Chapter 245: When the Desire to Care Comes Too Late
"And then? What happened next?"
A brawny man at a nearby table couldn't help but urge him on, breaking the silence.
The surrounding area had grown quiet. At some point, the chatter of other diners had faded.
Many guests had taken notice of the man's story, and they now listened intently. A few appeared to be moved, their expressions heavy with emotion, as if his story reminded them of their own past experiences, evoking a sense of empathy.
"After that…" The middle-aged man wiped away the tears at the corners of his eyes and continued, "I gradually got used to life here. Because I worked harder than the other paperboys, I was promoted. My wages increased, and my life improved a bit."
"Every month, I'd send money back to my mother. Some months it was just one gold coin, but other times, I'd send more." The man's eyes lit up with nostalgic memories. "Earning money wasn't easy, so I didn't go back often. At most, once or twice a year."
"I still remember, every time I returned home, my mother would make me lots of roasted meat buns," he said, pausing as if recalling a vivid image. "These buns are a local specialty back in my hometown. They're made by wrapping roasted meat in dough and steaming them together."
"My mother's roasted meat buns were my absolute favorite. She knew I liked fish mint, so she always added extra just for me," the man said with a grin. "I could eat four of them in one sitting."
As he spoke, he gestured in the air to show the size of the buns.
They were indeed quite large.
"I can still picture it now—every time I devoured those buns, my mother would sit across from me, smiling and asking about how I was doing," the man said, his smile tinged with bittersweetness. "I always told her I was doing great. I was too proud to tell her about the hardships I endured."
"She was frugal by nature. She wouldn't spend the money I sent her, afraid that someday I might hit a rough patch and need it," he continued, his gaze growing distant. "I even tried to convince her to move in with me, but she refused."
"My mother was a stubborn woman," he said, shaking his head. "At the time, I gradually lost patience with her refusals. Deep down, I thought she was too obstinate. And as my career advanced and I got busier, my visits home became less and less frequent."
"Until…" His voice faltered, trembling as his eyes reddened again. "Not long ago, I received a letter from home. It was written by my neighbor, a kind lady who lives next door. She told me that my mother had fallen gravely ill and was bedridden. She urged me to return as soon as possible."
He raised a hand to wipe his eyes. "I panicked when I read it. But I kept telling myself that my mother had always been healthy—she wouldn't be in any real danger. Besides, my business was facing a major crisis at the time and needed urgent attention. So, I sent a large sum of money to the neighbor, asking her to help me take my mother to see a doctor."
"Did that neighbor take your money and run?" A Tang Sect disciple at another table clenched his fists and couldn't help but interject. "Tell me who she is!"
If someone had run off with money meant to save a life, that was truly despicable!
Imagining himself in the man's position, the Tang Sect disciple felt a surge of righteous anger and clenched his teeth in fury.
"No… That's not what happened," the man said, startled by the question before hurriedly shaking his head. "That neighbor was genuinely kind. She used the money to hire the best doctor in the area, bought the best medicine, and even asked a healer-type spirit master for help."
"This…" The Tang Sect disciple froze for a moment, realization dawning. The situation wasn't what he had imagined.
"But..." At this point, the man could no longer hold back his sobs. "My mother's illness was far worse than I had imagined. By the time I finally resolved my business and rushed back home, she had already closed her eyes forever."
For a moment, a heavy silence enveloped the restaurant, broken only by the man's heart-wrenching cries.
Moments later, soft sobs echoed around the room. Some of the more emotional female diners discreetly wiped their tears, and even some of the men found their eyes misting.
After all, who doesn't have a mother?
At that moment, no matter if they were lofty spirit masters or ordinary people, their emotions were united.
Even Tang Qianqiu and Qi Poxiao, who had been quietly seated, exchanged glances and sighed.
Their mothers had passed away centuries ago.
"When a child wants to care for their parents, it's often too late," Qi Han murmured softly, sighing deeply.
The man froze momentarily upon hearing it, then broke into uncontrollable sobs. His emotions completely unraveled. "I... I just came back from my mother's... funeral. I miss her."
His voice choked several times. "My father passed away when I was very young, leaving only my mother to care for me. After I left, she lived alone, with only the old woman next door to keep her company."
"All these years..." The man seemed drained of energy, slumping lifelessly into his chair. "I never once asked her how she was doing. I didn't know about the little details of her life over the years until after her burial, when that elderly neighbor mentioned them in passing."
"The money I sent her, she saved every bit of it in a large box without spending a single coin. She had the neighbor pass it on to me..." He shook his head weakly. "I gave it to that neighbor in gratitude for keeping her company all those years."
He fell silent, sitting motionless in his seat, his face etched with grief. After a long while, he exhaled deeply, taking out a clean handkerchief to compose himself.
"I'm sorry, Boss Qi," the man apologized softly. "Your business hours are valuable, and I've wasted so much of your time."
"Not at all," Qi Han said with a shake of his head. "Hearing your story, I've gained something too."
Below the notification for Side Quest 5, the progress had now shifted to 1/3, indicating that a third of the task had been completed.
For Qi Han, it was indeed a gain.
Looking at the man, whose tears had been wiped away though his eyes were still slightly red, Qi Han suddenly felt a desire to do something for him.
While it was impossible to bring the dead back to life, helping the man reclaim a part of his cherished memories wasn't entirely out of reach.
It would be, perhaps, a small gesture of thanks for the man's story, which had furthered Qi Han's quest progress.
"Ru Yi?" Qi Han silently called out in his mind. "Can you extract his memories and recreate the flavor of the roasted meat buns from his recollections?"
"I can," Ru Yi replied, ever reliable. "I can simulate it within the system space and let you taste it, so you can try to replicate it."
With Ru Yi's assurance, Qi Han felt a surge of confidence. Fixing his gaze on the man, he smiled gently.
"Sir, may I ask your name?"
"Feng Yi."
"Mr. Feng Yi, do you have time during tomorrow's lunch service?"
"Well..." Feng Yi was slightly taken aback. "I suppose I do. Why?"
Qi Han smiled faintly. "I'd like to prepare a special dish just for you."
"A dish… that's a little unique."
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