Outside the door, Li Wen stood for a long time. Only after he could no longer hear the crying from inside did he finally leave.
“Hey, Mom and Dad both went to work, and I’m bored at home. I’m planning to head back to school.”
Li Wu spoke to Li Wen.
“Then hurry up. I’ve already packed my things. I have class in forty minutes.”
Li Wen brought out two bowls of noodles. It was just the two of them at home.
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?”
Li Wu turned and went back to his room to pack. Five minutes later, he grabbed his chopsticks and quickly slurped down the noodles. Then, he collected Li Wen’s bowl, washed it clean, and put it in the cupboard.
“Grandma left me a tape. Why didn’t you give it to me sooner?”
As they stepped outside, Li Wu nudged Li Wen’s elbow.
“You’ve been angry all this time, shutting everyone out. Grandma’s affairs were complicated, and I wanted to give it to you but never had the chance.”
When Li Wu was keeping vigil at the funeral hall, he refused to eat, stubbornly staying by the side. Otherwise, he would lock himself in his room, unwilling to communicate with anyone.
Li Wu fell silent, quietly escorting Li Wen to school before taking the bus back himself.
Days passed, each person busy beyond measure.
Spring blossoms gave way to scorching summer heat; golden wheat fields were harvested and replaced with rows of corn. The grapes ripened somewhere along the way.
“Aunt Wang sent these grapes.”
Shen Xianjun placed a basket in front of Qin Nian.
“Aunt Wang has always been thinking of us.”
Qin Nian picked a few grapes to eat, tapping on her data with her hand. Shen Xianjun sat down and resumed his work on the blueprints.
The couple worked late into the night, then washed up simply and went to bed.
“Nian Nian, Aunt Wang’s grapes—eat up. Mom’s tired of eating these.”
“Mom?”
“Huh? What’s wrong, Nian Nian?”
“Mom!”
Qin Nian lunged toward the flickering light, tears streaming down her face.
“Nian Nian? Nian Nian? Did you have a nightmare?”
Shen Xianjun noticed something was wrong and shook her gently to wake her.
“Mom! Mom!”
Qin Nian looked around in a daze, feeling herself being held in an embrace.
Shen Xianjun raised his hand to wipe the tears from her face, but she was crying uncontrollably, like a dam breaking. He could only let her rest against his chest, gently patting her back again and again.
“I dreamed of Mom. I miss her so much. Mom called me to eat grapes. Back then, her hair was still black.”
Qin Nian sobbed as she spoke. Shen Xianjun’s hand paused for a moment before pulling her even closer.
No one knew how long she cried before finally falling asleep again. Shen Xianjun quietly laid her down, pulled the covers over her, and tiptoed out.
Unable to sleep himself, Shen Xianjun stood by the window, gazing at the night sky.
He stared without blinking until his eyes grew sore. How did tears start falling?
He wiped them away, but in the end, covered his face with both hands, not daring to make a sound.
Time passed quietly. The once young boy had grown into a tall, upright young man, dressed in a crisp white-and-navy uniform, standing on the deck of a warship to receive his commission.
His gaze was resolute as he looked toward the fluttering red flag. Amid the blue sky and white clouds, it was as if a pair of loving eyes were watching over him.
“Grandma, I’ve officially become a naval officer. The stars and the sea await me. Grandma, I’ve become your pride.”
“The rank promotion ceremony is over. When I get my leave, I’ll come back with you to visit Grandma’s grave.”
Li Wen also stepped out in his military uniform, standing beside Li Wu.
“Mm, I want to show Grandma my military medal.”
“I have more than you.”
“Hmph, so what? Didn’t you say you’ve hit a bottleneck recently? How’s the progress on cracking the enemy’s firewall?”
“That’s military secret.”
“Then why don’t you go somewhere else? Why stick with me?”
Li Wu gritted his teeth, annoyed that his younger brother was once again one step ahead.
Li Wen said nothing.
“Grandma will surely be proud of us. Tomorrow is Mom’s commendation ceremony. We probably can’t make it there in time, but after training tonight, let’s watch it on TV together.”
“When will you be transferred?”
Li Wu caught up with Li Wen.
“That depends on the leadership’s decision. On this warship, you’re more likely to be transferred than me.”
“I suspect you’re doing this on purpose. No, you definitely are. Even now that we’re grown, you still want to stick together. You just can’t bear to be apart from me.”
“If I’m not keeping an eye on you, I’m afraid you’ll be reckless like before—jumping onto someone else’s ship alone in the middle of the sea and daring to fight. If it weren’t for the tracking system noticing your unusual movements, we might not have been able to support you in time.”
“But that was a chance to win merit.”
Li Wu touched his own shoulder insignia.
Is earning military merit really that easy? If it comes, you definitely can’t miss it.
**Scientific Contribution Commendation Ceremony**
Qin Nian was invited onto the stage, medals and honors in hand.
“As a researcher, and especially as a woman, Professor Qin is not only outstanding herself, but has also raised her children exceptionally well. We’re all curious about how Professor Qin manages to balance both family and career so effectively.”
After the formal part, as the only female researcher being honored today, many couldn’t help but ask.
“My achievements today, and my children’s growth, I owe most of all to my late mother-in-law, Yang Yufen. She was a hardworking and humble rural woman, with little formal education, yet she held our family together, allowing my husband and me to work for the country without worries. She guided our children to grow into upright individuals.”
Qin Nian gently touched the medals and honors in her arms—these were earned through her mother-in-law’s sacrifice and care for the family; half of the glory belonged to her.
Hearing this, everyone grew curious. They often say mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law are natural enemies, but here was a harmonious relationship that moved the daughter-in-law to praise and cherish her mother-in-law so deeply.
In front of the TV, Li Wu and Li Wen’s eyes welled up when they heard their mother mention Grandma.
So much time had passed, yet Grandma’s image remained vivid in their memories.
If only Grandma could have lived to see this day. They missed her so much.
Finally on leave, the family of four came to the cemetery.
“Mom, this honor belongs to you too. I brought it here so you can see it.”
Qin Nian placed the medals by the grave, and Shen Xianjun quietly added his own military medal.
“Grandma, here’s ours too. Look, we’ve reached a new milestone. It will only get better from here.”
After the family finished their memorial, they drove home.
“You two are adults now. When are you planning to start your own families?”
Shen Xianjun suddenly spoke up.
“Dad, we’ve just become adults. You’re not seriously in such a rush to have grandchildren, are you? The government actually encourages late marriage and childbirth.”
“What are you thinking? I’m just giving you a heads-up. Your mom and I have talked it over. Unlike your grandmother, we definitely won’t be able to take care of the family for you while you’re busy with work. So if you’re really going to get married, money isn’t an issue for us. Don’t let anyone feel wronged. A Shen man should never lack responsibility.”
“Got it. I’m not planning to get married anytime soon anyway. Brother Zhenghao hasn’t even tied the knot yet.”
