Chapter 26

“Grandma, it’s a time of peace now. Although there are still some blind people who come to provoke and harass us every now and then, they’re not a threat. Don’t worry, we can handle those shrimp soldiers and crab generals.”

Sheng Tunan continued, “It’s the martyrs who have helped us fight most of the battles. It’s the peace they bought with their blood and lives. We’re very fortunate to be alive in this era. Although China’s economy and technology are not very good at present, they will develop rapidly in the future. China will become truly strong in the near future. No one will dare to bully us, they will even have to look at our faces.”

Sheng Tunan became more and more excited as he spoke. He knew about the prosperity of the future, and he also knew that the prosperity and strength of his country were not something that could be waited for.

It was the sacrifice of the martyrs, the anonymous hard work and dedication of the scientists, and the hard work of every Chinese person, united as one, that created it.

“Good, good, good. My grandson is ambitious. He also knows that our happiness today is hard-earned, and he remembers the heroes. Grandma also believes that our country will become better and better.”

Tears welled up in Grandma Sheng’s eyes. In her lifetime, she and her husband had three sons, all of whom died on the battlefield.

After their first son died, she and Sheng Ye Ye still resolutely sent their second son to the battlefield.

Later, their second son also died. At that time, he had his leg blown off by an explosion, but he still didn’t surrender. His comrade, who had been blinded in the battle, carried him on his back, and he carried a bomb, commanding his comrades to run desperately. In the end, he died with the Japanese soldiers, his body was never found.

At this point, there was only one son left in the Sheng family. Everyone in the village advised them, saying that they shouldn’t let their youngest son go to the battlefield. If he went, the Sheng family would be extinct.

At that time, Sheng Ye Ye sat on the steps of the courtyard and smoked all day. In the end, he asked his youngest son if he wanted to go.

His youngest son’s eyes were filled with determination, “Dad, let me go. I want to fight the Japanese and avenge my two brothers.”

“Good, good boy.” Sheng Ye Ye patted his youngest son’s shoulder. Grandma Sheng silently took out all the food in the house and put it on his son’s back.

There were other young men from the village who also joined the army. Everyone held back tears and sang, “We sent the Red Army down the mountain, the autumn wind and drizzle are so tender…” They sent their own flesh and blood to the battlefield.

Some people saw the youngest son of the Sheng family in the ranks and wanted to persuade Sheng Ye Ye to keep him.

Sheng Ye Ye shook his head, tears in his eyes, “If my youngest son also dies, it will be a glorious death. Even if the Sheng family dies out, we can’t let the Chinese people die out. If everyone is afraid of their sons dying and doesn’t go to the battlefield, who will fight the Japanese? We are not the same race as the Japanese. If they occupy our land, will they treat us kindly? They will probably kill us all, exterminate us.”

Those who are not of our kind, their hearts must be different.

War is cruel. The youngest son of the Sheng family never came back, he died in the last night before dawn.

Since all three sons had died, how did Sheng Tunan come to be?

Sheng Ye Ye had gone hunting in the mountains one day, and he found him on the edge of a cliff. When he found him, he was already dying. Sheng Tunan was lucky to survive, he lived on herbs and rice water.

Everyone in the village knew about this, but they all tacitly chose to keep their mouths shut.

The three sons of the Sheng family had all died, and now Sheng Ye Ye had found a baby. It was fate, it was heaven’s will that the Sheng family wouldn’t die out. Everyone tacitly agreed that Sheng Tunan was Sheng Ye Ye’s grandson, and no one told the younger generation.

Some of these old people had already passed away, and some were old and forgetful. Sheng Tunan was adopted, and no one mentioned it anymore.

Even though Sheng Tunan had lived two lifetimes, he didn’t know this secret.

“Xinyue, I’m leaving. You have to take good care of yourself. I’ll come back and marry you when I get the marriage report.”

Sheng Tunan looked at his watch, it was already past two in the afternoon. He had to leave.

“Okay. I’ll take good care of Grandma. You can rest assured in the army.”

Zhan Xinyue helped Grandma see Sheng Tunan out of the courtyard. She watched his car drive away until she could no longer see it, then she went back home.

“Yo, isn’t this the future wife of the high-ranking official?” A sharp voice came.

Zhan Hongyan pulled a small shovel, walking towards her with a swaying gait, “Future wife, you understand? You’re not family yet. Why are you living in their house without even getting a marriage certificate? Zhan Xinyue, I’m not saying this to be mean, but how come you’re so shameless, you just broke off your relationship with our Zhan family, and you’re already living with them?”

Zhan Hongyan was a glutton for punishment. She had just been beaten by Zhan Xinyue this morning, and now she dared to show up in front of her again. It was mainly because of the announcement on the loudspeaker today that made her jealous and lose her mind.

It was the time for the villagers to go to work in the afternoon. Zhan Hongyan didn’t miss this opportunity, she publicly humiliated Zhan Xinyue in front of everyone.

“Everyone come and see! Here’s a woman who’s living with a man before they’re even married. Oh my, she’s ruining the reputation of our Chang Hong Brigade. I’m afraid we won’t be rated as an advanced production brigade anymore.”

“Everyone come here! It’s best to drive Zhan Xinyue out of Chang Hong Brigade, so she won’t drag us down.”

Zhan Hongyan shouted louder and louder, the smugness on her face was evident. It was as if Zhan Xinyue would really be driven out the next second.

“Slap, slap, slap.” Three loud sounds. Zhan Xinyue took action, she slapped Zhan Hongyan’s face three times, hard.

“Living with a man before marriage? Huh?” Zhan Xinyue wasn’t satisfied with just slapping her, she didn’t want to dirty her hands, so she took a palm fan from her house and used it to hit Zhan Hongyan’s mouth:

“You’re the one who’s living with a man before marriage. Only those who can’t get married would rush to be a stepmother.”

“Did you eat shit at noon? Why are you so stinky?” Zhan Xinyue slapped her and cursed.

In her previous life, she had started from a small business and built it up from scratch. If she hadn’t been fierce, she wouldn’t even have been able to grab a stall. In the past, she, Zhan Xinyue, wasn’t afraid of even the most powerful thugs and hooligans.

Zhan Hongyan was just a rat from a stinky ditch, and she dared to provoke her. She was simply asking for it.