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Han Ying, the wife of Bai Qingyuan from Beijing, received a letter from her husband sent from the front lines. As she read the contents, her anger flared up instantly. “That old man! Just wait until he comes back; I’ll show him!”
Her eldest son sat beside her, concerned by her intense reaction, he asked, “Mom, what’s wrong?”
Han Ying handed the letter to her son, “That old man, your father, has promised your sister to a soldier. I can’t allow this. Marrying a soldier brings so much hardship. I’ve endured so much all these years; I can’t let your sister suffer the same fate. From what I gather, that boy’s family background isn’t great either. They live in a small fishing village. Can you imagine the hardships your sister would face if she marries into that?”
The thought of this situation frustrated Han Ying. Entrusting her only daughter to join the military without her consent was unacceptable. She was determined not to let her husband interfere further, as she feared for her beloved daughter’s well-being.
“Wenze, when will your father and the others return? Weren’t they supposed to be rotated back? Why haven’t we heard anything yet?” Han Ying had made up her mind; she wouldn’t let Bai Qingyuan off lightly for making such a decision without consulting her.
Bai Wenze carefully read the letter and then looked up with a puzzled expression. “Mom, Dad mentioned that the young man is a war hero, and his background is quite good. He’s a top student from a military academy, which is like a university. It’s not easy to get admitted there.”
Han Ying scoffed, “You don’t understand. A military academy still means being in the military. Anyone associated with the military has to endure hardships. They barely get any days off in a year. I don’t want your sister to suffer like this. I want her to be with someone who can be with her every day, avoiding the agony of a long-distance relationship. Otherwise, a woman’s youth will be wasted. Look at me; I’ve turned into an old woman like this. This is my life now, and I won’t let your sister follow the same path. She can marry anyone but not a soldier.”
Bai Wenze glanced at his visibly upset mother. He understood the hardships she endured, single-handedly raising them while farming. They hardly saw their father throughout the year until he joined the military, allowing for sporadic reunions. However…
“Mom, the letter mentioned that sister is interested too. What if she has made up her mind?” Bai Wenze empathized with his mother’s struggles, knowing the resilience of his determined little sister.
Han Ying hesitated before responding, “Let’s wait until she returns. We’ll try to reason with her. If we present all the pros and cons to her, she must understand, right? Besides, that young man might be interested in your father’s status rather than your sister. We must be vigilant. Sometimes, for the sake of your sister’s happiness, a mother has to be strict. When she becomes a mother herself, she’ll understand my perspective.”
Han Ying, still uneasy about her husband, personally wrote a firm reply expressing her stance – even if he agreed, this marriage proposal was unacceptable to her. Sending out the letter provided her with some relief.
On the 29th of the twelfth lunar month, Wang Qian had been counting down the days. As soon as the day arrived, she rushed to the post office. With most people already heading home for the New Year, only a few staff remained. Leaning over the counter, she inquired, “Excuse me, do you still have the newly issued Monkey Stamp here?”
The staff glanced at her oddly. “Sorry, young lady. We received a notice a few days ago, but this morning, we were informed that all the stamps had been bought out. We’re out of stock. I love collecting stamps myself, but I haven’t even seen what they look like. If you want to buy some, you might want to check the city post office. They might have some.”
Excited by this news, Wang Qian dashed out. The absence of stamps possibly meant that Yang Nuo and Cong Tao had successfully completed their task. However, since she had the ability to be reborn, there might be others involved. Deciding to visit after the New Year to ensure no missed opportunities for profit.
Unaware of his daughter’s early morning errand, Wang Zhenhe didn’t think much of it as he saw that she was fine.
At lunchtime, the family enjoyed a hearty meal. During the meal, Wang Zhenhe mentioned his plan to visit Xinjiang to his children.
Mingcheng was a bit worried about Xinjiang, a place so far away that it seemed almost unreachable in his memory.
“Dad, be careful when you go there. If anything happens, make sure to write to us promptly. It’s said to be sparsely populated, so take enough food with you. And don’t forget to dress warmly; it’s apparently very cold there,” Mingcheng advised.
Wang Xuan straightforwardly suggested that Wang Zhenhe should reconsider his trip. “Dad, focus on the business here in the city. We’re putting in extra effort in the capital, and everything will be fine. No need to travel so far; it’s too tough.”
Listening to his children’s concerns, Wang Zhenhe smiled warmly. “Others endure hardships, why can’t I? While I’m away, be good and help your mom. When I return, I’ll bring you lots of good food.”
After dinner, Zhang Lan instructed the children to boil water and ensure everyone was clean for the New Year. She laid out the new clothes to be worn the next day.
During this time, families were busy preparing for the New Year, ensuring everything was ready for the festivities, from fireworks to traditional dishes.
Wang Qian and her siblings went out to watch Mingyuan set off firecrackers. Due to the loud noise in their area, nearby children gathered to watch the spectacle. Among them was a boy of delicate appearance whom Wang Qian hadn’t seen before.
Impressed by the boy’s appearance, Wang Qian asked, “What’s your name? Whose child are you?”
Six-year-old Wang Minggui pursed his lips and looked up at Wang Qian, who towered over him. “I’m Minggui. You probably haven’t seen me before. I used to stay at my grandma’s place. My mom said you are my older brothers and sisters.”
This was the first time Wang Qian and her siblings had seen Wang Minggui, as their families had limited interaction due to their father’s circumstances, leading to little knowledge about their young cousin.
Children often inherit a blend of their parents’ qualities, making Wang Minggui quite a charming child. Wang Qian couldn’t resist his charm and playfully touched his cheek, asking with a smile, “Minggui, does your mom know you’re out here? Let’s not make the adults worry about you.”
The boy, with his big, watery eyes, replied, “Sister, my mom knew I came out. She even asked me to come play with you and learn from you. My grandma also said I should learn from you and go to college in the future.”
The siblings had no resistance towards the child; they understood that adult conflicts should not affect the children. Mingcheng approached and lifted his young cousin. It seemed the child was stronger than his parents at the moment, possibly due to the influence of the Ma family’s upbringing.
“Minggui, I’m your eldest brother. This is your second brother, and she is your eldest sister. Can you tell your big brother how you recognized us?” Mingcheng inquired.
The boy explained, “When my mom brought me back, she told me that this brother is from the third family and asked me to play with you more in the future. She also said not to listen to other people’s words. Grandma said the same. Brother, is our Grandma a bad person?”
Mingcheng was momentarily taken aback by the question. Is Grandma Zhu Qiyu a bad person? In his mind, she was indeed considered as such, given the strained relationship between her and their family. However, she was also his father’s biological mother, their paternal grandmother.
Wang Qian, seeing her brother’s hesitation, quickly stepped in, “Minggui, let me tell you, whether Grandma is a bad person or not is something you’ll understand with time. Good people don’t speak ill of others behind their backs, don’t pick fights for no reason, and don’t teach you to do wrong things. As you grow older, you’ll come to understand. For now, listen to your grandma Ma and mom.”
In Wang Qian’s eyes, Ma Fenqing might lack manners, but she wasn’t a bad person. Over the years, she hadn’t done anything directly against their family. Following his mom’s advice was likely the right choice, as Ma Fenqing wouldn’t lead her own son astray. The fact that she entrusted her child’s upbringing to her mother also indicated that she had recognized where the issues lay.
“Minggui, come here. Let me teach you how to set off fireworks,” Mingyuan handed the firecrackers to his young cousin.
Inside the house, Zhang Lan and Wang Zhenhe were busy, but they could still observe what was happening outside. Initially not recognizing Wang Minggui, Zhang Lan assumed he was a relative visiting. However, upon clarification from her daughter, she realized he was their young cousin.
Impressed by the polite child, Zhang Lan sighed inwardly, noting how sometimes exceptional individuals can come from unexpected places. This child didn’t seem to resemble his parents.
“Minggui, come here. Let Auntie hold you. Let’s go inside to play; it’s too cold outside. We don’t want you catching a cold and needing a shot. I’ll take you to meet your Third Uncle. You haven’t met him yet,” Zhang Lan invited, ushering the young child inside.
In Zhang Lan’s embrace, the little one remained calm and allowed her to carry him into the house. “Zhenhe, come and see how handsome our young nephew is. He looks quite spirited,” she called out.
Wang Zhenhe looked over and chuckled at the sight of the boy in his wife’s arms. “Ah, that’s Minggui, right? He’s grown so big. Third Uncle hasn’t met you yet. Let me hold him too,” he said, reaching out to hold the child.