At that moment, Cen Zhengnian was ill.

Ganzhou was indeed cold, with deep snow. Everyone in the base was afraid to go outside, and the howling wind outside was frightening.

Cen Zhengnian had overworked himself, combined with staying up late, and caught a cold.

He fell ill and ended up with a high fever but still refused to rest, insisting on working in the laboratory.

He collapsed from exhaustion.

If it hadn’t been for his many colleagues working in the lab, no one would have known he had fainted.

The base had only basic medical facilities. There was a doctor, but the medicine was lacking, and Cen Zhengnian’s illness was severe, with a persistent high fever.

The leadership was alarmed and quickly arranged for him to be taken to the military hospital.

Jiang Shengnan received the news of her son’s illness and was terrified.

She immediately put down her work and rushed to the hospital.

Cen’s father was even busier and couldn’t come for now.

He called Jiang Shengnan and asked her to take good care of their son while he finished his work and then went to the hospital.

“Doctor, how is Cen Zhengnian?”

“Pneumonia. You family members need to keep a close eye on him. His health is not a joke. Working with a fever is dangerous!”

Cen Zhengnian’s condition wasn’t severe initially, but he didn’t take care of himself, forgot to take medicine regularly, and continued working hard, leading to pneumonia.

The doctor was very angry with Cen Zhengnian’s disregard for his health, considering it as treating his life carelessly.

Jiang Shengnan was even more worried as she looked at Cen Zhengnian lying in the hospital bed, nodding repeatedly, “Okay, doctor. I will definitely take good care of him and make sure his condition doesn’t worsen.”

When Cen Zhengnian woke up, he saw his mother sitting by his bed, her face filled with worry.

“Mom.”

As soon as he spoke, he realized his voice was hoarse and weak, and he didn’t have the strength to say more.

Jiang Shengnan stood up instantly, relieved, “Son, you’re finally awake. Do you know how scared your father and I were? When you’re sick, you should rest and take medicine. Why did you insist on working? Now it’s so serious that you have to stay in the hospital. Isn’t this just delaying your work even more?”

Worrying about the past, Jiang Shengnan felt a surge of anger.

She was upset that her son didn’t take his health seriously and ended up in such a state.

The doctor had warned that if his condition had worsened, he could have fainted from high fever or even developed myocarditis, which could lead to sudden death.

Jiang Shengnan was so frightened that she wished she could spank her disobedient son like when he was a child.

“Mom, I didn’t expect this either…” Cen Zhengnian managed a bitter smile, tugging at the corners of his mouth.

He thought it was just a common cold and didn’t take it seriously, not expecting it to become so severe.

Cen Zhengnian wasn’t always in poor health.

He had grown up in a military environment, often going on early morning runs with his father and brother when he was young.

Even after he got older, they occasionally joined the military for training.

However, once he graduated from college and joined the base, he hardly had time for those runs.

He was so busy that he barely had enough time to sleep, let alone exercise.

Combined with late nights and irregular meals, his once-robust health deteriorated, and he developed stomach problems.

This time, catching a cold triggered a series of illnesses, and his condition worsened rapidly.

Old health issues that had accumulated over the years suddenly flared up all at once.

Cen Zhengnian felt a twinge of regret.

He was afraid of delaying his work, but at this point, neither his superior nor his mother would agree to him returning to the base.

Jiang Shengnan tapped his forehead, angry and worried. “What do you want me to say to you?”

She sighed, then added, “If Chuxia and An’an knew, they’d be worried sick. What would happen to them if something really happened to you? Have you thought about that?”

For the first time, fear truly gripped Cen Zhengnian.

His face showed a rare hint of dejection. “I didn’t think it through.”

“When you’re at the base, all you think about is work and nothing else!” Jiang Shengnan tucked him in more snugly before standing up in frustration. “Are you hungry? What do you want to eat?”

Cen Zhengnian had no appetite at all. In fact, he felt a bit nauseous, unable to stomach anything.

But he needed to eat to regain his strength, so Jiang Shengnan went to the hospital cafeteria to find something suitable.

She eventually returned with a bowl of clear soup noodles topped with a poached egg. “When you were little and got sick, this was your favorite. They happened to have it, so I asked them to add an extra egg.”

Cen Zhengnian, weak and in pain, was helped up to sit.

He knew he had to eat, but as soon as he took the first bite, he felt the urge to vomit.

He forced himself to swallow small bites, fighting the nausea with every mouthful.

Despite his efforts, he could only eat a little before feeling utterly sick; any more and he would surely throw up.

Jiang Shengnan frowned. “Stay here. I’ll ask the doctor to check on you. You can’t keep this up.”

The doctor examined Cen Zhengnian and explained, “This is normal. Pneumonia often causes a loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting. Don’t force him to eat; let him have small, frequent meals. He needs to focus on recovery, eating more fish, meat, eggs, vegetables, and easily digestible foods.”

Jiang Shengnan listened carefully, nodding occasionally. “Alright, thank you, doctor.”

Though Jiang Shengnan was busy with her own job, with her son in the hospital, she pushed her work aside and took leave to care for Cen Zhengnian.

Cen’s father only managed to visit the hospital the next day.

When he arrived, Cen Zhengnian was sipping on some chicken soup his mother had made, with all the oil skimmed off.

It was light, with a few pieces of chicken, and something Cen Zhengnian could manage to drink.

“How are you feeling?” Cen’s father was less expressive compared to Jiang Shengnan; his conversations with his son often involved more silence than words.

“Dad.”

Just as Cen Zhengnian greeted him, he started coughing violently.

He quickly handed the bowl back to Jiang Shengnan, bending over and coughing hard, his throat unbearably itchy.

Jiang Shengnan, used to this by now, handed him a cup of warm water.

Cen Zhengnian took small sips, trying to soothe the irritation in his throat.

He finally stopped coughing after finishing the cup of water.

His father looked at him with concern. “Your illness is quite serious. Have you been coughing like this the whole time?”

Before Cen Zhengnian could reply, Jiang Shengnan handed him the chicken soup again.

She explained to his father, “The doctor said the cough is normal. Pneumonia doesn’t clear up in a few days.”

Cen’s father patted his son’s shoulder gently. “Focus on getting better. Work can wait. Have you told Chuxia?”

Cen Zhengnian shook his head. “No, and there’s no need to.”

Jiang Shengnan added, “There’s no point in worrying Chuxia. She can’t come over anyway, and with An’an to look after, she already has enough on her plate. I’m here with our son, so there was no need to tell her.”

Cen’s father agreed with the reasoning.

Cen Zhengnian’s condition gradually improved after a week in the hospital, though he still had a lingering mild cough, manageable with medication.

Upon discharge, the doctor repeatedly reminded him, “Avoid overexertion, as it can lead to relapses. Continued rest is essential because your body is currently quite weak.”

Jiang Shengnan didn’t want Cen Zhengnian to return to the base so soon.

As they walked out of the hospital, she said, “Zhengnian, why don’t you stay home for a few more days before going back to work? The doctor said you need to avoid overexertion. Even if you return to the base, you shouldn’t work too much. It’s better to rest more.”

She couldn’t force Cen Zhengnian to stay with her, so she asked him in a tone of negotiation.

“Mom, cough, cough.” A gust of cold wind made Cen Zhengnian cough a couple of times. “I’ve already delayed work a lot. I need to go back. I’ll come home when I have time.”

Jiang Shengnan sighed, still not reassured. “You can go back to the base, but you mustn’t work late or overwork yourself. You must listen to the doctor. Even if you don’t want to stay with us, think about Chu Xia and An’an. Take care of your health.”

Cen Zhengnian nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

As Cen Zhengnian was about to leave, Jiang Shengnan suddenly remembered something and called him back. “Zhengnian, the New Year is approaching. Have you asked Chu Xia if she’s spending the New Year in Liangzhou again this year?”

Cen Zhengnian was taken aback and realized what Jiang Shengnan meant. He shook his head. “I haven’t asked. I don’t know what she’s thinking.”

Jiang Shengnan said, “Then why don’t you give her a call and ask?”

Seeing the expectation in his mother’s eyes, Cen Zhengnian opened his mouth but didn’t express his refusal.

He simply replied, “Okay.”

The weather in Ganzhou was extremely cold.

As Cen Zhengnian traveled back to the base, the snow on the road had turned to ice, and the car drove cautiously.

He gazed at the endless brown landscape outside the window and pondered his mother’s words.

Would Chu Xia want to come to Ganzhou for the New Year?

Ganzhou was so far from Liangzhou.

She had An’an with her, and the factory might not give her time off.

She probably wouldn’t want to come.

Yet, remembering his time with Chu Xia and An’an at home brought a smile to his face.

He touched the family photo in his jacket pocket, feeling a twinge of hope.

Upon arriving at the base, the leaders were still somewhat concerned about him. “Zhengnian, you need to take care of your health. Your role in the project is very important. I’ve talked to the doctor, and even if you’re back, you need to rest well and not rush back into work.”

“Understood,” Cen Zhengnian replied.

Back in his office, it was just noon.

Chu Xia should be at home, so he dialed the phone number for the family compound’s convenience store.

As he waited for the call to connect, Cen Zhengnian felt anxious about how to broach the subject of the New Year with Chu Xia.

The phone rang on the desk, making his heart race.

He licked his lips and answered, “Chu Xia?”

“It’s me,” Chu Xia’s cheerful voice came through. “Why are you calling home at this time?”

Cen Zhengnian’s mouth felt dry. “I… just wanted to check how you and An’an are doing. It’s been a while since I received a letter from home.”

Chu Xia sounded puzzled. “That’s strange. I just sent a letter to you not long ago. How could you not have received it? Did the post office lose it?”

Cen Zhengnian hadn’t been at the base for the past week, and he hadn’t seen Chu Xia’s latest letter.

He had been a bit out of it while he was sick and mistakenly thought he hadn’t received any letters for a long time.

“Maybe the letter hasn’t arrived yet. I’ve been a bit busy lately,” Cen Zhengnian didn’t want to mention his illness to Chu Xia.

Fortunately, Chu Xia didn’t notice his clumsy excuse and asked if it was cold in Ganzhou and if the clothes she sent fit well.

Cen Zhengnian responded carefully to each of her questions.

“By the way, do you know the sizes for our parents’ clothes? I was thinking of sending them some clothes and also for Grandpa.”

Cen Zhengnian blinked and was taken aback. He didn’t have that information. He didn’t know the sizes.

Chu Xia said, “I was planning to surprise them with the clothes if you knew their sizes. Since you don’t, I’ll ask them myself.”

Cen Zhengnian quickly replied, “I’ll ask and let you know.”

He felt a pang of guilt for not thinking of this himself, something Chu Xia had considered.

After chatting for a while, Chu Xia wanted to pass the phone to An’an. “An’an actually misses you quite a bit, though he doesn’t say it. You should talk to him for a bit.”

“Wait.” Cen Zhengnian quickly stopped Chu Xia.

He didn’t know how to ask the question.

When Chu Xia waited for a while without hearing anything, she asked, “Why is it silent?”

“Ah, Chu Xia, are you spending the New Year in Liangzhou this year?” Cen Zhengnian finally asked.

Chu Xia immediately picked up on the underlying meaning in his tone.

She raised her eyebrows and chuckled, “Where else would we spend the New Year if not in Liangzhou?”

Cen Zhengnian suddenly felt flustered. “I… I asked the wrong question. Please give the phone to An’an.”

Chu Xia laughed on the other end, her charming laugh making Cen Zhengnian’s ears tingle.

“Think about whether we should go to the northwest for the New Year. I’ll consider it.”

She then handed the phone to Cen Huai’an.

Cen Zhengnian’s heart was filled with both nervousness and anticipation at her words.

“Daddy?”

Cen Huai’an’s childish voice came through the phone.

Cen Zhengnian immediately focused, replying with a smile, “An’an, it’s me.”

Chu Xia waited nearby, browsing the items in the convenience store and not listening in on the conversation between Cen Huai’an and Cen Zhengnian.

Noticing that the soy sauce and vinegar at home were running low, she glanced at the convenience store’s stock and went back home to get some bottles.

After buying soy sauce and vinegar, Chuxia and Cen Huai’an were still discussing Cen Zhengnian.

Cen Huai’an was telling his father bout his recent experiences learning Go.

When Cen Huai’an finished, the small shop owner was particularly pleased because Chuxia and Cen Huai’an had used up quite a bit of phone credit.

As they left the shop, Chuxia handed a bottle of soy sauce to Cen Huai’an and they headed home.

“An’an, do you want to visit Daddy for the New Year?”

Cen Huai’an, carefully watching the slippery path because of the recent snow, immediately looked up at Chuxia with excitement. “Can we go?”

Chuxia smiled and patted his head with her gloved hand. “If you want to go, then we can.”

Cen Huai’an thought for a while, and unable to resist his longing, nodded firmly. “Mom, I want to go!”

“Then we’ll go.”

Chuxia started thinking about how to get to Liangzhou.

Cen Huai’an didn’t need to worry about school since there was winter vacation.

He would finish his final exams the day after tomorrow and then be on break.

Chuxia’s school also had final exams next week, and after they were done, she would be on winter break as well.

The only concern was how to handle her work at the factory.

She wasn’t sure if the factory would approve a two-week vacation, but she decided to try anyway and think of other solutions if they refused.

The next day, before she could ask for leave, she heard good news from Huang Tingyue in the office.

Huang Tingyue was engaged.

In this era, the process of courtship and marriage was similar to the present.

After getting to know each other, they would first make a small betrothal and then a formal engagement, followed by marriage.

Huang Tingyue’s betrothal was formal, but the actual marriage wasn’t yet confirmed.

A formal engagement meant informing family and friends and having relatives over for a meal to witness it.

Once a formal engagement was made, it was essentially a commitment to marry. Breaking it would be considered a serious issue for both families.

Huang Tingyue, blushing, handed out candy to everyone in the office.

When she reached Chuxia’s desk, she gave a little huff and said, “I’m not stingy, so have some candy.”

Chuxia didn’t take any candy or return the gesture.

Since it was someone else’s happy occasion, she didn’t want to spoil it.

A senior colleague asked Huang Tingyue, “Have you set a wedding date yet?”

Huang Tingyue’s face reddened even more as she replied, “Not yet.”

The senior colleague smiled and said, “After the formal engagement, it won’t be long. I’m sure the groom’s side will soon ask about the wedding date. We’re looking forward to your wedding sweets!”

Huang Tingyue’s blush deepened.

After waiting for a while, Chuxia checked the time and decided to go to the department head’s office to request leave.

When the department head heard her request for time off, he showed an expression of hesitation. “There are many people requesting leave for the New Year. It’s a bit late to request time off now, and it’s difficult to approve.”

He was aware that Chuxia had some background, though he wasn’t clear on the details.

Still, he didn’t want to offend her.

Chuxia was known for her diligent work and lacked any issues that other non-connected workers might cause.

He had no ill feelings towards her.

If Chuxia had requested leave a week earlier, it would have been less of a problem.

The publicity department had already granted leave to several people, and granting her leave now would leave them short-staffed during the New Year’s period, which would be problematic for the factory.

Chuxia showed a sad expression and said, “But, Minister, my husband and I haven’t seen each other for several months, and my son misses his father. My in-laws are also in the northwest, so I really need to go there for the New Year.”