At the very least, his wife truly wanted to be with him forever.
Otherwise, a single night of pleasure would have been enough; who would care about eternity?
This conversation came to a temporary halt, and Lin Zhilan wasn't sure if Su Lang had changed his mind.
In any case, Su Lang returned to his usual routine and didn't bring the matter up again.
A few days later, his eldest brother and sister-in-law called from the capital again.
Xu Yueyun had been hospitalized for her heart condition, and they hoped the couple could return to Beijing as soon as possible.
Lin Zhilan didn't delay; she started packing her bags the very day she received the call.
Not long after, Su Lang also returned home.
You're back. Can you figure out a way to buy train tickets? Let's try to leave tonight.
Su Lang hung his military cap on the wall, his expression grim. You don't need to pack. Mom is fine; she's already been discharged.
Xu Yueyun had actually collapsed from anger, provoked by his sister-in-law's mother.
Over the past year or two, Xu Yueyun had changed her attitude and stopped subsidizing the eldest brother's family.
Without those benefits, his sister-in-law had much less to offer her own maiden family.
Her mother had come knocking, trying to persuade Xu Yueyun to be kinder to the younger generation.
She claimed her daughter was a hero to the Su family for giving them two big grandsons.
She even said the two elders would have to rely on her grandsons to wear mourning clothes and perform their funeral rites in the future, otherwise they wouldn't rest in peace underground.
Xu Yueyun had grown up in a good family and had been a dedicated revolutionary her entire life.
Hearing such words made her furious.
Her heart condition was an old problem. This hospitalization was partly because she was genuinely enraged.
And partly, she wanted to scare her daughter-in-law's mother.
Sure enough, after she was hospitalized, not a single person from that family came to visit her.
His sister-in-law completely avoided talking about the incident.
Instead, she kept complaining about how hard it was to take care of her, claiming that the third son's family, living far away on an island, was enjoying an easy life without having to care for the elderly.
Xu Yueyun was so angry that she simply closed her eyes and ignored her.
It was obviously Auntie Yu who was bustling about taking care of everything. Yet whenever the sister-in-law showed up, Auntie Yu even had to serve her tea, pour her water, and peel fruit for her.
In the end, Su Bingcheng gave the eldest brother, Su Ding, another beating and kicked the couple out.
Harboring resentment, the eldest brother and his wife called the military base, falsely claiming that their mother was in critical condition just to cause trouble for Su Lang and Lin Zhilan.
Su Lang had immediately called back, only to hear from Su Bingcheng that Xu Yueyun was fine and had already been discharged.
After hearing the whole story, Lin Zhilan couldn't help but complain, I won't judge your brother and sister-in-law's behavior, but I just don't like them. If I see them in the future, I don't want to get close to them.
Lin Zhilan had seen a lot of things working in the hospital.
When dealing with terrible relatives, the best solution was to stay far away.
You absolutely shouldn't give them a chance to hover around; otherwise, you'd have to be even more terrible than them to deal with it.
Su Lang affectionately tapped her nose. Do whatever you want. I am completely on your side.
Jiang Chengzhou immediately declared, I'm on Auntie's side too!
Little Linlin echoed, Side!
She stomped her little feet and reached out her arms for her dad to hold her.
Su Lang picked her up, and Little Linlin leaned toward her mother.
Lin Zhilan thought she was going to say something to her, but instead, she leaned in and, mimicking her father, tapped Lin Zhilan on the nose.
Lin Zhilan was speechless.
You really should learn some good habits.
You probably won't be going out to sea again this year, right? Lin Zhilan asked, pretending to be casual.
Su Lang lifted his daughter high in the air, making her giggle with delight.
Not this year.
Su Lang placed heavy emphasis on the words this year, his eyes constantly stealing glances at her.
That's good then, Lin Zhilan rolled her eyes at him. Let's neither of us take any time off recently. We can save up our leave to take a trip back to the capital.
Regardless of how Su Lang's eldest brother and sister-in-law behaved, her mother-in-law, Xu Yueyun, frequently sent them things.
Whatever Jiang Chengzhou got, Little Linlin never lacked either.
Lin Zhilan's philosophy had always been to treat those well who treated her well.
Moreover, she knew that his mother's heart condition weighed heavily on Su Lang's mind.
If she could find golden acupuncture needles, she might be able to do something about it.
Before Su Lang could say anything, Jiang Chengzhou was the first to object. Auntie, then you guys take my sister back. I'll wait for you on the island.
Lin Zhilan smiled. The capital isn't some monster's lair. We are a family, so of course we all go back together and return together.
Jiang Chengzhou glanced at Su Lang. I don't like the capital.
It's fine if you don't like it, Lin Zhilan patted his back. We're just going back to see Grandma. No one else matters.
Jiang Chengzhou proactively grabbed her hand. Auntie, then promise me you will definitely bring me back. You can't let anyone take me away.
Hearing this, Little Linlin raised her hand. Take, I hit!
The sweet and well-behaved little girl had picked up a bit of a bandit-like swagger after spending some time with Su Lang.
A few days ago, a little boy had pulled Nannan's braids.
Little Linlin, despite her small size, pinned a boy three or four years older than her to the ground.
In reality, she definitely couldn't beat him in a real fight.
But all the kids on the island knew that Little Linlin's older brother was Jiang Chengzhou.
Although Jiang Chengzhou was no longer active in the local kids' underworld, his legend still lived on.
The boy didn't dare to fight back and let Little Linlin sit on him and punch him twice.
She even remembered to call out to Nannan, He bullied you, come over and hit him too!
Afterward, Lin Zhilan scolded her, You can't fight with other kids.
Little Linlin argued righteously, Daddy said if anyone hits me, I have to hit them back. Sister Nannan should learn from me.
She wasn't entirely wrong.
But for a toddler just over three years old to dare beat up a five or six-year-old kid...
Why hadn't her dad taught her to know her own limits?
Jiang Chengzhou held his sister's hand and said, If you can't beat them, call your dad to hit them.
He didn't dare order Su Lang around directly, so he could only subtly instigate his sister.
Little Linlin nodded and fed Su Lang some sweet talk. My daddy is the strongest!
Su Lang ruffled Jiang Chengzhou's hair. Alright, enough. You're more favored in this house than I am.
The gynecology knowledge manual compiled by Qin Qing and Lin Zijun had already been submitted to the Women's Federation.
The military wives' literacy classes had also started teaching this material.
Although it seemed quiet on the surface, the hospital's gynecology department had recently seen a significant increase in patients.
The Women's Federation even commended Qin Qing and Lin Zijun to the hospital leadership because of this.
When Lin Zhilan went to work, she was called to the director's office again.
Dr. Lin, Director Liu said helplessly, how is your traditional Chinese medicine department so capable?
Lin Zhilan shrugged. Director, don't just praise us. If there's a chance, give the two youngsters in our department a raise. We don't even need to rely on the hospital funds; just deduct it from the TCM department's finances.
Director Liu pointed a finger at her in the air. You really think I'm praising you? The other departments in the hospital have complaints about you now, and they've brought the fuss all the way to my office.
What complaints? Lin Zhilan smiled faintly. The young comrades in our department have progressive ideas and unite the masses. Who would dare have complaints?
Director Liu held up three fingers. I heard your department bought three electric fans?
