Chapter 28 This son won’t be raised in vain

Looking at his son’s expression, Xu Dingbang couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. After all, Zhenhua was his only son—and such a capable one at that. He truly didn’t want to make things difficult for him, but the situation was hard. The house had been emptied of every penny and there were other problems as well. How could he have the courage to return home under such circumstances? If his son decided to ignore him and his wife and tried to send them back, Xu Dingbang felt he would truly have no way out. No, he couldn’t just go back quietly. After raising his son all these years, he hadn’t even enjoyed the joy of a grandchild. Now was the time for his son to repay him.

Xu Dingbang was not foolish; he naturally wouldn’t speak his mind outright—that might only irritate his son. Instead, he pounded his head in helplessness and guilt. “No, it’s not your fault, Zhenhua. It’s your father’s fault. I couldn’t give you a good upbringing, and now my wife and I have even caused arguments between you and your wife. We’ll take the train back home ourselves later, so you don’t have to be troubled.”

His words were sincere, and Xu Zhenhua felt tears welling up. Though he had previously lamented not being born into a better family, the truth was that, as the only son, his parents had devoted themselves to him. They did their best to provide for him, even if they couldn’t give everything. Seeing his father looking so old, and knowing he voluntarily wanted to return, Xu Zhenhua couldn’t help feeling a twinge of compassion.

But when he thought of Wu Lifang, that feeling vanished instantly. Clenching his hands tightly, a mist formed in his eyes. “Dad, it’s all my fault.”

Seeing that his son still hadn’t relented about letting them stay, Xu Dingbang’s heart sank. Could it be that all his effort raising this son had been in vain? Even after saying all that, Zhenhua still seemed determined to send him and his wife back. At that moment, Xu Dingbang felt a chill in his heart—this was the son he had raised for over twenty years, and yet he seemed so cold.

No, he had to find a way to delay things and plan carefully once Zhenhua left. With that in mind, Xu Dingbang spoke slowly, “Zhenhua, after such a long train ride, these old bones of ours can’t handle leaving immediately. Why don’t we wait until after your wedding tomorrow, and then return home? Would that be alright?”

Xu Zhenhua didn’t want to press too hard. A day earlier or later made little difference, so he nodded in agreement.

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Elsewhere

After Tang Wanning and Su Meijuan got off the train, they took a bus to the military compound. Since they lacked the proper military family credentials, they couldn’t stay at the military guesthouse and had to find a nearby small hotel.

Inside the room, Su Meijuan felt uncertain. “Ningning, should we try to inquire at the military compound now?”

Tang Wanning had confirmed that Xu Zhenhua’s wedding was tomorrow, so there was no rush. She mainly wanted to avoid running into him prematurely and raising suspicion. Still, they had to gather some information.

Reassuring her mother, she said, “Mom, after such a long train ride, you must be tired. Rest for a bit. I can go out by myself.”

Su Meijuan couldn’t let her daughter go alone; after all, she was in an unfamiliar place and still just a girl. Even though she had tanned and slimmed down, she was still a young beauty. “No, I’ll go with you.”

“Mom, trust me. Stay in the room and rest,” Tang Wanning said, shaking her mother’s arm. “Two people would draw too much attention. One person is just fine. Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.”

Seeing her daughter act so confidently, Su Meijuan couldn’t spoil her fun and reluctantly agreed. “Alright, but be careful.”

Tang Wanning acknowledged with a nod and quickly left the room. Despite her confident demeanor, she still hadn’t figured out exactly how to get into the military compound tomorrow. The hotel owner had said it was only a ten-minute walk from the guesthouse, but the crucial thing now was to first find the correct path to the compound.

Following the owner’s directions, Tang Wanning surveyed her surroundings, gathering wild vegetables and flowers along the way. After about fifteen minutes, she spotted the military compound.

The compound’s main gate was grand, with a prominent military emblem. Guard posts flanked the entrance, along with a reception and security office. Outside, a small plaza bustled with soldiers and their families chatting and playing chess. Seeing this, Tang Wanning came up with a plan and walked away briskly to avoid attracting attention.

Collecting items along the way, her points rose from 47 to 63. Even though she had only gathered wild plants and flowers, being in a new city meant many previously uncollected species. Clearly, to accumulate more points, she couldn’t stay in one place.

“Mom, I’m back,” she called.

Hearing her, Su Meijuan opened the door quickly. “So, did you find the military guesthouse?”

“I handled it myself. Easy as pie,” Tang Wanning said proudly, tapping her chest. “Come on, let’s have dinner first, then rest. Tomorrow we need energy for the big day.”

Though the train ride was long, it was unlike being at home—no working the land or cooking—but the cramped conditions made even using the restroom difficult.

“All right, we’ll do as you say.”

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After Xu Zhenhua finished dinner at the small courtyard, he went to see Wu Lifang at the military compound. Though they had rented a place outside, they still slept in the dormitory at night since they weren’t officially married yet.

Wu Lifang greeted him with a bright smile. “Zhenhua, you’re here!”

Seeing her face, Xu Zhenhua let out a sigh of relief. Her cheeks were still a little red, but the swelling had subsided. By tomorrow, they would likely return to normal, and if not, makeup could cover it—overall, it wasn’t a major problem.

“Mm,” Xu Zhenhua replied. “I’ve already told my parents—they’ll return to the countryside after attending our wedding tomorrow.”

Hearing this, Wu Lifang’s expression immediately darkened. She really didn’t want to see that old Bai Xiuying—she had been far too vicious. While her own face was fine, her hands had suffered, now swollen and red like radishes. Over the past year, Bai Xiuying had mostly worked in the fields and ignored household chores, but her strength had not diminished at all.