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Time flies, and the little girl has grown into a graceful young woman, while I have transformed from a middle-aged man into an elderly man with gray hair.
After being discharged from the hospital, my retirement paperwork was finally processed. The school took my situation into account and approved my early retirement by a year.
"Teacher Wang, don’t worry about your health. Your pension will be enough for you and Wang Xiaowen to live on," the principal comforted me.
I nodded, but my heart was heavy with concern. The pension was only 70% of my salary, and Wang Xiaowen was about to start college—how could we manage on that?
Once home, I immediately dug out my savings book. After calculating, I realized that our savings would only cover four years of her college tuition. If she decided to pursue a master's degree, we would be in dire straits.
"Dad, I've made up my mind. After the college entrance exam, I’ll work instead of going to university," Wang Xiaowen suddenly said one evening.
"That's nonsense!" I rarely lost my temper with her, but this time I did. "You must go to university! That's my bottom line!"
"But we don’t have the money!"
Wang Xiaowen was agitated. "I saw your savings book and the medical bills. We are already struggling; I can't add to your burden!"
I grabbed her shoulders firmly. "Wang Xiaowen, listen to me. My only wish in life is for you to receive the best education and live a life even more remarkable than mine. You don’t need to worry about money; I can still work!"
"No! The doctor said you must rest!" Wang Xiaowen stubbornly shook her head.
I shook mine resolutely in return. "This is not something you should be concerned about; going to university is my bottom line."
"You have to trust me; even if I’m not teaching anymore, I can still tutor and earn money."
"Your only responsibility is to focus entirely on the college entrance exam."
Wang Xiaowen nodded through her tears, promising to comply.
That year during the college entrance exam, Wang Xiaowen did not disappoint me; she was accepted into the Chinese Department at Nanjing University.
All the teachers and students were thrilled for me, an old colleague, as they had watched Wang Xiaowen grow up from a young child.
"Teacher Wang, you really did it! You raised such an outstanding daughter!" my colleagues congratulated me one after another.
I couldn't stop smiling; this was the proudest moment of my life.
During her four years at university, Wang Xiaowen studied diligently and even took on tutoring jobs during her breaks to earn living expenses.
She insisted that I shouldn't give her living expenses, saying she wanted to be independent. I had never told Wang Xiaowen about her background, fearing that the truth would hurt her. But as she was approaching her college graduation, I began to consider whether it was time to let her know everything.
Just as this thought crossed my mind, I was interrupted by the news that Wang Xiaowen wanted to pursue a master's degree. "Dad, I want to apply for the Graduate School of Journalism and Communication at Nanjing University!" she said excitedly over the phone.
"Great! Dad supports you!" I replied without hesitation.
Three months later, Wang Xiaowen successfully gained admission to the Graduate School of Journalism and Communication at Nanjing University! "I knew my daughter was the best!" That evening, I specially cooked a feast of her favorite dishes and opened a bottle of red wine that I had treasured for years.
"Dad, come on, let me toast you!" Wang Xiaowen said earnestly as she raised her glass. "Thank you for all your support and dedication over the years. Without you, there wouldn't be the person I am today."
I felt a warmth in my eyes. "Silly girl, it’s me who should thank you. You’ve given my life meaning and brightness." We clinked our glasses and drank in one go. At that moment, I felt like the happiest father in the world.
Time passed quickly, and soon she was about to graduate from her master's program. "Dad, I've made up my mind. After graduation, I want to stay in Nanjing for work," Wang Xiaowen suddenly said during one phone call.
"Why?" I was a bit surprised. "I thought you would want to develop your career in big cities like Beijing or Shanghai."
"Because I want to be closer to you!" Wang Xiaowen said matter-of-factly. "This way, I can come back to see you often and take care of you."
My heart swelled with joy. My daughter had grown up and still remembered this old man.
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