When Han Ye enlisted, he was assigned to guard the border.
The area was at a high altitude, with a bitterly cold climate. Temperatures could drop to thirty degrees below zero at night, and life there was extremely hard.
Qiao Lanshu often bought warm gloves, thermal underwear, and other necessities to mail to Han Ye.
Han Wenlin’s second wife also sent him socks, and every time, she sent them together with Qiao Lanshu’s parcel.
It was worth mentioning that Han Wenlin’s second wife was none other than Han Ye’s former teacher, Zhao Yanfang.
Zhao Yanfang had always taught at a middle school. Qiao Lanshu had once asked her to tutor Han Ye in mathematics. Originally, she had only planned to tutor him for two years; once he entered high school, there would be no need for extra lessons.
But before Han Ye even started high school, Zhao Yanfang gradually became acquainted with Han Wenlin. Somehow, the two of them ended up together.
Before Han Ye entered high school, Han Wenlin married his teacher.
After Han Ye started high school, Zhao Yanfang was transferred to the high school division, where she continued tutoring him…
Today, Qiao Lanshu and Zhong Mei once again went shopping for things to send Han Ye. They bought some dried beef, thick gloves, thick socks, and specially insulated thermal underwear. After wrapping everything in two layers of waterproof bags, they took the package to Han Wenlin’s home to find Zhao Yanfang.
Zhao Yanfang had been married to Han Wenlin for only two years, and she still had no children. She had always treated Han Ye well, too.
When Qiao Lanshu went to Han Ye’s home, she had no idea that Qin Yuanzheng was there as well.
Qin Yuanzheng had come that morning to see Han Wenlin.
The two men were sitting in Han Wenlin’s study. Looking at Qin Yuanzheng’s grim expression, Han Wenlin asked in surprise, “Lao Qin, what brings you here? Is something wrong?”
Qin Yuanzheng almost never came to Han Wenlin’s house.
One of them was in the military, while the other worked for the police. They belonged to two different systems and usually had little reason to interact in the course of their work.
They generally only saw each other when their families gathered for a meal during the holidays.
Seeing that Qin Yuanzheng looked troubled, Han Wenlin couldn’t help growing concerned. “What happened? Did something happen to Han Ye in the army?”
Qin Yuanzheng shook his head. “I’m not here because of Han Ye.”
Han Wenlin simply looked at him without saying anything.
They had known each other for so many years, yet this was the first time Han Wenlin had seen Qin Yuanzheng look so grave—and so helpless.
Qin Yuanzheng remained silent for a long while before finally saying, “I might…”
He stopped again. The corners of his eyes had actually reddened slightly.
Han Wenlin: “…”
Han Wenlin was truly frightened by his expression. He hurriedly stood up and asked, “Lao Qin, what exactly is going on?”
Qin Yuanzheng himself didn’t know what was happening to him. He had joined the army in his teens, dedicating himself to defending his country. He had taken part in more than a dozen battles of all sizes and had never once deserted.
He had earned plenty of military honors and saved countless lives.
Now, at long last, he had a beloved wife to keep him company, children, and a successful career. He had even been planning to take some time off during the summer to travel around the country with Qiao Lanshu.
But then, after going for a medical examination a few days ago, the doctor told him that he might have an incurable illness.
When Han Wenlin heard this, he was stunned. “That’s impossible. Are the results back? Are you sure there’s something wrong with your liver?”
Qin Yuanzheng sat there and said, “I need to undergo more tests. They want me to go to the capital.”
He really hadn’t been feeling well lately. From time to time, he felt pain in his liver—sometimes mild, sometimes excruciating.
The problem had continued for some time, but he hadn’t taken it seriously before.
On top of that, ever since last month, he had been having nightmares almost every night.
He didn’t feel able to tell anyone what the nightmares were about.
But they terrified him.
In the dreams, he died of an illness that very year.
His emaciated body lay in a hospital bed, connected to a ventilator and so weak that he looked as though he had been completely drained of life. Qiao Lanshu was thin as well.
She sat beside the bed, haggard and skeletal, her face worn with exhaustion.
In the dream, after he died, he entrusted Qiao Lanshu to one of his comrades.
But in that dream, they had no children.
There was no Qin Qiao'an, no Qin Qiaoxia, and Han Ye never appeared either.
Dreams were only dreams, and he had never paid much attention to them.
But he had been having the same kind of nightmare for an entire month. Every time he woke from one, he felt a dull ache in his liver, heart, spleen, lungs, and kidneys. He had even lost his appetite.
He had grown noticeably thinner during this period.
Han Wenlin looked at Qin Yuanzheng. He really had lost weight, and his complexion was terrible.
Could he truly be ill?
Han Wenlin said, “Then go to a major hospital in the capital for an examination as soon as possible. Until the results are out, don’t panic.”
Qin Yuanzheng said in a low voice, “I’m not exactly panicking. I’m just worried about the three of them.”
“Lao Qin, you can put your mind at ease,” Han Wenlin said immediately. “After all these years, don’t you know what kind of person I am? Comrade Xiao Qiao, An'an, and Xiaxia—you can rest assured about them. If you really…”
He paused before continuing, “Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of them for you.”
After leaving Han Wenlin’s home, Qin Yuanzheng went to see Guan Wenjun as well.
These matters had to be kept confidential. He had no intention of telling Qiao Lanshu; he was afraid she would worry.
Whether the diagnosis was true or not, he had to make arrangements first.
Han Wenlin and Guan Wenjun were both trustworthy.
He also wanted to see Si Zhemao from the Investigation Department. He and Si Zhemao had known each other for many years. Although they were not often in contact, Qin Yuanzheng trusted his character.
There were also some of his former subordinates and comrades-in-arms. They were all dependable men.
But he had hesitated for a long time, thinking about it for several nights. Si Zhemao was about the same age as him, yet after all these years, he still hadn’t married. Could he introduce Qiao Lanshu to Si Zhemao?
Si Zhemao was sure to rise to a position of power in the central government in the future. If Qiao Lanshu followed him, she would have nothing to worry about for the rest of her life.
But every night, when Qin Yuanzheng woke and looked at Qiao Lanshu lying in his arms, he still couldn’t bear it.
He couldn’t bear to part with his little wife. He couldn’t bear to introduce her to someone else.
In the end, he decided to wait until the day he was truly dying before saying anything.
By the time Qin Yuanzheng left Guan Wenjun’s office, it was already afternoon. The pain in his abdomen had begun to return, faint but persistent.
He went home early, only to find the house empty. He sat alone on the living-room sofa, staring at the quiet home.
He thought of the dream, in which he had only met Qiao Lanshu at the age of forty.
Before meeting her, he had come home to this kind of silence every day. He had already grown accustomed to it.
But then panic rose within him once more.
He was afraid that everything in the dream was real, and that what lay before his eyes was nothing but an illusion.
Perhaps he didn’t have any children at all, and perhaps he had never married Qiao Lanshu.
Perhaps he had married Qiao Lanshu, but his health had already failed him. Perhaps he had dragged her down with him, and before long, he would die.
The more Qin Yuanzheng thought about it, the less he could sit still. He hurried out of the house once again.
He had to find Qiao Lanshu.
…
At that moment, Qiao Lanshu was at Han Wenlin’s home, sorting through things with his second wife, Zhao Yanfang.
Everything they were organizing was meant to be packed up and sent to Han Ye. There was food and daily necessities, most of it nonperishable items such as dried meat and steamed-bun crisps, as well as warm clothes to protect him from the cold.
The two women chatted as they worked. Han Wenlin came out of the study and walked to the doorway, where he glanced at Qiao Lanshu.
When Qiao Lanshu saw him, she was slightly surprised. “Director Han? You’re home today? Isn’t work keeping you busy?”
Han Wenlin: “…”
He was silent for a moment. Before he could speak, Zhao Yanfang said, “Old Han hasn’t been very busy lately, has he? I haven’t seen you work overtime recently. You’ve been coming home on time every day.”
Han Wenlin nodded. “Yes, things haven’t been very busy lately…”
But his expression remained grave, and his gaze toward Qiao Lanshu was filled with complicated emotions.
Qiao Lanshu felt that something was strange about Han Wenlin today. She wanted to chat with him a little longer, but Han Wenlin merely sighed and walked away with a solemn expression.
Qiao Lanshu: “…”
In a low voice, she asked Zhao Yanfang, “Don’t you think Old Han is acting strange today? Did something happen at work?”
As she packed the supplies, Zhao Yanfang replied, “Maybe. He’s been fairly idle lately. I think it has something to do with his superior. You know how chaotic things have been recently. His superior was caught up in it and is currently suspended at home while under investigation. No one knows when he’ll be able to resume his post. Old Han has to avoid suspicion, so a lot of his work has been put on hold.”
Hearing this, Qiao Lanshu nodded in sudden understanding. Then she sighed and said, “Listening to you, I’m guessing my Brother Zheng is probably in the same situation. He’s been coming home very early every day lately, and he looks awful. He barely eats, and every night he tosses and turns in bed instead of sleeping.”
What she didn’t mention was that Qin Yuanzheng always got up in the middle of the night to stare at her.
She had been wondering what was wrong with him.
So it was because of work?
Zhao Yanfang said, “Lao Qin is a division commander now, right? At his rank, he’ll definitely be fine. You can rest easy.”
They had made it through the war years. Now that the People’s Republic of China had been under construction for so many years, surely they could get through this as well.
The two women continued chatting. Before long, they saw Han Wenlin standing in the doorway again, his expression heavy as he looked at Qiao Lanshu.
His face made it look as though Qiao Lanshu’s husband had died.
Unable to bear it any longer, Qiao Lanshu asked, “Director Han, is there something you want to say to me?”
Zhao Yanfang couldn’t stand it either. She asked him, “Old Han, why are you standing there staring at Xiao Qiao? Did you do something to wrong her?”
“How could I?” Han Wenlin sighed. “I just wanted to thank you both on Han Ye’s behalf for preparing all these things for him. Without you, that child would have no idea how much hardship he’d have to endure at the border.”
When Han Wenlin had been young, he had served in the army, and his life had been truly difficult.
Back then, times had been hard. His mother had been living in the countryside, where she barely had enough to eat, let alone spare anything to send him.
That was why he was genuinely moved to see Qiao Lanshu and Zhao Yanfang caring so much about his son.
Qiao Lanshu smiled. “You’re being too formal. Han Ye is my son too.”
Han Wenlin nodded awkwardly, then walked away again with a grave expression.
Qiao Lanshu and Zhao Yanfang exchanged a look before shaking their heads.
“I really don’t know what’s gotten into Old Han,” Zhao Yanfang muttered.
As it was getting late, Qiao Lanshu left Han Wenlin’s house and rode her bicycle home.
On the way, she stopped at the market to buy some vegetables.
As she was heading home, she saw Qin Yuanzheng in the distance. He was still wearing his military uniform, walking briskly down the street alone without his car.
The moment he saw her, Qin Yuanzheng quickened his pace and ran toward her.
Qiao Lanshu pressed one foot against the ground and stopped her bicycle. Looking at him, she asked, “Brother Zheng, where are you going?”
When Qin Yuanzheng saw her, he slowed down and gradually steadied his breathing. His face was a little pale, but he concealed his emotions well.
He came over, glanced at the things in her bicycle basket, then looked her up and down before asking, “Where did you go today? Why are you only getting home now?”
Qiao Lanshu said in surprise, “It isn’t even dark yet. It’s only six o’clock—how is that late? Besides, what about you? Are you off work already?”
Qin Yuanzheng nodded. He took hold of the handlebars and said, “I’ll give you a ride home.”
The dream he’d had before had felt far too real, leaving him somewhat dazed.
He hadn’t been in good shape these past few days. Fortunately, there hadn’t been any assignments recently, so work was relatively easy.
As he rode the bicycle, he said, “Don’t come home so late next time. I was worried when I got back and didn’t see you.”
As he spoke, a faint pain began spreading through his chest again.
Qiao Lanshu wrapped her arms around his waist and felt that he had lost a noticeable amount of weight. She asked, “Brother Zheng, has something happened to you lately?”
He wasn’t eating or sleeping well, and his whole condition seemed off.
She had noticed it long ago, but when she asked Qin Yuanzheng about it before, he hadn’t said anything. And since she had been busy with work herself, she hadn’t paid much attention.
Only now did she realize that something was truly wrong with him.
Qin Yuanzheng merely said, “It’s nothing. Nothing’s happened.”
Then he added, “By the way, Si Zhemao will be returning to the capital in a little while. How about we invite him over for dinner in the next few days?”
Qiao Lanshu nodded. “Sure. You can decide. I’ll buy some meat and vegetables in advance and give him a proper welcome.”
The husband and wife returned home together.
Xiaxia was already back and was watering the vegetables in the courtyard.
The moment Qin Yuanzheng entered the courtyard and saw Xiaxia, he felt dazed again.
Xiaxia glanced at them and continued watering the plants. “Mom, Dad, you’re back.”
Qiao Lanshu got off the bicycle, picked up the vegetables from the basket, and carried them into the house. As she walked, she asked, “Where’s your brother? He hasn’t come home yet?”
“No,” Xiaxia replied. “He always comes back at seven. You know that.”
Qiao Lanshu nodded and said nothing more, carrying the vegetables straight into the kitchen.
Qin Yuanzheng leaned the bicycle against the wall, then stood silently in the courtyard, looking at Xiaxia before turning his gaze toward Qiao Lanshu’s retreating figure.
He believed this was real, not something he had imagined.
He only hoped he wouldn’t have that terrifying dream again tonight.
It had been nearly a month. He kept dreaming about those things over and over, and it was taking a toll on his mental state.
He wasn’t afraid of dying.
What he feared was that Qiao Lanshu and the children would be left without anyone to rely on.
Without his protection, what would become of them?
