After the New Year, when spring arrived in March, the first batch of those who had passed the university entrance exams were to report to their schools.
During this time, Qin Yuanzheng was busy applying for a transfer order, while Qiao Lanshu was preparing for the move.
Qin Yuanzheng had said that no matter whether his transfer order came through or not, once Qiao Lanshu went to report to the university, their whole family would relocate there.
After all, he couldn't bear to be apart from his wife.
One morning, Qin Yuanzheng arrived early at the headquarters building to meet his old superior, Commander Li.
In the morning, they first held a routine meeting. When the meeting ended and everyone was about to leave, Qin Yuanzheng stayed behind in the office.
Commander Li noticed he had stayed and gave him a few appraising looks. Then, without a word, he quietly put away the two oranges on the table, tucking them into a drawer.
Qin Yuanzheng: “...”
Somewhat speechless, Qin Yuanzheng said, “Commander, is this really necessary? You’re guarding against me like I’m some bandit.”
Commander Li snorted, glaring at him, and said, “Aren’t you a bandit? You’re not far off from one.”
Qin Yuanzheng couldn’t help but laugh. Then he said, “Commander, you have to believe me—I really do want to show my respect for you. It’s just that I have a wife and kids to support at home, and we’re poor, so I don’t have anything nice to offer.”
At that time, military personnel indeed didn’t earn much. Many officers who had been promoted later often made less than their subordinates.
This situation wouldn’t improve until the 1980s, when the military underwent internal adjustments, redefining ranks and salary structures, which eventually boosted soldiers’ incomes.
For now, Qin Yuanzheng’s salary was just enough to support his family, so he certainly had no spare money to give Commander Li as a tribute.
Commander Li didn’t really expect such gifts from his subordinates anyway; he was just teasing Qin Yuanzheng, who always showed up like a locust swarm, cleaning out all the good stuff.
Commander Li cast a sidelong glance at him and said, “Cut it out. Don’t come crying poverty to me. Here, I’ll give you two.”
He said this as he pulled two plump, bright red oranges from the drawer, adding, “These were sent by my son-in-law from distant Xiangcheng. They’re still fresh. Take them home for your wife to taste.”
Qin Yuanzheng smiled and said to Commander Li, “Commander, this time you’ve misunderstood me. I stayed behind not because I had my eye on your oranges.”
Even as he said that, he reached out, took the two oranges, and stuffed them into his pocket.
Commander Li glared at him and reached out to grab them back. “No? If not, give them back. Come on, hand them over.”
Qin Yuanzheng certainly wasn’t about to return them. His wife had a real weakness for those southern oranges and tangerines, which were hard to come by. Finding ready-made ones, he couldn’t bear to give them up.
He covered his pocket with one hand and pulled a packet of tea from his trouser pocket with the other, pressing it into Commander Li’s hand. “Commander, freshly pan-fried Mingqian Longjing tea, sent by my father-in-law from Yangcheng. Try it.”
Commander Li: “???”
He looked at the tea in his hand, his expression stunned as he stared at Qin Yuanzheng.
After a few moments, Commander Li placed the tea on the table, stood up, came around from behind his desk, and circled Qin Yuanzheng twice.
Qin Yuanzheng just stood there, watching as Commander Li looked him up and down from head to toe.
Qin Yuanzheng frowned. "Commander, what exactly are you doing?"
Commander Li walked up to him, reached out sternly, and punched him in the shoulder, asking angrily, "Nothing for nothing. Out with it—what mistake did you make?"
Qin Yuanzheng: "..."
Commander Li was a fierce general on the battlefield in his younger days and hadn't let his martial skills rust. The punch landed hard, making Qin Yuanzheng wince.
Qin Yuanzheng rubbed his shoulder and said helplessly, "Commander, I really just thought this Qingqian tea was good, so I specially brought a pack for you. Don't you like tea?"
Commander Li sneered. "In all these years, this is the first time I've ever received anything from you. You're usually so stingy—why the sudden generosity? Don't tell me you haven't done something wrong!"
Qin Yuanzheng: "..."
He couldn't help but reflect inwardly—was he really that stingy?
Not really, was he?
Then again, he had never actually given Commander Li anything before.
He thought to himself with a clear conscience: Giving gifts to a superior is bribery—he couldn't do that.
Qin Yuanzheng cleared his throat and said to Commander Li, "Commander, I really haven't made any mistakes. I have a wife and a child now—how could I not be extra careful?"
He paused, then finally stated today's purpose: "I just wanted to ask—how far along is the application for my transfer order? Has it been approved or not?"
Commander Li was the commander-in-chief of this military region, with authority over the forces in several surrounding cities.
The neighboring city of Wencheng, of course, fell under his jurisdiction.
As one of his veteran subordinates, Qin Yuanzheng was just applying for a transfer to Wencheng—it wasn't a big deal. Commander Li should have agreed.
Besides, there wasn't much going on at the mining area. Qin Yuanzheng had already arranged everything.
Hearing this, Commander Li let out a cold snort, returned to his desk, and sat down without speaking. He picked up the tea pack, opened it to have a look, sniffed it, and then said, "Fetch me the thermos."
The guard at the door heard him and was about to enter.
Qin Yuanzheng quickly said, "No need, let me do it."
With that, he personally picked up the thermos and brewed a pot of tea for Commander Li.
Commander Li glared at him, annoyed. This was his most prized subordinate, but also his biggest headache.
Before, the headache was that Qin Yuanzheng never married—he worried the man would end up alone.
Now, it was the opposite—he was too love-sick, always thinking about staying home, with none of the drive he used to have.
Commander Li snorted. "What a waste of potential!"
Qin Yuanzheng set down the thermos and said, "How am I a waste?"
Commander Li: "Running after your wife all day long—isn't that a waste?"
Qin Yuanzheng rubbed his nose and started playing the sympathy card. "Commander, you know, getting a wife wasn't easy for me. Really, very not easy! On top of that, my wife is still so young. She's going to college—young, beautiful, educated, cultured. What am I? Just a rough guy who doesn't understand romance. Tell me, if I don't keep a close eye on her, what if she's lured away at school by some smooth-talking male student who knows all about romance?"
Qin Yuanzheng looked at Commander Li and asked, "When that happens, could you find me another wife as good as her?"
Commander Li: "..."
He really had enough of Qin Yuanzheng’s shamelessness. Unable to bear it any longer, he said, “Keep an eye on your own wife. If she can be stolen away that easily, that’s your fault. What’s it got to do with me?”
As if he could just conjure up another woman for him—did he look like the god of matchmaking, making wishes here?
Qin Yuanzheng sat down beside him and said, “Exactly, I plan to watch her myself. That’s why I want to go to Wencheng. Commander, just approve my transfer order. I know there’s an opening in that military district.”
It was rare for Qin Yuanzheng to speak so humbly to Commander Li.
Commander Li, having had his fill of amusement, finally pulled out the transfer order he had already signed and approved long ago. “Alright, alright, it’s been done for a while now. Take it.”
Commander Li had a sharp tongue but a soft heart. He was protective of his people and held great affection for the subordinates he had personally groomed.
As it happened, the military reform was underway, with hundreds of thousands of soldiers being transferred to civilian posts and various military districts undergoing restructuring.
Thus, Qin Yuanzheng’s application had long been approved, and the transfer order had already been issued.
However, the various military districts still needed time to handle the handover and coordination, so Qin Yuanzheng couldn’t head to Wencheng just yet.
But that wasn’t a problem. Even if the final appointment hadn’t been announced, he could still move to Wencheng in advance.
Auntie Shi’s home was in Longcheng, but she was willing to go along this time. After all, Qin Yuanzheng paid her well, and after all these years, they had built some rapport. She felt that if she left this household, she’d have to find another one, and it might not be as easygoing as Qiao Lanshu and Qin Yuanzheng.
Besides, Qin Yuanzheng had even arranged work for her son.
Her son was now working on the airport project in Wencheng. He had started by hauling bricks, doing hard labor under army supervision for months, and grew as thin as a bamboo pole—but he had tough it out.
Eventually, he was transferred to logistics. Though he wasn’t a permanent employee yet, the work was much lighter, and the benefits were decent. Auntie Shi was already deeply grateful.
If she went to Wencheng with them, she could also see her son more often.
The next issue, naturally, was Niuwa.
One day, Han Wenlin took time out of his busy schedule to visit, toting some pork.
Qiao Lanshu and Qin Yuanzheng received him together.
The three of them sat in the courtyard talking, while Niuwa and An’an played outside and hadn’t come back yet.
Han Wenlin was a little disappointed not to see his son.
Qin Yuanzheng said to him, “Been busy at the Public Security Bureau lately?”
Han Wenlin nodded. “Yes. The Revolutionary Committees have been dissolved, and their work is gradually being handed over to us. We’re short-staffed at the bureau. I heard the military reform is happening, and some soldiers will be transferred over. That should help.”
It was now 1978, and changes weren’t limited to the military—every major department was undergoing transformation.
The times were turbulent, policies were shifting drastically, and in the future, it wouldn’t just be the Public Security Bureau under pressure; other departments would face their own strain.
Qin Yuanzheng knew this well. After a moment of silence, he said, “My wife is going to Wencheng for university. She received her acceptance letter long ago and needs to report in March. I’ve already applied for housing, and we’ll be moving in the next few days. What’s your take on Niuwa?”
Niuwa had been staying with them. Since Han Wenlin lived nearby, he could drop by now and then, have a meal, take Niuwa to school, and pick him up afterward.
Although the father and son didn’t live together, Han Wenlin could still see Niuwa almost every day.
Now that he was moving to Wencheng, wouldn’t that mean they would barely see each other all year long?
Han Wenlin was currently the director of the Longcheng City Public Security Bureau, and his job was unlikely to change anytime soon—at least for the next three years, he would have to stay in Longcheng.
Qiao Lanshu was moving to Wencheng for college, and since her program was three years long, she might not move back to Longcheng even after graduation.
Besides, Qin Yuanzheng had also applied for a transfer, likely to work at the military district in Wencheng.
Han Wenlin was silent for a long time before letting out a deep sigh. He said, “Thank you both for helping me take care of Niuwa over the past two years.”
Niuwa had been well cared for; he had grown tall and sturdy. After training with Qin Yuanzheng, he had become quite skilled in martial arts—it was fair to say he was the toughest kid in the military compound.
Even so, Han Wenlin decided it was time to bring Niuwa back to live with him.
He said to Qin Yuanzheng, “Last year, I went back to my hometown to see my mother. When the old lady heard that Niuwa refused to come home with me, she started clamoring to come to Longcheng, saying she wanted to take care of him herself.”
The old lady still had a bond with Niuwa, though it was hard to say whether Niuwa felt the same way about his grandmother.
Han Wenlin added, “I’ll talk to Niuwa and see what he thinks.”
Qin Yuanzheng and Qiao Lanshu exchanged glances. Qiao Lanshu sighed softly, feeling a little reluctant to let Niuwa go.
She said to Han Wenlin, “If Niuwa doesn’t want to leave, he can come with us to Longcheng. We don’t mind the trouble.”
Han Wenlin certainly knew that.
But to be honest, he also didn’t want to part with his son.
After all, Niuwa was still just a child.
When dusk fell, Niuwa came home with An’an. Han Wenlin called the muddy boy over and had a chat with him.
Niuwa was now seven years old and would be starting first grade this year. He was already quite sensible.
As Han Wenlin talked about these things, Niuwa said firmly at first, “I want to go with my mom. I don’t want to live with you.”
Han Wenlin had heard these words countless times and had long since grown numb to them.
He nodded and said, “But your grandmother is coming here soon. She hasn’t seen you in a long time and misses you very much. She knows Dad’s busy with work and can’t cook well, so she’s traveled a long way to come and make meals for you.”
Han Wenlin looked at Niuwa’s hesitant face and said softly, “When you were little, you loved the steamed buns your grandmother made, and the shepherd’s purse dumplings she wrapped. Do you still remember?”
Niuwa frowned, standing there with his head down, kicking at small stones.
Han Wenlin watched him without saying more, knowing that Niuwa was torn.
When Niuwa was three, he had lived with his grandmother. He was gifted for his age and already had memories from that time.
He even remembered being taken by snatchers and put onto a train—he remembered all of it.
After watching Niuwa struggle silently for a while, Han Wenlin said, “Your grandmother will be arriving soon. She’s come all this way, making a difficult journey, so please stay and keep her company, alright?”
The old lady was indeed getting old—nearly sixty. At that time, elderly folks in the countryside looked much older, worn out from a lifetime of hard labor in the fields, dealing with various aches and ailments.
Considering that their village didn’t even have a doctor, moving her to the city would allow her to see a doctor at a hospital, and he would be around to take care of her. That’s why Han Wenlin had decided to bring his aged mother to live with him.
Previously, the old mother refused to come, but after hearing about Niuwa’s situation, she felt it wasn’t right to leave her grandson in someone else’s home, so she hurriedly agreed to move over.
Niuwa said, torn with indecision, “Even though I really want to move to Wencheng with my mom and them, Grandma is very old now, and maybe she doesn’t have much time left.”
Han Wenlin: “…”
Han Wenlin coughed and corrected his son, “Your grandma still has a lot of time ahead of her.”
Niuwa sighed and said, “Forget it, I’ll stay here and keep Grandma company.”
Han Wenlin’s eyes lit up, his spirits lifting instantly.
But soon, he heard Niuwa add, “Still, later on, I want to go find Mother Qiao and my little brother, so I’ll have to go to school in Wencheng eventually.”
Han Wenlin naturally agreed and said, “Okay, I promise you.”
They could worry about the future later.
Niuwa could finish elementary school here and then go to middle school in Wencheng.
But by then, once the boy hit adolescence, who knows if he’d still want to go to Wencheng— nothing was certain.
