Xie Lin never thought he'd die so soon, before he could enjoy a comfortable life.
Everyone in the family was sick every few days, and he raised them all. They hadn't owned a single house or field before. He worked himself to the bone, day and night, to acquire them, then died without enjoying even a single day of comfort.
On the day Xie Lin, their adoptive father, died, his second son welcomed a delicate, fair-skinned little brother. There were more men than brothers in their family, and they had all been hoping that if a little brother was born, they could raise him like a young master.
The little brother was born, but their adoptive father never got to see him. Xie Jiangping wept for months, blaming himself and his family for burdening their adoptive father.
When the little brother was three, he waited until they were alone, then led Xie Jiangping into the main room. He climbed onto the armchair Xie Jiangping often sat in and looked at him with quiet sorrow. “Da Jiang, Father worked hard for decades while he was alive, but he never got to enjoy a single day.”
Xie Jiangping dropped to his knees with a thud.
Reborn as his own great-grandson, Xie Lin has only one demand: this time, he's going to enjoy himself however he likes.
Sitting in a rocking chair, cracking melon seeds and watching the stonecutters pass by one after another, he spots one who is unbelievably handsome.
His older brother complains to their grandfather that he does nothing but eat melon seeds. But Xie Jiangping smacks him on the forehead and says, “Have you lost your mind? How dare you boss your little brother around!”
His brother clutches his head, looking aggrieved. Their grandfather comes out with a fresh bowl of roasted melon seeds and cheerfully swaps it for the one that's almost empty.
His brother comes over angrily and snaps, “You really think you're our ancestor or something!”
Xie Lin smiles and replies, “I am the real ancestor.”
Theme: Respect the old and cherish the young, and may the whole family live happily.
