Meet Family

Chapter 6

"Ahhh, Russell!" the old woman exclaimed, flinching upon seeing Alex.

After a few moments of bewilderment, the old woman burst into tears. She frantically searched for a tree branch and began striking Alex without warning.

"You unfilial son, wherever have you been? Look at your wife and children, suffering so much! I have never known a child as disgraceful as you. It's truly humiliating..." The old woman unleashed a long tirade as she continued to beat Alex.

Stunned and unsure of how to react, Alex could only stand there, enduring the blows. He vaguely recognized this old woman as his mother, and the other two women as his wife and child. But the concept of being married and having a child seemed alien to him. In his previous life, he had never experienced such relationships. He could even say he was a virgin.

Gazing at his mother, Alex felt a pang of sadness as memories of his mother flooded his mind. With a heavy heart, he resigned himself to being obediently beaten, unable to offer any explanation or understanding at that moment.

In a run-down room, Alex sits on the floor surrounded by several people.

"Well, you're all grown up now and have responsibilities. When you go home, you must be good to your children and wife!" Robert sternly lectures his son.

"Uh, yeah, Dad..." Alex responds, nodding.

"Don't just go along with it; you have to make up for these ten years properly!"

"U-uh..."

"It's a good thing your son returned safely, otherwise!"

For some reason, Alex feels annoyed by his "father's" lecture. He finds it unfair to be blamed for things that were completely out of his control. He wants to scream that it wasn't his fault, but he knows he would be called a freak and face further criticism. So, he remains silent, obediently nodding like a chick pecking at food.

As the lecture drags on, Alex discreetly looks around the room. He notices the sad expressions on his mother's and wife's faces, as well as the curious and shy expression of his "child," Lilith. The sight of Lilith's joy upon having a father brings a glimmer of happiness to Alex's heart.

After a few more lectures, Greenfield's parents finally leave the room. They glance at their long-lost son's right hand and can only offer bittersweet smiles, shaking their heads in disbelief. Alex, witnessing their departure, breathes a sigh of relief.

"Okay, you can take a shower. I'll prepare dinner," Alex's wife says.

Alex obediently follows her instructions and cleans himself, still overwhelmed by the strange feelings of being reunited with his family.

After the shower, Alex joins his new family at the low dining table. He finds simple-looking food laid out before them.

"Huft..." Alex can't help but sigh helplessly as memories of Russell's indulgent behavior in his previous life come flooding back.

He eats with his new family, feeling a bit awkward amid the silence. Finally, unable to contain his curiosity, Alex breaks the silence and asks, "What did you all do while I wasn't home?"

"I helped Mom and Dad in the garden, did some household chores, and took care of Lilith," his wife responds.

As she speaks, Alex notices the rough, calloused hands of his wife, evidence of her hard work outdoors. He also observes the browned skin, a testament to the hours spent tending to the family's needs.

"What grade are you in now, Lilith?" Alex asked softly, trying to initiate a conversation with his "daughter."

Lilith was momentarily taken aback by the question before realizing and being nudged by her mother.

"U-uh, I'm in fifth grade, Uncle," Lilith responded.

Upon hearing this, Alex smiled wryly. Even his daughter doesn't recognize him. Oh, Russell, what a failure you've been!

"Lilith, this is your father. Call him 'Daddy,'" Lily corrected gently.

"Oh, y-yes, Daddy!" Lilith replied, feeling shy yet excited.

Alex smiled and complimented her, unsure of what else to say. "Daddy's little girl, Lilith, seems very smart!"

Lilith beamed with pride and satisfaction as if she had just won a Nobel award.

They continued eating until all the food on the table was finished. Later, Lilith and Lily slept together, and after tucking their child in, Lily engaged in a conversation with Alex.

"Where have you been for these ten years?" she asked, tears streaming down her face, displaying deep sadness.

Alex felt a pang of guilt as he witnessed her tears. However, Russell's memories still lingered within him. Comparing Lily's story to the persona of Russell, Alex couldn't help but realize how truly awful Russell had been.

"Take it easy, I'm here now. No one will bully you anymore. I'll make our family life much more comfortable," Alex reassured her.

"Is it true?" Lily asked with her reddened eyes and trembling lower lip.

She didn't want to hope too much, but her daughter did. She had taken care of himself since childhood and didn't deserve to be in this situation. Lilith, although a strong girl who could stand up against older kids regardless of gender, always came home in tears after enduring ridicule and the absence of a father. Even though the child never openly wept, Lily understood the pain in her heart all too well, and it weighed heavily upon her.

As Alex continued to listen to Lily's grievances, he cursed Russell silently in his heart, determined to make his new family happy. After all, he had taken over someone else's body, so why should he settle for anything less than full commitment? He had to bring a treasure into their lives that Russell had never been able to provide.

Russell had married Lily when they were both eighteen. Initially, Russell had only assisted his father on the plantation, but his true aspiration was to become a soldier. Lily wholeheartedly supported his dreams and constantly encouraged him. Russell fought hard to join the army, and finally, his dream came true. Amid his joy, Lily announced that she was pregnant, making Russell the happiest man in the world.

However, once Russell joined the army, he rarely contacted home and eventually lost touch completely. Lily took care of their child on her own and remained faithful to a man who had changed so much. It was evident how precious she was, and Russell would never be able to be with her again.

Alex hoped that their upcoming 30th birthday, which was only a year away, would be a chance to make up for the absence of both a father and a husband, creating warmth in their little home. The "new" husband and wife spent a long time talking about various matters, trying to reconnect and build a foundation for their future together.

Later, Alex prepared to sleep in the living room, while Lily, in a much better mood, went to check on their daughter's condition. She wanted to ensure that the intense conversation between the "old" husband and wife hadn't disturbed their child's peaceful sleep. When Lily entered the room, she saw her child sleeping with a contented smile on their face, as if they were dreaming of something happy. Seeing this, Lily felt a surge of joy, hoping that her family's life would be as blissful as the dreams that filled her mind.

At dawn, Alex eagerly ascended the nearby mountain. The lush greenery and abundant flora and fauna made this place the perfect backyard for his hunting activities. Although there were hunting and plant-picking restrictions in place, they were primarily aimed at preventing severe offenses. Alex had no intention of breaking the law; he simply hunted for sustenance for himself and his family.

In the village where Alex resided, there were few young people left as they had migrated to the cities in search of better opportunities. Consequently, the village was predominantly occupied by elderly individuals who engaged in farming. The villagers typically cultivated crops such as tomatoes, cabbage, peppers, corn, and various seeds. Alex's parents were no exception and managed a sizable plot of land.

As Alex gazed at the cultivated fields in the distance, he couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration for his father's skill and adherence to farming standards. However, his attention soon shifted to one of the abandoned mountains nearby. This particular piece of land, comprising approximately 10 hectares, now belonged to Alex. Even from a distance, he could tell that the farm would not generate any substantial income.

Letting out a sigh, Alex pondered over the challenge that lay ahead. Despite having a magical "goose that lays golden eggs" at his disposal, managing such a vast area seemed overwhelming. However, after a brief moment of contemplation, Alex pushed aside his doubts and resolved to venture deeper into the mountain, fully prepared to confront the tasks that awaited him.

While hiking up the mountain, Alex made sure to collect anything he deemed useful by depositing it into the storage space of his ring. Even ants were not exempt from his tiny abductions.

After some time, Alex came across a bewildered rabbit. The small furry creature moved aimlessly, appearing as if it had lost its vision. It was clear that the rabbit's night vision was poor.

Seizing the opportunity, Alex swiftly threw a throwing knife at the rabbit.

Splat!

The adorable bunny was instantly immobilized on the ground. Alex wasted no time and retrieved the rabbit, adding it to his collection before continuing his nocturnal hunt.

Although he didn't encounter any other prey, he did stumble upon several rabbit burrows occupied by families of rabbits. Alex, showing no hesitation, directly captured the furry mammals and placed them into the storage space of his ring.

Filled with satisfaction, Alex descended the mountain, feeling that his physical condition had significantly improved after this trial.

Upon arriving home, he was surprised to find a crowd of people in the house.

"Who is this, Uncle?" asked a teenage girl.

At that moment, Lily appeared, unable to contain her laughter and teasing.

"What's the matter, Rose? Don't you recognize what your brother looks like?"

"Ahhh, Brother Russell?" asked the teenage girl, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

Alex, feeling a rush of emotions from his "younger sister," could only stand there bewildered.