Volume One, Chapter 9: A Son Unworthy—Never Once Giving You Peace of Mind

Footsteps approached, and Luo Bin immediately gathered his thoughts. The visitor turned out to be Gu Ya, who stood outside the door carrying a food basket.

"Xiao Shan! Mom couldn’t sleep all night. It’s such a relief that you’re okay. Let me take a look at you," Gu Ya said, her eyes red as she carefully examined Luo Bin.

"Mom, what could possibly be wrong with me? I’m just following the village chief’s instructions," Luo Bin replied with a light smile, his tone easygoing.

"I told you, Xiao Shan wouldn’t get into trouble," Luo Feng came from behind and stopped beside Gu Ya, his voice gentle.

"An outsider died?" His gaze fell on the cement road, where bloodstains still remained. The village chief had only removed the corpse but had not cleaned the blood. Luo Feng then glanced into the temple.

"Yes, the driver is dead," Luo Bin nodded.

Gu Ya walked over to the table and set down the food basket. "Let’s eat first. These are your favorite dishes."

"Okay," Luo Bin said as he moved to sit down.

Gu Ya brought out a large bowl of steamed egg custard and a plate of fragrant stir-fried shredded potatoes.

Luo Bin’s smile stiffened, his face suddenly blank and frozen.

In his past life, his favorite foods were also steamed egg custard and shredded potatoes.

He remembered when his mother suffered from Alzheimer’s, forgetting everything and everyone. But she didn’t wander off; she stayed in their rural home, raising chickens and planting potatoes.

Every day, she would call Luo Bin to ask when he would finish work, preparing steamed egg custard and stir-fried potatoes for him.

Life was hard. Luo Bin worked far away in a big city, with little time to answer calls and even fewer chances to return home throughout the year.

After his paralysis, his father took him to seek medical help everywhere, while his mother had to rely on others for care.

One day, she ran out of the house saying she was going to bring food to her son but was hit and killed by a large truck. The egg custard and shredded potatoes were mixed with blood and spilled all over the ground.

Luo Bin wept, tears flowing into the corner of his mouth.

So bitter, so salty.

"Mom..." His voice was filled with pain and choked with sobs.

"Mom’s here, right here, Xiao Shan. Why are you crying?" Gu Ya panicked and hurried to wipe Luo Bin’s tears.

Through tear-blurred eyes, Gu Ya’s face seemed to transform into another—kind, gentle, warm, yet faintly aged.

Time may fade many things, but a mother’s love only grows deeper.

Luo Bin was dazed, crying uncontrollably.

"Mom, I’m sorry. I’m really sorry."

"It’s your son’s fault for never letting you worry in peace."

Gu Ya anxiously wiped Luo Bin’s tears, her own eyes soon brimming with tears as she held his head.

"Don’t cry, Xiao Shan. I know someone died here yesterday. It’s cruel for you to see all this. I’ll send your father to find the village chief. We won’t tolerate outsiders anymore!" she said, glaring at Luo Feng.

Luo Feng frowned deeply. "That’s not a good decision."

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