Chapter 35: Zhao Han Feels Guilty:

Zhang Xiaofen and Wang Dahong saw that their in-laws had made the decision, so they didn’t say much more. The two sisters-in-law simply discussed bringing more food supplies to the military unit.

Zhang Xiuying was most satisfied that the whole family, young and old, was united and free of petty family squabbles. So she let her two daughters-in-law handle things their way.

—-

“Why won’t you let me go acknowledge my daughter, He Yuandong? I’ve missed her for so many years—she’ll understand me!” Zhao Han understood what He Yashu meant, but now that she knew her daughter was close by, she couldn’t care about anything else. She kept comforting herself, saying her daughter just didn’t know she was her mother. Otherwise, why would they get along so well now? So if she knows she’s her mother, why can’t they get along then too?

Unexpectedly, He Yuandong fell silent for a while and then firmly refused. Zhao Han broke down instantly.

“You said it yourself—she doesn’t want to recognize her biological parents. We’re all stationed in the same unit. If she needs help, we can support her. Telling her now will only trouble her. It’s us who wronged her,” He Yuandong said heavily, trying to persuade his wife. Being able to maintain the relationship they had now was already a blessing. If the truth came out, even that might be lost.

“No! She’s my daughter! When she was little, she loved her mother the most. Waaah!” Zhao Han sobbed and screamed in despair.

“Zhao Han, why must you reclaim her? If you don’t, is she not still your daughter?” He Yuandong looked deeply into his wife’s eyes, his expression unreadable.

“I don’t care! She’s my daughter—she must acknowledge me. You’re not going to stop me? Fine, I’ll go tell her myself tomorrow,” Zhao Han stiffened under his questioning, then finally spoke.

“You’re too selfish. Back when our daughter went missing, did you really try to find her? Zhang Fugui said he waited for you for an hour at the original spot—where did you go? Do you think I don’t know? I know everything, Zhao Han. I’ve felt indebted to you for so long. We lost the child, and I thought we should just live a good life together,” He Yuandong said, looking exhausted.

He blamed himself too. When they returned and Zhao Han told him the child was gone, he believed her. But after investigating more recently, he discovered that in order to escape danger, she had left their daughter behind. He couldn’t believe the woman he married had done that.

Zhao Han’s heart pounded wildly as she rushed to the guest room. As soon as she entered, she collapsed onto the floor, weak. Her mind returned to the year 1946. The place they lived in was occupied by Japanese soldiers. She rushed out with her daughter, trying to find her husband.

Passing through a small town near Zhangjia Village, they were spotted by a few stragglers from the Japanese army. She panicked, her mind went blank. Seeing her daughter crying in fear, she instinctively ran—leaving the child behind.

That night, she wanted to go back to find her daughter, but she was afraid the soldiers were still around. She hesitated the entire night. Finally, she decided to get her husband to help rescue the girl. But on the way, an older woman coming from the town told her she had seen the body of a young girl. Zhao Han fainted on the spot. When she came to, her husband was already with her.

“Yuandong, she’s gone… our daughter is gone. Someone saw her body… sob sob sob.” Zhao Han clung to He Yuandong in a daze. She didn’t dare verify the body—afraid he’d find out she abandoned their child.

He Yuandong was shocked and immediately led a team to investigate. There really was a young girl’s body in the town—but it was not their daughter. Still, he buried her with a heavy heart.

From that day on, he treated Zhao Han even better. If she hadn’t been physically weakened by childbirth, she would’ve tried to give him a son. But now that they knew their daughter was still alive, Zhao Han was desperate to reclaim her. Previously she had made up her mind—nothing would stop her. But now that He Yuandong knew the truth, she dared not act rashly.

Zhao Han tried to suppress her guilt. “She’ll understand me. I didn’t mean to do it. Yuandong doesn’t know… He can’t know.”

That night, He Yuandong spent the whole night smoking in his study. Some people may be dead—but not completely gone…