While parents are still healthy - Father's love is like a mountain, mother's love is like water

Author: Pei Yu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: Giving my father a scarf in my hometown in Northeast China, I love winter. Because only in winter can there be such a scene: snowflakes fluttering down from the sky, everything is silver-white, while indoors, my parents and relatives gather around a steaming hot hotpot, drinking homemade liquor. My brothers and I, in the courtyard, play snowball fights and build snowmen. To this day, I still cherish the time playing in the snow. At this moment, I would often see my father looking at us playing outside. Later, I learned that while being infected by our joy, he was also worried about our health and safety. Sometimes, playing too happily, we almost forgot the cold weather, I would undo the tightly tied scarf, take off my hat, and take off my gloves. Often, I would pick up snow directly from the ground with my hands, rolling it into balls, until later, my hands were numb and no longer felt cold. My father would surely come out to tie my scarf for me, sternly warning us not to take off our clothes when we got warm, because it was easier to catch a cold at that time. Sometimes, we continued playing and forgot his warning, he would get very angry and even start scolding us loudly, ordering us not to play anymore. At this time, we always disliked my father's severity, although we obeyed his commands, we complained about him privately, completely forgetting his good intentions. Now, I think, how much my father loved me, and his love was mostly hidden behind his stern face.
In elementary school, I began to show talent in art, but as a playful child, I wouldn’t persist in practicing painting. He forced me to draw every day, and I often suffered punishments for not completing my tasks, sometimes even crying from his scolding. Back then, I hated him, harbored resentment toward him. But if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have gone to university or studied my favorite major in fashion design.
During one winter break of my university, I can’t remember what happened, but I argued with my father. Usually, I wouldn’t argue with my father, perhaps because after entering university, I began to break free from family constraints and stopped being obedient. At that time, I felt particularly wronged, so I said, “Anyway, if you get angry when I come back, I’ll leave, and I won’t come back anymore.” My father said, “Fine, you can go wherever you want, but you need to be responsible for yourself.” While packing, I said, “I know what I should and shouldn’t do.” Hearing this, my father didn’t say anything more. I angrily grabbed my belongings and opened the door to leave. At that moment, my father chased after me: “Wait, take your scarf!” I turned around but didn’t look at him, reaching out to take the scarf. My father said, “Tie it properly, don’t catch a cold!” Hearing this, I looked up at my father, and there was no anger left in his eyes, only deep care. At that moment, I couldn’t control myself, tears streamed down my face. When I saw me crying, my father, for the first time, apologized to me: “What’s the matter? Okay, okay, you were wronged. Why are you still standing there? Come in!” Saying that, he picked up my bag and walked back. Watching my father’s back, I felt for the first time that my father was aging, and I felt immense guilt.
Before leaving for school, my father saw me off and still reminded me to tie my scarf properly, not to take it off when warm. I smiled and agreed, but I noticed that my father’s scarf looked a bit worn.
After returning to school, when I had free time, I learned to knit sweaters with a senior girl in my dorm. On Father’s Day, I gave my father a handmade knitted wool scarf, inside which was a card that said: “Dad, wear it when it’s cold, and you need to be responsible for your health.” My father was very happy, even though the scarf wasn’t perfectly knitted and the color was a bit too bright for him, he wore it all winter and still hasn’t taken it off today. P74-75