Chapter 24: Confessions

Tang Family. After breakfast, with Tang Dehou and his son reluctantly seeing them off, the mother and daughter quietly left the village and headed toward the county. They took out the train tickets they had bought in advance and successfully boarded the train to the provincial city.

That afternoon, the elderly Xu couple arrived at the provincial city train station and began searching for their son. Before boarding the train, they had called Xu Zhenhua to inform him of their arrival time, carefully concealing the fact that their home had been robbed.

As the couple wandered around like headless flies, they suddenly heard Xu Zhenhua’s voice.

“Mom, Dad, I’m here.”

Following the voice, they saw Xu Zhenhua standing not far away, accompanied by a fair-faced woman—presumably their daughter-in-law, whom they had never met. Excited, the couple hurried toward him. As soon as they reached him, Bai Xiuying threw her arms around him and began crying. Only when she finally held her son in her arms did her heart fully settle.

“Wuwu… you unfilial child, why didn’t you let us know you were safe earlier? Do you know how heartbroken your father and I were when we thought you had died?”

Seeing his mother in tears, Xu Zhenhua also felt uneasy. His eyes red, he gently patted her back, soothing her, “Mom, it’s my fault… but I really had no choice. At that time, our squad lost contact during a mission, and the leaders thought we had perished, so they notified our families. By the time we returned safely, it had been three months. Plus, I was seriously injured and needed a long recovery…”

What Xu Zhenhua said was partly true, partly false. If he truly wanted to notify his family, he could have done so within days of waking up. But he delayed until the wedding, only then telling Xu Dingbang. The reason was financial—otherwise, he wouldn’t have informed them at all, letting them believe he had died so he could live peacefully with his wife.

Bai Xiuying and Xu Dingbang had some doubts, but having only a few remaining coins and facing the strange circumstances at home, they didn’t press the matter. They still had to rely on their son for support.

Bai Xiuying, eyes red, whispered, “My poor son, you’ve suffered so much.”

After sharing their feelings, Xu Zhenhua noticed that his parents’ hands were empty. Knowing them well, he expected them not to come empty-handed. Seeing the truth, he was puzzled.

“Mom, Dad, where’s your luggage?”

Bai Xiuying, feeling awkward, replied, “It’s a long story. Let’s go home first, and I’ll explain everything there.”

On the train, Bai Xiuying and Xu Dingbang had agreed not to mention the theft immediately. Even if Xu Zhenhua asked, they would wait until he settled them first—otherwise, knowing they came empty-handed could worry him and his new wife.

Xu Zhenhua didn’t suspect a thing. Beside him, Wu Lifang, seeing his parents’ lack of belongings, cheerfully said, “Yes, Zhenhua, your parents have had a long journey. Let’s take them home to rest first.”

“Alright.”

After a combination of bus and walking, the four arrived at the rented house of Xu Zhenhua and his wife. As a company commander, Xu Zhenhua couldn’t have standard military housing, so they rented a place near the family compound.

Once seated, Xu Zhenhua eagerly asked, “Mom, Dad, did something happen? Why didn’t you even bring a change of clothes?”

Bai Xiuying glanced at the small rented house and felt a bit reassured. The two-room house allowed her and her husband to stay in one room, while Xu Zhenhua and his wife stayed in the other.

Before Bai Xiuying could settle, Xu Zhenhua’s urgent voice interrupted, and she glanced at her husband, seeing he had no intention to speak. Sighing, she said, “We had packed your favorite things yesterday…”

Hearing this, Xu Zhenhua’s temples twitched. As expected, two minutes of talking and she hadn’t gotten to the point. Wu Lifang, impatient, tugged at his sleeve. Xu Zhenhua cleared his throat and interrupted, “Mom, get to the point.”

Only Xu Dingbang remained expressionless, fearing the truth would disappoint his son.

“Oh…” Bai Xiuying smiled sheepishly, “We really prepared a lot for you and your wife, but when we woke up, all that was left in the house was the bed we slept on and one quilt.”

Hearing this, Xu Zhenhua and Wu Lifang exchanged expressions of disbelief. It seemed impossible. They even suspected the elderly couple was testing them with a lie.

Xu Zhenhua forced a smile, “Mom, you’re joking, right?”

Seeing her remain silent, fiddling with her clothes, he turned to his father. Seeing Xu Dingbang’s grim expression, his heart sank.

“Dad, Mom… is this… really true?”

Seeing their son’s disbelief, Bai Xiuying recounted the morning analysis with the police. Knowing his mother well, Xu Zhenhua was certain it was true. Villagers feared the police like mice fear cats, so even if his parents were testing him, they wouldn’t lie about the officers.

With all impossibilities ruled out, no matter how unbelievable, it was true. Xu Zhenhua’s face shifted through shades of pale and blue, utterly stunned.

After a long moment, he asked, “The house… really was emptied completely?”

Though Bai Xiuying hated to admit it, the truth was that even the money she had hidden under the stove was gone.