Year after year, white hair hurries people toward old age; night after night, green hills enter my dreams.
Wu Fu (Fu), Song Dynasty
Every night, it's you. The green hills are you. The one who comes to me in dreams is still you.
This story:
A story about a child born out of wedlock who is abandoned, then reclaimed.
A story about an insecure young man who becomes a major.
Yu Zhong was given away at birth so his mother could further his father's career.
From then on, they were worlds apart.
Twenty years later, while Yu Zhong is a third-year university student, his older brother, born to the same parents, Xu Boyong, becomes his teacher.
His brother then asks Yu Zhong to come home.
You gave me away when you didn't want me. Now you want us to be reunited, so I'm supposed to go back?
Yu Zhong refuses, resists, avoids them, and hates them, yet in the end he can't fight the inevitable and is defeated by the facts.
Later, Xu Boyong becomes Yu Zhong's graduate and doctoral advisor.
During this time, Xu Boyong has Yu Zhong confined, makes him run laps at dawn, orders him to write self-criticisms, and scolds him...
Yu Zhong is forced to endure every military-style measure in the book.
Yu Zhong doesn't believe in fate.
His adoptive father is about the same age as his classmates' grandparents.
Before he has even graduated, he must shoulder the responsibility of supporting an elderly parent.
With his biological parents on one side and his adoptive father on the other, Yu Zhong has "more moms and dads than most."
With his classmates, Yu Zhong never makes enemies, but never gets close to anyone either.
He doesn't offend people because he can't afford to.
He keeps his distance as a form of self-protection, so no one can hurt him.
During his youth, he never got to experience falling in love.
When it came to love, he never took a single step forward.
What kind of girl could suit someone so closed off?
At last, Xu Boyong leads him into a wider world.
He accompanies Yu Zhong as he grows in his career, advances professionally, and realizes his potential, stepping into a new world.
[Early on]
Yu Zhong says:
Remove the double-person radical from the character Xu, which represents both parents, and you get Yu, as in "surplus". I'm just someone extra, someone who shouldn't be here.
"All you can give me is an 'I'm sorry,' something that lets you sleep at night and eases your conscience, but means nothing to the twenty-plus years I've lived."
"I will never forgive you."
Xu Boyong:
Knowing his younger brother will need to find a job after graduating, he threatens him: "If you can't get into grad school, don't expect to get your bachelor's degree either."
Seeing his brother's poor posture, he tells him off: "Attention! Stand up straight!"
Seeing his brother's poor English, he demands: "Translate one English paper every week. Before each group meeting, come to my office and stand there reading the original English text for half an hour."
Seeing his brother struggle socially, he makes him interact with the people in the lab: "Have you asked your seniors for advice? If you haven't, don't ask me."
Seeing his brother quietly wallowing in sorrow, he says: "Stop feeling sorry for yourself."
[Later on]
Yu Zhong says:
I helped you reassure several junior students in the lab.
I transferred an international patent to my cousin for one yuan.
My Yu means eternity for the rest of my life. I love Wanheng.
I bought some gifts for my sister-in-law and niece. Please accept them.
Thank you, big brother.
Xu Boyong says:
Major Yu, don't put my name on your papers again next time.
Major Yu, you finally got the hang of it. You're very efficient at finding a partner!
Major Yu, thank you.
At first, the people of Yu Family Village call Yu Zhong a bastard born of a bitch.
Later, they call him the crown prince who was lost among the common people.
At first, Yu Zhong leaves Yu Family Village to take the exams. Later, he brings investment companies and projects to the village.
At first, when faced with rumors, his biological father tells him: "The gibbons' cries can still be heard from both shores, but the light boat has already passed ten thousand mountains."
Later, wearing the halo of a specially recruited talent, he enters the military and follows in his biological father's footsteps, becoming a soldier.
Here are the questions:
How deeply does one's family of origin shape a person?
Is it good or bad to have a child late in life?
A wealthy father gives his child self-esteem, confidence, and the chance to realize their potential.
Professor older brother vs. student younger brother who grows into a major
An academic and career coming-of-age story
Theme: Academic growth, career development, an inspirational novel.
Every night I dream of the green mountains, the iron horse is you and the glacier is you. Thank you to the author for the moving story.
I stayed up late to finish it. It's so well written that it's hard to empathize with it.
Thank you to the author for writing such a good article. I have benefited a lot.