ve abandoned. I had thought about returning home to live with you, but because I was too stubborn and willful, I missed chance after chance, which ultimately left us no way to live together. I’ve realized it now, being able to live a happy life with you all is enough for me. I don’t seek great achievements or distinguished success in this lifetime, I only wish I could spend the second half of my life peacefully by my dad and my son’s side, that would be enough. I’ve discovered that one should not be too greedy, for there’s no benefit in it. I truly can’t confront each and every mistake I’ve made, because the mistakes are simply unforgivable, filling me with deep remorse towards you. All these years, I know you’ve missed me too, your unfilial son, but I’ve had no face to return home to see you, as I understand the mistakes I’ve made don’t deserve forgiveness. Every action I’ve taken has ultimately hurt those who love me the most. I’ve always been unrepentant, wasting everything I’ve had. I could have had the love of my son, the genuine love you offered me, Dad, but I’ve always been so reckless and self-willed, abandoning you and the happy family I could have had for life. It’s for these reasons that I’ve walked down this path to this day, a path of no return, bearing all the sins I should bear alone."

Old Master Zhang responded, "As for what you’ve just said, I can’t believe any of it anymore. My trust in you is gone. Everything you’ve done has truly hurt me. I don’t understand how you could abandon your own family repeatedly just for that so-called wife of yours. Why would you abandon the family members who love you the most for a woman who means nothing to you? Are we, your family, even less to you than that woman? Do you realize how much sadness and pain your decisions have caused your family? You never considered how your father, your son must feel deep inside. You’ve always been so rash, always believing that every decision you make is right. But do you know? Are your decisions really right? On the contrary, every decision you’ve made has been terribly wrong, but you never admit to your faults. Always wanting to have it all, to possess everything, expecting others to serve your purposes, to listen to you. But you don’t realize that not everyone in the world is a fool; they all have their own minds and wisdom. They know what should be done and what shouldn’t. Do you think everyone is as naively foolish as you?"

"I know, I know I’m mindless in my actions, and I understand that everything I’ve done has caused you a lot of distress. But can’t you understand and forgive me just once? Must you push me to a dead end step by step? Dad, no matter what, I am your son, the father of my son. I too am a father and suffer when my son does certain things. I can now understand the pain you felt because of me, and it’s because I understand that I don’t want you to suffer like that ever again. Can you understand the earnest plea of your son? So many years have passed, there’s nothing we can’t get over. If our family can join hands to create a future together, we can certainly live a happy and joyful life. Why must we keep holding on to the past?"

"What you say sounds easy, but should every person just erase the fact of their past wrongdoings because of a simple ’I’m sorry’? Can everyone act as recklessly as you, making mistakes over and over again? Should people deserve to be hurt by you repeatedly and still forgive you just because of your apologies? Not everyone is a fool. Why should they tolerate you over and over again? Are you more noble than others? Or do you think because they treat you as family, it doesn’t matter to you, and you can casually hurt their genuine feelings for you? Why do you always act without considering the consequences? Do you really think that’s okay? Haven’t you ever thought about how the people who love you feel deep down, how much pain they endure?"