The moment Zhou Chen regained consciousness, he told the local brigade leader who he was and asked him to send him out.
After several days of traveling by one route after another, he finally made it back to his unit.
The military investigation proceeded swiftly. Within a few days, Zhou Jianjun was stripped of his position and placed under investigation.
Zhou Chen had rescued more than a dozen villagers from the raging current. He was awarded a second-class merit citation, promoted to battalion commander, and received orders to take up a post on an island.
The first thing Zhou Chen did was apply to have his family join him and request leave to visit home.
By the time he hurried back, Wang Guifen was in the middle of dividing up the family property with Lin Zhi-lan.
“You jinx, you good-for-nothing money pit! You killed my son, and you still have the nerve to demand a house and land? Not a chance!”
Wang Guifen threw a sack of shriveled sweet potatoes onto the ground.
“Letting you live in the old house is already more than you deserve, and you still have the nerve to complain? Get out of here. Stop getting in my way!”
Lin Zhi-lan’s eyes were red. “If you won’t give me two rooms in the new house, then compensate me with money.”
Wang Guifen let out a cold laugh. “Money? In your dreams! You killed my son, and you still want money? I haven’t even asked you to pay me for his life!”
Lin Zhi-lan trembled with anger. “My sister said Zhou Chen’s death had nothing to do with me. He was a hero, a martyr. Don’t you dare spout such nonsense!”
“So your sister says something, and that makes it true? Who does she think she is?”
After Lin Zhi-lan’s parents died, she still had an older brother from her mother’s family, but they had never been very close.
Then, all of a sudden, she learned that he was not her biological brother. He was the son of a former capitalist family. Back then, in order to save her own son, her mother had switched him with Lin Zhi-lan’s sister.
Now that the capitalist family had found someone powerful to back them, they had come looking for their child and wanted to acknowledge him. Lin Zhi-lan had also gained an older sister.
The two sisters looked remarkably alike. Anyone could tell they were related.
If Lin Zhi-lan resembled a luxuriant peony in full bloom, Lin Zhilan was like a brilliant, flamboyant gladiolus.
Lin Zhi-lan was easy to bully and manipulate. Her newly arrived sister, however, had immediately won over the brigade leader and become the village’s barefoot doctor.
Lin Zhi-lan had been thoroughly charmed by her sister. She had originally been content to stay in the old house and do whatever she was told.
But now she actually dared to come demanding a house?!
Wang Guifen was so furious that her chest hurt.
When Zhou Chen reached the doorway, he heard Wang Guifen’s vicious tirade. She was hurling the cruelest insults at the woman who had given her a granddaughter. Even Party Secretary Zhou, standing behind Zhou Chen, could no longer listen.
“That’s enough!” Party Secretary Zhou roared. “Wang Guifen, don’t push it!”
“This is my family’s business, Party Secretary Zhou. It’s none of yours!”
As she spoke, Wang Guifen suddenly widened her eyes.
“A ghost!”
Hearing her cry, Lin Zhi-lan jerked her head up.
Zhou Chen had lost a great deal of weight. His cheekbones jutted sharply, his eye sockets were sunken, and his eyes were bloodshot as he stared fixedly at her.
Lin Zhi-lan stood frozen in place, as if nailed to the ground. Her lips moved a few times, but no words came out.
Zhou Chen clenched his fists.
Thankfully. Thankfully, he had made it back in time.
He strode over and pulled Lin Zhi-lan tightly into his arms, as though he wanted to crush her into his very body.
The villagers who had gathered to watch could no longer bring themselves to stare so openly.
Party Secretary Zhou coughed. “All right, you two can discuss your family matters later. Everyone, let’s clear out for now.”
“Wait,” Zhou Chen suddenly said. “Party Secretary Zhou, I’d like to confirm the details of the family division.”
Wang Guifen’s eyes widened. “Zhou Chen, what did you say? Have you lost your mind?”
She had not yet recovered from the shock of seeing her supposedly dead son return alive when the news that he wanted to divide the household struck her like another explosion.
Zhou Chen looked at her coldly. “Mother, I heard everything you just said. I agree to divide the household, but it won’t be divided the way you suggested.”
Wang Guifen froze, then charged straight at Lin Zhi-lan behind him.
“It’s all because of you! You wicked temptress, filling his head with this nonsense! I’ll beat you to death!”
Zhou Chen grabbed her arm. He was about to speak when a cold voice came from outside.
“Stop! Zhi-lan, come home with me.”
Zhou Chen turned toward the voice, and his pupils contracted.
He had later gotten along quite well with Lin Zhilan and her husband, so he naturally remembered what Lin Zhilan had looked and sounded like when she was young.
Lin Zhi-lan walked over and said softly, “Sis, Zhou Chen is back. He didn’t die.”
Lin Zhilan’s gaze swept over Zhou Chen before landing on Wang Guifen.
“If he’s alive, then so be it. This is their family’s business. Why are you sticking your nose into it?”
Lin Zhilan disliked the Zhou family, and she did not think much of Zhou Chen either.
Previously, she had held her tongue because he was a martyr and a hero. But now that he had turned out not to be dead, he should not expect her to give him a warm welcome.
Seeing Lin Zhilan, Zhou Chen felt much more at ease.
“Zhi-lan, go back with Sister Lin first. I’ll come find you once I’ve taken care of things here.”
Lin Zhi-lan looked at him, then at her sister, and ultimately followed Lin Zhilan away.
Linlin had just woken up. The moment she saw her mother and aunt beside her, she rushed into their arms.
Lin Zhilan hugged her and kissed her. For some reason, she was especially fond of the child. As a result, she had also taken this younger sister of hers under her wing.
Lin Zhi-lan had been raised to be overly cautious from childhood, which had made her timid and submissive.
Lin Zhilan had never intended to change her. This way was fine, too. At least she listened to her.
“Now that Zhou Chen is back, what are you planning to do?” Lin Zhilan asked.
Lin Zhi-lan looked at her daughter, who was leaning against her sister’s shoulder, then rested her own head against the other side of Lin Zhilan’s shoulder.
“Sis, Zhou Chen has always treated me well. Now that he’s back, he’ll stand up for me.”
Lin Zhilan sighed. “He’d better. With me here, you don’t need to be afraid. Even if Zhou Chen never came back, I could still support you.”
Lin Zhilan did not know what kind of person Zhou Chen was, but not one of the Zhou family members was any good. Having to deal with relatives like that would make her dislike Zhou Chen, no matter how decent he might be.
Lin Zhi-lan bit her lip. “Now that Zhou Chen is back, you won’t have to work so hard anymore.”
This sister who had suddenly appeared, like a savior sent from the heavens, had rescued both her and her daughter.
She had taught Lin Zhi-lan how to identify medicinal herbs, how to gather and process them, and the principles behind their medicinal properties.
When men from outside tried to climb over the wall to harass her, Lin Zhilan chased them away with a shovel. When women spread malicious gossip, Lin Zhilan went straight to their homes and gave them a piece of her mind.
It seemed there was nothing Lin Zhilan could not do, but Lin Zhi-lan did not know how to repay her.
Now that Zhou Chen was back, surely he would have a way.
Lin Zhilan sighed as she looked at her younger sister, who placed all her faith in a man.
Zhou Chen returned very quickly.
Wang Guifen threw herself on the ground and made a scene, but Zhou Chen remained unmoved.
In the end, they agreed that the new house would belong to the elderly couple and Zhou Jianjun. However, since the money used to build it had all been sent home by Zhou Chen over the years, Zhou Chen would have no share in the house. In return, he would no longer be responsible for supporting his parents in their old age.
Zhou Chen agreed.
Seeing the delight on Lin Zhi-lan’s face, Lin Zhilan pressed a hand to her forehead and reminded her, “Do you really think they won’t come looking for you again after dividing things this way?”
Lin Zhi-lan fell silent and looked at her anxiously.
“Sis, then what are we supposed to do?”
Zhou Chen had originally imagined that, upon his return, he and his wife would embrace and weep together, pouring out their hearts to each other.
Instead, with Doctor Lin standing between them, all his wife’s attention was focused on her sister. He could only play the role of a silent husband.
After finally getting this far, Zhou Chen quickly spoke up. “I’ve been promoted, and I’ve already submitted the application for you and the child to join me at my posting.”
“What about my sister? I can’t leave her behind.”
Zhou Chen turned to Lin Zhilan with difficulty. “Sis, what do you think?”
Lin Zhilan reluctantly stroked Lin Zhi-lan’s little cheek. “You two go. I’ll be fine staying here.”
“Then I’m not going either.” Lin Zhi-lan’s eyes reddened.
Zhou Chen hurriedly said, “Sis, why don’t you come with us? I heard from Party Secretary Zhou that you’re quite skilled in medicine. Conditions on our island aren’t very good yet, but there’s a military hospital there, and they’re in urgent need of staff.”
Lin Zhilan’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“Really.”
Half a month later, at the island’s harbor.
The moment Lin Zhilan stepped off the boat, a boy came running over and crashed into her legs, landing hard on his bottom.
Lin Zhilan helped him up and brushed the dust from his pants. “Are you all right, little boy?”
Jiang Chengzhou stared at her blankly, then broke into a wide grin. “Miss, you’re so beautiful. Will you be my auntie?”
The End.
