"Just now, when I heard you guys talk about opening a cookie shop."

Eric smiled at his mother.

Martha hugged Eric and kissed him on the face, "My poor son, this is the first time for you and Clark to spend Christmas at home, how are you? Did you encounter any trouble, yes Didn't get the Christmas present from Jonathan and I? Did you reheat the turkey for dinner?"

She was too worried that her son would not have a good Christmas at home, so as soon as they met, Martha asked a series of questions.

"Everything is fine, Mom."

Eric replied to his mother.

"Where's Clark?"

Seeing that only Eric was driving by himself, Jonathan asked him.

"He... something was delayed."

"Is that so?"

Jonathan nodded.

"Eric!"

Several people were talking, and a voice sounded from behind.

A middle-aged man wearing a light gray jacket and curly blond hair stood behind Eric and made a surprised sound.

"uncle."

The person who came was his uncle Dustin, a non-professional painter who was judged by his family as not doing his job properly.

"I was about to go to Smallville and talk to you about the illustrations in your book that you drew yourself. I didn't expect you to be here so soon!"

Dustin came over and shook hands with Eric, the pungent smell of oil paint coming from his body.

"I gotta say, you're so talented! No, you're so talented, how do you draw all those chaotic things, octopuses, gooey monsters, terrifying creatures in the stars? And...Which college are you going to get into? I can recommend Kansas City Art School, or Pratt Institute for Art..."

"Dustin, you never went to college."

Next to Martha debunks Dustin's bragging.

"Actually, I went to school for a few days, but I was... um, dropped out."

Dustin said seriously: "But I have a lot of contacts, which may help Eric a lot."

"Thank you, but now... it doesn't seem to be necessary."

Eric declined.

He was not very familiar with this titular uncle, and had only met two or three times.

I only know that the other party likes painting, and he likes it to the point of being stunned.

I am not at home all the year round, and I often do some outrageous things recklessly.

"It doesn't matter, you can find me anytime you want."

Dustin patted Eric on the shoulder and said with a smile.

"Want to try cookies? Eric."

Martha hands Eric a cookie.

"thanks!"

Taking the cookie, Eric tasted it.

While tasting the biscuits, the sound of a car came from outside the door.

Martha walked to the door, and after seeing the people getting out of the car, she pushed open the door with a strange expression and walked out.

Jonathan also saw the people getting on and off the car through the window, and didn't say anything, just stood there in silence.

Dustin continued to eat cookies without realizing it.

Eric's eyes looked through the wall and saw an old man who was talking to Martha.

The white-haired old man in a suit with a collar should be his grandfather.

But he was not very familiar with this so-called grandfather.

I heard that the other party had been working as a lawyer in the Metropolis until the last few years.

And Jonathan and his grandfather didn't seem to have a good relationship.

"You look quite haggard."

The old man standing outside the courtyard said to Martha.

"I'm fine, Dad, and I'm very satisfied with this life."

"For some people, it may be true, but you have such potential. You were always in the top 10 in your class back then, and getting into law school was a breeze for you, I was hoping You can inherit my career."

The old man said to Martha in a dissatisfied tone.

"I never wanted to be a lawyer, I chose the way myself."

Martha said impatiently.

She knew that her father had always been dissatisfied with Jonathan, but she didn't expect that the prejudice was still so deep after so many years.

The old man shook his head, "You didn't choose the road, but Jonathan chose it for you. You are just following Jonathan to join in the fun."

"This has nothing to do with Jonathan. You have an independent daughter, and you are unhappy because of that!"

Martha raised her voice, "I will choose my own life path, and I will strive to be happy. Now that I have two sons, and I am pregnant again, I am very happy with my life."

"Dad, Eric is inside. You haven't seen your grandson for many years, don't you want to go in and see?"

"I…"

The originally strong and capable old man was suddenly at a loss for words.

After looking at the house, he shook his head hesitantly, "No... Eric hasn't seen me for many years, he... he must not know me."

"I... prepared a check for you."

The old man took out a check from his pocket, "I know your life is not easy. You are pregnant, and you have to take care of Clark and Eric."

"Dad, I don't need it. We are living a good life now, and we are not short of money. Eric has made some money from publishing books."

"All right."

The old man sighed, "I'll go back to the hotel first, and you can contact me if you have anything."

The mansion belonged to the old man, but after letting his daughter's family live, he moved to a hotel outside.

"Can't you stop?"

Martha asked her father again.

"It's okay to have lunch, Eric is here, maybe you can have lunch with him."

"No."

The old man shook his head and walked to the car.

Just leave after starting the car.

After watching her father's car leave, Martha stood there for a while, and then entered the room with a sad face.

"he's gone?"

Jonathan asked his wife.

"Yes, still refuse to come in."

Jonathan sat down and poured himself a glass of water, "There are things we say we're going to look forward to, but there are things that aren't meant to change."

"Dad, is there a big problem between you two?"

Eric asked Jonathan.

He didn't know what else was going on between the two.

"Yes, Eric. When your mother and I decided to get married, I went to beg him to marry me."

"Then what did he say?"

"I still clearly remember every sentence: I will not let my daughter abandon everything, marry a country farmer, and endure hardship with him."

"Well... not very nice words." Eric expressed sympathy for his father.

Seeing that her husband was in a bad mood, Martha added, "He treats everyone like that."

Jonathan continued: "When he learned we were really getting married, he was mad! He wanted to push me out of his office."

"and then?"

Eric continued to ask.

Jonathan, who was silent for a few seconds, glanced at Martha, "I punched him!"

"…"

Eric was silent, not knowing how to answer.

He really seldom heard about such a punch to the old man.

Maybe his father used to be a violent young man!

"It's not something to be honored with. I tried to apologize to him, but he said he didn't want to have anything to do with me. We haven't spoken a word since then. For more than 20 years, Our relationship has always been like this."

Jonathan stood up after speaking, "I know I'm a stubborn temper, but some things just don't change."

After Jonathan left, Martha's expression was a little sad.

Eric stretched out his hand and held his mother's right hand on the table, "Nothing is set in stone, Mom, I believe their relationship will not always be like this."

"Maybe."

Martha smiled reluctantly at Eric, "The most stubborn thing is people's thoughts! Jonathan is very stubborn, and Clark sometimes inherited this character. Later... If you and Clark have a disagreement, even if you quarrel, be patient. Listening to each other, if two stubborn people are fighting, it's not about trying to fix the relationship, it's about making the relationship worse."

"I see."

Eric clenched his mother's hand and replied.

"Hey, maybe you guys should watch TV."

After Dustin turned on the TV, he said to the two: "It seems like something big has happened to the Metropolis."

Hearing Dustin's words, the two turned their eyes to the TV.

The TV screen is showing the streets of the metropolis, and many people have fallen into a state of sluggishness and immobility.

Pedestrians on the street all stood still, the speeding cars stopped, and the shopping mall customers and salesmen maintained their bargaining attitude...

With the exception of children, almost all adults have become motionless puppets.

"This is…?"

Martha watched the news reports on TV, "What is this? Is it some kind of virus going on?"

"may be."

Eric nodded.

Things are getting bigger and bigger, and I don't know how these guys from the Injustice Association will end.

And... the idea of ​​planting an idea in a person's head, he admits that he's a little moved.

Is the most stubborn thought?

The ability to use radar diffusers to change other people's minds isn't all worthless.

…

"So, what should we do next? If the other party keeps broadcasting this kind of signal, it will take a few hours to estimate that the brainwaves will be able to achieve his purpose. At that time, not only will many people be brainwashed and controlled by brainwaves, but also A lot of people will die."

In Blue Valley, Courtney, who was anxious in her heart, asked Clark.

"You go to stop those people from the Injustice Association, I will destroy the radar station!"

After Clark finished instructing the other party, he immediately moved towards Blue Valley Town.

With the super speed activated, the figure instantly disappeared in front of everyone.

"Well, we can pin our hopes on him now, and we'll see what we do next."