It wasn’t just Han Ye and Zhou Dingwen who were homesick. Even Qin Yuanzheng was longing for home.
He had spent a month away on missions before. But never had he felt such an overwhelming urge to return home as he did this time.
He folded up his medical report and placed it in the small compartment of his car. He had also followed the doctor’s advice and gone to a temple to burn incense. He felt he had done everything he could.
From now on, he decided, he would stop worrying about it.
There was certainly an element of avoidance in that decision, but he believed there was nothing wrong with his health.
After driving for several hours, Qin Yuanzheng finally brought Han Ye and Zhou Dingwen back to Wencheng.
He didn’t go home. Instead, he took the two of them straight to the First Military District Hospital and arranged for them to be admitted.
While completing the admission procedures, Qin Yuanzheng asked Han Ye and Zhou Dingwen, “Do you two want separate rooms?”
“No need, Uncle Qin,” Han Ye replied at once. “I can stay in the same room as Zhou Dingwen.”
Zhou Dingwen naturally had no objections. “Yeah, let’s stay together. It’d be so boring by myself, with no one to talk to.”
In truth, Zhou Dingwen had a little ulterior motive. Only by staying in the same room as Han Ye could he see Han Ye’s younger siblings.
If they were put in separate rooms, there was no way the Qin family’s younger siblings would come visit him on their own, right?
No one knew about Zhou Dingwen’s little scheme.
Han Ye’s reasoning was much more straightforward. He said to Qin Yuanzheng, “Uncle Qin, just look at his leg. It’s in such bad shape that he can barely walk. If I don’t stay with him, there’ll be no one to help him get to the bathroom. That would be awful, wouldn’t it?”
Zhou Dingwen: “…”
Qin Yuanzheng glanced at the two of them and shook his head. “All right, then.”
So he arranged a shared room for them.
Once all the paperwork had been taken care of, Qin Yuanzheng left the hospital and prepared to go home.
As it happened, Han Ye and Zhou Dingwen’s fathers had already received the news and arrived at the hospital to see their sons.
Qin Yuanzheng checked the time. It wasn’t time for Qiao Lanshu to get off work yet, and the two children were still at school.
He drove straight to the school where Qiao Lanshu worked and waited by the roadside for her to finish.
Qiao Lanshu had been busy with work these past few days. As the head of her teaching group, she was also responsible for a senior class. On top of that, Qin Yuanzheng had seemed somewhat off lately, so she had planned to make time to accompany him to the hospital once he returned from his mission.
Fortunately, their son, Qin Qiao'an, was already in high school, so she didn’t need to worry about his studies.
Yuan Zhi, who had a close relationship with Qin Qiao'an, had chosen to attend a vocational secondary school. The tuition was lower there, and she would be able to graduate and receive a job placement after three years.
Although the two of them had always been quite close, Qiao Lanshu had been paying attention over the past two years and hadn’t noticed any signs that Qin Qiao'an was dating early. He was cheerful and loyal, and had plenty of friends.
At first, Qiao Lanshu had worried that he and Yuan Zhi might fall in love, but later she discovered that among Qin Qiao'an’s close friends, Yuan Zhi wasn’t even the only girl.
After thinking it over, Qiao Lanshu decided not to interfere.
Now that Qin Qiao'an was in high school, he had started looking into military academies after being admitted. He spent every day thinking about joining the army.
If he knew Han Ye had returned, he would surely be overjoyed.
By the time Qiao Lanshu got off work, the students were also leaving school.
Qin Qiao'an was waiting for Qiao Lanshu at the school gate. Once she came out, the mother and son would go together to the junior high school next door to pick up Qiaoxia.
As it happened, Qin Yuanzheng had also come to pick them up. The moment Qiao Lanshu saw him, she immediately hurried over, leaving the two children behind.
Qin Qiao'an and his sister had long since grown used to it.
Qin Qiao'an muttered, “The moment Mom sees Dad, she forgets all about us.”
Xiaxia watched as Qiao Lanshu ran up to Qin Yuanzheng and tilted her head back to speak to him. Qin Yuanzheng affectionately slipped an arm around Qiao Lanshu’s shoulders, his gaze filled with tenderness.
Xiaxia couldn’t help envying her parents.
They had been married for so many years and their children were already grown, yet they were still so loving. How many couples in the world could achieve that?
If she could also find a love that lasted a lifetime, with one person by her side forever, how wonderful would that be?
Qin Yuanzheng really wanted to hold Qiao Lanshu and talk with her properly for a while.
But this wasn’t the right place or time.
So he merely draped an arm over her shoulders and drew her into his embrace for a moment before asking softly, “Why did you get off work so late today?”
She was ten minutes later than usual.
“The principal called an impromptu meeting,” Qiao Lanshu explained. “It ran a little long.”
Then she studied Qin Yuanzheng’s face. “You look better. Does that mean the problem at work has been resolved?”
Qin Yuanzheng was silent for two seconds before replying, “You could say that.”
If necessary, he could always find another temple and burn some more incense.
Qiao Lanshu immediately relaxed. She had been worried about Qin Yuanzheng these past few days as well.
Qin Yuanzheng opened the car door. “Get in first. We need to make a trip to the military hospital later.”
At those words, Qiao Lanshu’s heart tightened again. “What happened? Were you injured?”
As she spoke, she anxiously looked Qin Yuanzheng up and down. Qin Qiao'an, who had just reached them, heard this and hurriedly asked, “What? Dad, you were injured? This mission only lasted three days. Was it really that dangerous?”
Qin Yuanzheng: “…”
Qin Yuanzheng said, “It wasn’t me. Han Ye was injured. He earned a Third-Class Merit, and I just brought him back today. He’s staying at the military hospital.”
The most excited of them all was Qin Qiao'an.
He practically leaped three feet into the air, his face lighting up as he exclaimed, “What? My big brother is back? And he earned a commendation? That’s my big brother for you! He really is amazing!”
Qin Qiao'an’s face flushed with excitement. He immediately scrambled into the car and urged Qin Yuanzheng, “Dad, then let’s hurry to the hospital!”
Before Qiao Lanshu could say anything, Qin Qiao'an urged her into the car as well.
Once the whole family was seated and Qin Yuanzheng had started driving, she finally had a chance to ask, “How serious are Han Ye’s injuries? He’s come all the way back to be hospitalized, so he must be badly hurt, right?”
Most military districts had their own hospitals. Injured soldiers could be transferred directly to the military hospital at their base.
Why had Han Ye been sent all the way back to Wencheng? Could it be that his injuries were so severe that they wanted him to return and see his family?
Qiao Lanshu’s heart was in her throat. She was terribly worried.
Qin Qiao'an and Xiaxia stayed quiet as well, both watching Qin Yuanzheng.
Seeing the concern in their eyes, Qin Yuanzheng smiled and said, “Don’t worry. He’s fine. He earned a Third-Class Merit this time, and he hadn’t been home on leave for two years, so they granted him leave to visit his family. Once his injuries have mostly healed, he’ll return to his unit.”
Only then did Qiao Lanshu relax. “So that’s how it is.”
After a pause, she added happily, “Han Ye really is impressive. He’s already earned a Third-Class Merit? Does that mean he’ll have priority when applying to a military academy later?”
Qin Yuanzheng nodded. “It will improve his chances.”
It could be said that Han Ye and Zhou Dingwen no longer needed their parents to worry about them.
As long as they didn’t mess up on the college entrance exam and got scores high enough, they were certain to be admitted.
Now that Qiao Lanshu knew Han Ye’s injuries weren’t serious, she wasn’t in much of a hurry anymore.
She said to Qin Yuanzheng, “Why don’t we go to the market and buy some groceries first? Director Han and Teacher Zhao should be at the hospital by now. Let their family spend some time together first, and we’ll go over later. We can buy some meat and fish. I’ll go home and cook Han Ye a meal—his favorite braised pork, steamed fish, and some meat-filled steamed buns.”
Han Ye’s favorite foods were steamed buns and mantou.
He especially loved meat-filled steamed buns and could eat five or six in one sitting.
Back when Auntie Shi was still working for their family, she made Han Ye steamed buns every day.
Later, Qiao Lanshu learned how to make them from Auntie Shi, and she often made them for the children too.
But Han Ye had now been stationed at the border for more than two years. He probably hadn’t had any homemade steamed buns in all that time. After all, something like that couldn’t exactly be mailed.
Qin Yuanzheng thought about it and agreed.
At this hour, Han Wenlin had surely taken Zhao Yanfang to see Han Ye. After all, Han Wenlin was Han Ye’s biological father. Since their family was spending time together, they shouldn’t hurry over and disturb them.
Besides, Han Ye and Zhou Dingwen were staying in the same hospital room.
Zhou Dingwen’s family had probably gone over as well. Wouldn’t the room be terribly crowded?
Qin Yuanzheng nodded. “All right. Let’s go to the market first.”
Qin Qiao'an was beside himself with impatience. He hurriedly called out, “Aw, Mom, I want to see my big brother first! Can’t we go to the hospital now?”
Before Qiao Lanshu could answer, Qin Yuanzheng glared at him and said sternly, “Listen to your mother!”
Qin Qiao'an: “…”
Qin Qiao'an hunched his shoulders and went back to sit beside Xiaxia. Still extremely dissatisfied, he muttered under his breath, “You’re so gentle with Mom, but so fierce with me!”
It wasn’t fair at all.
Qin Yuanzheng didn’t pay him any attention. Since Qiao Lanshu had said they were going to the market for groceries, he simply took them all there.
After they bought the groceries and returned home, the whole family pitched in to prepare the meal. They made braised pork, steamed sea bass, tossed shredded vegetables, and two baskets of large steamed buns stuffed with pork and scallions.
By the time they finished cooking, it was completely dark. After eating dinner, the family arrived at the hospital before seven-thirty.
Most of Han Ye and Zhou Dingwen’s family members had already gone home.
Only Han Wenlin and Zhou Anping remained in the hospital room.
The two middle-aged men sat chatting as they kept their sons company and listened to them talk about life in the army.
After all, it had been more than two years since they had seen their sons. Both fathers had missed them terribly.
Zhou Anping asked Zhou Dingwen, “I heard your regimental commander is named Wang Wenjia. He used to be the Recruit Champion and is quite famous in the army. Have you met him?”
Once the conversation turned to the army, the two young men had endless things to talk about.
Zhou Dingwen nodded. “That’s him. Regimental Commander Wang really is impressive. We didn’t get many chances to see him. The last time I saw him was during recruit training.”
Hearing this, Han Ye immediately joined in. “Regimental Commander Wang was the Recruit Champion? I was a Recruit Champion too! Uncle Zhou, didn’t you know? I was last year’s Recruit Champion!”
Zhou Dingwen nodded and gave him a thumbs-up. “Han Ye really was amazing. Regimental Commander Wang presented him with his medal himself.”
The army frequently held various training exercises. People were injured in them all the time, but the outstanding soldiers also had a chance to distinguish themselves.
New recruits joined the army every year, and recruit training was arranged for them. Han Ye had been the standout soldier who emerged from last year’s recruit training.
At the time, people from other units had even approached him, wanting to transfer him to their unit.
Han Ye had refused.
He had already made his own plans. He had decided long ago to spend three years guarding the border before returning to take the military academy entrance exam.
If he were selected for another unit while he was still a new recruit and took part in their selection trials, what would happen if he failed to make the cut?
Would they send him back to his original unit?
And if he did make the cut and entered the special forces, what if he couldn’t return to take the military academy entrance exam?
His dream was to attend the Army Armored Forces Academy.
When Han Wenlin heard this, he was startled. Frowning, he asked, “Why didn’t you tell me about this?”
Han Ye said indifferently, “What was there to tell? I can make my own decisions.”
Han Wenlin asked again, “Which unit wanted you?”
“I forgot. I didn’t ask for the details at the time,” Han Ye replied. “But that regimental commander said he wanted me to become a sniper.”
Zhou Anping was surprised as well. “Being a sniper sounds pretty good. You didn’t want to be one?”
Han Ye glanced at Zhou Dingwen.
Zhou Dingwen let out a sigh and said mournfully, “Unfortunately, they didn’t choose me. Becoming a sniper was what I wanted most.”
What boy who had joined the army wouldn’t like guns?
Being a sniper was Zhou Dingwen’s goal.
But the selection and training process in the army was extremely grueling. Even the best soldiers in their respective units couldn’t easily get chosen.
Han Ye was silent for a while before saying, “Anyway, I wanted to stay at the border. I think guarding the border is really cool. I wanted to temper myself there.”
Zhou Anping smiled. “You’ve always been strong-minded, even as a child. Being this determined is a good thing. In the army, the worst thing is to hesitate and waver.”
What they needed was decisiveness, courage, and the will to keep moving forward.
Han Wenlin looked at Han Ye with undisguised admiration as well.
How could a father not be moved by having such an outstanding son?
The four of them chatted for a long time. As for the rest of the family, they had all gone home after night fell.
There were other matters to attend to at home, after all. The whole family couldn’t spend the night at the hospital.
As time passed, both Han Ye and Zhou Dingwen began to grow distracted.
Zhou Dingwen kept glancing toward the door. It was already seven in the evening, and the sky outside was completely dark, yet no one had come in all this time.
Unable to hold back any longer, Zhou Dingwen asked Han Ye in a low voice, “Han Ye, didn’t you say your younger siblings missed you terribly and would come to see you at the first opportunity? Why haven’t they come yet? Are they not coming after all?”
Han Ye: “…”
Han Ye let out a long sigh.
He, too, kept staring out the window, his heart growing cold.
They hadn’t seen each other for more than two years, and his younger siblings really were heartless. They hadn’t even come to see him.
And Mother Qiao hadn’t come either…
Sigh. When the sky cries, the fish know. But when he cried, who would know?
He was so heartbroken that he sighed and said mournfully, “Don’t ask me. I feel like crying.”
Zhou Dingwen: “…”
