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Having pinpointed the issue, Zhang Lan had a plan in mind. “Don’t worry. We’ll address this matter when we get to Capital. You two stay with Dad for a while. I’ll go and bring Mom and Qianqian back. Our juice factory is already up and running. If you’re willing, I can take you to see it.”
Since Zhang Weiguo also had a stake in the factory, he was eager to see how things were progressing. “Dad, Jianing, let’s go take a look. I haven’t seen it yet.”
Zhang Wanyou was curious about the factory too, wanting to see how well his daughter’s business was doing. He had been busy collecting seafood by the seaside and hadn’t had the chance to visit.
“Daughter, have the kids been accepted to college?” Zhang Wanyou inquired about his grandchildren.
With a broader smile, Zhang Lan replied, “Dad, they all got in. We just found out this morning. We’re planning to invite the Cong family for dinner tonight. It’s perfect timing that you’re here. The kids are all helping out at the factory. Zuo Yu is here too; you’ll get to see how much they’ve grown into young men.”
Zhang Lan held Bai Jianing’s hand, whispering quietly as they walked ahead, guiding the way. Zhang Weiguo supported his elderly father as they followed behind, taking in the changes in the city over the years.
Walking alongside his son, Zhang Wanyou couldn’t be prouder. Yesterday, he saw the medals his son had earned, including the first-class hero medal—a testament to the sacrifices his son had made. Amid his joy, there was a tinge of sadness. His son had faced hardships from a young age, joining the military and attending military school, all through his own efforts. There was little he and his wife could do to assist.
The elderly man tightly grasped his son’s hand, the hand that was now as big as his own. “Weiguo, have you been through hardships out there?”
Zhang Wanyou had always wanted to know how his son had been faring over the years, but Zhang Weiguo tended to keep his troubles to himself.
Upon hearing his father’s question, Zhang Weiguo felt a jolt. Had it been tough? He pondered this question internally.
Certainly, it had been tough. He had nearly faced death and returned, but even with all the hardships, that was what made life exciting for him. Seeing Bai Jianing chatting and laughing ahead, Zhang Weiguo’s face broke into a contented smile.
“Dad, it’s been tough, but amidst the challenges, I’ve found joy. Stepping out into the world made me realize how exciting it can be and helped me discover my own worth. It’s like you always say, there are losses and gains. But I do miss our days at home. When things were calm on the frontline, I often imagined the scene of you and I returning from sea to find Mom had prepared a meal at home for us. Ah, I really miss Mom’s cooking,” Zhang Weiguo expressed, a childlike look of longing on his face.
Seeing his son’s expression, reminiscent of a child craving a favorite dish, Zhang Wanyou felt like he had stepped back into the past, enjoying the father-son bond once again.
“You’re right. Your mom’s cooking is truly the best in the world. Your sister has inherited her skills well. As for your future wife’s cooking, I won’t praise it too much. If you two end up together, have your mom teach her more. You can’t rely on the canteen all the time in the military. And don’t neglect my future grandchildren,” Zhang Wanyou quipped.
Zhang Weiguo was aware of Bai Jianing’s modest cooking skills. As a pampered daughter at home, her enthusiasm for cooking was commendable, but her culinary skills lacked finesse. Yesterday, she had eagerly offered to cook for him and his father, but he had to step in to assist, avoiding any potential embarrassment.
“Dad, do you approve of this young lady?” Zhang Weiguo asked his father for his opinion. Since he hadn’t had the chance to talk about this with him earlier, he took the opportunity now that Bai Jianing was far enough not to hear their conversation.
Zhang Wanyou smiled gently, “Silly boy, if I had any objections, would you even listen to me? Unlike some elders, as long as you two are happy and the young lady has good character, nothing else matters. You’re the ones spending a lifetime together, so our role is merely to offer a reference. The final decision rests with you.
But I think this young lady is good. Despite being from the city, she’s humble, sincere in her interactions, and doesn’t play mind games. I believe she’s a fine young lady. Just make sure not to marry someone like Zhou Ping. That’s a true tragedy – she not only harmed our son but also led him astray. It’s a family misfortune.”
Zhang Weiguo held his father’s arm tightly, “Dad, once I have children, you two can spend as much time with them as you wish. Having a grandchild to keep you company, you won’t have to worry about trivial matters anymore.”
Upon arriving at the factory with the three of them, Zhang Lan found Wang Zhenhe and Zuo Yu were out, leaving Mingyuan and Wang Qian to oversee. The siblings were delighted to see Zhang Weiguo and company. Mingyuan dashed straight towards Zhang Weiguo in excitement.
Wang Qian quickly greeted Bai Jianing, “Aunt Bai, should I call you ‘aunt’ or Aunt-in-law’?”
With a playful remark, Bai Jianing couldn’t help but chuckle, “This little girl really has a quite a tongue, let’s stick with ‘aunt’ for now. We can always change it later. Why are you so eager for me to be your Aunt-in-law?”
Bai Jianing, being a child at heart, grew up in a family where she was adored by her parents and older brother, so her genuine personality naturally shone through.
Wang Qian raised her delicate face proudly, “Of course, with you as my aunt to keep my little uncle company, Comrade Zhang Weiguo won’t feel lonely being away from home.”
Seeing Wang Qian lift her head, Bai Jianing suddenly realized that the girl in front of her was quite beautiful. Delighted, she playfully reached out to tease her.
“Wow, you’re so pretty. How did I never notice before? Let me touch you for some of that beauty luck. Maybe I’ll become beautiful too in the future.”
The two of them continued to joke around, one teasing and the other laughing. Zhang Wanyou and the others stood nearby, smiling as they watched. They were genuinely pleased with this prospective daughter-in-law, seeing how easily she could joke and connect with their children, indicating she would be easy to get along with in the future.
Zhang Lan led them on a tour, prompting Zhang Weiguo to exclaim, “Sis, I truly didn’t expect you to achieve all this. Initially, I thought you were just messing around, but I clearly underestimated you.”
“That’s right. Who do you think we are? Little uncle, just wait and see. You’ll definitely get your share once we start earning money”
Zhang Weiguo chuckled as he ruffled his young nephew’s head, “Little one, your uncle will be counting on you in the future. Otherwise, I won’t have the money to support the family. Your aunt and I will be relying on you two.”
Bai Jianing, aware of Zhang Weiguo’s commitment to his comrades, agreed with his approach. Some experiences are hard to grasp unless you’ve lived through them, such as the pain of losing a comrade. She understood this. As for their future life together, she hadn’t thought that far ahead. However, listening to Zhang Weiguo and Mingyuan’s conversation intrigued her, even though she didn’t fully understand it. It seemed to be a secret between them.
Zhang Lan introduced her youngest son to Bai Jianing. Upon hearing that both of these children had been accepted to university, she couldn’t help but feel envious. “Sis, how did you manage to do it? All four children getting into university – it’s truly unimaginable.”
Upon realizing the strong academic lineage in the Zhang family, Bai Jianing couldn’t help but wonder if her own future children could achieve similar success. The thought made her blush slightly, but thankfully, in the warm weather, no one noticed the change in her face.
After the factory tour, Zhang Lan accompanied them to find Geng Lianhua. The elderly lady was joyfully selling goods in the shop. Initially mistaking them for customers, her joy knew no bounds upon seeing her daughter with a very attractive young lady. However, when she caught sight of her son behind them, she was overjoyed. Her son had returned, but who was this young lady before her?
“Mom, I’m back,” Zhang Weiguo called out.
The affection in Zhang Weiguo’s voice when he called his mother nearly brought tears to her eyes. She had been worried sick during the time he hadn’t sent any letters; she had feared something had happened to him.
At that moment, the elderly lady finally voiced her deep-seated concerns. Although she had never mentioned them to her daughter, the worries had always lingered in her heart. Seeing her son return, she couldn’t hold back her tears. “Weiguo, what happened? Why didn’t you write for some time? I thought something had happened to you.”
Embracing his mother, Zhang Weiguo also teared up, “Mom, I had a minor injury back then, so I couldn’t write to you. But now that you see me safe and sound, you can rest assured, right?”
Upon hearing about her son’s injury, the elderly lady’s suspicions were confirmed, and she insisted on inspecting his wounds thoroughly, unable to calm her fears until she checked for herself.
Zhang Weiguo, feeling a bit embarrassed, glanced at Geng Lianhua, “Mom, there are so many people here. It’s not appropriate to do this in public.”
Ignoring his concerns, Geng Lianhua retorted, “You naughty boy, I’ve seen you naked when you were a child. Now that you’re grown up, why can’t I take a look? Let me see how those injuries on your upper body are.”
Initially wanting to intervene on behalf of her brother, Zhang Lan realized that her mother’s determination meant they wouldn’t pass this test without letting her have a look.
“Weiguo, just let Mom take a look. Otherwise, she won’t be at ease,” Zhang Lan advised.
As Geng Lianhua saw the scars crisscrossing her son’s body, tears streamed down her face. With trembling hands, she touched each scar, her heart breaking at the sight. “My son, how much suffering have you endured… my dear son…”
The elderly lady could no longer contain her overwhelming emotions and broke down in tears, holding Zhang Weiguo close, crying uncontrollably. They say that a son’s pain is felt deeply in a mother’s heart, and at that moment, Zhang Weiguo truly understood it. His mother’s tears pierced his heart, “Mom, please don’t cry. I’m fine now, and coming back alive is already a stroke of luck. Many of my comrades are still resting in those lands. So, we should be happy. At least I’m alive and able to see you again.”